Summaries By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Selection Process: The league media office sends top candidates to divisional coaches for review and coaches either approve or challenge the nominations.
Forward: Bryce Grandbois, Potomac Patriots
The Patriots scored a great pickup for the stretch drive in signing Grandbois (‘04/Detroit, Mich.), a veteran of 27 prior USPHL Premier games as well as time in the Ontario Junior Hockey League this season. In his eight games with the Patriots since Jan. 27, he’s picked up 24 points in eight games. This includes a 7-6-13 line in six games of February. He’ll be ready for his second USPHL Playoffs, after previously playing for the Toledo Cherokee in 2022, including in their Nationals run. That experience will help the Patriots as they try to make their debut on the league’s biggest stage.
Forward: Siamion Marshchanok, Potomac Patriots
Marshchanok (‘05/Minsk, Belarus) got himself into the all-time Top 10 for single season performances in points (112, sixth), points per game (2.73, sixth) and assists (73, fifth). To close out the regular season in February, Marshchanok posted a 2-8-10 line in six games. He is hitting 2-for-3 on faceoffs by winning 59 of his 88 draws for a team-leading 67 percent success rate last month.
Forward: Kornel Kaibas, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Kaibas (Székesfehérvár, Hungary) is a third-year Jr. Cane in his second year with the Premier side of the program. He saw a fantastic improvement in year-over-year offensive production, improving from 26 points last year to 25 goals and 47 points in 2023-24. He was a point-per-game player in February, registering three goals and three assists for six points. Both Kaibas and the Jr. Canes are hoping for a big offensive showing against a very strong Charlotte Rush team in the upcoming Southeast Division playoffs this weekend.
Forward/Defense: Jack Day, Charlotte Rush
Day, fully listed as a defenseman during the regular season, has essentially transferred his position to forward over the course of 2023-24, illustrating his versatility this year. The ‘03 from New Baltimore, Mich., a second-year Premier veteran, put up six goals and added six assists for 12 points in February, giving him a career high of 37 points in 39 games. Day put up a +8 to lead Rush forwards in February. After rostering as a defenseman during the regular season, he’ll be on the forward lines during the upcoming playoff series against Carolina.
Defense: Xavier Brooks, Charlotte Rush
Brooks (‘04/Scarborough, Ont.) put up a total of 11 points off a 1-10-11 line during the month of February. Brooks came to the Rush this year from the NCDC’s P.A.L. Jr. Islanders, playing eight games there. He’ll be a huge asset to the Rush as a two-way blueliner in the postseason. He put up 14 points in his 10 Premier games this year, and he led the team in plus-minus during February with a +10 rating.
Goaltender: Devin Stephens, Charlotte Rush
Stephens (‘03/Trenton, Mich.) finished off a fantastic regular season for the Rush by going 3-1-0-0 and making 94 saves on 97 shots. Drawing from two seasons of NCDC hockey, where he has earned six career Tier II wins, he was able to register back-to-back shutouts in the same weekend against Hampton Roads, stopping 22 and 29 shots on Feb. 3 and 4, respectively. He ends his Premier regular season career with a combined 17-4-0-1 record, a .942 save percentage and a 1.50 GAA. His career save percentage and are both the best all time marks among goalies with at least 20 career appearances in the Premier.
