By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Order is 2023-24 regular season finish, followed by new division members
Vernal Oilers
Season Opener: Sept. 21 vs. Iron County Yeti
The Oilers have been the sole Northwest Division representatives at the Nationals thus far, and they hope to be able to keep up that honor here in 2024-25. General Manager David Imonti is positive that the Oilers have done the work necessary to make this happen.
“We enter every season hoping to win the division and advance to Nationals. We’ve been fortunate enough to accomplish our goal the past two seasons, and while we know it will be a battle, anything less than another championship will be disappointing,” Imonti added.
The team brings back a powerful group of Oilers veterans, including three of their four 2023-24 Northwest Division All-Stars in goaltender Levente Hegedus, defenseman Keanu McClanahan and forward Rodion Gornostaev. They also welcome back Jakub Bulik and Logan Baum on defense, as well as forwards Logan Powers,Presley Toth, Nick Moore and Marco Casinelli.
“We have a great group of returners this season. Levente returns for his second season, is among the best goaltenders in the league and we expect him to pick up where he left off,” said Imonti. “Keanu was a forward who converted to defense and managed to make the All-Star team in his first season at that position. “Gornostaev is often paired with Powers, who is in his third season for Vernal, and they were among our most productive forwards the second half of last year.”
“Bulik turned down a variety of college opportunities because he felt like he had unfinished business to take care of,” Imonti added. “Baum showed tremendous potential last year. Nick Moore is a natural leader and our best two-way forward. Toth is in his third season in Vernal and been a consistent offensive threat since Day 1 and he scored our OT goal against Ontario at last year’s Nationals. The real dark horse for us is Casinelli, whom we signed at age 15 and we’ve seen him grow up in front of us.”
Junior veterans signed during the summer include 6-foot-7-inch Roni Alanko, who joins fellow countryman Kasper Pohjala as well as Dominic Greissmer.
“Alanko has the potential to be physically dominant yet offensively gifted. Pohjala has produced at nearly every level he’s played at and was a lineman of Alanko at the 18U level with Espoo last year. Greissmer has been a nemesis of ours the past two seasons. We hope he is able to make the Casper Warbirds NCDC team, but we have big expectations for him if he plays at the Premier level.”
Additional newcomers to watch for are Marsel Tynymbaev, an ’06 forward who grew up playing with Gornostaev, and fellow ’06 Klim Kurdyashov of Belarus.
“We expect Marsel to slot in well with Rodion and Logan Powers to round out a pretty dynamic line,” Imonti said. “We have high hopes for Klim, a 6-foot-3-inch Belarussian whom we expect will be a fantastic power forward.”
Imonti is also excited to play the newcomers Iron County and Colorado, two teams that will help reduce Vernal’s travel schedule, but they always circle Seattle.
“My staff and I have the utmost respect for Mike Murphy and their coaching staff,” Imonti said. “There is no love lost in those games and while we’ve come out on top the past two seasons, they’ve given us all we can handle in pretty much every series against them.”
Seattle Totems
Season Opener: Sept. 20 at Bellingham Blazers
The Totems have one of the longest histories of any USPHL team, going back 25 years, but they are not resting on their past but rather looking to build upon a strong 2023-24 season that saw a Northwest Division finals appearance and are eyeing a National Championship in 2024-25.
Head Coach Mike Butters is returning, and his resume is highly decorated including time with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning in a variety of coaching and management duties. Mike Murphy returns for his 25th season as GM, and the Totems also brought back their full coaching staff of Cannon Rogers, Jason Waram and Michael Savidge.
“As always, expectations are high. We had a team skilled enough to compete for a Nationals berth last year, but lacked the deep character needed to go deep,” said Murphy.
“Mike Murphy brought in the type of players any coach would be proud to work with. At this level, character plays a huge part in how your team will succeed,” Butters added.
The Totems are returning six players from last season, including returning Northwest All-Star forward Roman Wolynec, fellow forwards Ethan Maisonneuve and K.J. Edwards, goaltender Daniel Cleofe, defensemen Daniel Radkevich and Drew Heiser.
“Despite a couple Tier 2 offers, Roman decided he wanted to return to lead this team,” said Murphy. “Cleofe is back for his third season. His numbers have improved each season. Radkevich and Heiser both have good size [6-4 and 6-6, respectively] will anchor what I believe will one of the biggest and most physical blue lines I’ve coached in recent memory. Edwards was acquired in a trade in January and provided the Totems with a physical and offensive presence around the net. I’ve tracked him since Peewee hockey in Tacoma and he is a player who should produce in new surroundings this year. Maisonneuve was also acquired in a trade, and was the major turning point in our group last year. He plays forward and defense and is deadly in the faceoff circle.”
The Totems also signed several strong players from other junior teams. Kananga Mangala was a Northwest Division All-Star forward last year who also saw NCDC time last year. Owen Sutherland also joins with USPHL Premier experience and goalie Cole Fennema joins from the EHL.
“I fully expect Mangala to be one of our leaders this year. Sutherland is a Swiss Army knife who does a lot of things well, and Fennema has a proven record that he can stop the puck,” Butters said.
The Totems’ global reach will be shown from the 14 players signed from around the world. This includes Swedes Wilhelm Folkesson, Theo Granlund, Edvin Hedberg, Arvid Wigforss; Ukraine’s Oleksandr Kurzenkov and Yaroslav Diky; Hungary’s Félix Palla and Xaver Palla; as well as Latvia’s Matiass Grinbergs, Czechia’s Josef Haas, Japan’s Hikaru Nakamura and Finland’s Aatu Suontakanen.
On the North American side, the Totems have added Will Hellerman and Gabe Malcuit (CDA Academy), Owen Tilley (Maine Jr. Mariners 18U), Braeden Derouen (Northwest Stars 16U) and Mason Rizik (Colorado Rampage 16U).
Butters expects a tight race in the newly expanded Northwest Division.
“The Northwest division has undergone several changes in the off-season and many of these changes I feel will drastically improve the division as a whole,” Butters added.
Rogue Valley Royals
Season Opener: Sept. 20 vs. Bremerton Sockeyes
The Royals are thrilled to return for their third season and hope to continue to improve in wins, as they did in Year 2 (2023-24). The Royals originally built around a core group of 2003-born players, so there was a lot of scouting and recruiting that needed to be done to take them into this new era, but GM/Head Coach Bobby Ruddle is excited with the promise that this season holds.
“Losing that core group of ’03’s has given us an opportunity to rebuild our core with some younger guys who can potentially grow with our team, so we have a relatively young and hard-working group of young men this season,” said Ruddle. “It is our third season, and it will be the first without some really key characters we have had all the way up until this point. We are excited to see who steps up and fills those roles this season.”
While they may not have the same amount of veteran leadership as last year, they are still able to be led by two returning Northwest Division All-Stars in goaltender Kaeden Edstrom and defenseman Blaze Ebbinghaus.
“Both of these young men have played for all three years of the team’s existence and they have both been at the top of this division in their positions both of their first two seasons. We expect nothing less from them this season,” said Ruddle.
The team also brings in junior veterans Naz Atta El-Manan from the EHL Premier and Payton Livingston from the NA3HL. “We are excited for them both to make their USPHL debut in Royals colors this month,” Ruddle added.
Dalton Ruettgers, a newcomer to junior hockey, is a native of the Royals’ home city of Medford, Ore. He also played in the same youth organization as former Royals All-Star Tyler Hanson, another Medford product. The ’07 forward has tremendous upside.
“He is a hard-working young man and we think he has the potential to have similar success in his career as Tyler enjoyed,” said Ruddle.
The Royals are looking forward to the new-look Northwest Division and what it may hold in terms of competition and teams on the rise.
“We are excited for the growth of our division,” said Ruddle. “I think Seattle looks really good this year. They always put together a competitive product, but I think they look especially strong this season, so they are the team we are watching and preparing for! I think the competition between us, Bremerton and Bellingham will be very close and competitive, which is exciting. We overall are just excited to see new teams, have some differentiation and hopefully continue to grow our division and continue to strengthen hockey in the Northwest.”
Bellingham Blazers
Season Opener: Sept. 20 vs. Seattle Totems
The 2024-25 Blazers are pumped up and prepared to be the best team that Bellingham has produced in its three years in the USPHL. A new coaching staff has the players laser-focused on day-to-day improvement and becoming a menace on the scoreboard every time they step out.
“I expect us to be highly competitive and to challenge the top teams in the Northwest Division this season,” said first-year Head Coach Erick Ruud. “Our returning players have put in a tremendous amount of effort during the off-season, focusing on conditioning and skill development. With the experience we’ve gained and the commitment I’ve seen, we’re confident in our ability to contend for a top spot in the division. We believe we have the talent and work ethic to be a serious contender.”
The Blazers are returning several top players that will help to define a winning culture and set the tone for this and coming seasons. This group includes Owen Cross, Toby Odushkin, Peyton Munger, Ethan Bockus, and Kieren Ganga.
Odushkin, an ’07 Bellingham resident, finished third on the team in scoring last year with 28 points in 35 games. Cross is an ’05 forward also from Bellingham, and forward Kieran Ganga is an ’07 from nearby Ferndale, Wash. Defensemen Munger (’07) and Bockus (’04) are from Everson and Puyallup, Wash., respectively.
“We have a solid core of returning players who will be crucial to our success this season. These players have demonstrated consistent performance and leadership on and off the ice,” said Ruud. “They’ve been key contributors in the past, and I expect them to continue to lead by example this season. Their experience and dedication will be invaluable as we navigate the challenges of the upcoming season.”
The Blazers are looking to reload at the goaltending position, with the signing of ’04’s Creedon Dyck, who has NCDC experience, and Emmett Dixon, who has played in the PIJHL and BCHL.
“They both bring a high level of skill, leadership, and stability to the team,” Ruud added. “Their presence in the net will be a significant asset, providing us with the confidence and consistency needed to compete at a high level throughout the season.”
Additionally, the Blazers staff worked extremely hard to bring in newer players to the junior realm that will also help guide the Blazers to an exciting near future.
“One of the key newcomers to our team is Luc Desjardins. Although he’s older, he’s a rookie in the junior ranks and is expected to be a strong addition to our lineup,” said Ruud. “His maturity and experience, even as a rookie, will bring a unique blend of stability and skill to the team. We’re excited to see how he contributes as he transitions into this new role.”
The Blazers are also excited that they will see some different teams like Bremerton, Iron County and Colorado, while renewing their traditional divisional rivalries.
“I believe the Northwest Division will be highly competitive this year. Seattle and Vernal have established themselves as top-end teams, and they’re expected to be strong contenders again this season,” Ruud said. “The addition of three new teams to the division adds an exciting element of unpredictability. It will be interesting to see how these new teams adapt and perform. Overall, I expect a very competitive division, with plenty of close games and strong performances across the board.”
Bremerton Sockeyes
Season Opener: Sept. 20 at Rogue Valley Royals
The Sockeyes will bring a whole new dynamic to the traditional Evergreen State rivalry of Seattle vs. Bellingham, and they hope to be a team that neither team wants to face. The same goes for the more eastern members of the Division in Colorado and Utah.
The Sockeyes have set up shop in the Bremerton Ice Center, and Bremerton is just across Puget Sound from downtown Seattle. Head Coach Steven Soto, who joined from the NCDC’s Ogden Mustangs, will be running the team on the bench this year. He helped the Mustangs to the 2024 Dineen Cup Championships last spring in Foxboro, Mass.
“For the 2024-2025 season, my expectations are to be competitive, develop our players to move on to higher opportunities, and establish our new franchise as a suitable destination for players in the future that are looking for growth and development, not only in their future hockey careers, but also as being good human beings in society,” said Soto.
The Sockeyes have done a lot of recruiting during the off-season, but they will largely be a squad of players getting their first look at junior hockey.
“To start the season, the Sockeyes will be inexperienced in regards to players that have played juniors in the past,” Soto added. “The player that sticks out the most is ’04 defensemen Jeremy Krief-Mestroni. Jeremy plays a heavy game and moves really well. He makes the right reads and does really well going into corners and making plays. We will rely heavily on his leadership early on and we will work really hard to also add more veteran leadership as the season progresses.”
Krief-Mestroni, of St-Laurent, Que., played two seasons in the Quebec Junior Hockey League before signing with Bremerton.
From clear across the U.S., the Sockeyes signed Jaden Salado, an ’05 goalie who played for the 95 Giants 18U AAA program in Massachusetts last year.
“His movements are dynamic and explosive and he tracks the puck well,” said Soto. “He has posted great numbers throughout his youth hockey career and I expect his consistency to continue throughout his junior career and beyond.”
Dylan McNulty is an ’06 forward who brings years of youth experience, but plays much bigger than a rookie.
“He consistently plays the body and disrupts plays efficiently by opposing players,” said Soto. “I anticipate him having a breakout season as a first-year junior player.”
Soto and the Sockeyes may be new to the Premier, but he has gotten to know the Northwest Division well.
“The Vernal Oilers and Seattle Totems will be the teams to beat in order to have a fighting chance to move past the regular season. The Northwest Division has three teams that will be playing their first season in the USPHL so there are a lot of unknowns going into the beginning of the season,” added Soto. “With late player additions consistently being added to rosters it will be difficult to gauge who the other top teams in the division are going to be early on.”
Colorado Fighting Elk
Season Opener: Sept. 20 vs. Iron County Yeti
Donovan Gault founded the Fighting Elk this past spring in Craig, Colo., coming in with USPHL Premier coaching experience as well as experience from prior college hockey seasons. It’s always a busy time building a team from the ground up, but Gault is confident that his squad will be more than ready for Game 1 of their existence on Sept. 20 against another new team in Iron County.
“I think we will be competitive this year for sure. I know there’s some tough teams in the division like Vernal and Seattle so it’ll be fun to see how we stack up against them in our first season,” said Gault. “I know Bellingham and Rogue Valley are good organizations as well, so my guys are going to have to bring their best game every day.”
The Fighting Elk are off to a good start in terms of bringing in experienced players, including some from within the USPHL Premier.
Ryan Mitchell is an ’05 defenseman and a Colorado native with both Premier and USPHL Elite experience, and Kale Tibbetts is an ’05 blueliner from Aspen, Colo., who played for two Premier organizations in 2023-24.
The Fighting Elk signed ’04 forward Silas Larsen from the NA3HL, and his former teammate at that level Austin Gray has also played prior seasons in the USPHL Elite.
In terms of newcomers to the junior game, Gault is looking forward to seeing what Walker McGillis and Josh Pashley can do. McGillis is an ’06 out of North Dakota high school hockey with an earlier stint with Team North Dakota. Pashley is an ’05 forward from Castle Rock, Colo., who has previously played with the Colorado Rampage program.
“Walker is going to be fun to watch this year. He’s a big kid who knows how to put the puck in the net,” said Gault. “Josh is going to be one of our top defensive rookies.”
Iron County Yeti
Season Opener: Sept. 20 at Colorado Fighting Elk
The Yeti are heading into their first year, and the excitement is palpable in Enoch, Utah. Following a recent ownership change, the ship is headed very much in the right direction. Rock Springs Grizzlies (NCDC) Head Coach Darren Naylor took ownership of the Yeti in mid-August, and GM/Head Coach Todd Renae said that the first-year organization will be preparing hard to defeat all opponents.
“We have a solid ownership group which really believes in us as a staff to get the job done. We have the freedom to market this team any way we can. We have a lot to offer, especially playing in a brand new, state-of-the-art facility [KJ’s Ice Barn],” said Renae. “It’s all part of the exciting times in hockey for Utah, from growing youth programs up to junior, and obviously with the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club coming to the state.”
The Yeti put together a solid staff that also includes former BCHL goaltender Aaron Mackenzie (Assistant GM/Assistant Coach) and Skills Coach Gabe Gauthier. Gauthier is a former NCAA champion with Denver University who enjoyed a productive NHL and AHL career. He later helped lay the groundwork of hockey’s growth in Las Vegas, paving the way for the Golden Knights to come to the city and eventually win a Stanley Cup.
The Yeti staff worked quickly to solidify their goaltending with the signing of 2004-born Mason Bouchard, who joins with two years of junior hockey from the Greater Metropolitan Hockey League and Alberta’s National Junior Hockey League. Mason Stephens is an ’06 from Missouri who has played for the St. Louis AAA Blues. Another ’06 goalie, Nate Nakka, joins from Upper Canada College, a prep school north of the border.
“That’s a solid group of goalies and kids coming from all over with a good mix of experience,” Renae said. “We’re looking to build around those guys and for them to be the backbone of the team, and stop a lot of pucks.”
On defense, the Yeti are looking forward to seeing what they’ll get from ’07 Marek Mraz, who impressed at the NCDC Rock Springs Grizzlies camp.
“He is extremely talented with a big body and he can move the puck,” said Renae.
On forward, there is another younger standout who has been impressive in the early going – ’08 Calgary native Nicolas Chirtic.
“He’ll be one of the younger guys on the team and will bring a ton of energy,” said Renae. “He’s another bigger kid who is a physical presence.
“With this being a new team, we are starting from scratch. It has been challenging, but we are pulling through it with a good mix of junior-experienced players and rookies,” Renae added. “We have some younger guys who we will develop and who will help shape the tradition of Yeti hockey.”
