| 2023–24 USPHL Premier season | |
|---|---|
| League | United States Premier Hockey League Premier |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | Regular season September 8, 2023 – March 3, 2024 Post-season February 28 – March 26, 2024 |
| Games | 46–20 |
| Teams | 61 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Connecticut Jr. Rangers |
| USPHL Premier Playoffs | |
| Finals champions | Connecticut Jr. Rangers |
| Runners-up | Islanders Hockey Club |
| USPHL Premier seasons | |
The2023–24 USPHL Premier season was the11th season of the Premier Division of theUnited States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The regular season ran from September 8, 2023 to March 3, 2024 with an unbalanced schedule. TheConnecticut Jr. Rangers won the regular season championship and went on to defeat theIslanders Hockey Club 5–4 in overtime in the Championship game.
The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:[11]
Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched regular season title
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xyz –Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 44 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 341 | 105 |
| x –Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 44 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 67 | 209 | 110 |
| x –Hershey Cubs | 44 | 26 | 15 | 3 | 55 | 189 | 166 |
| x –P.A.L. Jr. Islanders | 44 | 25 | 16 | 3 | 53 | 179 | 152 |
| x –Elmira Impact | 44 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 53 | 183 | 144 |
| x –Rockets Hockey Club | 44 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 49 | 162 | 158 |
| x –Jersey Hitmen | 44 | 12 | 28 | 4 | 28 | 148 | 222 |
| x –Brooklyn Aviators | 44 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 372 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Bold City Battalion | 44 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 63 | 195 | 112 |
| x –Florida Eels | 44 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 58 | 209 | 116 |
| x –Tampa Bay Juniors | 44 | 28 | 16 | 0 | 56 | 154 | 142 |
| x –Atlanta Madhatters | 44 | 24 | 17 | 3 | 51 | 142 | 138 |
| Florida Jr. Blades | 44 | 11 | 29 | 4 | 26 | 99 | 184 |
| Palm Beach Typhoon | 44 | 8 | 32 | 4 | 20 | 113 | 264 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Metro Jets | 43 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 79 | 359 | 71 |
| x –Nashville Spartans | 44 | 36 | 7 | 1 | 73 | 318 | 83 |
| x –Toledo Cherokee | 44 | 31 | 11 | 2 | 64 | 248 | 106 |
| x –Columbus Mavericks | 43 | 8 | 32 | 3 | 19 | 89 | 306 |
| x –Buffalo Stampede | 44 | 6 | 38 | 0 | 12 | 105 | 328 |
| x –Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones | 44 | 3 | 40 | 1 | 7 | 77 | 370 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Metro Jets Development Program | 44 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 68 | 180 | 90 |
| x –Fort Wayne Spacemen | 44 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 66 | 224 | 112 |
| x –Chicago Crush | 44 | 25 | 15 | 4 | 54 | 142 | 126 |
| x –Chicago Cougars | 44 | 23 | 17 | 4 | 50 | 154 | 143 |
| x –Motor City Gamblers | 44 | 19 | 20 | 5 | 43 | 157 | 180 |
| x –Battle Creek Kernels | 44 | 12 | 29 | 3 | 27 | 108 | 199 |
| Decatur Blaze | 44 | 7 | 35 | 2 | 16 | 90 | 290 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 44 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 67 | 162 | 92 |
| x –Minnesota Squatch | 44 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 66 | 244 | 132 |
| x –Hudson Havoc | 44 | 30 | 12 | 2 | 62 | 150 | 108 |
| x –Minnesota Blue Ox | 44 | 25 | 18 | 1 | 51 | 169 | 144 |
| x –Minnesota Moose | 44 | 23 | 18 | 3 | 49 | 143 | 118 |
| x –Steele County Blades | 44 | 19 | 22 | 3 | 41 | 151 | 159 |
| x –Isanti Outlaws | 44 | 13 | 30 | 1 | 27 | 129 | 222 |
| x –Minnesota Mullets | 44 | 13 | 31 | 0 | 26 | 135 | 202 |
| Dells Ducks | 44 | 11 | 31 | 2 | 24 | 106 | 235 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Utica Jr. Comets | 44 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 74 | 220 | 105 |
| x –Northern Cyclones | 44 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 62 | 173 | 113 |
| x –Islanders Hockey Club | 44 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 51 | 144 | 141 |
| x –Universel Collège Gatineau | 44 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 46 | 145 | 134 |
| x –Springfield Pics | 44 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 44 | 149 | 156 |
| x –South Shore Kings | 44 | 17 | 23 | 4 | 38 | 122 | 149 |
| x –Boston Junior Bruins | 44 | 13 | 28 | 3 | 29 | 152 | 191 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Vernal Oilers | 44 | 29 | 9 | 6 | 64 | 222 | 138 |
| x –Seattle Totems | 44 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 58 | 190 | 131 |
| x –Casper Roughnecks | 44 | 19 | 22 | 3 | 41 | 171 | 197 |
| x –Rogue Valley Royals | 44 | 13 | 29 | 2 | 28 | 119 | 227 |
| Bellingham Blazers | 44 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 14 | 87 | 207 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Fresno Monsters | 46 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 80 | 345 | 130 |
| x –Ontario Jr. Reign | 46 | 37 | 8 | 1 | 75 | 241 | 110 |
| x –Las Vegas Thunderbirds | 46 | 31 | 14 | 1 | 63 | 222 | 151 |
| x –Bakersfield Roughnecks | 46 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 58 | 216 | 141 |
| Lake Tahoe Lakers | 46 | 18 | 24 | 4 | 40 | 147 | 195 |
| San Diego Sabers | 46 | 15 | 30 | 1 | 31 | 212 | 248 |
| Long Beach Shredders | 46 | 6 | 40 | 0 | 12 | 84 | 422 |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy –Potomac Patriots | 42 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 75 | 255 | 112 |
| x –Charlotte Rush | 42 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 72 | 215 | 89 |
| x –Carolina Jr. Hurricanes | 42 | 28 | 12 | 2 | 58 | 170 | 114 |
| x –Hampton Roads Whalers | 42 | 17 | 20 | 5 | 39 | 134 | 148 |
| Richmond Generals | 20 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 66 | 88 |
| Columbia Infantry | 42 | 5 | 35 | 4 | 12 | 83 | 260 |
Teams are reseeded after the quarterfinal rounds.
February 28 – March 17
| Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 11 | 11 | - | |||||||||
| 8 | Brooklyn Aviators | 0 | 0 | - | |||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 3 | 6 | - | |||||||||
| 6 | Rockets Hockey Club | 1 | 0 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 7 | 6 | - | |||||||||
| 7 | Jersey Hitmen | 1 | 3 | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Hershey Cubs | 1 | 1 | - | |||||||||
| 6 | Rockets Hockey Club | 4 | 6 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 3* | 3* | - | |||||||||
| 5 | Elmira Impact | 2 | 2 | - | |||||||||
| 4 | P.A.L. Jr. Islanders | 2 | 2 | - | |||||||||
| 5 | Elmira Impact | 3 | 4 | - | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Semifinals (Best-of-3) | ||||||
| 1 | Bold City Battalion | 5 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 4 | Atlanta Madhatters | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2 | Florida Eels | 5 | 3 | 5 | ||
| 3 | Tampa Bay Juniors | 1 | 4* | 0 | ||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Metro Jets | 12 | 11 | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Toledo Cherokee | 12 | 7 | - | 5 | Buffalo Stampede | 0 | 0 | - | ||||
| 6 | Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones | 0 | 0 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Nashville Spartans | 5 | 8 | - | |||||||||
| 4 | Columbus Mavericks | 4 | 4 | - | 3 | Toledo Cherokee | 2 | 2 | - | ||||
| 5 | Buffalo Stampede | 5 | 5* | - | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Metro Jets Development Program | 5 | 8 | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Chicago Crush | 2 | 4 | - | 5 | Motor City Gamblers | 0 | 5 | - | ||||
| 6 | Battle Creek Kernels | 1 | 2 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Fort Wayne Spacemen | 3 | 4 | 5* | |||||||||
| 4 | Chicago Cougars | 1 | 4 | - | 3 | Battle Creek Kernels | 4 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Motor City Gamblers | 4 | 5* | - | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 6 | 3 | - | |||||||||
| 8 | Minnesota Mullets | 0 | 2 | - | |||||||||
| 1 | Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 3 | 4 | - | |||||||||
| 5 | Minnesota Moose | 2 | 0 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Squatch | 4 | 6 | - | |||||||||
| 7 | Isanti Outlaws | 3 | 3 | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Hudson Havoc | 4 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
| 6 | Steele County Blades | 3 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2 | Minnesota Squatch | 6 | 3 | 7** | |||||||||
| 3 | Hudson Havoc | 3 | 4* | 6 | |||||||||
| 4 | Minnesota Blue Ox | 4 | 3 | - | |||||||||
| 5 | Minnesota Moose | 7 | 6 | - | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Utica Jr. Comets | 5 | 5 | - | |||||||||
| 7 | Boston Junior Bruins | 3 | 3 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Northern Cyclones | 1 | 1 | - | |||||||||
| 7 | Boston Junior Bruins | 4 | 2** | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Islanders Hockey Club | 3 | 3** | - | |||||||||
| 6 | South Shore Kings | 1 | 2 | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Islanders Hockey Club | 5* | 4 | - | |||||||||
| 4 | Universel Collège Gatineau | 4 | 0 | - | |||||||||
| 4 | Universel Collège Gatineau | 1 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
| 5 | Springfield Pics | 2** | 0 | 2 | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Semifinals (Best-of-3) | Final (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Vernal Oilers | 9 | 5 | - | |||||||||
| 4 | Rogue Valley Royals | 2 | 2 | - | |||||||||
| 1 | Vernal Oilers | 5 | 5 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Seattle Totems | 1 | 4 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Seattle Totems | 6 | 5 | - | |||||||||
| 3 | Casper Roughnecks | 3 | 1 | - | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Semifinals (Best-of-3) | Final (Best-of-3) | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Fresno Monsters | 5 | 8* | - | |||||||||
| 4 | Bakersfield Roughnecks | 0 | 7 | - | |||||||||
| 1 | Fresno Monsters | 3 | 7 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Ontario Jr. Reign | 1 | 3 | - | |||||||||
| 2 | Ontario Jr. Reign | 3 | 2* | 5 | |||||||||
| 3 | Las Vegas Thunderbirds | 5 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
| Semifinal (Best-of-1) | ||||
| 1 | Potomac Patriots | 7 | ||
| 4 | Hampton Roads Whalers | 1 | ||
| 2 | Charlotte Rush | 3 | ||
| 3 | Carolina Jr. Hurricanes | 0 | ||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
All games took place at theNexus Center inUtica, New York.
March 21 – March 22
All of the qualifying teams played two games in the seeding round to determine single-elimination placement.
| Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Jets Development Program | 1 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 0 |
| Nashville Spartans | 3 | Bold City Battalion | 2 |
| Metro Jets | 7 | Islanders Hockey Club | 1 |
| Fort Wayne Spacemen | 7 | Vernal Oilers | 2 |
| Charlotte Rush | 4 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 3 |
| Florida Eels | 6* | Potomac Patriots | 5 |
| Utica Jr. Comets | 2 | Minnesota Squatch | 1 |
| Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 5 | Ontario Jr. Reign | 3 |
| Florida Eels | 5 | Metro Jets Development Program | 1 |
| Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 4* | Islanders Hockey Club | 3 |
| Potomac Patriots | 10 | Fort Wayne Spacemen | 2 |
| Metro Jets | 6 | Minnesota Squatch | 2 |
| Nashville Spartans | 7 | Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 5 |
| Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 3 | Bold City Battalion | 0 |
| Charlotte Rush | 5 | Utica Jr. Comets | 1 |
| Vernal Oilers | 5* | Ontario Jr. Reign | 4 |
Standings[12]
| Rank | Team | W | OTW | OTL | L | Pts | GF | GA | DIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metro Jets | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 3 | +10 |
| 2 | Charlotte Rush | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 4 | +5 |
| 3 | Nashville Spartans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 7 | +3 |
| 4 | Florida Eels | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 6 | +5 |
| 5 | Potomac Patriots | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 8 | +7 |
| 6 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 7 | Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | +0 |
| 8 | Utica Jr. Comets | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 |
| 9 | Metro Jets Development Program | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -3 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne Spacemen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -3 |
| 11 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | +0 |
| 12 | Vernal Oilers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 |
| 13 | Ontario Jr. Reign | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | -3 |
| 14 | Islanders Hockey Club | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | -7 |
| 15 | Bold City Battalion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
| 16 | Minnesota Squatch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | -5 |
| Eighthfinal (March 23) | Quarterfinals (March 24) | Semifinals (March 25) | Championship (March 26) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Metro Jets | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Minnesota Squatch | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Metro Jets | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Islanders Hockey Club | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Charlotte Rush | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Bold City Battalion | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Florida Eels | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Islanders Hockey Club | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Nashville Spartans | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Islanders Hockey Club | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Charlotte Rush | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Florida Eels | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Ontario Jr. Reign | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Islanders Hockey Club | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 5* | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Potomac Patriots | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Vernal Oilers | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Florida Eels | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Fort Wayne Spacemen | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metro Jets Development Program | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Connecticut Jr. Rangers | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Fort Wayne Spacemen | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Potomac Patriots | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metro Jets Development Program | 4** | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Utica Jr. Comets | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Metro Jets Development Program | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)