Freedom and Liberty are scheduled to meet in the second annual Bethlehem Winter Classic Feb. 4, a year after they both had a successful inaugural meeting last winter.

Until then, both teams will be jockeying for positions in the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League (LVSHL). Earlier this season, Freedom downed Liberty, 7-3, on Oct. 27.

Freedom, which missed the LVSHL playoffs last winter with a 4-7-3 record, is off to a fast start with an experienced club that has several players who have been in the system for the past few years. Beginning last Monday's play, Freedom had a 3-1-0 record. Their lone blemish was a 6-3 loss to Southern Lehigh Oct. 13.

Senior Brendan Driscoll, who holds several of the team's records, has paced his club with a team-high eight goals and four assists for 12 points. Driscoll is also one of the leading scorers in the league.

Brandon Manganiello, who's back in the fold, also is one of the team's leading scorers with one goal and seven assists for eight points.

Spencer Manganiello (4-2-6) and Cole Nicholson (3-3-6) also have provided some offensive punch for the Patriots.

Goalie Jarrett Ballister, who started for the first time last season, is back is the nets and is off to a solid start.

To the west, Liberty has been struggling in the early going as they were winless in their first four games (0-4). Liberty has scored a league-low six goals and has issued a league-high 29 goals.

Scott Miller had a team-high two goals and Nicholas Spano will be the team's primary goal stopper this season

Lisa Driscoll, president of the Freedom hockey association, is anticipating another successful night involving the local teams when they meet for the classic. She confirmed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms will be involved in some capacity.

"We had about 120 people for the game last year and that was a good turnout," said Driscoll. "There has been talk about the classic already, and we are looking to have another great night."