BURLINGTON, VT - Both Lumberjacks squads were back in action this past week. The EHL team went 2-0-1 beating both the East Coast Wizards and the Valley Jr. Warriors and sit in first place in the New England Conference after the hot start with 7 points. On the other side, The EHLP squad took care of business in both of their matchups, picking up 4 points this weekend over the Warriors and also sit in first place in their conference with 5 points.
On Wednesday, The EHL squad welcomed the East Coast Wizards into town for the first of four matchups this season against their conference opponent. The Wizards struck first near the end of the first period on the man advantage to take an early lead. However, the Lumberjacks responded back with a power play goal of their own from Geordan Buffoline at the 7:28 mark of the second frame to knot the game up at one goal a piece. Just over two minutes later, Zachary Booth found the back of the net for his first goal of the young season to give the Lumberjacks the 2-1 advantage. After a scoreless rest of the frame, Austin Marini gave the boys a 3-1 lead with a goal just 32 seconds into the third. Around the 17 minute mark of the period, Evan Beers added some insurance and made it a 3 goal game. Despite a couple of late tallies from the Wizards, the Lumberjacks held on for the 4-3 win. Both Dan Barry and Will Roberts picked up a pair of assists as well in the victory. David Reduzzi was solid between the pipes, stopping 20 shots for his 2nd win of the season.
The Valley Jr. Warriors came up to Burlington for a pair of games this past weekend and got off to a quick lead early in the first game on Saturday. However, the Lumberjacks responded with 5 second period goals to take a commanding 5-1 lead. The goals were scored by Buffoline (2), Logan Discanio, Beers, and Marini. The recently named EHL forward of the week, Marini, added another goal in the third and the Lumberjacks cruised to a 6-2 win. Connor Carbo stopped 19 shots for his 1st win of the season. Cory Doney also collected a trio of assists in the win while Egan Schmitt and Will Roberts both had a pair.
On Sunday, Buffoline continued to find the back of the net, scoring his 4th goal of the week around the halfway point of the first period to give the squad a 1-0 lead. The Warriors scored the next 2 goals of the game to take the lead but the Lumberjacks responded with a pair of power play goals from both Doney and Will Roberts in the second frame to take back the advantage. However, the Warriors converted on a power play opportunity with just 10 seconds to go in the period to knot the game up at 3 goals a piece. Booth added another power play goal in the third for the Lumberjacks but unfortunately, lost they the game in a shootout but still came away with a point. Dillion Whalen stopped 26 shots in the shootout loss.
On Saturday, the Lumberjacks power play was working early as both Frank Mondi and Tyler Penree scored a goal on the man advantage to give the boys a 2-0 lead in the first. The Warriors responded with a goal near the end of the frame to make it a 2-1 game at the intermission. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Warriors tied things up in the first couple minutes of the third. However Penree and Brandon Clark scored a pair of quick goals to put the Lumberjacks back ahead. Despite a late power play goal from the Warriors, Evan Parent put the game out of reach with a goal in the final 2 minutes and the Lumberjacks won by a final score of 5-3. Alex Herman made 22 saves in route to his 1st win of the young season.
The EHLP squad returned to action the very next day and it didn't take long for the Lumberjacks to get on the board as Luke Dion found the back of the net near the 13 minute mark of the period. Riley McBride gave the boys a 2-0 lead with a tally in the opening minutes of the second frame and the offense just kept rolling from there. Dion added a power play goal just a couple minutes later, followed by a goals from Alex Reyes and McBride again to give the Lumberjacks a commanding 5-1 lead. Penree added a power play goal in the third period and the squad cruised to a 6-1 win. Sam Fath stopped 20 shots for his first win of the year.
Both Lumberjacks squads will gear up for a busy week ahead as the EHL team will travel to Walpole for a game against the Express on Saturday night, and will then take part in the first EHL Showcase of the 2019-2020 season at the same arena on Sunday and Monday. Sunday’s game will be played at 4:10pm against the Philadelphia Revolution followed by Monday’s matchup against Team Maryland at 2:00pm. On the other end, the EHLP squad will host the New Hampshire Avalanche on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00pm and then will also travel to Walpole for a three game series against the Express.