USPHL Premier Weekend Preview: Division Leaders Face Major Tests
The USPHL Premier enters another 51-game weekend from Friday, Nov. 13, through Sunday, Nov. 15.
The schedule features a meeting between the Atlantic Division’s top two teams, a major Pacific showdown involving unbeaten Long Beach and several multi-game series with the potential to reshape division races.
Atlantic: P.A.L. Visits Surging West Chester
P.A.L. leads the Atlantic with 28 points, three ahead of West Chester. The division’s top two teams meet Friday at 1 p.m. ET in West Chester.
The Wolves enter on a six-game winning streak, while P.A.L. has won two straight and carries a 14-1-0-0 record into the matchup.
Jersey hosts the New Jersey Renegades on Saturday and Sunday. Mercer visits Red Bank on Sunday in another matchup involving two teams currently above .600 in points percentage.
Florida: Tampa Bay Protects First Place
Tampa Bay leads the Florida Division with 22 points and has won six consecutive games.
The Juniors host Florida Surge on Friday before visiting Coral Springs on Sunday. The Jr. Cats begin the weekend five points behind Tampa Bay and host the Florida Junior Blades on Saturday.
Typhoon visits the Florida Eels on Saturday before hosting the Surge on Sunday.
Great Lakes: Metro Brings a 15-Game Streak to Toledo
The Metro Jets remain in control of the Great Lakes with 31 points and a 15-game winning streak. Metro visits Toledo on Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
The Cherokee enter on a four-game streak and have accumulated 22 points through 14 games. Toledo then visits second-place Columbus on Saturday.
The Mavericks host Fort Wayne on Friday before Saturday’s meeting with the Cherokee.
Chicago and Red River play three times, beginning Friday at Red River before moving to Chicago for games Saturday and Sunday.
Midwest: Cincinnati Hosts a Three-Game Set
Cincinnati leads the Midwest with 29 points and has won three straight.
The Cyclones host Fresh Coast Freeze on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Cincinnati has scored 123 goals through 19 games, the highest total in the division.
Second-place Flint hosts Danville on Friday and Saturday. The Icelanders enter the weekend tied with MJDP at 17 points but have played one additional game.
New England: Worcester Can Pressure the Leader
Northern leads the New England Division with 22 points, one ahead of Worcester, but the Cyclones are idle this weekend.
That gives the Railers an opportunity to move into first place when they host Syracuse on Friday morning.
Cyclones Academy hosts the Boston Junior Rangers on Friday. The Rangers then visit the New England Wolves on Saturday.
North: Hudson Hosts Kinni Twice
Minnesota Mullets and Dells enter the weekend tied with 16 points, although the Mullets have played seven fewer games. Both teams are idle.
Third-place Hudson sits only one point behind the division leaders and hosts Kinni on Friday and Saturday. The Havoc have won two straight, while the Spirit enter on a five-game losing streak.
Two victories would give Hudson an opportunity to finish the weekend atop the North.
Pacific: Unbeaten Long Beach Faces Two Road Tests
Long Beach remains perfect at 16-0-0-0 and leads the Premier with 32 points. The Bombers have scored 120 goals while allowing only 24.
Long Beach visits San Diego on Friday before facing second-place Santa Clarita on Saturday. The Lakers enter with 27 points and a 13-2-1-0 record, making Saturday’s contest one of the weekend’s biggest matchups.
Santa Clarita also hosts San Diego on Sunday. Salt Lake visits Iron County on Friday and Saturday.
Southeast: One Point Separates Charlotte and Charleston
Charlotte leads the Southeast with 24 points, only one ahead of Charleston and three ahead of Yorktown.
The top two teams meet twice. Charlotte visits Charleston on Friday before the Colonials travel to Pineville for Saturday’s rematch.
Hampton Roads visits Potomac on Saturday and Sunday. Yorktown plays two road games against Carolina, beginning Saturday afternoon before an early Sunday rematch.
With the division’s top five teams all entering the weekend at .500 or better, both series carry significant value.
St. Lawrence: Somang Holds a Narrow Lead
Somang leads the St. Lawrence Division with 23 points, one ahead of Deux-Montagnes and four ahead of Universel Sherbrooke.
Somang hosts Hudson on Friday. Deux-Montagnes welcomes St-Lazare on Saturday.
Sherbrooke plays three games in three days, hosting New York on Friday, visiting the Dynamo on Saturday and traveling to St-Lazare on Sunday.
Ottawa Valley hosts Kingston on Saturday, while Montreal visits Universel Collège Gatineau on Sunday.
Alberta: Hanna Leads a Busy Weekend
Hanna enters the weekend first in Alberta with 24 points and a three-game winning streak. The Havoc host Calgary on Saturday.
Second-place OLCN visits Three Hills on Saturday and Chestermere on Sunday. Claresholm hosts Calgary on Friday, while Bassano visits Three Hills that same evening.
Bassano then hosts Chestermere on Saturday and Calgary on Sunday, giving the Beavers three games in three days.
Post-weekend records, point totals and streaks were verified through the official USPHL Premier standings. You can watch all of the games live and in HD with USPHL+ (powered by Black Bear TV)