North Andover, MA – Heading into the December stretch of games the Islanders Hockey Club sits on top of the USPHL with a 19-3 record.  Much was talked about over the summer with many returners and bright new faces and the IHC has not disappointed.  Twenty-two games into the season and right at the mid-point the team boasts twelve players with over ten points, including eight players with five or more goals.  Depth at all three positions has certainly been a key for the success of this team and contributions have come from every player.

Leading the way up front are seven Division One bound players.  Ace Cowans (Groton/UVM) leads the pack with a 13-26-29 line.  Line mate Brendan Soucie (Kent/Army) also has 13 goals and 9 assist for 22 points.  Also with 22 points with a 9-13-22 line is Brendan van Riemsdyk (CBA/UNH).  Close behind them are Owen Powers (Choate/Holy Cross), Brent Beaudoin (NH Monarchs/Brown), Tyler Sifferlen (Malden Catholic/Lowell), and Austin Goldstein (Malden Catholic/Northeastern).  All forwards have scored and boast multiple points and no matter what line is on the ice they are a threat to score at anytime.

The D-Corps follows suit with five players heading to Division One schools.  Will Brophy (Westminster/Holy Cross) has been almost a point-per-game defender putting up a 1-14-15 line in 16 games.  Arguably the top defensemen in the league Max Daigle (Choate/UVM) has been a horse and shows no reason why he won’t step right into the Catamounts lineup next year.  Liam Darcy (Berwick/UNH) is continually making strides, despite a broken finger that kept him out for over a month.  Also suffering the injury bug is highly touted Zach Mirageas (Governors/Air Force) who has only dressed in nine games and is sorely missed.  Young Jack Moran (Winchendon/Maine) gets better each month and when he grows into his 6’4/230 frame he will be near impossible to beat.  John McLean (Malden Catholic) and Pippen Weisbeck (Colorado) have added tremendous depth as well as JJ Layton (KUA) who literally was leading the team in points until an injury forced him out of the lineup in early October.  The good news is he is healthy and ready to play.

In net the tandem of Anthony Tirabassi (Nichols) and Alexander Connal (Buffalo Jr Sabres) have been outstanding.  Each has nearly identical stats with Tirabassi sporting a 10-1 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .923 save % including 1 shutout.  Connal mimics him with a 9-2 record, a 2.30 GAA and a .921 save % also with 1 shutout.

December sees the team travel to the CT Rangers Dec 4 and 5, followed by home games with the South Shore Kings (Dec 9) and the Portland Pirates (Dec 11 and 12), followed by another South Shore Kings game to be played Dec 16 at Endicott College.