By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com
The United States Premier Hockey League’s USPHL Elite Conference thanks everyone who took part in the first round of Fan’s Choice Award voting these past couple days.
We are excited to announce Final Voting, between just two players in each category.
One winner in each category will be announced during the live coverage of the 2024 NCDC Entry Draft on Monday, May 13, on the USPHL YouTube Channel!
You are voting for the Most Valuable Player and Goaltender Of The Year. Please see the final candidates below for each category. We again want to thank the more than 1,750 fans, players, parents and other USPHL supporters who voted for these following candidates and many more during the first round of voting. Below are the two top vote-getters in each category.
USPHL Elite MVP Candidates
Jace Lombardo, Rockets Hockey Club – Lombardo currently holds the single season points record with 113 after this year, after putting up 44 goals and a league single season record of 69 assists. Lombardo was a second-year Rocket along with teammate and fellow MVP candidate John Crowdell, and is ranked fifth all-time with 147 points.
Noah Malcolm, Northern Cyclones – Malcolm improved from 39 points last year to 69 points as a veteran Cyclones forward. He helped lead the Cyclones to the 2024 USPHL Elite National Championship, when he added 11 points in seven games. He was one of 12 second-year Elite Cyclones who lifted the trophy at the end of the year.
USPHL Elite Goaltender Of The Year Candidates
Jean Berthaudin, Hampton Roads Whalers – Berthaudin set a single season and career record for shutouts in 2023-24, getting eight doughnuts during the year – he is tied on the career side with former Whaler Ty Morton. He went 14-7-1-1 for the Whalers, his .948 save percentage ranked second in the league, and his 1.74 GAA was good for sixth.
Ryan Kalina, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes – Kalina is an ‘05 homegrown product from Raleigh, N.C., who made his USPHL debut this year and was huge for his team. He finished in a tie for the league’s lowest goals against average at 1.48 and finished sixth in save percentage at .934. He also finished with a 13-2-0-0 record and five shutouts for the season.
Final Ballot Below!
