Why Can't We Be Friends? Or how about "Can't We All Just Get Along?"

It's been a long season. Blood, sweat and tears have all been shed. Friendships made and friendships broken. In the grand scheme of things all of this happened because of hockey. The game we all love and a passion that unites us. Hockey breeds competition, frustrations, joys but most of all it bring us together. It's brought us some great shows. The goals, the hits and the fights have been bringing the crowds to their feet all year long. It hasn't been without dramatic sequences like players boycotting games and fan bases going to war in the crowds and message boards but the one thing that we all took from the games regardless of what happened surrounding it was that butterfly in the stomach excitement that made us want to go night after night.

From fans invading other FHL towns to putting on a show in the Maine Event there has been an endless barrage of story lines that have gripped every fan base at some point. That in a nutshell is what hockey is all about. Things happen and half the time when we can't control them it's not what we wanted to happen. Everyone wants the cup, to win and to be treated fairly but reality is that's just not the case most of the time and we just have to suck it up and try to do the best at the things we can control rather than kick dirt and raise hell over things we can't.  

Since the first day I decided to apply myself to more than just watching the game and started getting involved I began to write this blog and build relationships all around the league. From day one it's been he said, she said and on a small scale complete anarchy. This team is cheating this way... That team is doing this and that and they shouldn't. The Kirnans are out to screw the other teams... The referees are idiots. Such and such organisation is corrupt. It never ends and very likely never will.


What I'm trying to say is this is hockey and the up and downs that come with it. Referees at every level are criticised. Gary Bettman the commissioner of the National Hockey League is one of the most jeered men in sports being booed every time he speaks. Nobody will ever be totally satisfied at some point, if ever and that's life. Get on with it. Do what you gotta do but the mud slinging and trash talking are overblown. Everything is a conspiracy when there is something on the line that everyone wants.


What this league and the teams in it really need to do is just get back to some good ol' hockey. To cut the bullshit and the whining and the conspiracy theories and to just enjoy the game. If it's so horrible every owner in this league can pull their teams out or sell them or just quit but they haven't have they? There is a lot of room for improvement. More clarity. Better ref's you can go on all day. As for treatment of players... They are grown men. They know what's right and what's wrong and they are in no way enslaved to the teams they play for. There are other leagues and opportunities for most to explore.


Players play, Owners pay, The commissioner oversees the league fairly without bias and hands out suspensions and fines as necessary. The fans show up to show support. Security does it's job to protect people and diffuse situations, Referees make calls they see using their best judgement and discretion.


That's hockey. It's not always going to be the way I described it because this isn't a perfect world or a perfect league. Take your licks and keep coming back for more that's what's important. Bury the hatchets and wash off the bad blood. I present you the game of hockey without the politics... hold the stress and frustrations... it's just a game. Learn to enjoy it again for what it is.


If you enjoyed the article please share the link. Thanks for the support. Good luck to everyone still alive in the playoffs and better luck next season to those who are not.

Brooklyn Aviators sweep the Danville Dashers this weekend with a 4-2 Victory in their Second Match!

Second game of the weekend stand in Danville and it looks like it might be brawl instead of an FHL hockey game. Last nights game ended with bad blood on both sides and you knew that this was going to be continued in today's game. It didn't help that Brooklyn took the match last night by a score of 8-1.

FIRST PERIOD with only 3:23 of the clock saw #10C L.Schott and #7C J.Brooks get into it and they each received a 5 minute major fighting penalty for their efforts. How about a little hockey please? 

Round two with just 6:04 off the clock we saw #12C M.Atsoff of Brooklyn and Danvilles #14RW C.Affinati have an a disagreement. Surprise, Fighting Major, Fighting Game Misconduct and an Instigator. Now can we please have a little hockey? 

At the 14:44 mark #16D H.Coxe aided by #20C J.Felten score for the Aviators. 1-0 Brooklyn at this time. #23RW A.Scampoli scored on a powerplay with the help of #20C J.Felten and #9RW N.Petriello at the 12:25 mark. So far so good, hockey at last. 2-0 Brooklyn Aviators now.

Danville answered with a score with 3:42 left in the first period on a powerplay, #17RW B.Hunt scored and #89LW H.Kobayashi and #9D J.Pace earned assists. This made the match 2-1 Brooklyn Aviators and that is how the first period ended.

SECOND PERIOD slowed down to a real hockey game and saw Brooklyn score the only point in this period. #2RW M.Thomson hit the Dashers net with assists from #10C L.Schott and #7C C.Campanale. 3-1 Brooklyn at the end of two.

 THIRD PERIOD the main event! #11C A.Owsiak with help from #20C J.Felten & #9RW N.Petriello made the match 4-1 Brooklyn at the 13:39 mark. The Dashers answered with a short handed goal at the 7:11 mark by #10D R.Schweyer with #52LW R.Tremblay & #15RW L.McClure for assists to make the game 4-2 Brooklyn Aviators. This is how the game ended and Brooklyn swept the Dashers this weekend. 


With 5:08 left in the third all hell broke loose. We had six players going at it at one time and it wasn't a pretty picture at all. Three from each team and what a site! The players who saw action for the Dashers were #10D R.Schweyer, #3D R.Huggett and #9D J.Pace. Brooklyn's players involved in the melee were #3D D.Osborne, #8LW S.Koich and #10C L.Schott. 


#10C L.Schott also received a four game suspension for his efforts. This will keep him out of the last remaining games but he will be available for the playoffs.


Brooklyn better get on the stick and make a vast improvement in their ability to score on poweplays, the playoffs are just around the corner.  


SHOTS ON GOAL: BROOKLYN 40 DANVILLE 16


POWERPLAYS: BROOKLYN 1 FOR 9  DASHERS 1 FOR 4


PIM: BROOKLYN 98 MINUTES ON 16 PENALTIES 
       DANVILLE 85 MINUTES ON 19 PENALTIES

Article by Clifford F. Zeman

Aviators Shoot down Dashers 8-3 in Danville, IL.

February 25,2012 

It was raining in Danville last night but it wasn't rain, it was raining Brooklyn Goals. Seems as if the Aviators have kicked their dry spell and they are now in their rainy season of goals. Brooklyn fans are glad that their team has found its gel and putting points on the board.

FIRST PERIOD action and it was a scary start for the Aviators. #15RW L.McClure with help from #46C C.Townsend & #8C R.Stern with only 39 seconds off the clock made their mark. It was a long shot from the blue line that #31G M.DiLorenzo didn't see and it found its mark. 

The A's said no goal and the lights came on rather fast and I think the official went with the goal judge on this score. The A's weren't happy but so be it. Dashers had the lead at this point in time 1-0.

Brooklyn matched the score with 9:18 off the clock with a #20C J.Felten score with an assist from #9RW N.Petriello, 1-1 tie. Aviators Center #18 J.Dolgy hit the net with aid from #7C C.Campanale & #2RW M.Thomson with 17:53 off the clock to make it a 2-1 Brooklyn lead. This is how the second period ended 2-1 Aviators. Close game still at this time, it could go either way.

SECOND PERIOD saw the Aviators score three more times and the Dashers made their mark twice. First to find goal was the Dashers #14C C.Affinati with #18F J.Barr earning an assist. This made the match 2-2, still a close game. Brooklyn came back and scored the next two goals. #12C M.Atsoff with #2RW M.Thomson & #31G M.DiLorenzo earned assists. Match was 3-2 Aviators.

The second was #20C J.Felten with aid from #3D D.Osborne & #23RW A.Scampoli. Game score 4-2 Aviators at this time. The Dashers returned the favor at the 11:55 mark when #7C J.Brooks found Brooklyn goal. #3D R.Huggett & #18F J.Barr were in on the assist. This made the match 4-3.

The clock showing 12:18 off the second period is when Brooklyn's #8LW S.Koich made the score 5-3. He was aided by #14C J.Dabkowski & #27RW C.Mignone. Game starting to slip away from the Dashers.

THIRD PERIOD was all Brooklyn's the Aviators hit three more times to seal the faith of the Dashers. #11C A.Owsiak with help from #20C J.Felten & #6D N.Wheeler made the match 6-3 with 1:09 off the clock. 

The second score for Brooklyn that earned #20C J.Felten a HAT TRICK was at the 17:07 mark of the third. He was aided by #23RW A.Scampoli & #18C J.Dolgy, this made the match 7-3 Brooklyn.

The last but not the least score was  on an unassisted goal by #18C J.Dolgy of the Aviators. The game ended 8-3 and Brooklyn was very happy with its showing and so were the Brooklyn fans. 

SHOTS ON GOAL: BROOKLYN 38  DANVILLE 27

POWER PLAYS: BROOKLYN 3 FOR 8  DANVILLE 0 FOR 3

PIM: BROOKLYN 41 MINUTES ON 8 PENALTIES  DANVILLE 48 MINUTES FOR 13 INFRACTIONS

Each team had a member ejected for third man in.

The teams meet tomorrow in an afternoon game at 2PM Danville time or 3PM Brooklyn time. Catch it on SLV....

Article by Clifford F. Zeman

Privateers Make A Lot Of Moves

There Privateers still seem to be adding so here are some of the bigger moves.

Signed

Name: Tibor Varga

Position: Center

Height: 6'2

Weight: 210

Experience: FHL,SPHL,ECHL,

The 1000 Islands Privateers made a big splash on Tuesday trading Brian Marks to the Brooklyn Aviators for the rights to Tibor Varga. Varga last season played with the Rome Frenzy and notched 27 goals and 45 assists for 72 points in 45 games but was -10 in the process. He spent part of this season in the SPHL playing for the Mississippi RiverKings posting 7 points in 23 games and a -6 rating. Varga's addition is a big question mark as Varga was dominant last season however it remains to be seen whether or not he can compete in a tougher more competitive FHL. His numbers dwindled in the SPHL and he was waived on 2/3/2012.

Name: Peter Dundovich
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'2
Weight: 195
Experience: ECAC, FHL

Recently waived by the Brooklyn Aviators, it didn't take Peter Dundovich to find a new home in Alex Bay. He likely comes in as the backup to Matt Anthony taking over backup duties from Matthew Kinsella who has been exiled by league suspension.




 

Traded

                                  

Name: Chad Bazin

Position: Defence

Height: 5'10

Weight: 190

Experience: CJHL, FHL

Former Warrior and Privateer Chad Bazin has been traded to the Danville Dashers for future considerations. Was enjoying a career best season with 23 points and a +35 rating prior to the trade. If he remains in the FHL this will be a solid pickup by the Dashers

Name: Ryan Pearson

Position: Left Wing

Height: 6'1

Weight: 190

Experience: SIJHL, FHL

Was in his second season with the Privateers and was on his way to career bests in every category prior to the trade. He now joins Chad Bazin as a member of the Danville Dashers. If he remains in the FHL this will be a solid pickup by the Dashers

Name: Jeff Winchester

Position: Defence

Height: 6'2

Weight: 195

Experience: CHA, ECHL, CHL, SPHL, FHL

The former Privateers team captain has been traded to the New Jersey Outlaws after starting his FHL career in dominant fashion in 1000 Islands with 59 points in 37 games and a +53 rating. A huge boost to the Outlaws who some would argue did not need it. With the Outlaws in a mini slump the addition of Winchester will do much to change that.

Name: Brian Marks

Position: Defence

Height: 6'0

Weight: 205

Experience: ECAC, CJHL, FHL

Marks was having a solid year on the Privateers blue line. His +29 was a good indicator of what the hard working defenceman brings to a team. He now joins the Brooklyn Aviators where his defensive presense will no doubt improve the Aviators as they look to improve their defense in preparation for the playoffs.

Bluefins step off bus, defeat Danville 5-4

By Kenny Gregory

Cape Cod Bluefins

Danville, IL - After spending what seemed like an eternity on the bus heading from Cape Cod to Danville (20 hours), The Cape Cod Bluefins made their way into David S. Palmer Arena and won the front end of a back to back game against a much improved Danville Dashers team by the score of 5 to 4.

Cape Cod came out working hard as they scored the first 3 goals of the game, with goals by newly acquired forward Kevin Hill 2:54 into the opening period on the power play and that's how the 1st period ended. the Bluefins would score the first 2 goals of the 2nd period on goals by Brad Surdam and David Lun to make it 3-0.

Danville then dug deep and started putting shot after shot on the Bluefins newest goaltender Tyler O'Brien and scored goals by Igor Batora, Joe Pace and Dean Yakura to send the game to the locker room tied at 3.

Early in the third period, Dustin Skinner put the Dashers ahead for the first and only time tonight 4:20 into the period. The Bluefins then really reached back for that extra energy and found the reserve tank tonight when David Lun fired home his 2nd goal of the night to tie the game at 4 at 7:15 of the third period before captain Kevin McCready broke the tie 3 minutes later with his 19th goal of the season.

Cape Cod would hang on for the last 9:13, despite many opportunities by the Dashers as Tyler O'Brien kept his goal closed for the rest of the night, making huge save after huge save making 24 in total out of 28 Danville shots for his first victory as a Bluefin. Dashers goaltender Breton Lindoff takes the loss tonight, stopping 29 of 34 shots.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow night at David S. Palmer Arena to do battle in the 2nd game in 2 nights at 7pm central time. The Bluefins are back in action at Hyannis Youth and Community Center next Friday and Saturday, February 3rd and 4th as they take on the New Jersey Outlaws and Danbury Whalers respectively. Both games are at 7 pm eastern time. Great seats are still available.

Warriors Victorious In OT Thriller

                                                 Photo credit: Aspen Oakes

Akwesasne - The Warriors played host to the Danville Dashers last night in what was a highly entertaining game from start to finish and had the crowd into it from the first puck drop as the fans were treated to the Pierre Dagenais show once again.


The game starts out with a furious pace as both teams tried to get on the board first and it was the hard working Danville squad bending the twine first on a goal by Dustin Skinner assists to Dean Yakura and Nicolas Katsiyianis at 5:26 of the first period. It wouldn't take the Warriors long to answer though as they pressured the Dashers not allowing the puck out of their zone in what was a very workmanlike effort from the Warriors and it led to their first goal from Pierre Dagenais assisted by Nicolas Corbeil and Sylvain Deschatelets 9:18 into the first But Danville wasn't done yet and took advantage of another chance as Ky Moje scored from Justin Barr at 14:26. That would cap an energetic first period as the Dashers lead 2-1 after the one.


The second period was no different with both teams pressing the action but neither team is able to score in the second as the goalies put on a show of their own with Breton Lindoff making some big saves only to watch Adam Thompson do the same when called upon. Some chances at each end and a couple saves by the posts sees the score remain 2-1 Danville after two.


The third starts off with a bang as the players seemed to come out with a spark and the Warriors grab all the momentum early when Pierre Dagenais bangs one home on the powerplay from Carter Trevisani and Sylvain Deschatelets at 2:49 of the third and Akwesasne looks fired up. It doesn't take long for the next one when Miguel Delisle gains the zone and dumps the puck around the boards Martin Beaulne wins a battle for the puck and dishes to Pelkey to cap a great play at 4:34 of the third to make it 3-2 Akwesasne. Both team continue trading chances in the following minutes and Danville takes a costly hooking penalty putting the Warriors on the powerplay setting up the next goal by Nicolas Corbeil who sniped the top left corner assisted by Jeremy Van Hoof and Sylvain Deschatelets, a powerplay goal at 15:12 of the third.

                                                    Photo Credit: Aspen Oakes
In the dying minutes the Dashers refuse to quit. Getting the puck in the zone leads to a two on one and the Dashers split Thompson as the Dashers pull within one a goal by Ryan Stern from Dustin Skinner and Igor Batora with 1:35 left in the game. The Dashers won't quit bringing Lindoff to the bench for the extra attacker and it pays off for them when Billy Hunt gets a soft shot on net that trickles past Thompson. Assists to Hironori Kobayashi and Ray Tremblay with :38 left in the third period... We are heading to overtime! 4-4 in a thriller.

                                                      Photo Credit: Aspen Oakes
Three on three sudden death and the pucks dropped. Both teams scrambling and trading chances early as the wide open ice surface is being fully utilised. A few pucks te goaltenders and end up in the netting in the first minute. It doesn't take long though for this one to be decided as Pierre Dagenais gets a semi-breakaway and sends a bomb of a slapshot top left leaving Lindoff no chance to react. Assists to Carter Trevisani and Martin Beaulne 1:32 into the overtime period and this one is over ending another gritty performance from the Dashers but Pierre Dagenais's hat-trick proves to much in the end and the Akwesasne Warriors defeat the Danville Dashers 5-4 in overtime.

Next up for the Warriors is the league leading New Jersey Outlaws on Wednesday

Privateers Finish Dashers border tour 5-2

Alexandria Bay - Matt Anthony was all set in Net for the 1000 Island Privateers. Breton Lindoff starting in Net for the Danville Dashers wasnt so prepared in the 1st Period as the Privateers took only 2:03 to put the First Goal on the Scoreboard. Adam McAllister from Ryan Pearson, Brad Pawlowski. A few minutes later saw a pack in front of the net with the Dashers feeling a goal only to have it waived off by the Ref. No one seemed to hear a whistle that apparently was blown just seconds before the puck crossed the line.

The First Period saw alot of Hard Hits, good saves by both goalies, a few penalties and of course 2 fights. The first between Pawlowski and C. Affinati.  Returning to the game the second goal at 11:41 saw Smulders pass the puck to Akeson. Akeson and Kelly two on not even the goalie as the goalie came way to far out of his crease and Akeson passing puck to Kelly went right by and into an Empty net.  The next thing seen by most was a spear in the back of Akeson by J.Pace and of course not seen by Ref. The two exchange some words when Affinati comes skating across, drops gloves and throws a punch at Akeson who drops the mitts. Akeson hits Affinati with about 6 punches only to have Affinati being the smaller of the two take advantage of his size and throws some uppers from down below taking Akeson to the Ice. Now this is what I didnt understand and it comes back to the Ref issue. Akeson receives 2 for roughing and the 5 for fighting. Wait did I miss something. Like everyone there wasnt it AFFINATi who dropped them and came hunting Akeson with the first punch thrown??? The first period ended 2-0 with the Privateers outshooting the Dashers 16-9.

The 2nd Period began with the Dashers on the Power Play. Just 16 seconds in Tippin (serving Akeson's roughing penalty) jumps onto the bench in time for McAllister to hit the Ice and receive a pass from Smulders and takes to the Net making it 3-0 Privateers. The Dashers continued to play hard and didnt appear to be giving up. The back and forth play continued when Levac on his second breakaway of the game gets hooked by Affinati leading to a Penalty Shot for Levac. The Puck awaited Levac at Center Ice. Picking it up and heading for the net Lindoff awaited the shot stopping Levac from scoring as the puck went off his right pad. The Arena got quite for a bit as the second period appeared to go into slow mode...With  2:46 left  the Fans came to there feet once again. McAllister and Hunt drop the gloves and  both players throw punches back and forth. McAllister getting Hunts shirt over his head didnt stop Hunt from continueing. They appeared to go down and continued until broken up by the linesmen. McAllister appeared to come away with the win. End of 2nd 3-0 and again Privateers outshoot Dashers 17-7.

The 3rd Period saw the Privateers start on the Power Play. Just 1:16 Barr gets a shorthanded goal unassisted with the Dasher's fianlly on the Board 3-1. A minute later the Privateers answer with there 4th goal of the game from Byrd assisted by Richard and Bazin. Kobayashi coming back hard came close to scoring but was stopped by Anthony. Once again both teams skating the rink Barr again scores with Huggett and Affinati briniging the Dashers within 2 with over 10:00 still to play. A few more penalties drew the end of the game closer. With less then 3 minutes to go some frustration showing from the Dashers saw both teams bunched up like rats in an Ant trap. Pushing and shoving and face's planted a little to close brought several penalties. Winchester wih Slashing and Boarding, Akeson -Roughing, Hunt- Roughing and Yakura Roughing and 10 for Throwing his stick. With a minute left the Dashers pulled the goalie to have McAllister ( Richard, Byrd) get a hat trick with an Empty Netter ending the game with the Pirvateers winning 5-2.

Danville never stopped. They played a Great Game and although skated away with another loss they sure didnt show the Privateers they were a team that should be taken lightly. Both teams went 0-5 on the Power Plays. Once again I have to say that watching this game made me wonder about the Ref's. There were several slashing calls that seemed to have the Ref's look the other way. Some other incidents that should have been called but again looked past. Before someone gets really hurt someones eyes better open up. I dont like to be a sideline Ref that I think I know it all. But when it happens right in front of them and they do nothing really makes me wonder. Here's hoping moving forward something inproves.

Article by Karen Brown

Forget about it : Warriors hang on to beat Danville 5-4

Akwesasne ONT- A very entertaining game despite a sloppy start for a Danville team that cannot afford to make mistakes and the final score shows just how important a good start is. A big night for newly signed Jean-Rene Forget.

 

The first period begins with the Warriors Jean-Rene Forget making a big return to the lineup as he nets two goals in the first three minutes of play to make it 2-0. His first from Dan Tessier and Pierre Dagenais. His second from Dagenais and Sylvain Deschatelets. Danville manages to tighten up and kill off a penalty then go onto the powerplay. They press the attack and have the Warriors backchecking hard but fail to capitalise on the opportunity though they look to have shaken off the rust from a 15 hour drive and have began to push back.

 

Warriors narrowly miss on a shot by Deschatelets. He wristed it from the point and grabbed his own rebound. Sylvain is all over the ice he follows that with a deke but loses posession then wins a board battle gets the puck to Corbeil who gets hauled down and it's a penalty shot. Corbeil skates wide closes in and has the goalie beat but fails to lift the puck over the pad on the back hand. Danville follows that up with a breakdown in their own end and Dagenais bangs in the puck through the Danville netminder with assists to Tessier and Forget. Colin Rice of Danville and Mike Stacey of the Warriors skate out on the next play and drop the gloves. Stacey overpowers the smaller Rice to the ice as the linesman step in. Clock runs down and the players skate off for the intermission.

 

The second period starts out a little slower than the first as Dashers are out pressing but failing to get out of their own zone and when they do it's point shots that are not troubling goaltender Adam Thompson. Warriors score again to make it 4-0. Pierre Dagenais from Simone Desormeaux and Dan Tessier as a big scrumb in front leads to another Warriors goal. The referee points to the net to signal a goal and a fight in front of the net ensues. Players are shoving as Simone Desormeaux has the gloves off and is throwing punches. Penalties to both teams but the Warriors pick up two minors at the end of the scrum and the Dashers capitalise on the powerplay. Billy Hunt from Ray Tremblay and Ryan Huggett to pull within three. 4-1 Akwesasne. Raby a few plays later grabs ahold of Hironori Kobayashi by the back of the jersey and pulls him around throwing him to the ice. Raby picks up a two minute minor and a 10 minute misconduct. Warriors kill that penalty but go straight back to the box on a kneeing call. Ahmed Mahfouz has the Warriors on their sixth straight penalty kill. Make it seven as the Warriors Nicolas Corbiel makes it a 5 on 3 for 1:06. Some close chances but they kill the first and Mahfouz is back out on the kill. A delay in the action as Adam Thompson gets taken down and his defence stands up for him. Some punches and challenges are issued but Danville is the only one penalised.

 

A powerplay for Akwesasne but Danville is pushing them back and Akwesasne is having trouble breaking out. A shot by Danville point blank but Thompson makes a beautiful save. Danville kills the penalty by continuing to press allowing only one shot on the power play. Dashers score on a point shot that was tipped in front. Tremblay with the tip from Phillippe Ste Laurent and Dean Yakura. 4-2 Akwesasne as the Warriors are leaving the door open as they skate off for the intermission.

 

The third starts out with some back and forth play a few shots but neither goaltender is being challenged. Akwesasne is just making turnover after turnover as the Dashers clog the neutral zone. A turnover and a slip by Trevisani leads to a two on one but the Dashers fail to score missing wide. Dashers hard work pays off as Moje scores to make it 4-3 and pulls the Dashers within one. A Dasher penalty and Trevisani rings one off the post but the Warriors are now 0 for 4 on the power play. Nicolas Corbeil scores for Akwesasne with some beautiful stick work. Lindoff was taken down and there was a scrum in the crease which allowed Corbeil to take his time and pick his shot and he goes top shelf. Assisted by Ahmed Mahfouz and Sylvain Deschatelets. 5-3 Akwesasne. Dashers goal by Ray Tremblay from Ryan Stern.  5-4 Akwesasne with a little more than three minutes to go. Warriors penalty as Carter Trevisani is going off for slashing with 1:01 to go in the third. Warriors manage to slavage a 5-4 win against a gritty Danville Dashers team. 

 

Danville really put on a show in Akwesane tonight. They worked harder than the Warriors and if it wasn't for the poor start in the first likely did enough to win this game. The Warriors continued to try and bully but the Dashers worked through it and nearly stole another game from the defending champions. The Warriors lack of discipline caused ruts in the ice leading to the sin bin but despite that goaltender Adam Thompson improves to 5-0-1 while Breton Lindoff of Danville drops to 1-9-1 as the Warriors pick up their 10th regulation win of the season. Warriors return on tomorrow Friday the 13th to take on the Cape Cod Bluefins while the Dashers head to 1000 Islands to take on the Privateers Wednesday night.

Article by Joseph Francis

FHL Road Trip: Akwesasne Warriors

Two days, two games. A trek that started in Hogansburg, NY at 6:00 am Friday morning. The Warriors boarded a bus heading for Danbury, Connecticut to take on the always entertaining Danbury Whalers. Akwesasne coming into this trip had lost three straight and were looking to turn things around on the two game road swing.

The nearly six hour drive led to a stop in Newburgh, Ny just outside of New York City where the team and management stopped for dinner and to relax a little bit. After eating the team had some down time before jumping back on the bus so they grabbed a soccer ball and started kicking it around.

Roughly three hours later the team was back on the road to finish off the 45 minute drive to Danbury enjoying some nice scenery while crossing a bridge along the way

5:00 PM, Danbury, CT - We arrive at the beautiful Danbury Ice Arena only to find out we are too early and they are not ready for us. A welcome change as the team has had some bad luck recently forcing games to be delayed. Every detail was planned out this time around and the guys are left to wait it out.

6:40 PM,  Most of the guys are dressed and ready for warm ups some so ready they even strike a pose. Danbury however goes out for warm-ups unexpectedly early and the team is forced to rush out as the clock is ticking down. Warriors slowly trickle onto the ice and prepare for battle.

7:35 PM, Puck drops. Akwesasne @ Danbury A great game recap by new addition to You Call That Hockey?  - Alec Kessler

Post game - The guys ran out of gas in the third I wish I was talking about the team bus but it was the players. After a very entertaining 40 minutes of play the Warriors came out flat. Danbury took advantage immediately lighting the lamp with four straight in the third period, two in the first 1:04 of the period and another tough loss to write home about for Akwesasne.


Around 11 pm, the team has it's post game meal and head straight for the bus to begin the trip to Hyannis, Massachusetts.

3:30 AM, The entourage arrives in Hyannis, Massachusetts dead tired and ready to get some rest. After about 20 minutes the rooms are sorted and everyone begins disappearing for the night. My room mate for the trip is hard working rookie Sam Sanford currently on a three game tryout contract. A long day comes to a welcome end.

Around noon time the next day Director of Game Day Operations and video guru Keith Papineau gives me the opportunity to be one the first few to view the new Warriors commercial.

3:00 PM, Dinner is served at a restaurant across the street from the arena. Heaping plates of food are delivered to the tables as everyone takes in the intense Bruins/Canucks game. Loud chatter as everyone discusses the game and arguments over penalties can be heard in the background.

5:15 PM, Hyannis, Massachusetts - The team is packed up and heading for the Hyannis Youth and Community Center. A nice arena which is surprisingly small inside due to having two ice pads.

6:30 PM, -  The guys are out for warm-ups. I get my first glimpse of the Bluefins 

7:05 PM, - Puck drops on the first period. The Warriors come out flying as Ahmed Mahfouz strikes 33 seconds into the first frame. The guys are all smiles but it doesn't last long as the Bluefins hit back three and seven minutes into the game. Miguel Delisle scored his second goal in two games to even it up after a very entertaining first period of play.

The second period houses a lot of back and forth play. Cape Cod strikes midway through the period and it's followed shortly after by a minor tussle between former NHLer Billy Tibbetts and Akwesasne tough guy Mike Stacey who was more than willing. Tibbetts glove was off and he threw a punch that didn't faze Stacey at all but Tibbetts backs off from the challenge and both were given 2 minute roughing minors. The rough stuff doesn't go away as Kris McCarthy and Cory Bellamy had a shoving match with Bellamy trying to get McCarthy to drop the mitts until Ahmed Mahfouz skates in and goes straight after Bellamy, both men go down before any good punches can be thrown. Both are given a double minors.

The third period comes undone for the Warriors again. Miguel Delisle score his third goal in two games and fourth in four games is starting to look like the Delisle of last season where he produced better than a point per game. With time on the power play and an increased role it would not surprise me to see him return to form. However, it was Cape Cod's three goals in the third that sunk the Warriors for good. An empty netter sealed the deal and extended Akwesasne's losing streak to five games.

10:30 PM, After the post game meal the team heads for the bus as they load up and hit the road. With only a couple stops along the way it was a long quiet ride home. Getting back to the starting point in Hogansburg, NY at 6:30AM was the closing of a fun but disappointing trip.

Back home Wednesday the Warriors will have all of their starters back in the lineup to welcome the unlucky Danville Dashers who come to town to take on a sleeping beast. A wake up call has been issued with this five game losing streak and it's time for the Warriors to step up in a big way. With 22 scheduled games left to go it's going to take an Aviator like run to redeem this team. If everyone shows up there is no reason this stacked team can't get it done and if all else fails a big shake-up may be necessary.

Next up: Danville

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In closing I would like to thank team owner Darby "Buggo" Oakes for allowing me the opportunity to make the trip. I really appreciated this new and fun experience which I hope to be able to do again someday. I met some great people along the way and travelled with some of the best.

2011: Stories Of The FHL Year

Akwesasne wins the Comissioners Cup

Akwesasne earlier this year won the Comissioners Cup in a finals meeting with the Brooklyn Aviators(Then known as the New York Aviators). Hard work payed off as the team became the first and so far only team to win the leagues title. Going 18-4 at home saw the Warriors finish the season only behind the Aviators in the standings but the team finished on a rough note with the absence of key players.

Those players returned in time for the playoffs and quickly made Akwesasne the team to beat. 1000 Islands was the first to stand in Akwesasne's way. The Warriors sent the Privateers packing in 4 games taking the series three games to one.

Akwesasne then went on to do the same to the Aviators. Winning games one and two in Brooklyn made life much easier as the team returned home. Under pressure to win it on home ice the Warriors dropped the third game 6-3 but came back a couple days later in what was arguably the best game of the season and playoffs. It was close. Trading goals until Akwesasne got the upper hand late forcing New York to pull the goalie. Pierre Dagenais beat a diving defender and casually skated the puck to the net and tapped it in sending the arena into party mode.

Danbury gives new teams the punk test





Danbury is up to their old tricks. A team full of tough guys. Naturally there's going to be a fight whether you want one or not. I've figured out Danbury's game plan though. Fight. Fight more. Then let Alec Kirschner take advantage of you team... Effective.

Over 300 penalty minutes were handed out to the teams including various suspensions of different lengths. You Call That Hockey? Drop the gloves. Do it man to man. In a recent game between the Warriors and Privateers this is exactly what happened. One player from 1000 Islands wanted a bench brawl. What did happen was three fights in the first five seconds. They got it out of their system and now we play hockey. I'm not endorsing mugging guys who are not fighters and that's often what happens in bench brawls. 

Relocation, Expansion, Retraction

The FHL's rush for expansion has come with pitfalls. Some of which are new owners being thrown on hot coals when their teams aren't filling the building.

Broome County Barons moved to Cape Cod and becomes the Bluefins.

New Jersey has taken the league by storm in their first season and they continue to set the bar for marketing and recruiting as they are getting it done on and off the ice.

Danville is over 800 miles away from the nearest team and it's truly stunning that the team continues to have the support of the league. Expansion is nice but when you do it too fast and without much thought to the fact guys are not flying first class in team jets it really becomes a pain in the ass. Oh and they won a stunning two games in 2011.

The Vermont Wild folded. They didn't last as the team was losing money by the bundle and ownership was quick to cut their losses. A team in Vermont would have been nice. The proximity is very manageable and the team would benefit from fans of other teams making the trip with their respective teams.

Delaware Federals the team brought in to "fill the hole" Vermont's left... once lost 18-0. Moving on.

I want to thank you all for a great year. It's been a lot of fun to be even a small part of this league. We appreciate the support received in such a short time and we look forward to expanding to accomodate each fan base in the league. If you haven't already go to the You Call That Hockey? facebook page and click like. If your interested in writing about your team send me a message or leave a comment here. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

GO WARRIORS!