Jersey Hitmen Classic: Day 1 Recap
The 2025 NCDC season kicked off in Wayne, NJ at the Jersey Hitmen Classic. The event consisted of teams from the New England Central, East, and North Divisions. Day one saw nine games. 
New York Dynamo (4) vs. Universel Quebec (1): The New York Dynamo played host to Universel Quebec to start the 2025-26 season in New Jersey. New York’s Noah Thomsen (5:48) lit the lap early in the opening period getting the Dynamo a 1-0 lead. Just past the half way mark of the period, Quebec’s Gabriel Boivin (10:59) evened the game 1-1. Early into the second period, Filip Wennman (2:24) brought the lead back to the New York bench for a 2-1 score. New York added to their lead late in the middle frame with Noah Tomsen (14:56) netting his second of the game, making it a 3-1 score. In the third period, New York added to their lead with Filip Wennman (17:45) scoring his second of the night for a 4-1 final.
Springfield Pics (1) vs. P.A.L. Junior Islanders (4): The P.A.L. Junior Islanders defeated the Springfield Pics by a score of 4-1. Shawn Swavely (17:12) got the Junior Islanders on the scoresheet late in the opening period for a 1-0 lead. In the second, the Islanders added to the score with three unanswered goals. Ivan Zelenov (4:25) scored the second followed by Billy Collins (8:00,9:01) scoring back-to-back for the 4-0 score. Nearing the end of the game, Adam Palenik (19:20) scored the lone goal for the Pics for a 4-1 final. Islanders goaltender Ethan Ramonetti stopped 12 shots in the victory.
Boston Jr. Bruins (3) vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights (4) SO: The Boston Jr. Bruins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights went down to the wire in a shootout thriller where the Knights took the win 4-3. Boston came out of the gates hot with Colin Foyle (4:40) netting the only goal of the first period for a 1-0 Bruins lead. In the second period, Riley Greer (0:21) added an early goal for a 2-0 Bruins lead. The Knights quickly answered back as Conor Lawrence (1:55), Vikto Sharshapin (5:50) and Timur Naletov (6:02) all scored to get a 3-2 lead heading into the third. In the final frame of regulation, Drew Carr (6:26) evened the game for Boston to force overtime, 3-3. After a scoreless extra period, the game went to a shootout where the Knights would reign supreme, 4-3. Goaltender Connor Broderick backstopped 43 shots in the Knights win.
Northern Cyclones (1) vs. Mercer Chiefs (3): The Mercer Chiefs scored three unanswered goals to top the Northern Cyclones, 3-1. In the first it was Lance Roberts (13:06) getting the Cyclones on the scoresheet, 1-0. The Chiefs evened the game 1-1 in the second period with a goal from Brent Beswick (2:25). The Chiefs attack continued into the third period with Micheal Reed (10:18) and Brent Beswick (13:45) added his second of the game for a 3-1 final. Goaltender Cole Werthman had a fantastic night as he turned away 28 shots.
South Shore Kings (2) vs. Jersey Hitmen (5): The Jersey Hitmen put on a show for the home crowd at their rink as they defeated the South Shore Kings by a score of 5-2. Jersey ended the first period up 2-0 with goals from Henry Miller (2:20) and Daivd Ambuhl (11:49). The Hitmen kept the scoring up in the second as Jordan Laroda (14:08, 19:04) scored twice for a 4-0 score. In the third, the Kings added a goal with Alec Babineau (6:14) to kick off the period, 4-1. Jersey’s Jordan Laroda (16:51) was not finished as he added this third of the night making it a 5-1 game. Late in the period, Johnny Harbour (17:57) netted the last goal of the night for a 5-2 final. Hitmen netminder Nick Bunch had a great night as he stopped 30 shots.
Worcester Railers JHC (3) vs. Connecticut Jr. Rangers (5): The Connecticut Junior Rangers took down the Worcester Railers JHC by a score of 5-3. The showcase’s quickest goal came from Max Markhede (0:13), getting the Jr. Rangers ahead 1-0. In the second, Worcester scored back-to-back with Ben Lees (1:36) shorthanded, and Travis Rugg (8:55), to get ahead 2-1. Soon after, Artis Skrebels (9:46) would even the game with a Jr. Rangers goal, 2-2. The third period mostly belonged to the Jr. Rangers as they scored three unanswered goals. Max Markhede (12:43, 17:40) recorded a hat-trick, and Thomas Harnett (13:39) added to the give the Jr. Rangers a 5-2 lead. With time close to expiring in the game, George Acklin (19:29) scored late for the Railers to end the game with a final score of 5-3. Joel Nieminen was great in net for Connecticut, as he stopped 34 of 37 shots on net.
Islanders Hockey Club (2) vs. Lewiston MAINEiacs (1): The Islanders Hockey Club edged the Lewiston MAINEiacs by a score of 2-1. In the opening frame, Sebastian Kaminsky (1:58) scored to get the Islanders on the board, 1-0. Lewiston got on the scoresheet in the second period with a goal from Ashton Adams (9:05) to tie the game, 1-1. Later in the second, Troy Hayes (10:20) scored, what would be the game winner, for a score of 2-1. Islanders goalie Daniel Dmitrievsky stopped 23 shots in the game.
Boston Dogs (5) vs. CT Chiefs North (1): The Boston Dogs defeated the CT Chiefs North by a score of 5-1. The game was tied in the first period 1-1 with Kayson Un Yi (7:05) scoring for the Dogs and Liam Schaentzler (17:25) for the Chiefs. Nearing the end of the period, Ayzek Waldron (18:41) broke the tie, for a 2-1 Dogs lead. In the second it was all Boston with Jonathan Balzarini (0:07) and Lowe Johansson (1:15) scoring for a 3-1 Dogs lead. The third period saw another goal from Kayson Un Yi (19:15) to solidify the Boston win, 5-1. Boston goalie Nikolas Barnes was great in net as he stopped 27 shots in the win.
Thunder Hockey Club (4) vs. Woodstock NB Slammers (3) OT: In a game that saw five games in the second period, the Thunder would take the win in overtime, 4-3. In the first period, Jackson Shaddick (12:58) scored getting Woodstock on the board, 1-0. In a busy second period, the Thunder Hockey Club evened the game 1-1 with a goal from Hwanhee Kang (5:22). The Slammers answered back to take the lead again, 2-1, with a goal from Matthew Katsoulis (9:17). The Thunder tied the game again, and then took the lead with Kyle Smyrnios (13:59) and Mo Peng (14:44), making the score 3-1. Late in the second, Jack Schnur (17:25) scored making it 3-3. After a scoreless third, the game found itself in overtime. In the extra frame, Owen Khuong (2:57) lit the lamp for the game winning goal and a final score of 4-3. Goaltender Calvin Gardner took the win in net stopping 39 shots.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the weekend:
| Date | Time | Home | Away |
| 9/12/2025 | 9:15 AM | Boston Junior Bruins | West Chester Wolves |
| 9/12/2025 | 10:00 AM | Springfield Pics | Mercer Chiefs |
| 9/12/2025 | 11:45 AM | New York Dynamo | Lewiston MAINEiacs |
| 9/12/2025 | 12:15 PM | South Shore Kings | Presque Isle Frontiers |
| 9/12/2025 | 1:00 PM | Thunder Hockey Club | Universel Quebec |
| 9/12/2025 | 2:45 PM | Islanders Hockey Club | Jersey Hitmen |
| 9/12/2025 | 3:15 PM | Universel Academy | Woodstock NB Slammers |
| 9/12/2025 | 4:00 PM | Boston Jr. Rangers | CT Chiefs North |
| 9/12/2025 | 5:45 PM | Northern Cyclones | P.A.L. Junior Islanders |
| 9/12/2025 | 6:15 PM | Utica Jr Comets | Rockets Hockey Club |
| 9/12/2025 | 8:45 PM | Worcester Railers JHC | Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights |
| 9/12/2025 | 9:15 PM | Boston Dogs | Connecticut Junior Rangers |
| 9/13/2025 | 8:45 AM | Worcester Railers JHC | Woodstock NB Slammers |
| 9/13/2025 | 9:00 AM | South Shore Kings | Lewiston MAINEiacs |
| 9/13/2025 | 9:15 AM | Utica Jr Comets | Universel Quebec |
| 9/13/2025 | 11:45 AM | Springfield Pics | CT Chiefs North |
| 9/13/2025 | 12:00 PM | Northern Cyclones | Rockets Hockey Club |
| 9/13/2025 | 12:15 PM | Islanders Hockey Club | West Chester Wolves |
| 9/13/2025 | 3:00 PM | Boston Dogs | Presque Isle Frontiers |
| 9/13/2025 | 3:15 PM | Thunder Hockey Club | Connecticut Junior Rangers |
| 9/13/2025 | 6:00 PM | Boston Junior Bruins | P.A.L. Junior Islanders |
| 9/13/2025 | 6:15 PM | Universel Academy | Jersey Hitmen |
| 9/13/2025 | 7:15 PM | Boston Jr. Rangers | Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights |
| 9/13/2025 | 9:00 PM | New York Dynamo | Mercer Chiefs |
| 9/14/2025 | 1:00 PM | Boston Jr. Rangers | Presque Isle Frontiers |
| 9/14/2025 | 4:00 PM | Universel Academy | Rockets Hockey Club |
| 9/14/2025 | 4:30 PM | Utica Jr Comets | West Chester Wolves |
Fans can catch every moment of the action on USPHL+ powered by Black Bear TV. Visit blackbearsports.tv for streaming details.