Photo Credit: Lindsay Tendler

Aston, PA -- This past weekend, The Little Flyers traveled to Dix Hills, NY for a two game series against the New York Bobcats.  

                Newly signed goaltender, Will McEwen got the start in net for Philadelphia on Saturday.  The first period didn't go as Coach Lewis and the Little Flyers had hoped as the team found themselves shorthanded three times in the first twenty minutes of play.  Philadelphia outshot the Bobcats 18-5 in the opening period but couldn't put a puck in the back of the net.  

                Little Flyers broke the scoreless tie just five minutes into the second period when Cale Coor sent a 75ft stretch pass right up the middle of the ice to captain Joey Savel.  Savel in all alone with the Bobcats goaltender, slid the puck five hole for his 3rd goal of the season.  The Bobcats would tie the game at the 11:42 mark of the period with a shorthanded goal.  The Little Flyers would regain the lead a short time later with a special team's goal of their own.  Defenseman Nick Magill-Diaz passed the puck to blue line partner Cade Street; Street's shot from the point was deflected by Alex Ochterbeck into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.  Just over a minute later it was Ochterbeck and Savel's line mate Ryan Galvin who got in on the scoring.  Savel dished a backhanded pass to Galvin who was right below the hash mark; Galvin fired a wrister high short side over the goaltenders shoulder.  The Little Flyers headed into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead, out shooting the Bobcats 36-13 after the first forty minutes of play.  

                The Little Flyers would extend their lead midway through the third period as the trio of Ochterbeck, Savel and Galvin continued to dominate the game.  Moving into the Bobcats zone Galvin dropped the puck back to Savel who sent a pass through two Bobcats defenders to a cutting Ochterbeck for the goal.  Several minutes later the Bobcats looked to cut into the Little Flyers lead with their best scoring chance of the day, as Joseph Walsh got behind the Philadelphia defense on a breakaway.  McEwen came up big for the Little Flyers, stoning Walsh's initial shot and then a rebound attempt to preserve the 4-1 lead.  Savel would put the game out of reach, scoring his second goal of the day banging home a rebound on a shot from Nick Magill-Diaz.  McEwen picked up his first career win for the Little Flyers, making 17 saves on 18 shots.

                Brendahn Brawley, the EHL's reigning goaltender of the week was in net for the Little Flyers on Sunday.  Philadelphia wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Nick Magill-Diaz took a cross ice pass from Alex Ochterbeck and beat the Bobcats goaltender short side, Sasha Miniouchine assisted on the play.  The Bobcats would answer back four minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.  With less than five minutes left in the opening period, New York took their first lead of the weekend with a goal from Keith O'Brien.  The Bobcats took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first period, outshooting Philadelphia 14-10.

                The Little Flyers tied the game just: 18 into the second period.  With a face-off deep in the Bobcats zone, Joey Savel pushed the puck past New York's center and dished the puck across ice to a waiting Ochterbeck who backhanded the puck home.  Savel made his presence known again as he worked a puck from behind the net and passed it across to a wide open Ryan Galvin who deposited it in the back of the net.  Four minutes later, Ochterbeck scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway,     Galvin and Trevor Lewandoski assisted on the play.  Philadelphia's dominance of the second period continued, this time on the power play.  A Brendan Coughlin shot from the point was deflected by Avery Smith in front of the net; Smith stayed with the puck and was able to score off of a second chance opportunity.  The scoring in the second period was capped off by a 2-on-1 rush by Alex Ochterbeck and Little Flyers captain Trevor Lewandoski.  Ochterbeck passed the puck cross ice to Lewandoski who fired a wrister into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.  Philadelphia took a commanding 6-2 lead into the third period.  

                The third period was dominated by the Little Flyers power play, scoring three goals.  Philadelphia took advantage of a four minute power play 2:42 into the period on a Joey Savel unassisted goal.  Twenty eight seconds later Ryan Galvin scored his second goal of the game for an 8-2 lead.  The final scoring of the day was done by Nate Mickey as he scored two goals in the period, the first at the 4:31 mark, assisted by Avery Smith and Trevor Lewandoski.  The second Mickey goal came on the power play at the 17:55 mark, assisted by Brendan Graham and Kami Kortelainen.  Brendahn Brawley won his 3rd game of the season in net, making 28 saves.  For the weekend, the Little Flyers outscored the Bobcats 15-3.   

Ochterbeck, Lewandoski Named TSR Hockey Stars of the Week

                Tuesday morning the EHL announced its weekly TSR Hockey Stars of the Week honors, forward Alex Ochterbeck and defenseman Trevor Lewandoski were named the Forward of the week and Defenseman of the week respectively.  Ochterbeck, a ’97 birth year forward from Dallas, Texas had four goals and four assists on the weekend to lead the Little Flyers offensively.  Ochterbeck’s 12 points leads the EHL after two weeks of play.  Lewandoski, a ’97 birth year defenseman from Newbury, Ohio scored his first goal of the season and added two assists in Sundays 10-2 Little Flyers victory.  The 3rd year defenseman and captain has six points through four games, in 57 total games last season Lewandoski had nine points, two goals and seven assists. 

                Joey Savel received an honorable mention for Forward of the Week, Savel matched Ochterbeck’s point total on the weekend with eight points, scoring three goals and dishing out five assists.  The second year forward has five goals and six assists in the first four games of the EHL season. 

          Ochterbeck, Lewandoski, Savel and the rest of the Little Flyers will hit the road this weekend for a pair of games against Atlantic Division rivals, Saturday at the Revolution and Sunday in a rematch of the EHL finals against the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers.  All games can be viewed live on HockeyTv.com with a subscription or follow online at easternhockeyleague.org for updates.