USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: North Region

Week of Nov. 1-7, 2022

New England Division 

(Summaries By Britt Hart)

Forward: Jake Terra, Boston Junior Bruins

Terra (’03/Marlborough, Mass.) and the Junior Bruins went 3-0 through the first week of play in the month of November with wins over the Boston Advantage, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs and Springfield Pics. The Junior Bruins leading scorer tallied a whopping eight points in three games with a total of four goals and four assists. 

Defense: Seth Orozco, Northern Cyclones 

Orozco (’02/Sylvania, Ohio) and the Northern Cyclones swept the week with wins over the South Shore Kings and the Springfield Pics. Throughout the course of the week, the defender was able to tally five assists and was +3. With this pair of wins, the Cyclones remained in first place in the New England Division and extended their record to 9-1. 

Goaltender: Landry Laird, Springfield Pics

Despite not having the outcome they had hoped for, Laird (’02/El Paso, Texas) stood tall between the pipes during the 4-2 loss to the Boston Junior Bruins. Laird was faced with a total of 36 shots and was able to make 32 saves. With these 32 saves, Laird’s save percentage sits at a strong .928 percentage and total number of saves rises to 141 shots throughout four games. 

Mid-Atlantic Players of the Week

(Summaries by Patrick Ramsdale)

Forward: Yakov Yakzhin, Rockets Hockey Club

The ’04 forward from Miami, Florida led the charge for the Rockets on their way to a 2-1 start in the month of November. Yakshin has tallied three goals and four assists in that span. He had a huge game against the Jersey Hitmen on Sunday, posting two goals and a pair of assists in the Rockets’ 7-2 victory. Yakzhin leads the team this season with 21 points (nine goals and 12 assists) in 13 games.

Defense: Niilo Kaipinen, Rockets Hockey Club

The Finland native made an impact both offensively and defensively in Sunday’s Rockets victory over the Hitmen. The ’04 rookie posted a goal and an assist, while registering a +2 from the blue line. Kaipinen averages a point per game this season, leading all Rockets defenseman in that category.

Goalie: Michael Marino, New York Aviators

Marino (’02/Staten Island, N.Y.) was solid in the crease for the Aviators on Friday, stopping 37 of 39 faced against the P.A.L. Junior Islanders, finishing with a .949 save percentage. He advance his record to 3-1-1 on the season and has recorded 200 saves in five games this year.