T1ER announces USPA Peak Performers for Central Showcase
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) announced its US Performance Academy T1ER League Peak Performers for the Central Showcase in Febrruary. The players were selected based upon their performance during the T1ER 18U and 16U regular season games played between February 2nd and 4th at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
T1ER 18U:
Forward: Riley Fast, Biggby Coffee - Fast was quick to get on the scoresheet in Pittsburgh, tallying a goal and two assists in Biggby’s opening matchup against Indiana Elite. The Maryland Black Bears tender appeared in four games over the course of the weekend, logging 3 goals and 3 assists in those games, helping Biggby finish the event with a 2-2 record. Fast finished the regular season with 7 goals and 4 assists in 12 games.
Defense: Ethan McKay, Philadelphia Little Flyers - McKay displayed two dominant performances at the UPMC Lemieux complex, coupling a two-assist game to open the showcase with a two-goal game the following day. The Newtown Square, Pennsylvania native dished two apples in the Little Flyers’ 7-2 win against the Tri-State Spartans on Friday. In Saturday’s matchup against Seacoast Prep Academy, he recorded both of Philadelphia’s goals. McKay finished the regular season with 3 goals and 11 assists in 16 games.
Goalie: Branson Appelman, CarShield AAA - Appleman was lights out for CarShield in the three games he played in, combining for a 2.00 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. The St. Cloud Norsemen tender had his most robust performance on Friday, stopping 31 of 32 shots faced against Pittsburgh Penguins Elite to pick up his first of two wins over the weekend. On Sunday he was strong between the pipes against the Esmark Stars, keeping out 38 of 40 shots faced in a 5-2 victory.
T1ER 16U:
Forward: Filippas Pliastos, Indiana Elite - Pliastos kicked off the Central Showcase with a bang, netting four putaways in a 6-5 Friday win over the Philadelphia Little Flyers. In Indiana Elite’s second matchup of the day, the Fort Wayne, Indiana native tallied a goal and assist against CarShield AAA. Over the course of four games, Pliastos recorded 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists). He finished the 2023-24 regular season with 13 points in 10 games.
Defense: Blake Daviaux, Tri-State Spartans - Daviaux was dominant from the blue line at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, tallying at least one point in all four matchups over the course of the event. On Friday the Somerville, Ohio native recorded a goal and assist in Tri-State’s opening matchup against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. Later in the day, he tallied two assists against Biggby Coffee. Daviaux finished the regular season with a goal and 12 points in 12 games, placing him 3rd in the T1ER league in defensemen scoring.
Goalie: Kyle McLaughlin, Esmark Stars - McLaughlin had two phenomenal 30+ save performances in Esmark’s crease at the event, beginning with a 35-save victory against Seacoast Prep Academy on Friday. Two days later he was nearly perfect between the pipes, keeping out all but one of 35 shots that Pittsburgh Penguins Elite sent his way in a 2-1 win. He finished the regular season with a 4-2 record alongside a 1.77 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.
