Forward: Cooper Hoheisel, Minnesota Mullets

Welcome back, Cooper. The ‘99 Chisago City, Minn., native was a key part of the 2017-18 Mullets. He played elsewhere for Tier-3 hockey last year, but came back to the Mullets and stepped right back into his former role as a top scorer - and then some. 

Hoheisel was a point-per-game player two seasons ago, and now he’s blasted past that and is just short of averaging two points per game at the end of October, with 31 points in 16 games. That was good for third in the league. 

As for his October, he did pass the 2.00 points per game average in his 11 contests, posting 23 points. He is also a goal-per-game player in a Midwest West Division that is anyone’s game any given night with six teams at .594 or better. 

Honorable Mention:

Jared Fisher, Fort Wayne Spacemen

Josef Martancik, Chicago Cougars

Defense: Brodie Thornton, Metro Jets

No Entry. Road Closed. Try Again Tomorrow. That’s the message teams are getting from the Metro Jets’ league-leading defense (1.67 team GAA), and also from the team’s captain and third-year blueliner Brodie Thornton.

Thornton, who scored 12 points in his eight October games, has joined with his teammates to allow a paltry 17.6 shots per game. It’s hard to score when you’re only able to get a little less than six shots on goal per period. 

Additionally, two of Thornton’s 10 goals, are shorthanded, and another came on the power play. He is an all-situations player. 

Honorable Mention:

Ian Edgar, Pittsburgh Vengeance

Haralds Jirgens, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings

Goaltender: Kai Tomita, Pittsburgh Vengeance

Deja vu! Tomita was right here in this space last month and he’s back, and with good reason. He continues to be one of the top goalies not just in the Great Lakes Division or the Midwest Region, but in the 51-team USPHL Premier league overall. 

During October, he put together a 5-0 record and stopped 106 of the 112 shots he faced for a .946 save percentage. With Tomita’s help in net, the Vengeance leapfrogged the Metro Jets and Toledo Cherokee in October to stand at first in the Great Lakes and first overall in the USPHL Premier. 

Honorable Mention:

Alex Shaults, Chicago Cougars

Jack Bostedt, Minnesota Mullets