Atlantic Youth Hockey League

DIX HILL, N.Y. — This weekend in the 18U division, the top ranked teams will be matching up with opponents in desperate need of a win. The underdogs will need to play their best hockey in order to steal the upset and turn the division upside-down. 

Long Island Royals vs. New Jersey Devils Youth (Elite)

What can you say about the Long Island Royals? 12 games. 12 wins. Only 22 goals allowed. 57 goals scored. A juggernaut in every sense of the word. In the ultimate battle of opposites, they’ll attempt to go to 13-0 against the winless New Jersey Devils Youth. The Devils are currently sitting at the bottom of the divisional standings, but sometimes teams with nothing to lose are the most dangerous. The Devils know that a win against an undefeated powerhouse like the Royals would breathe life into their withering season. Will they seize the opportunity? Or will the Royals continue to reign? 

New Jersey Devils Youth vs. Philadelphia Hockey Club (Elite)

Regardless of the result, the Devils will have to refocus as they take on the Philadelphia Hockey Club later in the weekend. Philadelphia have had a successful, but relatively middling year. They’re currently nursing a losing record at 4-6, but have a positive GF-GA ratio, implying there could be some untapped potential in this team. Will they prey on the struggling Devils and start clawing their way up the rankings? Or will the Devils be able to steal the upset?

New Jersey Jr. Titans vs. Washington Little Capitals (Elite)

The Washington Little Caps are the only team in the entire division who have scored more points than the first place Royals. In fact, just last weekend, the Royals handed the Caps their lone loss of the season. The Caps will look to get back to their dominant ways against the Titans, who are a respectable 4-5 on the year. The Titans have had a perfectly middling season thus far. They’ve won slightly less than they’ve lost, and they’ve scored slightly less goals than they’ve allowed. However, if they want to break free from the trappings of mediocrity, they’ll have to play their best hockey and hand the formidable Caps their second loss in as many weeks. On the other side of the rink, the Caps will look to keep stacking wins as they eye their next chance for redemption against the Royals.