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Little Flyers Sweep Wolfpack in Connecticut

By Anthony Lorusso , 01/26/17, 5:45PM EST

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Arnberg Named to EHL Stars of the Week

Aston, PA -- This past weekend the Little Flyers headed to Connecticut for a two game series with the Jr. Wolfpack.  The Little Flyers were looking to get back into the win column after suffering their first regulation loss of the season at the hands of the Valley Jr. Warriors.

                From the opening faceoff the Little Flyers looked to be in control of the game.  Forward Oliver Arnberg got the scoring going early for the Little Flyers when he was able to gather his own rebound and put the puck past the Jr. Wolfpack goalie at the 6:53 mark of the first period.  The Little Flyers power play was able to strike a few minutes later as Trevor Coykendall deflected a Cameron Bartkoski shot from the point into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead less than ten minutes into the first period.  Sam Kany, in net and the Little Flyers penalty killing units were relied upon heavily throughout the game as the Little Flyers were shorthanded six times, including killing off two penalties to end the first period.  While at even strength to begin the second period the Little Flyers offense struck early, just 36 seconds into the period, a Christian Karbler cross ice pass was deflected in the net by a driving Peter Hatton.  The goal was Hatton’s 16th of the season.  The Little Flyers found themselves shorthanded for six of the next seven minutes and 37 seconds of game play.  With a collective effort from everyone on the penalty kill units and Kany, the Little Flyers were able to maintain their 3-0 lead.  Leading goal scorer for the Little Flyers, Jamie Bucell would add some breathing room as he scored two goals in less than two and a half minutes.  A Trevor Coykendall shot that missed the net found its way to Bucell on the other side of the net; Bucell buried the puck into the open net.  Bucell’s second goal of the game came via the power play.  Joey Savel won a faceoff in the Jr. Wolfpack goal back to Chris Best, Best’s shot was high and wide of the net; Bucell moving through the front of the net corralled the puck on the other side of the net and shot it past the Jr. Wolfpack goaltender.  With a comfortable 5-0 lead in the third period the Little Flyers added goals from Konsta Jaakola and Oliver Arnberg’s second of the game.  Despite facing 11 shots in the third period, Kany was able to hold on for the 28 save shutout as the Little Flyers won the game 7-0. 

                Sunday’s game saw the Little Flyers turn to Joe Giacobbo in between the pipes, looking for his 16th win of the season.  Just over a minute into the period the Little Flyers were on the power play but couldn’t find the back of the net.  A second chance with the man advantage mid-way through the first period would pay off when Pater Hatton got the puck to Oliver Arnberg who back Alex Peterson wide open back door, Peterson settled the puck and fired it past the Jr. Wolfpack goaltender.  Peterson’s goal, his 14th of the season was the only scoring by either team in the period.  Giacobbo saved all five pucks shot on net by the Wolfpack.  The second period was an exciting one with four goals being scored in the frame.  Joey Savel was able to add to the Little Flyers lead with a power play goal of his own.  Savel received a pass from Evan Heldt down low, Savel was able to get the Wolfpack netminder out of position and tuck the puck across the goal line for his 10th goal of the season.  The Jr. Wolfpack were finally able to solve Giacobbo with a goal from their captain Shane Visnick.  Chris Bracco, the newest Little Flyer made his presence known is his first game for the team by scoring a goal of his own.  With strong fore-checking by line mates Brett Abdelnour and Konsta Jaakola, Bracco got the puck in the middle of the ice and beat the goalie short side to extend the lead to 3-1.  Just twelve seconds later Abdelnour, Jaakola and Bracco were back at it when Jaakola dished the puck off to Abdelnour in the circle, Abdelnour fired a wrister high glove side and into the net.  Heading into the third period the Little Flyers held a 4-1 lead and were outshooting the Jr. Wolfpack 27-12.  The Jr. Wolfpack would not give up as they tested Giacobbo frequently in the third period, putting 12 shots on net.  The Wolfpack were able to cut into the Philadelphia lead with a goal just 2:17 into the third period.  That would be all Giacobbo would give the home team in the game as he was solid throughout the remainder of the period.  Just like the day before Oliver Arnberg would have the final say in this game as he scored his third goal of the weekend when he took a pass from Jamie Bucell in the slot and shot the puck into the back of the net, Trevor Coykendall was also credited with an assist on the play.  Giacobbo stopped 22 of 24 shots in the game to win his 16th game of the season by a final score of 5-2. 

                The Little Flyers were lights out again on the penalty kill, successfully killing off all five Jr. Wolfpack man advantages in the game and went a perfect 11 for 11 on the weekend.  On the opposite the Little Flyers power play went 4 for 7.  “I thought our power play struggled the week before, so it was good to see both of our units get back to having success.  I am always very confident in our PK, we know that if we do take penalties our PKJ is usually there to bail us out.  Against a good team, it’s hard to get 5 on 5 goals so, special teams plays a big factor in most games and I thought we definitely won the special teams battle over the weekend” said Little Flyers head coach Rocky Russo.  With the two win weekend the Little Flyers got back into the win column after their 30 game winning streak and 33 game point streak were snapped at the final EHL showcase of the season in Hooksett, NH.  After Sunday’s game head coach Rocky Russo offered his thoughts on his teams bounce back performance, “I thought we did a good job of responding in the first game.  We played a complete game, stayed disciplined and took advantage of our opportunities.  Sunday we got away from some things we do well and allowed the game to stay close for a little longer then we would like.” 

Arnberg Named to EHL Stars of the Week

                For the second time this season Little Flyers first year forward Oliver Arnberg has been named to the Eastern Hockey League’s Stars of the Week.  The 5’7” Nynashmns, Sweden native scored 3 goals and added 2 assists in the Little Flyers two win weekend.  In 36 games played, Arnberg has scored 15 goals and added 21 assists for 36 points in his first season playing for the Little Flyers.  “Oliver has been excellent for us this season.  He is playing very hard and it turn is being rewarded for his efforts.  We always knew is ability level was there; it was more about him learning to play a North American style of hockey.  Once he adjusted he has been one of our more effective offensive players” said head coach Rocky Russo upon learning of Arnberg’s recognition as an EHL Star of the Week.