USPHL Elite 2024-25 Southeast All-Division Team
Forward: Braylen Cox, Potomac Patriots
Cox (‘05/Nashville, Tenn.) had a huge season, in terms of more than doubling the points total from his first two Elite seasons combined. This year, he broke out for 31 goals – a USPHL Elite Patriots team record – and added 22 assists for 53 points in 41 games. He also registered an assist during his first two Premier games.
Forward: Kayden Suy, Potomac Patriots
Generosity is rewarded. Suy (‘05/Gainesville, Va.) was an immense player for Potomac, always making the pass for the big goals by his teammates, rather than being the goal-scoring hero himself. He registered four goals and 37 assists, the latter number ranking third in the entire Elite Conference. His 37 helpers were also tied for third in a single season by a Patriots player in their eight-year Elite history, a consummate playmaker.
Forward: Zachary Rich, Carolina Jr. Hurricanes
Three seasons, two National Championships, 135 regular season and playoff games and 111 points between 2022 and 2025. This year, Rich (‘05/Omaha, Neb.) helped the Jr. Canes to their second title in three years by putting up a regular season line of 18-27-45 in 40 games. With an additional 15 points in 19 career postseason games, he is tied with former teammate and 2023 National Champion Luke Moses at the top of the Jr. Canes’ all-time postseason leaderboard. He also scored a goal and an assist in two games up with the Premier team.
Defense: Nikolay Shevchenko, Potomac Patriots
The Patriots have had good success with 2007-born defensemen, as last year they saw former Patriot Kirill Golubev drafted in the first round of the NCDC Entry Draft by the Pueblo Bulls. This year, Shevchenko was every bit the top defenseman the Patriots needed, scoring 11 goals and adding 18 assists for 29 points in 41 games. He also earned his first Premier game with the Patriots.
Defense: Ben Kane, Charlotte Rush
Kane (‘05/La Plata, Md.) returned for a second season with the Rush and continued his improvement, which also included seeing his first game up with the Premier Rush. He scored 11 goals and added 23 assists in 39 games this season and now has 39 points in 78 career Elite games. Kane helped the Rush to the league’s best team goals against at 1.86. They were also third in fewest shots against at 25.89.
Goaltender: Cale Puzey, Charlotte Rush
Puzey (‘05/Calgary, Alb.) made a massive impact in his first USPHL season, getting into the Rush crease for 24 games and registering a 1.62 goals against average, which was the best for any goaltender playing at least a third of their games this year. His .939 save percentage was second in the same group.
Selection Process: Coaches in the division first nominate players, and then vote on these nominations. If there are ties in positions, there is an additional run-off vote. Coaches are presented with the finalists and given more than 24 hours to make changes if the majority votes to do so. If there are no challenges to the finalists, they are named as the All-Division Team.
By Joshua Boyd