Portland Junior Pirates

Arlington, VA- The Portland Junior “A” Pirates team knew it had a lengthy road trip ahead of them when it left early Friday morning for a two game set against the host Washington Junior Nationals. It also knew they were up against a worthy, hard-working opponent in the Nationals. None of that seemed to faze them as they swept the Nationals with a couple of wins. Tyler Fleurent led the way with three goals over the weekend.

In the opening game, Dan Ramirez made 38 saves and was tough in the shootout as the Pirates beat the Nationals, 4-3, in overtime. For the game, Fleurent netted two goals, including a key goal with a second remaining in the second period. In game two, the Pirates overcame a slow start by scoring two goals in the final period to beat the Nationals, 3-2. Jordan Krusch led the way offensively with a goal and an assist. Nick Broadwater made 25 saves to help secure the victory.

To make it an even longer weekend, the team had to fight through an East Coast winter storm and a broken down bus on their trip back home, arriving in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. “With it being a long weekend, the team found ways to win each game. It was classic road hockey, and the wins gave us the opportunity to solidify our standing in the division. This adversity and toughness will only help us become a more hardened and better team down the stretch,” said Coach Jay Pecora.

The Pirates now stand alone atop the Northern Division in the AJHL with a 17-6-0-3 record, good for 37 points. The Northern Mass Cyclones are not far behind with 34 points. The New York Bobcats lead all teams in the AJHL with a total of 39 points. This coming weekend, the Pirates will participate in the Junior Huskies Invitational in Fitchburg, MA, featuring teams from the EJHL and some independent teams.