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EHL: Little Flyers Earn Two Points at Home

By Anthony Lorusso, 10/10/17, 8:45PM EDT

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Aston, PA – The EHL Little Flyers were back on home ice for the first time in nearly a month for two games against New England Division opponents.  On Saturday, the New Hampshire Avalanche came to IceWorks with a 6-1 record, good enough for first place in the New England Division.  With the Little Flyers EHL Premier team off on Saturday, EHL head coach George Lewis took the opportunity to take a closer look at the EHLP's top two scorers, Kyle Scott and Ryan Sharkey who were added to the EHL teams roster prior to the start of the Avalanche game.  Also, reigning EHL Premier Goalie of the Week Ryan Creenan was called up from the Premier team to serve as the emergency backup.  These were the first call ups of the year for the Little Flyers.  

          In Saturday's game, the Little Flyers had just successfully killed off an Avalanche power play when reigning  EHL Defenseman of the Month James Zanca sent a shot through traffic past goaltender Brendahn Brawley to give the visiting Avalanche a 1-0 lead.  Philadelphia fought back in the period but was unable to get a puck past the Avalanche goaltender.  Zanca added to the Avalanche lead just over two minutes into the second period when he scored his second goal of the game.  Five minutes later the Avalanche added a power play goal to extend the lead to 3-0.  After two periods of play, the Avalanche held a 28-18 shot advantage over the Little Flyers and a 3-0 lead on the scoreboard. 

          With the teams skating four on four early in the second period, the Little Flyers took advantage of the extra space on the ice.  Joey Savel dished a pass in the slot to defenseman Trevor Lewandoski who fired a shot over the Avalanche goaltenders shoulder to cut deficit to two, Alex Ochterbeck was also credited with an assist on the play.  Momentum seemed to swing in the Little Flyers direction as they were getting more shots on net but the Avalanche’s Michael Paglucca had the answer each time.  The Avalanche regained their three goal lead with an even strength goal from Melker Kroon.  The Little Flyers were unable to get another puck past Paglucca and fell to the Avalanche by a score of 4-1.  For the game, Brawley made 34 saves, Ochterbeck and Savel extended their point streaks to nine game.

         On Sunday, the Little Flyers looked to bounce back with a win against the Valley Jr. Warriors to earn two points in the standings on the weekend.  The Little Flyers controlled the pace of play in the first period, taking any chance possible to put the puck on goal.  Matt Sheaffer broke the scoreless tie when he took a Ryan Galvin pass at the side of the net and buried it home to take a 1-0 lead midway through the period, Avery Smith assisted on the play as well.  Two minutes later with the Little Flyers on the power play, reigning Forward of the Month, Alex Ochterbeck scored his 11th goal of the season.  Defenseman Nick Magill – Diaz carried the puck into the Jr. Warriors zone, dropped the puck off for Ochterbeck who dropped it back to Savel, Savel found Ochterbeck cutting towards the net on the back side for the goal.  With under two minutes to play in the first period, Valley’s Brian Smith got behind the Little Flyers defense and squeezed a puck past Brawley to get the Jr. Warriors within one.  The Little Flyers took three penalties in the last minute and a half of the first period, giving the Jr. Warriors over two minutes of 5-on-3 power play time.  In the period, the Little Flyers led heavily in shots on goal 21-7.  

          The Jr. Warriors capitalized on the power play opportunity 1:41 into the second period to tie the game at 2-2.  Sheaffer would put the Little Flyers back on top midway through the period with his second goal of the game.  Avery Smith picked up the loose puck in the Jr.Warriors zone, passed it over to Galvin who tipped it to a cutting Sheaffer.  Sheaffer’s backhander beat the Jr.Warriors goalie high over the shoulder.  The Little Flyers regained their two goal lead late in the second period on Nick Magill- Diaz’s third goal of the season.  Magill-Diaz’s goal was set up by Joey Savel and Sasha Miniouchine.  

          In the third period, Valley pressured the Little Flyers, forcing Brawley to make several big saves to preserve the Philadelphia lead.  A Domenic Norris goal at the 12:10 mark of the period cut the Little Flyers lead to one.  With an extra attacker on the ice in the final two minutes the Jr.Warriors were unable to get the puck past Brawley and the Little Flyers defense.  The 4-3 final was Brawley’s 5th win of the season.

          Little Flyers will head to Walpole,MA for the EHL’s first showcase of the season.  On Friday the Little Flyers will look to even the season series against the New Hampshire Avalanche.  Saturday, they face off against the New England Wolves for the first time this season.  The league wide showcase events are heavily attended by NCAA coaches and scouts, proving to be a great opportunity for the EHL’s players to show their skill in front of coaches at the next level.  All showcase games will be broadcast live on HockeyTV throughout the weekend.  

PHOTO CREDIT: LINDSAY TENDLER