Short Shifts: Through Week 21

Division races intensifying with playoffs on the horizon on this week’s Short Shifts

HAVERHILL, MA — The Eastern Hockey League is entering the final month of the 2025-2026 regular season. Teams around the league are playing a few more games in the lead-up to the Broad Street Battle next week in Philadelphia.

A handful of teams have not only clinched their spot in the EHL playoffs, some have already won their division. In this week’s edition of Short Shifts, we’ll take a look at the Division races in addition to all the action that took place over the last two weeks.

In the Bag

• Two teams have already clinched their divisions in the EHL: the New Hampshire Avalanche (33-5-3) secured the top spot of the North Division while Hockey Club Rhode Island (32-9-1) clinched the Central Division.
• The Avs are on a tear right now with nine straight wins. They took down the Valley Jr. Warriors on Thursday with a 5-3 win; Colden Lawrence had a pair of goals plus an assist for New Hampshire.
• Ben Carfora has also stayed hot for the Avs, he has multiple points in each of his last four games. Currently fifth in the EHL in points, he hit the 60-point plateau in that win over the Warriors.
• HC Rhode Island continues its breakout season, and while they clinched the Central, they’re not showing any signs of slowing down with three consecutive wins.
• This week, they swept a back-to-back against New York Apple Core, winning 4-3 on Wednesday and 3-1 on Thursday. In the second end of the back-to-back, Donovan Burke scored twice.
• Rhode Island forward Aiden Forcier continues his strong rookie campaign. As an ’07 birth year, Forcier is third in the EHL with 65 points and second in the league with 31 goals through 41 games.

In the Mix

• The East and South Divisions are still up for grabs. Over in the East, the Express Hockey Club (28-8-3) sits in first place ahead of the Seahawks Hockey Club (26-9-4) with a three-point lead.
• The Seahawks are looking to gain some ground on the Express as they have won three in a row, including a 3-1 victory over HC Rhode Island on Feb 18. The Seahawks will take on the Express on March 3 before the showcase, and one more time on March 17, both games taking place at the Seahawks’ rink, Tony Kent Arena.
• The Express last played on February 19, and will return to action on Saturday against the Warriors. Ville Bodin is sitting at 47 goals and 77 points through 39 games; his next goal will set the EHL single-season goal record.
• In the South Division, Philadelphia Hockey Club (30-6-3) has a five-point lead over the second-place New Jersey 87’s (28-10-2) while having a game in hand.
• Both teams have beaten each other three times this season, and they’re closing the regular-season series with a back-to-back with games in Hollydell Ice Arena tonight and tomorrow. Philadelphia has a chance to further widen the gap, or the 87’s could make things interesting heading into the showcase.
• The New Jersey Bears (26-13-4) are not far behind. They sit third in the South, two points behind the 87’s, while winning their last three games. They took down the Pennsylvania Huntsmen on Thursday; John Danks and Michael Jany each had two goals and an assist while Brady Hubbard notched four assists.

Around the EHLP

• In the Premier Division, the New Hampshire Avalanche (26-4-2) and New Jersey Bears (21-9-3) both have a four-point lead in their respective conferences, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
• The Avs have won five in a row, including a double header earlier this month at Paul T. Gilmartin Arena with a 5-2 win over the Seahawks and a 4-2 victory over the Express.
• The Bears have won four straight, picking up wins over the Atlantic City Seals, Union Jr. Thunder and 87’s in the span of a week. They have one more game tonight against the 87’s, then they will take on the Seahawks and Avalanche and Providence Capitals in Philadelphia.
• Last week, the Express and Providence Capitals had an epic showdown resulting in a 2-1 shootout win for the Caps. Express goaltender Colton Alles and Capitals goaltender Ryan Littlefield both made 40-plus saves in regulation and overtime. The shootout went six rounds, Caps defenseman Will Link scored twice in the shootout including the game-winner.
• While Bears forward Dominic Moushon has been leading the scoring race (31g, 46a, 77p), Seahawks forward Carson Low is not too far behind. He’s second in the league with 30 goals and 66 points, including 11 points (4g, 7a) in six games this month.