As we head into the third week of the ECHL Regular Season, the top of the North Division standing stayed the same, with Reading and Adirondack holding the top two spots in the division. However, we did have some movement from teams below the top two. It wouldn’t be a shock to see even more shifting in the upcoming week as the Wheeling Nailers will be the first team in the division to play a non-divisional game this week. Here’s how everyone faired over the past week:
Reading Royals (4-1-0-0, 8pts, 1st Place)- The Reading Royals continue to hold the top spot in the North Division after a weekend split vs Wheeling Nailers. In the opening game of the weekend, Reading would erase a three-goal deficit, but the Nailers would find a way to salvage the opening game. The Royals would use that momentum heading into Sunday as they take home a 4-1 victory. It’s another busy week for Reading as they have four games this week, starting with two games in Trois-Rivieres on Wednesday and Friday before heading to Maine for games on Saturday and Sunday.
Adirondack Thunder (3-0-0-0, 6pts, Second Place)- Heading into their home opener, the Thunder came in with confidence after sweeping the Norfolk Admirals on the road to kick off their season. It would be solid goaltending by Jeremy Brodeur, who made 27 saves for his first shutout of the year, as through three games, the Thunder goaltenders lead the league in SV% (.955). The offensive production from the blue line would continue as Ryan Conroy found the back of the net for his second pro goal and first of the 2024-25 campaign. Adirondack will travel up to Trois-Rivieres next Saturday for their only game of the weekend.
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Game Recap
Norfolk Admirals (2-2-0-0, 4pts, 3rd Place)- It was a bounce-back weekend for Norfolk as they were able to sweep the Maine Mariners in a quick two-game set, which included holding the Mariners to only 14 shots on Saturday Evening. It may be early, but with the recent acquisition of Dante Giannuzzi, there seem to be a lot of questions around the goaltending that remain unanswered. The Admirals will look to right the ship as they play an odd three-game set with the Worcester Railers, with games on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Zach Alvarado’s Friday Night Recap
Zach Alvarado’s Saturday Night Recap
Wheeling Nailers (2-2-0-0 4pts, 4th Place)—It was another weekend split for the Nailers, as they took the first of the two games this weekend in Reading. This isn’t the worst start for a team entering a new division and conference. Wheeling has a light week. They have their first out-of-division game of the season, and they’ll head to Toledo to play the Walleye on Friday Night.
Worcester Railers (2-2-0-0, 4pts, 5th Place)- It was a big bounce-back weekend for Worcester as they would beat the Trois-Rivières Lions on Friday despite blowing a two-goal lead and then would shutout the Maine Mariners on Sunday. Worcester will travel to Norfolk to play three games against the Admirals on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which should be a series to watch this weekend in the North Division.
Maine Mariners (1-4-0-0, 1pt, 6th Place)- It was a rough weekend for the Mariners as they would get swept in all three games of their home crowd this past weekend, including getting only 14 shots on goal on Saturday Night vs Norfolk and then getting shutout the following afternoon by the Worcester Railers. Maine was one of the teams that lost a lot of core pieces over the off-season, and it’s showing here early in the season. Things don’t get easier for Maine as they head to Reading for two games to play the division leaders.
Zach Alvarado’s Friday Night Recap
Zach Alvarado’s Saturday Night Recap
Trois-Rivieres Lions (0-2-1-0, 1pt, 7th Place) – The Lions opened up their weekend at home on Friday night vs Worcester Railers. Despite opening up the scoring first in the opening frame, they would find themselves down 3-1 with 15 minutes to go in the final frame. However, the Lions would roar back as they scored two goals in just over two minutes of play in the third period, and the game headed to overtime. The Railers would find the back of the net with 31 seconds to go in OT to spoil the Lions comeback. Heading into their first road game of the season, Trois-Rivieres was looking to build off of the momentum of Saturday Night as they faced the Adirondack Thunder. Saturday Night didn’t get much better for the Lions as they got shut out by the Thunder 2-0 while allowing 42 shots on goal. At the end of the second week of play, the Trois-Rivières Lions remain the only team in the North Division without a win. Trois-Rivieres will play three games in four nights at home as they host Reading on Wednesday and Friday before welcoming Adirondack to town on Saturday Night.
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Game Recap
