USHL Players of the Week – Week 17

The United States Hockey League announced the Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender of the Week for Week 17 of the 2017-18 season. Youngstown Phantoms forward Matthew Barry and Waterloo Black Hawks defenseman Ben Finkelstein earned their first career weekly honors, while Omaha Lancers goaltender Zach Driscoll picked up his third weekly award of the season. Barry picked up eight points on the weekend, including a five-point performance on Saturday, Finkelstein recorded six points on Saturday en route to a seven-point weekend and Driscoll stopped 61 of the 62 shots he faced in two starts, including a 25-save shutout on Friday. 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: Matthew Barry – Youngstown Phantoms

3 GP: 2 goals, 6 assists, +1 rating

Barry dished out two assists on Friday night before scoring a goal and adding four more helpers on Saturday as Youngstown knocked off Dubuque 6-5 in overtime. He followed that performance up by scoring the game winning goal as the Phantoms defeated the Fighting Saints 2-1 to sweep the two-game series. The Holy Cross commit leads Youngstown in scoring and is alone in fourth among all USHL players with 35 points (9G, 26) through 35 games. He has 10 multi-point contests on the season and has recorded 13 points (3G, 10A) in his last 10 games dating back to Jan. 5. The Naperville, IL native is playing in his first USHL season and was selected in the seventh round, 107th overall by the Phantoms in the 2017 USHL Phase II Draft. He previously played for the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) and Chicago Mission (HPHL).

Defenseman: Ben Finkelstein – Waterloo Black Hawks

2 GP: 1 goal, 6 assists, +1 rating

Finkelstein scored the game-winning goal and dished out five assists in Waterloo’s 7-3 win over Cedar Rapids on Saturday and added his sixth helper of the weekend on Sunday against the Sioux Falls Stampede. The Boston College commit has been outstanding in his short time with the Black Hawks, recording nine points (2G, 7A) in just four games, an astonishing average of 2.25 points/game. He has earned at least one point in each of those four contests and already sits third among all Waterloo defensemen with his nine points. A native of South Burlington, VT, Finkelstein was selected in the seventh round, 195th overall by the Florida Panthers at the 2016 NHL Draft. He joined Waterloo earlier this month and played for St. Lawrence University (NCAA), the Boston Jr. Bruins (MHSL) and Kimball Academy (USHS) prior to his time in the USHL