Week of Oct. 3
Games of Sept. 24-30
New England
Forward: Jayden Patel, Boston Jr. Bulldogs
Patel (‘07/Gardner, Mass.) joined the Jr. Bulldogs out of Gardner/Murdock High School in his hometown. Although he only got into two of the Jr. Bulldogs’ three games at the BJB Shootout, he led the team in scoring with a 3-1-4 line, including two goals in his debut against College Universel Gatineau.
Defense: Daniel Mordas, Springfield Pics
The veteran ‘07 from Lithuania is back with the Pics and looking terrific to start his second season in western Massachusetts. He posted two goals and an assist over the Pics’ three games at the BJB Shootout to start the season.
Goaltender: Andrew Libby, Boston Jr. Bulldogs
Libby, a 2005-born goaltender from Rice Memorial Prep, stepped into his first Elite game and stopped 26 of 27 shots by College Universel Gatineau, giving him a .963 save percentage.
Atlantic Division
Forward: Serres Sadler, Hershey Cubs
Sadler (‘06/Canmore, Alb.) put up the division’s best points per game average for the Sept. 24-30 period, of 3.0 points per game. He started with a shorthanded goal in his junior debut on Sept. 26, and then he registered a 3-2-5 line in his second game, joining out of the Bow Valley Timberwolves 18U program.
Defense: Mickael Gareau, Hershey Cubs
Gareau (‘06/Repentigny, Que.) has made a great start to his Elite career, including putting up four assists in two games for the Hershey Cubs last weekend. Overall, he has a 1-4-5 line in four junior games.
Goaltender: Brendan Heppler, Connecticut Jr. Rangers
Heppler (‘05/Northwood, N.H.) played in his first junior game on Sept. 29 and put up possibly one of the best-ever performances in a loss, as he turned away 61 of 62 shots in an eventual 1-0 Jersey Hitmen victory.
Midwest Division
Forward: Landyn Ringenberg, Fort Wayne Spacemen
Ringenberg (‘04/Fort Wayne, Ind.) comes into this season with two prior years of USPHL experience, and he showed his leadership by scoring two goals – including the overtime GWG – in a 4-3 win over the Metro Jets on Sept. 26.
Defense: Dominic Collins, Metro Jets
Collins (‘06/Estero, Fla.) brings a solid season of USPHL Elite experience to the Jets, and he jumped right in with an assist in his first game. It was an important assist, as it helped the Jets begin a comeback from a 3-1 third period deficit to eventually send the game into OT against Fort Wayne.
Goaltender: Andrew Baumert, Fort Wayne Spacemen
Second-year Spaceman Baumert (‘06/Fort Wayne, Ind.) had to fight for it, but he got his first victory of the season when he turned away 36 of 39 Jets shots on Sept. 26.
Selection Process: Each division’s statistical leaders are presented to coaches, who can choose to nominate alternate candidates for selection.
Summaries by Joshua Boyd