Springfield Pics 3, Islanders Hockey Club 2 (OT)
The Pics are Nationals-bound as they have defeated the Islanders Hockey Club in two straight games, both in overtime, to advance to the #USPHLNationals in Wayne, N.J., March 20-24. The Pics were 3-2 winners in overtime after originally giving up a 2-0 lead. Jacob Carey and Ryan Zabchuk scored back to back in the first 44 seconds of the game. The Islanders countered with 1:00 remaining in the first and tied the game in the second. At the 6:43 mark of he overtime, Maverick Labonte scored the #OTGWG to advance the Pics to the Nationals. The Pics have also. officially solidified the No. 5 seed at Nationals. In net, Troy Huber stopped 37 of 39 for the Pics, and Thomas Cafarelli stopped 36 of 37 shots in relief.
Universel Sherbrooke 6, Montreal Black Vees 4
Universel Sherbrooke and the Montreal Black Vees will go to a third and deciding game at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday night to see which of the two teams becomes the first-ever Canada Division representative at the Nationals. Sherbrooke evened the series with a 6-4 Friday afternoon win, powered by two-goal games from each of Olivier Touchette and Jason Maltais, who also had the GWG. Arthur Sevigny had three assists, Gabriel Boivin earned two helpers and Nathan Pelletier had a goal and an assist. Carlo Giordani stopped 38 of 42 shots for the Sherbrooke victory.
Fort Wayne Spacemen 8, Chicago Crush 1
The Spacemen got off to a great start in the #USPHLPremier Midwest Division Championship series, defeating the Chicago Crush by an 8-1 score. Ivan Khyrsa scored twice, while Bogdan Vysotsky had a 1-3-4 line. Tucker Tone scored a goal and an assist, and Ivan Barnashov and Antoine Bonin each had two assists. Christopher Gingras made 29 saves on 30 shots for the win. Game 2 is at 8:30 p.m. EST Saturday night.
Toledo Cherokee 2, Metro Jets 1 (OT)
The Cherokee are looking hungry as ever to make it back to the #USPHLNationals for the first time since 2023. The OT winner from Anthony DiFlora put the Cherokee just one win away from a trip to Wayne, but their rivals of three decades, the Metro Jets, will not go lightly into Saturday night, as it’s win or go home for the Great Lakes’ top seed. In addition to DiFlora’s GWG, Trevin Johnson’s second period goal evened the score at 1-1. In net, Austin Nowak stopped 45 of 46 shots in net for the win. Rostislav Efremov was also a force in net for Metro, stopping 43 of 45 shots. Be ready for Game 2 at 7 p.m. EST Saturday.
Minnesota Squatch 2, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings 1 (OT)
The Squatch got an OT winner from Jacob Bodin to give the Squatch a 1-0 lead in the Premier North Division Championship series. They defeated the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings by a 2-1 score at the 2:37 mark of the overtime mark. Matthias Mader started the game’s scoring in the second period and Emil Obstfelder evened it in the third for Wisconsin Rapids. Anyon Bennett stopped 29 of 30 shots for the win for Minnesota, and for the Riverkings, Dominic Hite stopped 32 of 34 shots. Game 2 is at 7:15 CST on Saturday.
Fresno Monsters 7, Ontario Jr. Reign 4
The Monsters are coming back to the USPHL Nationals after two years out! Fresno will make their third trip to the big dance since first making it in 2021 and again in 2022. They will begin their Nationals run on Thursday, March 20, in Wayne, N.J. They defeated the Ontario Jr. Reign, 7-4, on Friday night to close out a 2-0 series victory. Filipp Papshev scored two goals and added two assists to lead the Monsters. Sebastian Westerlund, Emil Hagg and Connor Perdue each scored a goal and two assists. Tyson Baumbach and Simon Eriksson each had multiple points, as well. Brooks Barofsky made 42 saves on 46 shots for the win.
