Flyers Win two agains Texas, move 4 points behind Ontario

By Matt Robinson/Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey                                                        2/3/2014 1430 EST

The Flyers picked up 4 huge points in the standing as the push for the playoffs in the WSHL’s Pacific Division heats up. Valencia now sits 4 points behind Ontario for 2^nd place in the Pacific Division. They also took another step in solidifying their chances of making the playoffs for the 3^rd straight season in franchise history, moving 15 points ahead of 5^th place Long Beach.

The Flyers started out the weekend on the right note, coming away with a big 3-2 victory despite being without the services of Captain Austin Ehrlich and line mate Aharon Lara. Texas would jump out to a 1-0 lead after the first period of play, but Flyers defenceman Nik Giers would even the score partway through the second on a huge slap shot from the top of the left circle, blowing past the goaltender on the low blocker side, evening the game at 1-1.

The Flyers would take the lead less than a minute into the third period when the rebound off a Jakob Kranabetter shot was picked up by Blake Aguliar and put in the back of the net past the scrambling Texas goaltender.

Texas would even it 2-2 6:30 into the period but the Flyers would retake the lead for good when Wil Barnett was able to find the back of the net after a nice setup by Zach Paxman and Jakob Kranabetter, giving the Flyers a3-2 lead and eventual victory.

Mark Becica was strong in net stopping 26 of 28 shots in the game, picking up his 16^th victory of the season.

Saturday night was a completely different story as the Flyers controlled play most of the game, but could not seem to find the back of the net, losing 4-1 to Texas. Barnett had the only goal for the Flyers in the loss which also saw the Flyers lose leading goal scorer Zach Paxman due to injury for the rest of the weekend.

Sunday would prove to be a tough test for the young Flyers squad as their entire top line of Austin Ehrlich, Zach Paxman, and Aharon Lara were not expected to play due to injuries. Austin Ehrlich actually suited up for the game in what was thought to be a bench support role, but would ultimately be a factor in the game.

The Flyers started out hot, scoring two goals 3:30 into the game when Barnett scored his 4^th goal in as many games and Dawson Keay beat the Texas goaltender on a deflected shot.

The Flyers 2-0 lead would only last for 17 minutes as Texas scored three goals in less than two minutes before the close of the first to take a 3-2 lead before the close of the period.

A scary incident occurred before the end of the period as Flyers defenseman Bas Assaf had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after Texas forward Cole Rose hit Assaf head first into the boards, causing a laceration to Assaf’s head. Thankfully Assaf was released from the hospital before the end of the game with only minor injuries including one staple in his head to close the laceration suffered on the hit. Rose received a Major and Game Misconduct for the hit.

The second period started with the Flyers on the major power play, but they were not able to convert and the score remained 3-2 in favor of Texas.  Blake Aguilar would eventually even the game with just under five minutes remaining in the second, making the score 3-3.

The game would remain tied through the third period and the game would go to overtime. The Flyers would take a power play into the overtime and would be able to capitalize. After setting up the power play, Captain Austin Ehrlich, who ended up seeing time in the game on the power play in the game to try and spark some offense, set up a one-time bid for Nik Giers, who made no mistake, beating the goaltender over the glove hand, giving the Flyers a 4-3 overtime victory.

The Flyers next head out on the road for 6 straight games, three this upcoming weekend against the Pacific Division leading Fresno Monsters and then three the next weekend against the Midwest Division leading El Paso Rhinos.

Notes: Wil Barnett has scored a goal in his last 4 games. He now has 9 goals on the season. Jakob Kranabetter had his 10 gam point streak snapped on Saturday night, ending a streak of 14 points in 10 games.

Matt Robinson is the Play-by-Play Voice of the Valencia Flyers. In addition, Matt also handles the Valencia Flyers Social Media accounts, produces stories and content for valenciaflyers.net and does Play-by-Play for College of the Canyons Ice Hockey.

Flyers pick up 5 of possible 6 points in Fresno

By Matt Robinson/Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey                                                        2/9/2014 1400 EST

For the second season in a row the Flyers went up to Fresno and took it to the Monsters, narrowly missing sweeping them again, proving to anyone that they are as dangerous as can be with the playoffs rapidly approaching.

The Friday night game started out with a quick pace and Fresno jumping out the first lead of the weekend. The Flyers though would battle back and score two goals late in the first period to take a 2-1 lead into the locker room.

Blake Aguilar got the scoring started for the Flyers after Wil Barnett sprung him on a breakaway, allowing him to beat the Fresno goaltender on a wrist shot to even the game at 1-1.

Austin Ehrlich then continued his strong play against Fresno, giving the Flyers the 2-1 lead by sniffing out a loose puck and punching it home for his 8^th goal and 21^st point against the Monsters in his career.

The score would remain that way until the third period when Fresno would find a way to even the game at 2-2 and send the contest into overtime.

The Flyers would not miss out on the opportunity for two points as Wil Barnett scored his sixth goal in as many games after a pass from Jakob Kranabetter found him driving to the net. Barnett was denied on the first tip in chance but stuck with the puck and was able to bang it home as he was falling to the ice, giving the Flyers the 3-2 victory.

Saturday would tell a slightly different story but end once again with a Flyers victory. Valencia started the scoring when Adam Papayoanou beat the Fresno goaltender for his 10^th goal of the season.

The Flyers would extend the lead to 2 on an Aharon Lara goal just after killing off a penalty partway thru the second period. Lara stole a puck just inside his own line and streaked down the right wing, sliding by a defender and lifting the puck over the goaltender for the goal.

Fresno would battle back, scoring two goals late in the second, sending the teams into the locker room for the second intermission even at 2-2.

The Flyers would regain the lead once again just two minutes into the third on Jakob Kranabetter’s 10^th of the season, putting the Flyers ahead 3-2. Fresno would once again even the game, but Blake Aguilar was able to give the Flyers the lead for good with 3:53 remaining in regulation.

Mark Becica made multiple saves in the closing moments to preserve the victory, his 19^th of the season and handing Fresno back to back losses on home ice for only the second time this season.

Sunday would look much the same as Saturday as it was a back and forward battle, however this time the end result would be different.

Fresno jumped out to leads of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, and 4-3 but each time the Flyers would battle right back.

Papayoanou was the first to even the game for Valencia when he tapped home a nice pass from Nik Giers to make it 1-1. Barnett then extended his goal streak to 7 games by jamming home a rebound evening the game 2-2.

Lara would net his second of the weekend, a shorthanded goal on an off angle shot, evening the game at 3-

3. The Flyer then found themselves behind with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation before Blake Aguilar was able to drive a puck home to even the game at 4-4. Neither team would be able to find the net before the end of regulation or through one overtime period, sending the game into a 3 on 3 double overtime. The Flyers were forced to kill an early penalty in the 2^ndOT and after went on the attack of their own.

With the ice in bad shape after being skated on for nearly 30 minutes of game time, Fresno saw a fortunate bounce lead to a breakaway and eventually game winner as Luke Thompson, who was once again solid despite little defensive help at times, could not seem to find another big save allowing Fresno to take the 5-4 double overtime victory.

Still, despite the loss, Valencia picked up 5 of a possible 6 points on the weekend and once again solidified themselves as a Thorne Cup contender. Next week the Flyers will have another tough test as they head to El Paso, TX to take on the Midwest division leading Rhinos.

Notes: With his 19^th win of the season, Flyers Goaltender Mark Becica now holds the Valencia Flyers Franchise single season record for wins by a goaltender. Wil Barnett is currently on a 7 game goal scoring streak.

Matt Robinson is the Play-by-Play Voice of the Valencia Flyers. In addition, Matt also handles the Valencia Flyers Social Media accounts, produces stories and content for valenciaflyers.net and does Play-by-Play for College of the Canyons Ice Hockey.

Flyers add three before deadline

By Matt Robinson/Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey                                                        2/12/2014 15:00 EST

With the playoffs looming and the trade deadline ending Monday 2/10/2014 for the 2013-2014 season, the Valencia Flyers were very busy over the week leading up to the deadline, ultimately adding three players to an already deep roster.

Before last weekend’s excellent performance against Fresno, the Flyers were able to add two players via a trade with the Wichita Jr. Thunder in defenseman Jordan Grywacheski and forward Keegan Hull. The Flyers sent forwards Travis Wilson and David Min to Wichita in return. The Flyers also added forward Filip Andreason from Long Beach before the 

midnight deadline on Monday in return for future considerations.

Grywacheski, the Thunder’s captain this season, brings some size and grit to the Flyers defensive core. Listed at 6’4”, 215 lbs, Grywacheski is a solid defender who is tough in his own end and battles every shift. He is tough to move off the puck in the corners when battling and makes a strong first pass from within his zone. He is not flashy, but is a shutdown defenseman, something the Flyers will definitely need coming into the playoffs. He will most likely play alongside Sam Taferner, easily making the tandem the largest D pair on the Flyers roster.  Grywacheski’s steady style of play should certainly help Taferner, who is looked at as a puck moving defenseman, giving him a little of a safety net for the rest of the year.

Keegan Hull adds more speed and skill to an already deep forward pool for the Valencia Flyers. Look for him to be slotted in a second or third line role with Valencia, but he also has the capability to play first line minutes if needed due to injury. Hull is a skilled, big bodied forward, being listed at 6’0”, 190lbs. He has excellent hands and a quick release on his shot. He can make moves tight in the corners and really control the puck, while at the same time is not afraid to go to the front of the net and score in the dirty areas.

Andreason is another skilled big bodied forward that will further add depth to the Flyers forward corps. Listed at 6’2”, 190 lbs, Andreason figures to be slotted in a 3^rd line role, potentially with Wil Barnett and Adam Papayoanou. He would bring puck possession skill as well as more speed to the line, creating an all-around dangerous trifecta with Papayoanou as the goal scorer, Barnett as the physical net presence and Andreason as the setup man.

Over all, all three players will greatly help the Flyers as they push to the playoffs and try and make their first ever Thorne Cup appearance.

Matt Robinson is the Play-by-Play Voice of the Valencia Flyers. In addition, Matt also handles the Valencia Flyers Social Media accounts, produces stories and content for valenciaflyers.net and does Play-by-Play for College of the Canyons Ice Hockey.