By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
The United States Premier Hockey League is previewing each Premier Division ahead of their start dates in the 2024-25 season. Check back each weekday to see which Premier division is up next!
Potomac Patriots
Season Opener: Sept. 14 at Hampton Roads Whalers
It’s a whole new era in Prince William, Va. The years of the Patriots struggling seem to be vanished in the winds, as they made their USPHL Nationals debut in 2024 and put up a great showing. But it’s well beyond that, as the Patriots keep pushing to be among the league leaders in college and pro advancement.
“Our expectations for the team this year are the same as they have been each year: develop hockey players,” said Premier Co-Head Coach Alex Grose. “Our goal is to help our players get to the next level rather it be pro, college, Tier-2, or Premier, depending on the player. We have had a lot of success in doing so these last few seasons and look forward to the opportunity to continue in this direction. Roster-wise, we are looking to be a bit younger than we were last year at both levels. We expect the division to be as tough as it has been yet and are excited for the challenge ahead.”
It’s going to be a very new-look Patriots squad, from the coaching duo of Grose and newcomer Brian Verbeek, to having just one pair of returning Premier Patriots. Oskar Jungarve, an ’04 forward, was strong with 26 points in 32 games last year. Yovanni Flores has two prior seasons of experience with both the Premier and Elite Patriots. Also from the Elite Patriots of last season, Southeast Division All-Star forward Ilya Biesiedin is making the jump to the Premier side, along with ‘05 forward Nate Clark, ’04 forward Dom Jurjevas and ‘04 forward Dominik Budka.
The Patriots also signed a number of players from outside the organization, but with junior experience such as Henry Hunt, Melker Lundqvist, Bowen Lopez and Sergei Kolesov. Recruiting has been good, and Grose is also excited for the team’s younger rookie players.
“We have a lot of young talent coming in, including Patrik Janech, Hayden Ritter and a new set of twins in Alexander and Nikolia Kharinov,” said Grose. The Patriots have had great success with twins after Semyon and Matsvei Marshchanok posted a combined 205 points last season alone.
It’s anybody’s game on any given night in the Southeast, and Grose expects to see some potential shakeups in the standings.
“I expect Hampton to be the strongest team in the division this season,” he added. “I think they have done a great job the last few years in their rebuild and they are one of those teams that is really going to be good this year in my opinion.”
Charlotte Rush
Season Opener: Sept. 13 at Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
The Charlotte Rush have certainly laid down a legacy in the league, joining the Metro Jets as the only two teams in the Premier to have won at least 200 regular season games – and that’s exact for the Rush since joining the Premier in 2017-18. History only goes so far, and GM/Head Coach Trevor Jewell is only looking at 2024-25 for the measure of his team.
“We are extremely excited to get the players to town. The group we have assembled this year will be a good one. Honestly, we always have high expectations because we believe in what we do and the development we provide,” said Jewell. “We have a group that will be fast, physical, and skilled with a high compete level. Earning a playoff spot is always the first goal. Once we complete that expectation then we will focus on the next goal. We just can’t wait to have everyone back and get started.”
The Rush enjoyed a big season of advancements to college and Tier II hockey, “and 2023-24 was no different,” which sets the stage for a lot of new talent coming into the organization.
“We had a lot of holes to fill all over the roster, and there are a few guys that will be stepping into bigger roles,” Jewell said. “The big names returning are Jackson Macejko, Beau Depencier, Sam Perdion, Rocco Stolz and Spencer Barrow. All of these players are hungry and looking to come in and leave their mark in Rush history while looking to earn a commitment to school. Each of them will be relied upon heavily in their own right throughout this season.”
The Rush have a number of strong incoming junior-experienced players, including Rivier University commit Dylan Boughen, a three-year USPHL veteran. Additionally, NCDC-experienced forward Nikita Soloviev, Wictor and Lucas Leszkowicz, Logan Walz and Viktor Bergstrom all bring previous junior experience in the U.S. and abroad.
From last year’s Elite Rush team, the Premier squad is excited to potentially elevate Luke Vega, Ryan Bonfrancesco, Ashton Lesher, Ben Kane and Tristin McAuliffe to Premier.
“There are a few players we are excited to have back and expect them to have an impact at the Premier level right away,” he said. “We have high expectations for all of them and we are looking forward to them taking the next step.”
For new players, Jewell sees a lot of bright new talents, such as ‘05 defensemen Mason Grimley, Colin Cody and Greg Timmons and ‘05 forwards Gavin Mulcahy and Matthew Matsuda.
“These players all have outstanding backgrounds and each brings a different element to the lineup. I’m very excited for them all,” added Jewell.
The Southeast Division has been a tough division every season out of which to proceed to Nationals, but the Rush have managed to qualify for the biggest tournament every season. It’ll be a slog once again to be the Southeast’s representative.
“This is an extremely deep division. Every weekend you have to be prepared. There are no easy games in the Southeast Division and if we know anything about the other programs, it’s that they have all taken a step forward in putting the best program possible on the ice,” he said. “We are extremely excited to get back to work and begin the process of what should be a very fun and exciting season!”
Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Season Opener: Sept. 13 vs. Charlotte Rush
The Carolina Jr. Hurricanes were part of a fantastic Southeast Division that featured three teams pushing for the top spot for much of the year. First-year Premier Head Coach Brad Gaylord is expecting the Jr. Canes will be expecting to once again be in the mix for a division championship.
“With our returning players and the new recruits we have coming in, we feel our team will compete very strongly for the division title and go to Nationals,” said Gaylord. “After meeting with all players, and discussing our identity as a team, we feel very comfortable saying that, every night, this team will outwork their opponent.”
The team is bringing back two-year Jr. Canes Premier veterans Nolan Bolt and Matteo Viglino, as well as returning veterans Billy Loughnane, Bobby Nabozny and Andres Zalmanis.
The Jr. Canes are also loyal, as all the Southeast Division teams are, to working to progress their USPHL Elite players to the Premier level. In fact, several Premier Jr. Canes have a great history – including some with 2023 Elite Championship rings – at that level.
“We have many that deserve to move up,” said Gaylord, who was the coach of the 2023 Elite championship team and still remains behind the bench for the Elite Jr. Canes. “These players are Colby Markham, Chris Cuddy, Andrew Timmeny, Carter Radosta, Gian Khani, Nathan Rhodes, Luke Waterson, Zach Rich, Greg Harter, Brandon Raleigh, Ryan Kalina and Anthony Trantas. This is such a great question, because it shows growth and progression within the organization.”
Additional new players joining the Premier Jr. Hurricanes include junior veterans Dave Mnatsakanyan – who has NCDC, Premier and Elite experience – plus fellow USPHL veterans Adam Chaudhri, Colin Browning and Colby Sims, plus Canadian goalie Dylan Remple.
Gaylord knows full well that every team in the Southeast Division is a tough draw, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Playing in the Southeast division, all teams are good,” said Gaylord. “I also expect the Red River Spartans and Toledo Cherokee to be quite strong.”
Hampton Roads Whalers
Season Opener: Sept. 14 vs. Potomac Patriots
The Hampton Roads Whalers, winners of the first two USPHL Premier championships in 2018 and 2019 (and still the only repeat champions), are hungry to get back on that big stage while also remaining a powerful college advancement organization.
“The Hampton Roads Whalers Premier team has high expectations to take a step forward in the regular season standings and re-establish the program as a powerhouse and return to Nationals,” said Head Coach Colten Teubert.
The Premier Whalers bring back a solid quartet of returning Premier players from last year’s squad to provide leadership every night out.
Forward Wyatt Teubert (‘04) is entering his fourth year with the Whalers, and has 75 points in 77 games. Sam Pfeiffer is rejoining the Whalers with a full season of Elite and a full season of Premier to his resume. He scored 32 points in 40 games last year. Sam Russo has the same experience as Pfeiffer on the blue line, and Thor Martin made his Whalers debut in 2023-24. Former Elite Whalers forward Robbie Rajnys and defenseman Jacob McCormack are prepared to make the jump to Premier.
Additionally, longtime USPHL veteran Oliver Kiel Straarup joins the teams, and he’s joined by fellow junior veterans defenseman Nojus Kudzevicius, forward Nikita Zozulia, and goaltender Alexander Croy.
Further newcomers to the team include younger talents such as ‘06 forwards Zane Price, Curren Stukey, ‘05 forward Noel Wargloo, ‘06 defenseman Max Roos and ‘06 goaltender Nathan McAlpine.
