Eastern Hockey League Frozen Finals – EHLP Title Game: New Jersey 87s Claim 2021 Crown With 5-2 Win Over Worcester

The New Jersey 87s are the 2021 Eastern Hockey League Premier champions after a 5-2 win over the Worcester Railers Jr. Hockey Club in a well-played game at Ice Line Quad Rinks

The Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) crowned its 2021 champion after the New Jersey 87’s defeated the Railers Jr. Hockey Club by a score of 5-2 on Sunday.

After establishing a strong forecheck early on in the contest, 87’s forward Michael LoRicco put home a one-timer from the high-slot to give New Jersey the lead. While Cole Moore displayed strong play between the pipes, LoRicco tallied his second goal midway through the second period.

At the time of the second goal, New Jersey had outshot the Jr. Railers 26-14 and dictated the pace of the game. At the 14:04 juncture of the second period, the 87s Hugh McGuigan scored to make it a 3-0 game.

Yet, the Jr. Railers took advantage of prime opportunities towards the end of the frame. The Jr. Railers cashed in twice, one on an extended man advantage, after Jayden Blackburn and Jake Barcelou found the back of the net. The tallies were recorded within a 26-second span and provided the squad with plenty of hope for the third period.

It seemed that the 87’s had other plans, though.

New Jerrsey 87s Hugh McGuigan (47) had both the game-winning and insurance goals in Sunday’s 5-2 win that clinched the EHLP championship.

Moore turned away all nine shots that he faced, and the 87’s recorded two goals – one of which was at the 3:43 mark of the frame which gave NJ a 4-2 lead. It was also scored by McGuigan. The second goal came late in the period on a power play.

After a tight period and well played contest from both teams, the buzzer sounded and the 87’s earned their first-ever title.

Additionally, Moore was awarded as the league’s MVP for the Frozen Finals.

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Kyle McKenna

Kyle McKenna spent four seasons working in various communications roles at the professional hockey level from 2015-2019. McKenna served as the New Jersey Devils Communications Assistant for the 2015-16 season and Community Hockey Assistant and Lightning High School Hockey League Beat Writer from 2016-2018 for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Additionally, the New Jersey native worked at the 2018 World Junior Championship at Buffalo in as a Media Relations Assistant and was also the Communications Assistant for the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder in 2018-19. Since graduating Monmouth University with a bachelor’s degree in communications (2015), the former Junior Hockey player also covered the NHL for various blogs in freelance roles. McKenna’s familiarity with the EHL dates to last season (2019-20) when he was an organization’s communications manager, while creating written and digital content on a daily basis.

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Latest posts by Kyle McKenna (see all)

• Eastern Hockey League Frozen Finals: Jr. Rangers Rally, Grab Title With 3-2 OT Win - March 28, 2021
• Eastern Hockey League Frozen Finals – EHLP Title Game: New Jersey 87s Claim 2021 Crown With 5-2 Win Over Worcester - March 28, 2021
• Eastern Hockey League Premier Frozen Finals: Railers JHC, NJ 87s Advance To Title Game - March 27, 2021