Philly Jr Flyers Take Down NJ Avalanche in U16 Shootout Battle
BLAINE, MN – The Philly Jr Flyers secured a hard-fought 3-2 shootout victory over the NJ Avalanche in a Tier 1 Elite Hockey League 16U Championship Pool B matchup on February 14 at NSC Rink 1. Philly controlled much of the game, but the Avalanche mounted a late comeback before falling in the shootout.
First Period – Flyers Strike First
Philly scored first, finding the back of the net with just 55 seconds left in the period, as Nash Grant (#3) capitalized off an assist from Alistair St. Hilaire (#19) to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Both teams traded chances throughout the period, with NJ generating nine shots on goal, but Flyers goaltender Tobias Trieskey (#41) turned them away to maintain the lead heading into the second.
Second Period – Philly Extends the Lead, NJ Responds Late
The Flyers doubled their lead at 8:01, when Braxton Jester (#16) finished a setup from Michael Ward (#13), making it 2-0 in favor of Philly. The Jr Flyers continued pressing, but NJ goaltender Aidan Green (#33) made key saves to keep his team in it.
The Avalanche responded late in the period, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with just three seconds remaining (00:03 on the clock), as Ryan Murphy (#23) buried a pass from Alex Zinman (#6) to give NJ momentum heading into the third.
Third Period – Avalanche Tie It Up
NJ carried their late-period momentum into the third, controlling much of the play. Their persistence paid off at 4:21, when William Leonard (#55) found the back of the net, tying the game at 2-2.
Both teams pushed for the go-ahead goal, with NJ firing nine shots and Philly responding with 15 of their own, but neither could break through before the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
Shootout – Philly Seals the Win
With the game on the line, Philly executed in the shootout, as both Cole Gargon (#9) and Braxton Jester (#16) converted their attempts.
On the other end, Trieskey stood tall, denying both NJ shooters to secure the 3-2 victory for the Jr Flyers.
Key Takeaways
Philly executed a well-balanced game, controlling play early before weathering NJ’s late push. Trieskey’s clutch goaltending in the shootout and timely scoring from Grant, Jester, and Gargon proved decisive. NJ Avalanche showed resilience, clawing back from a two-goal deficit, but couldn’t solve Trieskey when it mattered most.
With this win, Philly picks up a crucial Pool B victory, while NJ will look to bounce back in their next matchup.
