USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: South Region

Week of Oct. 24, 2024

Games of Oct. 15-21

 

Florida Division 

Forward: Xavier Charron, Florida Eels

Charron (‘06/Quebec City, Que.) scored two goals and added five assists during the Eels’ three-game week, which included three-peating as USPHL Florida Cup Champions. He now has eight points in five games in this, his first junior season. 

 

Defense: Jackson Henningsgaard, Tampa Bay Juniors

Henningsgaard (‘06/Mound, Minn.) registered a pair of assists, as the Juniors pushed past the Florida Jr. Blades and into the Florida Cup Finals. He has improved to five assists in nine games after joining from the Minnesota high school ranks with Mound Westonka High School. 

 

Goaltender: Russ Decoste, Florida Eels

Decoste (‘05/Enfield, N.S.) was simply spectacular in helping to lead his team to their third straight Florida Cup in-season tournament championship. Decoste stopped 51 of 52 shots in total, including a 16-save shutout in the semifinals and 35 saves on 36 shots against Tampa Bay in the final. His .961 save percentage and 1.00 GAA are both top five in the Premier. 

 

Southeast Division

Forward: Yovanni Flores, Potomac Patriots 

Third-year Patriot and Captain Flores (‘04/Los Angeles, Calif.) scored five goals and added two assists for seven points during the Pats’ four games at the USPHL Jersey Hitmen Classic. He has played in 80 Premier games, and came up from the USPHL Elite team of 2022-23, a great example of USPHL Advancement In Action. 

 

Defense: Ivan Gutierrez, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 

Gutierrez (‘05/Frisco, Texas) scored a goal and added three assists for four points as the Jr. Canes defeated the host Jersey Hitmen to open up the Hitmen Classic on Sunday. That represented the majority of his five points early on this season. 

 

Goaltender: Evan Crawford, Charlotte Rush

Crawford (‘04/Greenwich, Conn.) stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced for a 2-0 record at the USPHL Jersey HItmen Classic. This included a 14-save shutout of College Universel Gatineau, to keep Crawford undefeated in regulation at 5-1-0-1.  

Selection Process: Divisional statistical leaders are presented to coaches, who are able to nominate and vote on alternate candidates. 

Summaries by Joshua Boyd