USPHL Premier 2024-25 Atlantic All-Division First team
Forward: Eloi Robert, Elmira Impact
Robert (’06/Granby, Que.) was a wonder every time he touched the ice, not only finishing with a 28-54-82 line in 43 games, but also posting a goal and four assists for five points in two USPHL Premier All-Star Games in January. Robert scored in every single game from Dec. 21 until the end of the regular season. He finished in the top 10 for assists, and he was tied for second in power play helpers with 25. As an ‘06, his best junior seasons could still be ahead of him.
Forward: Peter Labos, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Labos (’04/Plainview, N.Y.) has set a high bar for any future Premier Jr. Islanders player to reach. After two seasons on Long Island, Labos left as the No. 1 goal-scorer, assist-maker and points man in the team’s eight-year USPHL Premier history. He scored 53 goals, 79 assists and 132 points. His 1.76 points per game is more than half a point better than any other multi-season Jr. Islander since 2017-18. This year, Labos scored a 21-38-59 line in 31 games, good for a 1.90 points per game average. He also found time to earn nine points in 18 NCDC games for P.A.L.’s top team.
Forward: Anthony Vernillo, Connecticut Jr. Rangers
A four-year Premier veteran, Vernillo (’04/Smithtown, N.Y.) is actually third in P.A.L.’s all-time scoring list, having put up 93 points there between 2020-23. He joined the Jr. Rangers this season and earning 28 goals, 37 assists and 65 points in 43 games. Vernillo leaves the junior realm with 158 points in 150 career Premier regular season games, plus four points in four playoff games. He also skated in 15 career NCDC games, scoring three points. Like Robert, Vernillo also scored a goal and added four assists for the New England/Atlantic All-Star team at the All-Star event in January.
Defense: Brandon Jung, Elmira Impact
Jung (’04/Ann Arbor, Mich.) tied for 10th overall in league scoring among defenseman, coming across with 47 points off eight goals and 39 assists, the latter tied for fifth in the league. He joined the Premier Conference halfway through last season, but certainly found his groove with the Impact this year. He tied for the league lead among blueliner with Northwest All-Star defenseman Jett McCullum in power play assists with 25. He was named to the New England/Atlantic All-Star team, registering an assist.
Defense: Ryunosuke Shirozu, P.A.L. Jr. Islanders
Shirozu (’06/Hokkaido, Japan) was a major player in the P.A.L.’s run to and through the Atlantic Division playoffs, which ultimately saw them win the division title and earn their first-ever Premier Nationals berth. During the season, Shirozu scored 11 goals and added 18 assists for 29 points in 37 games. As a 2006-born player, he continues to rise in his career, including representing his native Japan in four IIHF tournaments already.
Goaltender: Noah Pfab, Hershey Cubs
Pfab (‘07/Nurnberg, Germany) has already seen by the NCDC’s Mercer Chiefs as their goaltender of the future. He began practicing with the Chiefs this year, amidst a 10-8-1-1 season for the Cubs. He registered a .936 save percentage, good for a tie for sixth in the USPHL Premier. He was a member of the New England/Atlantic All-Star team, and earned the win against the Pacific/Northwest/Canada team at the All-Star event in Massachusetts. With the NCDC’s Chiefs this year, he went 3-1-0-0.
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.
Summaries by Joshua Boyd