BURLINGTON, VT -- As the temperatures begin to drop, the hockey begins to pick-up. For the Vermont Lumberjacks, the first couple months of the season have been good to both junior teams as well as the U16 and U15 split squads. Each Lumberjacks team has experienced their own version of success, and will look to continue to improve as the year progresses.
Starting with the EHL, the Lumberjacks top team currently owns a record 6-3-0 heading into the October Showcase. Vermont's 12 points are good for 2nd place in the New England Division, just 6 points back of the New Hampshire Avalanche. Through the first 9 games of the season, there have been some definite bright spots for the Lumberjacks, starting with Andrew Barber on the point.
Back for his 2nd season in the EHL, Barber leads the team in scoring with 12 points so far this season. The New York native was actually held off the scoresheet for the first 3 games of the season, but is currently riding a 6-game point streak into this weekend's showcase. The point streak isn't the only thing that Barber has going for him, and he also has been named the EHL Defenseman of the Week in each of the previous 2 weeks (see graphics below).
Outside of Barber, Kyle McDonald and Taylor Papesh have each helped pace the offense with 10 points of their own. Between the pipes, the Lumberjacks have used all 3 of their goalies, with net currently belonging to Chris Stangerone. The starter to date owns a record of 4-1-1 to go along with a solid 2.11 GAA.
Flipping over to the EHLP, the Lumberjacks sit at the top of both the North Conference and the overall league standings with a perfect record of 8-0-0. Vermont has been steady throughout the season, as they enter this weekend's showcase having outscored their opponents by a 38-12 margin.
When it comes to scoring, 19 different players have tallied at least a point for Vermont, with Geordan Buffoline leading the team with 16 points so far. In his first season with the Lumberjacks, Buffoline is currently averaging 2 points per game and has only been held off the scoresheet once so far this year.
This weekend's showcase brings a big test for Lumberjacks, as they hit the ice with all 3 Philadelphia teams. The matchup with the Jr. Flyers on Saturday puts the Lumberjacks up against the only other team without a regulation loss this season, and has been selected as the HockeyTV Game of the Week.
Vermont will look to continue to lean on their hot goaltender, as Connor Carbo has been the anchor for the Lumberjacks this season. Back for his 2nd season with team, Carbo has been perfect so far between the pipes, and has already been named both a Star of the Week and a Star of the Month by the EHLP.
The successful starts to the 2017-18 year continue on down through the U15 and U16 split season teams.
Each team began the season by making a name for themselves at the ECC Labor Day Showcase, a tournament that was eventually won by the Lumberjacks U16 squad.
Just like the EHL and EHLP junior teams, both the U16 and U15 teams will hit the road this weekend, as they look to take care of business in Connecticut.