2026-27 USPHL Premier Season Preview: Midwest Conference
The 2026-27 USPHL Premier Season Preview Series continues with a look at the Midwest Conference.
The Midwest brings together established Premier programs, new chapters and teams focused on creating opportunities for players to advance to the NCDC and college hockey. With physicality, pace and player development recurring themes throughout the conference, teams will look to establish themselves early in what should be a competitive race.
Here is a team-by-team look at the Midwest Conference entering 2026-27.
Cincinnati Cyclones
Head Coach/General Manager: Lee Lansdowne
2025-26 Record: 11-31-2-0, 24 points
The Cincinnati Cyclones enter 2026-27 with a veteran core and a roster built around speed, explosiveness and a desire to respond after a difficult season.
“A strong veteran core and a fast, explosive team with a point to prove,” Lansdowne said of the group.
Zach Lehman and Nathan Bossola return for their third seasons with the program and will be counted on as key veterans.
“All our returners will be looking to redeem a tough season last season and have all returned saying they want to prove something this season,” Lansdowne said.
Among the newcomers, Gavin Seitz, Levi Brown and Aaron Roche arrive with strong resumes, but Lansdowne believes the entire incoming class has helped strengthen the roster.
Cincinnati’s offseason recruiting centered around finding players who fit the organization’s culture and were willing to prioritize team development over individual ego.
“We wanted to find players that fit the culture,” Lansdowne said. “Players that come in and set ego aside and want to all achieve the same goals of development and advancement.”
On the ice, the Cyclones expect to play with pace and attack quickly in transition while making the ice difficult for opponents without the puck.
“We are going to be a fast, quick-transition team that wants to attack quickly,” Lansdowne said. “We will be a group that is difficult to play against and that will keep a pace and energy for 60 minutes or more if needed.”
Consistency and playing as a group will be critical.
“We have a lot of individual talent this season,” Lansdowne said. “We will just need to make sure we play as a group.”
Advancement remains a defining measure of success for the Cyclones.
“We actively promote our players from Day 1 of training camp,” Lansdowne said. “We want to define our success not just by wins, but how many players we were able to advance.”
For Cincinnati, the goal is for players to leave the season prepared for opportunities at the next level.
“If our players use every day to get better and to develop, then winning games will come along with that,” Lansdowne said.
Danville Iron
Owner: Bo Cheesman
2025-26 Record: First Premier Season
The Danville Iron begin their first USPHL Premier season focused on establishing an identity and foundation that can define the organization moving forward.
“As a new team, we are focused on building a team identity and a strong foundation that our program can be known for,” Cheesman said.
The Iron will lean on players who already have junior hockey experience to help guide the group. Jack Gartzke is among those expected to help younger players adjust to the junior level.
Newcomers Noah Schultz and Trey Ingles are two players Danville believes can make an early impact.
The organization also spent significant time building its presence away from the ice.
“We have focused on community engagement, creating a fun atmosphere for our fan base,” Cheesman said.
On the ice, Danville wants to create an identity that reflects its market.
“We are a lunch pail and hard hat style of team,” Cheesman said.
Consistency will be crucial for a first-year program competing against organizations with significantly more history at the Premier level.
“We have some organizations that have had a very long history, and we are looking forward to competing with them night in and night out,” Cheesman said.
Danville will also work directly with players on their individual development timelines and advancement goals, including building online profiles to increase exposure to teams at higher levels.
For the Iron, Year 1 is about establishing something sustainable.
“Creating a solid identity that players can attach themselves to,” Cheesman said. “We hope to be competitive and look to move our oldest players to the next level.”
The organization is also eager to reintroduce junior hockey to the Danville community.
“Our community is excited to have junior hockey back in their market,” Cheesman said. “We are very excited to bring this brand of hockey back to the Danville area.”
Flint Icelanders
Head Coach/General Manager: Jake Lainesse
Experience will be one of the biggest strengths for the Flint Icelanders as they begin the 2026-27 season.
“We have over 10 players with junior experience from various levels and leagues,” Lainesse said.
Emersen Lippert enters his third junior season after recording 27 points in each of his first two campaigns and is expected to take on an increased role during his age-out season.
“He’ll be looking to ramp up for his age-out season,” Lainesse said.
Flint placed a major emphasis on adding grit during the offseason.
“We want to be a team that can win every battle and play with intensity,” Lainesse said.
That mentality will define the Icelanders’ identity.
“Our team is going to be physical and relentless,” Lainesse said.
Endurance will be one of the most important factors in competing through the Midwest schedule.
“The teams in our division don’t go away or roll over,” Lainesse said. “We will have to be able to work for the full 60 minutes.”
Flint also views its location in eastern Michigan as an advantage when it comes to player exposure and advancement. The organization plans to put players in front of college and NCDC coaches through showcases and exhibition games.
“We’re in a hotbed of colleges and NCDC teams being in eastern Michigan,” Lainesse said.
While the Icelanders have team goals, development will remain the primary measure of success.
“Progression is always the most important,” Lainesse said. “Obviously the goal is to go to Nationals in April, but if our players progress and can get opportunities in the NCDC and college, that’s also successful for us.”
For the organization, the season also represents the return of junior hockey to Flint.
“It means a ton to bring our level of junior hockey back to Flint,” Lainesse said. “We’re happy to be able to give both local and out-of-town players an opportunity to extend their careers.”
Fresh Coast Freeze
Head Coach/General Manager: Kyle Gagneau
2025-26 Record: 11-28-3-2, 27 points
The Fresh Coast Freeze enter 2026-27 looking to establish themselves through grit, defensive responsibility and a commitment to competing for a full 60 minutes.
“Grit, tough to play against,” Gagneau said of the team’s biggest strengths.
Brad Cook, Kaidyn Hill and Alan Zelazowski are among the returning players expected to take on larger roles.
Newcomers Connor Ptak, Arie Sytsma and Andrew Coburn are also expected to have opportunities to make an immediate impact.
During the offseason, Fresh Coast made defense a priority.
“Building a defense-first mentality,” Gagneau said.
That approach will be central to the Freeze identity.
“We will be a gritty, tough team to play against that battles through the whole game and continues to wear on the opponent for a full 60,” Gagneau said.
Consistency and attention to detail will determine how effectively Fresh Coast can execute that style throughout the Midwest schedule.
Player development remains an individual process within the organization.
“We take an individual approach to development, making sure every player is getting better each day, whether it’s our top guys or our depth players,” Gagneau said.
Ultimately, advancement will be the program’s biggest benchmark.
“Our biggest goal is player advancement, both midseason and for next season,” Gagneau said. “It would be a successful season to see a good group of our players have an opportunity to play at a higher level next year.”
MJDP – Metro Jets Development Program
Head Coach: Danny Vanderwiel
President/General Manager: Justin Quenneville
2025-26 Record: 20-23-1-0, 41 points
MJDP enters the 2026-27 season continuing to lean on the development model that connects the Metro Jets’ Development, Premier and NCDC programs.
“Our strength is our process,” Quenneville said. “We focus more on helping the players individually by giving them all the tools to get better and get exposure.”
A number of players return to help establish the standard for the incoming group, while the organization’s multi-level structure provides opportunities for players to progress throughout the season.
With six full-time coaches working throughout the program, MJDP places a strong emphasis on finding players willing to learn and be challenged.
“We want players who are committed, open to learning and willing to be challenged,” Quenneville said.
Under Head Coach Danny Vanderwiel, MJDP’s identity will continue to center around its process, culture and attention to detail rather than simply trying to out-skate or out-muscle opponents.
“Our identity is in our process and culture,” Quenneville said. “We focus on habits and decision making.”
Discipline will be one of the biggest keys to competing consistently within the Midwest Conference.
“In order to compete consistently, you need to be disciplined in your decision making, your systems and your maturity,” Quenneville said.
The organization’s structure also gives players a direct pathway to additional opportunities through the Metro Jets’ Premier and NCDC teams, along with extensive showcase exposure.
“Our model by definition is a development program,” Quenneville said. “We spend all our time focusing on helping the players individually.”
For MJDP, success will ultimately be measured by individual progress and advancement.
“Having players achieve their goals, being competitive consistently and advancing players to opportunities,” Quenneville said. “Ultimately, just getting better every week should be the only thing that measures success.”