The USPHL has announced that three California natives have earned weekly honors.

Lake Tahoe Lakers blueliner Carver Alford is the Pacific Premier Division Defenseman of the Week, while Hampton Roads Whalers goalie Janic Kennedy is the Southeast Elite Division Goaltender of the Week and Tampa Bay Juniors netminder Shane Passaro is the Florida Elite Division Goaltender of the Week.

A third-year Premier blueliner, Alford, a 2005 birth year from Lake Tahoe, scored two goals and passed out six assists for an eight-point weekend in the three games. That puts him second in the league among defensemen.

Prior to junior hockey, Alford played for Tahoe Prep Academy, the Golden State Elite Eagles and Vegas Jr. Golden Knights. He also spent part of the 2023-24 USPHL season with the Las Vegas Thunderbirds (now Henderson Force) and the Lakers.

Kennedy, an ‘04 from Mission Viejo, returned to the Whalers this year and already has made a huge impact. On Sept. 21, he stopped 57 of 58 shots for the 4-1 win against Potomac, his second victory this season.

Back home, Kennedy played for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks and San Diego Saints.

Passaro, a 2004 birth year out of Palm Springs, stopped all 25 shots he faced in his first game of the season on Sept. 21, marking the first “doughnut” of his career.

— Joshua Boyd/USPHLPremier.com

(September 29, 2024)