Chicago Crush Culture: Trio of Titans Seize Midwest Premier Division Stars of the Week Honors
- Chicago Crush Communications / ChicagoCrushHockey.com
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Chicago Crush Engine Room is Purring: Brown, Edwards, and Kusbel Emerge as Division Dominators
LOCKPORT, IL - What a week to be a member of the Chicago Crush organization! The momentum is palpable, the energy in the rink is electric, and the collective heartbeat of this team is set to an aggressive rhythm. This week, the Midwest Premier Division selectors recognized what the faithful at the Summit Ice Center already know: the Crush are absolutely stacked.
We are absolutely hyped to congratulate three absolute stalwarts—Ryan Brown, Connor Edwards, and Brendan Kusbel—who were all simultaneously named Midwest Premier Division Stars of the Week for the week of November 3-9. That’s not just a selection; that’s a statement. That’s three vital arteries of the team’s circulatory system all firing at maximum capacity, and the league is taking notice.
Let's dive into the stats, the snarl, and the spectacular play that earned these gladiators their hardware.
Forward: Ryan Brown – The Playmaking Professor
Ryan Brown, folks, is playing the game like it’s being run through a high-definition filter. The man is seeing things on the ice that most players wouldn't even register from the press box. Brown managed to pocket two assists over three games, and while the numbers look tidy, they don't capture the gritty, board-battle-winning, defensive-zone-exit-generating effort that underlies every point.
Brown is a playmaker's playmaker. He’s got that high-IQ hockey brain, threading passes through seams that look sewn shut, turning pressure into offense with a flick of his wrist. He’s the guy who sets the table and insists everyone feast. When he’s got the puck, the opposition is forced to respect his vision, which opens up the ice for everyone else.
If you want a comparison, think of Brown as having that quiet, almost surgical offensive intelligence of a guy like Nicklas Lidstrom—yes, a defenseman, but bear with me—in a forward’s body. Lidstrom was never flashy, but he always made the perfect, high-percentage play. Brown has that same clinical efficiency. No wasted motion, just pure, lethal distribution.
Defenseman: Connor Edwards – The Blue Line Bulldozer
In the modern game, the defenseman is not just a shield; he’s an offensive weapon, a transition expert, and the last line of aggression before the goaltender. Connor Edwards is checking every single box and then some.
Edwards, who notched one assist over three games, embodies the heavy game. He's laying the wood in the corners, keeping the front of the net tidier than a Swiss watchmaker's bench, and using his reach like a tactical weapon. He’s not just moving the puck; he’s dictating the flow of the game every time the puck hits his stick. The assist is great, but his real value is in the number of offensive rushes he shuts down and the clean, hard passes he makes to spring the forwards.
Edwards is the kind of guy who thrives on the grind, the kind of player who makes opponents think twice about cutting through the middle. He’s tough as a two-dollar steak, and he plays with the kind of controlled fury that you need from your foundational D-man. He is the anchor that allows the forwards to take calculated risks up ice.
Goaltender: Brendan Kusbel – The Human Wall
This is where the term 'battle-tested' takes on a whole new meaning. Goaltending is a savage, solitary position, and Brendan Kusbel was absolutely in the zone this past week. Going 1-1 over two games might seem pedestrian until you look at the sheer volume of rubber he faced.
Kusbel stared down the barrel of 80 shots in just two contests, turning away wave after wave of attack. His final numbers are simply staggering: a brilliant 1.96 GAA (Goals Against Average) and an eye-popping .950 SV% (Save Percentage). That is the kind of elite performance that steals points for a team.
He was focused, tracking the puck like a heat-seeking missile, battling through traffic, and maintaining a laser-like focus even after facing 40-plus shots in a single night. Kusbel isn't just making saves; he’s taking the soul of the shooter with every glove flash and pad stack. He brings a primal energy to the net that permeates the entire bench. When your goalie is locked in like that, the team knows they can push the envelope.
The Coach’s Take
The collective effort of this trio is a testament to the culture that Head Coach Phil Bushbacher is building here in Chicago. We caught up with the Coach after the announcement, and he was characteristically direct about the recognition.
“It’s simple, those guys earned it. They’ve been putting in the work, staying disciplined, and embracing the physicality of this league. Ryan is making the high-end plays, Connor is swallowing up opposition at the blue line, and Kusbel is standing on his head and giving us a chance every single night. This is the standard, and we’re going to keep raising it.”
The Crush are Rolling
This is an incredible moment of validation for the Chicago Crush. Having a forward, a defenseman, and a goalie all honored in the same week signals total team dominance. It tells the rest of the Midwest Premier Division that the Crush are coming at you with a three-pronged attack—offense, defense, and stellar goaltending. The engine is tuned, the defense is stout, and the final fortress is unbreachable.
Congratulations once again to Ryan Brown, Connor Edwards, and Brendan Kusbel. Now, let's keep that foot on the gas!