Aston, Pa — The Little Flyers EHL Premier team played a home and Home series this past weekend against the New Jersey Renegades.  This was the first meeting of the season between the two South Conference teams.

On Saturday night, the Little Flyers traveled to Flemington, NJ for the first game of the weekend on the Renegades home ice.  Ryan Creenan would draw the start in net for the Little Flyers.  The first period was back and forth between the two teams, trading scoring chances up and down the ice.  The Little Flyers were unable to capitalize on two power play chances in the first ten minutes of the period.  Creenan and the defense stood strong in the middle of the first, killing off a 5-on-3 Renegades power play.  The lone goal of the period was scored by the Little Flyers Austin Mazzulo.  Kyle Scott picked up the puck in the neutral zone from Ryan Sharkey and passed it across to Mazzulo who found the back of the net with his 7th goal of the season.   

In the second, both teams had numerous chances with the man advantage as the two teams combined for 10 minor penalties.  The Little Flyers went 0-3 in the period on the power play and the Renegades were 0-4.  New Jersey held a 24-21 advantage in shots on goal through 40 minutes of play but still trailed on the scoreboard 1-0.

The Little Flyers looked to add to their lead in the third, firing 15 shots on goal in the period but were unable to get on the scoreboard until late in the period.  With time winding down and holding on to a 1-0 lead the Little Flyers finally got the breathing room they were looking for.  With just over two minutes left to play, Kyle Scott got the puck to Little Flyers defenseman Max McAllister in the neutral zone.  McAllister gained speed, driving wide on the Renegades Defenseman, McAllister shot a wrister far side past the Renegades goaltender to take a 2-0 lead.  The goal was McAllister’s 5th of the season.  Off the ensuing face-off Austin Mazzulo won the draw to Ryan Sharkey who got the puck to Scott moving towards the Renegades zone.  Once he gained the zone, Scott shot the puck high blocker side for his league leading 22nd goal of the season.  With a 3-0 lead and under a minute to play the Little Flyers looked to hold on to the shutout for Creenan but a turnover in their zone lead to a Renegades shot that was deflected in front of the net with just :17 left to play.  Creenan picked up the 3-1 victory, making 34 saves in net.

On Sunday, the Little Flyers looked to make it a weekend sweep over the Renegades with Kolin Grogesky in goal.  The Little Flyers were able to strike first with a power play goal from Patrick Swain at the 7:23 mark of the first period.  The goal was Swain’s first as a Little Flyer, assisted by newcomer Savay Thompson and Brett Turner.  Philadelphia would have two more power play chances in the period but couldn’t add to their lead.  The Little Flyers held a 1-0 lead after the first period of play, holding a 17-10 lead in shots.

After killing off a Renegades power play that carried over from the first period, Nate Dunning added to the Little Flyers lead.  Nick Super got the puck up the boards to defenseman Steve Rubillo who shot the puck wide of the net; Dunning pinched in from the point and shot the puck past the Renegades goalie.  Philadelphia dominated the period, outshooting the Renegades 14-4 in the second but couldn’t add to the 2-0 lead.

The Renegades were able to get on the board early in the third with an even strength goal by Jon Kwestel at the 4:07 mark of the period.  Grogesky and the Little Flyers defense would shut down the Renegades for the remainder of the game, only allowing 6 total shots on goal in the third to hold on for a 2-1 lead.  Grogesky’s made 19 saves in the win.  

The Little Flyers will hit the road for the second Eastern Hockey League Premier Showcase of the season this upcoming weekend.  On Sunday, they face-off against the Renegades for the third game in a row.  Then on Monday they will matchup against the Jersey Wildcats.