Photo Credit:  @paulspicsnj 

 

The Huntsmen drop the puck on the second half of the 2024-25 season this weekend. The EHL ended with the Showcase while the Premier Team hosted a division rival. The South Division playoff race is always tight and every point counts. Before looking at this weekend, here’s what to watch for a little bit later in the season.

Looking Down The Road

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but here’s some important information about the end of the season and playoffs. The entire league (EHL, EHLP) will head to Ice Works Skating Complex, home of the Philadelphia Little Flyers in Aston, PA, for the final Showcase and final games of the regular season. The Showcase will take place March 7th-10th. Playoff bids and positioning can definitely be up for grabs heading into that showcase.

It might be too early to talk playoffs, but since there’s a different format, it makes sense to share the details. The EHL has a new format, with the Huntsmen playing out of the South Division, that’s where the focus is, so let’s dive in.

Last year in the South, there was a Play In Game between the #4 and #5 seeds. One game, and the winner would then become the true #4 seed and then play the #1 seed. This year, that is gone. Teams will still play inside their respective division, but the 5th place team is out and #1 will play #4 and #2 vs #3. Winners move on and play for the South Division Championship. Here’s the new wrinkle, in prior years, winning the division sent you to the Frozen Finals, one of four teams. The EHL has introduced the Regional Finals. The winner of the South Division and Central Division will play in the Mid Atlantic Regional Finals. It will be held at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. It will be a best of 3 series and the winner of that series will advance to the Frozen Finals held at Schnieder Arena in Providence, Rhode Island. The Champion of the North Division, and East Division will head to Plymouth State University for the Northeast Regional Finals. The two regional champions will play a best of 3 series for the EHL Title.

On the Premier side, there’s only one difference. In the South Division, there will be a best of 3 play in round while the #1 and #2 seed have a bye. Then the playoffs will proceed the same as the EHL level.

 

Ok, now back to normal, here’s a look at what’s next for the Huntsmen  

EHL Team

The EHL Team begins the second half on the road against Philadelphia Hockey Club. They’ve met four times so far and the Huntsmen have won 3-4 matchups. Five head-to-head matchups remain including Saturday’s game at Hollydell Ice Arena. PHC had a great December that propelled them up the South Division Standings. They played 7 games in 2 weeks and won 6-7 which included an impressive sweep at the showcase to end the first half of the season. Philadelphia split a home and home series with the New Jersey Bears and then went 3-0 at the Showcase defeating the Valley Jr. Warriors 4-1, Hockey Club Rhode Island 2-0, and the Seahawks 3-1. PHC holds the 3rd spot in the South Division with a 14-10-1 record for 29 points. PHC Forward Nick Vinson leads the EHL in goals scored with 22, and also has 11 assists giving him 33 points which is 7th overall. Other players to watch are Connor Movalli (12 goals, 14 assists) and Erik Danilchev (3 goals, 14 assists). Goaltender Cross Sherman is tied for 4th in wins with 9 and carries a .928 save percentage.

Premier Team

The Huntsmen will have some extra practice time before they get back to in game action. They’ll face the Union Jr. Thunder on the road Jan. 10th. The Huntsmen are 2-0 vs the Thunder this year and will face them 5 times in the second half. Both wins for the Huntsmen were by scores of 4-3, one of them was via the shootout. The Thunder had a good December winning 3-4 games with their only loss at the hands of the New Jersey 87s. Players to watch for the Thunder are Isaac Walker 11G, 7A, Jimmy Delaney 8G, 6A, and Miles Fairbanks 6G 6A. The Thunder are on the road this weekend against the New Jersey Bears.

 

Huntsmen Top Scorers

               EHL

Ryan Arendes   GP 23   G 17   A 19   PTS 36

Enzo Giuliani    GP 24   G 7   A 20     PTS 27

David Cook       GP 22   G 11   A 14  PTS 25

Damon Warren  GP 24   G 14  A 8   PTS 22

Xavier Tremblay  GP 24   G 4   A 11 PTS 15 

**  Arendes’ 36 points is 3rd overall in the league, his 17 goals are tied for 3rd

               Premier

James Mirigliano   GP 19  G 13  A 17  PTS 30

Braden Kozlowski  GP 12  G 7   A 9    PTS 16

Cullen Heintz         GP 23  G 7   A 8   PTS 15

Raleigh Radkowski  GP 23  G 7  A 8  PTS 15

Jaiden Batista        GP  16  G 4  A 11  PTS 15

**  Mirigliano’s 30 points is 10th overall in the Premier

 

Standings

Here’s where the Huntsmen stand in their division. The EHL season is 46 games, while the Premier plays 42 games.

               EHL

South Division

NJB  GP 29   19-8-0-2    40pts

87s  GP 26   18-7-1-0     37pts

PHC GP 25   14-10-1-0  29pts

PLF  GP  23   9-11-1-2   21pts

PAH  GP 24  10-13-1-0  21pts 

 

               Premier

South Division

87s   GP 23  20-3-0-0  40pts

NJB  GP 21  10-7-3-1  24pts

UJT  GP 21  11-9-0-1  23pts

PAH GP 23  9-13-0-1  19pts

NJR GP 20  7-11-1-1  16pts

PLF  GP 23  4-19-0-0  8pts

 

Schedule

EHL at Philadelphia HC  (Sat)  7:30pm

 

By: Joe Sindoni

Staff Writer

Play by Play Announcer