Rockets Hockey Club - Atlantic Hockey Federation

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.

Forwards

Cole Martinez – Grundy Senators

A pure sniper in every sense of the word, Martinez has potted 13 goals in 9 games this season. The leading scorer for the Senators, he is a reliable option for the team to convert whenever the puck finds his stick in a scoring position. He is a critical part for the Grundy game plan as well, as the team has a 3-2-1 record when Martinez is on the score sheet while they are 0-3-0 when he is held scoreless. His success normally translated to the success of his team, which reflects leadership and an influential style of play.

Braxton Menkiti – MYHA Blue

League leader in goals (32) and tied for the lead in points (39), Menkiti is the driving force of the MYHA Blue team. He has scored at least one goal in each of the 12 games he has played and has scored at least three goals in half of those games. He has scored five goals twice so far this season, including against Hollydell Hurricanes White, when he scored each of his team’s goals in a 5-0 victory. Menkiti has also displayed some physicality, registering 0.5 hits per game. Look for him to continue to be among the league leaders in scoring as long as MYHA sees continued success.

Bryan Wallace – Ashburn Xtreme

Scoring at the fastest clip of anyone in the division, Wallace is averaging nearly 4 goals per game, as he has netted 31 in only eight games. Wallace is not only gaining attention for his goal scoring, however, as he has a very well-rounded game that has been put on display thus far this season. He has also distributed the puck well to his teammates, putting up 8 assists. Wallace has also laid the body, notching 7 hits, and has made great use of his good size for the age group. He also has strong discipline, only taking one penalty this season. Excelling at every aspect of the game, Wallace is absolutely one to watch.

Defense

Charlie Berry – Rockets Hockey Club

A consistent point-per-game defenseman, Berry has emerged as a skilled two-way defenseman. He has a powerful shot from the blue line, leading to 5 goals, accompanied by 2 assists in seven games. Meanwhile, he has also led the defensive efforts of the Rockets, which has yielded four games of allowing one or fewer goals. He has only one multi-point game, but he has only been held scoreless in one game this season. Look for Berry’s consistency to continue to hold true this weekend.

Adam Hassan – New Jersey Stars Black

Not many defensive players routinely put up multi-point games with regularity, but that’s exactly what Hassan has done through his first four games. Three of his first four games with New Jersey have seen his name pop up several times in the game summary. He scored two goals against the Delaware Ducks and Capital City Vipers National while he had a 1 goal, 3 assist performance against the Suffolk P.A.L. Silver Knights. Hassan’s defensive efforts are also notable, as he has helped the team to a +20 goal differential. Hassan is developing as a very talented two-way defenseman.

Gabriel Schon – St. James

The division’s highest point scoring defenseman, Schon has scored 5 points and 5 assists in only four games. The offensive defenseman has also proven to be capable in his own end as well, helping St. James to a 3-1-0 record in those games. Against the Igloo Jaguars, Schon led the way to victory with 2 goals and 3 assists. He has also stayed out of the penalty box, which has been greatly helpful to his team’s game plan. Schon clearly has skill all over the ice and it has reflected on the score sheet.

Goalies

Mike Canning – Philadelphia Blazers National

Canning has been excellent through his first three starts of the season, posting a 3-0-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .904 SV%. In two of his three starts, Canning has only allowed a single goal. The Blazers seem to have a little extra pep whenever Canning stands between the pipes, speaking to his attitude on and off the ice. Look for him to earn more looks in the starting lineup after a strong start

Jean-Paul Dominguez – North Jersey Avalanche Blue

Among league leaders in GAA (1.56) and SV% (.907), Dominguez has proven to be one of the top net minders in the division. Dominguez also boasts a flawless 4-0-0 record through five games. He posted a shutout against the Grundy Senators in his last appearance, saving each of the 15 shots that he faced. Dominguez doesn’t see a lot of rubber in net, credit to the defensive efforts of North Jersey, but his athleticism can be relied upon to shut down most of the shots that come his way.

North Jersey Avalanche

The Avalanche jumped into third place in the U14 AA division of the Atlantic Hockey Federation this past weekend. How did they accomplish it? By going a perfect 4-0-0 at the AHF’s showcase. Goaltender Aidan Alvino turned aside 60 of the 62 total shots he faced in the four games he started (recording two shutouts) and Luke Isaac recorded ten points as the Aves cruised to four wins.

Rockets Hockey Club

The Rockets stayed red hot this past weekend’s showcase, going 3-1-0. The Rockets were led offensively by Austen Halleran and his seven points in his team’s four games. By bouncing back from a 7-4 loss with a 3-1 win, the team showed it has no problem bouncing back with a well-balanced offense and shutdown defense.

Team Philadelphia

Team Philadelphia find itself in fifth place in U14 AA after a successful showcase performance that saw them go 3-1-0 including a shutout win. Led offensively by Henry Tesoriero and his ten points, the team now sees itself having scored 57 total goals as a team, the third-highest total in U14 AA.

FORWARDS:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DEFENSE:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

GOALIES:

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.

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.

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.

Forwards

Sara Caldicott – MYHA Blue

Caldicott had a great weekend, scoring 3 goals and adding an assist. This propels her point total to 13 for the season, putting her tops for female skaters. Caldicott also displayed her skills as a two-way forward, filling in on the back check and using her speed to catch up with attackers going the other way. Overall, Caldicott has a very well-rounded game.

Ryan Corsaro – Jersey Shore Wildcats Black

According to his coach, Corsaro is coming off of his best weekend of hockey with the Wildcats. Over the four games, Corsaro bagged 11 points (8 goals, 3 assists). He had at least a goal in every game, but he burst out for 5 goals in a win against New Jersey Aspen Kings Blue. This brought Corsaro’s goal total for the season to 11, reflecting his good shot.

Marcello Ferrari – New Jersey Stars Black

Ferrari kicked it into high gear during this showcase, putting his name all over the scoresheet. He was able to put a recent slump behind him, scoring multiple points in every game en route to a 10-point (4 goals, 6 assists) weekend. Ferrari had two three-point performances over the weekend, one against the Delaware Ducks and another against MYHA Gold.

Rylan MacCormick – Ashburn Xtreme

MacCormick had another very strong showing in the showcase, scoring 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) in his four games. His efforts came with a couple of highlights. He recorded 4 assists in an 8-5 win against Philadelphia Blazers National and he also had a hat trick and 2 assists in a win against North Jersey Avalanche Blue. MacCormick’s passing touch has been unrivaled so far this season, as he has the most assists in the division with 20.

Defense

Jacob Ganz – Rockets Hockey Club

A defenseman with an outstanding shot, Ganz let his abilities shine in this showcase. He scored 5 goals and added an assist, bringing his season goal total to 11 over the same number of games. His highlight of the weekend was scoring a hat trick in a win over the York Devils. By bringing his goals per game average to 1.0, Ganz establishes himself as one of the top shooting blue liners in the division.

Tyler Nevrotski – Philadelphia Blazers National

Contributing equally to offensive and defensive efforts, Nevrotski has been a key factor in the Blazer game plan. This weekend, he scored 3 goals and 2 assists, bringing his season total to 15 points. In a loss to Ashburn, he scored a season-high 3 points by scoring a goal and 2 assists. His defensive skills are also notable, leading the back check for Philadelphia whenever he is on the ice.

Jackson Skaare – MYHA Blue

A defensive defenseman, Skaare was the leader of MYHA’s backcheck, especially with injuries and other factors leading to the team having a depleted blue line core. He was also a consistent presence on both special teams units. Skaare was not afraid to get low to block shots to help his team. In addition, he also contributed on offense, scoring twice and netting a goal in a winning shootout effort against Brick Hockey Club.

Goalies

Dylan Amato – Brick Hockey Club

Amato served as the backbone to a very strong effort from the Brick Hockey Club. Over the weekend, Amato saved 87 of the 91 shots he faced, translating to a stellar .956 save percentage. Included in his efforts was a shutout victory over the Grudy Senators and a 30-save performance along with three saves in a shootout loss to Philadelphia Blazers National. Amato had a real breakout performance, hopefully the first of many strong showings.

MYHA Blue (15-1-0): The highest-scoring team in Atlantic Hockey Federation’s U18 AA division slots at the number one seed for this weekend’s postseason with 93 total goals scored. Its +69 goal differential is the best in U18 AA and its 24 goals against is the second-lowest total of goals against amongst teams who have played ten or more games. MYHA has received fantastic goaltending, with the team’s goalies Sebastien Blanc and Joseph Lawrence both sporting a goals-against average under 2.00 and save percentages of .920 or higher. The offensive depth has shown throughout the season as MYHA Blue had five different skaters hit the 10 goal plateau this season. Led by forward TJ Kouba who leads the team in goals (14), assists (14), and points (28), the team looks to stay red hot as it enters the postseason. MYHA Blue has won 14 straight games heading into this weekend and has scored five or more goals twelve times this season.

Ashburn Xtreme (12-2-0): The Xtreme has allowed only 22 goals in 14 games, marking the lowest goals-against total amongst teams who have played ten or more games in U18 AA. The defense has been stellar this season for Ashburn along with its goaltending tandem. Both Patrick Depault and Leo Quattron have an above .910 save percentage, under 2.00 goals-against average, and two shutouts each. The offense has been effective as well with the team’s 82 goals the third-highest total in U18 AA. It possesses a deadly weapon in the form of Andrew Kurowski, whose 21 goals are tied for the U18 AA lead in goals.

Team Philadelphia (11-3-0): Team Philadelphia has finished the season red hot, winning nine of its last ten games. What’s more impressive is that during that ten-game stretch, Team Philadelphia only allowed more than two goals once and it was during a 6-3 win over North Jersey Skylands Kings Navy. The offense has faired well led by the team’s leading point scorer in Ethan Fredricks (18) and goal scorer in Ryan Magargal (11). Mix this in with a goaltending tandem of Tyler Richman and Gannon Walker who both have a goals-against average of under 3.00 and this could be a team to watch out for this weekend.

Philadelphia Blazers (10-4-0): The Blazers are the fourth-highest scoring team in U18 AA with 74 goals and possess the fourth-best goal differential with +43. Much like its fellow playoff teams, the Blazers finished on a high note by winning its last three games and five of its last six games. During its season-ending three-game win streak, they have outscored its opponents 21-2. Philadelphia’s goalies have been great throughout the season with Anthony Perti and Colin McKey both posting a goals-against average under 3.00 and each recording at least one shutout. Forward Brady Baehser has the fourth most points amongst all U18 AA players with 25 and has a great supporting cast, with eight players recording at least ten points.

Igloo Jaguars Black (11-5-0): The Jaguars boast one of the best offenses in the league, with the team’s 87 total goals the second most amongst U18 AA teams. They have posted the most shutouts amongst playoff teams (5) thanks to the great goaltending of Michael Lieze (three shutouts) and Nolan Bonawitz (two shutouts). Defenseman Mario Leone has stood out for this team, with his goal total (21) tied for most in the league and his point total (31) second most amongst all U18 AA skaters.

Rockets Hockey Club Black (7-6-0): The Rockets have ridden a hot start to the season into the post season, as the team won six of its first seven games. The team has a deep roster with four players averaging over a point per game. Led by Thomas Smith’s 13 goals and John Crowdell’s 19 points, the team has proven it has the weapons to make a deep run. The goaltending has been great so far, with both Jackson Gottlick and Michael Grima posting under a 3.25 goals-against average.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Team Philadelphia (11-3-0) vs. Philadelphia Blazers (10-4-0) – Saturday, January 15th, 3:00 PM: It’s a battle of Philadelphia on day one for round-robin games in the U18 AA playoffs! The Blazers’ offense has been red hot, with its 74 goals the fourth-most in U18 AA. Add on the fact that the Blazers have outscored its opponents 21-2 during its three-game win streak to end the season and this is definitely an offense to watch out for. Brady Baehser leads the way for the Blazers with 25 points on the season and 12 points in his last five games. Team Philadelphia’s defense has played great this season, allowing only 29 goals (third-lowest total amongst U18 AA teams with ten or more games played). Team Philadelphia ended the season on a four-game win streak outscoring its opponents 16-4 in that stretch. Ethan Fredricks leads Team Philadelphia in scoring with 18 points on the season. This game will take place at Northeast Skate Zone Rink #1 and will be the first meeting between these two teams in the AHF this season.

MYHA Blue (15-1-0) vs. Igloo Jaguars Black (11-5-0) – Saturday, January 15th, 8:20 PM: The two highest-scoring teams in the Atlantic Hockey Federation’s U18 AA division go at it this Saturday night. MYHA Blue (93 goals) is the highest-scoring team in U18 AA and the only team to eclipse 90 goals this season. It boasts a roster with eight players scoring at or higher than a point per game average and a goaltending tandem of Sebastian Blanc and Joseph Lawrence who both posted a save percentage higher than .920 and combined for four shutouts. TJ Kouba leads the way offensively, with his 14 goals and 28 points good for third in the league in each category. He also places second in the league in assists with 14. MYHA is currently riding a 14 game win streak into the playoffs and hasn’t lost since August 28th, 2021. The Jaguars (87 goals) have the second-highest scoring offense in U18 AA. On top of that, goaltenders Michael Lieze and Nolan Bonawitz combine for the most shutouts amongst a goaltending tandem in U18 AA with five. Mario Leone is a player to watch out for on offense as his 21 goals are good enough to tie for the top goal scorer in the league. Leone also ranks second in points with 31. These two teams met twice during the regular season, with MYHA Blue winning both games 3-1 and 7-4. This game will be played at Grundy Ice Arena Rink B.

Ashburn Xtreme (12-2-0) vs. Rockets Hockey Club Black (7-6-0) – Sunday, January 16th, 1:10 PM: The Xtreme has enjoyed a successful season, with its offense ranking third in the league for most goals scored with 82 and only yielding 22 goals defensively. The 22 goals against is the lowest total in the league among U18 AA teams that have played ten or more games. Ashburn ended the regular season on a four-game win streak while outscoring its opponents 26-5. Andrew Kurowski has been a force offensively for the Xtreme this season, with his goals (21) and points (36) leading the league in both categories. The Rockets have had close contests with all the teams in this year’s U18 AA playoffs but have yet to face the Ashburn Xtreme. The Rockets Hockey Club got off to a red hot start winning six of its first seven games and never looked back. Four players on the Rockets average over a point per game, led by John Crowdell and his 19 points. This game will be played at Northeast Skate Zone Rink #1.

The first-ever U18 AA playoffs wrapped up this past Sunday. Six teams entered with championship aspirations but only one could leave victorious. And after round-robin games that saw numerous close games, the Ashburn Xtreme stood tall and clinched the championship with a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Blazers.

Day one saw a lot of ice time for the teams competing, with each team in action twice. MYHA Blue took home the first victory of the round-robin with a 7-2 win over the Rockets Hockey Club Black. Joshua Weitzman led the way for MYHA, recording two goals and an assist. Later that afternoon, Ashburn forward Connor Gnatek (two goals, one assist) and goaltender Patrick DePault (25 saves) led the Ashburn Xtreme to an impressive 4-1 win over the Igloo Jaguars Black. All four goals scored by the Xtreme came in the final period of play. The Philadelphia Blazers then won an all Philadelphia match-up, beating Team Philadelphia in a close 4-2 contest. Max Maddalo and Brady Baehser each had two goals for the Blazers.

The Igloo Jaguars Black bounced back from its loss to Ashburn earlier that day by stunning the top-seeded MYHA Blue 5-1. Jaguars goalie Michael Lieze made 30 saves and forward Dylan Faulhaber scored twice for Igloo. The Rockets took out Team Philadelphia 3-2 in its second contest of the day, with Richard Arale scoring the game winning goal late in the third period. The Ashburn Xtreme capped off day one with a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Blazers, riding a three goal third period for the victory.

Day two started off with Max Maddalo striking twice for the Philadelphia Blazers in a 3-2 win over MYHA Blue. Ashburn had 11 different players score in a dominant 11-2 victory over the Rockets Hockey Club Black. Round robin action concluded with some overtime heroics, as Nick Fonseca’s overtime tally lifted the Igloo Jaguars Black to a 2-1 win over Team Philadelphia.

The U18 AA championship game saw the Ashburn Xtreme take on the Philadelphia Blazers. It was a back and forth start, with the Xtreme leading 3-2 after the first 20 minutes. Max Maddalo started the scoring off for Philadelphia with his sixth goal of the postseason, but Derek Zhou responded for Ashburn to tie the game at 1-1. Sean Marshall got Philadelphia back on top with a goal to make it 2-1, but the Xtreme responded with two goals from John Ryan and Jospeh Sciavolino to give Ashburn a 3-2 lead after the first period.

Josh Shewbridge added to the Xtreme’s lead with a second period goal to make it 4-2. Kevin Donnelly and Evan Gould added insurance goals in the third period, leading to the Ashburn Xtreme’s 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Blazers for the championship. Leo Quattrone put together one of his best performances of the season for the Xtreme, turning aside 37 shots. Leo is now 3-0-0 when making 30 or more saves in a game this season.