The JRFlyers have won the 2016-17 Eastern Hockey League Championship. What was once a dream became a reality on Monday night in Aston. But before we get to Game 5 let’s go back and set the stage.

Game 1 was at the Ice Works in Aston. The JRFlyers got on the board early in the 1st period to take the 1-0 lead. The Little Flyers finally tied the game in the 3rd period and despite there being a lot of time left, neither team would score and the game headed to overtime. In overtime the Little Flyers scored on the power play making it 2-1 and taking the series lead 1-0. Game 2 shifted back to the Ice Line. Taylor, Benitez and two goals by Kneedler were the difference maker in a 4-2 win for the JRFlyers tying the series 1-1.

Game 3 was back in Aston on Little Flyers ice. The JRFlyers had their chances but couldn’t beat Little Flyers net minder Sam Kany. When the final horn sounded the JRFlyers lost 3-0 and were down 2-1 in the series facing elimination. Game 4 was back on home ice for the JRFlyers at the Ice Line in West Chester. The JRFlyers were off to a great start as Sean Castagna scored from the point less than a minute into the game. The Little Flyers answered with a rebound goal to tie things up 1-1. The JRFlyers reclaimed the lead on the power play as Platt took the shot and the rebound was loose and it was jammed in by Ruppe crashing the net giving the JRFlyers a 2-1 lead. In the 2nd period the Little Flyers tied the game as a shot from the point beat (G) Vail making it 2-2. Just two minutes after that goal the Little Flyers took a 3-2 lead forcing the issue on a fast break. The JRFlyers responded immediately when Manning slid the puck to Hinderliter at the point. Hinderliter took the shot and it was redirected by Kubara past (G) Kany tying the game 3-3 just eighteen seconds after the Little Flyers goal. In the 3rd period the Little Flyers took the lead 4-3 with 4:18 left in the game and were just minutes away from capturing the title. The JRFlyers kept up the pressure but still couldn’t bury a chance. Little Flyers (G) Kany made a save and the JRFlyers called timeout with 1:11 left in the game and potentially the season. The JRFlyers continued to pressure the puck as they had it deep in the offensive zone. The puck slid out to the high slot and Hinderliter came in from the point to take the shot, but it hit the crossbar and stayed out. The puck went into the corner and taken out by Benitez. He sent the puck back to Hinderliter at the point and he slid it across to Castagna.  Castagna fired a shot but it went wide and Taylor picked up the puck and went behind the net. He came out to the other side and threw a centering pass to Kneedler and he sent the puck by (G) Kany tying the game   4-4 with :42 left in regulation. In the overtime period the JRFlyers had two power play chances but couldn’t cash in on their chances. They also had to kill off a penalty, but after all of that, the game headed to double overtime. Late in the period the JRFlyers were heading through center ice. Dougherty tipped the puck over to Kneedler and he took a shot from center ice that beat (G) Kany giving the JRFlyers a 5-4 win in double overtime. It was Kneedler’s second goal of the game which kept the JRFlyers hopes alive and forcing Game 5. Goaltender Mac Vail made 46 saves in the victory for the JRFlyers.

It all came down to Monday night at the Ice Works in Aston, home of the Little Flyers. Cross town Rivals clash one more time to decide who would be crowned EHL champions. The Little Flyers won Games 1 and 3 while the JRFlyers won Games 2 and 4.

Late in the 1st period the Little Flyers were in the offensive zone and cashed in on a loose puck and the shot beat (G) Vail up high for the 1-0 lead. Midway through the 2nd period the Little Flyers had a good forecheck going and it paid off as the Little Flyers took a 2-0 lead. Just after that goal the JRFlyers headed on a power play. With passing from Castagna and Hinderliter it was Barry Kneedler with a snipe over the shoulder of (G) Giacobbo making it 2-1. In the 3rd period the JRFlyers tied things up when O’Neil fired a shot from the point that was tipped by Andrew Bean tying the game 2-2. Just after the midway point the Little Flyers forced a turnover as the JRFlyers were trying to clear the zone. The puck was loose in the slot and then fired by (G) Vail to give the Little Flyers a 3-2 lead. The Little Flyers continued with pressure and drew a penalty to earn a power play chance. It didn’t take long as the Little Flyers setup a great play behind the net with a backdoor pass and then the shot beat (G) Vail and less than two minutes later the Little Flyers had a 4-2. The goal gave the Little Flyers their second two goal lead of the game and there was only 5:29 left in the game. The JRFlyers turned it up a notch looking to climb back as time dwindled down. The JRFlyers were moving through center as Manning chopped a pass across to Benitez right outside the offensive zone. Benitez cut to the outside beating the defense and skated right out in front and put the shot through the five hole of (G) Giacobbo making it 4-3 with 3:28 left in the 3rd. The JRFlyers continued to battle as the puck was in the corner of the offensive zone. The puck bounced around and hit a Little Flyer behind the net and came right out in front. The JRFlyer to fire it home, Luke Benitez and with 1:32 left in the game, it was tied 4-4. Neither team could score in the remaining time so the Eastern Hockey League Championship would be decided in overtime. Early in the overtime the JRFlyers had an offensive zone draw. The Little Flyers went to clear the zone firing the puck around the boards. Hinderliter kept it in and fired a shot on goal. It was deflected by none other than Benitez giving him the natural hat trick and game winning goal crowning the Philadelphia JRFlyers Champions of the Eastern Hockey League.

Luke Benitez was the overtime hero and scored the final three goals to give the JRFlyers the title and earned TSR Top Performer for his efforts. “It is an unbelievable feeling. We have all worked really hard since we started in August. We battled through everything this year, injuries losing guys and things like that.” Referencing his big night and the series, “I feel very fortunate, and I got some good bounces. We just kept fighting, and that was our message when we were down by two. We wanted to outwork them (Little Flyers) and that’s what we did.”

Another center piece for the success of the JRFlyers was goaltender Mac Vail, as he posted a    9-3 record in the playoffs with a Goals Against Average of 2.19 and a Save Percentage of .927 and 1 shutout and he shared his thoughts on the series. “It was incredible, I am so proud of this team. The guys in our locker room just never give up no matter what. We were down a goal in Game four and they found a way to get to overtime and then win in double OT. Today, same thing, this time down two goals they found away to get to overtime again. Everyone in the locker room believed that this was our championship no matter what, and no one lost that thought. I’m just so proud of this team and proud to be on this team.”

“It’s an indescribable moment. I can’t put all this into words. It’s just so fulfilling, all those early mornings, late nights, workouts and we did it. We did what we set out to do and I'm beyond happy. No one was too worried going down by two, we had complete confidence. We were positive on the bench just like game four. It was nothing new to us so we knew how to handle it and it all came down to execution. This is a fantastic group of guys and I've never been closer to any team like this in my whole life, and I would do it all over again.” Josh Hinderliter

Assistant Captain Chris Butryn on being down two goals to winning it all: “It just goes to show how resilient this team is. I’m so proud of this team, I've been here for three years and this really felt like a brotherhood more than any other team I've been on. I can’t thank Jerry (Domish) and Jason (Kilcoyne) and the JRFlyers organization enough. To leave here a champion it’s unbelievable and I'm thankful to my teammates for this great ride.”

"This team is great, we are so close knit. Everyone believed in each other and everyone knew what they had to do to get the win. Nobody wanted to give up and no one wanted to let the other guy down on the bench." Assistant Captain Tyler Williams

“It is amazing how this team continues to battle no matter what, especially tonight. On the bench we just kept saying to each other ‘don’t stop and keep going’. We kept the pedal to the metal late and kept pushing and it came out in our favor. You can’t get ask for a better ending than this, three overtimes out of five games. It’s just unbelievable. I love all my teammates and they are like brothers to me and I’m thankful for everything.” Captain Tommy Dougherty

It was an incredible season and Head Coach Jerry Domish had a front row seat for all the action as he shared his thoughts on the season and ending it with a Championship. “All season we've come back in tough times. We’ve lost guys throughout the year and kept on going, and we were successful. I told the players that we are only down if you believe you're down, “said Domish. And in the back of his mind he could feel a victory when the JRFlyers tied the game. “It sounds funny but when Benitez tied the game I knew we were going to win the game. The momentum just changed. There’s no quit in these guys and you saw that tonight. They all believe in each other and love each other and their determination overcame any obstacle that stood in their way.” Head Coach Jerry Domish

Dating back to the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) days this is the first Championship for the JRFlyers in franchise history. “It’s amazing, said Domish. “ I feel so great for every kid on this team, they worked so hard and I couldn’t be happier for these kids. I love every kid on this team; they all show respect to the coaching staff, trainers, and to each other. I’m so proud of all of them and they deserve to be Champions. Forget about hockey for a second, I hope they all have the best life possible, whether it’s in business or whatever they decide to do, because they deserve it.” Head Coach Jerry Domish

It was an incredible playoff run for the 2016-17 JRFlyers. They started the playoffs by sweeping the Hartford Wolfpack, a team that eliminated them in the previous three postseasons. Then they defeated a Cinderella Team in the East Coast Wizards in three games. Next was the Semifinals and the JRFlyers swept the defending Champion New Hampshire Monarchs. And of course, they capped it off with an incredible five game series and defeated their cross town rival, the Little Flyers. You can’t ask for a better playoff run than that.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Jr Flyers for winning the Eastern Hockey League Championship. All the blood, sweat, and tears have paid off. It feels like yesterday when Training Camp and the Preseason rolled through as you came in as an individual.  You leave as part of a brotherhood that will always be able to look back and call yourselves Champions.

By: Joe Sindoni

Staff Writer

Play By Play Announcer