The 2021–22 USPHL Premier season was the 9th season of the Premier Division of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The regular season ran from September 11, 2021 to March 3, 2022 with an unbalanced schedule. The Utah Outliers won the regular season championship. The Rockets Hockey Club defeated the Metro Jets 3–2 in the Championship game.
Member changes On February 24, 2021, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights announced that they were restarting their junior program after a two-year pause. The Organization would operate clubs in the Premier and Elite Divisions this season followed by the addition of an NCDC team in 2022–23.
On the same day, the Hershey Cubs were also announced as an expansion franchise. The team was founded by Bruce Boudreau who was also the owner of the Minnesota Blue Ox at the time.
In early March, the USPHL approved the addition of the Palm Beach Typhoon to the Premier and Elite Divisions as expansion franchises. Both teams began this season.
After finishing their season, the Buffalo Thunder announced that they were withdrawing from the league and disbanding. Shortly afterwards, the Buffalo Stampede were approved as a new franchise to fill the void.The new club had the same ownership group as the Columbus Mavericks.
At the end of the month, the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones were announced as an additional expansion team.
On April 21, the Lake Tahoe Lakers were announced as a new expansion team for this season.
On May 8, the Anaheim Avalanche were purchased by Emerson Etem. The new owner relocated the team and renamed them as the Long Beach Shredders.
In Late May, the Ontario Jr. Reign were added as expansion franchise for the Premier Division.
During the summer, the Charleston Colonials were removed from the league. They would later rejoin the league in 2025.
Additionally, the Rochester Vipers and the Skipjacks Hockey Club also withdrew from the league. The latter would continue to operate an U18 squad until 2024.
The Jersey Shore Whalers returned from a 1-year hiatus as the Jersey Whalers.
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 Atlantic East Division Team xy – Rockets Hockey Club 44317668222113 x – New York Aviators 443111264249121 x – Philadelphia Hockey Club 442517252160140 x – Jersey Whalers 442417351136128 Jersey Hitmen 441724337121192 P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 441624436141195 Connecticut Jr. Rangers 441132123107191
Atlantic West Division Team xy – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 4439328022889 x – Utica Jr. Comets 442615355174142 x – Hershey Cubs 441130325104193 x – Buffalo Stampede 44832420145272 Elmira Jr. Enforcers 44833319113229
Florida Division Team xy – Florida Eels 44338369198112 x – Tampa Bay Juniors 443110365186128 x – Florida Jr. Blades 441820642187170 x – Atlanta Madhatters 441825137143188 Palm Beach Typhoon 44833319126250
Great Lakes Division Team xy – Metro Jets 4439417932767 x – Toledo Cherokee 4435637325376 x – Columbus Mavericks 443011363190108 x – Pittsburgh Vengeance 442120345168175 x – Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones 441923240165193 x – Lake Erie Bighorns 441030424115260 Wooster Oilers 444391968346
Midwest East Division Team xy – Chicago Cougars 44301136320298 x – Fort Wayne Spacemen 442813359206124 x – Metro Jets Development Program 442816056180118 x – Detroit Fighting Irish 442219347196190 x – Midwest Blackbirds 441525434120201 x – Decatur Blaze 441330127131234 x – Motor City Hockey Club 4333641079299
Midwest West Division Team xy – Minnesota Blue Ox 44376175246108 x – Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings 4432756916391 x – Hudson Havoc 44281066217288 x – Minnesota Moose 442317450183133 x – Steele County Blades 442218448168174 x – Minnesota Mullets 441824238131164 x – Rum River Mallards 441131224143245 x – Dells Ducks 444391994333
Mountain Division Team xyz – Utah Outliers 50387581199113 x – Ogden Mustangs 503113668211128 x – Pueblo Bulls 502920159171137 x – Northern Colorado Eagles 492026343154168 x – Provo Predators 5074121682279
New England Division Team x – Northern Cyclones 4437347819790 x – South Shore Kings 442812460154108 x – Bridgewater Bandits 442715256149117 x – Boston Junior Bruins 442314652132103 x – Springfield Pics 442517252135125 x – Islanders Hockey Club 442119446116119 x – New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 442022242164151 x – Twin City Thunder 441921442119143 Boston Advantage 441722539140180
Pacific Division Team xy – Fresno Monsters 443011363307163 x – Las Vegas Thunderbirds 442914159213192 x – Lake Tahoe Lakers 442221145198183 x – Ontario Jr. Reign 441923240183234 San Diego Sabers 441723438154187 Long Beach Shredders 441129426149276
Southeast Division Team xy – Charlotte Rush 443110365169109 x – Richmond Generals 442913260159111 x – Hampton Roads Whalers 442712559150113 x – Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 442117648138119 Potomac Patriots 441623537125182
Premier Division playoffs Teams are reseeded after the quarterfinal rounds. Divisional Round Atlantic East
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Atlantic West
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Florida
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Great Lakes
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Midwest East
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Midwest West
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Mountain
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
New England
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Pacific
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 two teams from each pool would advance to the Championship round. Round Robin
Pool A
Rank Team 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 3000993 2 Metro Jets 20016107 3 Florida Jr. Blades 1002389 4 Islanders Hockey Club 000301018
Pool B
Rank Team 1 Rockets Hockey Club 30009154 2 Florida Eels 20016114 3 Hudson Havoc 10023516 4 Chicago Cougars 00030714
Pool C
Rank Team 1 Charlotte Rush 20107116 2 Northern Cyclones 2001666 3 Utah Outliers 1101588 4 Metro Jets Development Program 00030312
Pool D
Rank Team 1 Toledo Cherokee 2100896 2 Minnesota Blue Ox 2001694 3 Richmond Generals 01022710 4 Fresno Monsters 002121014
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