Looking Back
National
The fourth place Jersey Hitmen (18-8-3-2, 46 pts) lost to the Junior Bruins (22-8-0-1, 45 pts) 5-1 last Friday in an interdivisional match but bounced back with a 3-2 win over the first place Skipjacks (22-5-0-2, 46 pts) on Saturday.
On Friday, Caiden Hess had two goals for the Junior Bruins; Mike Santonelli had a goal and an assist and Zach Peltz and Brett Reale each had a goal. Mike Salvatore made 26 saves for the Junior B’s. Tony Wang had the lone goal for the Hitmen.
On Saturday, Arthur Tsimeran lit the lamp twice for the Hitmen and Connor Sedlak also scored. Nick Johansson made 24 saves for the Hitmen. Ryan Gordon and Austin Rice scored for the Skipjacks.
The second place Islanders (21-5-1-1, 44 pts) beat the South Shore Kings (5-22-0-0, 10 pts) 3-1 on Saturday behind a goal and an assist from both Brett Worster and Patrick Somerville and a goal from Patrick Somerville. Matt Mothon had two helpers for the Isles as well.
On Sunday, the third place New Jersey Rockets (21-7-2-0, 44 pts) took care of business against the PAL Islanders (11-12-0-0, 22 pts) beating them 8-1. Michael Rubin (1g, 1a), Jason Sidem (1g, 2a), Jake Stapert (1g, 2a), Alex Farmer (2g, 1a) and Ben Conrod (3a) led the way for the Rockets.
National Division
There are no games in the National this weekend. Here’s each team’s place in the division heading into weekend play:
1. Skipjacks Hockey Club (22-5-0-2, 46 pts; 1st National; 2nd 16U)
2. Islanders Hockey Club (21-5-1-1, 44 pts; 2nd National; 4th 16U)
3. New Jersey Rockets (21-7-2-0, 44 pts; 3rd National; 5th 16U)
4. Jersey Hitmen (18-8-3-2, 46 pts; 4th National; 8th 16U)
5. New Hampshire Monarchs (19-7-0-1, 41 pts; 5th National; 10th 16U)
6. Palmyra Black Knights (17-12-2-1, 37 pts; 6th National; 11th 16U)
7. P.A.L. Jr Islanders (11-12-0-0, 22 pts; 7th National; 17th 16U)
8. South Shore Kings (5-22-0-0, 10 pts; 8th National; 25th 16U)
Northeast
The fourth place Springfield Pics (18-11-3-1, 40 pts) shut out the Connecticut Junior Rangers (4-29-0-0) 3-0 last Saturday. Daniels Murnieks, Connor O’Brien and Maxim Sazanovets all scored for the Pics and Carter Brunelle had two helpers. Andreji Julinek made 37 saves for the shutout.
The first place Northern Cyclones (22-5-1-1, 46 pts) fell to third place CP Dynamo (20-7-3-0, 43 pts) 6-1 last Saturday.
Dynamo forward Spencer Flansburg had a monster game with four assists; John Greenwood and Adam Rourke each scored twice; Schuyler Flansburg had a goal and an assist and Antonio Rosetti lit the lamp as well. Anthony Vida had the lone goal for the Cyclones.
The Cyclones bounced back on Sunday with a 7-3 win over the Maine Moose (7-16-1-1, 16 pts). Jakob Holley and Alec Ernst each had two goals for the Cyclones; Anthony Viola and Sergey Yakunin had a goal and an assist each and Max Jecker scored as well. For the Moose, Nate Newgard, Gabe Poirier and Logan Beckwith all scored for the Moose.
Mid-Atlantic
The third place Hartford Wolfpack (15-11-0-1, 31 pts) beat the first place New York Aviators (19-16-1-2, 41 points) on the road 2-1 in overtime. Bill Dougherty scored the overtime winner and Austin Larson - who assisted on the OT winner - also scored for the visiting Wolfpack. Nick Rogers scored for the Aviators.
Looking ahead
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Friday., Feb. 15: Northern Cyclones (22-5-1-1, 46 pts; 2nd Northeast; 3rd 16U) @ Springfield Pics (18-11-3-1, 40 pts; 4th Northeast; 9th 16U)
The Cyclones can leapfrog the Junior Bruins (1st Northeast; 1st 16U) and the Skipjacks for first overall in 16U. With a win (below) here and one over the Jersey Shore Whalers, the Pics can gain some major ground overall and in the division.
Friday., Feb. 15: Maine Moose (7-16-1-1, 18 pts; 8th Northeast; 21st 16U) @ Junior Bruins (22-8-0-1, 45 pts; 1st Northeast; 1st 16U)
The Junior B’s need to take care of business to maintain 1st in both the division and overall.
Saturday., Feb. 16: New York Aviators (19-6-1-2, 41 pts; 1st Mid-Atlantic; 7th 16U @ Junior Bruins
The Aviators have clinched the Mid-Atlantic but can move into a tie for sixth overall with the Dynamo if the Cyclones (below) sweep them.
Saturday., Feb. 16- Sunday., Feb. 17: Northern Cyclones @ CP Dynamo (20-7-3-0, 43 pts; 3rd Northeast; 6th 16U)
The Dynamo can move past the idle Rockets for 5th in 16U and with a sweep of this two-game set, move past the Cyclones in both the Northeast and overall.
Saturday., Feb. 16- Sunday., Feb. 17: Jersey Shore Whalers (8-20-2-0, 18 pts; 7th Northeast; 19th 16U) @ Springfield Pics
If the Whalers can pull a sweep, they overtake the Boston Bandits (10-21-1-0, 21 pts; 6th Northeast; 19th 16U) and move up in the division and overall.
Saturday., Feb. 16- Sunday., Feb. 17: Pittsburgh Vengeance (11-6-3-2, 27 pts; 4th Mid-Atlantic; 19th 16u) @ Connecticut Junior Rangers (4-29-0-0, 8 pts; 9th Northeast; 27th 16U)
The Vengeance can tie the Hartford Wolfpack (15-11-0-0, 31 pts; 3rd in Mid-Atlantic; 14th 16U) if they sweep this two-game set at Connecticut.