USPHL Premier Players Of The Week: West Region

Games of Feb. 15-21, 2023

Northwest Division

Submitted by Jonathan West

Forward: Alex Rene Bartakovics, Vernal Oilers

The ’04 from Slovakia notches another POTW honor near the end of the season. Following up three assists on Friday night at home, the Oil centerman recorded nine points (2-7-9) on Saturday night. The Provo NCDC tender had five assists on Sunday to close out the weekend. He’s rocking with 119 points in 38 games.

Defense: Cole Bisson, Vernal Oilers

The Vermont blueliner saved his biggest stats for toward the end of the year. The ’03 defender had only recorded three points or more once this year on February 11^th. After helping his team to a shutout on Friday in Eastern Utah, he had three points on Saturday against Rogue Valley (1-2-3) and five on Sunday (2-3-5).

Goaltender: Antonio Tarantino, Vernal Oilers

The ’02 netminder earned his 20^th win on Saturday night against the Royals and his second shutout of the season. The Fremont, Calif., native is ranked third in USPHL save percentage (.939) and is also top 15 in goals against average (2.50) with at least 20 games played.

Pacific Division 

Forward: Carter Demelo, Ontario Jr Reign

What a week for this ‘04 Forward from Port Moody, B.C., scoring 12 points. With six goals and six assists, Carter Demelo not only had two GWGs but he recorded his highest scoring game of the season with five points. In the decisive win over Lake Tahoe, Demelo picked up a hat trick as well as two assists. With just two more games left in regular season play, Demelo has 46 points with 23 goals and 23 assists.

Defenseman: Tristan Nelson, Las Vegas Thunderbirds

Biggest week of the season for Tristan Nelson, an ‘03 Las Vegas native. Recording five points with five assists, Nelson helped the T-Birds earn a three-game-sweep over the Long Beach Shredders. Nelson is a three-year USPHL veteran who cut his teeth two seasons ago in the USPHL Elite.

Goaltender: Nick Heinzle, Ontario Jr. Reign

Leading the Jr. Reign in save percentage, Heinzle (‘02/Glen Robertson, Ont.) recorded three wins this week. WIth two decisive victories over Lake Tahoe, he picked up 19 saves on 20 shots against in game one and 12 saves on 13 shots against in game two. He then recorded 44 saves on 46 shots against during the Junior Reign’s 4-2 victory over San Diego.

Mountain Division

Forward: Will Cohen, Utah Outliers

The ’02 St. Paul, Minn., product filled up the scoresheet with seven points (4-3-7) in three games, including three straight multi-point outings, to help the Outliers sweep the Bulls in Pueblo. Cohen scored two goals on Sunday to key a big 5-2 win in the third period and up his season goal tally to 36, which is second in the Mountain Division. Cohen has scorched the Bulls in two years as an Outlier and last weekend was no different; he now has 31 points (20-11-31) in just 17 career games versus the Bulls.

Defense: Magnus Einarson, Utah Outliers

Einarson broke out of a scoring funk last weekend in Pueblo, returning to his point scoring ways after a conspicuously quiet first half of February. Einarson grabbed five points (0-5-5) in three games, punctuated by a pair of multi-point games and assists on the GWGs on Friday and Saturday. He also chipped in five blocked shots in over 65:00 of ice time across the three games. The 2002 birth year defenseman has set a career high in points (39) and assists (33) after his outstanding weekend in Pueblo.

Goaltender: Colin Rowbotham, Idaho Falls Spud Kings

Rowbotham helped Idaho Falls pick up four key points against Provo while the two teams battle for playoff position down the stretch. The ’03 Delano, Minn., product grabbed the win in both start against the Predators, finishing the weekend 2-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA and an even .900 save percentage. In Saturday’s 3-1 home victory over Provo, Rowbotham allowed just one goal on 24 shots, highlighting a 45-save weekend. Saturday’s win also marked the sixth time in twelve starts since joining the Spuds that he has allowed two goals or fewer. Since joining from Chippewa (NAHL), Rowbotham’s 7-4-1 record with a 2.55 GAA has stabilized the Spud Kings down the stretch.