Week of Feb. 17, 2024
Games of Feb. 8-13, 2024
Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Midwest West Division
Forward: Cannon Bonifay, Minnesota Squatch
Bonifay (‘04/Fort Worth, Texas) had another huge goal-scoring weekend for the Squatch, posting seven goals and adding two assists for nine points. This included a 6-2-8 line against the Steele County Blades in a 9-4 victory on Feb. 10, putting on essentially a one-man show. He now has 43 goals and 82 points in 36 games.
Defense: Alexander Willharm, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
Willharm (‘05/Plymouth, Minn.) enjoyed a very productive weekend against Isanti, which the Riverkings won 4-1 and 5-1. Along with keeping the Outlaws to just a couple goals, Willharm was in on five of his team’s. He scored two himself and added three assists for five points. He was also a team-leading +5 on the weekend.
Goaltender: Jordan Nicolucci, Isanti Outlaws
Nicolucci (‘04/Montreal, Que.) came in on relief in the Feb. 10 4-1 loss and stopped all 23 shots he faced from the Riverkings the rest of the way, over 53:36 of ice time, to avoid any further bleeding and keep the game close against the current division leader.
Midwest East Division
Forward: Alexis Toussaint, Fort Wayne Spacemen
Toussaint (‘04/Varennes, Que.) was exceptional in helping to keep the Spacemen within striking distance of MJDP for the Midwest East regular season title – they’re two points back as of Feb. 17. In his last six games through Feb. 16, he has 16 points, including his weekend output of Feb. 8-9 of two goals and three assists for five points vs. the Chicago Cougars. He now has 72 points in 39 games on the season and has helped Fort Wayne to nine straight W’s.
Defense: Jason Castaneda, Chicago Crush
Castaneda (‘04/Huntley, Ill.) had a big trio of outings in a 2-1 weekend against the Motor City Gamblers, putting up a goal and four assists for five points. He also led the team in ice time with 20:31. Castaneda has 24 points in 39 games.
Goaltender: Austin Muirhead, Metro Jets Development Program
Muirhead (‘04/Novi, Mich.) registered a 1-1 record after stopping 70 of 74 shots over the past weekend at the Northern Cyclones Showcase. This included a 43-save performance against a strong College Universel Gatineau squad on 44 shots. He is now 13-4-1-2 for the season with a save percentage of .938.
Great Lakes Division
Forward: Sean Karaman, Nashville Spartans
The local product Karaman (‘03/Brentwood, Tenn.) has played defense and forward variably this year and was up front for their series against the Buffalo Stampede, registering five goals and nine assists for 14 points. He also tied for the team lead in hits during the series with three, and led the Spartans with six blocked shots. The two-year junior veteran has 39 points in 14 games since joining the Spartans.
Defense: Austin Micale, Nashville Spartans
Playing more than 30 minutes a night against Buffalo, Micale (‘03/Hamilton, N.J.) produced three goals and nine assists for 12 points to push his season totals to 83 points in 41 games to more than double his points per game average.
Goaltender: Taylor White, Metro Jets
White (‘03/Bay City, Mich.) put together a huge 24-save shutout performance against the defending National Champion Northern Cyclones on Sunday in an epic #instantclassic 1-0 victory for the Jets. That helped White tie the USPHL career shutout record with 10 blankings in two seasons. He is 16-1-1-1 on the season and 29-7-1-2 for his career with a .938 save percentage.
