USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: Midwest Region

Games of Jan. 10-16, 2023

 

Great Lakes Division 

(Summaries by Lexi Obrycki) 

Forward: Jacob Slater, Toledo Cherokee

Slater (’02/Pewaukee, Wis.) has been a huge factor in Toledo’s success since joining the team in November getting almost two points a game. In the two games played over this past weekend he recorded three goals and five assists. This included Slater’s hat trick to solidify Toledo’s 8-4 win Friday night.

 

Defense: Josh German, Metro Jets

German (’02/Canton, Mich.) showed his offensive and defensive skills in the Jets 6-1 win over the Columbus Mavericks. Over the weekend German was a +1, had a blocked shot, and registered three shots on net. The veteran defensemen for the Jets is a big factor on their success. He currently has eight goals and nine assists so far this season, and 91 points in 136 career Premier games.

 

Goaltender: Jacob Hitchner, Toledo Cherokee

Hitchner (’04/York, Pa.) helped the Cherokee in their weekend sweep against the Battle Creek Kernels. Hitchner came in relief of the starter giving up one goal on nine shots to earn the win. He then continued his success on Saturday only giving up one goal on 26 shots for the 7-1 win.

 

Midwest East Division 

(Summaries by Miles Regan)

Forward: Logan Robins, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Make it two selections in a row for the Fort Wayne Captain. Robins, an ‘02 centerman from Detroit, totaled seven (3-4–7) points across three Spacemen victories on the weekend. He opened the weekend with a three assist performance in Game 1 of the Don Kidd Memorial Games on Friday before adding two goals and an assist in Game 2 Saturday. Robins, a fourth-year USPHLer, scored his 81st-career goal on Sunday in Fort Wayne’s 7-5 win over the Chicago Cougars.

 

Defense: Thomas Turgeon, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Turgeon also gets the nod for the second straight week. The ‘04 defenseman out of Quebec played a huge role in Fort Wayne’s victory over the Chicago Cougars on Sunday, recording two goals and two assists in the 7-5 win. An additional assist versus the Chicago Crush in Game 1 of the Don Kidd Memorial Games brings the second-year player’s season points total to 34 (15-18–34). Turgeon’s 15 goals are the most of any Midwest East defenseman and third-most among all Premier blueliners.

 

Goaltender: Daniel Kreiner, Decatur Blaze

One of the best single-game performances this season was had by Decatur’s Daniel Kreiner against MJDP on Sunday. The ‘02 rookie from Tel Aviv, Israel, stopped an astonishing 61 of 63 shots faced, finishing the game with a .968 save percentage. Kreiner made saves in just about every way imaginable, helping hold a proven MJDP power play unit 0-for-3. Although the Blaze ended up falling by a score of 2-0, Kreiner’s outing was cause for celebration in Central Illinois.

 

Midwest West Division

(Summaries by Jim DenHollander)

Forward: Adam Knebl, Steele County Blades

The Blades played just once on the weekend, dropping a 5-4 decision to the red-hot Minnesota Moose. Knebl (‘04/Cesky Dub, Czech Republic) scored twice in the first period, his 13th and 14th of the season allowing the Blades to carry a 2-1 lead out of the opening period. Knebl has been hot of late with four goals in the last four games.

 

Defense: John Leppert, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings

The Riverkings snapped out of a seven-game skid with wins in three of its past four games including a sweep against the Dells Ducks this past weekend. Leppert (‘02/East Northport, N.Y.) collected an assist in the first game, a 4-3 edge for the Riverkings Friday and Saturday he struck for a goal and two more assists.

 

Goaltender: Finn Wilson, Minnesota Moose

Wilson patrolled the crease for both Moose games this past weekend, a 1-0 loss in a battle for the division lead against the Hudson Havoc Friday and a 5-4 win against the Blades on Saturday. Against the Havoc, Wilson kicked out 37 of 38 Havoc opportunities but it wasn’t quite enough for the win. The following night, Wilson was beaten twice in the opening period but allowed just two more the rest of the way allowing his team a chance to rally back and capture the win. In all, Wilson stopped 64 of 69 shots, collected a win and posted a weekend save percentage of .928.