Aston, Pa -- With Wednesday night’s game against the NJ Rockets being delayed due to a neighborhood wide power outage, the Little Flyers focused their attention on the EHL’s Veterans Day Showcase, the third showcase of the season.  The Little Flyers were in Hudson, NH for just two games, the first against the East Coast Wizards on Monday.

                 First year goaltender Joe Giacobbo would get the start in net for Monday evening’s game against the Wizards.  The Little Flyers would get an early power play opportunity as a Wizards player was called for an elbowing penalty just 2:44 into the first.  The Wizards penalty kill unit stood strong and didn’t allow the Little Flyers to capitalize on the man advantage.  Little Flyers forward Joey Savel score the game’s first goal as he redirected a Cale Coor shot from the point into the back of the net, newcomer Trevor Coykendall was also credited with an assist on the play.  Savel’s goal would stand as the only one of the period, not without chances though as the Little Flyers outshot the Wizards 19-8 in the first. 

                In the second half Giacobbo and the Little Flyers defense would be tested as they would find themselves shorthanded three times in the period.  Even with some offensive zone pressure and firing 13 shots on goal the Wizards were unable to put a puck past Giacobbo in the game.  Holding onto a one goal lead later in the final minutes of play, co-captain Peter Hatton would add the insurance the Little Flyers were looking for.  A Chris Best pass to Hatton in the neutral sprung Hatton and line mate Christian Karbler into the Wizards zone.  Hatton dished the puck off to Karbler and headed towards the net, a Karbler shot on goal was deflected by Hatton into the net to give his team a 2-0 lead with under two minutes to play in the game.  With the 2-0 win Joe Giacobbo improved his record to 9-0 on the season while earning his league leading 4th shutout of the year.

                Veteran goaltender Sam Kany was in net for Tuesday’s game against the Valley Jr. Warriors.  Similar to Monday’s game the Little Flyers would get an early power play chance but this time they would capitalize.  Once again it would be Joey Savel who got the Little Flyers on the board first, as he got the puck from Jamie Bucell and sent what looked like a pass towards the net that deflected off of a Jr. Warriors defenseman and into the net for his 8th goal of the season.  The Little Flyers would have three more power play chances in the first half but were unable to light the lamp.  On the other end of the ice Kany preserved the Little Flyers 1-0 lead as he saved all 12 shots he saw in the first half and take a 1-0 lead into the locker room. 

                Kany and the defense would have to stand tall as they did the night before in the second half as the Jr. Warriors outshot the Little Flyers 17-15 while seeing several power play chances.  The Little Flyers penalty killing unit would supply the offense needed to build a lead as Alex Peterson chipped the puck off the wall to himself around a Jr. Warriors player to get into the offensive zone.  Once he gained the zone Peterson put the brakes on and dished a cross ice pass to defenseman Ian Kwant for a one timer.  Kwant’s first goal of the season doubled the Little Flyers lead to 2-0.  After killing off another Jr. Warriors power play chance, Joey Savel’s 2nd goal of the game would increase the Little Flyers lead to three.  Savel won a faceoff over to Trevor Coykendall, Coykendall backhanded the puck back to Savel who was all alone with the Jr. Warriors goalie.  Savel was patient as he waited for the goalie to make the first move, then he stick handled around him and put the puck into the open net.  Jamie Bucell would add an open net goal later in the period for a final score of 4-0.  The 29 save win also gave Kany his 9th win of the season, the shutout was his first of the season.  “Joe and Sam have been the backbone of our team to this point.  They both continue to make huge saves and bail us out when we are not playing our best.  We need a better team effort to give them support in our upcoming weekend’s games against two very tough opponents” said Little Flyers head coach Rocky Russo.     

Savel Receives Star of the Week Honors, Little Flyers Named Team of the Week

Today the Eastern Hockey League named Little Flyers forward Joey Savel one of the EHL Stars of the Week for his performance at the Veterans Day Showcase.  Savel, a Sterling Heights, MI native scored 3 goals in two games including the game winner in both of the Little Flyers victories.  Savel is currently tied for the team lead in points with 25 (9 Goals, 16 Assists).  “Joey has been a catalyst for us offensively and continues to score big goals for us when we need them.  He is improving his overall game and is being rewarded for his efforts” commented coach Russo on Savel’s weekly award honors.     

The Little Flyers were also named the EHL’s Premier team of the week with their two wins at the showcase.  The team looks to continue their record setting season this weekend as a point in the game against the Rangers will tie them for longest point streak (20 games, Little Flyers 2014-15).  The continued success of goaltenders Sam Kany and Joe Giacobbo carried the Little Flyers this weekend as both posted shutouts.  Sam and Joe both continue to sit in the top 5 of most EHL goaltending statistics including Wins, save percentage and Goals against average, Giacobbo also leads the league with 4 shutouts.  Kany, Giacobbo and the Little Flyers are back at it this weekend with two home games, Saturday November 19, 3:30 PM against the Boston Jr. Rangers and Sunday against cross town rival Philadelphia Jr Flyers at 1:15 PM both games will take place at IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston, PA on Rink 3.