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Premier sweep Kings to remain Undefeated at Home

By Toby Harris, 12/12/14, 11:30PM EST

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Wayne, NJ - The Jersey Hitmen Premier team has one USPHL home game remaining in 2014, versus the CT Jr Rangers, to keep their unbeaten streak alive. Since dropping the puck on September 27th at the Ice Vault, the Hitmen have rattled off 10 straight USPHL home wins and outscored opponents 73-23. This past weekend was no different as the Hitmen dispatched of the South Shore Kings, 4-3 and 6-3.
 
On Saturday, the Hitmen got a Herculean effort from the USPHL top 3 scoring leaders to push their home win streak to nine. The line of Conor O'Neil (2 goals, including game winner), Michael Laffin (1 goal, 2 assists) and Patrick Schule (2 assists) single handedly took over the game. With the score knotted at one entering the 3rd period, O'Neil scored :32 seconds into the period. The O'Neil goal was followed by a Laffin tally at 3:54, then O'Neil struck again with the game winner at 17:23 to put the game away, 4-3. The win pushed Swedish national goaltender, Ebbe Sionas, to an impressive 9-1 record and solidified the top scoring trio standing atop the USPHL scoring race.
 
In the Sunday matinee, the Laffin line picked right up where they left off compiling 8 points (as a line) and leading the team to a 6-3 victory. On the day, the Premier team was lead by Patrick Schule (2 goals, 2 assists) who scored a short handed goal, empty net goal, and assisted on the O'Neil goal and Laffin power play goal. "I thought that the Laffin line were difference makers this weekend," commented coach Toby Harris after the Hitmen win Sunday. "Don't get me wrong, those three guys have been great all year. They are all wearing letters for a reason. But, this weekend they were special, they earned those letters."
 
On the weekend, the threesome lit the lamp for a combined 16 points (7 goals and 9 assists), continuing to battle one another for the USPHL scoring title. Currently, Captain and Holy Cross recruit, Michael Laffin, leads the league in scoring with a 24-32-56 scoring line. He is followed by Patrick Schule (20-27-47) and University of Vermont recruit, Conor O'Neil (15-29-44).
 
On Saturday, the Hitmen will travel to Kingston, MA to face-off against the upstart Bay State Breakers for a two game set. The Breakers, winners in 7 of their last 8, will meet the Boston Jr. Bruins on Thursday, prior to the weekend series. You can follow all the Hitmen action at www.fasthockey.com