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EHL: Little Flyers Sweep Team Maryland on Opening Weekend

By Anthony Lorusso , 09/12/18, 4:15PM EDT

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Brawley, McLarnon Post Shutouts

Aston, PA – The EHL Little Flyers opened the 2018-19 season this past weekend with a home and home series against Team Maryland.  Saturday not only marked the beginning of the season but the beginning of the Mark Catron era, as the three year EHL Assistant Coach and EHL Premier Coach takes over as the head man for the Little Flyers top team.  There was a familiar face in net for the Little Flyers as 1998 goaltender Brendahn Brawley got the start Saturday. 

                Philadelphia had plenty of scoring chances in the first period, outshooting Maryland 18-3 in the first but the two teams remained scoreless after the first twenty minutes of play.  Alex McBey got the scoring started for the Little Flyers just 1:17 into the second period when he took an Austin Master pass and backhanded it past Maryland’s Tanner Beals to take a 1-0 lead.  Ten minutes later, the Little Flyers increased their lead with an unassisted Mikey Giampapa goal.  Down the other end of the ice Brawley didn’t give Maryland anything as he made 8 saves in the second period.  Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead into the locker room, outshooting Maryland 34-11. 

                Austin Master added to the lead, scoring the Little Flyers first power play goal of the season midway through the third period.  Master one timed a Giampapa pass past Beals for the goal, Kyle Scott was also credited with an assist on the play.  The stingy Little Flyers defense kept Team Maryland out of the offensive zone for most of the third period, limiting them to 6 shots on goal in the final period.  Brawley made 17 saves in the 3-0 Little Flyers win, the shutout is the 6th of Brawley’s career. 

                On Monday, the Little Flyers traveled to Orchard Ice Arena for the back half of the Home and Home series.  Philadelphia’s offense caught fire in this one, lighting the lamp nine times.  Alex McBey started the scoring with a power play goal at the 7:13 mark of the first period, McBey’s second goal of the season was assisted by Nick Daluisio and Kevin Brown.  Fifteen seconds later while still on the power play, defenseman Nate Dunning tallied his first goal of the on a pass from defensive partner Ziki Mroz to take a quick 2-0 lead.  Kevin Brown registered his first career junior goal with assists from Matt Shipko and Cade Street just past the half way point of the first period.  With just six seconds left on the clock in the first period, Giampapa scored his second goal in as many games to give the Little Flyers a commanding 4-0 lead after the first period.  Rookie goaltender Thomas McLarnon made his debut for Philadelphia in net, stopping all four shots he faced in the period. 

                Kyle Scott, the Little Flyers lone returner at forward got in on the scoring in the second period, putting the puck past Maryland’s Chris Foley nine minutes into the second period.  Scott’s first goal of the season was assisted by line mates Jacob Berg and Mikey Giampapa.  The Little Flyers added two more goals in the final two minutes of the second period with Dunning and Scott both scoring their second of the game.  Dunning’s second of the game was a power play goal assisted by Alex McBey and Austin Master.  Scott’s goal with thirty six seconds left in the period was assisted by Max McAllister and Jacob Berg.  McLarnon saw a little more action in the second period, saving seven shots. 

                It took Scott just fifty three seconds into the third period to complete the hat trick with help from Mroz and Nick Daluisio.  Philadelphia’s ninth and final goal of the day came courtesy of Mikey Giampapa as the first year forward tallied his second goal of the game, assisted by Scott and Berg.  McLarnon remained perfect through the final twenty minutes of play finishing the game with 27 saves on the way to picking up his first career EHL win.

                This weekend, the Little Flyers will hit the road for two games against North Conference opponents.  On Saturday Philadelphia travels to Paul T. Gilmartin Memorial Arena to take on the Valley Jr. Warriors.  On Sunday, the Little Flyers visit the Boston Jr. Rangers, the last time the two teams faced off was in Frozen Finals action at Providence College.  Both games can be seen live on HockeyTV.

Photo Credit: Lindsay Tendler