The Atlantic District's Tier I midget playoffs concluded with the area's two strongest teams qualifying for midget nationals in Fraser, MI. Make no mistake: the 16U New Jersey Devils' Youth and the 18U Philadelphia Jr. Flyers are legitimate contenders for national championships.

     The Jr. Flyers finished in second place in the 18U District standings, but few observers of the division believed they were anything but the strongest team. The Chiefs were valiant in defeat, and took the first game of the five-game series, 3-0. But the Jr. Flyers roared back with consecutive shutout victories (1-0 and 3-0), and then captured the series with a 6-2 win at the Ice Vault on Saturday, March 3.

     Both the Devils and the Jr. Flyers have faced, and fared well against, the nation's top midget programs. The Jr. Flyers have defeated the highly-regarded Dallas Stars, Honeybaked, and squared off against the consensus #1 team in the country, Shattuck St. Mary's. They will not be intimidated by anyone they face at nationals.

Full article by Bryan Sacks on Atlantic League Web Site

Click Here for Full Size Photo

     Bensenville, IL (February 15, 2007) -- The Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League announced today that the organization has named nine scouts to their hockey operations staff. Steel General Manager Jason Koehler made the announcement. 

“These men are all people that I have been fortunate enough to work with in and around the sport over the years,” said Koehler. “They all have valuable experience at various levels ranging from the NHL, NCAA, USHL, NAHL, CSHL, MNJHL, AAA, and high school hockey levels and will help shape the future of the Steel program via player evaluations and research across the country in the hockey community. They are committed to finding and helping the top players succeed at the junior, college, and professional levels.” 

     Bud has seen many of the top Atlantic District players over the years wear the orange and black of the Jr. Flyers and has won sixteen Atlantic AAA Championships over his career as well as earning eleven AAA National Championship appearances. Dombroski has also previously coached Team Philadelphia at the Chicago High Showcase for five seasons. 

Click Here to Read Full Article on Chicago Steel's Web Site

     Undeniably the best part about covering the Midget AAA hockey ranks has to be the incredible stories of triumph, tragedy, and quality people/families that you meet when researching stories, networking with coaches, etc. We have presented some great stories of personal accomplishment over the 2006/07 season – and this is another one of those.

     Meet Connor Brogan, a young man who’s been asked to grow up faster than most. Brogan is an ’89 goaltender who hails from Hershey (PA) – minding the goal of the Head Coach Bud Dombroski’s Philadelphia Jr. Flyers. Brogan currently holds a 0.880 save percentage and sports a 2.9 goals against average. An above average student, Brogan holds down a 3.7 GPA through a demanding hockey season – the most demanding one any of us could ever imagine....

Click Here to Read Full Article

     A tough round robin weekend saw several games which finished in what many would consider "upset" performances by teams.  The number one ranked Dallas Stars were upset by the Mercer Chiefs (4-3), while the LA Jr. Kings were beaten by Wisconsin AAA (3-1).  Definitely some of the weekends top teams had to be the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers and Shattuck St. Mary's - undeniably the top performers.  Philly played an excellent transition game, battling through opposing defenses to register numerous scoring chances with some great transitional play.  On the flipside, Shattuck was incredibly solid in both ends of the rink, allowing only 1 goal against during round robin play, and 2 goals against in the final which they won 6-2.

• Playing Dallas to a 3-3 tie killing off a two man disadvantage with 2:40 left to play. Then beating them in a shootout with our last man scoring (Brian O'Neill) for a 4-3 victory.
• Interesting game with the Madison Capitols squad that ended in a 4-4 shootout tie. (each team scored one in shootout for tie).
• Great game against powerful Honeybaked seeing Dominic Morrone score right in front of the BU scout. Tim McGarry break up a 4 on 2 and then get the puck to Trey Milstead for the open net goal.
• Playing a great first period against Shattuck until Dominic Morrone was called for a 2+10 check from behind leaving us with 8 forwards. Trailing Shattuck 3-0 after two periods then coming out and scoring 7 seconds into the third to start a rally.
• Shots on Goal for Game 1-Mercer 20, Jr Flyers 37.....Game 2-Dallas 47, Jr Flyers 28.....Game 3-Madison 27, Jr Flyers 33.....Game 4-Honeybaked 23, Jr Flyers 24.....Game 5-Shattuck 42, Jr Flyers 21.
• Having the USHL and NAHL scouts coming to the locker room looking for Dominic Morrone, Brian O'Neill and Trey Mistead after the games.

   Game #1    Jr Flyers - 5  Vs.  NSA - 3

     The Jr Flyers Midget team opened up the Northwood Invitational with National Sports Academy, (NSA) a local prep school team. This was the 2nd meeting between these two team, the Jr Flyers routing NSA 9-2 in the Warriors EJHL Classic. Because of the score the Jr Flyers coaching staff was concerned the team would become overconfident and take NSA lightly. This would not be the case. Dominic Morrone opened the scoring 4 minutes into the game with an assist from Brian O'Neill. Another minute and a half later Richard Masciantonio converted a Sean Coll rebound for the 2-0 lead. NSA found life when a wrist shoot eluded goaler Dan Sullivan and then Hilary Cholhan scored from the goal line to tie the game 2-2. . After the face off, Trey Milstead scored from O'Neill and McInernay just 14 seconds after NSA tied the game. With minutes remaining in the 25 minute half. NSA's leading scorer, Edwin Montgomery tied the game with a power play goal. After the ice cut the Jr Flyers came out of locker room flying. Brian O'Neill scored 46 seconds into the period assisted by Morrone and Milstead. The game became an old school clutch and grab game and looked as if no more goals would be scored today. With the game clock running down a hard hit by Dominic Morrone was called roughing and NSA would get the chance to tie the game. While on the penalty killing unit Cole Ikkla scored shorthanded from Shane Allen but the whistle never blew. With play continuing there was little time to argue but the Flyers survived the penalty. The Jr Flyers on their 2nd power play of the game put this one away. A Tim McGarry power play goal with 5 minutes left was assisted by Milstead for a final 5-3 win.

   Game #2    Jr Flyers - 7  Vs.  NJ Titans Jr B - 2

Names with Yellow Shading have a video clip you can click on! (Broadband)

   Game #3    Jr Flyers - 5  Vs.  NY Bobcats Jr A - 3

Names with Yellow Shading have a video clip you can click on! (Broadband)

   Game #4    Jr Flyers - 2  Vs.  Northwood School Juniors - 3

Names with Yellow Shading have a video clip you can click on! (Broadband)