The New Jersey Titans' 18U team looks to build momentum in their ongoing season after going 2-0 in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League Fall Classic in Phoenixville, Penn. with wins over the Valley Forge Minutemen and New Jersey Colonials.

 

The weekend tournament started with a 6-4 victory over the Minutemen with six different players on the 18U Titans scoring a goal. The following day, the Titans gave up a goal in the first minute of play, but scored three unanswered goals to defeat the New Jersey Colonials, 3-1.

 

"I thought the guys' compete level was very high over the weekend which led us to the two wins," said Titans' 18U coach George Haviland.

 

On the Friday game against the Minutemen, Brett Schneider opened the scoring 15:56 into the 1st period, giving the Titans a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission. While New Jersey conceded two goals in the next period, they responded with three of their own, getting tallies from Alex Konovalov, Larry Hooper and Yancy Whitaker. 

 

Hunter Price and Axel Arned tacked on two more goals in the 3rd period, while goaltender Ciaran McNelis made 21 saves in the 6-4 win.

 

"We out lasted them by our constant forecheck and generated a lot of chances because of that. Our goaltender (Ciaran) Mcnelis was also solid in the net for the win," Haviland said.

 

Saturday's game against the Colonials proved to be a tougher challenge for the Titans, having given up a goal just 19 seconds into the game. The team stuck to their game plan, and 14:28 into the period, Brett Schneider scored to even the game at 1 a piece. 

 

Midway through the 2nd period,  Alex Konovalov scored on the power play to give the Titans a 2-1 lead. In the final period, Michael Racciopi scored an empty-netter to seal a 3-1 win over the Colonials. Kyle Johnson made 16 saves in the winning effort. 

 

"We received great goaltending from from Kyle Johnson," Haviland said. "I thought our defense did a good job of transitioning pucks to the forwards that generated some offensive chances."