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After splitting their opening weekend with the Syracuse Stars, the Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey team will travel to New England this weekend to take part in the first USPHL regular season showcase of the season.  The weekend will consist of three games for the team, against two opponents.  They will see the Islanders Hockey Club (not to be confused with PAL Islanders) twice this weekend, a 4:30pm puck drop on Saturday, and a 12:10pm start on Sunday.  The team will then finish the weekend against the Springfield Pics on Monday at 10am.

 

The Flyers are even the Islanders in the standings after the first weekend of the regular season, as the Islanders split both of their games with the Connecticut Junior Rangers.  They are even in the standings at 1-1 with Springfield at this very early point in the season as well.

 

Despite splitting last weekend’s series with Syracuse, the Flyers were able to light the lamp multiple times in both games.  Last season’s Premier division scoring leader, Nick Polsinelli, picked up right where he left off, depositing four goals on the weekend, which earned USPHL Premier Player of the Week honors.  JR Barone sits tied with Polsinelli in points, as he notched himself four assists in the two games.  Jeff Eppright also had himself a good weekend, earning three assists.  The team hopes to continue its high scoring ways this weekend.

 

The Islanders begin their season without their two biggest scorers from last year, Ace Cowans and Brendan Van Riemsdyk, who both earned 52 and 47 points respectively last season.  Van Riemsdyk (brother of NHLers James and Trevor van Riemsdyk) is currently playing at the University of New Hampshire.  Cowans committed to University of Vermont.  The team is currently led in the points standings by Justin Pearson, who notched a goal and an assist last weekend.   The Flyers are out for revenge against the Islanders this season, as the Isles swept the season series last year.

 

For the Springfield Pics, they also split their opening weekend, albeit against two separate opponents.  They were manhandled by the Junior Bruins on Saturday losing 9-2, but bounced back for a win against Okanagan 5-3 on Sunday.  Lukas Radina got off to a good start for the team, earning three assists on the weekend.  Thomas Martyn also accrued three points, notching two goals and an assist.  The Pics have multiple point scorers on the team after last weekend, but are also missing some of their top point scorers from last season due to age outs and commitments.  The Flyers were able to best the Pics last season, taking three of the four games the team’s met in. 

 

 

Players to Watch:

 

For the Flyers, keep an eye out for Jeff Eppright, who as mentioned garnered three assists last weekend.  Eppright, a rookie, should be fun to watch this season if he continues getting helpers on Flyers goals.  Barone, with his four assists, could also make a difference this weekend if he keeps getting helpers.  And just like last week, don’t sleep on Polsinelli, who could potentially increase the goal count.

 

For the Islanders, it’s still very early in the season to put a finger on any player in the lineup, but watch for Pearson to continue leading the team in points, in his first season in the USPHL, coming up from the Islander’s U18 team.  Also watch for who the Isles go to in goal, since both goaltenders got starts last weekend.

 

For Springfield, watch Radina to see if he increases his point totals, like Eppright, as he seems to enjoy making the big pass that leads to goals.  He and Eppright, at least very early in this season, could stay neck and neck for at the top of the assist category in the league.