Flemingsbergs, CSKA, Minuteman Flames extend longest win streaks in the world
To win any hockey game is difficult. To win multiple games in a row to cultivate a streak is even harder. But what three teams have been able to do thus far into the 2022-23 youth hockey season is nothing short of amazing.
2009 Flemingsbergs IK (14-0-0), 2010 CSKA Moscow (18-0-0) and the 2010-born Minuteman Flames (12-0-1) are all in the midst of unparalleled unbeaten streaks to begin their campaigns.
A Fiery Offense From Flemingsbergs
In Sweden, No. 4 Flemingsbergs has roared out of the gates. The club got things off on the right track at the 2022 Nordic Youth Trophy. After going 5-0-0 in group play, they bested No. 6 AIK and No. 8 Almtuna IS in the playoffs en route to the gold medal.
At the tournament, Flemingsbergs tallied 74 goals, while only allowing six into their net. Putting that into perspective, the next-best team was Almtuna with a plus-49 goal differential.
Forward Dante Bergfors was as dynamic as they come, tallying 37 points (24G, 13A) across the team’s seven games, bolstered by two 11-point individual performances. Just behind him were Ludvig Schûnzel (11G, 11A) and Hugo Sandblom (9G, 12A). All three players’ balanced approach to the game rounded out the club’s potent attack.
The team’s focus shifts to district play now, and that explosive offense has allowed Flemingsbergs to continue its torrid stretch of play. Garnering a 5-0-0 record in the first batch of games, they averaged at least five goals scored in each matchup.
Flemingsbergs is currently out to a 2-0-0 start to their next stretch of district games, scoring 20 goals so far. Their only “blemish” being two goals allowed to Haninge Anchors HC svart in their latest outing.
Next up is a date with No. 7 Djurgårdens IF on Oct. 23rd. Can Djurgårdens stifle the phenomenal attack of Flemingsbergs?
CSKA Continues To Collect Wins
No top team in its respective country has dominated the way CSKA has thus far.
Through 18 games, the No. 1-ranked 2010 team in the world, CSKA has been the model of perfection. A fact made all the more impressive when understanding that their schedule mostly consists of matchups against other top-10 teams in the country.
CSKA has been able to make light work of opponents thanks largely in part to — much like Flemingsbergs — a versatile offense. Seemingly able to score at will, they have only been held to less than two goals scored just twice. No matter what style of game falls into their lap, handling all sorts of situations has been a linchpin of the team’s success. They can trade goals with high-powered offenses when necessary, and can gut out low-scoring affairs in defensive battles.
Forwards Nikita Sinikin (24G, 24A) and Roman Andreev (23G, 17A) have been revelations up front, each racking up at least 40 points. Sinikin dished out three assists alone in the team’s last win, a 4-3 victory over No. 4 Vityaz Podolsk.
The road does not get any easier for CSKA, as a primetime tilt against No. 2 Spartak Moscow is next on their schedule this weekend. The two programs have met twice already this season, with CSKA coming out on top both times.
Minuteman Spending Lots of Time At The Top
The Minuteman Flames began their season with a 4-2 win against HoneyBaked back on Sept. 9th. They debuted as the No. 1 team in the U.S. a week later, and have gone unbeaten in their next 12 games. The only decision that kept the Flames out of the win column was a 4-4 tie against the No. 8-ranked team in the world Boston Jr. Eagles.
If the Flames have any hope of holding down the No. 1 spot in the rankings, a continued focus on team play will be paramount over the next few months. With over 30 league games upcoming in the Eastern Hockey Federation (EHF), they will be battling familiar opponents such as the Jr. Eagles and Middlesex Islanders, who are another top-10 program in the U.S.
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