CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WEEK’S USPHL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FROM THE USPHL PREMIER’S FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN DIVISIONS. NIKITA KHOLKIN DEFENSE

21 FEB | BY FRANK SCARPACI

Congratulations to this week’s USPHL Players Of The Week from the USPHL Premier’s Southern Divisions.

Forward: Blake Tosto, Florida Jr. Blades.

Tosto (‘99/Clinton Township, Mich.) had a massive week for the Blades, who had an upset win over the Eels on Friday as part of a set of three games in four days.

Tosto, who brings NCDC experience to the Blades, scored a hat trick and added an assist against the Eels.

He posted two goals and an assist two nights later, and on Monday, Feb. 18, he finished the regular season with a goal.

Defense: Nikita Kholkin, Florida Eels. Kholkin (‘99/St. Petersburg, Russia) has a few years of North American hockey under his belt already this year. He posted two assists in the Eels’ decisive Sunday win over the Blades, and over the weekend, he and the Eels blueliners kept the Blades at bay, limiting them to just over 30 shots per game. On the other side, the Eels posted better than 50 shots in both games.

Kholkin only got to play in 11 games this season, but posted seven points in that short span of action.

Goaltender: Patrik Lietava, Florida Jr. Blades.

Lietava finished his regular season with a 49-save win over the rival Eels to finish the season in a four-way tie for the lead in save percentage at .947. He was 8-9-0-2 overall and he closed out with a 2.40 goals against average.