2020–21 USPHL Premier season

2020–21 USPHL Premier season
2020–21 USPHL Premier season
League	United States Premier Hockey League; Premier
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	Regular season; September 18, 2020 – March 6, 2021; Post-season; March 2021
Number of games	50–43
Number of teams	62
Regular season
Season champions	Metro Jets
USPHL Premier Playoffs
Finals champions	Charlotte Rush
Runners-up	Florida Eels

The 2020–21 USPHL Premier season was the 8th season of the Premier Division of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The regular season ran from September 18, 2020 to March 6, 2021 with an unbalanced schedule. The Metro Jets won the regular season championship. The Charlotte Rush defeated the Florida Eels 2–0 in the Championship game.

Member changes

The fallout and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the dissolution of the Connecticut Nighthawks and Lansing Wolves.^[1]

After several years of substandard play, the USPHL removed the Rochester Monarchs organization from its ranks.^[2] The club's three teams (NCDC, Premier and Elite) all disbanded shortly thereafter.

Due to the continuing disruptions from the pandemic, the Western States Hockey League announced that it would suspend play for the 2020–21 season. By April 2020, nine of its member teams (Fresno Monsters, Las Vegas Thunderbirds, Northern Colorado Eagles, Ogden Mustangs, Ontario Avalanche, Pueblo Bulls, San Diego Sabers, Southern Oregon Spartans, and Utah Outliers) had left the WSHL and joined the USPHL's Premier Division.^[3] The Ontario Avalanche would rebrand as the Anaheim Avalanche before the start of the season.

After suspending play for the previous season due to uncertainty over the future of their home arena, the Wooster Oilers rejoined the Premier Division.^[4]

On June 4, the USPHL announced the addition of the Elmira Jr. Enforcers as an expansion franchise.^[5] The team would begin play in the Premier Division this season.

On June 9, The Boston Advantage were approved as expansion franchises to both the NCDC and Premier Divisions.^[6]

A few days later, in order to help fill out the new western divisions, the USPHL approved the Provo Riverblades as an expansion franchise for this season.^[7] This allowed the USPHL to establish two 5-team divisions to help cut down on travel expenses.

Due to problems resulting from the pandemic, the Southern Oregon Spartans had played the first part of the season on outdoor rinks. As their situation worsened, the team withdrew from the league on November 18th after playing just 6 games.^[8] While the team was hoping to return the following year, their home venue, The RRRink, decided against renewing the team's lease, forcing the club to disband.^[9]

Regular season

The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:^[10]

Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched regular season title

Standings

Due to positive COVID-19 tests, a few games were cancelled and not rescheduled.

Florida Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Florida Eels	44	31	13	0	62	226	120
x – Tampa Bay Juniors	44	29	13	2	60	182	144
x – Charleston Colonials	44	24	19	1	49	148	159
x – Atlanta Madhatters	44	16	23	5	37	134	187
Florida Jr. Blades	44	15	25	4	34	158	187

Great Lakes Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Metro Jets	43	38	4	1	77	234	74
x – Toledo Cherokee	44	33	9	2	68	241	103
x – Pittsburgh Vengeance	43	30	11	2	62	155	100
x – Columbus Mavericks	44	21	21	2	44	172	160
x – Lake Erie Bighorns	42	17	24	1	35	115	260
MHC	42	12	30	0	24	92	195
x – Wooster Oilers	43	8	33	2	18	111	248

Mid-Atlantic Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Rockets Hockey Club	44	33	9	2	68	230	121
x – Elmira Jr. Enforcers	44	28	14	2	58	169	132
x – Philadelphia Hockey Club	44	28	14	2	58	218	137
x – New Jersey Hitmen	44	15	25	4	34	155	212
x – New York Aviators	41	16	24	1	33	154	201
x – Utica Jr. Comets	42	14	26	2	30	150	199
Connecticut Jr. Rangers	40	14	25	1	29	124	170
x – Buffalo Thunder	39	12	25	2	26	111	173
x – Skipjacks Hockey Club	36	8	23	5	21	112	170
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders	40	6	29	5	17	96	245

Midwest East Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Metro Jets Development Program	44	31	8	5	67	220	95
x – Chicago Cougars	43	30	11	2	62	231	108
x – Fort Wayne Spacemen	44	23	13	8	54	186	152
x – Detroit Fighting Irish	43	20	21	2	42	183	217
Decatur Blaze	43	18	22	3	39	188	207
x – Midwest Blackbirds	44	12	30	2	26	134	255
x – Motor City Hockey Club	41	1	38	2	4	72	354

Midwest West Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings	44	37	5	2	76	260	84
x – Minnesota Moose	44	37	6	1	75	254	104
x – Hudson Havoc	44	36	5	3	75	226	86
x – Minnesota Blue Ox	44	29	14	1	59	204	134
x – Steele County Blades	44	23	20	1	47	217	168
x – Minnesota Mullets	44	19	20	5	43	157	168
x – Rum River Mallards	44	9	33	2	20	123	222
x – Rochester Vipers	44	9	33	2	20	137	302
Dells Ducks	43	3	38	2	8	65	356

Mountain Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Ogden Mustangs	50	29	17	4	62	202	159
x – Northern Colorado Eagles	49	28	19	2	58	173	153
x – Pueblo Bulls	49	27	19	3	57	170	156
x – Utah Outliers	45	24	18	3	51	159	154
Provo Riverblades	46	22	17	7	51	187	168

New England Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Islanders Hockey Club	43	37	6	0	74	229	81
x – Boston Junior Bruins	44	30	12	2	62	161	105
x – Northern Cyclones	38	27	10	1	55	161	74
x – Springfield Pics	44	23	18	3	49	130	127
x – Bridgewater Bandits	30	19	8	3	41	102	81
x – Twin City Thunder	33	20	12	1	41	132	108
x – South Shore Kings	36	17	18	1	35	132	110
x – New Hampshire Junior Monarchs	32	16	14	2	34	128	129
Boston Advantage	30	6	22	2	14	62	134

Pacific Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Fresno Monsters	40	28	10	2	58	227	124
x – Las Vegas Thunderbirds	40	24	14	2	50	196	149
x – Anaheim Avalanche	36	8	27	1	17	96	188
x – San Diego Sabers	43	3	39	1	7	81	269
Southern Oregon Spartans	6	0	6	0	0	9	61

Southeast Division

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
xy – Charlotte Rush	44	34	9	1	69	208	87
x – Carolina Jr. Hurricanes	44	28	12	4	60	157	128
x – Richmond Generals	44	26	17	1	53	177	128
x – Hampton Roads Whalers	44	24	18	2	50	185	141
Potomac Patriots	44	3	39	2	8	72	276

Premier Division playoffs

Due to positive Covid tests, the Decatur Blaze were unable to participate in the postseason.

Divisional Round

Teams are reseeded after the quarterfinal rounds.

Florida

Semifinals (Best-of-3)

1	Florida Eels	2

4	Atlanta Madhatters	1



2	Tampa Bay Juniors	1

3	Charleston Colonials	2

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Great Lakes

Quarterfinals (Best-of-3)			Semifinals (Best-of-3)

			1	Metro Jets	2
3	Pittsburgh Vengeance	2	4	Columbus Mavericks	0
6	Wooster Oilers	0

			2	Toledo Cherokee	2
4	Columbus Mavericks	2	3	Pittsburgh Vengeance	0
5	Lake Erie Bighorns	1

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Mid-Atlantic

Quarterfinals (Best-of-3)			Semifinals (Best-of-3)

1	Rockets Hockey Club	2

8	Skipjacks Hockey Club	0
			1	Rockets Hockey Club	0

			5	New York Aviators	2
2	Elmira Jr. Enforcers	2

7	Buffalo Thunder	0



3	Philadelphia Hockey Club	2

6	Utica Jr. Comets	0
			2	Elmira Jr. Enforcers	2

			3	Philadelphia Hockey Club	0
4	Jersey Hitmen	0

5	New York Aviators	2

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Midwest East

Quarterfinals (Best-of-3)			Semifinals (Best-of-3)

			1	Metro Jets Development Program	2
3	Fort Wayne Spacemen	2	4	Detroit Fighting Irish	0
6	Motor City Hockey Club	0

			2	Chicago Cougars	2
4	Detroit Fighting Irish	2	3	Metro Jets Development Program	1
5	Midwest Blackbirds	0

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Midwest West

Quarterfinals (Best-of-3)			Semifinals (Best-of-3)

1	Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings	2

8	Rochester Vipers	0
			1	Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings	0

			4	Minnesota Blue Ox	2
2	Minnesota Moose	2

7	Rum River Mallards	0



3	Hudson Havoc	2

6	Minnesota Mullets	0
			2	Minnesota Moose	2

			3	Hudson Havoc	1
4	Minnesota Blue Ox	2

5	Steele County Blades	0

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Mountain

		OGD	NCE	PUE	UTA
1	Ogden Mustangs		1–4	2–3	1–4
2	Northern Colorado Eagles	4–1		4–5	3–1
3	Pueblo Bulls	3–2	5–4		3–5
4	Utah Outliers	4–1	1–3	5–3

Semifinal (Best-of-1)			Final (Best-of-1)

			1	Utah Outliers	5
2	Pueblo Bulls	5	2	Pueblo Bulls	3
3	Northern Colorado Eagles	2

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

New England

Due to Massachusetts quarantine requirements, the two New England Division teams from out of state (Northern Cyclones and New Hampshire Junior Monarchs) were paired in the quarterfinal round.

Quarterfinals (Best-of-3)			Semifinals (Best-of-3)

1	Islanders Hockey Club	2

7	South Shore Kings	0
			1	Islanders Hockey Club	2

			5	Bridgewater Bandits	0
2	Boston Junior Bruins	2

6	Twin City Thunder	1



3	Northern Cyclones	2

8	New Hampshire Junior Monarchs	2
			2	Boston Junior Bruins	0

			3	Northern Cyclones	2
4	Springfield Pics	2

5	Bridgewater Bandits	1

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Pacific

Semifinals (Best-of-1)			Final (Best-of-1)

1	Fresno Monsters	6

4	San Diego Sabers	2
			1	Fresno Monsters	7

			2	Las Vegas Thunderbirds	2
2	Las Vegas Thunderbirds	4

3	Anaheim Avalanche	0

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Southeast

Semifinal (Best-of-3)

1	Charlotte Rush	2

4	Hampton Roads Whalers	1



2	Carolina Jr. Hurricanes	2

3	Richmond Generals	1

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

National Round

The 16 qualifying teams were sorted into four separate pools for Round Robin play. The top team from each pool would advance to the Championship round.

Round Robin

Pool A

		NOR	CHR	ELM	MET
1	Northern Cyclones		4–3	1–0	4–2
2	Charleston Colonials	3–4		9–3	1–0
3	Elmira Jr. Enforcers	0–1	3–9		4–2
4	Metro Jets	2–4	0–1	2–4

Rank	Team	W	L	Pts	GF	GA
1	Northern Cyclones	3	0	6	9	5
2	Charleston Colonials	2	1	4	13	7
3	Elmira Jr. Enforcers	1	2	2	7	12
4	Metro Jets	0	3	0	4	9

Pool B

		FLE	MDP	NYA	MBO
1	Florida Eels		6–1	5–1	3–3
2	Metro Jets Development Program	1–6		7–1	5–2
3	New York Aviators	1–5	1–7		4–3
4	Minnesota Blue Ox	3–3	2–5	3–4

Rank	Team	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
1	Florida Eels	2	0	1	5	14	5
2	Metro Jets Development Program	2	1	0	4	13	9
3	Minnesota Blue Ox	1	1	1	3	9	11
4	New York Aviators	0	3	0	0	5	16

Pool C

		CHA	IHC	UTA	CHC
1	Charlotte Rush		1–1	7–4	5–2
2	Islanders Hockey Club	1–1		4–2	4–2
3	Utah Outliers	4–7	2–4		2–1
4	Chicago Cougars	2–5	2–4	1–2

Rank	Team	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
1	Charlotte Rush	2	0	1	5	18	7
2	Islanders Hockey Club	2	0	1	5	10	5
3	Utah Outliers	1	2	0	2	8	13
4	Chicago Cougars	0	3	0	0	5	16

Pool D

		CAR	TOL	FRE	MNM
1	Carolina Jr. Hurricanes		5–2	8–6	2–3
2	Toledo Cherokee	2–5		7–2	4–2
3	Fresno Monsters	6–8	2–7		8–6
4	Minnesota Moose	3–2	2–4	6–8

Rank	Team	W	L	Pts	GF	GA
1	Carolina Jr. Hurricanes	2	1	4	15	11
2	Toledo Cherokee	2	1	4	13	9
3	Fresno Monsters	1	2	2	16	21
4	Minnesota Moose	1	2	2	11	14

Games in italics indicate overtime or shootout results.

Championship round

Semifinals			Championship

A	Northern Cyclones	1

C	Charlotte Rush	10
			C	Charlotte Rush	2

			B	Florida Eels	0
B	Florida Eels	4

D	Carolina Jr. Hurricanes	1

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

References

^ "The Summit in Dimondale is closing its doors". WILX. February 5, 2021.
^ "Junior Spotlight – National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC)". Sports Kreezee. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
^ "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.
^ "Wooster Oilers Excited To Make Return To USPHL Premier in 2020-21". USPHL. May 11, 2020.
^ "Elmira Junior Enforcers Rebrand As Elmira Impact". The Junior Hockey News. June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
^ "Boston Advantage Joins USPHL, NCDC". Neutral Zone. June 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
^ "Provo Riverblades Join USPHL Premier For 2020-21 Season, Name Head Coach". The Junior Hockey News. June 12, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
^ "SOS COVID-19 RESPONSE". Southern Oregon Spartans. November 18, 2020.
^ "THE RRRINK CUTS TIES WITH SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS HOCKEY". KDRV. June 16, 2021.
^ "USPHL Standings". United States Premier Hockey League. Retrieved May 30, 2025.

General reference

External links

Official website of the USPHL Premier Division

[1] "The Summit in Dimondale is closing its doors". WILX. February 5, 2021.

[2] "Junior Spotlight – National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC)". Sports Kreezee. Retrieved July 9, 2025.

[3] "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.

[4] "Wooster Oilers Excited To Make Return To USPHL Premier in 2020-21". USPHL. May 11, 2020.

[5] "Elmira Junior Enforcers Rebrand As Elmira Impact". The Junior Hockey News. June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2025.

[6] "Boston Advantage Joins USPHL, NCDC". Neutral Zone. June 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2025.

[7] "Provo Riverblades Join USPHL Premier For 2020-21 Season, Name Head Coach". The Junior Hockey News. June 12, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2025.

[8] "SOS COVID-19 RESPONSE". Southern Oregon Spartans. November 18, 2020.

[9] "THE RRRINK CUTS TIES WITH SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS HOCKEY". KDRV. June 16, 2021.

[10] "USPHL Standings". United States Premier Hockey League. Retrieved May 30, 2025.

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United States Premier Hockey League Premier Division
Alberta	Bassano Beavers Calgary Bandits Diamond Valley Rockies Hanna Havoc Southern Alberta Mustangs Three Hills Titans
Atlantic	Brooklyn Aviators Connecticut Jr. Rangers Elmira Impact Hershey Cubs Jersey Hitmen New Jersey Renegades P.A.L. Jr. Islanders Red Bank Generals Rockets Hockey Club West Chester Wolves Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Florida	Bold City Battalion Coral Springs Jr. Cats Florida Eels Florida Jr. Blades Tampa Bay Juniors Typhoon Hockey Club
Great Lakes	Battle Creek Kernels Bearcat Hockey Club Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones Columbus Mavericks Fresh Coast Freeze Metro Jets Red River Spartans Toledo Cherokee
Midwest	Chicago Cougars Chicago Crush Chicago T-Rex Evansville Mariners Fort Wayne Spacemen Metro Jets Development Program
New England	Boston Junior Rangers Islanders Hockey Club Northern Cyclones South Shore Kings Springfield Pics Thunder Hockey Club Utica Jr. Comets Worcester Jr. Railers
North	Dells Ducks Hudson Havoc Minnesota Blue Ox Minnesota Mullets Minnesota Outlaws Minnesota Squatch Northwest Express Steele County Blades Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings
Northwest	Bellingham Blazers Bremerton Sockeyes Casper Warbirds Colorado Fighting Elk Iron County Yeti McCall Smokejumpers Rogue Valley Royals Seattle Totems Vernal Oilers
Pacific	Fresno Monsters Henderson Force Lake Tahoe Lakers Long Beach Bombers Ontario Jr. Reign San Diego Sabers Ventura Vikings
Southeast	Atlanta Madhatters Carolina Jr. Hurricanes Charleston Colonials Charlotte Rush Hampton Roads Whalers Potomac Patriots
St. Lawrence	Burlington Beavers Collège Universel Gatineau Hawkesbury Knights Kingston Wranglers Montreal Black Vees NY Dynamo Ottawa Valley Centennials St-Lazare Avalanche Somang Hockey Universel Quebec Universel Sherbrooke
Former teams	Anaheim Avalanche Atlanta Jr. Knights Atlanta Kings Bakersfield Roughnecks Bay State Breakers Boston Advantage Boston Bandits Boston Junior Bruins Bridgewater Bandits Buffalo Stampede Buffalo Thunder Carolina Eagles Casper Roughnecks Columbia Infantry Connecticut Nighthawks Connecticut Yankees Daytona Racers Decatur Blaze Detroit Fighting Irish DME Swamp Rabbits Elmira Jr. Enforcers Hartford Jr. Wolfpack Ironwood Fighting Yoopers Isanti Outlaws Jersey Shore Whalers Jersey Whalers Kalkaska Rhinos Kasson Vipers Lake Erie Bighorns Lansing Wolves Las Vegas Thunderbirds Long Beach Shredders MHC Midwest Blackbirds Minnesota Moose Motor City Gamblers Motor City Hawks Motor City Hockey Club Nashville Spartans New Hampshire Junior Monarchs New York Aviators Niagara Falls Thunder Northern Colorado Eagles Ogden Mustangs Okanagan European Eagles Palm Beach Hawks Philadelphia Hockey Club Philadelphia Jr. Flyers Pittsburgh Vengeance Portland Jr. Pirates Provo Predators Provo Riverblades Pueblo Bulls Richmond Generals Rochester Jr. Americans Rochester Monarchs Rochester Vipers Rock Springs Prospectors Rum River Mallards Skipjacks Hockey Club Southern Oregon Spartans Syracuse Stars Tri-City Ice Hawks Twin City Thunder Utah Outliers Wisconsin Muskies Wooster Oilers
USPHL Premier Seasons	2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25