USPHL Premier 2023-24 New England Division Players Of The Month: January 2024

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

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com 

Forward: Tighe Frazee, Utica Jr. Comets 

Frazee (‘05/Stevensville, Ont.) has been a dynamo since joining the Jr. Comets in November. For the month of January, the Jr. Comets went 9-1-0-0 partially off the backs of Frazee scoring eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points, an average of 2.2 points per game over the 10 games. Frazee actually played in 12 games during January, as he also got two single game call-ups with the NCDC, including posting a 1-1-2 line on Jan. 7 and also playing for the Tier II Jr. Comets on Jan. 13. He has 30 points through 16 games in Utica. Frazee also led his team in plus-minus with a +22 last month. 

Forward: Sean Tyrie, Utica Jr. Comets 

Tyrie (‘04/East Quogue, N.Y.) was right down the middle with a goal and an assist per game over the 9-1-0-0 Utica run in January, as he put up 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Tyrie joined the Jr. Comets last year out of their 18U program and has since become the fifth all-time leading scorer in the Premier team’s history, scoring 97 points in 59 games – in addition to five points in 13 NCDC games for Utica and Ogden, as well. 

Forward: Jake Hall, Utica Jr. Comets 

Hall (‘03/Rome, N.Y.) joined the Jr. Comets last year, playing 21 games before being not only a full member of this year’s team but also their top scorer. He has 52 points in 32 games, equally split down the middle between 26 goals and 26 assists. During the month of January, he put up six goals and 11 assists for 17 points over eight Premier games. Hall registered 90 faceoff wins on 166 faceoffs for a 54 percent success rate in January, as well. He played for the NCDC Jr. Comets during their Jan. 19-20 weekend series against Twin City, registering an assist there. In the Premier, he has an active 10-game scoring streak of 8-13-21 in those 10 – and he can add to that. 

Defense: Jackson Lukrofka, Utica Jr. Comets 

Lukrofka (‘05/Scottsdale, Ariz.) has been huge for helping the Jr. Comets on both the defensive and offensive sides of the coin in January. His +9 was tied for second on the team in January, and he also put up two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 10 games. That gives the first-year junior player out of the North Shore Academy a total of 26 points in 33 games. 

Defense: Brady Bomal, Northern Cyclones

Bomal (‘03/Westford, Mass.) continues to be a great example of #USPHLAdvancement In Action, as he played the prior two seasons with the Elite Cyclones and is now a two-time Players Of The Month honoree at the Premier level, also having won for October. During the month of January, he registered three goals and six assists for nine points, and he’s also a +6 for second on the team. Over the last three seasons, he has put up 118 regular season and 11 postseason games with the Cyclones, including two straight trips to the Elite National Championships. 

Goaltender: D.J. Lyons, Islanders Hockey Club 

Lyons (‘03/Breaux Bridge, La.) has fit right in with his new team, the Islanders Hockey Club. Lyons has enjoyed five seasons in the USPHL, starting originally in 2019-20 with the Potomac Patriots 16U squad and moving up through the Elite and into the Premier, starting in 2022-23. He joined the Islanders from Nashville in November, and during January, he went 1-1-0-1. Part of those 184 minutes included a huge victory where he made 44 saves on 45 shots against the defending National Champion Northern Cyclones. For the month, he put up 99 saves on 104 shots for a .952 save percentage and a 1.63 GAA. On the season, he is 9-5-0-2 with a .915 save percentage.