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Week 18 USPHL 2025-26 Pacific Division Recap

  • Lyanna Yeow
  • Feb 2
  • 13 min read

The 2025-26 USPHL regular season for the Pacific Division continued to deliver another set of thrilling wins and tough losses. Read about the exciting wins and fun highlights from the games during the week of January 29-February 1, 2026!


Vernal Oilers vs. Ventura Vikings Two-Game Series 

The Vernal Oilers traveled to Iceoplex Simi Valley where they faced the Ventura Vikings in a two-game series which started on Friday, January 30, 2026 and ended after their matchup on Saturday, January 31, 2026. This was the first and final time that these teams played against one another during the 2025-26 regular season. Read about how the Ventura Vikings fell short and were swept by the Vernal Oilers after this two-game series. 


The Vikings made a huge comeback and tied the game, 4-4, by the end of the second period after being down by three-goals in the first twenty minutes of this matchup. Vikings’ #9 Cosimo Repaci (1G), #51 Joe Lawrence (1G), #38 Riley Richards (1G), and #68 Edvin Ahlperby (1G) were the players who scored the four Vikings goals during the second period. The Oilers were able to regain their lead with back-to-back Oilers goals scored within six minutes into the third period (6-4). This lead did not last too long as the Vikings tied the game and forced overtime with two goals scored by #51 Joe Lawrence (1PPG) and #6 Ethan Yang (1G) during the last five minutes of regulation (6-6). After all of this hard work, the Vikings unfortunately fell short as the Oilers scored the game-winning overtime goal. This loss does not take away from #28 Alexander Wendt’s in net performance for the Vikings as he saved a total of 33 out of 40 shots on goal by the end of this game. With another tough loss recorded, the Ventura Vikings continued onto a six-game losing streak while the Vernal Oilers continued onto an eighteen-game winning streak with this Game 1 victory secured. 


The Vikings’ struggles continued and ultimately fell short in Game 2 of this series when the Oilers finished this game with a final score of 5-2. The game started off with a one-goal lead for the Oilers as they scored two minutes and forty-two seconds into the first period (1-0). They then made it a 3-0 game with two goals scored early in the second period. It wasn’t until nine minutes and thirty-three seconds into the second period when #10 Nicholas Mardani scored the first Vikings goal of this matchup (3-1). A couple minutes later, #19 Lino Viau closed out the period and cut the Vikings’ deficit down to one-goal (3-2). Although the Vikings made a valiant effort to make a comeback, their last push was not enough to offset the Oilers’ momentum as they ended the game with a final score of 5-2 when they scored two goals late in the third period. In regards to goaltending, #28 Alexander Wendt was in net again for the Vikings and saved 55 out of 59 shots on goal by the end of this game. Looking at winning/losing streaks, the Ventura Vikings are now on a seven-game losing streak while the Vernal Oilers continue onto a nineteen-game winning streak. 


Henderson Force vs. Fresno Monsters Three-Game Series 

Henderson Force traveled to Gateway Ice Center where they faced the Fresno Monsters for the first time during the 2025-26 regular season. This series started on Thursday, January 29, 2026 and ended after their matchup on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Read about how Henderson Force won this series, 2-1, after having a strong start in Game 1 and Game 2 but ultimately fell short in Game 3 against the Fresno Monsters. 


The Monsters struck first and opened Game 1 of this series with three back-to-back goals, scored by #96 William Lindgren (1G), #77 Matteo Ferreira-Tavares (1G), and #71 Nils Tunbratt (1G), which gave them a 3-0 lead early in the first period. The three Monsters goals that were previously scored did not faze the Force as they answered back and tied the game, 3-3, with three goals scored by #6 Cole West (1G), #73 Sixten Wramhed (1G), and  #26 Reese Hicks (1G). Despite having a set of great opportunities to get on the board again, the Monsters struggled against the Force who ultimately won this matchup when #28 Nicholas Gallagher broke the standstill during the second period  (4-3) and #26 Reese Hicks closed out the game, 5-3, with a goal scored with two seconds remaining in the third period. In regards to goaltending, #35 Ralfs Kalnins secured the Force’s win after he saved 37 out of 40 shots on goal while Monsters’ #31 Noah Hammarstrom saved 44 out of 49 shots on goal. The Fresno Monsters’ five-game winning streak came to an end after a dominant Henderson Force performance in Game 1 of this series, which also extended their streak to a thirteen-game winning streak. 


The Force’s momentum continued into Game 2 and helped them to close out the first period, 1-0, with a goal scored by #72 Onni Pulkkonen. #24 Nikodem Wroblewski extended the Force’s lead, 2-0, when he opened up the second period with an early goal. The Monsters were able to answer back and tie the game, 2-2, with their first goal of the game being scored by #96 Lindgren (1G) and the game-tying goal being scored by #15 Adrian Gomez (1G). The tied standstill was broken by a power play goal scored by Monsters’ #37 Connor Perdue which gave them their first lead of this game (3-2). This one-goal lead did not last long as Force’s #11 Frank Barncord tied the game (3-3) and #16 Christopher Bruder regained the team’s lead (4-3). With time winding down, the Monsters were able to muster one last goal, scored by #15 Gomez, which tied the game and forced the teams into their first overtime against one another (4-4). Although the Monsters made a commendable effort throughout this matchup, their last push was not enough to overtake the Force as #24 Wroblewski scored the game-winning goal and secured their 5-4 win in Game 2 of this series. In regards to goaltending, the Force initially had #35 Ralfs Kalnins in net, who ended up saving 22 out of 26 shots on goal, before #29 Daniel Peebles took over and saved all 16 shots on goal that he faced by the end of this game. Monsters’ #35 Ralfs Kalnins was back in net during overtime and helped his team secure their overtime win. The Monsters had #30 Niksa Slade in net and he saved 23 out of 28 shots on goal. After a hard-fought battle, Henderson Force found themselves continuing onto a fourteen-game winning streak after extending the Monsters’ streak into a two-game losing streak. 


Eager to end their losing streak, the Monsters entered Game 3 with vengeance and ended the first period with a two-goal lead when #96 Lindgren scored the opening goal of the game (1-0) and #20 Vertti Sakko extended the team’s lead (2-0). The Force were able to answer back with two power play goals, scored by  #17 Aleksander Leonelli (1PPG) and #72 Pulkkonen (1PPG), which made it a tied game midway through the second period (2-2). These Force goals did not hinder the Monsters as they regained their two-goal lead with a power play and regular goal scored by #20 Sakko, which also completed his fifth hat-trick of the regular season (4-2). Despite making a commendable effort during the third period, the Force’s efforts fell short as the Monsters put up two additional goals, scored by #96 Lindgren (1G) and #71 Tunbratt (1PPG), which closed out the game with a 6-2 Monsters victory. In regards to goaltending, #31 Noah Hammarstrom was initially in net for the Monsters and saved a total of 11 out of 13 shots on goal before #30 Niksa Slade took over and saved all 18 shots on goal that he faced during the remainder of the game. The Force had #29 Daniel Peebles in net for this matchup and he saved 43 out of 49 shots on goal. Henderson Force’s fourteen-game winning streak came to an end and Fresno Monsters started their one-game winning streak after coming out victorious in Game 3 of this series. 


Long Beach Bombers vs. Lake Tahoe Lakers Three-Game Series

The Long Beach Bombers traveled to South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena where they faced the Lake Tahoe Lakers for the last time during the 2025-26 regular season. These teams played in a three-game series which started on Friday, January 30, 2026 and ended after their matchup on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Read about the intense battle which ended with a 2-1 series victory for the Long Beach Bombers. 


The first period of this series started with a scoreless standstill until the last fifty-four seconds of the period when Bombers’ #23 Arthur Seamus McCown scored the opening goal of the game and gave his team a 1-0 lead going into the second period of regulation. This one-goal lead for the Bombers did not last too long as the Lakers gained a 2-1 lead when #24 Lewis Beddow (1G) and #9 Lebron Sam (1G) both scored a goal during the second period. Both teams put up a fight during the third period, however, the Bombers came out victoriously with a final score of 5-4. The two Lakers goals scored during the last period of regulation were scored by #7 Eric Kloss (1G) and #14 Leo Matthew Duggan IV (1G). The four Bombers goals were scored by the following players: #23 Arthur Seamus McCown (1PPG), #7 Daniel Mueller (1PPG), #11 Marcus Vargas (1PPG), and #14 Jackson Litzinger (1PPG). In regards to goaltending, #98 Sebastian Kica secured the Bombers’ win after he saved 53 out of 55 shots on goal while Lakers’ #31 Liam Freel saved 30 out of 35 shots on goal. The Long Beach Bombers ultimately  found themselves with a two-game winning streak after they extended the Lake Tahoe Lakers’ streak into a four-game losing streak. 


The first period of Game 2 ended with a tied standstill, 1-1, when #14 Litzinger scored the opening goal for the Bombers (1-0) and #11 Chayce Tuton scored the game-tying power play goal for the Lakers (1-1). Three minutes into the second period, Lakers’ #14 Duggan IV broke the tied standstill and gave his team their first lead of this game (2-1). The Bombers did not back down and were able to regain their lead when #14 Litzinger closed out the second period with three goals scored and his third hat-trick of the regular season being recorded (4-2). Down by two-goals, the Lakers regrouped during the third period and were able to end the game with a final scored of 5-4 with three goals scored by 34 Mavric Boses (1G), #11 Tuton (1PPG), and #13 Kaelan Basnett (1G). In regards to goaltending, #37 Brooks Smyrski was able to secure the Lakers’ win after he saved 27 out of 31 shots on goal while Bombers’ #32 Ethan Sellwood-Fernald saved 36 out of 41 shots on goal. When looking at winning/losing streaks, the Lake Tahoe Lakers started their one-game winning streak after they ended the Long Beach Bombers’ two-game winning streak.  


After facing a tough loss, the Bombers came into Game 3 with vengeance and ended the first period, 2-0, when #17 Jeremy Loosmore (1G) scored the opening goal and #14 Litzinger (1G) closed out the period. The Lakers were able to answer back during the second period and momentarily made it a one-goal game when #36 Ugnius Simbelis scored a power play goal three minutes and two seconds into the period (2-1). Unfazed, the Bombers were able to regain their two-goal lead during the latter half of the period with another goal scored by #14 Litzinger, which made it a 3-1 game. This lead was quickly nulled and reverted back to a one-goal game when #25 Bryn Studney-Amos put up another point for the Lakers and made it a 3-2 game going into the last period of regulation. This momentum continued into the third period as the Bombers made it a 4-2 game when #23 McCown scored fifty-three seconds into the period. The Bombers maintained this two-goal lead until the latter half of the period when the Lakers tied the game after they put up two back-to-back goals which consisted of a goal scored by #17 Bogdan Rogushkin (4-3) and a power play goal scored by #14 Duggan IV (4-4). Despite making a commendable last push, the Lakers fell short as the Bombers closed out this game, 7-4, with three unanswered goals scored by #17 Loosmore (1G), #55 Roman Adomitis (1G), and #39 Hubert Blanchettetasse (1G). In regards to goaltending, #72 Ethan Fitzgerald secured the Bombers’ win after he saved 54 out of 58 shots on goal while Lakers’ #33 Ryder Selbee saved a total of 45 out of 50 shots on goal by the end of this matchup. After a thrilling end to this series, the Lake Tahoe Lakers are now on a one-game losing streak while the Long Beach Bombers start their one-game winning streak. 


Colorado Fighting Elk vs. Ontario Jr. Reign Three-Game Series

The Colorado Fighting Elk traveled to Ontario Center Ice Arena where they faced the Ontario Jr. Reign for the first and final time during the 2025-26 regular season. These teams played in a three-game series which started on Friday, January 30, 2026 and ended after their matchup on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Read about how the Ontario Jr. Reign swept this series, 3-0, with one double-digit regulation win and two jaw-dropping shutouts. 


The Jr. Reign annihilated the Elk and ended Game 1 of this series, 14-1, with 69 shots on goal by the end of this matchup. Their goal-scoring momentum started with six unanswered goals being scored by the following players during the first period of regulation: #97 Brennan Monroe (1PPG), #14 Jared Padilla (1G), #48 Marc Belanger (1G, 1PPG), #51 Alex Plunz (1G), and #11 Mason Welsh (1G). The Jr. Reign added four more goals, scored by #3 Tyler Yeo (1G), #25 Jackson Tremblay (1PPG), #28 Tyler Huston (1G), and #15 Walker Chitwood (1G), which ultimately gave them a 10-0 lead going into the third period of this game. The Elk were able to avoid being shutout as they scored during the final five minutes of regulation, however, their overall efforts to cut their deficits fell short as the Jr. Reign put up another set of four goals scored during the third period. The four Jr. Reign goals that closed out this matchup were scored by the following players: #11 Mason Welsh (1G), #83 Noah Neil (1G), #8 Jeremiah Croley (1G), and 48 Marc Belanger (1G). When looking at goaltending, #32 Makai Collins secured the Jr. Reign’s win after he saved 4 out of 5 total shots on goal that he faced by the end of this game. An accomplishment that occurred during this game was by #48 Marc Belanger who recorded his third hat-trick of the 2025-26 regular season. The Colorado Fighting Elk remained defeated and yet to secure their first win in this 2025-26 regular season while the Ontario Jr. Reign started their one-game winning streak after this triumphant victory. 


The goal-scoring momentum and impressive goaltending performance by the Jr. Reign continued into Game 2 of this series and helped them to shut out the Elk, 14-0, with 73 shots on goal recorded by the end of regulation. After the first twenty minutes of this matchup, the Jr. Reign had a 3-0 lead with goals scored by #23 Jaxon Hildebrand (2G) and #17 Evan Tsadilas (1PPG). After forty-minutes of ice time, the Elk quickly found themselves with an eight-goal deficit when the Jr. Reign extended their lead, 8-0, with five goals scored by the following players: #95 Jasen Jespersen (1G), #3 Yeo (1G), #63 Maddox Derewianka (1G), #53 Jake Hudec (1G), and #25 Jackson Tremblay (1PPG). The Elk’s struggles continued into the third period as the Jr. Reign closed out the game, 11-0, with goals scored by #22 Samuel Delaquis (2G) and #17 Tsadilas (1PPG). After another outstanding performance, #32 Makai Collins secured his second shutout victory of the regular season after he saved all 10 shots on goal that he faced by the end of this game. With another win secured, the Ontario Jr. Reign found themselves going into their last matchup with a two-game winning streak. 


The Jr. Reign did not let off the gas and closed out this series with a jaw-dropping 16-0 shutout and 72 shots on goal recorded. The first period ended, 5-0, with goals scored by #15 Chitwood (1G), #11 Welsh (1PPG), #48 Belanger (1G), and  #17 Tsadilas (2G). They then continued their goal-scoring streak and ended the second period, 10-0, with five additional goals scored by the following players: #15 Chitwood (1G), #26 Scott Whitecotton (1G), #12 Alec Boucher (1G), and #28 Huston (1G). This momentum remained unfazed during the last period of regulation which ended, 16-0, with six goals scored by the following Jr. Reign players: #48 Belanger (1G), #17 Tsadilas (1G), #14 Padilla (1G), #11 Welsh (1PPG), #95 Jasen Jespersen (1G), and #48 Belanger (1G). When looking at goaltending, #32 Makai Collins secured his third shutout win of the regular season after he saved all 12 shots on goal that he faced by the end of this game. There were also a total of three hat-tricks recorded by the end of this game which were secured by the following players: #11 Mason Welsh (2nd HT of regular season), #17 Evan Tsadilas (1st HT of regular season), and #48 Marc Belanger (4th HT of regular season). The Ontario Jr. Reign are now on a three-game winning streak with an impressive win recorded in Game 3 of this series. 


Overall, Week 18 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, a Henderson Force overtime win, and two double-digit Ontario Jr. Reign shutout victories. There were 5 hat-tricks recorded during week 18 of the regular season which was secured by Fresno Monsters’ #20 Vertti Sakko (1HT), Long Beach Bombers’ #14 Jackson Litzinger (1HT), and Ontario Jr. Reign’s #11 Mason Welsh (1HT), #17 Evan Tsadilas (1HT), and #48 Marc Belanger (2HT). Looking ahead, we have a two-game series and a couple three-game series scheduled during Week 19 of the regular season.


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

Thursday, February 5, 2026

  • The Ventura Vikings will face Henderson Force on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 5:45 PM PST. This game will take place at Ice Dean Chandler

  • The Long Beach Bombers will face the Fresno Monsters on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM PST. This game will take place at Selland Arena

Friday, February 6, 2026

  • The Ventura Vikings will face Henderson Force on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM PST. This game will take place at Ice Dean Chandler

  • The Ontario Jr. Reign will face the San Diego Sabers on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM PST. This game will take place at Ice Realm Carlsbad

  • The Long Beach Bombers will face the Fresno Monsters on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM PST. This game will take place at Selland Arena

Saturday, February 7, 2026

  • The Ventura Vikings will face Henderson Force on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 10:45 AM PST. This game will take place at Ice Dean Chandler

  • The Long Beach Bombers will face the Fresno Monsters on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM PST. This game will take place at Selland Arena

  • The Ontario Jr. Reign will face the San Diego Sabers on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 8:00 PM PST. This game will take place at Ice Realm Carlsbad


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


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