Ekman, Klaers, White Named Players of the Week

General | 9/22/2025 2:00:00 PM

Melvin Ekman, Danny Klaers, and Ajay White have been named USHL Players of the Week for games played between Sept. 17-21.

Forward of the Week
Melvin Ekman, Dubuque Fighting Saints
Player Profile

  • Tied for the league lead in scoring at the DICK'S Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic with five points on three goals and two assists. The Stockholm, Sweden native paired his points with nine shots and a +5 rating.
  • Notched the game-winning goal as well as a primary and secondary assist in Dubuque's 10-2 season-opening win against Sioux City.
  • Tallied a pair of goals for the Fighting Saints in their 5-2 win against the Black Hawks, including a shorthanded goal.

Defenseman of the Week
Danny Klaers, Muskegon Lumberjacks
Player Profile

  • Led USHL defensemen with three points, recording points in both games and finishing with a +2 rating in Muskegon's wins.
  • Assisted on the Lumberjacks' first goal of the game and game-tying goal with less than two minutes remaining in their 4-3 shootout win against Waterloo.
  • Recorded the primary assist on Melvin Novotny's overtime winner in a 3-2 overtime win against the Sioux City.

Goalie of the Week
Ajay White, Fargo Force
Player Profile

  • Posted a 28-save shutout in Fargo's 1-0 win against the USA NTDP U-18 team.
  • Helped the Force through a first period where they were outshot 12-3 and made stops to help the team go 2/2 on the penalty kill.

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading 16–to 20-year-old junior hockey league. During the 2024-25 season, USHL alumni held over 50% of NCAA Division I roster spots, and over 25% of NHL players had USHL experience. With 10 first-round selections and 49 total picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, the USHL has developed the most draft choices of any junior hockey league since 2012.

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Matthew Knies (Tri-City Storm), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede).