skip navigation

Recent 18U News

Aston, PA – The Philadelphia Little Flyers, members of the Eastern Hockey League are proud to announce longtime Little Flyer Jack Costabile has been named captain of the defending South Division Champions for the 2023-24 season.  Costabile, a 6ft 195lb defenseman from Devon, PA enters his 5th season in Little Flyers orange and black. 

A three-year player at the 18U level under Head Coach Dave Dorman, Costabile earned NAPHL 18U First All-Star team honors during the 2019-20 season.  In 2021-22 he helped lead the Little Flyers to an AYHL Championship, Atlantic District Championship, and a USA Hockey Nationals appearance.  “Jack is everything you want as a captain to lead a team to where we want to be at the end of March” said Little Flyers EHL Head Coach and General Manager Mark Catron.  “He’s the ultimate competitor on the ice, handles his business in the weightroom and is a 4.0 student in the classroom.  Jack had a great rookie season for us and as we got into training camp you could see he was the guy setting the example and leading the group.  It was special last year to have Shane Green leading us as a longtime member of this organization and we feel the same way about Jack having the Captain’s C on his chest as we move into the regular season” Concluded Catron.

In his rookie season, Costabile played in 54 games, scoring 12 goals and adding 28 assists from the blueline.  His biggest goal came in front of a packed crowd on home ice at IceWorks when he scored the overtime game winner in game one of the South Division finals against Team Maryland.  His play on the ice earned him EHL All-Rookie team honors.

“After five years of being a Little Flyer, I am extremely honored to be named captain for this upcoming season.  I want to thank Coach Catron for putting his confidence in me to lead this great group of guys.  I am looking forward to seeing how this year unfolds and pushing this group to win a championship” said Costabile after learning the news of his captaincy late last week. 

Costabile and his Little Flyers EHL team are back in action at home this Friday night September 22nd at 7:00 PM as the Little Flyers host the PA Huntsmen.  The first 200 Little Flyers fans will receive a free FlyWithUs rally towel.     

Howat joins Panthers for 2023 season

Aston, PA – The Philadelphia Little Flyers, members of the Eastern Hockey League are proud to announce the college commitment of Assistant Captain, Koby Howat to Plymouth State University to further his education and hockey career this fall.  Howat, a 5’10” 181LB forward from Honey Brook, Pennsylvania played four seasons for the Little Flyers, two years at the 18U level and two with the EHL team.  In his rookie year of Junior hockey, Howat tallied 30 points (14 Goals, 16 Assists) in 47 total games as the Little Flyers earned a trip to the EHL’s Frozen Finals.  “As an organization we are all very proud of Koby and the work he has put in for the Little Flyers over the past four seasons.  The work ethic he has is second to none, for the past two years he’s been the first guy in the building every morning either on the ice or in the weight room before practice working to get better” said Little Flyers Head Coach and General Manager Mark Catron.  “This year’s team really figured out our system and became a force in the South the second half of the season and a lot of that has to do with Koby.  There were stretches where he kind of put the team on his back and really got us going as we made our playoff run to Providence.  Coach Russell and the Panthers are getting one heck of a competitor that will continue to get better day in and day out”.  The Plymouth State University Panthers are located in Plymouth, New Hampshire are led by 14th year Head Coach Craig Russell.  The Panthers are coming off of their 6th straight MSCAC League Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

“ I am proud to announce my commitment to Plymouth State to further my hockey and academic career.  I would like to thank my parents first and foremost for supporting and guiding me through every step of this journey.  Secondly, I would like to thank the Philadelphia Little Flyers and all the coaches I’ve had throughout my life for taking the time and providing me with the knowledge that has allowed me to grow on and off the ice.  And lastly, I would like to thank my family, friends, and teammates for believing in me and challenging me every day to be better.  I would not be in this position without the support of those around me and I hope to continue to grow in this next stage of my life.  Lastly, I’d like to thank Coach Russell and Plymouth State University for giving me this great opportunity to be a Panther for the next four years!” said Howat after making his commitment.   

In 53 total games for the 2022-23 season, Howat scored 27 goals and added 31 assists for 58 total points.  He finished 11th in the league in points and tied for 8th in goals scored.  Howat caught fire in the second half of the season, after producing 14 points in the teams first 22 games, he earned back-to-back Player of the Week honors in January and February and put up 44 points over the teams final 31 games.  Howat’s second half offensive onslaught paced the Little Flyers into the playoffs where they won two best of three series against the 87s and Team Maryland to earn another trip to the EHL’s Frozen Finals.

On behalf of the entire Philadelphia Little Flyers Organization, we would like to congratulate Koby and his family on Koby’s NCAA College Commitment to Plymouth State University and thank him for his outstanding leadership and contributions both on and off the ice to the Philadelphia Little Flyers organization.                

Little Flyers EHL Defenseman Joins Johnstown Tomahawks

Blango Climbs USA Hockey Ladder to North American Hockey League.

Aston, PA – Philadelphia Little Flyers EHL Defenseman and 18U Alumni, Chris Blango returned to the North American Hockey League this past weekend, suiting up for the Johnstown Tomahawks.  Blango, a 6ft tall 181lb 2002 birthyear defenseman from Chadds Ford, PA played one game earlier this season for the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas who tendered Blango after a tremendous final season at the 18U level.   Following his departure from the Brahmas, Blango joined the Little Flyers EHL team where his play earned him another opportunity at the Tier II level in the North American Hockey League.  

Since joining the Little Flyers EHL team in November, Blango played in 12 games, scoring three goals and adding nine assists as a point per game player on the blue line for the EHL’s top Penalty Killing unit.  Blango made an immediate impact with the Little Flyers, scoring the game winning goal in overtime of his EHL debut against the Seacoast Spartans at the Eastern Hockey League’s November Showcase and earned the EHL’s November Defenseman of the Month honors.  “We are very excited for Chris to get another opportunity to play in the North American Hockey League” said Little Flyers Head Coach and General Manager Mark Catron.  He continued “Blangs came in with the right mindset to get back to the Tier II Junior level after he arrived from Lone Star, he put his head down and continued to work hard on and off the ice.  Chris played very good hockey in all aspects of the game over the past two months for us, worked hard in the weight room and really earned the opportunity Coach Letizia and his Johnstown staff are giving him.  We hope to see him have the same impact at the Tier II level for the Tomahawks as he did here for us in Philadelphia”.     

Joining the Johnstown Tomahawks, reunites Blango with two of his former Little Flyers 18U teammates from the 2020-21 season in Forward David Matousek and Goaltender Liam Gross.  The trio of now Tomahawks helped lead the Little Flyers 18U team to the 2020-21 NAPHL Dixon Cup Championship game.  

Photo Credit: Danielle Walukas Photography