Week of Jan. 24, 2024
Games of Jan. 17-23, 2024
Summaries By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
Forward: Henri Spoof, Mercer Chiefs
The first-year ‘03 forward out of Jyvaskala, Finland, an NCDC All-Star Game Selection, registered his first career hat trick on Jan. 20 when the Mercer Chiefs defeated the Rockets Hockey Club. Those were his third, fourth and fifth goals in the space of his last three games and he’s scored nine points in his last five, not including his goal at the All-Star Game. Spoof has improved to 35 points in 33 games in this, his first North American hockey season.
Defense: Coleson Hanrahan, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
The second-year NCDC and fourth-year USPHL veteran, Hanrahan (‘05/Longmeadow, Mass.) had a monster-sized week for the Jr. Islanders, who went 2-0-1 against the Rockets Hockey Club and the Connecticut Jr. Rangers. He had a pair of 1-1-2 games against the Jr. Rangers, and he also registered an assist against the Rockets for two goals and three assists for a total of five points. He led the team with 27:07 per game of ice time and 11 blocked shots, and his 31 takeaways were second on the Jr. Isles in the three games.
Goaltender: Daniel Moor, Jersey Hitmen
Moor (‘06/Omaha, Neb.) was terrific in helping the Hitmen to a key OT victory against the WBS Knights, stopping 25 of 26 shots in the win. Earlier, he also stopped all 14 shots he faced in a relief appearance in an eventual Knights 3-2 win, giving him a total of 39 saves on 40 shots for the week. He improved his save percentage to .917 on the season. Moor was part of the NCDC Young Guns game and stopped nine of 10 in that Jan. 15 marquee event at Boston University.
Rookie*: Tomas Smetanka, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Smetanka (‘06/Czechia) has been money in the bank lately when it comes to game-winners. He scored both when the Jr. Islanders swept the Connecticut Jr. Rangers last weekend. Since his call-up just prior to Jan. 12, he’s put up three goals and three assists for six points in five games. In the middle of all that, Smetanka also played in the NCDC Young Guns game on Jan. 15 at Boston University and posted one assist. The call-up from the Premier Jr. Islanders is an example of #USPHLAdvancement In Action! He was the 11th overall selection in the 2023 NCDC Entry Draft last spring.
* = ’04 or younger / 10 Tier II games or less in prior seasons
