The 2018-19 EHL Season is in the books. It was a roller coaster ride for the JRFlyers, but the team powered themselves to a playoff berth. Let’s look back and start from the beginning.  

After a grueling training camp in August , the JRFlyers set out for the preseason in late August and early September. Their opponents ranged from rivals in the EHL, to the New Jersey Titans of the NAHL, USPHL, and a few NCAA Club Teams. Then, on September 22nd, the JRFlyers put on the jerseys for real and started the 2018-19 campaign. Travel was a big part in the beginning as Philadelphia started the season with 10 road games. The team traveled as far south as North Carolina, and as far north as New Hampshire. The JRFlyers started the year firing on all cylinders and won seven games in a row. In that span of seven games was a stop at the Showcase hosted by the Walpole Express in MA.  The offense was a force led by veteran forwards Nick Kiemel, Billy McDevitt, and Justin Weinbrenner. Looking for their 8th win in a row, the JRFlyers headed north to New Hampshire to take on the defending Champion New Hampshire Avalanche. Philadelphia was buried by the Avs losing by scores of 4-1, and 9-1. Penalties plagued the two game series  for Philadelphia  and they never really got things started. On the way home from that series the JRFlyers would fight their way into the win column again with a comeback victory over the New England Wolves. Then, finally the JRFlyers would have a home game near the end of October. It wouldn’t play out in their favor as they would fall to the rival Philadelphia Little Flyers. Consistency was a tough thing to come by as the JRFlyers would roller coaster into the mid-season break with a record of 15-9-2.

Philadelphia was looking for another hot start in 2nd half of the season but that’s not how it unfolded. The JRFlyers went 0-7-2 to begin 2019. Things would turn around for the JRFlyers with a sweep of the North Carolina Golden Bears and a much needed 4 points. What the scoresheets don’t tell you about those 11 games is that the injury bug bit the team hard. Philadelphia would lose forward Michael Houlihan their leading scorer, defensemen Hugo Widenberg, and Braden King. Overall, injuries can’t take the full blame and be an excuse, but it certainly was an uphill battle in the second half of the season. The good news was that all of them came back into the JRFlyers lineup and contributed to the team. Philadelphia would finish the season 20-22-4 and would head into the postseason as the 5th seed. The Playoffs were a best of 3 series.

A familiar opponent awaited them, as they would take on the rival Philadelphia Revolution. The Revolution were the 4th seed. The Rev were looking for another deep playoff run as they fell short of the title by one game last year. In game 1, the JRFlyers trailed 3-1 in the 3rd period.  Goals from Matt Wood and the Captain Justin Weinbrenner  would tie the game 3-3 and force overtime. Late in the first overtime the Revolution would take the game 4-3 on a powerplay goal. Game 2, the JRFlyers were back on home ice, but wouldn’t be able to catch the Revolution. Connor Leighton and Justin Weinbrenner would score but the JRFlyers season would end with a 4-2 loss.

It’s always tough to end the season, but there are positives. The JRFlyers have 3 commits heading to Division III NCAA Hockey next season! Forward Michael Houlihan is taking his talents to Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Defenseman Braden King committed to UMass Dartmouth in Massachusetts. Lastly, the Captain Justin Weinbrenner won’t be going too far as he committed to Neumann University in Aston, PA.

The offseason seems like a long time, but the JRFlyers Organization remains busy. It’s time to turn the page and get ready for the 2019-2020 season. Open Skates and tryouts are right around the corner starting on April 10th !

If you or someone you know is interested in playing for the JRFlyers

Follow the links

For Times/Dates -- https://www.jrflyers.org/page/show/4788804-tryout-dates-and-times

Registration Form -- https://jrflyers.sportngin.com/register/form/465805396?_ga=2.180004964.1127385420.1554314253-1569311674.1488921442

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By: Joe Sindoni 

Play by Play Announcer 

Director of Broadcasting