Week of Feb. 17, 2024
Games of Feb. 8-13, 2024
Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com
Atlantic Division
Forward: John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club
Crowdell (‘03/Staten Island, N.Y.) made some #USPHLHistory last weekend when he posted his 177th career point during a Friday win against the Springfield Pics. His first goal for a hat trick plus one assist in that game was the record breaker for USPHL Elite career points. He added one more assist during the Rockets’ trip to the Northern Cyclones Showcase.
Defense: Ryan Wavra, Elmira Impact
Elmira played hard and, despite not coming out with a win from the Northern Cyclones Showcase, saw their ‘06 defenseman Ryan Wavra (Vestal, N.Y.) chip in on both their goals for the weekend with a goal and an assist. That helped Wavra to improve to six points on the season as he continues to develop in the Impact’s multi-tiered system.
Goaltender: Erik Werkhoven, Elmira Impact
Werkhoven (‘05/Santa Fe, N.M.) was put in front of one of the league’s top overall teams in the Northern Cyclones Showcase host team. He was electric in stopping 49 of the 53 shots he faced, but the Impact were unable to get the win in the end. He has stopped 104 of 109 shots faced in his last two starts, both in February, for a combined .954 save percentage.
New England Division
Forward: Josh Bruno, Northern Cyclones
Bruno (‘04/Glendora, Calif.) was immense in going with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in just four Northern Cyclones Showcase games last weekend. He helped his team clinch the New England Division title as they went 3-0-1-0 at their own hosted event. Bruno improved to 58 points in 30 games this season.
Defense: Justin Pniewski, Islanders Hockey Club
Pniewski (‘04/North Haven, Conn.) set up a pair of goals and scored one more for three points in three games played at the Northern Cyclones Showcase. The second-year Islander now has 24 points in 38 games for the Islanders, who locked in second place in the New England Division.
Goaltender: Nick Cowles, Northern Cyclones
Cowles (‘05/Irvine, Calif.) doesn’t take no for an answer. He stopped all 20 shots he faced against the Rockets Hockey Club, helping the team shut out the eventual career record-breaker John Crowdell on Feb. 8. Two days later, he came in on relief during what was a 3-3 game against the North American Prep Hockey League’s Crystal Beach Academy. He stopped all 10 shots he faced the rest of the way in that game and the Cyclones won decisively in the end.
