Note: October Players Of The Month Includes September statistics.
Forwards
Peter Labos, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Labos (‘04/Plainview, N.Y.) has recently passed the 100-point mark, which is only just one milestone for Labos this season. The 2023-24 USPHL Premier Atlantic Division All-Star also became the P.A.L. Premier team’s all-time leading scorer going back to the current Premier Conference’s first season in 2017-18. This season, he put up 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points in 13 games, averaging 2.23 points per game to lead the division and he ranked sixth in the points.
Brett LoGelfo, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
LoGelfo (‘04/Center Moriches, N.Y.) finished October tied with Labos in points for sixth in the league at 29 (9-20-29), an average of 2.07 points per game. LoGelfo’s Premier career began in 2022-23 and played in his 100th career game of Oct. 30, and currently has 133 points for his time in the Premier.
Liam Coutu, Elmira Impact
Coutu (‘06/Granby, Que.) has been one of the most outstanding first-year 2006-born Premier players the league has seen, as he jumped right out to a line of six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in his first 10 games. Coutu, who is already on fire for a possible repeat selection in November as well with 11 points through two games, helped the Impact to reach the top spot in an always tight and competitive Atlantic Division.
Forward Honorable Mention: Dylan Helmueller, Rockets Hockey Club
Defensemen
Ryunosuke Shirozu, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
A regular fixture with his native country Japan’s IIHF junior tournament teams, Shirozu (‘06) finished October tied for sixth in league scoring among defensemen with his 5-12-17 totals in 14 games, good for 1.21 points per game. In October, he enjoyed a four-point game and then ended the month with his first two-goal performance.
Brandon Jung, Elmira Impact
A second-year Premier defenseman, Jung (‘04/Ann Arbor, Mich.) placed just north of Shirozu at fifth place in scoring with 18 points off of three goals and 15 assists in 14 games, good for a 1.29 points per game average. He was also the No. 1 defenseman for power play assists (10) and power play points (12), along with ranking fourth in assists (15). Jung has represented South Korea in IIHF competition in the past, as well.
Defenseman Honorable Mention: Breydon Webster, West Chester Wolves
Goaltender
Elijah Wiltshire, West Chester Wolves
Wiltshire (‘05/Palm Harbor, Fla.) helped to put the Wolves into a tie for first place in the Atlantic as a first-year team by the end of October. He registered a 4-1-1-0 record, making 209 saves on 221 shots for a .946 save percentage. His 1.98 goals against average put him in a company of only 13 goalies league-wide under the 2.00 mark.
Goaltender Honorable Mention: Noah Pfab, Hershey Cubs
Selection Process: The division’s coaches are presented with a ballot form with statistical leaders (ranked by points per game average for skaters and save percentage for goaltenders) and vote on that form. The league takes the results of that vote and presents the coaches with the finalists, who are able to vote on further changes if desired.
Summaries by Joshua Boyd
