Trio of Eastern Conference players take home USHL's Week 23 honors – The Rink Live

The USHL has announced its 23rd Players of the Week for the 2023-24 season as Chicago forward

Michael Hage,

Youngstown defenseman

Luke Osburn

and Madison goaltender

Patriks Berzins

earned the respective honors for Week 23.

It’s the first career honor for all three. Players of the Week will continue to release every Monday throughout the regular season.

Hage

picked up seven points (2-5-7) last weekend as Chicago won two of its three games.

Hage picked up three assists in a 5-4 win at Green Bay on Friday, scored in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to Omaha and finished the weekend with a goal and two assists in Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Lancers. Friday and Sunday were Hage’s 17th and 18th multi-point games of the season.

The Michigan commit now has 25 goals and 55 points through 43 games, both of which lead the Steel. He’s also tied for sixth in the USHL in goals and tied for fifth in points. His 25 goals are coincidentally tied with Chicago teammate Charlie Major, who scored four times this weekend.

Hage has especially been on fire since the Christmas break as he has 15-16-31 over his last 19 games. Chicago is 5-3-0-2 over its last 10 and remains sixth in the Eastern Conference with 49 points.

Osburn

had three assists and was a plus-3 in a Thursday morning game as Youngstown earned a 10-4 win over Waterloo. The rookie defenseman followed it up with a goal and an assist on Friday as Youngstown suffered a 6-4 loss to Dubuque. He was a plus-2 on Friday too but a minus-3 in Saturday’s 3-0 loss, finishing the weekend a plus-2 overall.

The Wisconsin commit now has five goals and 16 points through 46 games, along with a plus-9 rating. Osburn is one of 24 USHL defensemen with five or more goals on the season, and he ranks second in goals and fourth in points among all rookie defensemen.

“Luke has progressed very nicely and has become an integral part of our team,” Youngstown head coach told The Rink Live. “He plays in every situation and has seen his role grow as the year has gone on.

“Luke is very coachable, he’s a great teammate and brings it every day. He’s just going to keep getting better and better and is going to be the steal of the NHL Draft.”

Youngstown (26-15-4-3) remains fourth in the Eastern Conference with 59 points — just one point behind Muskegon and two behind Green Bay.

Berzins

earned his first shutout of the season and the second of his USHL career Saturday night. The Latvian goaltender made 21 saves in Plymouth, leading the Capitols to a 5-0 win over the U18s.

After an 8-6-2 start to the season, Berzins had dropped his first four starts in February, allowing 20 goals over that four-game stretch. However, he’s responded with back-to-back wins and made 55 of possible 57 saves.

“Patty has been good for us all year,” Madison head coach Andy Brandt told The Rink Live. “Both him and Carsen have been outstanding for our team. Shane (Connelly) has done a great job with our goalies overall and Patty works hard and competes every day in practice. We are glad he’s finally getting recognition for what he does day in and day out.”

Berzins is 10-10-2 this season with a .889 save percentage and 3.42 GAA. The Maine commit has made 603 of a possible 678 saves this winter and is now 21-13-3-1 in his USHL career.

Madison (22-19-4-2) remains fifth in the Eastern Conference with 50 points — one ahead of Chicago and three up on Cedar Rapids. The Capitols have one game (April 7) remaining against Cedar Rapids this season and will play nine of their final 15 games at home.

Jordan McAlpine is a junior and prospects reporter for The Rink Live.