KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — After opening their DVHL slate with a pair of double-digit losses in September, the Delaware Jr. Blue Hens’ U14A team battled to a 4-4 draw against the Chester County Cougars on Saturday (Oct. 1) at the Chester County Skating Club.
The Hens reeled off a three-goal run in 4:16, beginning when Wyatt Bolin erased a 1-0 Chester County lead with 15 seconds left in the first period and continuing with second-period goals from Jeet Patel and Tanner Kinkus to lift the Hens to a 3-1 lead. That advantage was cut in half with 4:33 to go in the second period when the Cougars’ Tyler Kotes scored on an Evan Finnicum setup.
Finnicum proved a major force for Chester County, accounting for both of their third-period goals — tying the game on both occasions. After his first, 11:18 into the final frame, Emily Sullivan reclaimed the lead for Delaware in the penultimate minute, only for Finnicum to again lift the Cougars onto level pegging with 59 seconds remaining.
In all, seven Blue Hen skaters recorded points, and Quinn Kelley stopped 30 of 34 shots faced.
The U14A team begins a three-game homestand on Saturday (Oct. 8), and will play seven of their next eight DVHL games at Gold Arena.
U18AAs Split In Palmyra
The Blue Hens’ high-flying U18AA squad earned a 2-2-0 record while participating as a guest team in an EJEPL showcase in Palmyra, Pa., over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Hens fell to the Long Island Arrows, 7-1, before defeating the Reston Raiders, 4-3, in overtime. On Sunday (Oct. 2), the Hens mounted a belated rally to fall short of the Red Bank Generals, 4-2, before defeating a fellow DVHL club, Wilkes-Barre Jr. Penguins, 9-0.
Matt Bellopede recorded three goals through the series, including two against Wilkes-Barre. Christian Kinsler, Gianni Pacitti and Foster Wilkins also enjoyed two-goal weekends.
U10s Fall Short Of Phantoms
Down 2-0 through one period, the Blue Hens’ U10 team (4-2-1) fortified their defences in the second period and rallied in the third, only to fall short of the Delco Phantoms, 2-1, on Saturday at the Skating Club of Wilmington.
Aarav Parmar accounted for Delaware’s lone goal, scoring 3:04 into the third period. Noah LeCompte stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced.
On Sunday, the Hens battled for two periods before Pottstown used a four-goal third — two each from Mason Cramer and Ben Mould — to edge clear to a 5-1 victory. Cash Scarborough accounted for the lone Delaware goal, 1:45 into the first period. LeCompte again backstopped the Hens, saving 20 of 25 total shots.
U12AA Swept In EJEPL Action
The U12AA Blue Hens continue to be tested in the EJEPL, kept to seven shots in a 12-1 defeat to Princeton on Saturday. Keelen Callaghan accounted for Delaware’s lone goal. Limited again to nine shots on Sunday, the Hens fell 4-1 on to the undefeated Howard Huskies — but avoided being shut out when David Lavieri scored a power-play goal with 9:58 remaining in the third period.
The U12AA squad returns to DVHL play this weekend, hosting Exton on Friday (Oct. 7) before travelling to Philadelphia to face Snider Hockey on Saturday.
U14AAs Fall To Central Penn
After dropping a 5-1 decision to Central Penn at home on Sept. 18, the JBH U14AA team were handed a 13-0 defeat by the Panthers in their second of four meetings this season. Goalies Dylan Morrison and Garrett Cushman combined to record 45 saves on 58 total shots.
