Pelletier, Olson, Lendak Named Players of the Week

General | 2/23/2026 2:00:00 PM

Alex Pelletier, Darik Olson, and Alan Lendak have been named United States Hockey League (USHL) Players of the Week for games played on or between Monday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 22. 

Alex Pelletier, F, Lincoln Stars
NCAA Commitment: Boston College

  • Tied for the scoring lead among USHL skaters with three goals and three assists.
  • Recorded an assist in Lincoln's 4-1 loss to Des Moines on Tuesday.
  • Notched his third hat trick of the season, the game-winning goal, and one assist in Lincoln's 4-2 win against the Force on Friday, then added a helper and the shootout-winning goal in the Stars' 4-3 win on Saturday vs. Fargo.

Darik Olson, D, Sioux City Musketeers

  • Scored three times in Sioux City's sweep at Muskegon.
  • Scored once in the Musketeers' 4-3 win against the Lumberjacks on Friday and twice in Sioux City's 6-5 victory against Muskegon on Saturday. His second goal on Saturday stood as the game-winner.
  • Finished with four shots and a +3 rating.

Alan Lendak, G, Des Moines Buccaneers

  • Made 15 saves in a 4-1 win against Lincoln on Tuesday.
  • Recorded 33 stops in a 1-0 win at Madison, marking his second shutout of the season and first with the Buccaneers.
  • Led USHL goalies with two or more games played with a 0.50 goals against average and a .980 save percentage.
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, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight 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 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 Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).