Zajic, Frey, Skidmore Named USHL Players of the Week

Men's Ice Hockey | 11/9/2026 2:00:00 PM

Lukas Zajic, Harper Frey, and Joseph Skidmore have been named United States Hockey League (USHL) Players of the Week for games played from Monday, November 2 through Sunday, November 8.

Lukas Zajic, F, Youngstown Phantoms
Hometown: Plainfield, Ill.
NCAA Commitment: University of Wisconsin

  • Recorded five points on four goals and one assist in two games against the Madison Capitols. Three of his four goals came on the power play.
  • Scored twice on the power play in Friday's 7–5 loss, including a 5-on-3 goal that tied the game at 3–3 in the second period.
  • Opened the scoring 1:41 into Saturday's game, earned the primary assist on Stephen Cover's first-period goal and added another 5-on-3 goal in Youngstown's 8–4 loss.
Harper Frey, D, Madison Capitols
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
NCAA Commitment: University of Wisconsin
  • Recorded one goal and four assists as Madison swept its two-game road series against Youngstown.
  • Set up Bryce Wiitala's go-ahead goal early in the third period of Friday's 7–5 win.
  • Tied Saturday's game at 3–3 with 30 seconds left in the first period, then picked up the primary assist on Bode McConnell's second-period power-play goal in Madison's 8-4 win.
  • Led USHL defensemen in points on one goal and four assists. He had two shots and a +4 rating.  
Joseph Skidmore, G, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Hometown: Clearwater, Fla.
NCAA Commitment: Dartmouth College
  • Went 2-0-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, stopping 36 of 38 shots in a weekend sweep of the Green Bay Gamblers.
  • Made 14 saves in Friday's 4–1 win and turned aside 22 shots in Saturday's 3–1 victory.
  • Improved his record to 8-2-0-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) this season, posting the second-most wins in the League.

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world’s leading junior hockey league. This season, 45% of NCAA Division I men’s hockey players and 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 315 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and nine of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).

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 90% 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 Jack Hughes (NTDP), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).