The 2020–21 USPHL Premier season was the 8th season of the Premier Division of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The regular season ran from September 18, 2020 to March 6, 2021 with an unbalanced schedule. The Metro Jets won the regular season championship. The Charlotte Rush defeated the Florida Eels 2–0 in the Championship game.
Member changes The fallout and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the dissolution of the Connecticut Nighthawks and Lansing Wolves.
After several years of substandard play, the USPHL removed the Rochester Monarchs organization from its ranks. The club's three teams (NCDC, Premier and Elite) all disbanded shortly thereafter.
Due to the continuing disruptions from the pandemic, the Western States Hockey League announced that it would suspend play for the 2020–21 season. By April 2020, nine of its member teams (Fresno Monsters, Las Vegas Thunderbirds, Northern Colorado Eagles, Ogden Mustangs, Ontario Avalanche, Pueblo Bulls, San Diego Sabers, Southern Oregon Spartans, and Utah Outliers) had left the WSHL and joined the USPHL's Premier Division. The Ontario Avalanche would rebrand as the Anaheim Avalanche before the start of the season.
After suspending play for the previous season due to uncertainty over the future of their home arena, the Wooster Oilers rejoined the Premier Division.
On June 4, the USPHL announced the addition of the Elmira Jr. Enforcers as an expansion franchise. The team would begin play in the Premier Division this season.
On June 9, The Boston Advantage were approved as expansion franchises to both the NCDC and Premier Divisions.
A few days later, in order to help fill out the new western divisions, the USPHL approved the Provo Riverblades as an expansion franchise for this season. This allowed the USPHL to establish two 5-team divisions to help cut down on travel expenses.
Due to problems resulting from the pandemic, the Southern Oregon Spartans had played the first part of the season on outdoor rinks. As their situation worsened, the team withdrew from the league on November 18th after playing just 6 games. While the team was hoping to return the following year, their home venue, The RRRink, decided against renewing the team's lease, forcing the club to disband.
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 Due to positive COVID-19 tests, a few games were cancelled and not rescheduled.
Florida Division Team xy – Florida Eels 443113062226120 x – Tampa Bay Juniors 442913260182144 x – Charleston Colonials 442419149148159 x – Atlanta Madhatters 441623537134187 Florida Jr. Blades 441525434158187
Great Lakes Division Team xy – Metro Jets 4338417723474 x – Toledo Cherokee 44339268241103 x – Pittsburgh Vengeance 433011262155100 x – Columbus Mavericks 442121244172160 x – Lake Erie Bighorns 421724135115260 MHC 42123002492195 x – Wooster Oilers 43833218111248
Mid-Atlantic Division Team xy – Rockets Hockey Club 44339268230121 x – Elmira Jr. Enforcers 442814258169132 x – Philadelphia Hockey Club 442814258218137 x – New Jersey Hitmen 441525434155212 x – New York Aviators 411624133154201 x – Utica Jr. Comets 421426230150199 Connecticut Jr. Rangers 401425129124170 x – Buffalo Thunder 391225226111173 x – Skipjacks Hockey Club 36823521112170 P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 4062951796245
Midwest East Division Team xy – Metro Jets Development Program 4431856722095 x – Chicago Cougars 433011262231108 x – Fort Wayne Spacemen 442313854186152 x – Detroit Fighting Irish 432021242183217 Decatur Blaze 431822339188207 x – Midwest Blackbirds 441230226134255 x – Motor City Hockey Club 411382472354
Midwest West Division Team xy – Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings 4437527626084 x – Minnesota Moose 44376175254104 x – Hudson Havoc 4436537522686 x – Minnesota Blue Ox 442914159204134 x – Steele County Blades 442320147217168 x – Minnesota Mullets 441920543157168 x – Rum River Mallards 44933220123222 x – Rochester Vipers 44933220137302 Dells Ducks 433382865356
Mountain Division Team xy – Ogden Mustangs 502917462202159 x – Northern Colorado Eagles 492819258173153 x – Pueblo Bulls 492719357170156 x – Utah Outliers 452418351159154 Provo Riverblades 462217751187168
New England Division Team xy – Islanders Hockey Club 4337607422981 x – Boston Junior Bruins 443012262161105 x – Northern Cyclones 38271015516174 x – Springfield Pics 442318349130127 x – Bridgewater Bandits 3019834110281 x – Twin City Thunder 332012141132108 x – South Shore Kings 361718135132110 x – New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 321614234128129 Boston Advantage 3062221462134
Pacific Division Team xy – Fresno Monsters 402810258227124 x – Las Vegas Thunderbirds 402414250196149 x – Anaheim Avalanche 3682711796188 x – San Diego Sabers 433391781269 Southern Oregon Spartans 60600961
Southeast Division Team xy – Charlotte Rush 4434916920887 x – Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 442812460157128 x – Richmond Generals 442617153177128 x – Hampton Roads Whalers 442418250185141 Potomac Patriots 443392872276
Premier Division playoffs Due to positive Covid tests, the Decatur Blaze were unable to participate in the postseason.
Divisional Round Teams are reseeded after the quarterfinal rounds.
Florida
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Great Lakes
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Mid-Atlantic
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 Due to Massachusetts quarantine requirements, the two New England Division teams from out of state (Northern Cyclones and New Hampshire Junior Monarchs) were paired in the quarterfinal round.
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 team from each pool would advance to the Championship round.
Round Robin
Pool A
Rank Team 1 Northern Cyclones 300695 2 Charleston Colonials 2104137 3 Elmira Jr. Enforcers 1202712 4 Metro Jets 030049
Pool B
Rank Team 1 Florida Eels 2015145 2 Metro Jets Development Program 2104139 3 Minnesota Blue Ox 1113911 4 New York Aviators 0300516
Pool C
Rank Team 1 Charlotte Rush 2015187 2 Islanders Hockey Club 2015105 3 Utah Outliers 1202813 4 Chicago Cougars 0300516
Pool D
Rank Team 1 Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 21041511 2 Toledo Cherokee 2104139 3 Fresno Monsters 12021621 4 Minnesota Moose 12021114
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