Week of Jan. 26, 2024
Games of Jan. 18-24, 2024
Pacific Division
Forward: Mario Paganini, San Diego Sabers
A sixth-year USPHL veteran, Paganini (‘03/Harrison, N.Y.) has certainly gotten the hang of building up big offense for his Sabers team. After starting the season with the Vernal Oilers, PAganini was reacquired by the Sabers in the fall and has racked up 54 points over 15 games. Part of that output came from his past three games, and especially from an eye-popping 11-point game against Long Beach on Jan. 19. He also had a goal and three assists in two games against the Ontario Jr. Reign for a three-game total of 15 points.
Defense: Jacob Therrien, San Diego Sabers
Therrien (‘05/Quebec City, Que.) had one of the biggest single-game offensive outputs by a defenseman in the league, as he registered three goals and five assists for eight points on Jan. 19. He had an additional assist in the team’s series against the Ontario Jr. Reign, putting up nine points over three games. Therrien’s offensive output has increased seven-fold year over year from five points last year to 35 points this season.
Goaltender: Rasmus Ronnqvist, Lake Tahoe Lakers
Ronnqvist (‘03/Stockholm, Sweden) earned his first North American victory when he stopped 41 of 43 shots put on him by the Bellingham Blazers, during a three-game sweep at home for the Lakers, during his first career start. He currently has a .953 save percentage.
Northwest Division
Forward: Roman Wolynec, Seattle Totems
Wolynec (‘05/Langley, B.C.) had a fantastic showing against the Rogue Valley Royals, helping the Totems earn a sweep from their trip to Oregon. He posted two goals and added six assists for an eight-point run. This was part of a current seven-game scoring streak that Wolynec has enjoyed going back to his final game at the USPHL Las Vegas Showcase on Dec. 20, totaling 3-10-13. The second-year Premier veteran is now at 41 points in 32 games for this season and has 96 points in 68 career games.
Defense: Filip Lezzani, Vernal Oilers
Lezzanni (‘04/Puchov, Slovakia) registered a pair of goals and three assists for five points as the Oilers battled through a tough three-game series with the Casper Roughnecks and came out with a victory in the end. Lezzani played 28:31 on average per night over the three games and also registered four hits (to tie for the team lead) and blocked three shots during the series. In his second USPHL Premier season with the Oilers, he has 25 points in 29 games.
Goaltender: Daniel Cleofe, Seattle Totems
Cleofe (‘04/Seattle, Wash.) earned a shutout for a second straight start when he stopped all 30 he faced from the Rogue Valley Royals on Jan. 21. He had earlier shut out Long Beach on Dec. 19 at the USPHL Las Vegas Showcase. The second-year Totem improved his career record to 14-9-1-1.
