2023-24 USPHL-Elite season

This is the 2023-24 United States Premier Hockey League Elite Division season. This is the league's eleventh season. The league was known as the USPHL's Empire Division for 2013-14 and 2014-15. The league was renamed the United States Premier 3 Hockey League for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The USP3HL was folded after the 2016-17 season with the remaining teams moving to the Elite Division, which was previously the USPHL's 2nd level league name (and renamed the Premier Division for 2017-18). The division was originally formed from the Empire Junior Hockey League when it was absorbed by the USPHL when it was formed in 2013.
==Membership Changes==
*In late January 2023, the USPHL would announce the addition of the Jacksonville, Florida based Bold City Battalion to both the Premier and elite leagues for the 2023-24 season.https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2023-2024-bold-city-battalion-hockeyThe team is based out of the Community First Igloo which is the practice facility of the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL.
*On March 30, 2023 the USPHL announced the creation of a Mid-West Division with 6 teams beginning play with the 2023-24 season, Chicago Cougars, Fort Wayne Spacemen, Motor City Gamblers, Decatur Blaze, Chicago Crush, and Metro Jets. All of these organizations already have existing teams in the USPHL's Premier league.https://www.usphlelite.com/united-states-premier-hockey-league-announces-formation-of-usphl-elite-midwest-division
*The New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs organization would cease operations at the end of the 2022-23 playing season as the arena they had been playing in, the Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett, New Hampshire became home the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, an expansion team in the North American Hockey League and the North American 3 Hockey League, the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings replacing the Premier and Elite Division teams.
*On May 17, 2023 the Bridgewater Bandits announced they were rejoining Eastern Hockey League's two leagues from the United States Premier Hockey League's Premier and Elite leagues for the 2023-24 playing season.https://www.easternhockeyleague.org/news_article/show/1270294
*On June 2, 2023 it was announced that the Elmira Jr. Enforcers are being renamed the Elmira Impact for the 2023-24 playing season.https://www.usphlelite.com/elmira-junior-enforcers-rebrand-as-elmira-impact
*On August 23, 2023 the league announce the addition of the Universel College Unik to both the Premier and Elite divisions for the 2023-24 season, with both teams playing road games as the Premier team playing a full schedule and the Elite team playing in several of the league showcase events.https://www.usphlpremier.com/college-universel-gatineau-canada The league would also add the following North Am Prep Hockey League members College St-Jean-Vianney, Crystal Beach Academy, Le Sommet Faucons, Ottawa Valley Wolves, Simcoe County Hockey Academy, and Somang Prep.
*The Nashville Spartans are no longer in the league.
*On December 5, 2023 the Richmond Generals announced they were suspending their junior hockey operations in both the USPHL Premier and Elite Leagues for the remainer of the 2023-24 season.https://www.usphlpremier.com/richmond-generals-suspend-2023-24-operations
*On January 26, 2024 the Hershey Cubs announced they would be adding a team in the Elite league for the 2024-25 season.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/hershey-cubs-to-add-second-team-in-usphl-elite-for-2024-25-2/
*On April 22, 2024 the league announced that the South Shore Kings organization will be adding a team to the Elite league for 2024-25. The team will also be based out of the Foxboro Sports Center in Foxborough, Massachusetts.https://www.usphlpremier.com/new-teams-relocations-2024-25
*On June 19, 2024 the United States Premier Hockey League announced that the Boston Jr. Rangers and the Railers Jr. Hockey Club will both be joining the USPHL's NCDC and Premier leagues along with icing a combined team in the Elite league as the two teams have shared ownership in AXE Sports Group, Inc. Both organizations had been playing in the Eastern Hockey League. https://www.usphlpremier.com/boston-jr-rangers-railers-junior-hockey-club-join-usphl
==Teams==
New England Division 	New England Division 	New England Division
Team 	Centre 	Arena
Boston Jr. Bruins 	Marlborough, Massachusetts 	New England Sports Center
Islanders Hockey Club 	Tyngsborough, Massachusetts 	Skate 3
Northern Cyclones 	Hudson, New Hampshire 	Cyclones Arena
Springfield Pics 	West Springfield, Massachusetts 	Olympia Ice Center
Mid-Atlantic Division 	Mid-Atlantic Division 	Mid-Atlantic Division
Team 	Centre 	Arena
Elmira Impact 	Elmira, New York 	First Arena
Jersey Hitmen 	Wayne, New Jersey 	Capital One Bank Ice Vault Arena
Rockets Hockey Club 	Bridgewater, New Jersey 	Bridgewater Sports Arena
Connecticut Jr Rangers 	Stamford, Connecticut 	Chelsea Piers
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 	Hauppauge, New York 	The Rinx-Hidden Pond Park
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 	Pittston, Pennsylvania 	Revolution Ice Centre
Southeast Division 	Southeast Division 	Southeast Division
Team 	Centre 	Arena
Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 	Wake Forest, North Carolina 	Polar Ice House
Charlotte Rush 	Indian Trail, North Carolina 	Extreme Ice Center
Columbia Infantry 	Irmo, South Carolina 	Flight Adventure Park
Hampton Roads Whalers 	Chesapeake, Virginia 	Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex
Potomac Patriots 	Woodbridge, Virginia 	Prince William Ice Center
Richmond Generals 	Richmond, Virginia 	SkateNation Plus
Florida Division 	Florida Division 	Florida Division
Team 	Centre 	Arena
Atlanta Mad Hatters 	Marietta, Georgia 	Marietta Ice Center
Bold City Battalion 	Jacksonville, Florida 	Community First Igloo
Florida Eels 	Fort Myers, Florida 	Fort Myers Skatium
Florida Jr. Blades 	Estero, Florida 	Germain Arena
Palm Beach Typhoon 	Palm Beach, Florida 	Palm Beach Skate Zone
Tampa Bay Juniors 	Ellenton, Florida 	Ellenton Ice
Midwest Division 	Midwest Division 	Midwest Division
Team 	Centre 	Arena
Chicago Cougars 	Bensenville, Illinois 	Edge Ice Arena
Chicago Crush 	Addison, Illinois 	Addison Ice Arena
Decatur Blaze 	Decatur, Illinois 	Decatur Civic Center
Fort Wayne Spacemen 	Fort Wayne, Indiana 	SportONE/Parkview Icehouse
Metro Jets 	Mount Clemens, Michigan 	Mount Clemens Ice Arena
Motor City Gamblers 	Fraser, Michigan 	Big Boy Arena
North American Prep Hockey League 	North American Prep Hockey League	North American Prep Hockey League
Team 	Centre 	Arena
College St-Jean-Vianney Black Vees	Montreal, Quebec 	Showcase Games only
Universel College Unik 	Gatineau, Quebec 	Showcase Games only
Crystal Beach Academy 	Fort Erie, Ontario 	Showcase Games only
Le Sommet Faucons 	Hawkesbury, Ontario 	Showcase Games only
Ottawa Valley Wolves 	Ottawa, Ontario 	Showcase Games only
Simcoe County Hockey Academy 	Barrie, Ontario 	Showcase Games only
Somang Prep 	Terrebonne, Quebec 	Showcase Games only
VC Hockey Academy 	Laval, Quebec 	Showcase Games only
==Standings==
===New England Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Northern Cyclones 	44	33	6 	4 	1 	213	91 	71
Islanders Hockey Club	44	29	13	2 	0 	165	104	60
Springfield Pics 	44	16	26	1 	1 	111	147	34
Boston Jr. Bruins 	43	8 	31	2 	2 	79 	214	20
===Atlantic Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights	44	28	15	0 	1 	165	138	57
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 	44	27	16	1 	0 	183	141	55
Rockets Hockey Club 	43	25	16	0 	2 	186	143	52
Jersey Hitmen 	44	20	22	2 	0 	154	179	42
Connecticut Jr Rangers 	43	13	29	1 	0 	104	171	27
Elmira Impact 	44	9 	33	1 	1 	84 	198	20
===Southeast Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Carolina Jr. Hurricanes	42	37	5 	0 	0 	184	68 	74
Potomac Patriots 	42	35	7 	0 	0 	212	94 	70
Charlotte Rush 	42	30	9 	2 	1 	199	111	63
Hampton Roads Whalers 	42	20	19	1 	2 	116	111	43
Richmond Generals 	20	6 	12	1 	1 	50 	76 	14
Columbia Infantry 	42	5 	35	1 	1 	53 	222	12
===Florida Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Tampa Bay Juniors 	44	34	9 	0 	1 	215	101	69
Florida Eels 	44	30	13	1 	0 	202	125	61
Atlanta Mad Hatters	44	27	13	2 	2 	155	92 	58
Florida Jr. Blades 	44	14	27	3 	0 	131	185	31
Palm Beach Typhoon 	44	8 	33	1 	2 	93 	243	19
Bold City Battalion	44	7 	33	2 	1 	93 	225	17
===Midwest Division===
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Metro Jets Elite 	44	31	12	1 	0 	214	120	63
Chicago Crush 	44	27	14	0 	3 	180	121	57
Motor City Gamblers	44	24	17	1 	2 	193	140	51
Fort Wayne Spacemen	44	22	16	3 	3 	166	132	50
Chicago Cougars 	44	23	18	2 	1 	205	150	49
Decatur Blaze 	44	1 	41	2 	0 	59 	371	4
===North Am Prep Hockey League===
(Played in showcase events only)
Team 	GP	W 	L	OL	SL	GF	GA	Pts
College St-Jean-Vianney Black Vees	12	11	1	0 	0 	54	21	22
Le Sommet Faucons 	8 	7 	1	0 	0 	51	13	14
Universel College Unik 	12	6 	4	2 	0 	32	34	14
Somang Prep 	8 	5 	2	1 	0 	28	14	11
Crystal Beach Academy 	8 	5 	3	0 	0 	28	32	10
VC Hockey Academy 	3 	3 	0	0 	0 	11	3 	6
Simcoe County Hockey Academy 	8 	2 	6	0 	0 	19	46	4
Ottawa Valley Wolves 	4 	1 	3	0 	0 	6 	17	2
==Playoffs==
The national championship portion of the tournament is held at the Nexus Center in Utica, New York.
===New England Division Semifinals===
*Northern Cyclones defeated Boston Jr. Bruins 2 games to none (4-0, 4-0) 
*Islanders Hockey Club defeated Springfield Pics 2 games to none (2-1 (ot), 1-0)
===Atlantic Division Semifinals===
*Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights defeated Jersey Hitmen 2 games to none (8-1, 10-4)
*Rockets Hockey Club defeated P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 2 games to (2-3, 6-5, 4-1)
===Southeast Division Semifinals===
(All games played at Pineville Ice House in Pineville, North Carolina)
*Carolina Jr. Hurricanes defeated Hampton Roads Whalers 2 games to none (8-1, 3-2)
*Potomac Patriots defeated Charlotte Rush 2 games to none (8-3, 2-1)
===Florida Division Semifinals===
(All games played at Fort Myers Skatium in Fort Myers, Florida) 
*Tampa Bay Juniors defeated Florida Jr. Blades 2 games to 1 (3-4 (ot), 6-1, 7-3) 
*Atlanta Mad Hatters defeated Florida Eels 2 games to 1 (5-1, 4-5, 7-4)
===Midwest Division Quarterfinals===
*Decatur Blaze defeated Motor City Gamblers 2 games to none (5-4 (ot), 6-5)
*Fort Wayne Spacemen defeated Chicago Cougars 2 games to 1 (4-3, 2-3 (ot), 5-2)
===Midwest Division Semifinals=== 
*Metro Jets Elite defeated Decatur Blaze 2 games to none (5-4, 3-2 (ot))
*Chicago Crush defeated Fort Wayne Spacemen 2 games to (2-0, 1-4, 5-1)
===National Championship===
The two division semifinal winners advance to the national tournament. The National Tournament playoffs were held at the Nexus Center in Utica, New York March 21-26, 2024. 
====Seeding Round====
*Atlanta Mad Hatters defeated Metro Jets Elite 8-1
*Northern Cyclones defeated Rockets Hockey Club 3-0
*Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights defeated Potomac Patriots 5-2 
*Carolina Jr. Hurricanes defeated Chicago Crush 6-1 
*Tampa Bay Juniors defeated Islanders Hockey Club 3-0 
*Potomac Patriots defeated Metro Jets Elite 5-2 
*Northern Cyclones defeated Atlanta Mad Hatters 5-4 (so) 
*Carolina Jr. Hurricanes defeated Islanders Hockey Club 5-1 
*Tampa Bay Juniors defeated Rockets Hockey Club 5-0 
*Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights defeated Chicago Crush 6-0 
====Consolation Game====
*Chicago Crush defeated Metro Jets Elite 2-1 
====Quarterfinals====
*Carolina Jr. Hurricanes defeated Rockets Hockey Club 8-0 
*Northern Cyclones defeated Atlanta Mad Hatters 3-1 
*Islanders Hockey Club defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 6-5 
*Tampa Bay Juniors defeated Potomac Patriots 3-1
====Semifinals====
*Carolina Jr. Hurricanes defeated Islanders Hockey Club 6-0
*Northern Cyclones defeated Tampa Bay Juniors 3-1 
====Championship Game====
*Northern Cyclones defeated Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 3-2 
==References==
Category:2023-24 in ice hockey
Category:USPHL Seasons