All 16 teams in the EHLP qualify for the playoffs, and this week marks the beginning of the play-in rounds. In the North and East Division, the number 4 and 5 seeds will compete against each other while the South Division will see two rounds; the 3rd and 6th place teams will go up against one another while the 4th and 5th place teams will go head-to-head.

Each series will be a best-of-three, and by the conclusion of the play-in round, four teams will remain in each division.

Here’s a look ahead to the four play-in round matchups.

North Division: #4 Valley Jr. Warriors (23-15-4) vs. #5 Vermont Lumberjacks (14-25-3)

Season Series: Lumberjacks 2-0-0 vs. Warriors

Series Breakdown: The Lumberjacks and Warriors only faced each other twice in the regular season; a back-to-back in mid-January. Both games were decided by one goal including an OT win for Vermont.

Over the last few seasons, the Warriors have flown under the radar as a strong EHLP program in a crowded North Division, and this year is no different. Paul Magalhaes has led the team’s offense with 53 points (25g, 28a), but the team boasts a deep lineup with other scoring forwards like Jake Scott, John Greer and Jack Guagliano. Despite being 4th in the division, their goal differential is second-best in the North at plus-39, better than the New Hampshire Avalanche and Adirondack Jr. Thunder. Overall, this is a team that can put the puck in the net while stifling opponents’ offensive attacks.

Last year, Vermont pulled off the Herculean task of upsetting the Adirondack Jr. Thunder, and they can absolutely pull off another feat this time around. Mackenzie Owens leads the team with 18 goals and 31 points, but a few players are right behind him with much fewer games played like Josh Bain and Caden Jacobs. The Lumberjacks also had an amazing showcase in Aston by outscoring opponents 24-10, one of those games being a 7-2 win over the second-best team in the EHLP in the New Jersey 87’s. While defense may not be Vermont’s biggest strength, they can beat just about anybody if the offense can stay hot.

East Division: #4 Connecticut Nor’Easter (17-19-6) vs. #5 Bridgewater Bandits (4-33-5)

Season Series: Nor’Easter 5-1-1 vs. Bandits

Series Breakdown: While the regular-season series looks one-sided, it should be noted that four of the seven games between these two teams have been decided by one goal. Connecticut, however, has fared well in a competitive East Division while being led by forwards Ethan Muroski, Danny Anello and Trey Guire. Their starting goaltender, Drareg Galang, has been excellent this season with a 2.99 goals against average and .926 save percentage.

The Bandits will have a tough task ahead of them, but they have proven they can compete against a team like the Nor’Easter while having skilled players like Tomas Kobela, Lukas Hejret and Gavin Hillier at the helm. As a team, Bridgewater only scored four fewer goals than the Nor’Easter, so if the defense can hold up, it can be a tight series.

South Division: #3 Union Jr. Thunder (20-19-3) vs. #6 Philadelphia Little Flyers (9-30-3)

Season Series: Thunder 6-1-0 vs. Little Flyers

Series Breakdown: For the third straight year, the Union Jr. Thunder and Philadelphia Little Flyers will face each other in the first round of the EHLP playoffs.

Union is coming off its best regular-season yet, hitting the 20-win plateau for the first time as a program. Isaac Walker led the team with 19 goals and 32 points while four additional skaters were able to hit the 10-goal mark. Union goaltenders Logan Powell and Nathan Kelly have proven to be a formidable goaltending tandem; they both have a goals against average well below 2.40 while having save percentages north of .930. While the team lost both playoff matchups against Philadelphia, this could be the year they reverse their fortunes.

The Little Flyers struggled for most of the 2024-25 season, but their record does not tell the entire story. Head coach Alex Barone took over for the team midway through the year and the team has been playing better as a result. Four of the Little Flyer’s nine wins came in the final 10 games of the regular season, while forwards Owen Ozer and Connor Gluck have been leading the way. Defenseman Brinson White, who split time between the EHL and EHLP, stayed with the Premier team down the stretch and has six points (1g, 5a) in as many games. On paper, this series looks like a slam dunk for Union, but Philadelphia’s resurgence could make this series a toss-up.

South Division: #4 New Jersey Renegades (16-22-4) vs. #5 Pennsylvania Huntsmen (16-23-3)

Season Series: Renegades 4-2-1 vs. Huntsmen

Series Breakdown: Going by the standings and regular-season matchup, this could be the closest matchup in the play-in round. The Renegades had a solid showing in the gauntlet of the South Division while getting major contributions from key players. Matt Tavares finished sixth in the league with 54 points (25g, 29a) while Anthony Prunty managed to record 28 points (17g, 11a) in just 17 games this season. Goaltending is also a strength for New Jersey; Thomas Mount, Matteo Brizzi and Eli Caine have a combined .915 save percentage when sharing the net this season. 

The Huntsmen finished the regular season with a similar record as the Renegades while proving to be a scrappy team that can find a way to win games. James Mirigliano leads the offense with 39 points (18g, 21a) in 33 games, and the team is getting some reinforcements with the return of veteran forward Anthony LoGiurato. Injured at the end of last season, LoGiurato is back in the lineup while recording nine points (6g, 3a) in 16 games this year. If he can get going in the postseason, it can change the dynamic of the series in Pennsylvania’s favor.