The NCDC and USPHL have announced their weekly player awards, with two California talents honored.

Pueblo Bulls forward Hunter Hayes is the NCDC Mountain Division Forward of the Week, while Potomac Patriots goalie Christian Nalle is the USPHL Southeast Elite Division Goaltender of the Week.

Hayes, an ‘04 from Lodi, put up three goals and added four assists as the Bulls swept the Rock Springs Grizzlies and pulled to within a point of the fourth-place Idaho Falls Spud Kings. This drew him into a tie for the team lead in scoring with 49 points in 43 games with William Johnson. Hayes also was gold in the faceoff circle on the weekend, taking possession off 33 draws out of 52 attempts (for a 62 percent success rate).

Back home, Hayes played for the Golden State Elite Eagles and St. Mary’s High School.

Nalle, a 2004 birth year from Huntington Beach, was able to get a 31-save shutout victory against the Hampton Roads Whalers for his first USPHL Elite blanking. Nalle improved to 12-2-0-0 with a .937 save percentage.

In California, Nalle played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings, Anaheim Jr. Ducks and Beach Cities high school.

(February 26, 2024)