This divisional recap summarizes the North Division teams in the ECHL, focusing on their standings, recent game results, player milestones, and key statistics. Tempers were high in the North Division last week, as we saw not one but two coaches tossed from games as Adirondack Thunder Assistant Coach Mike Bergin was tossed on Saturday Night in South Carolina and Trois-Rivieres Lions Head Coach Ron Choules was tossed from Sunday’s game in Worcester.
Wheeling Nailers (9-3-1-0, 19pts, 1st Place)- The Wheeling Nailers had a light week with only one game, and that came on the road against another out-of-division opponent in the Fort Wayne Komets. In what proved to be a very exciting game, the Nailers came away with a 6-4 victory despite being outshot 52-24, which included two goals in the final 1:34 of the third period. Wheeling leads the North Division currently, with seven of their 13 games coming outside of the Division as they are 6-1 vs Central Division this season. The Nailers will continue their out-of-division schedule this week with three more games as they host the Toledo Walleye on Wednesday before facing the Cincinnati Cyclones for a home-and-home on Friday and Saturday. Wheeling’s next game against a North Divison doesn’t come until December 8th, when they host the Reading Royals.
Norfolk Admirals (8-4-3-0, 19pts, 2nd Place)- After having their nine-game point-streak snapped two weeks ago by the Toledo Walleye, the Admirals bounced back last weekend as they took both games against the Reading Royals. The Admirals, since getting swept on opening weekend by Adirondack, are 8-2-3 and have been one of the better teams in the ECHL. One of the biggest question marks for the Admirals coming into the season was going to be the goaltending, as they didn’t have an NHL/AHL contracted goalie sent down to them up until last week when Domenic Divincentiis was sent down from the Manitoba Moose. In his first two games with the Admirals, he would go 2-0, with a 2.43 GAA and .919SV%. Norfolk will host the Maine Mariners for two games next weekend.
Zach Alverado’s Friday Night Recap
Trois-Rivieres Lions (8-3-2-0, 18pts, 3rd Place)- The Trois-Rivieres Lions enter the week on a three-game winning streak and five game point streak after winning both of their game this past weekend over the Worcester Railers. It will be another easy week for the Lions as the will head to Glens Falls, NY on Wednesday to play their only game of the week which will wrap up a three-game road trip for the Lions. Trois-Rivieres and Adirondack have split the first two games of the season series will each team winning at home.
Adirondack Thunder (7-5-0-1, 15pts, 4th Place)- It was a tough week for the Adirondack Thunder, who went 1-3 on their four-game road trip, which included games against the Jacksonville Icemen, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and South Carolina Stingrays, including being outscored 16-5 in the three losses. One of the struggles for the Thunder was the special teams, which allowed two short-handed goals and three PP goals during the four-game stretch. However, after losing the first three games of the road trip, Adirondack would salvage the final game with a 5-1 win over the Stingrays on Sunday Afternoon. It’s another busy week for the Thunder as they will head home to play a three-in-four game. They will face the Trois-Rivieres Lions on Wednesday night before welcoming the Reading Royals back to town for games on Friday and Saturday night.
Armand Klisivitch’s Wednesday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Thursday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Night Recap
Reading Royals (6-10-3-0, 15pts, 5th Place)- It was another rough week in Reading as they went 0-2-1 last week as they would pick up just one of a possible four points in the home-and-home vs Norfolk and then would lose to the Maine Mariners at home on Saturday Night, which also was the first win on the road for the Mariners this season. The Royals will head to Glens Falls this weekend for two games against the Adirondack Thunder, their last win came in Glens Falls on November 17th in a 7-1 victory. Reading also decided to shake things up, making two trades on Monday.
Zachary Alverado’s Friday Night Recap
Worcester Railers (6-9-0-1, 13pts, 6th Place)- The week for the Railers started off tough in the opening period of Wednesday Night’s game vs Maine Mariners, they would get outshoot 21-1 in a game, they would end up losing 5-2. It wouldn’t get much better for the Railers as they would lose both games at home vs Trois-Rivieres Lions on Saturday and Sunday, as they are now 2-5-0-1 this season at the DCU Center. Worcester will hit the road this week for three out-of-division games against the Wichita Thunder on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Maine Mariners (6-8-0-0, 7th Place)- Despite sitting at the bottom of the Division, the Maine Mariners would take advantage of a light week as they won both of their games last week as they beat two North Divison opponents as they beat the Railers on Wednesday at home and then would beat the Reading Royals on the road on Saturday Night. This is a huge confidence boost for the Mariners as coming into the week, they lost three straight games, including back-to-back losses vs South Carolina, in which they were outscored 11-2. Maine will head on the road to face the Norfolk Admirals for a three-game set with games on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The Mariners are 0-2 this season against Norfolk.
Sarah Mahannah’s Maine Mariners Weekly Recap
