The USPHL has announced its player of the week awards, with several players with California ties gaining the honors.

Pueblo Bulls forward Hunter Hayes is the NCDC Mountain Division Forward of the Week, South Shore Kings blueliner Jason Zaccari is the NCDC New England Division Defenseman of the Week, Vernal Oilers defenseman Logan Baum is the Premier Northwest Division Defenseman of the Week, and Las Vegas Thunderbirds goalie Sam Peterson is the Premier Pacific Division Goaltender of the Week.

Hayes, an ‘04 from Lodi, saw his goals play a big part in the Bulls’ weekend sweep of the Rock Springs Grizzlies. His first goal on Friday tied the game 3-3, and his second was the first of an eventually unanswered three goals to end the game with a 6-5 Bulls win in overtime. On Saturday, Hayes scored the game-winning goal in the 4-1 victory.

He currently has a 4-2-6 line through eight games.

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

No one in the NCDC scored more points between Oct. 10-16 than Zaccari, an ‘05 blueliner from Santa Ana and the former Tabor Academy captain. He registered seven assists over three games as the Kings went 2-1 against the Utica Jr. Comets. He posted four assists in the Kings’ 9-4 win to close the weekend and also had helpers in each of the first two games. He went plus-3 and registered 33 takeaways and five blocked shots.

In California, Zaccari starred for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks.

Baum, an ‘05 from Orange, enjoyed a strong weekend with a goal and four assists for five points spread over the three-game victory run against the Rogue Valley Royals. He stands with a 1-5-6 line in six games.

During his youth hockey career, Baum played for the Jr. Ducks, Anaheim Jr. Ice Dogs, and Orange Lutheran High School.

Peterson and Naomi Baechler split the wins in the three-game series with Long Beach. Baechler made history of her own as the first female to play a game (and get a goaltending win) in USPHL Premier, and Peterson, a 2003 birth year from Arizona, posted a fantastic 43-save victory, stopping all but two shots for a win on Friday the 13th. He stands at 4-2 with a .923 save percentage for the season.

He spent time with the Jr. Reign during his youth hockey days.

(October 21, 2023)