Aston, PA -- The Little Flyers 18U Premier team kicked off the 2023-24 season with a 4-1 Atlantic Youth Hockey League win over the Valley Forge Minutmen. After trailing 1-0 early in the first period, Sam Shevrin scored his first career goal in Orange and Black taking a feed from Giovanni Rhoads to tie the game at 1-1.
Twenty-seven seconds into the second period, Danny White with some help from Jeremy Jacobs gave the Little Flyers their first lead of the day to go up 2-1. With time running out before the end of the second, Liam Jackson doubled the Philadelphia lead with Evan Alvarez handing out the primary assist. Andrew Dubin held the Minutemen off of the scoreboard for the rest of the game, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced in the contest. The Rhoads cousins Giovanni and Brian connected for the dagger goal midway through the third period with Brian lighting the lamp for the visiting Little Flyers who took the game by a final score of 4-1.
18U Elite – The 18U Elite team hosted the Long Island Royals for a double header on Saturday. The first period was a feeling out process as neither team could get on the scoreboard early in the game. The Royals offense came alive during the second period, scoring three straight goals including a power play tally to open the scoring frenzy. The Little Flyers power play answered back strongly in the third period with Darin O’Dell netting the Little Flyers first goal of the season with assists from Giancarlo Cimino and Colin Helkowski. Fifteen seconds later, Kyle Roepcke cut the deficit to one with a power play goal of his own for Philadelphia. Even though they had plenty of chances in the final five minutes, the Little Flyers offense couldn’t find the equalizer and dropped game one by a final score of 4-2 with the Royals getting a late empty net goal. In his debut for the Little Flyers 18U team, Andrew Craig made 31 saves on 34 shots.
Later in the day, the two teams met again with a similar beginning and neither team scoring in the first period. All the offense would come in the second with Jack McCormick getting the Royals out to a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, the Royals were able to find the back of the net again to take a 2-0 advantage into intermission. The Little Flyers had plenty of opportunities in the game, outshooting the Royals 33-27 but couldn’t get on the scoreboard, dropping game two 2-0. Maks Harkins made 27 saves for the Little Flyers.
15U Pure - The Little Flyers 2008 15U Pure team opened the season against a tough opponent in the WB/Scranton Jr. Knights. Braydon Russo provided the lone goal for the Little Flyers with a shorthanded tally assisted by Marek Tomaszewicz late in the third period. The Little Flyers look to bounce back from the tough opening weekend loss as they head to Blaine Minnesota for the NAPHL Showcase.
14U Major 2009 - Marshall Matyszczak’s Power Play put the Little Flyers up 1-0 in the first period against the Philadelphia Hockey Club in opening weekend AYHL action. The Power Play goal was assisted by Britt Maleno and James Winkler. The Philadelphia Hockey Club responded back strongly in the second period, scoring four unanswered goals to take a three-goal lead into the final period of play. Daniel Burke cut into the PHC lead with an even strength goal with assists from Sean Melican and Miles Bouchard. Zach Wyant made 18 saves for the Little Flyers but their comeback effort fell short losing by a final score of 5-2.