The Springfield Pics and Vernal Oilers will compete for the USPHL Premier National Championship on Monday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. EST The Pics and Oilers won two very different semifinal games to advance from Sunday’s semifinal round.
Vernal came into the 2024 National Championships tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, but fell to No. 4 in the semifinals after suffering their first loss of any kind on Saturday night in the closing round robin game against Potomac. Springfield was the No. 5 seed in the round robin and advanced with a 2-1-0-0 record.
Vernal Oilers 7, Tampa Bay Juniors 3
In their 7-3 win against Tampa Bay, Roni Alanko (2-1-3) and Sami Kallionkieli (2-2-4) each scored a pair of goals, Kasper Pohjala posted four assists, and Levente Hegedus made 24 saves on 27 shots in net for the Oilers.
Springfield Pics 5, Potomac Patriots 4 (OT)
Frederic D’Amours scored the #OTGWG as the Springfield Pics bounced back from a 4-3 third period deficit to win 5-4 in overtime in the #USPHLPremier National Semifinal on Sunday in Wayne, N.J. Jacob Carey scored two goals and added two assists, and Nick Zanin had three assists in the game. Troy Huber stopped 37 of 41 shots in the game, while Potomac’s Kirill Guryev stopped 50 of 55 shots. The Pics will face the Vernal Oilers at 10:30 a.m. on Monday in Wayne, N.J. for the Premier National Championship.
