USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: Midwest Region

Week of Sept. 29

Great Lakes Division

Forward: Joey Mocnik, Metro Jets

The Jets were able to pull off a winning first weekend in this season with the help of Joey

Mocnik (‘02/Allen Park, Mich.). He finished the two-game series against the Cyclones with four goals and three assists helping him to lead the league in points at that stage. Mocnik is in his third season with the organization, going back to the 2020-21 season with MJDP. 

Defense: Kyle Burke, Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones

In the weekend series against the Metro Jets, Kyle Burke (‘02/Dexter, Mich.) helped the Cyclones stay alive in Game 1, putting up two goals. Burke is enjoying his third USPHL Premier season and second with the Jr. Cyclones. 

Goaltender: Rocco Stolz, Metro Jets

Stolz (‘04/Denver, Colo.) was in net for the second game between the Jets and the Jr. Cyclones of the weekend. While in net he made 12 saves and has a .923 save percentage. He went along to help the Jets win both games of the weekend as well as get his first junior hockey win.

Midwest West Division

Forward: Jake McAlpine, Minnesota Squatch

McAlpine (‘02/Mounds View, Minn) started his third and final USPHL campaign with the expansion Minnesota Squatch and played a big part in the two-win opening weekend, scoring three goals and setting up another. In the second game, a 5-3 win against the Minnesota Moose, McAlpine fired a power play goal and added a shorthanded marker about five minutes later.

Forward: Kolton Kane, Isanti Outlaws

The name might be different but Kane (‘02/Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) continued a trend of big opening nights in Isanti with a four-goal effort against the Squatch. Kane fired four goals, including three straight, in the second period bringing the team all the way back from a 4-1 deficit.

Goaltender: Levi Preugschas, Steele County Blades

Preugschas (‘03/Buffalo, Minn.) played a big part in a nice opening night 5-2 win against the defending division champion Minnesota Blue Ox. The win came from a great team game, but Preugshchas stopped 39 of 41 shots, making the win possible despite a 41-25 edge in shots for the Blades. He got the team through the opening 40 minutes as the host Blue Ox held a 16-4 shot margin in the opening period but came out of it even at 1-1.