Photo Credit: @paulspicsnj

Last week the Huntsmen EHL Team had a home and home with the New York Applecore while the Premier Team played three games in three days. The Premier Team faced the New Jersey Renegades twice, and the Union Jr. Thunder.

EHL vs Applecore (Wed)

The Huntsmen had two power plays opportunities but couldn’t score. Drew Weston netted his first with Pennsylvania in the final minute of the period. Eddie Mirigliano was skating in the offensive zone and found Weston in front of the net, and he tapped it home. The Huntsmen opened the floodgates in the 2nd period. Theo Lountzis notched his 3rd goal of the year on the power play with a one timer feed that came from Manzi and Schaeffer. A little over a minute later David Cook scored his 17th of the year making it 3-0. Mirigliano sent the puck to Tremblay and he put it back across to Cook on the doorstep for the goal. John Manzi kept the good times rolling with a goal from the near faceoff circle, his 8th of the year assisted by Damon Warren. The Huntsmen ended the 2nd period scoring with Warren’s 18th. Trevor Rissor dropped the puck off to Warren in the offensive zone. Warren fired it to Devin Schaeffer and Schaeffer returned it cross ice to Warren for the score. PA ended the period with a 5-0 lead. In the 3rd period, Cook scored (19) and second of the day. Ryan Arendes (24), Devin England (8), Schaeffer (6) also added goals, and the Huntsmen dominated in a 9-1 victory. Aidan Chominsky made 22 saves in net.

EHL at Applecore (Thurs)

In the opening five minutes of the game, the Huntsmen had a power play. From the far circle Ryan Arendes scored his 25th goal with help from Weston and Tremblay. Late in the 1st the Applecore answered back with their own power play goal to tie the game. Arendes opened the scoring in the 2nd period with his second of the game and 26th overall. Cooper Walling sent a long pass to Enzo Giuliani, Giuliani slid in back for Arednes in the slot. Arendes patiently waited for the goalie to make the first move, made a quick fake and then easily sent the puck to the back of the net. Devin England extended the lead for PA scoring his 9th. Manzi sent the puck to him down low, and from the sharp angle England sent a backhander into the net for the 3-1 lead. In the 3rd period. Warren (19) benefited from outstanding tic tac toe passing from England and Manzi to add to the lead. Xavier Tremblay (8) and Manzi (9) poured it on for the Huntsmen on their way to a 6-2 victory. Andrew Knox made 25 saves in net.

Premier at Renegades (Fri)

The scoring began in the 2nd period and the Renegades took the 1-0 lead. Christian Starr tied the game with his 2nd of the year. Batista sent him the pass in the neutral zone, Starr fired the puck a few steps in from the blue line for the goal. New Jersey regained the lead a couple minutes later. In the 3rd period the Huntsmen had a power play but didn't score. The Renegades added an insurance goal, and the Huntsmen lost the game 3-1.

Premier at Thunder (Sat)

The Huntsmen scored late in the 1st period. Johnny Reis won the offensive zone face off to Anthony LoGiurato. He sent a shot on goal and Shane Hill was there for the rebound, scoring his 4th of the year. In the 2nd, Union scored twice, taking a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. Midway through the 3rd Tristan Ochranek scored his 1st of the year tying the game 2-2. James Mirigliano started the play in the offensive zone. He sent the puck to Cullen Heintz who shot from the point and Ochranek was there for the put back to tie the game. There was no additional scoring in regulation and the game went into overtime. Unfortunately, Union scored for the 3-2 win, but the Huntsmen picked up a point in the OT loss.

Premier vs Renegades (Sun)

An early power play gave the Huntsmen the lead. Ochranek scored on a scramble in front of the net for his 2nd of the season. Renegades answered with a power play goal tying the game 1-1. Alex Krechmoyer (1) scored less than a minute remaining in the period giving the Huntsmen a 2-1 lead. His shot hit a Renegade in front and the puck went into the net. New Jersey scored two quick goals early in the 2nd taking a 3-2 lead. Late in the period, Mirigliano scored his 17th to tie the game. Jaiden Batista and Raleigh Radkowski were strong on the forecheck, and Batista got the puck in front to Mirigliano for the goal. In the 3rd, the Renegades scored in the opening minutes, taking a 4-3 lead. LoGiurato tied the game 4-4 with his 6th goal of the season. Johnny Reis and Shane Hill cycled the puck behind the net and then Reis sent it in front to LoGiurato for the score. Late in the game the Huntsmen were on the attack. Along the near wall Reis sent the puck to Mostoller at the point. Mostoller took the shot, and Shane Hill deflected the puck into the net for his 5th of the year taking a 5-4 lead. The Huntsmen hung on for the win as Pierce made 37 saves in net.

Up Next

EHL

The Huntsmen have 9 games remaining in the regular season and are still looking to clinch a playoff spot. That answer could begin to crystallize this week as the Huntsmen face the Philadelphia Little Flyers in a crucial home and home series. These are the final meetings of the regular season, and it means a lot for both teams. The Huntsmen are 18-16-3 (39points) in 4th while the Little Flyers are 16-18-3 (35points) in 5th. With a 4-point cushion, a sweep in this series could propel the Huntsmen to the playoffs and potentially end the Little Flyers season. Of course, that is easier said than done because this season series hasn’t been predictable at all. In six games both teams have won 3 times: Little Flyers wins, 5-1, 8-2, 4-3 OT, Huntsmen wins 7-1, 3-2, 4-1.  The Little Flyers are coming off a split with PHC after winning 6-0 and losing 4-2. The Huntsmen are also in striking distance with Philadelphia Hockey Club, they are in 3rd place 20-16-3 with 43 points and PHC only has 7 games remaining. The Huntsmen also face the New Jersey 87s this week. The 87s are looking to keep pace with the Bears after losing twice to the Bears last week. The Bears lead the division with 58 points, 87s with 53. The Huntsmen are 1-5 against the 87s this year. The 87s will host PHC this week before playing the Huntsmen.

               Premier

The Huntsmen face the New Jersey Bears and the Philadelphia Little Flyers this weekend. PA is 4th in the South at 15-18-2 with 32 points. It’s been a back-and-forth series against the Bears this season and every game has been tight. The Huntsmen have won three games: 1-0 OT, 4-3 OT, and 4-2. The Bears wins are by scores of: 4-2, 4-2, and 3-1. New Jersey is 16-14-4 with 36 points. The Little Flyers are last in the division but have defeated the Huntsmen three times this season. The season is coming to a close, only 7 games remain, and the Huntsmen are in good position to climb up the South Division Standings.

Schedule 

EHL vs Little Flyers (Wed)  11:30am 

EHL at Little Flyers (Thurs)  12pm 

Premier vs Bears (Sat) 7:45pm 

Premier at Little Flyers (Sun)  7:00pm 

By: Joe Sindoni

Staff Writer

Play by Play Announcer