Hershey, Pa. — The Delaware Ducks 18AA team improved to 3-0-0 in Delaware Valley Hockey League (DVHL) competition with a sweep of their road doubleheader on Sunday (Oct. 14), defeating the Hershey Jr. Bears, 5-3, before recording an 8-4 win over the Hatfield Ice Dogs.
The Ducks used a four-goal second period to outpace the Bears at the historic Hersheypark Arena. After Aidan Smith tied the game at two with 10:45 left in the middle period, John-Paul Ahearn and Nathan Panchisin contributed a pair of rapid-fire goals within 49 seconds of each other, with Panchisin’s tally at 9:27 ending up the game-winning goal.
Ryan Spanier and Michael Irey also scored goals for the Ducks, while Zachary Deemer accounted for two assists.
Following two early goals from Hershey’s Matthew Sacks — the latter of which gave them a brief lead early in the second period, a net-front redirect of a Jacob Herman feed by Brady Bowman brought the Bears back within two with 5:25 left in regulation. Despite a strong attacking-zone presence and seven power-play opportunities through the game, the Bears were stifled by a strong goaltending effort from Troy Stefano, who recorded 28 saves on 31 shots faced.
The Ducks travelled east to the Hatfield Ice Arena in Colmar, Pa. for the second game of their Sunday twinbill, and they wasted no time making their presence felt against the Ice Dogs. Two early goals from Ahearn and a power-play goal from Alex Maglio gave the Ducks a 3-0 lead in the first ten minutes, one they would expand to 5-0 at the first intermission by way of tallies from Colin Stead and Smith.
Smith, who added another in the second period along with Panchisin and defenceman Dylan Johnson, ended the day with three goals, as did Ahearn, largely by way of skillful stickhandling and net-front presence.
Jared Albano and Brandon Gregg provided all of the Ice Dogs’ offence, each accounting for two goals.
Christian Sharp earned the win in net for the Ducks, stopping 26 of 30 shots faced.
The Ducks will meet up with both the Ice Dogs and the Jr. Bears again this week, taking on the Ice Dogs on Saturday (Oct. 20) on the road before hosting Hershey on Sunday (Oct. 21) at the Patriot Ice Center.
