The Carolina Jr. Hurricanes continued to cement their place as a dynasty on Sunday, defeating the Fort Wayne Spacemen, 4-2, to claim the 2026 USPHL Elite National Championship at Ice Vault Rink in Wayne, NJ.
With the victory, Carolina secures back-to-back titles and its third championship in the last four seasons, further solidifying one of the most dominant runs in recent league history.
Carolina struck first late in the opening period, as Liam Geyer opened the scoring at 13:54 to give the Jr. Hurricanes a 1-0 lead after one.
Fort Wayne responded in the second period with a strong push, getting goals from Alexander Roth and Rylan Wempe just over a minute apart to take a 2-1 lead. Despite being outshot early, the Spacemen capitalized on their opportunities and carried momentum into the third. Lucas Connery took over in the final frame, scoring twice, including the eventual game-winner, to swing the momentum back in Carolina’s favor. His first goal tied the game at 2-2, and his second gave the Jr. Hurricanes the lead for good. Charlie Connor added an insurance marker later in the period to seal the 4-2 victory.
Carolina outshot Fort Wayne 30-19, including a dominant third period where they controlled play and pulled away. The Jr. Hurricanes also converted on the power play (1-for-5), while holding Fort Wayne scoreless on its lone opportunity.
Connery finished with two goals in the championship game, while Geyer and Connor each added a goal. Carolina’s balanced attack and ability to respond under pressure proved to be the difference.
Fort Wayne, making its first championship appearance, showed resilience throughout but ultimately couldn’t hold off Carolina’s late surge.
With the win, the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes continue their reign at the top of the USPHL Elite, adding another chapter to an already impressive stretch, back-to-back champions and three titles in four years.
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