Week of Nov. 16, 2023
Games of Nov. 8-13, 2023
Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com
Florida Division
Forward: Fynn O’Neill, Florida Eels
O’Neill (‘03/Calgary, Alb.) joined the Eels from the Heritage Jr. B League in his native Alberta. Since then, he has emerged as the team’s leading scorer after a huge weekend against the Florida Jr. Blades. He registered two goals and tacked on five additional assists for a seven-point effort. He was also +4 on the weekend and won 19 of his 31 faceoffs for 61 percent. He improved to 20 points in 19 games.
Defense: Sean Burke, Florida Eels
Burke (‘03/Wellesley, Mass.) has been a help to both the Elite and Premier Eels so far this season. In a recent stint with the Elite squad, he produced four assists against the Jr. Blades to total nine on the season in his 10 Elite games. He led the Elite team in the two-game series with 22:47 of ice time and was a +4 for second on the team.
Goaltender: Isaac Tillman, Palm Beach Typhoon
A third-year junior veteran, Tillman (‘03/Dubuque, Iowa) stopped 25 of 27 shots as the Typhoon defeated the Bold City Battalion in overtime. Both Tillman and the Typhoon are 1-0-0-1 in their last couple games.
Southeast Division
Forward: Carlos De Leon, Richmond Generals
A second-year General out of Boise, Idaho, this 2005-born forward has played a good amount of games with both the Premier and Elite Generals. Most recently with the Elite team, he scored five goals – including his first career hat trick on Nov. 11 – and he added one assist for six points in a weekend sweep of Columbia. His 23:43 average ice time led all Gens forwards, as did his 27 faceoff wins (for 61 percent of all his 44 draws). He was second on the Generals at +4. For his career, De Leon has improved to 35 points in 51 Elite games.
Defense: Colby Markham, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
A returning member of the 2023 Elite National Champion Jr. Canes, Markham posted a goal and two assists for three points on the weekend against Hampton Roads. The 2023 All-Star continues to be the go-to No. 1 defender for Brad Gaylord’s team, leading in ice time with 25:00 per game average this past weekend, along with total shorthanded time of 8:27. He was also +2 against the Whalers.
Goaltender: Anthony Trantas, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
The ‘05 goalie Trantas probably has the shortest trip of any teammate to the Wake Competition Center, as he grew up in and resides in the same town of Morrisville, N.C. Hitting the ice in Hampton Roads for his hometown Jr. Canes, he stopped all 34 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. Trantas, at 7-1-0-0, is fourth league-wide in goals against average at 1.57 and tied for second in shutouts.
