New Jersey Stars vs. New Jersey Bandits
A new jersey battle that sees two top five teams in U14 B face off! The Stars are 8-1-0 this season and have outscored its opponents 50-17. The offense has been lights out and they’ve been led in between the pipes by Colin Marzullo, who has three shutouts on the season. The Bandits also boast a lethal offense and have scored a combined 50 goals as a team. They have four wins on the season and are led offensively by Marcus Braun and his 26 points. The two teams face off Saturday, October 23rd at 2:00 PM ET on Pro Skate Rink.
Grundy Senators vs. Rye Rangers
The Senators sit at 4-3-0 on the season and have won three of its last five games. It has a tough offense to stop with its two ten-goal scorers in Klim Belko and Lex Udell who have both recorded goals in each of the last three games. The Rye Rangers will make its showcase debut and look to make an impact right away. The two teams face off Sunday, October 24th at 4:00 PM ET at Pro Skate Olympic.
North Jersey Aspen Kings Red vs. North Jersey Skyland Kings White
It’s a battle of the Kings! Aspen enters the showcase with a 6-2-0 record and is only one of four teams to score over 40 goals total (49). Alex Polishko leads the way with 13 goals as Aspen looks to extend its five-game win streak. Skylands is 2-3-0 on the year and has been great defensively, allowing three or fewer goals in its last three games. Lucien Barca leads the way for Skylands with five points in as many games. The two teams will take the ice at 9:45 AM ET on Sunday, October 24th at Iceland rink.
FORWARDS:
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Lex Udell, Grundy Senators
Lex had a breakout showcase, registering seven goals, two assists, and a shootout goal over the course of his three games. He demonstrated a keen ability to anticipate the puck and find soft spots within his opponent’s defense. His patience and poise caused goalies to make mistakes leaving openings for Lex to bury the puck in the back of the net.
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Cole Rossback, Maryland Jr. Black Bears Black
Due to a roster shortage, Cole was moved up from his normal defenseman position to forward. Cole has a strong physical presence on the ice due to his size and skill. Cole won more than his share of puck battles and faceoffs. He also has a rocket of a shot that produced two goals over the weekend.
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Vonn Krieger, Grundy Senators
Vonn did a yeoman’s job this weekend, skating hard and playing both ways. While scoring two goals in the final game of the showcase weekend, Vonn double-shifted at times to support his team that was short benched. He showed great hockey IQ, blending his physicality and puck awareness to shut opponents down in the neutral zone. His steely nerves and quick hands allowed him to net the game-winning goal in the OT Shootout to close out the final game of the weekend for the Senators.
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Kayla Distler, Grundy Senators
Kayla blended her size, speed, and smoothness to put together a very strong weekend. Unintimidated by the physicality of her opponents, Kayla pursued the puck with reckless abandon causing numerous turnovers that led to scoring opportunities for the Senators. As the season has progressed, she has continued to gain confidence and awareness to help elevate her game.
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Aditya Rath, New Jersey Stars
Aditya continues to be one of the top point producers in U14 B with a strong showcase performance. He produced nine goals and two assists in four games as the Stars went 4-0-0 and scored 31 goals in that span. Aditya was the spark this offense needed to succeed.
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DEFENSE:
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Derek Krizman, Maryland Jr. Black Bears Black
Derek had a great weekend, playing solid defense and supporting the team offensively by scoring a goal. Derek is a physical player with a high defensive IQ. His positioning/angling, decision-making, and puck control make him a top defenseman. Derek is affectionately called “Derek Dangles” by his peers and is capable when he has the puck on his stick.
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Brendan Milliken, Grundy Senators
Using his size and reach, Brendan shut down multiple odd-man rushes into his defensive zone. He also displayed effective speed, pushing the puck in transition through the neutral zone, creating excellent transition opportunities for his team. On the power play, Brendan effectively held the blue line, putting multiple shots on net. A stalwart in his own defensive zone, Brendan blocked numerous shots in each of the Showcase games.
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Sean Tobin, Team Philadelphia
Team Philadelphia had an outstanding weekend defensively, only allowing two goals in four games. Sean was a big reason for it by making big plays in his own zone to frustrate the opposition. On top of this, he produced offensively as well by scoring a goal and three assists in the four games.
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Robert Applegate, North Jersey Aspen Kings Red
Robert played a big role in the Kings’ 4-0-0 record this past weekend. He did a great job of positioning himself well to keep the offense from generating chances and helped out offensively as well. He scored twice during his time at the AHF showcase, showing he can be a threat at both ends of the ice.
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Tommy Dayton, Hollydell Hurricanes Black
Tommy proved he can be a great two-way defenseman at the AHF’s most recent showcase, making plays at both ends of the ice. Throughout the showcase, he made excellent plays to break up opposing offense’s opportunities as well as help his own offense as well. In the Canes’ two wins, Tommy recorded three goals and two assists. He scored the game-winning goal late in the third period in a 3-2 win against Brick Hockey Club as well as scoring a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over North Jersey Skyland Kings White.
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GOALIES:
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Braedon Goloboski, Maryland Jr. Black Bears Black
Braedon plays competitive lacrosse as a goalie and was able to transfer his skills to hockey. He played two games and had a .900 save percentage. Adding to his success, he had a 1-0 shutout win against the North Jersey Skyland Kings White.
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Ethan Lannon, Maryland Jr. Black Bears Black
Ethan played goalie once before this weekend, but covered the net for two games and had a .880 save %. What coach wouldn’t love that?! Ethan also contributed offensively, he tallied a goal when he was not in net.
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Peter Neveil, Team Philadelphia
Peter was called upon twice to start in between the pipes, and twice he delivered. He recorded two wins including a shutout victory, displaying great vision and reflexes while doing so.
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Ashley Randazzo, Brick Hockey Club
Ashley recorded double-digit save totals in every game she started. She ended the showcase on a high note, helping her team to a 1-0 shutout win where she made 17 saves.
FORWARDS:
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Trent Semelko, York Devils
Trent had a successful weekend, contributing seven points in four games. He was able to push the pace offensively as well as defend relentlessly. His speed, grit, and hunger for offensive propelled York’s success this weekend.
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Jake McCloud, North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue
Jake showed off his passing abilities at this past weekend’s showcase, recording five assists in four games and even adding a goal. His ability to see the ice and watch plays develop helped him and his team notch a pair of wins.
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Daniel McNelis, MYHA Blue
MYHA Blue scored 14 goals in four games and Daniel played a key role in his team’s success. His three goals and seven points led the way for MYHA as they were able to secure two wins at this past weekend’s showcase.
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Anthony Brereton, Rockets Hockey Club
The Rockets offense exploded for 20 goals in four games and Anthony played a key role, scoring four goals and five points on the weekend. He showed excellent on-ice vision and a great shot to finish plays.
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Luke Isaacs, North Jersey Avalance
Luke had a four-game stretch for the ages this past weekend, scoring five goals and ten points to help the Avs secure four wins. His most clutch performance came in a game against MYHA Blue, where he scored the eventual game-winning goal and an assist to boot in the second period to help his team to a 3-0 win.
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DEFENSE:
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Tyler Woodall, York Devils
Tyler shined as a great teammate during York’s showcase performance. Blocking shots as well as contributing offensively, his all-out effort was apparent in all four games he played. Tyler was able to embody the mindset of “playing one shift at a time” which helped him and his team succeed.
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Lincoln Walters, New Jersey Stars
He may have only played three games, but Lincoln made his presence known. He was lights out in his own zone and broke up numerous offensive plays by his opponents. On top of this, he was able to record four goals and an assist as he showed off his great shot and passing abilities.
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Peter Pereborow, Rockets Hockey Club
Peter showed once again just because you are a defenseman, doesn’t mean you can’t score. He scored four goals in four games, including tying the game in the third period against Team Philadelphia, a goal that would spark his team to a 5-2 win.
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Bryton Yoder, Tomorrow’s Ice Selects
Bryton had a productive weekend, scoring two goals and an assist while playing great defense in his own zone. His first period goal against the New Jersey Stars proved to be important, as it sparked his team to a 5-2 win.
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Ben Holdsworth, Delaware Ducks
Ben displayed excellent skills both offensively and defensively this past weekend at the most recent AHF showcase. He helped the Ducks to three wins, including one shutout win. He also recorded two goals as well, including the eventual game-winning goal in the third period of a 3-1 win against the Royals Hockey Club.
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GOALIES:
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Aidan Alvino, North Jersey Avalanche
Aidan played like an all-start this past weekend and helped the Avs go 4-0-0 at the showcase. He turned aside 60 of 62 shots and recorded two shutouts to boot, showcasing his excellent vision and puck tracking abilities. Aidan now has four shutouts on the season, tied for most in U14 AA.
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Ian Goldberg, Royals Hockey Club
Ian was called upon twice for the Royals to help lead them to a win and both times he delivered. He recorded a shutout to start the showcase and followed it up with a 20 save win the next day.
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Adam Paitakis, New Jersey Stars
The Stars went 3-1-0 this past weekend and Adam was a big reason why. He made 62 saves and even recorded his first shutout of the season in a close 2-0 win over the Igloo Jaguars. Adam was confident in the net and it reflected in his play.
The 14U AA division was very competitive over the course of the AHF’s inaugural season. The top six teams showed a lot of strength and determination in securing a playoff spot, but there is more work to do. Only one of these teams will be able to emerge from this weekend as inaugural champions of the AHF 14U AA division. It should be a thrilling tournament this weekend, showcasing these six fantastic teams.
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Rockets Hockey Club (15-1-0)
The Rockets finished with the best regular season record in the division, boasting a winning percentage of .938. The team saw contributions from the entire roster, but they were paced by the offensive efforts of Anthony Brereton. The division’s second-leading scorer tallied 23 goals and 18 assists, 41 points on the season. His 5 power play goals and 10 points on the power play led the division, leading one of the strongest special teams in the age group. The team also had a rock-solid defense, allowing a division-best 19 goals all season, including 6 shutouts. The team’s netminder tandem of Liam Slattery and Rasmus Bergman have proven to be one of the division’s best. Slattery’s performances have placed him top of the leaderboard in GAA (0.88), save percentage (.953), and goals allowed (7). A complete team, the Rockets will be tough to top.
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North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue (13-2-0)
If you like offense, you will love the Aspen Kings. The only 14U AA team to crack 100 goals, North Jersey put 116 pucks in the net over the course of the season. The team has an impressive 7 players that average at least a point per game. The team is paced by division-leading talisman, Jase Zangara. Zangara leads the division in goals (35) and points (50), propelling the team to an impressive +89 goal differential. A strong defense has also contributed to that division-best gap in goals. Salvatore Mirra has emerged as a strong netminder for the team, recording 3 shutouts and posting a 1.28 GAA and .931 save percentage. North Jersey’s potent offense will be tough to stop in postseason play.
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North Jersey Avalanche (13-2-1)
A team that is always a threat to score, the Avalanche always give opposing defensive players a tough night. The team has scored 20 special teams goals, scoring equally on the power play and while shorthanded. Their 10 shorthanded goals were comfortably the most in the division, scoring three more than any other team. Luke Isaacs (18 goals, 18 assists) and Brendan Traverso (15 goals, 14 assists) each scored three goals while on the penalty kill, displaying both their offensive talent and good defensive awareness to assist in the PK efforts. At the other end of the ice, Aidan Alvino had a remarkable season in net. He has played every game for the Avalanche as the team’s only goalie and earned that spot with outstanding performances. He led the division in shutouts, with 7, and recorded a 1.31 GAA and .935 save percentage. North Jersey keeps teams on their toes with an imposing style of play, a great game plan for the playoffs.
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MYHA Blue (10-3-1)
A great team with a will to win, MYHA is never an easy team to beat. Every skater on the roster scored at least a point over the course of the season, and they saw significant offensive contributions from every forward on the line chart. MYHA Blue also holds the bragging rights of being the only team to top the Rockets Hockey Club during the regular season. They won by the score of 7-4 back in October. Kyle Metzler (17 goals, 8 assists) and Daniel McNelis (12 goals, 11 assists) each had three points in the game. The team also showed good discipline, only spending 82 minutes in the penalty box. The team will look to knock off some of the division’s elite again to chase the title.
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Ashburn Xtreme (9-4-0)
Ashburn utilizes an excellent defensive game plan to stifle the attack of their opponents, then capitalizing on the counterattack. The team only allowed 32 goals all season, showcasing great play from the team’s defensive players. The team’s most consistent performer on defense was their netminder, Tyler Rounds. Rounds played every game for the Xtreme, making 242 saves and recording 5 shutouts. The team also saw steady offensive output from Luke Henry. Henry netted a team-high 11 goals, 3 coming on the power play. Ashburn will look for their defense to stand strong in a tough slate during the round robin.
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Royals Hockey Club (9-5-1)
A streaky team, the Royals will look to carry the momentum of a season-finale win into the playoff round robin. The team was led offensively by a duo of Cole Gainsley (13 goals, 4 assists) and Shane Redden (9 goals, 8 assists). However, the team’s second-leading goal-scorer was a defensive player, as Peter Pereborow netted 11 goals from the blue line. The team also saw steady play between the goal pipes, with three different players putting on the pads for the Royals. The Royals will have a tough test in the round robin, but through strong team play, they can make a run to the title.
Rockets Hockey Club (15-1-0) vs. MYHA Blue (10-3-0) – Sunday, Jan. 16, 8:00 AM
In a much anticipated rematch, MYHA and the Rockets will look to end their round robin slate on a positive note on Sunday morning. In their only head-to-head game this season, MYHA Blue handed the Rockets their only loss of the season in a 7-4 contest. Daniel McNelis scored two goals and added an assist while Kyle Metzler tallied 3 points in the win for MYHA. Austen Halleran starred for the Rockets in the loss, notching a goal and an assist. Good special teams play was key for MYHA in the win, as they went 3/7 on the power play while killing 3/4 of penalties against them. Disciplined play will be key for the Rockets to get revenge in the rematch. This game should be a thriller to open the final day of the tournament.
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North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue (13-2-0) vs. Royals Hockey Club (9-5-1) – Sunday, Jan. 16, 8:10 AM
Sunday is a great day for hockey in the 14U AA division, as this game between the Aspen Kings and Royals will carry a lot of intrigue, as well. In their previous matchup, the Aspen Kings emerged as 6-2 victors. Jase Zangara netted a hat trick and added a pair of assists while Salvatore Mirra made 24 saves on 26 shots, helping North Jersey to victory. The Royals took a lot of positives out of the game, however. A strong second period effort yielded goals from Peter Pereborow and Shane Redden. The Aspen Kings did run into some penalty problems in the game, so discipline on their side and a strong power play for the Royals will be key factors to watch for in this critical matchup.
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North Jersey Avalanche (13-2-1) vs. Ashburn Xtreme (9-4-0) – Sunday, Jan. 16, 9:40 AM
The final game of the round robin should be an intriguing matchup between the Avalanche and Xtreme. These teams met up in an early season matchup, with Ashburn earning a 5-3 win. For the Xtreme, Johnnie Kracke led the offense with 2 goals and an assist. Tyler Rounds also had a very good night in net, making 26 saves on 29 shots. For the Avalanche, William Ross scored a goal and an assist. The game did get a little bit chippy in the third period, but 3 Ashburn goals in the second were too much for North Jersey to overcome. The Avalanche ended the season on a tidy 4-game winning streak, however, so they will look to reverse this result on Sunday morning.
In the first ever weekend of playoff action in the AHF, the 14U AA division provided some great action, along with plenty of reasons to be excited about the tournaments to come. Before we can look ahead, we have to look back at some well-played hockey. In the championship game, the North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue skated away with the first AHF 14U AA championship banner after a weekend full of great performances. Let’s take a look back to see how they earned their crown.
The Aspen Kings kicked off their round robin schedule on Saturday morning against the Ashburn Xtreme, earning a 6-2 victory. In the win, Ben Barnhill scored two goals and was one of five North Jersey skaters with two points in the win. The Aspen Kings had to work hard for the three points, however, as Tyler Rounds had a very strong night in net for the Xtreme. Rounds made 38 saves in the game, allowing Ashburn to remain competitive until the game’s conclusion.
North Jersey returned to action that afternoon to take on MYHA Blue. The Aspen Kings earned a hard-fought 8-5 win over MYHA thanks to a few key performers. Jase Zangara scored an impressive 4 goals, including the game winner, while Jake McCloud tallied a goal and 3 assists in the game. The game’s spotlight was not limited to the Aspen Kings’s bench, though, as Daniel McNelis scored a hat trick for MYHA Blue.
The Aspen Kings concluded a perfect run in the round robin with a 4-0 decision over Royals Hockey Club on Sunday morning. After a back-and-forth first period, North Jersey was able to gain control of the game thanks to Barhill, who cashed in for 3 goals, two of them coming on the man advantage. The full story of the game cannot be told without lauding the performance of Trey Prozzillo in goal for the Royals, as he made some big saves to keep his team in the game. With the win, the Aspen Kings punched their ticket to the championship game.
In the championship game, the Aspen Kings met the Rockets Hockey Club, who also finished the round robin with a 3-0-0 record. In arguably the best game of the weekend, the Aspen Kings won in a 6-5 shootout affair. The Rockets propelled ahead in the first period with two goals, one coming while shorthanded and the other on the power play. The Aspen Kings roared back with three goals in the second period, two coming from McCloud. The Rockets also scored once in the period, this time at even strength, to create a 3-3 score heading into the final period. The Rockets special teams found their groove again in the third period. Josh Sadelski scored his third goal , and his team’s second shorthanded goal of the game. He later added an assist to his point total on Anthony Brereton’s PPG to double the lead for the Rockets. The Aspen Kings weren’t going down without a fight, however, as they scored two goals in just over two minutes to force the shootout. The first two rounds of the shootout saw some fantastic goaltending from Salvatore Mirra for the Aspen Kings and Liam Slattery for the Rockets, as no goals were scored. Zangara played the hero for the Aspen Kings, breaking the deadlock and scoring the only goal of the shootout. Mirra slammed the door to seal the deal and to secure the title for North Jersey.
Great games were not limited to the Aspen Kings’s tournament run, as great games filled the tournament’s slate. On Saturday morning, the Royals and Rockets had a very close game, with the Rockets winning 3-1. Ryan DeMatteo scored the opening goal in the first period for the Royals, but a trio of third period goals, including two points from Kenneth Doctors, gave the Rockets the win. Prozzillo had another great performance in this game, turning aside 41 shots for the Royals.
MYHA Blue sprung the first upset of the tournament on the same day, knocking off the North Jersey Avalanche, 3-1. McNelis’s pair of goals helped MYHA to victory, but nothing came easy for them as Aidan Alvino’s 36 saves for the Avalanche kept the game very close.
The first 14U tournament showcased a lot of skill from some of the best players in this age group, but many more are still waiting to show what they have to offer. The other divisions in the 14U age group (Gold, Silver, B) are set to have their playoff tournaments on March 18-20, which you will not want to miss.