Both 87’s teams ended the 2024-2025 regular season on a high note in the EHL and EHLP showcase at Ice Works Skating Complex last week, and the teams are ready to begin the 2025 postseason.
Season Finale in Aston
The 87’s EHL team won two out of three games while the Premier team took three out of four games in the Aston, PA showcase. For the EHL team, they shut out the Valley Jr. Warriors on Friday by a score of 4-0. Landon Adams and Alexander Legkov each had a goal and an assist while Artur Kharisov and Connor McLachlan also scored. Dylan Gorman stopped all 18 shots he faced to earn the shutout.
Following a loss to the Connecticut Nor’Easter on Saturday, the 87’s closed out the showcase against the East Coast Wizards and cruised to a 5-1 win. Defenseman Conor Santay scored the game-winning goal while Tyler Gearman and Adams also found the back of the net, and Legkov had four points (2g, 2a).
With his showcase performance Legkov finished the regular season with 97 points (31g, 66a), setting the 87’s EHL team’s single-season record. He is also second-leading scorer in 87’s history with 111 points (37g, 74a) in 56 games while Landon Adams is third all-time with 109 points (47g, 62a) in 99 career games with the EHL team.
On the Premier side, the 87’s opened their showcase with a 2-1 win over the New Hampshire Avalanche on Saturday night; Chris Erasmus scored a breakaway goal to put the 87’s ahead with seconds remaining.
On Sunday, the team dropped a game against the Vermont Lumberjacks but bounced back later that evening with a 3-1 win over the Express Hockey Club as Vincent Baldari, Sean Elbrecht and Sultan Kulumbek all found the back of the net. The team ended their showcase on Monday with a 2-1 win over the Seahawks Hockey Club where defensemen Matt Duffy and Alec Osher scored two quick goals in the second half.
The Premier team set their own records throughout the season; 37 wins is a new program record for the EHLP team. Their 66 goals against is also an EHLP all-time best; the next lowest goals against is 80 which was set by the Boston Jr. Rangers in the 2017-18 season.
Look Ahead to Playoffs
Both 87’s teams will have home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. Here are the matchups and schedules for the EHL and EHLP squads.
EHL: #2 New Jersey 87’s vs. #3 Pennsylvania Huntsmen
Season Series: 87’s 6-1-0 vs. Huntsmen
Schedule: Game 1: Tuesday March 18 at 87’s – 12:30 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday March 20 at Huntsmen – 3:05 p.m.
Game 3: Friday March 21 at 87’s – 1:30 p.m.*
EHLP: #1 New Jersey 87’s vs. #4 Philadelphia Little Flyers
Season Series: 87’s 7-0-0 vs. Little Flyers
Schedule: TBA
Photo Credit: Pauls Pics (X/Twitter: @paulspicsnj)