@USPHL
By Bold City Battalion Staff
The Bold City Battalion and the Florida Jr. Blades are thrilled to announce the appointment of Kevin O’Reilly as the new Southeast District Scout. A former college player at New England College, O’Reilly brings a wealth of experience and a keen eye for talent to our organization.
In his new role, O’Reilly will be instrumental in identifying and recruiting promising players from the Southeast region. His deep understanding of the game, honed through years of competitive play and his ongoing work with JRC Hockey Management, makes him a valuable addition to our scouting team.
“We are excited to welcome Kevin O’Reilly to our scouting team,” said Rod Simmons, Director of Hockey Operations for Bold City and the Florida Jr. Blades. “His expertise and regional knowledge will be crucial in finding and developing the next generation of hockey talent.”
O’Reilly’s involvement with JRC Hockey Management, where he has demonstrated his commitment to player development and success, aligns perfectly with the Battalion’s and the Jr. Blades’ mission to cultivate top-tier athletes. His strategic insights and connections within the hockey community will enhance our scouting efforts and strengthen our teams.
“I am honored to join Bold City and the Florida Jr. Blades as the Southeast District Scout,” said Kevin O’Reilly. “I look forward to working with such a dedicated organization and contributing to the growth and success of our teams by discovering and nurturing new talent.”
About Bold City and the Florida Jr. Blades
The Bold City Battalion and the Florida Jr. Blades are dedicated to developing young hockey players through exceptional coaching, rigorous competition, and a commitment to excellence. Our programs aim to foster not only skilled athletes but also strong, disciplined individuals who excel both on and off the ice.
The United States Premier Hockey League (“USPHL”) is pleased to announce that the Boston Jr. Rangers and Railers Junior Hockey Club will be leaving the Eastern Hockey League (“EHL”) and joining the USPHL with five teams at multiple levels. In the 2024-25 season, both organizations will field teams at the NCDC and Premier levels along with a combined Elite team. In future seasons, they could further add teams based upon mutual agreement.
The Rangers and the Railers have been perennial powerhouses in the EHL. Led by Mike Sorabella, former Chairman of the EHL Executive Committee, the AXE Sports Group Inc (ASG) owns and operates both the Jr. Rangers, the Railers Junior Hockey Club, as well as the storied media and events company, Hockey Night in Boston. The Jr. Rangers have won two of the last four EHL Championships along with an EHL-P Championship during that same period. The two Jr. Rangers teams also made it to the finals in both divisions this past year. The Railers, founded by the legendary Coach Mike Addesa Jr., have had an equally prodigious history in the EHL. This past year they won both the EHL and EHL-P championships, being the first organization to ever accomplish this feat, and they have routinely made the semifinals and/or finals at both levels over the past several seasons.
“We are thrilled to welcome the AXE team and their clubs to the USPHL,” said Interim Commissioner, Murry N. Gunty. “These are elite people and elite organizations, and they will have a huge impact on both our league level operations/strategy as well as our on-ice product. The Jr. Rangers and Railers will further elevate our league and our ability to advance our players to the highest levels in college and pro hockey.”
“We would like to thank our former partners at the EHL for our years together and we wish them all the best in the future,” said Mike Sorabella, CEO of ASG Inc. “Looking forward, we are truly excited about the new direction of the USPHL and believe that our goals and objectives are aligned with where the league is going. We are motivated by the challenge of fielding competitive NCDC teams as well as competing for championships at every level of the USPHL.”
As part of this arrangement, Hockey Night in Boston will provide its best-in-class media services to the league and ASG will join the league’s competition committee. In addition, the NCDC will experiment with a pay-to-play option for these two New England division teams on a one-year trial basis. The remaining New England teams along with the Mountain and Atlantic Divisions of the NCDC will remain tuition free.
About the United States Premier Hockey League
Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is comprised of over 150 teams, fielding more than 20,000 players aged 8-21 in more than 100 organizations across the North, South, Midwest, West, and Canada. Our Junior Divisions consist of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), a tuition-free, Tier 2 Junior hockey division and our Premier & Elite Divisions, all geared toward college and pro placement. Our youth and midget divisions (operated through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) field full season 9U thru 18U teams. The USPHL has sent over 8,000 players to all levels of college hockey including over 3,300 into NCAA college hockey and over 200 players into NCAA Division I hockey. The USPHL has also had 17 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams.
Taffo Saw Terrific Seasons At Both USPHL Elite and USPHL Premier Levels since 2020
By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Marco Taffo has proven himself to be a powerful contributor in both of the USPHL’s Tier III leagues, and now he’s excited to bring that high-percentage game to the NCAA Division III world with Misericordia University.
Misericordia, located in Dallas, Pa., is getting ready for its inaugural season of NCAA hockey in 2024-25, and Taffo – a native of Staten Island, N.Y. – is excited to be getting in on the ground floor of the new program.
“I decided to commit to Misericordia because of the amazing hockey facilities and new program they’re starting up. Another big factor was the amount of academic support that is made available to you as a student,” added Taffo.
He is coming off of a second season with the Hershey Cubs in which he put up 34 points in 41 games. For his two-year Premier career, he finished with a total of 50 points in 76 regular season and playoff games going back to the start of the 2022-23 season.
“My time playing in Hershey was one of the best times of my life. The coaches, staff and people were amazing to me and gave me the best experience I could ever ask for. They helped me become a way more mature person on the ice and off, as well as finishing up the little details of my game to make sure I’m ready for the next level.”
Taffo originally joined the Rockets Hockey Club with their USPHL 16U (now THF 16U) Rockets AA team in 2019-20, and jumped over to the USPHL Elite Rockets Hockey Club the next season. He averaged well over a point per game for his Elite career, scoring 39 points in 31 games his first year, and then 56 points in 41 games the next year – plus another six points in three playoff games. All told, he departed the USPHL Elite with 102 points in 80 combined regular season and playoff games.
“My time in the USPHL Elite was a big jump in my development. I give a lot of credit to my coach Todd Wagenbach on giving me a big role on the team once I signed and he helped me develop in all aspects,” Taffo added. “I was ready to move on to Premier faster than I thought.”
He also knows the NCAA college hockey game will be faster, so a big part of his summer work has to do with endurance and quickness.
“Some parts of my game that I will be working on more before college are my 200-foot game as well as my speed and agility,” Taffo said.
The USPHL congratulates Marco Taffo, his family, the Hershey Cubs and Misericordia University for his commitment.
By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
He is a man of many Miles – and a majority them have been traveled since 2019 with the Hampton Roads Whalers.
Evan Miles joined the Whalers originally out of Mesquite, Texas, and was a standout for both the USPHL Elite and USPHL Premier Whalers between 2019 and 2022. He returned to the Whalers’ Premier team for a very productive 2023-24 campaign after also playing in the NCDC with the Utica Jr. Comets.
From here, it’s time to travel yet again – this time later this summer to his new college hockey home of SUNY-Morrisville. The Captain of this year’s Whalers team and veteran of 159 total NCDC, USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite
“Morrisville has exactly what I’m looking to study so I can get a job after my hockey career, and it provides great facilities,” said Miles. “Coach Kevin Krogol and Coach Ryan Pascarella made me feel right at home on my visit and started creating a bond I’m excited to build as I grow at Morrisville. While trust and your relationship is important, Morrisville also offers a rink on campus with ice time to train during free time and access to multiple tools to help player development which is a big key for my goal to play pro after college hockey.”
From 2019 through 2021, Miles was a staple of the Elite Whalers, putting up 49 points in 78 combined regular season and playoff games. He also started out the 2021-22 season with the Whalers, scoring 10 points in 10 games before earning a Tier II promotion. In 2022-23 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights and Utica Jr. Comets, he played in a combined 29 NCDC games, contributing eight points.
This year, he returned to the Whalers and provided nearly a point-per-game pace with 35 points in 38 games.
“My first two years on the Whalers Elite team were my favorite years as a Whaler. The coaching staff (Kody Rodriguez, Brad Jones and Pat Cavanagh) really welcomed me with open arms and coached me on every little detail to help me succeed.
“I love being at the rink and being able to work on my game so what really separated the whalers from everyone else was the Ice time I was able to get, whether it was with skating early morning with current Norfolk Admiral and former Hampton Roads whaler Brandon Osmundson or skating three times a day just to work on my shot and hands, I was on that ice,” said Miles. “I really thank Pat Cavanagh and his staff at Chilled Ponds for that access to help grow my game.”
He is also happy to be able to sharpen his game for college in the NCDC, and being able to have impacted all three USPHL junior levels.
“I really enjoyed my time in the NCDC. It was a great experience. The competition was intense and the speed was fast,” said Miles. “There were a lot of really skilled players and great coaching and a lot of opportunity to get better.”
He’ll continue to take every opportunity to get better as he gets ready to compete in the always challenging State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). He spoke to exactly what he’s working on this spring and summer.
“Definitely putting more pucks in the net, but also being more of an overall 200 foot player, focusing on the little details and being able to have poise and control the puck in tight areas – just anything I can better myself at so I can help my team succeed,” he added.
The USPHL congratulates Evan Miles, his family, the Hampton Roads Whalers and SUNY-Morrisville for his commitment.
Players, begin to pave Your Pathway to College Hockey by filling out a Premier/Elite Prospects Form today!
Northern Cyclones Elite, Premier All-Star Defenseman Excited For Future At Rivier University
By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Brady Bomal was an outstanding defenseman for the Northern Cyclones in the USPHL Elite Conference over two seasons, so good that he made the 2022-23 North (now New England) Division All-Star team. Then, he joined the USPHL Premier’s Northern Cyclones – and played so well he became a 2023-24 USPHL Premier New England Division All-Star as well.
Next, he’ll bring this all-star pedigree to the NCAA college hockey realm in 2024-25 with Rivier University.
“I started talking to Rivier when a couple of my teammates and I went on a visit to the campus in January. After talking with Coach [Shaun] Millerick, I liked his vision for how he wanted his team to play. He said my play style would fit in really well with my ability to move pucks and play both sides of the ice,” said Bomal.
“Taking the visit, seeing the campus and learning more about how well-regarded the university was made me very interested,” he added. “Hearing Coach Millerick, professors, and the rest of the staff talk about how invested the school is in the hockey program got me excited. With Rivier being a newer program, and joining into the MASCAC, I was sold on joining the program and helping it take the next step forward.”
Bomal, who plans to be a security major at Rivier, is coming off a season that saw him co-lead the Cyclones with a +27 rating and 37 points in 46 combined regular season and playoff games. This followed two seasons with the USPHL Elite team in which he had 50 points in 94 combined regular season and playoff games at that level with the Cyclones from 2021-23.
“I cannot say enough good things about my time with the Cyclones. My experience has really been second to none. The friendships created with teammates and coaches have been unbelievable. Not only have I grown as a player, but I have grown into a better person, and that’s what playing for the Cyclones is all about,” said Bomal. “The Cyclones’ development model was very beneficial for me personally. Playing two years at the Elite level against really good competition improved my game a lot. Being able to practice every day and work out with our strength coach during the week was a huge plus for us. Having the rink open over the summer at Cyclones Arena for kids to skate and get better was a huge luxury for me. My development from Year 1 to Year 3 has been night and day thanks to the Cyclones.”
Bomal also talked about the ability to move up between the Elite and Premier teams, which was another big part of helping him become an NCAA prospect.
“Having the chance to play both Elite and Premier for the Cyclones was an awesome experience. I think the two years at the Elite helped me be ready to make an impact at the Premier level right away. Coach Tim Plummer was the biggest reason I signed on to play Elite my first year, and I couldn’t have been more happy to have done so. His love for the game and his want to be better every day rubbed off on the rest of the team,” said Bomal.
“After my first year of Elite, Coach Bill Weiand told me exactly where I stood. Maybe I could have played Premier elsewhere, but he told me the plan and path to follow. A few kids before me took a similar path of playing Elite then premier. Getting a chance to be a captain my second year [at Elite] and lead a team taught me a lot as a person,” Bomal added. “I was very excited when I signed on to play Premier, and knew the work I needed to do to be ready.
“Over the summer, I did a lot of work with Coach Fred Hein. He was very instrumental in improving my skills. Going into the year I really didn’t know what to expect, especially with the Premier team coming off a National Championship. Even though we couldn’t repeat, I had such an enjoyable year with the guys and playing for Coach Weiand. These three coaches taught me a lot and definitely did a ton for my development, and I am very thankful for them,” he said.
With three seasons of USPHL junior hockey under his belt, Bomal was especially appreciative of the league’s structure, with many showcase events held throughout the year and hundreds of college commitments from the Premier level every year.
“I think the USPHL is a great league for advancement. They do a great job of showcasing teams at Showcase Series events and at Nationals,” Bomal said. “What I think is so great is that there are always people watching, whether it’s in person or on Flohockey. “You always have a chance to be seen. There’s great competition within the league and I think they do a great job at preparing you to play NCAA hockey.”
For his own Pathway To College Hockey, Bomal has some specific plans to be ready to give his best to Rivier University.
“Over the summer, I will work on getting bigger so I can compete at the college level,” Bomal added. “I will be working at Cyclones Arena so I will be prepared to play at Rivier in the fall.”
The USPHL congratulates Brady Bomal, his family, the Northern Cyclones and Rivier University for his commitment.
The USPHL congratulates former Islanders Hockey Club forward Robert Carpenter on helping the Florida Everblades to their third straight ECHL Kelly Cup Championship on Saturday, June 8.
Carpenter played for the Islanders’ Premier team, as well as their 18U team (currently members of the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) during the inaugural season of the USPHL in 2013-14. He played a combined 12 games with 10 points scored. At the time, the USPHL Premier was the top level of the nascent USPHL, and was the forerunner to today’s National Collegiate Development Conference.
Carpenter, the son of former NHL player Bobby Carpenter, went on to play nine games that same season for the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers and also played the next full season (2014-15) with the Musketeers. He finished with 75 points in a combined 74 regular season and playoff games in the USHL.
From the USHL, Carpenter played four years of NCAA hockey with Boston University, scoring 102 points in 144 games. This included a stint as Captain of the Terriers in 2018-19.
Carpenter signed with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers the same season and played his first two pro games, and scoring his first pro goal. He played 60 AHL games between 2018-19 and 2021-22, scoring 20 points.
He played in his first ECHL games with the Everblades in 2021-22, scoring 18 points in 19 games. After scoring six points in five games in 2022-23, Carpenter was back with a full season this year. As an Alternate Captain for the Blades, he scored 46 points in 60 regular season games. He was also good for a point per game during the Kelly Cup Playoffs, scoring 23 points in 23 games.
The Kelly Cup Champion Everblades share the Hertz Arena complex in Estero, Fla., with the USPHL’s Florida Jr. Blades, who field teams in the Premier and Elite conferences.
Carpenter was one of 58 former USPHL Premier players who played in the ECHL during the 2023-24 season. Seven more USPHL Premier alumni played in the AHL and four (John Marino, Ryan Donato, Callahan Burke and Joey Daccord) saw time in the NHL.
Reposted With Permission Of Ithaca Voice
The Elmira Impact of the United States Premier Hockey League will move part of its operations north to The Rink in Lansing, N.Y., for this upcoming season.
TheImpact, which was founded five years ago as part of the USPHL is a junior hockey team that fields players aged 17-20. Players, most of whom are chasing dreams of playing at the professional or college levels, hail from across the United States and beyond.
There are two teams in the Impact program — the USPHL Premier team and the USPHL Elite team, the latter of which will be based out of The Rink in Lansing for at least the 2024 season, according to Team President Tim Kolpien.
“The [Elite team] players will live in the Ithaca area. All their daily activities, daily practices, team workouts, team meetings, their education, community service, will all be in the Ithaca area,” Kolpien said.
The Elmira Impact, like other USPHL teams, rely on local families to host players during the season in exchange for a monthly stipend — similar to how many minor league baseball teams house their players during their seasons.
“It’s always been part of our long-term plan to expand into a more regional program,” Kolpien said. “So that’s why when we had the opportunity to move into the Finger Lakes by playing out of The Rink up in Lansing, we jumped at it.”
The Finger Lakes region, Kolpien said, provides a healthy hockey foundation on which to build, with an interested audience to boot. He pointed to the success of Cornell University’s hockey team, which is fresh off another NCAA postseason run, as well as the club hockey teams at Cornell and Ithaca College and the achievements of the Lansing Outlaws youth hockey team, among others.
“Ithaca was the first priority in terms of expansion just because of the facility up there, and the great hockey history that the Ithaca area has,” Kolpien said. “It’s a huge opportunity for us as an organization, and we feel like we’re gonna be a positive addition to the hockey world in Ithaca.”
Community service, which is included in players’ contracts with the Impact and often takes the form of helping with local food kitchens or youth hockey programs, is the league’s way of “giving back to the community that’s hosting us,” Kolpien said.
Players in the USPHL are not compensated, though Kolpien said they are basically working under a full-time hockey schedule. In part, Kolpien said this is because players would lose their amateur eligibility if they accepted a players’ salary, which would prevent them from playing in any NCAA program after their time with the Impact.
The move will also usher in more opportunities for local hockey talent who may wish to join the team. Kolpien said while their coaches recruit from around the world, they are anticipating more players from Tompkins County.
The team is holding a regional skate event on June 15 at The Rink, followed by a two-day camp at The Rink on July 20-21, which Kolpien said is a good way for hopeful players to meet and interact with the team’s decision-makers.
The league has 72 Premier hockey programs from coast-to-coast in the United States, with another 28 Elite programs as well.
Since its inception, Kolpien said the Impact has had more than 150 players during its four seasons so far. Players are largely from around the United States, though there have also been a significant number of international players who have come from popular hockey hotbeds Canada, Russia and Scandinavia, and even lesser-known hockey areas like Italy and Asia.
By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Boston, MA – May 28, 2024 – The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) proudly congratulates all 31 alumni who have been selected by their home countries’ hockey federations to represent their nations in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships taking place around the globe this spring.
The selected players represent a broad spectrum of the USPHL’s developmental success. The breakdown by USPHL conference includes:
- Six former NCDC players
- Seventeen former USPHL Premier players
- Thirteen former USPHL Elite players
Many of this year’s representatives have competed at multiple USPHL levels, showcasing the depth and breadth of talent cultivated within the league.
Notably, this list includes five USPHL alumni who contributed to their teams winning their divisional championships. Their victories have enabled their home nations to advance to the next highest division for the 2025 IIHF World Championships.
World Champions
Three USPHL Alumni Help Ukraine Win Division 1 Group B Championship
Ukraine captured the Division 1 Group B Championship, which will lift them to Division 1 Group A in 2025.
Alexander Peresunko, Springfield Pics/Boston Junior Bruins (2017-19)
Peresunko played for the Springfield Pics in 2017-18 in the USPHL Premier and Elite, and also played that year with the Boston Junior Bruins in the inaugural season of the NCDC. The next year, he was the Junior Bruins’ leading scorer with 18 goals and 42 assists for 60 points in the regular season, as well as four points in eight playoff games as the Junior Bruins captured the 2018-19 Dineen Cup.
Peresunko has represented Ukraine in four World Championships, three World Junior Under-20 Championships and two World Under-18 Championships. This season, he led the Division 1 Group A tournament in goals (5), assists (6) and points (11), en route to winning his first Gold Medal. He previously won Silver (2023) and Bronze (2022) as Ukraine worked their way up the D1A ranks year by year. During the 2023-24 season, he split the year between HK Poprad in the top Slovakian pro league and also played for AquaCity Pikes in Slovakia Division 2.
Andrei Deniskin, Hampton Roads Whalers (2016-17)
Deniskin was among the top point-getters for the USPHL Elite Whalers in 2016-17, scoring 23 goals and 20 assists for 43 points in 29 games that season, as well as 17 points in 12 playoff games, including a run at the USPHL Nationals.
Deniskin has played in two World Under-18, two World Under-20 and two World Championship tournaments for Ukraine, and this is his third overall medal and first Gold. He also won a Bronze with the Ukraine Under-18 team in 2016 and joined Peresunko and Felix Morozov on last year’s Silver Medal-winning Ukraine team as well. He scored four goals and two assists for six points in five World Championship D1A games. In 2023-24, he played pro hockey for Unia Oswiecim in Poland.
Feliks Morozov, Potomac Patriots (2017-18)
Morozov played 23 games for the Potomac Patriots in the first year of the current USPHL Premier Conference, leading the Patriots in points per game with 21 goals and 30 points in 23 games for a 1.30 points per game average. He also saw a four-game call-up to the NCDC’s former Syracuse Jr. Stars (now the Utica Jr. Comets).
He would go on to play in two World Under-18 Championships, three World Under-20 Championships and two World Championships for Ukraine. He has just won his fourth medal at IIHF tournaments – this is his second Gold, having won an Under-18 Gold in 2018. He won an Under-20 Bronze Medal in 2020 and a World Championship Bronze in 2022. He scored a goal and two assists for three points in five 2024 World Championship Games. This past season, he played in both Sweden’s HockeyEttan Division for Kiruna IF and in France’s Second Division for Morzine-Avoriaz.
Two USPHL Alumni Help Belgium Win Division 2 Group B Championship
Belgium will advance to the Division 2 Group A tournament in 2025.
Jelle Lievens, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (2022-23)
Lievens was named the Best Goaltender in the 2024 World Championships Division 2 Group B Tournament, going 4-0 with a 0.75 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. Lievens originally played the full 2022-23 season with the former Monarchs’ USPHL Premier team, playing in 28 games that season. These 2024 World Championships marked Lievens’ second straight year of playing in the D2B tournament. He won a Silver Medal with Team Belgium in 2023. He had previously played for Team Belgium in the World Under-20 Championships in 2020 and 2022. He was named the Top Player for Team Belgium at the 2022 tournament. This past 2023-24 season, he played pro hockey in Belgium for Chefs Leuven in the BeNeLiga.
Oliver De Croock, Minnesota Blue Ox (2018-20)
De Croock, who just completed his eighth IIHF tournament for Team Belgium, started with the Minnesota Blue Ox in 2018 and helped the Blue Ox to the National Semifinals, after a 49-point regular season in 42 games. He came back in 2019-20 and led the Blue Ox with a line of 29-39-68 in 44 games, as well as eight points in five postseason games.
De Croock first played in an IIHF tournament for Belgium in 2014-15, his first of three straight appearances with their World Under-18 team. In 2017, he made his first World Under-20 appearance and the very next year, he was named the Top Player for Team Belgium. He made his World Championship debut in 2019, playing again in 2022 (winning Bronze) and here in 2024. This year, the Lawrence University (NCAA) forward put up 11 points in five World Championship games, ranking in a tie for third on his international team as they pushed their way to Gold.
Also Representing Their Countries
World Championships (Top Level)
Lucas Brine, Utah Outliers/Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings/Potomac Patriots (2022-23) / Great Britain
Brine went an impressive 15-9-0-1 during a two-year USPHL Premier career, and he was also a top-flight postseason goalie with a 2.56 GAA and .924 save percentage in playoff games, including a run to the 2022 Nationals with the Utah Outliers. After helping Great Britain win a Bronze Medal in 2022 at the World Under-20 Division 2A tournament, he was rostered as a goaltender for Great Britain again this year as they skated as part of the top-level group that includes the U.S., Canada and all of the traditional hockey powers of the world. He dressed on May 21, but has not seen action in the tournament. He played this past year for the Dundee Stars in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Division 1 Group A
Chikara Hanzawa, South Shore Kings (2020-22) / Japan – The former NCDC All-Star led the Kings in scoring in both of his seasons, scoring 40 points in 33 games in his first year and 53 points in 47 games the next season. He committed to Sacred Heart University (NCAA Division I) in his first year with the Kings and has played 56 games for the Pioneers over the past two seasons. With Team Japan, he played in his fifth IIHF tournament, and second World Championship. He posted two assists in five games.
Division 1 Group B
Yuyang Hou, Beijing Shougang Eagles (2016-19) / China – Hou scored 109 points in 107 games for the former Beijing Shougang Eagles in the USPHL Elite, standing as that former program’s leading scorer by more than 40 points over the second career leading scorer. He has represented China five times in IIHF tournaments, and he led China this year with six points in five games. He has won two IIHF medals in 2018 (Silver) and 2020 (Bronze), both in the World Under-20 Championships.
Gang Wang, Beijing Shougang Eagles (2016-18) / China – Wang scored 37 points in 68 Elite regular season games and six points in six playoff games. This year marked his sixth IIHF tournament and first since 2019. He was part of the 2018 Division 3 World Under-20 Gold Medalist team.
Mingju Zheng, Beijing Shougang Eagles (2017-19) / China – Zheng scored 43 goals and 59 points in 55 games, plus three points in six playoff games. Zheng won a Silver Medal in 2019 at the World Under-18 level and a Bronze Medal in 2020 in the World Under-20 Championships.
Tianyou Zuo, Hampton Roads Whalers (2016-18) / China – Zuo helped the Whalers win the 2018 USPHL Elite Championship, scoring seven points in eight games in that year’s Nationals. Over two seasons, he scored 19 points in 48 Elite games and eight points in 33 Premier games for the Whalers. He has completed his sixth IIHF tournament for Team China, scoring four points in five D1B games. He has won two Gold Medals, the first in 2013 at the Under-18 Championships and the second in 2015 at the World Under-20 level.
Tobie Collard, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (2018-20) / Netherlands – Collard scored 22 points in 54 regular season games over two seasons, and he also saw five games up with the former Monarchs’ NCDC team. He helped the 2019 Monarchs to the USPHL Nationals. He has completed his seventh IIHF tournament for Team Netherlands. He was the team’s Top Player in 2017 at the Under-18 level, and he won a Bronze Medal in 2019 at the World Under-20 level.
Mitch Jongmans, South Shore Kings (2022-24) / Netherlands – Jongmans has played for the Kings in the USPHL Premier the past two seasons, scoring 27 points in 76 career games. He has played in five IIHF Tournaments for Netherlands, including this past season’s Under-20 Championships. He has been Netherlands’ Top Player in 2022 (World Under-18) and also at this year’s World Under-20 Division 2 Group A tournament. He also won a Bronze Medal in the World Under-18’s in 2022.
Konrad Kudeviita, Minnesota Blue Ox (2023-24) / Estonia – Kudeviita played in 38 games for the Blue Ox this past season, scoring a 3-8-11 line and he has played in five IIHF tournaments dating back to just 2021-22. He played in all five of Estonia’s World Championship games, making his debut at that level and winning the Bronze Medal. He had also played in the World Under-20 Championships D1B tournament, and he won a Silver Medal in 2022 in the Under-18 tournament.
Vadim Vasjonkin, Boston Junior Bruins (2015-17) / Estonia – Vasjonkin scored 20 points in 39 games with the Boston Junior Bruins, and he also played for the former Philadelphia Flyers Elite team. He played in his 11th IIHF tournament with Estonia at the World Championships, and he has twice been a Top Player twice for Estonia’s teams in the past. He won his third Bronze Medal this past spring and also won Gold in 2014 as an Under-18 player.
Division 2 Group A
Casey Kubara, Atlanta Jr. Knights (2014-16) / Australia – Kubara played for the former Atlanta Jr. Knights (now the Atlanta MadHatters) and was a key part of their USPHL Elite team, putting up a combined 35 points in 43 games, and he also registered 12 points in six games with the Knights’ former USPHL Empire team. He has just played in his eighth IIHF tournament for Australia. He has won an Under-18 Gold Medal (2014) and an Under-20 Bronze Medal (2015). He played this past year for the CBR Brave in his home country.
Jamie Woodman, Palm Beach Hawks (2013-14) / Australia – Woodman competed in the inaugural season of the USPHL, 2013-14, for the former Hawks at the USPHL Elite level, scoring six points in 37 games. He just recently played in his eighth IIHF tournament for Australia, and fifth World Championship overall. He has won three Silver Medals in past World Championships, three in a row from 2017 through 2019. He scored four points in five games th is year. Woodman played for the Perth Thunder in the Australian Ice Hockey League.
Ethan Hawes, Northern Cyclones/Islanders Hockey Club (2019-21) / Australia – Hawes played a total of 11 games for the Cyclones and also for the Islanders after having previously played in the Cyclones’ former USPHL 18U (now THF) team in 2019-20. He played in four IIHF tournaments for Australia, including being named Best Defenseman at the 2022 World Under-20 team in the Division 3 tournament, where he also won a Bronze Medal.
Yuval Turner, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (2022-23) / Israel – Turner played in 38 games, scoring a 5-5-10 line in the 2022-23 Premier season. He has represented Israel in IIHF play four times, including winning the Under-20 D3 Gold Medal earlier this year, which gives Israel a promotion to Division 2 Group B next year. He also won a Silver medal in 2023 at the Under-20 level. He registered one assist in five World Championship games as he made his debut at that level.
Division 2 Group B
Yung-Hsuan Wang, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (2023-24) / Chinese Taipei – Wang played in a combined 28 regular season and playoff games, helping the Jr. Canes return to the Elite National Championship Game for a second straight season. He scored six points over the course of the season. He has represented Chinese Taipei in five IIHF championship tournaments, and made his Worlds debut this year, scoring one goal. He won Gold Medals in 2022 at both the Under-18 and Under-20 levels, and was named the Top Player for his team at this year’s Under-20 Division 2 Group B championships.
Brody Hsiao, Rock Springs Prospectors (2022-23) / Chinese Taipei – Hsiao played in a combined 23 regular season and playoff games with the former Prospectors. He has represented Chinese Taipei four times in IIHF championship tournaments, including this year marking his second World Championship. He won Gold Medals in 2019 at the Under-18 level, in 2022 at the Under-20 level and in 2023 at the Division 3 Group A World Championships. He was also named Best Goaltender at the 2019 Under-18 Championship and at the 2023 World Championship Division 3A. Hsiao played in 2023-24 at San Diego State University.
Konstantin Dikov, South Shore Kings (2020-22) / Bulgaria – Dikov was a staple of the Kings’ Premier team for two seasons, registering a combined 25 points in 82 regular season and playoff games. He was also called up for two NCDC Kings games. He just completed his 11th IIHF championship tournament for his home country, and fifth Men’s World Championship. He scored three points in five games. He has been named Top Player for Bulgaria three times, and he has won two IIHF Gold Medals, one Silver Medal and three Bronze Medals. He was also named Best Defenseman at the 2020 World Under-20 Division 3 Championships. He played this year for Irbis Skate Sofia in his home country’s pro league.
Veselin Dikov, Okanagan European Eagles/Northern Cyclones (2016-18) / Bulgaria – Dikov first played in the USPHL Premier for the Okanagan European Eagles, scoring four assists in 37 games. In 2017-18, he played a combined 28 games for the Northern Cyclones and former Connecticut Nighthawks, also in the Premier, scoring 10 points. He has now played in 16 IIHF championship tournaments going back to 2012. He scored two points in five games this spring. The highly-decorated player has won eight IIHF medals (One Worlds Gold in 2019, three Silver and four Bronze). He was named Top Player for Bulgaria’s World Under-18 Team in 2016. He played this year with brothers Konstantin and Kaloyan for Irbis Skate Sofia.
Tomislav Georgiev, Connecticut Nighthawks (2017-18) / Bulgaria – Veselin Dikov’s former Nighthawks (and current Irbis Skate Sofia) teammate played in 15 combined regular season and playoff games for Connecticut, scoring seven points. Like Veselin, he also has played in 16 IIHF championship tournaments for Bulgaria, and he played in all five games this year as Alternate Captain at the Worlds. He too has eight IIHF medals (World Gold in 2014 and 2019, four Silver and two Bronze).
Martin Raynov, Tampa Bay Juniors/Isanti Outlaws (2020-22) / Bulgaria – In 2020-21 at the Elite level, Raynov scored 14 points in 40 combined regular season and playoff games for Tampa Bay, before moving to the Premier level with the former Rum River Mallards (now the Isanti Outlaws). He scored six points in a combined 39 games with Rum River. He has completed five IIHF world championship tournaments, and his third World Championship. Last year, he won Bronze Medals at both the Under-20 and World Championship tournaments. The current University of Florida (AAU) player competed in four games at this year’s Worlds.
Alex Regan, Charleston Colonials/Atlanta MadHatters (2019-22) / New Zealand – In 2019-20, Regan played for Charleston and split the season between the Elite (14 points in 26 games) and Premier (one point in 17 games). He joined the MadHatters the next season and skated for two Premier seasons with Atlanta, totaling 16 points in 100 combined regular season and playoff games. He has represented New Zealand four times in IIHF championship tournaments, including winning a Silver Medal at this year’s Worlds. He also won a Gold Medal at the Under-18 level in 2018, where he was named New Zealand’s Top Player.
Jacob Carey, Rockets Hockey Club (2023-24) / New Zealand – The ‘05-born Carey played in 26 games for this year’s Rockets Premier team, and scored 31 points. He completed his fourth IIHF championship tournament, and first World Championships with New Zealand, winning a Silver Medal. He scored four points in five games. Carey also helped New Zealand to the World Under-20 D3A Silver Medal this winter. He won a Gold Medal and was New Zealand’s Top Player with his country’s Under-18 team at the 2023 World Under-18 D3B championships.
Division 3 Group A
Ernazar Isamatov, Florida Jr. Blades (2021-22) / Kyrgyzstan – Played the full 2021-22 season for the Florida Jr. Blades, putting up 13 points in 29 combined regular season and playoff games at the Elite level, plus four assists in nine USPHL Premier games. He has played in five IIHF championship tournaments for Kyrgyzstan, and this was his third World Championship. He registered four assists in five games. In 2022-23, he won the Division 3 Group B Best Defenseman Award and helped Kyrgyzstan to the Gold Medal. This spring, he helped Kyrgyzstan to the D3A Silver Medal.
Alonso Tapia, Fresno Monsters (2022-23) / Mexico – Tapia scored a combined 29 points in 49 regular season and playoff games for the Monsters in 2022-23. He has completed his fifth appearance in an IIHF championship tournament with Mexico, and in his second World Championship. With a 4-3-7 line in five games, he was named Mexico’s Top Player for the 2024 World Championship. He played in 2023-24 with the University of Alberta.
Division 3 Group B
Carlo Angelo Tigaronita, Columbia Infantry (2022-23) / Philippines – With the Infantry in the Elite Conference, Tigaronita scored six points in 32 games. He made his international debut with the Philippines last year in the Division 4 World Championships, helping Philippines win the Gold Medal last year. He put up three points in five games in the Division 3 Group B World Championships this year.
Yi Yam, Atlanta MadHatters (2021-22) / Hong Kong – Yam played in nine games with the MadHatters Elite team in 2021-22. He has played in four IIHF championship tournaments and two World Championships. He has earned a medal in every appearance, winning Silver at the Under-18 level in 2018 and 2019, and Bronze Medals at the 2023 and 2024 Worlds.
By Carolina Jr. Hurricanes Staff and Joshua Boyd
The Carolina Jr. Hurricanes are very excited to announce their new assistant coach for their USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite teams: Jr. Canes alum C.J. Stucky.
“I’m very excited C.J. accepted our offer to coach both teams alongside me this year and hopefully years to come. I’ve known C.J. for a long time and his passion for the game is what stands out the most to me. I recruited C.J. many years ago for a reason,” said Jr. Canes Premier/Elite Head Coach Brad Gaylord. “The character of this young man is incredible. He’s honest, respectful, trustworthy and humble. He was the first person I thought of when I made my list of possible assistant coaches, and I couldn’t be happier that he accepted. Our players, families, and fans will soon see why I wanted C.J. to be a part of our staff. Welcome back!”
A 2002-born native of Everett, Wash., Stucky joined the Jr. Canes Premier team in 2021-22 and remained with the team through the 2022-23 season. He scored 54 points in 69 games over the course of his career, which saw him put up 38 points in 39 games in his final season. He closed his career as a USPHL Premier Southeast Division All-Star.
“Coming into the Jr. Canes organization three years ago I fell in love with the city of Raleigh and the community it brought me as a young hockey player,” said Stucky. “The loyalty and passion the Jr. Canes showed me for my two seasons playing made it very hard to think of myself playing or working for any other organization.
“I spent this last hockey season as the assistant equipment manager for the Seattle Kraken. Through my experience with the Kraken faculty, I began to think about getting into coaching. When my contract was nearing its end, I reached out to Brad and talked about life and discussed where I wanted to end up. He told me I should come back to North Carolina and be his assistant coach,” Stucky added. “I am beyond ready to use all of my knowledge from playing and working in the industry into being a great coach this upcoming season. I am thankful for Brad Gaylord and the Jr. Canes giving me this opportunity, and I am excited to work and learn from him. The Jr. Canes family is an amazing program to be a part of and I am grateful to be back with them.”
The USPHL joins the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes in congratulating C.J. Stucky on being named as USPHL Premier and USPHL Elite Assistant Coach for the Jr. Canes.
By Joshua Boyd / USPHLElite.com
Jean Berthaudin is a shutout king in the USPHL Elite, and not just for 2023-24.
The eight blankings he put up this past season are the most in a single season, yes, but they are also tied for the most in an Elite career as well. Berthaudin was a big hit not just with his Hampton Roads Whalers teammate and coaching staff, but with Fan’s Choice voters, as well.
He earned 6,085 of 7,996 votes in the final round, or 76.1 percent of the vote in the 1-on-1 voting round. His 643 votes in the first round of voting (where fans could vote for anyone) was also the most by far for any Elite goaltender, representing 33.5 percent of the total 1,917 first round votes.
“I am extremely thankful for all my fans, I am blown away by how many votes I received,” said Berthaudin, a native of St-Rose-du-Lac, Man. “It’s truly an honor being able to play in front of them.”
Berthaudin went 14-7-1-1 overall this year, while facing 785 shots, eighth most in the league. He also registered a 1.74 goals against average, which ranked fourth in the league. When he registered his eighth shutouts, he tied former Whaler Ty Morton in setting the career mark for shutouts.
He was happy to do it all for one of the most successful franchises in USPHL history, the winner of the first two USPHL Premier championships and the first USPHL Elite title – the Hampton Roads Whalers. “The atmosphere at the rink” is his favorite part of being a Whaler, he added.
“Chilled Ponds is always packed with parents and their kids who greet you everyday before practice or pumping you up before a game, it’s great,” he added.
Berthaudin is now set to move on to college hockey with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., an ACHA team.
“I’m very excited to get the opportunity to play for Aquinas. I have toured the school and I can’t wait to be there this fall,” he added.
The USPHL Elite congratulates the inaugural Fan’s Choice Goaltender Of The Year, Jean Berthaudin.
