HOOKSETT, N.H. – The Elmira Aviators (12-16-5-1) fell flat at Delta Dental Arena Friday night, losing 5-0 to the New Hampshire Mountain Kings (10-18-2-3).
This series in New Hampshire presented a tremendous opportunity for the Aviators to climb the standings and push back towards a playoff spot. However, the Mountain Kings came eager to defend home ice and played one of their best games of the season.
New Hampshire has played better hockey to begin 2026, splitting its series last weekend against Philadelphia and taking three of four possible points. The Mountain Kings took it to the next level Friday night.
With over 12 new players since Elmira last saw New Hampshire, the Mountain Kings relied on new pieces to dominate the contest. Ronnie Hill picked up two goals against the Aviators in the 5-0 victory. He’s now scored five times in three games with New Hampshire.
Even more impressive was the performance of Mountain King goaltender Nolan Francis.
Francis was with Elmira in late summer, staying with the team through training camp. Eventually, the sides parted, and after a stint in the NCDC, Francis made his way back to the NAHL with the Mountain Kings.
Francis stopped all 32 Aviator shots Friday night for his first career NAHL shutout and first shutout victory of the season for New Hampshire. The 5-0 win is the Mountain Kings’ largest margin of victory this season.
The game was close for the first two periods, with New Hampshire earning a goal late in each frame to develop a 2-0 lead. The contest really unravelled in the third period.
Not only did the Mountain Kings fire off three more goals in less than a ten-minute span, but tensions flared up, and the game got out of control.
There were two fights in the third period and countless more scuffles and extracurriculars. Each team had more than 70 penalty minutes in the game, and they combined for more than 150.
Elmira will need to up the discipline and focus if it hopes to flush this game away and pick up a series sweep on Saturday night. The Aviators and Mountain Kings will faceoff again at Delta Dental Arena at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The game can be streamed on NATV or listened to on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].