What some consider the best time of year is finally upon us.  Its hockey season and the Philadelphia Flyers Junior hockey team will kick off the 2016-17 USPHL regular season this weekend, with a road trip to Syracuse, NY, to face the Syracuse Stars in two games.

The Flyers had the advantage over the Stars last season, with a 3-1 record against the Stars in the four games the teams faced each other, which included a 4-0 shutout of the Stars in Syracuse.  The Flyers also fared better in the standings last season than the Stars, finishing with a 24-15 record, and the Stars coming in at 18-22.  The Flyers are hoping to continue to best the Stars this season in just about every stat category, as they did last year. 

But don’t expect to see the Stars team the league saw last year.  Coach Paul Kelly believes his team is deeper this season, and will see a great improvement in the team’s second year in the league. 

The Flyers expect to be equal to the task, as coach Jared Beach believes this year’s team is assembled of players capable of taking the team back to the Dineen Cup Finals.

“We hope to get back to where we were two seasons ago, playing in the finals and making a run at a championship. Overall, we have assembled a great group of highly competitive men that will battle day in and day out with the ultimate goal of winning a championship,” says the coach.

Goaltender Matt Beck agrees, saying “expectations are high, we’ve got a good group this year, and we believe we’ll be able to compete right away.”

Players to Watch:

For the Flyers, Nick Polsinelli returns to the lineup the season, after being the leading goal scorer in the Premier Division last season.  Expect Polsinelli to pick up where he left off.  Also keep an eye out on Vladislav Sorokin, who in just 14 games last season managed 12 points. 

For the Stars, watch out for captain Mark DerManulian to be a presence on the blue line.  And Zach Weinger up front, who posted nearly a point per game last season.  Not much is known about the Stars three new goaltenders this season, so be sure to watch the crease to see who gets the nod to start the season.