Pennsylvania Product Filling Up The Net Before Heading To Hockey East
The Sioux City Musketeers have a tradition of hosting a USHL rival on New Year's Eve. Lately, that tradition has left fans going home with a sour taste to end the year, with the Muskies dropping 6 straight on NYE since beating Omaha in 2018. This year, in a new blackout jersey, someone was going to need to step up and carry the fans to the new year on the right note.
Enter Trey Jefferis. On Wednesday night, the West Chester, Pennsylvania native could not be stopped. He opened the scoring halfway through the first period with a slick forehand move around Tri-City Storm netminder Owen Nelson. He followed that goal up with two assists to push the lead to 3-0 as the Musketeers took the game over in the second period. Tri-City, without star goaltender Michal Pradel, would switch goalies before Jefferis added the dagger with 2 minutes remaining in the middle frame. The Storm would get one back but it didn't matter as Sioux City finally broke their NYE curse and ended the year with a resounding 5-1 victory.
So far this season, Jefferis has been a steady producer for the Muskies. Through 28 games, the right winger has 21 goals and 13 assists. His 34 point total puts Jefferis sixth in league scoring as the calendar turns to 2026. One aspect of Jefferis' game that head coach, Jason Kersner, may be most proud of is his league leading 4 short handed goals. Jefferis is a threat coming over the boards for a penalty kill.
This campaign is Jefferis' third in the USHL, all with Sioux City. His game on New Year's Eve moved Jefferis beyond his point total from last season (33) and marked his 100th game in a Musketeer uniform. This past March, Jefferis committed to Northeastern University where he'll get the opportunity to have the spotlight in one of college hockey's biggest traditions, the Beanpot tournament in Boston.
Jefferis and the Musketeers get the new year started with a trip to Michigan to take on the US NTDP for a pair of games this weekend. Stay tuned to The Hockey News for the latest on prospects around the USHL.