(Week of Dec. 1-5)
Midwest West Division
(Summaries by Jim Den Hollander)
Forward: Tyler Ortega, Minnesota Mullets
The Mullets managed one win on the weekend, and it was a nice one – and Ortega (‘02/Litchfield Park, Ariz.) played a part. In the middle game, Ortega scored a pair to lead the Mullets past the first place Isanti Outlaws right in Isanti. Tthe following night the Mullets fell 5-2 in Owatonna against the host Steele County Blades, but Ortega stayed hot, scoring one and setting up the other. Watch for more from Ortega, who doubled his point output on the season (4-4-8) and will be looking for more.
Defense: Andrei Moskvitin, Steele County Blades
The Blades collected two weekend wins, helped by Moskvitin (‘05/Tomsk, Russia). The team briefly missed the defender who had to return to Russia to renew his visa before returning in time for the weekend matches, including a 5-3 win in Elk River against the always-tough Minnesota Squatch. Moskvitin contributed a powerplay goal along with an assist in the contest. Following a tough loss in Hudson Saturday, the Blades returned home and Moskvitin added another assist in a 5-2 win against the visiting Mullets.
Goaltender: Bora Yildirim, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings
Yildirim (‘03) helped the Riverkings rally back from a 4-2 loss in Blaine Friday, kicking out all but two of 49 shots faced in goal as they turned the tables with a 4-2 win to split their series with the Minnesota Moose. Yildirim’s selection this week shows the depth and diversity on the backend for the Riverkings as teammate Lucas Brine was named the previous week as Goaltender of the Month. Yildrim has skated to the blue paint seven times this season, winning five with a .920 save percentage.
Great Lakes Division
(Summaries By Lexi Obrycki)
Forward: Jacob Ammar, Toledo Cherokee
A first year player for Toledo, Ammar (‘03/Scarborough, Ont.) had a fantastic weekend. In the Cherokee home series against Buffalo, Ammar had three goals and five assists for eight points to help Toledo go 2-0 over the weekend and they are now on a 6-0 winning streak. Ammar is third on the team in points with 11-19-30 in 19 contests.
Defense: Michael Lucia, Metro Jets
Lucia (‘03/Streetsboro, Ohio) had a four-point game against Cincinnati getting a goal and three assists. The first-year defenseman is currently in second place for his team in points for defenseman with a 2-13-15 line in 16 games. He is also fourth overall in plus-minus at +18.
Goaltender: Rocco Stolz, Metro Jets
Stolz (‘04/Lake Orion, Mich.) was able to up his record to 5-0 over the weekend after the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones. Stolz saved all of the 16 shots he faced giving him his second shutout for the season. Stolz is coming off a November during which he earned the November Goaltender Of The Month honor.
Midwest East Division
(Summaries by Miles Regan)
Forward: William Boyer, Motor City Gamblers
The ‘02 Detroit native has been on a tear for his hometown team as of late. Boyer has scored 11 points (9-2–11) in his last nine games, including a goal in each of Motor City’s victories last weekend. On Dec. 1, his second period equalizer helped the Gamblers down MJDP, 3-1, their franchise’s first win against the Jets organization since their first game against MJDP on Dec. 11, 2018 (4-3 for Motor City). Boyer then scored the winner in the rematch three days later, leaving him with two goals (and two victories) against the MJDP this season.
Defense: Fisher Moore, Fort Wayne Spacemen
The Spacemen won all three of their games, beating the Columbus Mavericks 3-2 in a shootout twice before defeating Battle Creek by the same score in regulation on Sunday. Moore, an ‘03 hailing from Michigan, recorded a nice assist during Sunday’s game. He assisted on Fort Wayne’s first-ever goal at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Moore has totaled seven points (4-3–7) during his first USPHL season.
Goaltender: Robert Allport, Motor City Gamblers
Allport (‘03/Fitchburg, Wis.0 had a dominant weekend in net for Motor City. He went 2-0 and gave up just one goal, stopping 78 of 79 shots faced for an impressive .987 save percentage. He recorded his third #ShutoutShoutout of the season against MJDP on Dec. 4, and is currently tied for most shutouts in the division with Chicago’s Sebastian Wigfield.