Week of Sept. 18, 2024
Great Lakes Division
Forward: Anthony DiFlora, Toledo Cherokee
DiFlora (‘04/Miamisburg, Ohio) came back to the Cherokee after an already impressive 42-point season last year, and he now stands with a 2-2-4 line after the Cherokee’s season-opening win against the Battle Creek Kernels. That also put him over a point per game for his career with 46 points in 43 regular season games.
Defense: Leo Crawford, Toledo Cherokee
Another returning Cherokee player, Crawford (‘04/Perrysburg, Ohio) kicked off the season with three assists in the team’s decisive victory against Battle Creek.
Goaltender: Andrew Young, Red River Spartans
The Spartans put on a great show for their first time playing in their new home of Clarksville, Tenn., winning both their games against Columbus. The third-year Premier veteran Young (‘04/Arlington Heights, Ill.) stopped 68 of the 73 shots he faced this weekend to help the newly-minted Red River Spartans to a 2-0 start.
North Division
Forward: Jovan Fowler, Minnesota Mullets
Welcome to the USPHL, Jovan Fowler. The ‘06 from Roseville, Minn., jumped right out with a hat trick against the Minnesota Blue Ox. Fowler is the first Mullets player to ever score a hat trick in his Premier debut and also the first to score a hat trick in the opening game of a Mullets season.
Defense: Olli Niemela, Minnesota Mullets
The returning Mullets blueliner, an ‘06 from St. Louis Park, Minn., put up a pair of assists and kept the Blue Ox as the Mullets took control of their opener from the start. Niemela will be able to play a couple outdoor games in his hometown later this season.
Goaltender: Kody Niederkorn, Minnesota Mullets
Another returning Mullet, Niederkorn (‘04/Hastings, Minn.) was lights-out with a 48-save shutout to kick off his season, the most saves in a shutout win in the Premier since last September. This was also Niederkorn’s first Premier shutout.
Pacific Division
Forward: Magnus Lowham, Long Beach Bombers
Lowham (‘04/Jackson, Wyo.) scored the first goal in Long Beach Bombers history to kick off their existence at Lakewood Ice on Friday night. Lowham is in his third junior season, bringing a strong veteran presence to the first-year Bombers.
Defense: Gage Latimer, Ventura Vikings
Latimer (‘05/Lloydminster, Sask.) is a second-year junior veteran who joined up with the Vikings for their first season, and made an immediate impact with his first goal, the first in Vikings history.
Goaltender Brasco Cirillo, Ventura Vikings
Cirillo (‘07/Saint Davids, Ont.) stopped 32 shots to help guide the Vikings to that historic first win. This also marked the first junior victory for the former Nichols School player.
– Summaries by Joshua Boyd
