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.

Outlaws VS Warriors Was Quite The Game

Akwesasne - The defending champion Akwesasne Warriors hosted the FHL leading New Jersey Outlaws last night at the Anowarako:wa Arena neither team disappointed last night as 15 pucks found twine in what was a wild affair from the beginning. 

The Warriors came out physical as always looking to dictate the intensity but New Jersey showed up to score. The Outlaws came out and created chance after chance as Warrior players gave up position to make the hits. It all started with a pinch by Simon Desormeaux looking to finish his check left Jeremy Van Hoof to face a two on one and NJ made it count local Brett Liscomb scores assisted by Anthony Battaglia and Gentry Zollars three minutes into the game to take a 1-0. The Warriors shortly after head to the powerplay but it doesn't matter as the counter attack of the Outlaws leads to a shorthanded goal as Zollars buries it from John Goffredo and Battaglia. Long Sault native Brett Liscomb strikes again as the potent line of Goffredo and Battaglia light the lamp to make it 3-0 in favor of the Outlaws. A little over a minute later and former Montreal Canadien Pierre Dagenais bangs in his first goal of the game from Carter Trevisani and Addison Pelkey. Not long after Craig Cole goes off for elbowing and the Outlaws counter the Warriors powerplay leading to a Kevin Cooper shorthanded goal from captain Travis Kauffeldt and Dan Mercier at 13:17. at 18:48 Kauffeldt finds the score sheet again with a goal from Jason Reese and Dan Mcwhinney to close out what was a one sided first period that looked as though there was a rout brewing. 5-1 at the end of the first period.


David Plouffe gets the hook to start the second after allowing five goals on 12 shots. Backup and Akwesasne native Adam Thompson comes in to take the reins. The Warriors come out flying and NJ looks a little off. At 3:15 Pierre Dagenais with a snipe that makes it 5-2 from Wahsontiio Stacey and Kris McCarthy. A couple minutes later Dagenais does it again bangs it in from Nicolas Corbeil and Sylvain Deschatelets to make it 5-3. The Outlaws start to pick it up and tighten up as they realise you can't win a game in the first period. The Warriors are pressing the action until a turnover in the defensive zone leaves John Goffredo to put the puck past Thompson from Matt Puntureri and Kevin Martel. Martin Beaulne answers in the dying minutes of the period with a goal to make it 6-4 from Simon Desormeaux and Kris McCarthy. 6-4 heading into the third and the Warriors are making it a game now.


The third begins with some great back and forth action as the Warriors are relishing a comeback until the Outlaws get a chance and they make it count Kevin Cooper from Kauffeldt and Jason Reese at 6:55. Shortly after Nicolas Corbeil takes a bad penalty and the Outlaws strike again this time on the powerplay to make it 8-4 Outlaws on a goal by Puntureri assists by the beard, Nathan Oke and Goffredo. The Warriors just wouldn't quit though and made it a fight to the finish on an excellent end to end by Carter Trevisani who splits the D and and scores on McWhinney. I can't heap enough praise on Trevisani for this goal it was a true beauty. Trevisani would strike again minutes later to pull the Warriors within two again after Miguel Delisle got stopped point blank twice by McWhinney but dishes to Trevisani who let a slapshot go to make it 8-6. Outlaws scored on the powerplay to close this one out but an awesome game from both teams.

The old saying you can't win a game in the first but you can lose it rings true in this one. The Warriors play the Outlaws again tonight on the Island and it's going to be another great game so come out and show your support! Tonight marks the return of Ahmed Mahfouz and Paul Shantz from suspensions. A four point night which included a hat-trick sees Pierre Dagenais put up 7 points in the last two games.

Have your say... Who wins tonights game? Will Mahfouz and Shantz's return tip the scales in the Warriors favor or are the New Jersey Outlaws still to much to handle?

Outlaws defeat Aviators 4-3 in NJ

Settled down to see the Brooklyn Aviators have some revenge for the night before,  a 7-3 defeat in New Jersey. Made no difference if we were in Wayne, New Jersey again or not.

First period saw the Aviators strike first and at the end of the first period it was 2-0. The Aviators fans were having visions of the Outlaws going down in defeat at the hands of Brooklyn. The scoring went like this J. Felten #20C Scored at 14:23 and then only seven seconds later L. Schott #10C found the back of the Outlaws net. The Outlaws were held at bay for the entire first period.

Second period saw K. Cooper #11F score on a power play with only 17 seconds gone in the period two, this brought the score to 2-1 Brooklyn. At 18:38 of the second the Outlaws scored on another power play goal by L. Snyder #26D, to tie the match 2-2. Brooklyn fans were starting to get a little nervous again about the outcome of this game. With 7:42 left in the second C. Mignone #27RW scored and the A’s to the lead 3-2 at the end of three.

Third period was a back and forth skating class. The Brooklyn fans could smell the victory and a was a sweet smell too! But with 1:59 left Outlaws defenseman N. Oke #14D shot the puck past The Aviators goalie J. Pierre #38G and tied the game at 3-3.  This is how the period ended  and sent the game into OT.

Period four aka 3 on 3. No score and it was 3 shots on goal for the Outlaws and 2 shots on  goal for the Brooklyn Aviators.

Shootout Numbers: For Brooklyn, Watson-Felten-Mignone-Watson and Timmons and big fat ZERO. For the NJ Outlaws Cooper-Miller-Oke had a count of Zero, Trevor Karasiewicz #18C SCORED the winning goal in the shootout. Once again the Brooklyn fans were shot down in New Jersey.

Article by Clifford F. Zeman

Brooklyn Drops Fourth Straight With Loss

Brooklyn, NY - Tell me it wasn’t so, it was the same old thing since the beginning of the new year. A first period flurries of goals making the Brooklyn Aviators play catch up hockey.

First period: It wasn’t a pretty picture at all, 4-1 New jersey Outlaws at the end of one. The scoring when like this, N. Oke #14D for Jersey  welcomed back Brooklyn’s J. St. Pierre #38G from a concussion by finding the back of the net with only 2:06 gone in the first.  T. Karasiewicz #18C new member of the Outlaws found the Back of the Brooklyn net , only 48 seconds after Jersey scored its first goal. Score is only 2-0 at this time.

Same first period, third score by the Outlaws by K. Cooper #11F and of course let’s not leave out J. Goffredo #9C to make the match 4-0. A little sunshine was showing when L. Schott #10C scored for Brooklyn, making it a 4-1 for the Outlaws at the end of one. The Brooklyn fans weren’t happy at all and you could hear it in the stands.

Second period: Was a lot of skating and some great saves by both goalies. The only goal for the entire period was for the NJ Outlaws by M. Miller #20C.  With only 1:50 left in the second period Miller’s shot was blocked by J. Pierre #28G but he couldn’t hold onto the rebound and M. Miller #20C put it pass J.Pierre #38G. At the end of two it was 5-1 NJ Outlaws. May I have my crying towel please?

Third period: The Aviators took off at the start of this period by scoring two goals within seconds of each other. With  only :29 off the clock C.Waston #4C fired the puck pass the Outlaws goalie A.Dekker #29G then N. Petriello #9RW tallied too with only :49 seconds of the clock.. This made it only a 2 goal difference 5-3 in favor of NJ. With a lot of time left on the clock for Brooklyn to keep the pressure on NJ. The Brooklyn fans could see a comeback in their  heads but this was not to be.

With 2:15 off the clock M. Puntureri #22 F former NY Aviator and friend scored for the Outlaws making it 6-3. Then with 5:16 left in the game N. Oke #14D scored the final score of the game making the final numbers 7-3 in favor of the NJ Outlaws. This is the Aviators fourth straight loss since the beginning of the New Year, let’s turn it around boys. Heading to NJ today to see what the Aviators can do in Outlaw country?

NJ had 42 minutes in penalties and Brooklyn had 50 minutes, Brooklyn finally had something more than New Jersey. A little humor on my part?

Side note: Aviators Nick Grove #6D looked as if he was in a lot of pain in his knee or leg and had to be helped off the ice to the A’s locker room. He didn’t return to the game and all the fans wish him well.

Article by Clifford F. Zeman

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!

N.J. Outlaws ambush Brooklyn Aviators 6-3 in Jersey!

When the first period started I blinked and was still trying to figure out the seats (more later on this subject) in this arena and it was 1-0 NJ. Only 41 seconds went by and it seems as if the Outlaws were mugging St. Pierre in his own net. The Aviator fans were shocked and wondering if this was a sign for what was to follow? Well it was.

The Outlaws were passing fast and clean and it seemed as if the Aviators were still stuffed with Christmas turkey and seemed a bit slower than New Jersey. Jordan Burn’em Bernier #18 tallied for the Aviators with 5:33 left in the first period. By the end of the first period it was 2-1 Outlaws

Second period just like the first. I was just retuning from the Outlaws brand new sports bar, which of course I was checking out for the article when the fog horn blasted a goal for the N.J. Outlaws. This time it only took New jersey 38 seconds (3-1) to shoot the puck past St. Pierre #38 and into  Brooklyn’s net.

At this point I was afraid to blink that I would miss another Jersey score. Again the Outlaws ‘s passing was clean and crisp and Brooklyn seemed tired and a bit slower. Brooklyn had some good chances to score but the Outlaws goalie Dan McWhinney #31 G  made some great saves for NJ. 

McWhinney injured his left arm in the second and seemed to be in real pain, however he shook if off and played one hell of a game. Jordan Bernier #18 appears to have injured his right ankle and had to be helped off the ice. Bernier didn’t return for the rest of the game. At the end of two it was 4-1 Outlaws.

Third period had a bit of light for the Brooklyn Aviators in Casey Mignone #27 RW. Casey has just returned to service after a 14 day IR listing  (Dec. 10)due to a puck in his face which required several stitches and had to wait for the swelling to go down. Casey scored twice in the third and it looked as if we were watching a comeback for Brooklyn. 27 seconds after Mignone scored Outlaws Brett Liscomb #81 RW shot the puck past St. Pierre #38 G again and found the net for Jersey.

This Brooklyn comeback was not to be as the  Outlaws found the back of the net two more times, one of which was an empty net goal. Final of the match was N.J. Outlaws 6 and Brooklyn Aviators 3.

Now back to the arena and the seats, you have to be kidding me. The Capital one Ice Vault has two rinks and the Outlaws should play their games in the other rink. You will see why, the seats are great if you have half a butt or only if kindergarten kids were attending these games, these seats stink! These seats weren’t designed for the adult butt and that is the only problem with this beautiful arena.

This is one very cold arena and you better dress warm and make sure you take a pair of gloves too. It has a very nice café which overlooks both rinks and the Brand New sports bar upstairs is great.

Tonight we meet again and let’s hope that there is a new sheriff in town by the name of the Aviators. I hope that tonight is a different story and this time the outlaws get ambushed!

Article by Clifford F. Zeman
Like us on FACEBOOK

Improving The FHL Part Two: Marketing isn't boring

Don't forget to like us on facebook You Call That Hockey?

Here is part one for those who missed it: Improving The FHL Part One 

                                          Nice work NJO

I honestly believe the organisations need to step up their marketing. The league as a whole needs to reach out to the fans. I feel not enough is being done. This league could grow immensely if guided in the right direction. We need more people in the seats!

My personal take is that expansion should not occur again for at least a couple seasons. Rivalries need to be marketed heavily. We need to start seeing full buildings. Danbury should be very happy with what they are doing there. The rest of this league should be watching closely. 

Danbury is a gritty hard nosed team. They put on a show win or lose. I remember games last season when Danbury came to Akwesasne. People weren't talking about Whalers vs Warriors. People were talking about who would step up to take on Cory Fulton? The guy had 25 fights last season. Danbury fans love it.

The Whalers organization recognized what their fans wanted and built a reputation as arguably the most hated team for their bench clearing brawls and fight first play later attitude.

Fighting is a hot topic. There are those who are fine with it and those who are against. Regardless of which end your on the numbers do not lie and on ice fights(not in the crowd!) Are big draws. More people come for the fights than stay away because of it.

Marketing a rivalry like the Privateers and Warriors have would be big! And relatively easy. The hits are hard the fights are entertaining and there's usually a bunch of goals. The (relatively)close proximity of the teams makes a local rivalry almost automatic and that's exactly what we have here.

Marketing the teams aggressively using rivalries is the oldest trick in the book and one of the best. I can't speak of the Danbury/New Jersey/Brooklyn rivalry as I am not entirely familiar with it but those three teams should have an automatic edge when playing one another.

My solution: Market the hell out of existing teams. Learn what fills the building through trial and error. Abolish the automatic suspension for fights in the final 2 minutes(that late game excitement may just draw more people back). Use video and imagery to visually entice people into getting excited for the next game and fire them up for the current game. Excentuate things like hits and fights in marketing (it's a part of the game apparently?)

Aviators defeat Bluefins 6-3

Well hockey fans, it seems as if the BlueFins were hooked tonight in Brooklyn by the Aviators, Final score 6-3.  The A’s put on a nice show tonight in hanger #5. The game was fast paced and the hitting was pretty clean all night long. No fights to talk about so I would say it was a very good game. 

Former Warrior and new member of the Aviators Peter Drikos scored the first goal of the game. The game was tied up at the end of the first period when Cape Cod found the back of the net with only 46 seconds left in the first period.

Second period we saw the A’s score two more times on power plays. We have some new players on our team and one of them by the name of Brendan Baumgartner (#44 C) sank the puck and also rookie "Burn’em" Bernier (#18  LW) found the back of the net which was protected by Chris Testa (#1 G) of the BlueFins. 

As a funny side note let me tell you about this strange happening at the Hanger. Our new Captain Jarrett Rush #4 threw his gloves to the ice and his target Billy Tibbetts #23 turned away and skated off with the puck despite the officials blowing their whistles, Tibbets was awarded a penalty for his actions.  First time that I have ever saw this on ice.

Third period the following scored for the Aviators: Trentoswki #17 D, Atsoff #12 C and Felten #20 C. The crowd was a small one on this night but "Section 9" which I am proud to say that I am a part of was making up for the lack of fans by making noise galore. We have 6-8 crazy fans who bring their love of the game to life each time the Aviators take the ice.  With air horns and stamping feet we rock the place. Some have their game worn jerseys, flying cap, goggles and scarf’s to cheer on their Brooklyn Aviators.

Let’s see if the Aviators can take Friday night’s game and get a nice winning streak before their Christmas break. We are in the pack of teams who are racing to get to the playoffs in March. I see that Danbury knocked off the NJ Outlaws, guess that the Aviators 21 game winning streak is safe till next year, Dream on Outlaws,  Thank you Whalers…

Article by Clifford F. Zeman

Click like on the right for more FHL related articles