USPHL Elite Fans Choice Awards Final Voting Ballot Now Open
Final voting is now open for the USPHL Elite Fans Choice Awards. You can cast your ballot at the link below. You can vote for each individual position winner, plus the overall Fans Choice Most Valuable Player.
The players listed received the most individual fan nominations at their respective positions to enter this Final Vote round.
All players up for their positions are also up for the MVP. The MVP winner will be the player with the highest total votes between position award votes and MVP, and will also automatically win their position award.
One vote per person will be counted. Write-ins are allowed, so there is no guarantee that the final winners of each award will be among the finalists listed here.
Deadline for voting is Friday, June 27, at 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST. Winners will be announced beginning the week of June 30.
Voting Form: https://forms.gle/qy78fC57WsrotV2c9
Quick summaries for each of our 12 Elite Finalists, as nominated by you, the fans!
Forwards
Aiden Ortiz, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
With 41 goals and 62 points in 44 games, the 2008-born Ortiz is already a big favorite on Long Island. He finished fourth in points and he tied for the league lead in goal-scoring. Ortiz also put up four points in six playoff games.
John Iwankiw, Rockets Hockey Club
This is one player who has a huge fan club, as he was one of the highest scorers in nominations for the entire Elite. Another 2008-born player making his junior debut this year, Iwankiw posted 15 points in 42 games and also had one assist in two playoff performances.
Sulajman Taipovic, Rockets Hockey Club
Rockets fans came out in a big way, as not one but two of their forwards were among tge top four in nominations. A 2004-born veteran playing in his third USPHL campaign – all with the Rockets – Taipovic put up 21 points in 40 games this year, and also had two assists in two playoff games. His career playoff and regular season totals include 31 points in 101 games.
Zachary Rich, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
The two-time Elite National Champion and three-year Jr. Canes veteran was immense in his third season, scoring 45 points in 40 regular season games, and then he added five goals and six points in seven playoff games en route to the Nationals title. A Southeast All-Division Team Selection, Rich has produced a combined 114 points in 135 Elite regular season and playoff games.
Defensemen 
Anthony De Simone, Rockets Hockey Club
Another Rocket to make the list of nominees with the biggest following, De Simone was an Atlantic All-Division selection this year. A 2004-born player, he always brought a hard-nosed approach to the game, while also registering plenty of offense for his team. He scored 14 goals and 28 points in 39 regular season games this season. In his career, he’s scored 43 points in 97 regular season and playoff games.
Cooper Thomas, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
One of a trio of Jr. Canes from this year’s National Championship team, Thomas scored 12 points in 25 regular season games and then registered five points in five postseason contests. Thomas is a product of the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes youth program.
Colin Browning, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Headed to Duquesne University to start his college hockey career, Browning was another key ingredient to the Jr. Canes’ biggest victory and their second National title in three years. He scored 12 points in 27 regular season games, and two points in eight playoff games. Browning also played in 13 Premier games this year. He has 18 points in 74 career regular season and playoff games for the Elite Jr. Canes.
Jack Ray, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Another longtime Jr. Hurricanes youth player who made his debut with the Elite team this year, Ray posted 15 points in 40 regular season games and added six points in eight playoff games, lifting the Elite National Championship trophy at the end.
Goaltenders
Anthony Trantas, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Continuing the Jr. Canes theme of being very popular in the nomination phase, Trantas was the main man in net for the Jr. Canes during their postseason run. He posted a .942 save percentage and a 1.81 GAA while earning four wins in the playoffs and Nationals. During the regular season, his 15 wins placed fifth and he had a .925 save percentage. For his career, he has 35 wins and a .937 save percentage in 47 career contests. He is also a veteran of the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes youth program.
Brendon Eigner, Rockets Hockey Club
Eigner, a 2008-born goaltender and a twin brother of Rockets defenseman Brendan Eigner, registered a very impressive .925 save percentage as a rookie junior goaltender, and he won 10 of his 21 appearances in the regular season. He had a .914 save percentage in his single playoff appearance.
Jack Nahf, Hershey Cubs
A second-year Elite veteran, Nahf joined the Cubs’ first-year program and helped them to some successes along the way with his .920 save percentage on the season. The 2006-born goaltender has 33 Elite appearances for his career.
Johnny Augusta, Chicago Crush
Augusta’s .940 save percentage during the 2024-25 season was No. 1 among all Elite goaltenders who played in at least 15 games. He’s been a heart-and-soul leader for the Crush for two seasons, including helping them to two straight Nationals trips. His 1.74 GAA in the regular season ranked third among goalies with at least 15 games played, and his 14 wins were good for Top 10. For his career, he has 27 wins and a .927 save percentage in 43 regular season and playoff games. The Roosevelt University commit is a two-time Elite Midwest All-Division selection.