The USPHL has announced its monthly award winners for December and five Colorado natives took home honors for their on-ice performances last month.

Jersey Hitmen forward Kayden Dormer is a Forward of the Month in the Atlantic East Division, while Northern Cyclones forward Jackson Tillinghast earned the same honors in the New England Division, Cyclones defenseman Andrew Nieusma is a Defenseman of the Month in the New England Division, Florida Eels blueliner Hunter Howe took home the same honors in the Florida Division and Lake Tahoe Lakers defender Luke Stevens was named in the Pacific Division.

Dormer, a 2001 birth year from Littleton, had some huge performances for a Hitmen team that has enjoyed a 6-2-2-0 performance in their last 10 games.

He put together a two-goal, three-assist performance against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers over a weekend.

Later on in the month, Dormer posted three goals and one assist against the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders in his third game at the Philadelphia Hockey Club Showcase.

Overall, his five goals and nine points in five games evened out his total points per game average to 1.00 with 22 points in 22 games. 

During his youth hockey days, Dormer played for the Littleton Hawks, Rocky Mountain RoughRiders and Colorado Rampage and at Chatfield High School.

Tillinghast, a 2001-born Louisville native, has hit the 40-point mark for the second straight season, with a 1-11-12 line in December contributing to this feat. He is now in the top five all-time for Cyclones scoring and just an easily attainable 22 points from tying for the all-time lead of 107 points, set by Guillaume Bose, now playing NCAA Division III hockey at Wentworth Institute of Technology.

The Cyclones’ captain brings a scoring streak into January that begin in November, and currently comprises 5-13-18 in nine games. 

Tillinghast skated for the Boulder Bison and RoughRiders.

A 2001 birth year from Superior, Nieusma became one of the Cyclones’ top goal-scorers during the month of December, putting in five of his total nine on the season.

Fun fact: All four of his current power-play goals on the season were scored in the final month of 2021.

He also added two assists for a 5-2-7 line in six contests, and he now has 26 points in 23 games.

During his youth hockey career, Nieusma spent time with the Colorado Springs Tigers and Rocky Mountain RoughRiders.

Howe, a 2001-born Glenwood Springs product, has been a quiet Premier staple for four years, starting back in 2018-19 and joining the Eels for the first time last season after being acquired from the Provo Riverblades.

Howe was plus-2 for the month of December and put himself in front of six shots.

Overall, Howe has suited up for 69 Eels Premier regular-season games, registering 12 points and helping keep his squad at the top of the Florida Division. 

During his youth hockey days, Howe played for the Colorado Evolution and was also part of the Steamboat Wranglers’ 2018 RMJHL junior hockey championship.

Not only is Stevens the top-scoring defenseman in the league, but he is in the top five for all leading scorers.

The 2002-born native of Boulder has been rendered unstoppable, including an 8-8-16 line through his eight games in the month of December. He’s not all offense, either, as Stevens blocked 12 shots and posted a plus-8 rating for the month. 

Back home, Stevens played for the Evolution.

(January 6, 2021)