HOOKSETT, NH — The New Hampshire Mountain Kings faced a challenging weekend at Delta Dental Arena, dropping a pair of East Division matchups against the Elmira Aviators on November 6 and 7. Despite the results, several Mountain Kings players found the scoresheet, including forward Benjamin Short, who earned recognition from the North American Hockey League for his performance.
Friday night’s series opener saw Elmira take control offensively, earning an 11-3 victory over New Hampshire. Aidan Patton, Benjamin Short, and Edgar Viskantas provided the scoring for the Mountain Kings, but the Aviators’ offensive depth proved difficult to contain.
The Mountain Kings returned to the ice Saturday evening looking to bounce back and put together a stronger performance in front of their home crowd.
After falling behind 2-0, New Hampshire responded with a pair of second-period goals to bring the game level. Nicolas Vrtiel got the Mountain Kings on the board with a power-play goal before Dylan Podergois found the back of the net just minutes later, tying the contest at two.
Elmira regained the advantage with a shorthanded goal late in the middle frame and extended its lead in the third period. Short added his 11th goal of the season to keep New Hampshire within striking distance, but the Aviators eventually secured a 5-3 victory to complete the weekend sweep.
Despite the difficult series, Short’s individual performance earned recognition from the NAHL, as he was named the East Division’s Third Star of the Week. The recognition highlights his continued offensive contributions to the Mountain Kings this season.
With the weekend behind them, the Mountain Kings will turn their attention toward their next home series against the Philadelphia Rebels on November 20 and 21.
The upcoming matchup presents an opportunity for New Hampshire to reset and return to the ice with a renewed focus as the team continues its 2026-27 NAHL campaign.
Fans can find upcoming games and tickets at tickets.nhmountainkings.com.