The New Jersey 87’s are off to a strong start in the 2022-23 campaign, as the EHL team picked up wins over New York Apple Core and Team Maryland while the Premier team earned victories over the Philadelphia Little Flyers and Union Jr. Thunder.

Playing its first game since winning the championship in Providence this spring, the 87’s EHL team opened the new season last Friday at Jersey Shore Arena against Apple Core. Following a scoreless first period, Ryan Karbach opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal just moments after 87’s goaltender Kyle Spann made a terrific pad save from point-blank range. Patrick DeMarinis doubled the lead on a two-on-one rush, ripping a shot off the left post and in.

Rookie forward Aleks Gamzatov scored his first goal of the season with a power-play tally in the third period, carrying the puck from the half wall to the high slot and ripping a shot high-blocker side. After the 87’s secured a 3-1 victory, Karbach spoke about his goal and the special teams’ role in the win.

“I’m just trying to help the team when I get out there on the penalty kill, we’ve just got to get pucks out and get them in deep and luckily I got a couple of breaks,” Karbach said.

The following day, the 87’s traveled to Piney Orchard Arena for a game against Team Maryland. The game remained scoreless after 40 minutes, much in part to stellar goaltending from Cam Carroll. His best stop of the night came in the second period when Maryland forward Tyler Hissong shoveled a backhander towards the goal, and Carroll reached back with his stick to keep it out.

In the third period, New Jersey opened the scoring on a goal by Blake Dustin. A shot from Jake Rock took an unusual bounce off the glass and went right to the front of the goal where Dustin tapped in his first goal as an 87. Charles Lavoie made it 2-0 with a power-play goal, as he ripped a one-timer from the right faceoff circle. Carroll finished the game with 36 saves on 37 shots in the 2-1 win.

The Premier team started their season on Saturday at IceWorks Skating Complex to play the Philadelphia Little Flyers. Ayden Georgiano scored just a minute and 13 seconds into the contest to put the 87’s ahead, but the Little Flyers responded with two goals of their own. Ethan Paligo knotted things up in the closing minutes of the first period.

Lithuanian defenseman Nathan Vladson scored his first goal as an 87 in the second period, sending a scorching wrist shot under the blocker of Flyers goaltender Nick Giuliano. Philadelphia responded again late in the period with a goal by Johnny Lee, and a scoreless third period meant the game would go to overtime. Two minutes into the extra session, Ivan Borisov drove to the net and slid the puck to Dylan Cornatzer, who snuck a sharp-angle shot past the goaltender for his first goal with the team and the overtime winner.

On Sunday, the Premier team held its home-opener against the Union Jr. Thunder, an expansion team playing its first-ever game. The 87’s proved to be an un-welcoming opponent, cruising to an 11-1 victory. Returning forward Shay Keating scored twice, and rookie forward Dominik Wiatrowski picked up the hat trick that included two shorthanded goals.

Following the game, Keating spoke about the team’s hot start and how the lines seem to have clicked right from the get-go.

“I think it’s just our guys going hard, putting pucks on net and just finishing really well. We’ve got a lot of chemistry right now and we’re just going to feed off that,” Keating said.

Both teams will head to the first EHL showcase of the year in Worcester, MA, and each team will play three games each.

Upcoming Schedule

EHL

Friday Sept 23: 87’s vs. Express Hockey Club – 4:10 p.m.

Saturday Sept 24: 87’s vs. Vermont Lumberjacks – 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Sept 25: 87’s vs. New England Wolves – 2:00 p.m.

EHLP

Friday Sept 23: 87’s vs. Seahawks Hockey Club – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday Sept 24: 87’s vs. New Hampshire Avalanche – 10:00 a.m.

Sunday Sept 25: 87’s vs. Valley Jr. Warriors – 10:10 a.m.