By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
In a Nevada valley where hoping a great hunch pays off, the Henderson Force raked in the rewards of picking up goaltender Nicholas Perry, a 2005-born second-year USPHL Premier goaltender.
Perry’s work in net in one of the most offensive divisions in the USPHL Premier certainly did not go unnoticed, as the USPHL fans voted him in as the 2024-25 USPHL Premier Fans Choice Goaltender Of The Year. He had earlier, in the spring, been named as a USPHL Premier Pacific All-Division Second Team selection.
“I feel good about being awarded the category, I feel proud of my work throughout the season and feel like I’ve been given the chance to get my name out there and open doors to more opportunities,” said Perry, a native of Chino Hills, Calif.
After originally playing during the 2023-24 season with the San Diego Sabers, Perry joined the Force for his second year in the league and ended up with a strong .920 save percentage. That was among the Top 20 for Premier goaltenders with at least 20 appearances this year.
His 2.79 goals against average was also impressive in the offense-heavy Pacific Division, where the top three teams out of seven averaged more than 5.5 goals per game. Additionally, those same three teams (Lake Tahoe, Fresno and Ontario) each averaged more than 40 shots on goal per game. Perry himself averaged 33.8 shots against per game over 25 games played.
“After joining the Henderson Force, I think my game has improved greatly physically and mentally,” said Perry. “The coaching staff helped me see the game a different way, helping me with the technical side of being a goalie and reading the plays, players, and opposing offenses.”
With the arrival of spring and summer, that signals time to prepare and continue working on one’s game to be better when next they take the ice in the late summer. Perry has certainly been on board with this work ethic.
“I’m mainly working on staying on the ice to get my technical skills better while in net, and staying in the gym and getting stronger for next season,” he added.
Perry has not yet signed with a team for the 2025-26 season, as he is attending camps with the intention of making the jump to the next higher junior tier.
“This upcoming season, I plan to make a tier 2 team and to stay open to new development on my game on and off the ice,” added Perry.
The USPHL congratulates Nicholas Perry on his Fans Choice Award!
The post Henderson Force’s Perry Named 2024-25 USPHL Premier Fans Choice Goaltender Of The Year appeared first on USPHL – United States Premier Hockey League.
