Week 6: Top teams make a statement in the 15 Only division

PITTSTON, Pa. — This weekend in the 15 Only division, the top teams made themselves known. In a division where seven of the twelve teams have winning records, three of them asserted themselves with huge wins. Let’s look at these games and what it could mean for the standings!

Long Island Royals vs. WB/Scranton Jr. Knights (Premier)

In what can only be described as a “statement game” the previously 3-3 Jr. Knights finally broke above .500 with a dominant 6-0 win over the Long Island Royals. Knights Goalie Everett Payie knocked aside every one of the 13 shots that came his way as he recorded his second shut-out of the season. Meanwhile, his teammates Nikita Klepov, Yevhenii Matata, and Sawyer Taylor all chipped in three, two, and one goal respectively. Four of the Knight’s six points came off power play goals as the Royals racked up a considerable eight penalties. It’s something they’ll have to clean up if they want to make something of their 1-4 start to the year. The Knights, on the other hand, are third place in the division at 4-3 and could be building some serious momentum.

Philadelphia Junior Flyers vs. North Jersey Avalanche (Premier) 

It was a clash of the titans as the number one ranked North Jersey Avalanche took on the number two ranked Philadelphia Junior Flyers. It’s rare to see the top two teams go head-to-head, but unfortunately, the game didn’t quite live up to the billing. The Avalanche buried the Flyers with an eye popping 6-0 shut out. They overwhelmed the Flyers, recording 28 shots on goal while yielding only 9, all of which were turned away by their goalie Rocko Morenzi. Jacob Jett, AJ Jones, Liam Donnelly, Brody Latkin, and Jack Mazzella all peppered the Flyers with goals throughout the game…Jones had two. The Avalanche remain undefeated at 6-0, and after beating the second ranked team so soundly, it’s fair to question whether there’s a team in the division who can stop them.

Valley Forge Minutemen vs. Washington Little Capitals (Premier)

The Minutemen greatly improved their prospects in the division with two huge wins over the Washington Little Caps. They were propelled in their first game —a authoritative 6-1 win-1 win–by Jeffrey Swartz, who scored an astonishing four goals in the first two periods alone. Only the Caps’ Kiptoo Soi was able to stop a full shut-out by scoring in the second period. The Caps had a chance to avenge their loss the very next day, but unfortunately for them, the result was more of the same. This time, it was a shut-out; a 5-0 win that saw another two goals by Swartz and two more by Jack Torr. Dylan Zapata did his best DJ Khaled impression and chipped in another one to put the game out of reach. The Minutemen went from 1-1 to 3-1 in one weekend, and with one of the best GF% in the division, they have to feel good about their chances of catching up to the top teams.