USPHL Premier 2023-24 Midwest East Division Players Of The Month: November 2023

Summaries by Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com

Forward: Alexis Toussaint, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Toussaint (‘04/Varennes, Que.) put up a line of six goals and nine assists for 15 points during the month of November, which helped the Spacemen towards a 5-3-0-0 month. He fired a team-best 35 shots on goal for a 17.1 shooting percentage and won 93 of out of 153 faceoffs for a shining 61 percent success rate in the circle. His +9 rating was also good for second on the team. A first-year Premier player, he has already posted 41 points through 23 games, just past the halfway point of the regular season. 

Forward: Gerdas Paulauskas, Chicago Cougars

In a somewhat light month for the Cougars, Paulauskas was Mr. Consistent with seven points through his six games. The 2004-born native of Lisle, Ill., currently stands just two points away from the career 100-point mark during this, his third season with the Cougars – he has 98 points in 98 games. He’s all over the ice for Chicago, as he posted a +7 to tie for the team lead and his three hits were second most on the team in November, as were his five blocked shots. 

Forward: Jacques Lavrack, Metro Jets Development Program

Lavrack (‘03/Flint, Mich.) is back for another season of development from a team with the very word in its name. During November, in which the MJDP went 5-1-0-0, including a 4-0 sweep of the USPHL Detroit Showcase, of which the Jets organization was host. He registered four goals and five assists for nine points, good for 1.5 points per game last month. His +7 was tied for the team lead and his five blocked shots were second most on the team. Lavrack has posted 40 points in his 62 career Premier games. 

Defense: Fisher Moore, Fort Wayne Spacemen 

Moore (‘03/Cadillac, Mich.) has been a great veteran presence for the Spacemen as they push to make a return trip to Nationals in the spring after getting their first taste earlier this year. After putting up 18 points in 40 games last year, Moore already has 24 points in 20 games this season, and he was able to help the team with four goals and three assists for seven points in eight November games. His +7 rating tied for the team lead, and his 17 shots on goal led the Spacemen defense (and gave him a 23.5 shooting percentage). 

Defense: Enrick Fournier, Metro Jets Development Program 

Fournier (‘05/Montreal, Que.) has been a terrific addition to the Jets program as a young second-year Premier player. Fournier was a regular throughout the MJDP’s 5-1-0-0 run in November, putting up a goal and three assists for four points along the way. Fournier brings a steady two-way game that saw him put up the aforementioned points while also leading the Jets in hits (nine) and tying for the team lead in plus-minus (+7). Fournier has bypassed the eight points he registered in 42 regular season games with his prior team last year, as he currently checks in with 11 points through 17 Premier contests. 

Goaltender: Austin Muirhead, Metro Jets Development Program 

Muirhead (‘04/Novi, Mich.) was in net for three of the five MJDP wins during the month of November, and he was solid every time. He put up 78 saves on 81 shots faced during the month. Part of that was a 32-save shutout vs. the rival Motor City Gamblers on Nov. 29 to close the month. Muirhead remains undefeated in 65 minutes of hockey per game, by going 6-0-0-2 this season with a .951 save percentage and a 1.22 GAA. He is second in GAA – among a top three entirely populated by Jets organization goalies – and third in save percentage. 

Selection Process: The league media office sends top candidates to divisional coaches for review and coaches either approve or challenge the nominations.