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

Summaries by Joshua Boyd 

Forward: Tyler Zembrzycki, Springfield Pics

Zembrzycki (‘03/East Islip, N.Y.) already has almost as many goals as he had points in 2023-24, putting up a 25-26-51 line in 26 games, following last season’s 28 points in 30 games. In December, he put up four goals and seven assists for 11 points over six December games. The Pics have gone 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 to get into a tight pack of four teams within five points between second and fifth place. He led all Pics in ice time with 23:46 in ice time, and he also led with 64 percent success in the circle with 10 faceoff wins per game. 

Forward: Sean Tyrie, Utica Jr. Comets

Tyrie (‘04/East Quogue, N.Y.)  registered a 2.00 points per game average, with a 4-6-10 line in five contests during the month of December. Utica is able to hold a seven-point lead for pole position in the New England Division thanks to players like Tyrie and fellow Player Of The Month Cameron Gardiner. Tyrie only recently returned to the Jr. Comets Premier squad for whom he put up 66 points in 42 games last year. He has also played in 13 NCDC games in his career, with five points there. Tyrie also led the team with a +6 rating. 

Forward: Bryan Weissler, Boston Junior Bruins

Weissler (‘04/Floral Park, N.Y.) averaged a goal per game for the Junior Bruins in December, putting up a 5-4-9 line in five games, good for a 1.8 points per game. He registered two points per game in four of the five games and is on a six-game scoring streak going back to Nov. 19. He also has five goals over his last four games, carrying both a goal-scoring and point streak into January 2024. Weissler also led plus-minus with a +3. He has 22 points in 23 games. 

Defense: Cameron Gardiner, Utica Jr. Comets

Gardiner (‘04/Tilbury, Ont.) registered five assists in five games for the Jr. Comets as they continued to lead the New England Division. Gardiner led all Jr. Comets blueliners with an average of 23:05 per game, and he also blocked 17 shots, averaging more than three per game. He now has nine points in 22 games. 

Defense: Ben Parent, Northern Cyclones

The second-year junior Parent (‘04/Hudson, Wis.) was good for six assists in seven games for the Cyclones, who are 8-2 over their last 10 entering the new year. Parent’s 23:05 of ice time per game was more than four minutes on average ahead of any teammate, and his nine blocks also led the Cyclones. Parent improved to 11 points in 19 games. 

Goaltender: Troy Huber, Springfield Pics 

The Pics got outstanding performances over 208 minutes and Huber gave them four points in his four appearances in which he put up a .941 save percentage to lead the New England Division last month. He made 192 saves on 204 shots for the month, including 45 saves on 46 shots in a win against the Islanders Hockey Club to close 2023, also avenging a loss to IHC earlier in the month. He stopped 64 of 68 in an overtime loss to Connecticut on Jan. 10, one day after stopping 48 of 52 in a relief appearance. He stands at 4-4-1-0 on the season with a .934 save percentage.

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