ROCKLAND, Mass. — Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (PA) head coach Nic Mongeon had tears in his eyes as he looked back at his players hugging and dancing after their dominating 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones (OH) to capture the 2026 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 19U 1A National Championship at Lovell Arena.
The word he used to describe what had just occurred on the ice: magical.
“How we came together, it’s magical. It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons, but it came together at the right time,” Mongeon said.
The Flyers advanced to the final after a resounding 5-1 win against the Grand Rapids Griffins (MI) in the quarterfinal round and a 4-3 overtime victory in the semifinals against the Adirondack Northstars (NY).
Mongeon credits his team’s consistent ability to pile on goals to the high skill level of his players.
“Getting pucks to the net and getting bodies to the net is pretty simple. We have a lot of skill and talented players. It really is an elite team. Players like Georgia [Tomasic] and Alyssa [Viola] really just found the back of the net the whole weekend,” he said.
Tomasic carried Philadelphia’s offense, as she scored a hat trick in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal game, she registered an assist on three of the team’s four goals.
She carried her dominating offensive performance into the championship, scoring two of the Flyers’ five goals.
“I have to give all my credit to my line,” Tomasic said. “The girls set me up all the time. The support from my girls on the bench, everything about that just keeps me going and getting those goals.”
The Cyclones opened the scoring nine minutes into the first period when Avery Lemmerbrock found the back of the net. Her goal celebration deserved its own highlight reel. After she bent down onto the ice, Lemmerbrock’s teammate laid across her back and used her stick as a barbell, imitating a bench press.
The Flyers responded with a highlight of their own when Miranda Post put her team on the board.
Cyclones forward Audrey Ebert high-pressed and picked off a pass to score shorthanded midway through the second period. Her goal came in between two scores for the Flyers.
Tomasic’s second goal of the night is one she’ll remember. Viola stopped the Cyclones from advancing out of their half by picking off a pass. She then slotted it through the Cyclones’ defense to find Tomasic one-on-one with Cyclone goalie Alayna Dunagan. Tomasic danced around Dunagan to put her team up two.
The Cyclones did not give up. Zoey Worsley tried to get her offense going with a pair of dangerous shots late in the third period.
But Zoe Musike scored on a power play with eight minutes left in regulation to seal the win for Philadelphia.
“There’s a lot of love in the air for each other. It’s going to be a lot of celebrating, and a lot of notifications will be going on in our group chat,” Tomasic said after the win.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.