Written by Aidan Charde
Recap: Elmira Aviators on Nov. 29 and 30
What was looking like one of the best weekends of the season for the Rochester Jr. Americans through most of the series ended in three points, but it was enough to vault the Jr. Amerks into sole possession of first place in the division.
Rochester outscored the Aviators 8–0 through the first five periods of play, winning 5–0 in game one but sacraficing a late lead in game two to fall 4–3 in overtime. Regardless, thanks to out-of-town results, the points were enough to give the Jr. Amerks a divisional lead that they hope to hold onto the rest of the way.
As has become somewhat common, the Jr. Amerks were lights out on Friday night, scoring twice in the first period to earn a quick 2–0 lead. Forward Calle Karlsson got the team started with his team-leading 11th goal before forward Owen King added one of his own. Defenseman Liam Chapman and forward Hugo Branthsson each added another score in the second period to make it 4–0.
Halfway through the third period, forward Adam Gionta was called for a roughing penalty and given two minutes in the box, but that did not stop King from scoring his second goal of the game on a shorthanded strike to make it 5–0. King’s goal was the last of the contest as Rochester rolled to the easy win.
It was looking like the same story early in game two when forward Nicholas Reif opened the scoring up six minutes in. Branthsson tied Karlsson with his 11th goal a few minutes later on a powerplay and just 16 seconds later forward Gabe Cull added one of his own to make it 3–0 in the first period. 16 seconds between goals is the second-fastest time between goals in team history.
The game shifted in the second period, though. Rochester utterly dominated in the first, outshooting Elmira 15–4, but the difference was 22–21 Elmira the rest of the way. Neither team could make the most of 26 combined shots in the second period and the Jr. Amerks entered the third frame still leading 3–0.
Once again, though, a fast run of unanswered goals sunk Rochester. With under nine minutes left, Elmira finally got on the board, then cut it to a one-goal lead four minutes later. With the goalie pulled and one minute remaining, Elmira completed the comeback and tied the game at three apiece. The game was over not long into overtime, as the Aviators put one in the net 90 seconds in to take the game, but Rochester earned a crucial point in the overtime period.
Preview: Johnstown Tomahawks on Dec. 6 and 7
WHEN: Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. | Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: 1st Summit Arena | Johnstown, PA
WATCH: NAHL.tv
FOLLOW: @JrAmerksNAHL
History
The Tomahawks swept the Jr. Amerks earlier this season when they met in October, but both games were within one goal. Historically, the Jr. Amerks have held the edge with a 6–3–1 record all time.
Record setters
Though the team is less than halfway through the season, the Jr. Amerks record books have already had some updates to them. No one on the team is scoring at the pace of last year’s trio, but defenseman Demitri Diflorio did tie Matteo Disipio’s record of four assists in a game (9/20/24). It was also enough to put him atop the points and assists in a game leaderboards for defensemen. Adam Gionta netted the second-fastest goal in team history 27 seconds into the game on Oct. 18. Finally, two new additions to the top five shortest times between goals have been added — 16 seconds between Hugo Branthsson and Gabe Cull last weekend as well as 30 seconds between Jaden Dyke and Wyatt Stefan on Nov. 23.
Gionta plays key role despite goal scoring drought
Adam Gionta has the third-most goals on the team with nine, but he has gone scoreless in his last five games, tied for his longest stretch of the season without a goal. But despite that, he has been one of the team’s key contributors with assists aplenty, leading the team with 17. Since Oct. 5, he has just three games without a single point and seven with more than one. His goals created score of 9.633 ranks third best behind Branthsson and Karlsson and the team 9–2–2 when he contributes an assist.
Looking to avoid goals in quick succession
In several games this year, the Jr. Amerks have been the better team but are hurt by an untimely run of goals from the other team. Three goals in eight minutes against Elmira was the most recent, but they also allowed three goals in five minutes against Johnstown when they were tied at one to fall down 4–1. Rochester came back to make it close but could not finish the job, losing 4–3, so hopefully this series will be a different story.
Tomahawks all over the place
It is hard to get a read on Johnstown this season as their results have been all over the place. Sitting 13–10–2 in sixth place, they opened the season with a 7–1 loss against New Hampshire before bouncing back with a 6–1 win. They then lost seven straight games before squeaking past Elmira 3–2, which they followed up with a 7–3 loss. Since then, though, they have more sweeps (4) than losses (3), including a sweep of the Maryland Black Bears and Jr. Amerks.
