USHL Names Players of the Week

Published on February 19, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release

The United States Hockey League announced the Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week for Week 20 of the 2017-18 season. Des Moines Buccaneers forward Nicolas Werbik, Dubuque Fighting Saints defenseman Josh Maniscalco and Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Ivan Prosevetov all earned their first career USHL weekly honors. Werbik picked up six points over the weekend thanks to a pair of three-point efforts, Maniscalco dished out three assists in three games and Prosvetov gave up just three goals in his two starts over the weekend to lead Youngstown to a pair of victories. The USHL is America's only Tier 1 junior hockey league, and continues to lead the world in the advancement of Division I college hockey athletes.

Forward: Nicolas Werbik - Des Moines Buccaneers

2 GP: 3 goals, 3 assists, +5 rating

Werbik scored a goal and dished out two assists in Des Moines' 3-2 victory in Chicago on Friday. He then lit the lamp twice, including the game-winner, and added his third helper of the weekend on Saturday as the Buccaneers knocked off the Muskegon Lumberjacks 5-3. He raised his point total to 33 (19G, 14A) over the weekend with his pair of three-points performances. Those 33 points lead all Des Moines players along with his five game-winning goals. Werbik is in his second USHL season and is coming off a year where he led the Youngstown Phantoms in scoring with 39 points (18G, 21A) in 54 games and was named to the 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He has played in 94 career USHL games, totaling 72 points (37G, 35A) in those contests. A native of Zlin in the Czech Republic, Werbik previously played for Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) and HC Zlin (Czech Republic).

Defenseman: Josh Maniscalco - Dubuque Fighting Saints

3 GP: 0 goals, 3 assists, +2 rating

Maniscalco assisted on a pair of goals in Friday's game against Madison and added an assist on Quinn Preston's overtime winner as Dubuque picked up a victory in Lincoln on Sunday. The Arizona State commit has been a solid, veteran presence for the Fighting Saints this season, tallying 24 points (6G, 18A) in 41 games to compliment strong defensive play. Those 24 points lead all Dubuque defensemen in scoring and place him in a tie for fifth among all USHL blueliners. He also has four points (1G, 3A) in his last four games dating back to Feb. 10. The Perkiomenville, PA native is in his first season with the Fighting Saints following two years with Team USA which included an appearance in the 2016 USA Hockey/CCM All-American Prospects Game. He has recorded 39 points (13G, 26A) in 103 career USHL games. Prior to his time in the USHL, Maniscalco previously played for the prestigious Shattuck St. Mary's program (USHS).

Goaltender: Ivan Prosvetov

2-0-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .953 SV%

Prosvetov stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced on Friday before making 27 saves on 29 shots on Saturday, leading Youngstown to a weekend sweep the Waterloo Black Hawks. The Russian netminder improved his record to 13-7-2-0 over the weekend and now sits with a 2.99 GAA and .909 SV%. He has won five of his last six starts dating back to Jan. 28 and hasn't allowed more than three goals in any of those appearances. He has also been busy between the pipes this season, as he has faced 30 or more shots in 13 of his 25 games played. The uncommitted goaltender in his second season in North America, as he spent 2016-17 with the Minnesota Magicians (NAHL), recording a 2.52 GAA and .928 SV%. Earlier this year, he recorded 11 saves at the 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, becoming the ninth goaltender in USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game history to stop every shot he faced. Prior to his time in North America, Prosvetov played for Rus Moskva in Russia.

United States Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2018

• Stars Weekly - Lincoln Stars
• Ivan Prosvetov Named USHL Goaltender of Week 20 - Youngstown Phantoms
• Maniscalco Named USHL Defenseman of the Week - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• USHL Names Players of the Week - USHL
• Sizzling Six-Point Weekend Lands Werbik Forward of Week Honors - Des Moines Buccaneers
• News Sanford Children's Night Raises Just Under $13,000 - Fargo Force
• Mark Carlson Collects 600th Career Win - USHL
• From Undrafted to Committed: Crowder Commits to UNO - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Storm Storylines - Tri-City Storm

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