Philadelphia Hockey Club’s Eastern Hockey League’s (EHL) junior team defeated the New Jersey Bears 5 – 2 yesterday in the South Division’s semi-final series to complete a sweep of the best of three series and advance to the South Division’s final which will start the week of March 24.

PHC, who advanced to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, entered the series as the fourth seed against the first seed Bears, who defeated PHC five of the seven games during the regular season.

PHC won game one by the score of 5 – 3. After the Bears took a 1 – 0 lead, RJ Rowan and Ryan Suchy game PHC a 2 – 1 lead. The Bears tied the contest at two at 7:26 into the middle stanza before co-captain Jake Smith gave PHC the lead. The Bears tied the game again at 4:45 into the third period. Just eight seconds later, Nick Vinson, who finished with the most goals in the league with 33, scored the eventual game winner to make it a 4 – 3 game. Connor Movalli ice the game with an empty netter with 35 seconds remaining in the game to make it 5 – 3.

Cross Sherman stopped 27 of 30 shots. Jaydon Jones (2 assists), Suchy and Movalli (1 goal and 1 assist) each had two points.

In game two of this best-of-three series, the Bears took an early lead in the first period and then Vinson tied the game with 7:30 remaining in the opening period.

PHC’s Liam Kansler and Jones scored very late in the second period to make it a 3 – 1 game. The Bears came within one just 1:49 into the third period but Denis Maliew scored with seven minutes remaining to extend PHC’s lead. Movalli scored another empty netter with 2:37 remaining in the game to close out the scoring and advance PHC to the Division Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Sherman, who played strong again between the pipes, stopped 34 of 36 shots. Jones and Movalli each had a goal and an assist.

The South Division Finals will start the week of March 24 when PHC takes on the second seed New Jersey 87’s for a best of three series.