Week of Jan. 26, 2024
Games of Jan. 19-24, 2024
Summaries By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
New England Division
Forward: Sean Tyrie, Utica Jr. Comets
Tyrie (‘04/East Quogue, N.Y.) had the Jr. Comets’ first game of at least four goals since Tyler Knicley scored five in 2019. He put up a 4-1-5 line when the Jr. Comets defeated the Hershey Cubs on Jan. 19. He added another goal and three assists on Jan. 24 vs. Buffalo and had a three-assist line on top of all that on Jan. 20 for a total of 12 points in just four games. He also led the team with a +13 over the three games. His recent points outburst all helped him climb to 27 points in 14 games this year and 93 points in 56 career Premier games, good for fifth all-time in Utica Premier history.
Defense: Jackson Lukrofka, Utica Jr. Comets
Lukrofka (‘05/Scottsdale, Ariz.) had a huge week as well for the Jr. Comets, putting up a 1-7-8 line over the three games and leading the Jr. Comets in ice time all the way with an average of 23:08 per game, and also led the team with six blocked shots. The 2022 NCDC Jr. Comets draft pick has 25 points in 30 games.
Goaltender: Dominic Walecka, South Shore Kings
Walecka (‘03/West Roxbury, Mass.) picked up a 25-save shutout against the higher-ranked Islanders Hockey Club on Jan. 22 and helped his team bypass the longtime Nationals staple IHC in the standings. Walecka’s second shutout of the year helped him to a .926 save percentage.
Atlantic Division
Forward: Lex Roldan, Elmira Impact
Roldan (‘03/East Aurora, N.Y.) has certainly improved this year, blowing past his 36 points as a Premier rookie in 2022-23 with 64 points this season in just 32 games. He put up a pair of goals and two assists for four points in one outing against the Buffalo Stampede. Roldan has 10 goals scored over each of his last seven games and the scoring streak also includes eight assists for 18 points, an active streak he’ll pick up in his next game.
Defense: Connor Craig, Elmira Impact
Craig (‘03/Smiths Falls, Ont.) has been one of the leading scorers among defensemen in all the Premier, as the fourth-year junior veteran has 47 assists and 54 points on the season. He had a goal and five assists for six points against Buffalo. He has been the leader in ice time for the Impact all season as well with 25:38 per game on average.
Goaltender: Teddy Ecker, Connecticut Jr. Rangers
Ecker (‘05/Royal Oak, Mich.) just joined the Jr. Rangers this month having earlier this season played for Victory Honda AAA’s 18U team. He registered his first junior shutout on Jan. 19, stopping all 25 shots put on him by the Boston Junior Bruins. Currently at 4-0, he also has a .950 save percentage all from action this month.
