By: Allan Westerholt
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (April 11, 2023) – The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) announced today that Jack Berry of the Peoria Rivermen has been named the Warrior/SPHL Player of the Week for April, 3-9.
Berry posted a 3-0-0 record, 1.34 goals against average, and a 0.932 save percentage as Peoria clinched the William B. Coffey Trophy as regular season champions. This is Peoria’s fifth regular season championship and the first since the 2019 season.
On Tuesday, Berry locked down his first of three wins as he stopped 19 of 21 shots faced, including 12 of 13 in the second period against Quad City as the Rivermen went on to win 4-2. On Friday, Berry carried a shutout into the final five minutes of the game before Pensacola finally slotted one past him. Berry finished the game stopping 21 of 22 shots as the Rivermen defeated the Ice Flyers 4-1. In Saturday’s regular-season finale, Berry once again turned in a near-perfect performance against the Ice Flyers as he stopped 15 of 16 shots he faced and for the second consecutive night, helped Peoria to a 4-1 victory and a regular-season title to close out the regular season.
The Holly, MI native posted a career-high 10 wins, and 2.00 goals against average while also having a 0.911 save percentage for the Rivermen. This is Peoria’s fifth SPHL Player of the Week award, the most of any SPHL franchise in 2022/23.
Other nominees for the Warrior Player of the Week: Jared Bethune, Birmingham, (3g, +2), Tyler Piacentini, Huntsville, (1g, 3a, +2), Dean Balsamo, Knoxville, (1g, 1a, +2), Garrett Hallford, Macon, (1g, 3a, +2), Brad Aravantis, Pensacola, (0-1-0, 3.08 gaa, 0.864 sv%), Kevin Resop, Quad City, (1-2-0, 2.95 gaa, 0.916 sv%), Gehrett Sargis, Roanoke, (5g, 1a, +3)