Team Philadelphia
Team Philadelphia had a perfect showing this past weekend, going 3-0-0 in three games. The team outscored its opponents 10-2 and took out the top two teams in U18 A in the process. Led by Tyler Krick’s four points, the team improved its overall record to 7-1-0.
North Jersey Avalanche
The North Jersey Avalanche had a heavy workload this past weekend, playing four games in two days. Despite this, they were able to secure three wins. The team’s leading scorer Camilo Ramirez continued his successful season with four points in as many games and Michael McCarthy was lights out in between the pipes, recording two shutout wins. McCarthy turned aside 48 saves combined in those two games.
Haverford Hawks
The Haverford Hawks shot up the standings this week, going 3-0-0 at the showcase. The Hawks are now 8-4-0 with 16 points, good enough for fourth place in U18 A. Highlighted by Andrew Knight’s four goals and seven points, Haverford put up a combined 16 goals and proved to be one of the toughest offenses to stop this past weekend.
MYHA Blue
MYHA Blue stayed at the top spot in the U18 AA standings, going 4-0-0 at the showcase and improving to 9-1-0 overall. MYHA Blue was dominant, outscoring its opponents 25-7 with players contributing from up and down the lineup. Seamus McNally extended his point streak to six games, using the four games this past weekend to score five goals and eight points.
North Jersey Avalanche
The North Jersey Avalanche jumped into second place in U18 AA this past weekend, going 4-0-0 and improved its win streak to nine games. The Aves outscored its opponents 27-5 and were led by Luke Hulbert’s excellent weekend performance, scoring five goals and eight points.
Ashburn Xtreme
The Ashburn Xtreme is another team that was able to go 4-0-0 this past weekend, improving to 7-1-0 and moving to third in the 18U AA standings. The Xtreme outscored its opponents 26-8 and were led by the team’s leading point scorer Andrew Kurowski, who tallied six goals and eleven points. Ashburn also got a big goaltending performance from Leo Quattron, turning aside 20 shots in a 4-0 win over the Haverford Hawks.
FORWARDS:
.
Andrew Knight, Haverford Hawks
The Haverford Hawks went 3-0-0 this past weekend and Andrew’s performance is a big reason why. His four goals and seven points helped vault him to second on his team in goals (6) and points (11). Andrew most notably started off the showcase strong, scoring twice and adding an assist in the Hawks first win of the showcase, a 7-3 win over the Royals Hockey Club.
.
Anthony Woodard, York Devils
Anthony started slow but finished the showcase strong, scoring six points in his final two games. He tallied two goals and seven points in the Devils’ four games they played, highlighted by a three assist performance in a 6-5 win over MYHA Gold.
.
Zachary Bulson, MYHA Gold
Zachary continued his excellent season this past weekend, scoring four goals and seven points in four games. He has only been held pointless once this season and is a consitent contributer for his team. Anthony is now tied for fourth in points in 18U A with 17.
.
Danny Mackley, Philadelphia Blazers
Danny hadn’t scored a goal since the opening game of the season for the Blazers back on August 21st. His response? Scoring seven goals in four games and helping the Blazers go 4-0-0 this past weekend. Danny stepped it up when his team needed him the most and helped fuel the Blazers’ offense.
.
Sam Lucy, North Jersey Aspen Kings Yellow
Sam had no problem finding the back of the net this past weekend, scoring five goals and six points in just three games. The highlight of Sam’s showcase was a four goal performance in a 12-2 win against the Royals Hockey Club
.
.
DEFENSE:
.
George Bilidas, St. James
Point scoring isn’t a problem for George even while playing defense. He tallied three goals and five points in three games and was instrumental in St. James’ two wins during the showcase. His nine goals and 12 points on the season lead defenseman in both catagories at the 18U A level.
.
Reese Picker, Philadelphia Blazers
Reese proved himself deadly on both sides of the ice this past weekend, playing great defense and producing points for his team as well. He recorded three goals and five points in three games this past weekend, highlighted by a hat trick performance in a 6-2 win over the Maryland Jr. Black Bears.
.
Mitchell Bobys, MYHA Gold
Mitchell played lock down defense and helped his team in the two wins they had during the showcase. MYHA Gold only allowed one goal in the two wins and Mitchell did his part, scoring in a 5-0 win over the North Jersey Avalanche. Through four games this past weekend, Mitchell totaled two goals and three points.
.
Josh Reid, York Devils
After starting the tourney with two loses, the York Devils stepped it up to end the showcase on a high note by winning its last two games. Josh Reid was a big part of that, scoring three goals during those two wins. He played well on both ends of the ice to help York stay a top the 18U A standings.
.
Nick Rightley, Philadelphia Blazers
Not only did Nick play a big role in the Blazers’ defensive success, only allowing eight goals in four games, but he recorded at least one point in every game as well. He totalled two goals and five points while helping the Blazers win all its games.
.
.
GOALIES:
.
Michael McCarthy, North Jersey Avalanche
Michael started two games during the showcase and walked away with two wins. Not only that, but he didn’t allow a single goal all weekend. He made 29 saves in a 3-0 win over the York Devils and 19 saves in a 4-0 win over the Hollydell Hurricanes White. Michael now has three shutouts on the season, which is tied for the most in 18U A.
.
Taylor West, Team Philadelphia
Taylor continued his successful season, posting two more wins at the showcase. He allowed one goal in each contest the saw him post a save percentage of .920 or high in both games, showing off his athleticism and vision.
.
Julien Piche, MYHA Gold
Julien played great for MYHA Gold last weekend, turning aside 55 shots throughout the showcase. His highlight was picking up his first shutout of the season against the North Jersey Avalanche, stopping 25 shots in the 5-0 win.
.
Colin McQuad, York Devils
Colin gave it his all this past weekend and was rewarded with his second shutout of the season, turning aside 35 shots in a 6-0 win against the New Jersey Bandits. He showed great reaction time and helped keep his team in every game he started.
.
Ian Warter, Haverford Hawks
Ian started three games and recorded the win on each occasion. He made at least 20 saves in each game as Ian helped the Hawks go undefeated during the showcase this past weekend.
Forwards:
.
Brendan Chandler – Team Philadelphia
Continuing his impressive goal scoring run, Chandler scored in each of his team’s games during the showcase, including two goals in a Team Philadelphia 3-2 win over the New Jersey Jets on Saturday. This extends Chandler’s goal streak to seven games, nearly stretching a full month on the calendar. He leads all U15 players with 10 goals and is tied for the division lead in points with 12. Few have been able to stifle his sniping talents this season.
.
Reilly Doherty – MYHA Gold
One of the stars of the showcase, Doherty helped MYHA to a 3-0-1 record on the weekend by potting five goals and adding an assist over four games. His strongest performance came against the Philadelphia Blazers, in which he scored a hat trick, including the eventual game-winning goal, in a 6-4 victory. This significantly boosted Doherty’s stock, as he now has six goals and two assists on the season, taking the team lead in goals and points. Should Doherty be able to continue to lead from the front, MYHA will be a force to be reckoned with.
.
Filip Hidas – North Jersey Avalanche
Contributing three goals over four games during the showcase, Hidas continued to be a life line for the Avalanche offense. During both games on Saturday, Hidas tallied his team’s only goal in losses to the Ice Selects and Blazers. Hidas now stands at a goal-per-game pace, potting nine goals in nine games. The skilled forward is second in the division in goals and could threaten for the lead should he notch his third multi-goal game of the season in the near future.
.
Owen Sherwin – Philadelphia Blazers
Scoring three goals and four points, Sherwin was a star on the ice for the Blazers. After a few quiet games to begin the month, Sherwin broke out on Saturday against MYHA, notching a goal and an assist in a tough 6-4 Blazers loss. His first multi-point game since the season opener, Sherwin broke out of his slump and scored a goal in Philadelpia’s two remaining games on the showcase. He is now the team leader in goals with six. Sherwin will hope to continue this momentum throughout the rest of the season.
.
.
Defense:
.
Ilhom Abdulaev – MYHA Gold
Entering the showcase without a point, Abdulaev broke onto the scoresheet with emphasis, dishing up four assists over four games this past weekend. This included a two assist effort recorded in a 6-0 victory against St. James in the showcase opener for MYHA. Abdulaev displayed promise as a two-way defenseman, adding smart passing and good vision to a strong defensive skill set.
.
Aliaksandr Bazylevich – Philadelphia Blazers
Remaining the division’s top offensive defenseman, Bazylevich added a goal and three assists to his point total during the showcase, taking him to 10 points on the season (3 G, 7 A). He had a multi-point game against MYHA, tallying two assists. Bazylevich also displayed strong discipline, staying out of the penalty box. Once again, the premier offensively-minded blue liner demands attention after another strong showing.
.
Goalies
.
Jeremy Eager – MYHA Gold
Getting a chance to shine, Eager did not let his opportunity go to waste. Starting two games, Eager went 1-0-1 while stopping 45-of-47 shots against him, good for a .957 save percentage. He saved 11 shots in a shutout against St. James and followed that performance with a 34-save game in a 3-2 shootout loss against the New Jersey Jets. Eager now leads all U15 netminders with a .939 save percentage and is third with a 1.67 GAA.
.
Justin Koehler – Team Philadelphia
Koehler only played one game in the showcase, but it’s hard to ignore a 26-save shutout victory over a rival. This is exactly the performance that Koehler turned in during a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Blazers. This lowered Koehler’s GAA to a division-leading 1.50 while improving his save percentage to a tidy .933.
FORWARDS
Brendan Boudreau, North Jersey Skylands Kings Navy
Tallying a goal in all four games, Boudreau helped lead the way for the Skylands Kings. With six goals and eight points on the Showcase, Boudreau comes out of the weekend as the team’s leading scorer.
Gavin Rahnavardy, St. James (Showcase)
Showing off his vision on the ice, Rahnavardy put his passing on display with seven assists during the four games of the Showcase. While he was able to dish it out, Rahnavardy also tallied two goals during the St. James 3-1-0 weekend.
Eli Singley, North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue
With two goals in the first Showcase game, Singley set the tone offensively for North Jersey. Singley showed solid zone entry, great vision when it came to passing tape-to-tape, as well as going all out to put his body in front of pucks to make a play and transition the other way.
Dylan Kouba, Haverford Hawks
With four assists in his first two games, Kouba showed his ability to create plays in the offensive zone for Haverford. With his speed and stickhandling ability, Kouba was able to create space for himself to make those plays.
Ryan Suchy, York Devils
Scoring a goal in every game, Suchy was a key component for the Devils’ offense during the Showcase. Finishing with four goals and three assists, Suchy showed off his balanced attack and hockey IQ throughout the weekend.
Jack Driscoll, North Jersey Avalanche
Tallying four goals and finishing with seven points, Driscoll helped the Avalanche to a 3-1-0 record at the Showcase. Displaying determination and leadership by example, Driscoll helped stop a skid by North Jersey and vaulted them into the thick of the standings.
DEFENSE
Nate Benz, Team Philadelphia
Benz was a big force on the defensive side of the puck for Team Philadelphia, contributing to a stellar performance and limiting the opposition to only three goals in four games. Benz was rewarded offensively on Saturday with a goal and assist in a 12-1 victory.
Ryan Twist, North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue
Thanks to a stellar performance in his own zone, Twist helped North Jersey to a 4-0-0 record. Laying out his body for blocks, clearing out the front of the net, and adding a physical component to the game allowed Twist to stand-out in the Showcase.
GOALIE
Devin Brown, Montgomery Youth Hockey Blue
Finishing the weekend with a 0.50 GAA and ,971 save percentage, Brown was stellar in net when he was called upon. Brown stayed focused in net during times where he was not facing action, which allowed him to stay in the game for when play did head his way.
Nicholas Lombardo, North Jersey Skylands Kings White
Lombardo leaves the Showcase with a 1.00 GAA and .968 save percentage, as he took two wins from the four-win weekend for the Skylands Kings. Lombardo helped his team stay in the lead, as he faced a total of 62 shots in his two games played.
FORWARDS:
.
Andrew Kurowski, Ashburn Xtreme
Andrew made every minute of ice time count in the three games he played at the most recent AHF showcase, scoring six goals and nine points. Andrew played a role in all three wins for the Xtreme, most notably his four-goal performance in a 6-3 win over the Long Island Rebels. He is tied for the U18 AA lead in goals with 13 and points with 22.
.
Jace Lombardo, Rockets Hockey Club Black
Jace put on a playmaking display this past weekend, recording five assists and six points in three games. His five-point performance in a 6-0 win over the Capitals Hockey Academy showcased his offensive instincts and his ability to spark an offense to success.
.
Seamus McNally, MYHA Blue
Seamus stepped it up big time this past weekend, scoring five goals and eight points as he and his team went 4-0-0. He started off strong with a three-point performance in a 5-4 win over the Long Island Rebels and never looked back.
.
Luke Hulbert, North Jersey Avalanche
The Aves went 4-0-0 on the weekend and Luke was a huge reason because of it. His scoring ability was on display as he tallied five goals and eight points in those four games. His two-goal game against the Brick Hockey Club was his most impactful, being the difference in a 5-3 win.
.
John Ryan, Ashburn Xtreme
John showed off a great all-around skillset this past weekend at the AHF showcase, scoring six goals and nine points. He made an impact in every game he played in, including a hat trick against the Grundy Senators in an 8-1 win that saw him add an assist too. John is currently on a six-game point streak.
.
.
DEFENSE:
.
Mario Leone, Igloo Jaguars Black
Mario entered this past weekend’s showcase with three goals and five points in four games. He left it with 13 goals and 19 points in seven games. That’s right, Mario totaled 10 goals and 14 points in just three games played. Highlighted by a five-goal game in a 10-1 over Delaware, Mario proved to be one of the most lethal scorers in the AHF. He leads all defensemen in goals (13) and points (19) in U18 AA.
.
Jake King, North Jersey Avalanche
Jake possesses the second-highest point total by a defenseman (17) and this past weekend he showed why scoring two goals and five points as the Aves won all four of its games. He played strong in his own end and made his presence felt in the offensive zone too. Jake’s four-point performance in a 5-3 win over Brick Hockey Club showcased exactly what he can do and how he can affect the outcome of a game.
.
Christian Short, Hollydell Hurricanes Red
Christian stayed red hot at the AHF Midget showcase this past weekend, recording three goals and seven points in four games. He showed his ability to play both ends of the ice and extended his point streak to six games in the process.
.
Riley Rudolph, Igloo Jaguars Black
The Jaguars only let up three goals in the three games it played this past weekend, and Riley was a big reason why. He played excellent in his own zone to help his goalie keep the puck out of the net and chipped in offensively too, recording five assists.
.
Carter Vela, Team Philadelphia
Carter proved to impact the game at both ends of the ice this past weekend, tallying three assists in four games all while playing excellent defense. His on-ice vision and hockey IQ were on display as he helped Team Philadelphia to four wins.
.
.
GOALIES:
.
Joseph Lawrence, MYHA Blue
You don’t often see a goalie get four starts in two days, but that’s exactly what Joseph was tasked with this past weekend. And the faith his coaches showed him paid off as he helped his team to four straight wins, including one shutout. Joseph posted a save percentage above .900 in every start as he made big saves when needed.
.
Jake Booth, Holleydell Hurricanes Red
Jake remained perfect on the season, improving to 4-0-0 in net with a 10-1 win over the New Jersey Renegades and a 3-1 win over the Haverford Hawks. His game against the Hawks proved to be his best as he turned aside 32 shots in the winning effort.
.
Kieran Sullivan, Capitals Hockey Academy
Kieran got two starts this past weekend and made them both count, securing wins in each of them. Kieran made 44 saves over the two starts and displayed excellent vision and awareness in between the pipes.
.
Keegan Ford, Igloo Jaguars Green
Keegan kept his team in every game he started at the showcase, posting a combined .940 save percentage in the two games he started. His athleticism and awareness helped him make big stops as he proved to be a tough netminder to beat.
.
Jackson Gottlick, Rockets Hockey Club Black
Jackson continues to show why he is one of the toughest goalies to take on at the U18 AA level. In two starts, Jackson stopped all but one shot en route to two wins with one being a shutout. He has yet to give up more than three goals in a game this season as his athleticism and vision in the net have been on point.
Team Philadelphia: Team Philadelphia vaulted into the top ten of the U10 AA standings with a 4-0-0 performance at last weekend’s showcase. The team totaled 28 goals in those four games, scoring no less than five goals per game. Kyle Perucki led the offense with his six goals and eleven points while Gareth Meyer did his part in between the pipes, recording a shutout on the weekend.
St. James 1: St. James came to play this past weekend, winning three of its four games. Two of the teams wins came with Stanley Krulc in the net and saw him turn aside all 23 shots he saw to record two shutout wins. It was an all-around great team effort by St. James and a successful showcase.
North Jersey Avalanche Blue: The Avalanche used a strong offensive showing to secure three wins in four games at the most recent Atlantic Hockey Federation Showcase. The team scored 22 goals in four games and scored five or more goals in the three wins. Christian Leakes had a big hand in the offense, scoring three goals and five points in the four games.
MYHA Gold: After dropping the first two games of this past weekend’s showcase, MYHA Gold exploded to win its final two games by the combined score of 15-4. Many players on the team stepped up for the bounce-back performance including Andrew Fauver has his five points in the two wins.
York Devils: The York Devils stayed red hot this past weekend, winning all four of its showcase games. The four wins allowed the Devils to stay in the top five teams in the U10 AA standings. Led by Josh Warren and his six goals, the team got scoring from up and down the roster and great defensive play as well.
FORWARDS:
.
Anthony Tyler, Igloo Jaguars Black
Anthony stepped up for his team this weekend and filled the gap of the Jaguar’s missing centers. Playing a new position, he took control of the ice and showed he is a commanding force on the ice whichever position he plays. Anthony even showed offensive success by scoring a pair of goals.
.
Jaxton Paquette, York Devils
Jaxton was a big part of the Devils’ offense this past weekend, scoring seven goals in four games. He has a nose for the net and always is in a position to bury the puck for a goal.
.
Austin Shaw, North Jersey Avalanche Blue
Austin had a productive weekend playing center. He scored seven goals and had four assists in four games to lead the team this weekend. He used his speed to outskate opponents for loose pucks in the corners and created a lot of opportunities for the team. Austin also did great winning many face-offs to put his team in a position to score.
.
Logan Rowand, Igloo Jaguars Black
Logan’s primary position as a hockey player is defensive. This weekend, however, he stepped up his game in a new role by playing as a forward. He showed off his skill set by creating opportunities and scoring chances whenever he was on the ice.
.
Sophia Delaura, New Jersey Bandits
Sophia stepped it up this past weekend for the Bandits in a big game against the top-seeded Ashburn Xtreme. Needing a goal, Sophia scored the only goal in regulation for New Jersey, helping the bandits to a 2-1 shootout win.
.
.
DEFENSE:
.
Ethan Stemmel, York Devils
Ethan displayed his skills on both sides of the ice at the Atlantic Hockey Federation’s most recent showcase. He has great vision on the ice which helps keep the puck out of the zone and move the puck up ice as well. He also showed off his offensive abilities, proving to be a great skater and point producer, recording seven points.
.
Ava Deblinger, North Jersey Avalanche
Ava had a strong weekend on defense. She consistently works hard to be in a position to stop breakaways and to dig pucks out of the corners in her defensive end and get them out of the zone.
.
Wyatt Dirsh, Igloo Jaguars Black
Wyatt was an absolute force to be reckoned with this weekend. He displayed strong defensive play with numerous blocked shots, keeping the opposing team from having scoring chances.
.
Lucas Tate, York Devils
Lucas played hard all weekend for the York Devils. He broke up several plays and made a difference every time he stepped onto the ice.
.
Tyler Branigan, North Jersey Aspen Kings Blue
Tyler played a big role in his team going undefeated this past weekend. He displayed excellent skills on both sides of the ice, helping keep the puck out of his own zone while producing scoring chances for his team as well. His highlight came in the final game of the showcase, recording four assists in a win over the North Jersey Skyland Kings Navy.
.
.
GOALIES:
.
Cullen Widener/Mason Leisenring , York Devils
Cullen and Mason split games in net for the Devils and turned away 54 of 64 shots against tough competition. Both goalies also skate out and play defense when not in the net. They showed they will always put the team first and will thrive wherever the team needs them to.
.
Andrew Figueroa, North Jersey Avalanche
Andrew played his best games of the season this weekend. He played a big role in the team’s three wins during the showcase weekend. He greatly improved both his save percentage and goals-against average. His size helps him tremendously in the goaltending position and he used it to his advantage.
.
Stanley Krulc, St. James
Stanley came to play this past weekend, starting two games and earning two shutout victories. In total, he turned away 23 shots and made big saves when his team needed him to.
.
Mathew Tartaglione, Ashburn Xtreme
The Ashburn Xtreme found itself at the top of the U10 AA standings after the AHF showcase concluded and Mathew was a big reason why. Mathew turned aside 29 stops in three games and sported a 2-0-1 record. He stepped it up for his team when he was needed to and displayed great athleticism and vision.
New Jersey Bandits vs. Grundy Senators, Friday October 22nd: Starting off the Showcase are the second and third place teams in the standings. It will be a rubber match, as well, as each team has a win over the other this season. New Jersey’s Theo Herman comes into the Showcase with a seven-game point streak, while Evan Pierri, Jason Kilpatrick, and Liam Ahern have three points a piece against Grundy on the season. Grundy’s Christopher Marshall, Patryk Oszer, and Shane Hicks have been big offensive factors, combining for 28 goals, though they only have four goals against the Bandits this season. Sean Rue and Lucas Gonzalez have contributed well from the blue line with four goals from the back-end.
North Jersey Avalanche vs. Team Philadelphia, Saturday October 23rd: Tied in points in the standings, North Jersey and Philadelphia will take on each other for the first time this year. North Jersey boasts a solid defensive game, with goalies Tyler Um and Ryan Felenstein only allowing 14 goals in their seven match-ups. They’ve gotten aid from Juno Moon, Aiden Chun, and Andrew Sherland, who have patrolled their defensive end to help the low-scoring output from the opposition. Philadelphia will test out the Avalanche defense, with Bradan Fisher and Michael O’Connor both coming into the Showcase with three-game point streaks. Declan Herr and Kevin Lang have provided solid vision coming out of their zone, with Lang leading the defense in assists with three.
Rockets Hockey Club vs. Atlantic City Sharks, Saturday October 23rd: Two teams who are close in the standings and close in their goals-for and goals-against. Rockets’ forward Rhone Armijo is coming into the Showcase with a six-game point streak, racking up 10 goals and an assist in those six games. Andrew Summa led Rockets Hockey Club with a goal and an assist in the previous meeting this year between the two teams. Paul Lavigna and Connor Flynn lead the way for Atlantic City, putting up a combined 13 goals on the season, with Flynn scoring twice against Rockets previously this year.
FORWARD
Travis Strunk, North Jersey Aspen Kings Black
With a quick first step leading to breakaway speed, Strunk has been a big contributor for North Jersey. With two multi-goal games, and five tallies on the season, Strunk has been a great compliment to the Aspen Kings top-six.
Theo Herman, New Jersey Bandits
The speedy forward has been a big playmaker for the Bandits, registering eight assists in nine games. Herman’s keen vision has helped him throughout the season, but when given the chance, he’ll take the shot– putting in three goals this year, as well.
Rhone Armijo, Rockets Hockey Club
A natural goal-scorer, Armijo has 10 tallies on the season. With a hard, quick shot, Armijo has been able to fool goalies, while also alluding attacking defenders in order to create time and space for himself.
Shane Hicks, Grundy Senators
Putting up seven goals and 12 points this season, Hicks has been a big players in Grundy’s season. Adding more firepower to the top-six, Hicks has only been off the scoresheet twice this season in eight AHF contests.
Bradan Fisher, Team Philadelphia
As a point-per-game player, Fisher has put up six goals and 10 points on the year. Fisher is clutch, as well, with two of his six goals being game-winners for Team Philadelphia.
DEFENSE
Carter Faas, Ashburn Xtreme
A key part of the Xtreme’s defense, Faas has helped the squad only allow two goals in seven AHF contests. Responsible for his own end, Faas has also chipped in four points in five games and is riding a three-game point streak heading into the Showcase.
Tyler Jason, New Jersey Bandits
Leading the defense in goals with three, Jason has been able to throw in his offensive skills with his defensive play. With his all around play, Jason has been able to help the Bandits into the second spot in the U13AA standings.
GOALIE
Tyler Um, North Jersey Avalanche
Sporting a 1.67 GAA in three games, Um has been solid in his starts for the Avalanche. By playing his angles well, Um has been able to stymie the opposition by giving them very little to shoot at.
Neil Sharma, Tomorrow’s Ice Selects
Facing over 30 shots a game, Sharma has been solid for the Selects during the season. His .890 save percentage ranks third in the U13AA ranks, while also making timely saves to keep his team in the game.