Week 8: Opportunity knocks in the 15 Only division

SEWELL, N.J. — Another weekend of AYHL action means another weekend of opportunity for teams in the 15 Only division. With the winners moving up in the division standings, who will rise to the occasion? 

Philadelphia Hockey Club vs. Valley Forge Minutemen (Premier)

Opportunity will knock for both teams, as the 3-2 Valley Forge Minutemen face the last place Philadelphia Hockey Club. The Minutemen have had a fine season thus far — they’ve only allowed 12 goals in their five games and have carved out a little niche in the middle of the divisional standings. They’re currently licking their wounds however, as they just suffered their worst loss of the season at the hands of the first place WB/Scranton Jr. Knights. Seeing as Philadelphia has only one win on the year, this game represents an enormous opportunity for both teams to get back in the win column. 

New Jersey Jr. Titans vs. New York Saints (Premier)

Another struggling team, the 1-4 New York Saints, will also be in action this weekend against the mysterious New Jersey Jr. Titans. Not much is presently known about the Titans, as they’ve only played two games on the year — the least amount in the entire division. However, in those two games, they have amassed an undefeated record and outscored their opponents 15-5. Those stats may indicate that the Titans are a "sleeping giant contender" in the division, and if they’re able to knock off the Saints, their 3-0 record would put them right in the mix.

Philadelphia Little Flyers vs. Washington Little Caps (Premier)

The Philadelphia Little Flyers are a bonified contender in the division. At 5-2, they have the third best record, and their 39 goals rank second in the entire division. On the other hand, the Caps have had a hard time getting off the ground, as they’re 2-8 and have allowed the most goals of any team (53). This certainly looks the part of a mismatch on paper, but if the Caps can steal this one, three wins would be enough to move them into the middle class of the division. Time will tell if they can score the upset.