USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: West Region

(Games of Dec. 19-22)

We’re proud to present the West Region Players Of The Week as all of these players competed at the inaugural USPHL Las Vegas Showcase Dec. 19-22.

Pacific Division

(Summaries by Grace Mello)

Forward: Ethan McKibbin, Ontario Jr. Reign

Leading the Jr. Reign in points, McKibbin (‘02/Chestermere, AB) brought the heat last week at
the Las Vegas Showcase. He was one of Ontario’s top scorers at the showcase with 10 points.
He picked up points in every game played and finished the week with three goals and seven
assists. He currently has 56 points, which puts him 10th in the USPHL Premier for points.

Defense: Nevio D’Alessandro, San Diego Sabers

This D-man had a big week at the Las Vegas Showcase, helping the Sabers to pick up three wins. Scoring points in every game, D’Alessandro (‘04/Pointe-Calire, Que.) picked up 10 points overall. With two goals and eight assists, he led the Sabers in scoring at the showcase. He is currently ranked No. 4 in points for San Diego with 29.

Goaltender: Ethan Jourden, Fresno Monsters

Quite the week for this Fresno goalie; Jourden (‘04/Arnold, Mo.) picked up two of the Monsters
three wins. He opened the week earning a #ShutoutShoutout in a decisive win over the
Bellingham Blazers. Overall, Jourden blocked 43 of 46 shots faced with a 0.935 save
percentage.

Northwest Division

(Summaries by Joshua Boyd)

Forward: Alex Rene Bartakovics, Vernal Oilers

Despite taking their first regulation loss in their final game of 2022 (against the Fresno Monsters), the Oilers remain one of the top teams league-wide, standing at 23-1-0-1. Bartakovics is likewise one of the league’s most productive forwards, averaging more than one goal and three points per game at 26 goals and 67 points (fifth in the league) in 22 games. At the Vegas Showcase, he put up a 4-6-10 line in his four games played.

Defense: Filip Lezzani, Vernal Oilers

The ’04 Slovakian had points in all four games he played at the showcase, scoring a 2-7-9 line, part of an overall five-game 10-point streak he’s carrying into 2023. He improved to a point-per-game pace on the season with 24 points in 24 games.

Goaltender: Kaeden Edstrom, Rogue Valley Royals

Edstrom (’04/Fairplay, Colo.) put up a fantastic two-game performance and earned the Royals a point at the Las Vegas Showcase when they pushed Bakersfield to OT in Game 1 on Dec. 19. He gave up just two goals there, stopping 27 of 29, and then absolutely rocked the crease with 66 saves on 70 shots from the host Las Vegas Thunderbirds, one of the Pacific’s top teams. Overall, he left with a .939 save percentage from stopping 93 of 99 over the week’s action.

Mountain Division

(Summaries by Brendan Price)

Forward: Wilder Jacober, Provo Predators

Rookie forward Wilder Jacober impressed throughout the Las Vegas Showcase by banging home five points (1-4-5) in three games. The ’03 Carbondale, Colo., product grabbed his goal versus Lake Tahoe and had a two-assist afternoon in Provo’s overtime victory over San Diego. Jacober is now third among Provo rookies with 14 points (6-8-14) on the year.

Defense: Brent Scott, Provo Predators

Scott was acquired from the Minnesota Mullets in early December and has very much been a Christmas gift come early for the Provo blue line. He notched four points (2-2-4) in four games in Vegas, blocked four shots, and led the team in ice time with over 80 penalty-free minutes. Since putting on a Predator sweater, Scott has nine points (5-4-9) in his first 10 games.

Goaltender: Landon Palmer, Provo Predators

Palmer must love the holiday season; he was the Player of the Week right before Thanksgiving and he gets the nod due to his play right before Christmas. The Sandy, Utah, product had his best outing of the season against Lake Tahoe last Tuesday, stopping 20 of 21 shots to get the win. Palmer’s numbers just keep improving as the season progresses. In his last three starts, Palmer is 2-1-0 with a 2.25 GAA and .913 save percentage