Week 12 USPHL 2025-26 Pacific Division Recap

The 2025-26 USPHL regular season for the Pacific Division continued to deliver a couple close games and shocking outcomes. Read about the exciting wins and fun highlights from the games during December 4-9, 2025!

Ontario Jr. Reign vs. Fresno Monsters Three-Game Series 

The Ontario Jr. Reign traveled to the Gateway Ice Center where they faced the Fresno Monsters for the first time during the 2025-26 regular season. These teams played in a three-game series which started on Thursday, December 4, 2025 and ended after their game on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Read about how the Fresno Monsters came up on top after a gutsy battle against the Ontario Jr. Reign. 

The Monsters started off Game 1 strong with a 2-0 lead against the Jr. Reign with goals scored by #15 Adrian Gomez (1G) and #13 Jonathan Andersen (1G). The Monsters continued to dominate this game with three goals scored by #21 Brian Erte (1PPG), #9 Sebastian Vesterlund (1PPG), and #8 Felix Heinas (1G) in the beginning half of the second period (5-0). Although the Jr. Reign were able to answer back and cut their goal deficit down to four with a goal scored by #17 Evan Tsadilas late in the period, this final push was not enough to hinder the Monsters’ momentum. Despite a commendable effort, the Jr. Reign fell short as #31 Noah Hammarstrom secured the Monsters’ 5-1 win after he saved 35 out of 36 shots on goal. With a dominant start to this three-game series, the Fresno Monsters extended their streak to a four-game winning streak after they ended the Ontario Jr. Reign’s five-game winning streak. 

The Monsters’ momentum from their previous win continued into Game 2 as they ended the first period, 1-0, with a goal scored by #11 Palla Xaver. The Jr. Reign were able to answer back and tied the game, 1-1, during the second period with a goal scored by #9 Christian Yi two minutes and thirty-two seconds into the period. Despite regaining their one-goal lead with a power play goal scored by #21 Erte (2-1), this Monsters’ lead would be short-lived as Jr. Reign’s #83 Noah Neil tied the game (2-2), and #12 Alec Boucher broke the tied standstill (3-2). After an intense goaltending battle, #33 Domenik Mclnenly secured the Jr. Reign’s 3-2 win after he saved 30 out of 32 shots on goal while Monsters’ #30 Niksa Slade saved 29 out of 26 shots on goal. The Ontario Jr. Reign ended the Fresno Monsters’ four-game winning streak after they tied this three-game series, 1-1, with their Game 2 victory. 

The Monsters entered this final matchup against the Jr. Reign with vengeance which resulted in the Monsters having a 2-0 lead going into the second period of regulation. The two Monsters goals scored during the first period were secured by #13 Andersen (1G) and #71 Nils Tunbratt (1G) who scored twenty-one seconds apart from one another. Down by two, the Jr. Reign were able to momentarily make it a one-goal game when #14 Jared Padilla scored during the beginning half of the second period (2-1). Despite their commendable efforts, the Monsters quickly regained their two-goal lead when #37 Connor Perdue scored midway through the period and made it a 3-1 game with one more period left in regulation. Despite having a series of great scoring chances, the Jr. Reign fell short as #21 Erte sealed the deal and made it a 4-1 game for the Monsters during the final five minutes of the game. With another strong performance in net, #31 Noah Hammarstrom secured the Monsters’ 4-1 win after he saved 35 out of 36 shots on goal. After winning this series 2-1 with a Game 3 victory, the Fresno Monsters are now on a one-game winning streak after sending the Ontario Jr. Reign onto a one-game losing streak. 

Henderson Force vs. Ventura Vikings Three-Game Series

Henderson Force traveled to Iceoplex Simi Valley where they faced the Ventura Vikings for the first time during the 2025-26 regular season. These teams played in a three-game series which started on Friday, December 5, 2025 and ended after their game on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Read about how Henderson Force fought hard to come up on top against the Ventura Vikings in this three-game series. 

The Force came in strong with a 2-0 lead going into the second period of regulation after #77 Riku Permi (1G) opened up the game (1-0) and #24 Nikodem Wroblewski extended the Force’s lead (2-0). The Vikings continued to struggle during the second period as Force’s #10 Christopher Bruder extended his team’s lead and made it a 2-0 game going into the last period of regulation. Although the Vikings made a commendable effort to tie the game with two unanswered goals scored by #38 Riley Richards (1G) and #51 Joe Lawrence (1G), their last push was not enough to offset the Force’s 3-2 lead. In the end, #29 Daniel Peebles secured the Force’s 3-2 win after he saved 12 out of 14 shots on goal. With a dominant performance recorded in Game 1 of this series, Henderson Force found themselves with a seven-game winning streak after they ended the Ventura Vikings’ one-game losing streak. 

The Vikings entered Game 2 of this series with sheer determination to win which drove them into maintaining a 2-1 lead going into the second period of regulation. This Vikings’ one-goal lead was made possible after #72 Aidan Pi-Keesee (1G) and #19 Lino Viau (1G) answered back to the Force’s opening goal scored by #3 Karl Lindberg’s (1G). The Vikings were able to extend their lead, 3-1, with a goal scored by #2 Josh Halliday early in the second period. The Force did not back down and cut their deficit down to one-goal with a successful power play goal scored by #55 Loui Lundahl late in the second period (3-2). The Vikings and Force went back and forth throughout the third period with an early Vikings goal scored by #19 Viau (1G) and a late Force goal scored by #24 Wroblewski (1G) which made it a 4-3 game in the Vikings’ favor. It wasn’t until the final minute of the game when the Vikings secured their 5-3 win with the last goal of the game being scored by #2 Halliday. In regards to goaltending, #28 Alexander Wendt was in net for the Vikings and won the game after he saved 37 out of 40 shots on goal while Force’s #1 Christian Hubert saved 19 out of 25 shots on goal. When looking at winning/losing streaks, the Ventura Vikings have ended Henderson Force’s seven-game winning streak after splitting this series 1-1, with their Game 2 victory. 

Picking up where they left off, the Vikings struck first with an early goal scored by #6 Ethan Yang which momentarily gave them a 1-0 lead until Force’s #77 Permi answered back less than a minute after the opening goal was scored (1-1). The remainder of the first period stayed at a tied standstill, 2-2, when Vikings’ #6 Yang (1G) broke the initial standstill (2-1) and Force’s #10 Bruder (1G) tied the game (2-2). The second period was full of great scoring chances that were capitalized by both teams as Force’s #75 Nicholas Correnti scored back-to-back goals which gave them a 4-2 lead. Vikings’ #68 Edvin Ahlperby answered back and temporarily made it a one-goal game before reaching the midway point of the period (4-3). This goal by the Vikings did not hinder the Force’s momentum as they put up three goals in the latter half of the second period which were scored by #3 Lindberg (1G), #55 Lundahl (1G), and #24 Wroblewski (1G) and gave them a 7-3 lead. The Vikings were able to put up a goal during the final two minutes of the period, scored by #10 Nicholas Mardani, which made it a 7-4 game going into the last period of regulation. This late Vikings goal during the second period helped them to build some drive during the third period as #10 Mardani scored his second goal of the game and cut the team’s deficit to two-goals (7-5). The Force regrouped and reverted the Vikings’ deficit as #88 Ryan Pavlinsky scored two goals during the latter half of the period which made it a 9-5 game. With time winding down, #10 Mardani was able to make it a three-goal game after he secured his second hat-trick of the regular season with a power play goal scored late in the third period (9-6). After a hard-fought battle, the Vikings came short as #29 Daniel Peebles secured the Force’s 9-6 win after he saved 14 out of 20 shots on goal. With another win under their belt, Henderson Force’s one-game losing streak has come to an end after ending the Ventura Vikings’ one-game winning streak in their Game 3 victory. 

Lake Tahoe Lakers vs San Diego Sabers Three-Game Series

The Lake Tahoe Lakers traveled to Ice Realm Carlsbad where they faced the San Diego Sabers for the first time during the 2025-26 regular season. These teams played in a three-game series which started on Friday, December 5, 2025 and ended after their game on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Read about how the San Diego Sabers dominated the Lake Tahoe Lakers and swept this series, 3-0. 

The Sabers had a dominant start during the first period which ended, 4-1, in their favor with a Lakers goal scored by #15 Carver Alford (1G) and Sabers goals scored by #94 Sam Bailey (1G), #3 Dylan Skene (1G), #2 James Schneider (1G), and #8 Owen Robertson (1G). The Lakers’ struggles continued into the second period as they were unable to answer back to the Sabers’ fifth goal of the game which was scored by #27 Matthew Matsuda a minute and forty-five seconds into the period (5-1). Despite their commendable attempts, the Lakers fell short as Sabers’ #44 Kai Shepherd (1G) and #24 Sammy Albano (1G) scored two additional goals during the last period of regulation (7-1). After an impressive in net performance, #1 Stephan Vedernikov secured the Sabers’ Game 1 win which helped them to their three-game losing streak while also ending the Lake Tahoe Lakers’ one-game winning streak. 

The Sabers’ momentum from their previous victory continued into Game 2 of this series as #94 Bailey (1G) and #24 Albano (1PPG) opened up the first period with two unanswered goals (2-0). The Lakers got on the board and were able to cut their goal deficit down to one after #5 Ethan Thomas opened up the second period (2-1). #24 Albano responded back quickly and regained the Sabers’ two-goal lead a couple minutes after the Lakers’ goal was scored which made it a 3-1 game going into the last period of regulation. The Sabers were able to secure their 5-1 win against the Lakers with two power play goals scored by #27 Matsuda 1G and #94 Bailey during the final five minutes of the third period. In regards to goaltending, #56 Samuel Kadison greatly benefited in the Sabers’ win after he saved 31 out of 32 shots on goal while Lakers’ #31 Liam Freel saved 30 out of 35 shots on goal. With another win under their belt during this three-game series, the San Diego Sabers found themselves with a two-game winning streak and sent the Lake Tahoe Lakers onto a two-game losing streak. 

The first period of Game 3 was opened up with two power play goals scored by Sabers’ #94 Bailey (1G) and #27 Matsuda (1G) which gave them an early 2-0 lead during the beginning half of the period. After a series of great scoring chances, #14 Leo Matthew Duggan IV got the Lakers onto the board during the final three minutes of the period which made it a tied game going into the second period (2-2). The Lakers’ momentum continued into the second period as they found themselves with their first lead of this matchup when #36 Ugnius Simbelis scored fifty-two seconds into the period (3-2). The Sabers did not back down and answered back with a power play goal scored by #7 Harris Shular which tied the game, 3-3. Midway through the second period, #2 Schneider broke the tied standstill and regained the Sabers’ lead which made it a 4-3 game into the last period of regulation. Although the Lakers made a commendable effort to cut their goal deficit, their last push was not enough to offset the Sabers’ momentum as they put up one last goal scored by #94 Bailey during the final two minutes of regulation (5-3). In regards to goaltending, #33 Jovin Manhas secured the Sabers’ 5-3 win after he saved 40 out of 43 shots on goal while Lakers’ #1 Kohen Pirrone saved 28 out of 32 shots on goal. After sweeping this series, the San Diego Sabers are now on a three-game winning streak while the Lake Tahoe Lakers enter into a three-game losing streak. 

Overall, Week 12 of the 2025-26 USPHL Pacific Division was full of thrilling outcomes and high-scoring wins. Some memorable moments from this past week included multiple winning/losing streaks being extended and a hat-trick being recorded. There was 1 hat-trick recorded during week 12 of the regular season which were secured by Ventura Vikings’ #10 Nicholas Mardani. Looking ahead, we have a one-game and two-game series planned.

Below are the next scheduled USPHL match-ups and where to watch them:

Friday, December 12, 2025

• The Long Beach Bombers will face the Ventura Vikings on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM PST. This game will take place at Iceoplex Simi Valley

  • Watch on Black Bear TV

• The San Diego Sabers will face the Ontario Jr. Reign on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM PST. This game will take place at Iceoplex Simi Valley

  • Watch on Black Bear TV

Saturday, December 13, 2025

• The San Diego Sabers will face the Ventura Vikings on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM PST. This game will take place at Iceoplex Simi Valley

  • Watch on Black Bear TV

Stay tuned for the next weekly recap of the 2025-26 regular season for the USPHL Pacific Division!