Jr. Pens 14U A Districts Recap — March 6–8, 2026
The Jr. Pens headed into the AAHA District Championships at Hollydell Ice Arena as the top seed out of the DVHL, entering an eight-team field that included the best programs from the DVHL, NJYHL, and Delaware/Pennsylvania and New Jersey at-large selections. When the weekend was over, the Jr. Pens finished 2–1–0 and took home 4th place overall in a competitive and hard-fought tournament.
Game 1 vs. Hollydell Hurricanes — 8–6 Win
The Jr. Pens opened the tournament Friday night against the 7th-seeded Hollydell Hurricanes in a high-scoring, back-and-forth battle. After falling behind 0–1 after the first, the Jr. Pens erupted for five second-period goals — Andres Campos twice (once assisted by Mason Kelly, once unassisted), Michael Whiteduck (from Connor Kennedy), Dayne Wadas (from Whiteduck), and Jace Geoffroy unassisted. The third period saw the Hurricanes claw back, but Max Bartal (from Wadas), Mason Kelly (from Campos), and a Geoffroy empty-netter sealed the 8–6 win. Nathan Zubick stopped 27 of 33 shots in net, and Andres Campos was named Player of the Game for his two-goal, two-assist performance. While the defensive effort left room for improvement, the Jr. Pens got exactly what they needed — a strong start to Districts.
Game 2 vs. Team Philadelphia — 1–3 Loss
Saturday’s matchup against the 3rd-seeded Team Philadelphia proved to be one of the most competitive games the Jr. Pens played all season. Despite outshooting Philadelphia 26–22 and keeping the game close throughout, the Jr. Pens fell 3–1. Michael Whiteduck (from Seamus Fitzmaurice) provided the lone tally in the second period. Gavin Kravulski was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 19 of 22 shots, and was named Player of the Game for his efforts. Team Philadelphia went on to win the championship, and the Jr. Pens walked away knowing they belonged on that stage — a complete team effort that gave them plenty to build on.
Game 3 vs. Princeton Jr. Tigers — 3–1 Win
Sunday’s third-place consolation game against the Princeton Jr. Tigers brought a sense of redemption for the Jr. Pens, who had dropped a tough decision to Princeton earlier in the season. This time, they controlled the game from start to finish in a 3–1 victory. Michael Whiteduck opened the scoring in the first (from Max Bartal), Dylan Lyle added an unassisted tally in the second, and Dayne Wadas sealed it in the third (from Jace Geoffroy and Lyle). Nathan Zubick was stellar in net, stopping 26 of 27 shots in a game decided by tight margins — the Jr. Pens outshot Princeton just 28–27. Wadas earned Player of the Game honors, and the team closed out Districts on a high note, finishing 2–1–0 and 4th overall in the AAHA region.
The Jr. Pens entered Districts as the top DVHL seed and left having beaten two tough opponents, pushed the eventual champions to the limit, and finally settled the score with Princeton. It was a strong finish to a memorable postseason run — one the entire Jr. Pens community should be proud of. Go Jr. Pens!