USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: Midwest Region

Week of Oct. 13, 2022

Great Lakes Division 

Forward: Nicklas Millhorn, Toledo Cherokee

Millhorn (‘02/Brownstown, Mich.) had a great weekend for the Cherokee. As the captain of the team and a second-year player he really showed what he can do on the offensive side of the ice for Toledo. On Friday night’s game, he scored four goals and had an assist making it a five-point game for him.

Defense: David MacDonald, Columbus Mavericks

MacDonald (‘03/Florence, Ky.)  is a first-year player for the Mavericks and in his third season of junior hockey, joining the USPHL Premier from the NA3HL. He scored a goal and earned two assists in Columbus’ game Sunday night against Cincinnati. He is currently the leading defenseman for points on the Mavericks Roster.

Goaltender: Matt Powell, Columbus Mavericks

This is Powell’s first year on the roster for the Mavericks, after he played last year for the Hudson Havoc. Friday night’s game against Cincinnati was a big one for him, as the ‘02 from Rogers, Minn., had 24 saves on 24 shots, giving him his first shutout of the year.

Midwest East Division

Forward: Noah Maine, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Another impressive weekend for the ‘02 Knoxville, Tennessee, native. Maine scored a pair of goals and recorded 4 assists for the Spacemen in their 2-game sweep of the Chicago Cougars. He currently leads the Midwest East in points with 11, having registered five goals and six assists in just three games.

Defense: Sam Tetreault, Fort Wayne Spacemen

The 6’2” Canadian has been stellar in his second stint on the Fort Wayne blueline. Tetreault recorded two assists, blocked two shots, and had a +1 rating over the course of the Spacemen’s pair of victories against the Cougars. He and his five points (1-4–5) have Fort Wayne undefeated through three games.

Goaltender: Taylor White, MJDP

Another #ShutoutShoutout for MJDP. This time it’s Bay City, Mich., native Taylor White. The ‘03 goaltender made his season debut Friday night against Battle Creek, and stopped all 19 Kernel shots faced in what was his first-career USPHL victory. The MJDP defense and goaltenders have been the division’s best position group thus far, having yet to allow a goal with a pair of 3-0 victories under their belts.

Midwest West Division 

Forward: Will Tricarico, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings

Tricarico (‘02/East Islip, N.Y.) is not hard to pick out on the ice, his 6’4” frame towering above others on faceoffs. His three goals and seven points on the weekend in games against the Dells Ducks and Minnesota Moose continued a solid opening that saw him collecting points in three of four games so far. 

Defense: Marc Abrego, Minnesota Blue Ox

The older of the Abrego brothers on the Blue Ox, Marc (‘02/Anchorage, Alaska) has shown he is planning to be a 200-foot player with the Ox this season. His goal Saturday was the clincher in a hard-fought 3-1 win against the Mullets. Obviously solid in his own end, Abrego has lit the lamp three times already through the team’s first four games this season, one more than he counted in 34 games with the Blue Ox last season.

Goaltender: Robert Bymers, Isanti Outlaws

Bymers (‘03/Alexandria, Minn.) has been the busiest goaltender on the team, this past weekend appearing in both games, Friday in Owatonna against the Blades and Saturday in a big 6-2 win in Elk River against the Squatch. He kicked out 64 of 67 shots total. He helped the team avenge its season-opening game defeat, stopping 52 of 54 in the win against the Squatch Saturday. He has faced 165 shots so far appearing in four of the team’s five games and he carries a .915 save percentage.