Aston,PA - - The Philadelphia Little Flyers Eastern Hockey League Premier team was back on home ice this past weekend for a pair of South Conference games.

Saturday, the Little Flyers welcomed the New Jersey 87s to IceWorks Skating Complex for the first meeting of the season between the two teams.  The 87s opened the scoring 5:25 into the first period with an even strength goal from Tim Lazouski.  Special teams would be a big part of this game the rest of the way.  The Little Flyers had three power play opportunities in the first period but were unable to tie the game despite outshooting the 87s 12-7 in the opening twenty minutes.

Just over four minutes into the second period, the EHLP’s leading scorer Kyle Scott was able to tie the game for the Little Flyers.  Scott’s goal was assisted by line-mates Austin Mazzulo and Ryan Sharkey.  After the Scott goal, the Little Flyers found themselves shorthanded four times over the next six minutes of play.  The 87s took advantage, as Jack Lane scored two power play goals in a minute and a half to give New Jersey a two goal lead,  With just over five minutes to play, the 87s added to their lead with an even strength goal by Austin Bell.  

Even though the Little Flyers outshot their opponent 33-25 in the game, they were unable put another goal on the board in the third period and fell to the 87s by a final score of 5-1.

On Sunday, the Little Flyers looked to bounce back with a win against the Central Penn Panthers.  Austin Mazzulo opened the scoring 4:33 into the first period, picking off a pass in the neutral zone, dancing around a defenseman and scoring on a breakaway.  One minute later, the Little Flyers added to their lead when defenseman Brett Turner fired a shot from the slot through traffic into the back of the net.  The goal was Turner’s first as a Little Flyer, Joe Marcella was credited with an assist on the play.  With seven minutes left in the first period, Kyle Scott took the puck coast to coast, backhanded a shot that was saved but followed the shot and slipped the puck past the Panthers goaltender.  The Little Flyers capped off their first period scoring with a power play goal courtesy of a Ryan Sharkey deflection off of an Eric Maard shot from the point.  Central Penn was able to get on the board later in the period with a goal from their leading scorer, Dave Tremblay.  The Little Flyers outshot Central Penn 17-4 in the first period. 

The Little Flyers continued their offensive outburst early in the second period as Sharkey scored his second goal of the game just :26 into the period on the power play, Nate Dunning and Austin Mazzulo assisted on the play.  Less than two minutes later, Brett Turner scored his second goal of the game that was assisted by Luca Filocamo and Eric Maard.  Even though they trailed 6-1 early in the second period, Central Penn competed hard, doubling up the Little Flyers in second period shots, 14-7.  The third period began similar to the second as Eric Maard added to the Little Flyers lead 1:51 in.  Midway through the period, Ryan Sharkey scored his third goal of the game for the hat trick.  The goal was Sharkey’s 16th of the season, good for third in the EHL behind teammate Kyle Scott and Central Penn’s Tremblay.  Central Penn didn’t go away quietly in this one.  Despite trailing 8-1 with ten minutes left to play, Central Penn made things interesting by scoring three goals in a four minute span.  The comeback was too little too late as the Little Flyers took this one by a final score of 8-4.  Ryan Creenan, improved to 4-3 on the season for the Little Flyers in net, making 29 saves.

This weekend, the Little Flyers will play a home and home series against the New Jersey Renegades.  Saturday night the Little Flyers will travel to Flemington, NJ for an 8:00 PM puck drop then return home to IceWorks on Sunday for the back end of the two game series at 12:30 PM.