The 2018–19 USPHL Premier season was the 6th season of the Premier Division of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The regular season ran from September 7, 2018 to February 24, 2019 with an unbalanced schedule. The Metro Jets won the regular season championship and reached the league final where they were defeated by the Hampton Roads Whalers 5–2.
Member changes On December 1, 2017, the Twin City Thunder were approved as an expansion team to the Premier Division for this season.
On March 10, the USPHL approved the addition of the Philadelphia Hockey Club as an expansion team for this season.
Five days later, the Wisconsin Muskies announced that their home rink, the Spooner Civic Center, had terminated the team's lease. The Muskies were unable to find a new home and folded before the start of this season.
On April 19, the USPHL approved the entry of the entire NA3HL Great Lakes Division into the Premier Division. The teams were the Lansing Wolves, Metro Jets, Pittsburgh Vengeance, Southern Tier Xpress, Toledo Cherokee and Wooster Oilers. Additionally, the Jets' development team, called the Metro Jets Development Program, also joined the Premier Division as well.
Shortly afterwards, the Southern Tier Xpress were sold to the owner of the Lake Erie Eagles. The team relocated to Erie Pennsylvania and were renamed as the Lake Erie Bighorns. However, just before the start of the season, the Bighorns were forced to suspend operations due to a lack of players and insufficient recruiting time.
In May, the Kasson Vipers and Niagara Falls Thunder were added as an additional expansion teams.
Over the summer, the Midwest Blackhawks returned from their two-year hiatus and promoted their program from the Elite Division to the Premier Division.
In the offseason, the Atlanta Jr. Knights rebranded as the Atlanta Kings, the Motor City Hawks rebranded as the Motor City Hockey Club, while the Daytona Racers rebranded as the DME Swamp Rabbits.
Additionally, the Ironwood Fighting Yoopers relocated and became the Rum River Mallards.
Before the start of the season, the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders suspended play for the season. They would return to league for the following season.
On October 8, the Palm Beach Hawks withdrew from the league after playing just 4 games (all losses). The organization folded shortly afterwards.
Regular season
The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:
Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched regular season title
Standings Florida Division Team xy – DME Swamp Rabbits 443011363171105 x – Florida Eels 442813359208121 x – Tampa Bay Juniors 441524535121165 x – Florida Jr. Blades 44103132390187 Palm Beach Hawks 40400647
Great Lakes Division Team xyz – Metro Jets 4439417919779 x – Pittsburgh Vengeance 442612658158109 x – Metro Jets Development Program 442717054175119 x – Lansing Wolves 442318349140151 Wooster Oilers 441625335113153 Toledo Cherokee 441328329111170
Mid-Atlantic Division Team xy – New York Aviators 44346472255116 x – Skipjacks Hockey Club 442911462172108 x – New Jersey Hitmen 432613456148120 x – New Jersey Rockets 432120244124150 x – Philadelphia Hockey Club 431426331121191 x – Jersey Shore Whalers 43927725109198
Midwest East Division Team xy – Chicago Cougars 442814258201118 x – Motor City Hockey Club 442618052177134 x – Midwest Blackbirds 441725236139178 x – Decatur Blaze 441726135153167 x – Detroit Fighting Irish 4493322090268 x – Tri-City Ice Hawks 442393779346
Midwest West Division Team xy – Minnesota Moose 44321206420598 x – Hudson Havoc 44311126418097 x – Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings 442914159163103 x – Minnesota Blue Ox 442517252191145 x – Rum River Mallards 422516151170108 x – Minnesota Mullets 442219347155145 x – Dells Ducks 431823238124156 x – Kasson Vipers 431031222110249 Steele County Blades 4463801259213
New England Division Team xy – Northern Cyclones 4434647217795 x – Boston Bandits 4433747014588 x – South Shore Kings 442814258140124 x – New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 442714357155108 x – Islanders Hockey Club 442514555128108 x – Twin City Thunder 442117648147136 Boston Junior Bruins 441622638125157
Northeast Division Team xy – Connecticut Nighthawks 442811561163111 x – Springfield Pics 442417351139105 x – Syracuse Stars 442118547147141 x – Connecticut Jr. Rangers 441921442171203 x – Niagara Falls Thunder 441725236121150 x – Rochester Monarchs 441130325113192 Hartford Jr. Wolfpack 441131224108198
Southeast Division Team xy – Hampton Roads Whalers 4337517518882 x – Charlotte Rush 4333826818696 x – Richmond Generals 432713357160116 x – Carolina Eagles 442220246105113 Atlanta Kings 431921341127134 Potomac Patriots 4483152176165
Premier Division playoffs Divisional Round Teams are reseeded after the quarterfinal rounds.
Florida
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Great Lakes
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Mid-Atlantic
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Midwest East
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Midwest West
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
New England
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Northeast
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Southeast
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 W
Rank Team 1 Metro Jets 2015144 2 Florida Jr. Blades 2015115 3 Chicago Cougars 1202410 4 Connecticut Nighthawks 0300412
Pool X
Rank Team 1 Hampton Roads Whalers 2104104 2 Florida Eels 111399 3 Syracuse Stars 111369 4 Pittsburgh Vengeance 120269
Pool Y
Rank Team 1 Minnesota Blue Ox 2015117 2 Charlotte Rush 201574 3 New York Aviators 120269 4 New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 030015
Pool Z
Rank Team 1 Boston Bandits 3006175 2 New Jersey Hitmen 2104117 3 Minnesota Moose 1202137 4 Motor City Hockey Club 0300224
Games in italics indicate overtime or shootout results.
Championship round
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
References
General reference
External links Official website of the USPHL Premier Division