Week of Oct. 24, 2024
Games of Oct. 15-21
North Division
Forward: Jace Lombardo, Minnesota Blue Ox
Lombardo (‘04/Staten Island, N.Y.) put up four goals and four assists for eight points in just two games for the Blue Ox. Lombardo is the reigning USPHL Elite Fans Choice MVP winner, and he has improved to 15 points in 12 games. He put up his first Premier hat trick on Oct. 19.
Defense: Zachary Farnsworth, Minnesota Blue Ox
Second-year Blue Ox blueliner Farnsworth (‘05/Omaha, Neb.) posted a 3-1-4 line for his first hat trick in junior hockey on Oct. 21 in the Blue Ox’s first USPHL Wisconsin Showcase game. He stands with nine points in 13 games, one more than his 2023-24 total.
Goaltender: Kevin Podgurny, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
Podgurny (‘06/Montreal, Que.) registered a 19-save shutout on Oct. 20 against the Mercer Chiefs at the USPHLJersey Hitmen Classic, and finished the event with a 1-1 record and a 1.50 GAA. For his three games with the Riverkings so far this year, he has a .932 save percentage.
Midwest Division
Forward: Bogdan Vysotsky, Fort Wayne Spacemen
The second-year Spaceman Vysotsky (‘05/Volgrad, Russia) was absolutely on fire as the Spacemen defeated the Battle Creek Kernels and MJDP. He put up three goals and six assists for nine points in the two games and is on a five-game scoring streak with 15 points so far, already close to the 18 points he put up in 23 games last year.
Defense: Thomas Cheeney, Fort Wayne Spacemen
Cheeney (‘04/Otterburn Park, Sask.) put up a 2-4-6 line in the most recent two wins for the Spacemen. Cheeney played in 41 Spacemen games last season, and through his first five games this year, he has seven points.
Goaltender: Lukas Janicina, Chicago Crush
Janicina (‘06/Bratislava, Slovakia) returned to the Premier for his second season by putting up a 27-save shutout victory in his debut for the Crush on Oct. 19 against the Decatur Blaze.
Great Lakes Division
Forward: Gavin Elkins, Toledo Cherokee
Elkins (‘05/Fort Wayne, Ind.) put up five goals and five assists for 10 points in the Cherokee’s three-win series against the Red River Spartans. He scored two of the three game-winners during the series as well. He currently has a 6-7-13 line in eight games.
Defense: Zane Myler, Toledo Cherokee
Second-year Cherokee Myler (‘04/Ann Arbor, Mich.) put up two assists in each of the first two victories against Red River, and then also scored a goal on Oct. 20. He currently has four goals and five assists for nine points in eight games.
Goaltender: Austin Nowak, Toledo Cherokee
In his two wins for the Cherokee over the weekend, the returning Cherokee Nowak (‘04/Sylvania, Ohio) put up 66 saves on 71 shots. He is currently 4-1-0-0 on the season with a .951 save percentage, good for ninth in the Premier.
Selection Process: Divisional statistical leaders are presented to coaches, who are able to nominate and vote on alternate candidates.
Summaries by Joshua Boyd
