USPHL Premier Players Of The Month – December 2022: Mountain Division

(Summaries by Brendan Price)

Jake Meure, Ogden Mustangs

The ‘Stangs scored 39 goals in eight games during December and no Ogden skater had more than Jake “Magic” Meure, who finished with eight goals in eight games. Meure (’03/Fremont, Calif.) blitzed opponents for 16 points (8-8-16) and finished the month with a sizzling six-game goal streak and eight-game point streak. His 61 points (32-29-61) lead the Mountain Division and are quickly approaching his career best 66-point mark from his rookie season in 2020-21. With 32 goals, Meure has nearly scored more goals this season than the previous two combined (34).

Dimitri Voyatzis, Ogden Mustangs

Voyatzis nabbed Player of the Month honors in November and upped the ante in December, becoming the first skater to win the award in back-to-back months. The ’03 Fountain Valley, Calif., product was a multi-point machine last month; five multi-point games in seven played during December. Voyatzis finished with 12 points (5-7-12) in 12 games and dominated the faceoff circle as well, winning 62 percent of faceoffs (108/173). The second-year center already has a career high in goals (19) and points (45) through 29 games in 2022-23.

Will Cohen, Utah Outliers

By his standards, Cohen had a suspiciously quiet month of November. Much to the dismay of many an Outlier opponent, December marked a return to form for the ’03 St. Paul, Minn., product. Normally a potent goal scorer, Cohen did most of his work setting up his teammates finishing with 12 assists and 16 points in just nine games (4-12-16), equaling Meure for the most of any Mountain Division skater in December. Cohen and Outlier goals went together like cookies and milk in December; he finished +13 and committed just three penalties in his nine games. Cohen has tied a career-high with 48 points.

Defense

Teddie Hember, Ogden Mustangs

The Stockholm, Sweden, product is the last of the quartet of second-time nominees, having won the award in October. The rookie is on pace to shatter the single season scoring record for ‘Stang D-men, after adding another 11 points (1-10-11) in eight games during December. Hember’s offense arrived in spurts in four multi-point games and a four-game point streak to end the month. Once again, his rock solid defensive play carried the day. Hember added eight shot blocks and five hits during his 192:49 of penalty-free ice time; the defenseman has committed just one penalty in 30 games this season.

Brent Scott, Provo Predators

Brent Scott became a Predator on December 1, grabbed a goal against Vernal, and hasn’t looked back since. The acquisition from the Minnesota Mullets scored at just under a point per game and finished with nine points (5-4-9) in 10 games. Scott found the scoresheet in three of Provo’s four wins in December, punctuated by four points in three consecutive wins at the Vegas Showcase. Like Hember, Scott’s rock solid defensive play garnered accolades as well. Scott committed just one penalty in 174:55 of ice time and banged out ten hits and eight shot blocks, both of which led all Provo defenseman.

Goaltender

Alex Timmons, Pueblo Bulls

When a goaltender plays as well as Timmons did, sometimes all you can do is marvel at the results. Timmons (’02/Stillwater, Minn.) product finished the month with a 4-2-0 record in six starts and a 2.56 GAA, which was the best amongst Mountain Division goalies with more than two starts. Timmons dominated with a .920 save percentage in his six appearances and allowed two goals or fewer in half of his starts, punctuated by a 25-save shutout vs. Wisconsin Rapids in the Chicago Showcase. The second-year Bull has now played the most games of any goaltender in a Bulls’ sweater (35) and is on pace to became the franchise’s all-time winningest goalie by the end of the season.