West Chester, PA – There is nothing more exciting in sports then scoring the game winning goal in overtime of a Championship game, that is exactly what Jacob Ronsvalle did to lift the Little Flyers Squirt major team to an Atlantic Youth Hockey League Championship.

In game one of round robin play, Logan Strumolo’s second period hat trick gave the Little Flyers a 3-2 win over their cross town opponent in the JR. Flyers.  Trailing 1-0 after the first period, Strumolo took a pass from John Caiazza to tie the game at 1-1.  Less than thirty seconds later, Strumolo struck again to give ethe Little Flyers their first lead of the day.  Kellan Peer made 23 saves in net for the Little Flyers to hold on to the one goal lead through the final buzzer.

Game two was a matchup against Philadelphia Hockey Club who jumped on the Little Flyers early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first period of play.  Brody Grill and Joey Meier were able to find the back of the net for the Little Flyers but the PHC offense answered back each time to take a 5-2 win.  Needing a win in game three to advance to the Championship game, the Little Flyers turned in a great group effort to down the Long Island Royals 5-4.  Tyson Shaffer, Logan Strumolo and John Caiazza all scored first period goals for the Little Flyers who led 3-2.  The Royals fought back to tie the game at 3-3 early in the second period.  Jacob Ronsvalle, Kolten Mazza and Tyler Panaro connected on Ronsvalle’s goal to go up 4-3.  After opening the scoring on the day, Shaffer closed it as well for the Little Flyers netting his second of the game at the 4:06 mark of the third period to win the game 5-4.

Monday set up a rematch between the Little Flyers and Jr. Flyers for the AYHL Championship.  Trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Little Flyers offense came to life in the second, netting three goals to take a 3-2 lead into the 3rd.  John Caiazza tied the game at 1-1 on an unassisted goal, the next shift Tyler Panaro put the Little Flyers up 2-1 with help from Kolten Mazza.  Caiazza’s second goal of the game was assisted by Brody Grill.  The Jr. Flyers tied the game at 3-3 late in the third period to set up a winner take all overtime.  Overtime was Ronsvalle’s opportunity to play hero as he took a pass from Nicolas Pless and raced into he Jr. Flyers zone, launching a wrist shot from the slot high over the goalies shoulder for the game winner, bringing the AYHL Championship home to Aston.  Goaltender Kellan Peer came up huge for the Little Flyers in the Championship, making 32 saves in the winning performance. 

Congratulations to all the 2012 Little Flyers on their great season!