Over the last four years, the Parkland ice hockey team has become a dynasty in the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Ice Hockey League, winning league titles each of those years by wide margins. The Trojans have also made some deep runs in the Flyers Cup, the postseason tournament that follows the regular season.

The 2015 season is no different. The Trojans have opened up play with a 7-0-1 record through their first eight games. And last Monday night, Parkland was at its winning ways again, this time against rival Emmaus for the second time this year.

Defending LVSHL champion Parkland (8-0-1) scored four first period goals and added on five more to end the Green Hornets (3-5) winning streak, which was at three games, with a 9-3 victory at the Lehigh Valley Ice Arena.

As in all other sports, the clash between these two rivals is heated. With three penalties apiece, and each team wanting to get the better of each other, it is always a game that is circled on the schedule no matter what the records of the two teams are.

“It’s always nice to get a win against Emmaus,” said PHS senior Billy Wilkinson, who had his first career multi-goal game with two goals. “We play to win every game we play, but when it’s against them it’s extra special.”

The competitiveness showed within the first couple of minutes during Monday night’s clash.

Matthew Sheaffer (two goals and an assist) scored his team leading 17th goal just 43 seconds into the game to give Emmaus an early advantage. But Parkland quickly answered with a goal by Charlie Rongo a minute later, and three others by Jake Nimeh, Wilkinson and Evan Dratch to take a 4-1 edge at the end of one.

Before they knew it, the Green Hornets were down 6-1. The Trojans scored the opening two goals of the second period. Emmaus had a chance to bring one back on a breakaway, but it was stopped by Kevin Giltz (16 saves).

“We have a lot of players on this team that can put the puck in the net,” said Wilkinson. “And that’s a good thing because we don’t always have to count on just one or two individual players to score.”

Noah Brown added one midway through the period off assists from Sheaffer and Jackson Goodman.

Louie Rivera and Koby Staivecki also recorded goals for Parkland. Eric Johannes and Timmy Doe contributed two assists each.

Sheaffer tallied his 18th of the season late in the third period, but it was too little too late for Emmaus.

The Trojans face Liberty next Monday night at the Steel Ice Center.