The large North American youth hockey tournament weekends are winding down, with most of them culminating this week during Martin Luther King Day Weekend in the United States. This traditionally is one of the busiest tournament weekends of the season as many teams seek out strong non-league competition in preparation for the final weeks of regular-season play and the postseason.

For our Week 17 Games of the Week, we will be tracking girls and boys tournaments in the Northeastern part of the United States.

On the girls’ side, will be highlighting the National Girls Hockey League (NGHL) MLK Winter Classic outside of Philadelphia. The tournament includes teams in the NGHL Red Division at the 14U, 16U and 19U age levels.

The NGHL Red Division is comprised of USA Girls Tier 1 and top Tier 2 programs. Celebrating its fifth year, the NGHL is dedicated to the promotion and growth of girls ice hockey programs across the United States and supports its member clubs’ vision for player-focused development and progression to higher levels. Member and guest teams compete in league play, showcases and exposure clinics from age 10U through 19U.

This weekend’s NGHL Red MLK Winter Classic gets underway Saturday and runs through Monday at the Revolution Ice Gardens and Bucks County Ice in Warminster, Pa. Both of these facilities are serviced by LiveBarn, so all of the games should be available to watch live and on-demand via webstream.

We are going to be focusing on the 14U Division for the NGHL Winter Classic.

One of the largest boys tournaments in North America also is being held this weekend in the Buffalo area. The annual Buffalo Cup, which features Tier 1 and top Tier 2 programs competing at the 14U, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 levels, got underway with a few games on Thursday and features a full slate of games Friday through Sunday at Buffalo-area rinks.

For our purposes, we will be focusing on the 2011 and ’12 age groups at the Buffalo Cup.

 

 

Bonus Coverage - NAPHL SHOW Playoffs

We will be tracking Championship Monday as the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) crowns its Showcase Division champions at the 18U, 16U and 14U age levels. The NAPHL operates in cooperaation with the Tier 2 junior North American Hockey League to provide opportunities for club teams from 14U through 18U from all over the country to compete against top competition in front of Tier 2 and Tier 3 junior coaches and scouts. The NAHL SHOW includes many of the United States' top Tier 2 programs. 

The NAPHL SHOW Playoffs began Saturday at various rinks in Michigan and will conclude Monday. Games can be viewed on NAHLTV.om. 

 

NAPHL SHOW 14U Championship Game

#175 T2 Park City Miners (1), #84 T2 Orland Park Vikings (6) 

After the teams skated to a 1-1 deadlock through the first period, Orland Park exploded for five straight goals, with three of those scores coming in the final period, to capture the 14U championship. Ethan Lopez buried two of the Vikings' six goals, with Logan Sterling, Jonah Derengowski, Nick Pigatto and Kale deFreese also scoring. Ricky Schultz and Eddie Lieber each dished out a pair of assists as Orland Park concluded the weekend 5-0-0. Kaden Wolfe earned the win in goal with 16 saves, and Makai Tu was the only Park City player to beat him, scoring in the opening period. Park City went 3-2-0 on the weekend and is 12-14-3 overall. Orland Park improved its overall record to 19-23-1. 

 

NAPHL SHOW 16U Gold Championship Game

#5 T2 Orland Park Vikings (5) #12 T2 Chicago Hawks (3) 

Five different players scored for the Vikings, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit to earn the 16U Gold championship. A.J. Ackerson's late first-period power-play goal broke the ice, and Orland Park went on to score four of the next five goals, with Ackerson assisting on Logan Skocaj's empty-netter to ice it. Joey Bledsoe, Luke Riechers and Mitchell Gawel also scored for the Vikings, with Ackerson handing out a pair of assists. Skocaj and Gawel also contributed an assist each to go along with their goals. Aidan Millerick picked up the win in goal with 15 saves. Orland Park concluced a perfect weekend at 5-0-0 to improve to 35-8-0 overall. The Haws went 4-1-0 and are 23-15-2.

 

NAPHL SHOW 16U Silver Championship Game

#269 T2 Park City Miners (3), #224 Rose City Pats (4) - SO

Jordan Marquez and Sarkis Zhamkochyan a scored shootout goals to lift Rose City to the 16U Silver title and make a winner out of netminder Wayne Gray, who stopped three of the four shootout attempts he faced. Hunter Hutchison scored on the power play with 19.9 seconds left for Park City to force overtime after Richard Walla had given the Pats a 3-2 lead four minutes earlier. Adrian Beaudry and Jacob Jiminez-Lopez also scored for Rose City, with Zhamkochyan adding a helper to his shootout goal. Nils Brown and Ryker Johnson added a goal each for the Miners, who concluded the weekend 3-2-0 and are 9-16-2 overall. Rose City was 5-0-0 to improve to 19-12-0. 

 

NAPHL SHOW 18U Gold Championship Game

#1 T2 Chicago Hawks (5) vs. #24 T2 Chicago Flames (2)

The Hawks rolled to five straight goals - with five different players scoring - before the Flames rallied for two late third-period markers to make the final score 5-2. Ryan Good, Andrew Nuget, Josh Taylor, Leo Kotor and Liam Lecauchois tallied for the Hawks, with Good also dishing out three assists to lead the way. Lecauchois also added a pair of helpers for the Hawks, and Cooper Darovic made 14 saves to earn the win in goal. The Hawks went 5-0-0 on the weekend and are now 30-3-1 overall. The Flames were 3-2-0 during the playoffs and are 28-11-1 overall. 

 

NAPHL SHOW 18U Silver Championship Game

Pacific Ridge HC (5), #169 T2 SISU Thunderbirds (3) 

Pacific Ridge potted four second-period goals to overcome a 3-1 first-period deficit and skate away with the 18U Silver title. Gerald Smith scored the final three goals in the deciding run to dash the Thunderbirds' hopes. Dante Gaudio assisted on two of his tallies and finished the game with three helpers, while Alexander Hodgson and Logan Mazzella each dished out a pair of assists. Nolan Dufour and Drew Elmer also scored for Pacific Ridge, with Rhys Larscheid stopping 23 shots to earn the victory in goal. Reed Hinton, Andy James and Drew Lause scored for the Thunderbirds, who posted a 4-1-0 record on the weekend and are now 17-18-1 for the season. Pacific Ridge concluded the playoffs with a 5-0-0 record after going 4-3-1 in league regular-season play. 

 

 

NGHL MLK Winter Classic

This year’s NGHL Red Winter Classic features more than 50 games being played by more than 20 teams Saturday through Monday at the 14U, 16U and 19U levels.

The 19U Division features five Tier 1 National Bound teams ranked among the nation’s top 54 as well as the No. 10 USA Independent Prep team and the Nos. 10 and 35 Tier 2 teams. At the 16U level, the Nos. 26 and 52 Tier 1 clubs are being joined by the Nos. 12 and 16 Independent Prep teams as well as the Nos. 3 and 21 Tier 2 teams.

For our Week 17 Games of the Week, we are focusing on the 14u Division at the NGHL MLK Winter Classic. At the 14U level, two top-10 Tier 1 National Bound teams will be competing along with the Nos. 18, 28 and 40 Tier 1 teams and the No. 9 Tier 2 club.

Play gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the 14U teams. Here is a look at the weekend’s top matchups:

  

Saturday’s Top NGHL 14U Games

8:30 a.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 - #9 T2 Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (7), #40 T1 Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (1)

10:00 a.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 - #18 Valley Jr. Warriors (7), Syracuse Valley Eagles (1)

11:30 a.m. at Bucks County Ice #2 – Lovell Academy Lions (5), #28 Rochester Americans (0)

2:30 p.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 – Syracuse Valley Eagles (2), #40 Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (4)

4:00 p.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 - #18 Valley Jr. Warriors (5), #28 Rochester Jr. Americans (3)

 

Sunday’s Top NGHL 14U Games

7:45 a.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #2 – #9 T2 Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (4), Syracuse Valley Eagles (0)

8:00 a.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #1 - #28 Rochester Jr. Americans (4). #40 Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (3)

 

9:30 a.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 - #18 Valley Jr. Warriors (3), #9 T1 Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (4) - SO

In one of the weekend's top matchups, the No. 9 Jr. Flyers tied the game in the third period on Caroline Coen's power-play goal then won it on Allyson Dembzynski's shootout goal as goalie Kaitlyn Larson stopped all three Valley attempts. Ashylyn Jacobs and Madeline Allen also scored for the Jr. Flyers, while Cadence Crowley, Lauren Dockray and Brooke Carlson tallied for the Jr. Warriors. 

 

12:40 p.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #1 – #2 Lovell Academy Lions (5),  #40 Carolina Jr. Hurricanes (2)

2:00 p.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #2 – #18 Valley Jr. Warriors (7),  #9 T2 Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (1)

3:00 p.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 – Syracuse Valley Eagles (0), #28 Rochester Jr. Americans (5)

 

6:00 p.m. at Bucks County Ice #1 – No. 2 Lovell Academy Lions (5), #9 T1 Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (4)

In a matchup of top-10 Tier 1 National Bound USA Girls teams, Lovell sprinted to a 3-0 first-period lead but needed Aubryn Monter's game-winning shorthanded toal with 1:38 left in regulation after the Jr. Flyers stormed back to tie the game at 4 with 4:12 remaining. Trailing 4-1 late in the second period, Philadelphia got three-straight goals from Allyson Dembzynski, Ashlyn Jacobs and Madeline Allen to set up Monter's heroics. Lauren Steward also scored for the Jr. Flyers. Sydney Stoughton, Montana Morris, Grace Hilderbrandt and Annabelle Lovell scored for the Lions. Peyton Scott stopped 14 shots to earn the win in goal for Lovell, while Ella Rajnys had 27 saves for the Jr. Flyers. 

 

Monday’s Top NGHL 14U Games

7:00 a.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #1 – #18 Valley Jr. Warriors (7), #40 Carolina Jr. Canes (1)

8:30 a.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #1 – #2 Lovell Academy Lions (11), Syracuse Valley Eagles (0)

10:00 a.m. at Revolution Ice Gardens #1 – #9 T2 Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (0), #28 Rochester Jr. Americans (4)

 

 

Buffalo Cup

This year’s edition of the Buffalo Cup includes 22 teams playing at the 2009 level, 24 teams at the 2010 level, 29 teams at the 2022 level and 37 teams in the 2012 group. That brings the grand total to more than 112 teams in those divisions to go along with more teams in the 2013 and 2014 age groups. The tournament features more than 400 games being played across all age levels.

Tier 1 and top tier 2 teams from the United States are participating along with many Tier 1 clubs from Ontario.

For our Week 17 Games of the Week we are focusing on the 2011 and 2012 Divisions. The 2011 Division includes two of Ontario’s top-12 teams and seven of the top-36 clubs along with the No. 1-ranked USA Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers and eight of the top 36 teams in the U.S.

Games are being played at various Buffalo-area rinks that offer LiveBarn.

CLICK HERE for the current Buffalo Cup standings.

 

Friday’s Top 2011 Buffalo Cup Results

9:30 a.m. at Cazenovia Ice Rink – #20 Palmyra Black Knights (1), #10 Central Ontario Wolves (3)

9:30 a.m. at Harbor Center Key Bank – #12 Eastern Ontario Wild (1), #22 USA Florida Alliance (2)

1:45 p.m. at Holiday Twin Rinks #1 – #36 USA MassConn United (2), #12 Eastern Ontario Wild (6)

2:30 p.m. at Depew Pavilion – #20 USA Palmyra Black Knights (1), #31 Ontario Niagara North Stars (3)

2:50 p.m. at Lockport Cornerstone Arena – #30 Markham Majors (2), #36 Huron Perth Lakers (2)

6:30 p.m. at Harbor Center Energy Wave – #29 Belle Tire (2), #36 MassConn United (4)

7:30 p.m. at Depew Pavilion - #13 USA Buffalo Jr. Sabres (1), #36 Ontario Huron Perth Lakers (2)

 

Saturday’s Top 2011 Buffalo Cup Games

9:45 a.m. at Leisure Rinks #2 – #10 Central Ontario Wolves (6), #37 Barrie Colts (1)

10:45 a.m. at Northtown #1 – #40 Philadelphia Little Flyers (0), #12 Eastern Ontario Wild 6

11:00 a.m. at Riverworks #2 – #22 Florida Alliance (0), #29 Belle Tire (2)

1:30 p.m. at Leisure Rinks #2 – #31 Niagara North Stars (1), #10 Central Ontario Wolves (3)

2:45 p.m. at Harbor Center Energy Wave – #36 MassConn United (3), #22 Florida Alliance (3)

5:15 p.m. at Riverworks #2 – #13 USA Buffalo Jr. Sabres vs. #30 Markham Majors

6:30 p.m. at Riverworks #2 – #12 Eastern Ontario Wild vs. #29 Belle Tire

 

REMAINDER OF TOURNAMENT CANCELED BECAUSE OF WEATHER

 

The 2012 Division at the Buffalo Cup includes nine of the USA’s top-33 teams as well as three of the top-13 and seven of the top-34 clubs from Ontario.

 

Friday’s Top 2012 Buffalo Cup Results

8:15 a.m. at Northtown Olympic – #39 USA Anaheim Jr. Ducks (4), #19 Ontario Lambton Jr. Sting (3)

9:30 a.m. at Hasek’s Heroes Riverside – #13 Ontario London Jr. Knights (6), #31 USA Rochester Coalition (0)

9:45 a.m. at Harbor Center Energy Wave – #32 Ontario Clarington Toros (3), #22 USA Buffalo Jr. Sabres (3)

10:45 a.m. at Hasek’s Heroes Riverside – #23 N.J. Colonials (3), No. 8 Worcester Jr. Railers Elite (5)

12:15 p.m. at Harbor Center Energy Wave – #25 USA N.J. Rockets (4), #31 Ontario North Bay Trappers (2)

12:15 p.m. at Leisure Rinks #2 – #28 Nashville Warriors (2), #19 Providence Hockey Club (5)

2:30 p.m. at East Aurora – #19 Lambton Jr. Sting (2), #13 London Jr. Knights (6)

2:30 p.m. at Leisure Rinks #1 – #31 Rochester Coalition (3), #8 Worcester Jr. Railers Elite (5)

3:45 p.m. at Harbor City Key Bank – #30 Boston Jr. Terriers (2), #25 N.J. Rockets (4)

3:45 p.m. at Cazenovia – #15 Ontario Hamilton Steel (5), #19 USA Providence Hockey Club (0)

 

Saturday’s Top 2012 Buffalo Cup Games

7:00 a.m. at Northtown #1 – #19 Ontario Lambton Jr. Sting (6), No. 31 USA Rochester Coalition (5)

7:15 a.m. at Harbor City Energy Wave – #40 Tampa Bulls (4), #25 N.J. Rockets (7)

8:15 a.m. at Depew Pavilion – #33 MassConn United (1), #34 Windsor Jr. Spitfires (0)

8:30 a.m. at Harbor Center Energy Wave – #23 USA N.J. Colonials (1), #13 Ontario London Jr. Knights (2)

9:30 a.m. at Lockport Cornerstone Heinrich – #28 USA Nashville Warriors (1), #15 Ontario Hamilton Steel (4)

9:45 a.m. at Riverworks #2 – #30 USA Boston Jr. Terriers (4), #31 Ontario North Bay Trappers (4)

10:45 a.m. at Leisure Rinks #1 – #39 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (5), #8 Worcester Jr. Railers (6)

1:15 p.m. at Depew Pavilion – #19 Ontario Lambton Jr. Sting (1), #23 N.J. Colonials (3)

5:00 p.m. at Depew Pavilion – #13 Ontario London Jr. Knights (0), #8 USA Worcester Jr. Railers (1)

 

REMAINDER OF TOURNAMENT CANCELED BECAUSE OF WEATHER