USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: Midwest Region

Games of Jan. 1-9, 2023

Midwest East Division

(Summaries by Miles Regan)

Forward: Logan Robins, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Although the ‘02 centerman from Detroit skated in only three games at the USPHL Tampa Showcase, Robins tied for the Fort Wayne team lead in points with four (3-1–4) at the event. The FWS Captain opened the weekend by scoring both Spacemen goals in a 5-2 loss against the Tampa Bay Juniors before recording an assist in a 3-2 win against the Florida Eels on Jan. 6. Robins’ third goal of the weekend came in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Nashville Spartans on Jan. 7. He’s totaled an astonishing 156 (78-78–156) points across his four-year USPHL career.

Defense: Thomas Turgeon, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Fort Wayne lost a game for the first time in nearly two months down in Florida, but
second-year defenseman Thomas Turgeon’s play continued to be a bright spot for the
first-place squad. The ‘04 from Quebec recorded a goal and an assist in four games at
the Showcase and co-led the Spacemen in blocked shots with five. Turgeon’s +1 rating
made him one of just two Fort Wayne blueliners to finish the event with a “plus.”

Goaltender: Taylor White, Metro Jets Development Program

The ‘03 out of Bay City, Mich., went 1-0-0-1 at the USPHL Tampa Showcase, stopping 54 of 55 shots faced across two games. White recorded his fourth #ShutoutShoutout of the season against the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones before making 40 saves in a tight 2-1 shootout loss to the Palm Beach Typhoon at the event. His 1.68 GAA is second-best among all qualified Premier goaltenders this year.

Midwest West Division 

(Summaries by Jim Den Hollander)

Forward: Tobias Skogstad-Falkeid, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings

While the break in cold weather was likely appreciated, the trek to Tampa to play in its final showcase of the season was not overly successful for the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings as the team collected just one win in four contests. But Skogstad-Falkeid (‘02/Honefoss, Norway) put up points in three of the four contests, collecting two goals and five points, remaining consistent in a season that has seen him score 11 goals and 22 points in 25 games.

Defense: David Anderson, Minnesota Moose

The Moose took the ice just once on the weekend but Anderson (‘02/Carrollton, Texas) played a part in helping the team collected a key 4-2 win against the Isanti Outlaws, allowing the Moose strengthen its position on the number two spot in the division. Anderson picked up a couple assists in the game for a +2 rating and he also blocked a shot to help a team blessed with solid D-corps.

Goaltender: Robert Bymers, Isanti Outlaws

The past few weeks have been tough for the Outlaws who have slipped from first to third place in the competitive Midwest West, but Bymers (‘03/Alexandria, Minn.) is keeping his team in the conversation. The Outlaws came up short in meetings with the first place Havoc and second place Moose and while the team didn’t hit the win column, Bymers was the best and easily the busiest goaltender in the division. The young goaltender faced 121 shots in two games, kicking out all but nine, good enough for a save percentage of .926, tops among goaltenders who played multiple games between Jan. 1-9.

Great Lakes Division

(Summaries by Lexi Obrycki)

Forward: J.T. Hosack, Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones

The veteran forward for the Cyclones was able to add to his points total at the Tampa showcase over the previous weekend. In the four games the Cyclones played he tallied up two goals and an assist. Hosack (’02/Delaware, Ohio) is currently leading the team in assists (11) and points (18).

Forward: Carson Johnston, Columbus Mavericks

Johnston (’03/Concord, Ohio) really showed his offensive abilities over the weekend. In the Mavericks game against the Motor City Gamblers. Johnston had three goals and an assist, which helped his team get the 4-1 win. Johnston currently has 11 goals, 12 assists, and 23 points in the 29 games he has played so far this season.

Goaltender: Frederick Soderberg, Metro Jets

Soderberg (’02/Harrison Township, Mich.) also had a great weekend at the Tampa Showcase. He finished off the weekend with a 1-1 record making 67 saves on 73 shots and had a .918 save percentage. Soderberg is someone that every team could benefit having in net with being able to make timely saves in crucial moments and having only 4 losses on the season he is a key differentiator for the Jets. The fact both Soderberg and, for the Midwest East, Taylor White were both selected is a testament to the work of Metro Jets goaltending coach Randy Wilson, whose past students include NHLers Connor Hellebuyck and Jack Campbell.