Aston, PA -- After winning their first round series against the Connecticut Nighthawks in three games, the Little Flyers were back to work during the week preparing for a quarterfinal series against the New York Applecore.   In four meetings during the regular season, The Little Flyers swept New York, winning all four games while outscoring them 20-1. 

            Sam Kany, would get the start in net for the Little Flyers in game one.  It wouldn't take long for the scoring to start, as Alex Peterson, would pick up where he left off in the first round, putting the Little Flyers up 1-0 just 1:41 into the first period.  With line mates Joey Savel and Alex Ochterbeck doing work behind the net Peterson was able to sneak into open space and take a pass from Ochterbeck and shot the puck into the back of the net.  Less than a minute later Chris Franzen, extended the Little Flyers lead on a similar play.  Franzen took a pass from Brett Abdelnour, who was behind the net and one timed it past the Applecore goaltender, Konsta Jaakola also assisted on the play.  The Philadelphia offense wouldn't stop there as a few minutes later hard work in front of the net led to Alex Ochterbeck's 3rd goal of the playoffs.  Ochterbeck's original shot was saved but he stuck with it and deposited the rebound in the net, Joey Savel would pick up his 2nd assist of the game on the play.  Abdelnour would cap the four goal period for the Little Flyers when he scored on a deflected Cameron Bartkoski shot with less than two minutes remaining in the period.  For the period, the Little Flyers outshot Applecore by a 23-9 margin.

     Applecore would try to stop the bleeding by pulling their young goaltender and buckling down defensively in their own zone.  In the second period they limited the Little Flyers prime scoring chances and also battled hard in the offensive zone.  Kany and the Little Flyers defense would be challenged a little more in the second period but, the veteran goaltender was able to save all ten Applecore shots.  Neither team was able to capitalize in the second period as the teams headed to the third with the Little Flyers still holding a 4-0 lead.

            Just 1:06 into the third period, an Applecore tripping minor put the Little Flyers on the power play.  With players battling in front of the Applecore net to gain possession of the puck it was Little Flyers forward Trevor Coykendall who was able to locate the puck and poke it home for his first goal of the playoffs, Peter Hatton and Alex Peterson were credited with assists on the play.  The Coykendall goal ignited the Little Flyers offense once again as the team was able to find the back of the net three more times in the period.  Goals from Joey Savel, a beauty from Alex Peterson and a power play goal from Oliver Arnberg capped the scoring for the day on route to the Little Flyers 8-0 game one victory.  Kany won his first game of the playoffs with a 22 save shutout.

            Looking to end the series in two games, Joe Giacobbo, was in net for the Little Flyers at home on Saturday.  The Philadelphia offense would strike first, on Trevor Coykendall’s second goal of the playoffs.  Peter Hatton pushed the puck up to Ian Kwant who put a wrist shot on net that was deflected by Coykendall just 5:29 into the first period.  With their backs against the wall in an elimination game the Applecore would not go away quietly in this one.  With the teams playing 4-on-4 hockey, Dom DiMambro would tie the game up with less than seven minute to go in the first period.  Just under two minutes later a Little Flyers turnover in their own zone would lead to Applecore taking its first lead against the Little Flyers of the entire season.  With time winding down in the first period Philadelphia would tie the game on Oliver Arnberg’s second goal of the playoffs, Jamie Bucell and Evan Heldt assisted on the play.  The teams would head into the first intermission tied at 2-2. 

            The second period belonged to the Little Flyers as they outshot Applecore 26-10.  Philadelphia’s top ranked power play in the regular season would go to work for the rest of the game providing the offense needed to clinch game two.  A Cameron Bartkoski wrist shot from the point found its way through traffic to take the lead 6:49 into the second period, Joey Savel and Peter Hatton assisted on the play.  Eight minutes later Bartkoski would light the lamp again on the power play.  Hatton passed the puck to Bartkoski at the point, Bartkoski was able to find room and move in to the slot between the circles and fire a shot that sent the Applecore’s goalie’s water bottle flying off behind the net.  Down the other end, Giacobbo, was rock solid in the second period stopping all ten shots he faced and limiting rebound opportunities. 

            The Little Flyers power play would do the only scoring of the third period, as the afore mentioned Bartkoski, would cap off his monster game with his third power play goal of the game.  A low shot off the stick of Bartkoski found its way through traffic and into the back of the net, Coykendall and Hatton assisted on the goal.  The Hatton assist was a special one, as it was not only his 4th of the game but it was his 100th career point in the Little Flyers organization.  A late push from Applecore to get back in the game was shut down by Giacobbo and the defense.  The 5-2 final score punched the Little Flyers ticket into the EHL semifinals.  The win for Giacobbo was his 3rd of the playoffs and 21st overall of the season.

Bartkoski Named TSR Hockey Quarterfinals Top Performer

 Cameron Bartkoski was named the TSR Hockey Top Performer for the Little Flyers quarterfinal series against New York Applecore.  The Little Flyer’s 5-2 game two win was powered by Bartkoski’s power play hat trick.  Bartkoski’s seven points (4 goals, 3 Assists) ties him for fourth place in the EHL in points for the post season, registering a point in all five Little Flyer playoff games.