The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks host the Johnstown Tomahawks for the first time this weekend at Danbury Arena. As Danbury looks to rise in the standings, let’s take a look at some keys to the game.
Record
Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (21 games, 11-9-1, 23 points)
Johnstown Tomahawks (30 games, 20-6-4, 44 points)
Tale of the Tape
The Jr. Hat Tricks paid a visit to Johnstown earlier this season, dropping a pair of tightly-contested, physical games. The first was a 5-4 game that featured 154 penalty minutes between the two teams including two fights and a game misconduct. The second finished 5-3, with Johnstown potting an empty netter in the waning moments of regulation.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the Robertson Cup Playoffs, with seeding determined by points. The Jr. Hat Tricks currently sit in 6th with 23 points, but have 10 or more games in hand on their division rivals. They trail the fifth-place Northeast Generals by just four points with 16 fewer games played. Fourth-place Maryland is within reach, trailing by six points with 10 fewer games. Upward mobility is very much possible for the Jr. Hat Tricks.
Players to Watch:
Edvard Nordlund, G (DHT)– Swedish goaltender Edvard Nordlund is also a strong option between the pipes for the Jr. Hat Tricks, having recorded the first shutout in franchise history last week against the Maryland Black Bears.
Alex Krause, LW (DHT)– Krause has a knack for coming up big in crucial spots. In the Jr. Hat Tricks’ most recent matchup with Maryland, Krause led Danbury from down 3-2 entering the final frame to up 4-3 by netting a pair of gorgeous goals. Krause leads the team with 10 goals and 19 points with the ability to play at any strength. He has a Division-I commitment to Dartmouth lined up for the 2021-22 season.
Jay Ahearn, F (JHT)– Ahearn leads the Tomahawks in scoring with 39 points in 29 games. A Staten Island native, Ahearn netted a hat trick against Danbury in their first meeting which doomed the orange-and-black. He’ll be a point of focus for the Danbury defense this series.
RELATED: Passarelli, McCurdy look to play the “Danbury Way”
How to watch
Tickets are available in a limited capacity by clicking here. Live streaming will be featured on HockeyTV. Follow @JrHatTricksNAHL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for important updates on the Jr. Hat Tricks all season long.
Written by Casey Bryant