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.

Aviators Shot Down by Akwesasne in the 3rd. Period!

FIRST PERIOD was looking good for Brooklyn. First air strike for the A's was by #9RW N.Petriello at the 10:42 mark. He walked in and found the back of the net to make the match 1-0 Brooklyn. He was assisted by #27RW C.Mignone and #8LW S.Koich.

The second bomb run came by #8LW S.Koich right in front of #79G A.Vincent in the Warriors net. #8LW S.Koich was about 30 feet out in front and blasted it in right on target. This was at the 15:15 of the first and that is how the period ended. #9RE N.Petriello and #18C J.Dolgy were credited with assists.

SECOND PERIOD action was started by the Warriors #17C N.Corbeil who found Aviator goal with 9:48 left in the second period. Assists on the play were awarded to #26RW P.Dagenais and #91C S.Deschatelets. This made the match 2-1 in favor of the Brooklyn Aviators.

The Aviators took their third bombing run at the 17:38 mark of the second period. #12C M.Atsoff hit pay dirt with assists from #8LW S.Koich and #27RW C. Mignone to make the score 3-1 Brooklyn. This is how the second period ended.

THIRD PERIOD and the Brooklyn fans were feeling pretty good about the match. To the Aviators surprise the Warriors brought out their anti-aircraft guns and blasted away at Brooklyn. They shot more holes in the A's than a piece of swiss cheese, it wasn't a pretty picture!

First for the Warriors was #10C D.Tessier who had a power play goal at the 10:16 mark, assisted by #26RW P.Dagenais and #91C S.Deschatelets. This made the match 3-2 Brooklyn. 

Next for the warriors it was #26RW P.Dagenais at the 11:50 mark. He was aided by fellow teammates #17C N.Corbeil and #3D C.Trevisani. This score tied the game at 3-3 and Brooklyn fans were shaking their heads, say it isn't so?

The Coue de Gaur came at the 15:57 mark of the third. #8F J.Forget shot the wings off the Aviators with assists from #23D J.St Louis and #27D S.Desormeaux and sent them crashing in flames. The finale score was Akwesasne Warriors 4 and the Brooklyn Aviators 3. Don't know if I have the correct spelling (Coue De Gaur) but I think you will get my drift.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at 7PM up in Akwesasne. Should be another great game.

SHOTS OF GOAL: BROOKLYN 50     AKWESASNE 43

POWER PLAYS: BROOKLYN 0-4     AKWESASNE 1-3

PENALTY MINUTES WERE EVEN AT 10 MINUTES FOR 5 INFRACTIONS

Article by Clifford F. Zeman

FHL Fans Venting Frustration

A collection of fan quotes that will hopefully fire up change within the league before it's too late.


"Charles Apap I tried to have optimism with this league, I really did. But I am sorry, this just gets worse by the day! And I'm sick of the new league scapegoat. That would account for a few problems, but we have a damn laundry list on a scroll. It's very clear that the guys at the top of the ladder don't know what the hell they're doing. Their blatant lack of professionalism infuriates me; I'm disgusted and embarrassed. It's not fair to the legit solid ownership of certain teams, the players, or the passionate fans. It's clear to me that the league is on autopilot -- It's running itself while everyone else suffers, and it is starting to show. These bad omens lately make me very worried that the FHL is on its way to an early grave; about to suffer the same fate as the AAHL. A lot of the tell tale signs are already there; do some research and you'll see what I mean. We should not have to be at risk for and worry about losing OUR team because the league is a ticking time bomb. I've said it before, WE DESERVE BETTER."

"Jeff Henderson Occupy FHL? Works for me"

(Mike Ashley on Akwesasne vs 1000 Islands. A game that Akwesasne won 25-6)
"Mike Ashley I can see the delaware game being accepted (I guess) as there was no players from the opposing team playing for Delaware. The game tonight should not be counted towards any points stat wise. A player can not play for another team without being waived. This is complete stupidity. If the league allows these goals and points to count that would be a complete embarrassment!" 

A screen cap of last nights pointstreak statistics. (http://fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1662485) As you can see Mike Ashley is 100% right that if this is acceptable in this league it is as he calls it an embarassment. Another commenter said the league continues to make things up as it goes...

As you can see without a legitimate transaction taking place members of the Akwesasne Warriors played for the 1000 Island Privateers last night. Initial belief was that it was changed to an exhibition game but pointstreak speaks to the contrary.





"Karen McEachern My thing is also....what about these PLAYERS that are getting a truely raw end of the stick...they come here to play and it doesnt even seem like the FHL gives a shit about them...without these players there is nothing to begin with....have any of them played HOCKEY in there lives....I dont think they really know what the sport is....at least that is what they are showing. I think anyone else at this point could not do as bad as what they have done in 2 years...and the AAHL is coming back next year...at least the league did a better job there....they had owner problems in that league that screwed many players...this league is getting screwed by the LEAGUE THAT SO CALL RUNS IT....shameful....I think my granddaughter has a better understanding of how to run this league then any of the ones sitting on the board now"


"Jeff Henderson yeah...dunno what's sadder...that things like this happen or we as fans come to expect them to"
"Joseph Francis Or that fans will accept it. Boycott. Force reforms. Fans shouldn't be the test dummies while the league can't even get it together"

"Charles Apap They clearly have no clue what they're doing at all. I'm literally at the point where I think that a group of passionate fans like us could run things better than these ignorant (expletive). I'm convinced they really don't care at all."

James Cook

Would you want to go out on the ice with the knowledge that a cheap shot may change your life forever? These kids make very little $, and are subjected to the improper management, coaching, and more so the "blind" refs. Its not about being ...a coward and not playing. If you think all this is about is honor you should open your eyes. A fast and pysical game needs strong control on the ice. The FHL lacks that control. As for owners and league officials being in the same immediate family. conflict of interest? This league has no transparancy. No itegrity. A shame to hockey.

This is just a few quotes but is representative of the growing frustration of FHL fans. I hope for players, owners and everyone involved that changes are made and that things improve in the future before the players and fans walk out.

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?

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

Plouffe Stand Tall As Warriors Win In OT

 

Massena, NY - The puck is dropped for the first and less than a minute in Casey Swamp gets taken into the boards early by Harrington as the teams begin shoving and jawing at one another.  Penalty called and Akwesasne goes on the power play. David Lun manages to get a mile behind the Warriors defense for a breakaway but David Plouffe shuts the door for his first stop as the Warriors kill off the penalty. Cape Cod goes to the power play next but fail to generate any real chances as Akwesasne presses and keeps the Bluefins from setting up. Shortly after killing the penalty Akwesasne gets on the board as Mahfouz pull his defender creates a two on one and feeds it to Nicolas Corbeil who goes top shelf, 1-0 Warriors. Warriors go on to successfully kill another penalty. A couple turnovers and the Bluefins are pressuring the Warriors but Plouffe has been up to the task thus far. The teams are back and forth trading chances to close out what has been an energetic first period but the Bluefins outshoot Akwesasne 21-6.

Were back for the second period and in under a minute Akwesasne is heading to the sin bin. 1:10 into the second and Cape Cod sets up and bangs in it’s first goal on the power play to tie it 1-1. A big hit by Frey on Swamp and there is a penalty called for interference as Akwesasne goes to the power play. Not long after that call Jean-Rene Forget goes off to even things up. Akwesasne manages to kill off the remaining minute as the teams return to five on five play. Less than a minute later Pierre Dagenais puts the puck in the net to make it 2-1 from Dan Tessier and Jean-Rene Forget.

The third is more of the same as Warriors continue the march to the penalty box but manage to kill off a couple. Midway through the third Brad Surdam knots it up for the Bluefins from Hutton and Sabky. 2-2. A late penalty by Patrice Bilodeau send the Warriors into overtime down a man.

The Bluefins are all over the Warriors and manage to get some quality chances on Plouffe but David is standing on his head tonight and keeps them in it. They kill off the four on three and shortly after Sylvain Deschatelets connects with a streaking Nicolas Corbeil who freezes the goaltender and goes top shelf to win it for Warriors 3-2.

David Plouffe stood on his head in his return between the pipes stopping 47 of 49 shots to keep the Warriors in it. Corbeil also had another strong performance but the lack of discipline continues to hamper the Warriors as they took eight penalties but did well on the penalty kill (7 for 8)

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

-------

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.

Cape Cod On A Roll After Win Over Akwesasne

A New Year, a Clean Slate for the Bluefins

Sunday January 8, 2012

Hyannis, Mass – The Cape Cod Bluefins closed out the 2011 calendar year with a tough 7 game winless streak, which included a rough stretch of games to literally end the year with 4 games in 4 nights in 4 different locations. Starting on December 28^th, the Cape Cod Bluefins played games in New Jersey (a 6-3 loss), Maine (a 4-2 loss to Danbury), Home (6-3 loss to 1000 Islands) and Brooklyn (a 7-2 loss) to ring in the New Year.

Things have changed around the Bluefins in the last week; the team has snapped the winless streak with a big win against the Danbury Whalers on Tuesday January 3 by the score of 6-4. The Bluefins followed that win with wins against Delaware (12-1) and Akwesasne (6-3). The team is in the midst of a 4 game homestand which concludes Wednesday night at Hyannis Youth and Community Center against the Brooklyn Aviators at 7pm.

Some of the highlights from the past week includes: Corey Bellamy scoring his 1^st career professional hat trick, including the game winner against Delaware on Friday. Forward Brad Surdam scored the game winning goal against Danbury and has 6 points in his last 3 games.  Local product and Forward Andrew Hutton of Brewster, MA, just 30 minutes east of Hyannis on the Mid Cape Highway, has 3 goals and 9 points in his last 4 games. Goaltender Chris Testa has won his last 2 starts, stopping 60 of 65 shots in the effort.

The big performance by a Bluefins player the last few games is by Poughkeepsie, NY native and the current Bluefins Captain, Kevin McCready. McCready had the hot hand among many Bluefins hot hands this week, garnering 4 goals and 7 points in the 3 Cape Cod victories this past week. Kevin now has 17 goals on the season, 2^nd on the team behind leading scorer Garrett Peters, who has 22 goals, and is 3^rd on the Bluefins with 31 points. Peters holds the team lead in points with 36, while Billy Tibbetts is 2^nd in points with 34 and first on the team with 26 assists. Forwards David Lun and Garrett Peters are carrying 5 game point scoring streaks at the time of this writing.

The Bluefins do face a tough stretch of road trips this month, traveling to Massena, NY for back to back games on Friday and Saturday January 13^th and 14^th against Akwesasne, then on to Alexandria Bay, NY for a tilt with 1000 Islands on Monday the 16^th, before travelling home for games against Danbury and Brooklyn before heading back out on another long road trip to Danville, IL for back to back games against the Danville Dashers on Thursday and Friday the 26^th and 27^th to close out the month of January.

The Bluefins are playing with a lot more emotion and confidence the last few games and look to keep it up as they try to prime themselves for a run at a higher playoff seed and an attempt to take a run at the FHL Commissioner’s Cup. Many more updates to come. Stay tuned! And Happy New Year’s from the Cape Cod Bluefins.

By Kenny Gregory

Director of Media Relations

Cape Cod Bluefins

P.S. Hey Brock, see you in Massena buddy - KG

Akwesasne at Danbury 1/6/2012

Danbury - After all talk of strategy and preparation is done, the only thing a coach can do is ask his players to go for 60 solid minutes of hockey. Last night in Danbury, CT, both coaches asked exactly that of their teams. On one side, Coach Phil Esposito who’s Danbury Whalers have played the past few weeks with many men down, finally see a nearly full lineup. On the other side, Coach Steve Thomas of the Akwesasne Warriors starting a road trip, and doing so with only 4 defenseman, wanted his team to play a physical game and dictate the pace.


The first period began innocently enough with both teams playing a great back and forth game just about staying even in their shots until 10:27 minutes in when rookie Carlo Ricci of Danbury made a great pass from the warriors crease to Greg Holt who buried it. Undaunted, the Warriors did not slow down their play and in fact began to step up the pressure, drawing a penalty from veteran Whaler Kelly Miller, playing in his 499^th professional game. The interference call came at 18:59 of the 1^st period was soon followed by Miguel Delisle of the Warriors who scored a beautiful goal, after charging the net on a breakaway his shot was popped up in the air by Whalers net minder Peter Vetri, but was batted out of the air with a fantastic display of hand-eye by Delisle to tie the game with only 8 seconds left in the period.


Whatever Coach Espo said to his players in the Danbury locker room clearly worked, because the 2^nd period began with even more intensity and good play than the 1^st. the end to end rushes by both teams ratcheted up the intensity which eventually boiled over in a prearranged rendezvous between Whalers strongman Corey Fulton and Paul Shantz of the Warriors. The fight between two very tough lads was impressive as both threw strong blows for a while, and Shantz did a good job of keeping Fulton in close so he could not use his long arms to throw the bombs as he is well known for.

The energy the fight generated was palpable as the intensity was again raised to an entirely new level. Finally the tension broke, 13:55 minutes in when Devin Guy was fed a beautiful pass from his linemate Alec Kirschner to bury the puck past Warriors goalie David Plouffe. The remainder of the period was played with a powerplay going to the Whalers, but the level of play stayed just as intense as Akwesasne kept up the pressure.


As stated earlier, sometimes the difference in a game can be made simply by who plays all 60 minutes of it. The Warriors, coming off of a long bus ride through nearly the entire length of New York, and with a shorter bench, the Warriors must have been exhausted. The Whalers dominant play in the 3^rd period did nothing to give any Warriors a rest. After the first faceoff was won by Veteren Whaler Kelly Miller, and a great pass from Martin Moucha to Matt Moffet, a quick forehand to backhand move my Moffet gave the Whalers a 2 goal lead.


About 30 seconds later, after a change in lines, Whalers veteran Carlo Ricci scored off of a brilliant pass from Greg Holt, for his first goal at home ice. Clearly reeling, the Warriors would let the Whalers dictate the pace of play until about 8 minutes later when Alec Kirschner broke through the blue line and blasted a fast slap shot past David Plouffe, who was pulled from net for back up Adam Thompson.


The discipline and excellent coaching of the Akwesasne team clearly showed through as they did not give up or lose their edge, with the exception of a brief discussion betweent Mike Stacey and Devin Guy, resulting in some minor penalties. The aforementioned Guy would ice the game with his 2^nd of the game with just about a minute left on the powerplay after Patrick Bilodeau was called for tripping. Determined to go out with a bang, Akwesasne’s Martin Beaulne scored with literally 1 second left on the clock, ending the game, 6-2 Whalers. All told the hockey game was quite exciting providing for some great back and forth action, and in the end both teams skated the full 60 minutes, and save for a weak start in the 3^rd period and a depleted bench, Akwesasne played quite a game.


Article By Alec Kessler

Warriors Special: David Plouffe Interview!

JF: Hello David!


Plouffe: Hi Joseph


JF: Okay lets start out with a fan submitted question.What do you do in preparation for a game?

Plouffe: Well I try to eat all the time, The same lunch, I'm at the rink an hour before the warm-up. Once I'm there I prepare all my stuff and I listen to music.

JF: Any pregame rituals?

Plouffe: I have to many rituals to explain each of them, I think all the goalies have a lot of small rituals

JF: Was the red avatar on your helmet your idea?

Plouffe: Yes , i was inspired by the movie, but took the Warriors colors

JF: How do you feel about fellow goaltender Adam Thompson?

Plouffe: I think Adam & me form a really good team, he has a lot of experience and helps me in some situations. It's important to have a good competition between both goalies.

JF: What championships have you won in your career? Which one means the most to you?


Plouffe: I think all of the championships are special and hard to win, but the one with the Cornwall Comets was special because I won the MVP as well. 

JF: Your off to a slow start this season with a 6-7 record. A few people feel you play best in the second half of the season. Would you agree?


Plouffe:  I don't think it's true for all my years, I try to be at my best for all the games. But for sure, after Christmas, in hockey language, it's a new season, and everybody steps up, so the goalies have to be really good in every game.
For this year, we had some bad games, I try to keep the team in the game, but sometimes it's hard. For sure, the warriors have to step it up and be better in the second part of the year, because right now, you don't see the real warriors....


JF: Which team in the FHL do you like to play against most?

Plouffe: We play 1000 islands a lot, so I have to like to play against them. I like to play against Danbury, in Danbury, it's a good challenge with the big crowds out there.

JF: You played in the LNAH before signing with Akwesasne. What made you make the jump to the FHL? Which league do you feel is more competitive?

Plouffe: I made the jump to the FHL because in the LNAH, I have to drive three hours for home games, here it's a hour and a half and we have a bus for all road games, so it's less travelling for me. Both league are competitive. The FHL this year is better than last year. The LNAH has been around for about 20 years so it's normal if the league is more solid, but I'm sure the FHL will be more solid year after year.

JF: When did David Plouffe realise he was going to be a goalie?

Plouffe:  I started in nets when I was five years old because I'm in love with the equipment. Also Patrick Roy was a big influence on me.

JF: Do you feel you adapt your style of play from one season to the next based on defense or do you stick to what you know and improve on it each year?

Plouffe: For sure I have to adapt my style to the guys I play with. I like to play the puck around my net, so I have to talk and adjust my play with all defense.

JF: Anything you want to say to the fans?

Plouffe:  Thanks for supporting the Warriors, the second part of the season will be better for us, and we need all of you to win the cup. You are really important to the players and you make it fun.
Thank you David.