Week 7 Recap: Upset shakes up 18U Division

HACKENSACK, N.J. — It was a wild weekend of hockey in the 18U Division. A stunning upset left room for a major shakeup in the standings.

North Jersey Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils Youth (Elite)

Parker Dupuis dialed up a hattrick as the North Jersey Avalanche buried the New Jersey Devils Youth, 5-3. Penalties proved to be the Devils’ undoing, as four the Avalanche’s five goals came off power plays. This is one that may not have even been as close as the score might indicate, as the Avalanche’s Cameron Pasquin and Andrew Chun combined with Dupuis to make it 3-0 in the opening half of the first period. The Devils valiantly tried to battle back with two quick goals by Kaden Frei in the second, but two dimes from Charles DellaVolpe to Dupuis later, the game was out of reach. With this win, the Avalanche establish some surer footing in the division rankings, as their 3-5 record is now even with that of the Philadelphia Hockey Club. The Devils unfortunately fell to 0-8. 

Philadelphia Hockey Club vs. New York Saints (Elite)

Further aiding the Avalanche’s playoff hopes: the New York Saints pulled out a stunning upset against the Philadelphia Hockey Club. Previously winless, the New York Saints faced the 3-4 Hockey Club, a team that may be better than their record indicated. Despite being under .500, they’ve scored more goals than they’ve allowed. For a while, it looked as if the game would go as predicted as the Hockey Club jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off the back of a John Byrne goal. However, it was the Saints who owned the second period.  They ripped off three straight goals to put Philadelphia back on its heels, 3-1. Philly was able to equalize going into the third off two goals of their own. However, in an otherwise scoreless third period, Riley Brooks slapped in a goal to put the Saints up 4-3. They would not relinquish the lead. The Saints now rise to 1-6 on the year, while the Hockey Club fall to 3-5, and are now in jeopardy of falling behind the Avalanche.

New Jersey Jr. Titans vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers (Elite)

The number three and number four ranked teams in the division clashed in what could only be described as the weekend’s main event. In a tightly contested bout, the heavily favored Flyers barely escaped with a win against their underdog opponents. The teams traded goals in the first period before the Flyers added another to go up 2-1 heading into the game’s decisive period. The Titans were able to give them a scare via a Luke Gensinger goal, but the Flyers would not be denied, ultimately winning a 3-2 nailbiter. The Titans missed an opportunity to shake up the standings, but with a perfectly healthy 4-4 record, they’re far done this season. For the Flyers, this win brings their record to 7-6, and puts them right on the heels of the undefeated Long Island Royals.