The top team for the Avalanche is a contender once again this season, with a record of 11-2-1 through their first 14 games. Compared to the previous three seasons, this year's Avalanche roster appears no different, with consistent depth at every position on the ice.
For a prime example of this, look no further than the team's All-Star selections, led by Chris Cerrella, the Head Coach and General Manager for the program.
The Avalanche are one of just three teams to have five or more players named 2020 EHL All-Stars, as well as one of the only teams to have a player in each category of forward, defenseman, and goaltender.
As for the EHLP team, the Avalanche own a perfect mark of 12-0-0 to start the season, in just the organization's 2nd year operating at this level. After a rock-solid first season that ended with a Coach of the Year award for Vinny Caligiuri, the young leader is feeling even more confident about this year's squad.
The 2007 Elite team had a busy weekend starting Friday night in GSL action against NH East U14. The Avs jumped ahead early with a goal by Aidan Gile 25 seconds into play. The Avs continued to score early and often while playing with a short bench and cruised to a 5-1 victory. Gile, Preston Libby, Casey Fuller, and Brady Proulx each found the back of the net in this one. James Brew had one of his best performances of the season in goal.
Saturday saw the return of Trevor Craigue who had been out for nearly 2 months and he promptly scored against Seacoast. That would be all the Avs could muster however, in a real wake up call game suffering a loss 3-1.
Sunday the Avs had a chance to redeem themselves vs. Seacoast and did just that completing a 6-2 victory. Gile (2), Libby (2), Parker O'Toole, and Kip Hedquist each lit the lamp in this one. Collin Leach and Kaden Leahy played strong collectively on the back end.
Sunday afternoon saw the boys in a game vs. the '07 New Hampshire Monarchs at Tri Town. The Avs stumbled out of the gate before taking complete control of the game and cruising to a 13-4 victory. Stellar defense was the key in this one, led by Jackson Chadwick and Braden Phemester.
Our Mite-level teams had an amazing weekend! All three teams played games and it was so nice to have so many back on the ice!
The Mite Teams finished up the GSL Parity Round and will be evenly matched as we head into the rest of the season.
The Mite Development traveled to Conway Arena on Saturday afternoon and battled against the NE Wildcats, NE East and the NE Stars. The players are all taking their turn trying out the goalie position and the rest of the players are stepping up their defense to help the rookie goaltenders. There is such excitement in these players and the love for hockey has hit them for sure.
On Sunday, the Mite Development played on their home ice against Oyster River and the NE Wildcats. Again, great to see a new goalie trying out a new position and the team working together.
The Mite Premier Team traveled to Rochester and played against NE East and Rochester on Saturday. On Sunday, they hosted Dover, NE East and Lakes Region. This team is really showing they are paying attention to their coaches! They were setting up and passing the puck and making plays. We had our strong goalie presence with Allister in net, and it was a great weekend of hockey for the Premier Team.
Our Mite Elite Team traveled to Laconia on Sunday and faced tough competition and walked away pretty proud of how the team played together. Lots of passing and play-making, great defense, and they were happy to have CJ defending the net. This was the first game the majority of the team was on the ice for and they looked like they hadn't missed a beat.
Thank you to the coaches that make themselves available, to the parents that, sometimes on short notice, can arrange their weekends to get the players to the rink on time, the players for showing up ready to learn and have fun, and to the Avalanche doing whatever possible to keep us on the ice!
