2013 Federal Hockey League Commissioner's Cup Preview
Published on March 14, 2013 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
The invitations have gone out and the dates are set. The two best teams in the Federal Hockey League will meet for a chance to hoist the 2013 Commissioner's Cup, and isn't that the way it should be. For the third year in a row a different team will be crowned FHL champion. The first season saw regular season champion Akwesasne win the cup and in season two the New Jersey Outlaws went through everybody like a hot knife in butter on their way to glory.
In season three the expansion Dayton Demonz, regular season champs, will try to go wire-to-wire and bring the hardware back to Ohio, but it won't be easy. The Demonz face the Danbury Whalers in a best three of five series beginning in Dayton on Friday, March 15th. While the Demonz may have held onto first place all season long and have FHL MVP Ahmed Mahfouz and top sniper Trevor Karasiewicz chomping at the bit, the Danbury Whalers are no pushovers. They are led their top scorer Mike Atkinson and All-FHL Team backstop Mike Brown. They also come into this series with valuable Commissioner's Cup experience having been to the dance last season verses New Jersey.
Both the Demonz and Whalers made it to the finals by sweeping their opponents in three straight games. The Whalers defeated the Thousand Islands Privateers and even though you won't hear Whalers' Coach Phil Esposito say it, Danbury made it look easy. The Demonz played their seasonal nemesis Danville Dashers in their opening round with Danville being dramatically overwhelmed in all three games.
Keys to winning the Commissioner's Cup:
For Dayton to win they must stay the course and play the way they did all year long. Ahmed Mahfouz, Jesse Felten and Treveor Karasiewicz must carry the torch and lead the way. The FHL's top goalie Jeff Rose must remain as solid as he has been all year and if possible turn it up a notch. Rose must be careful of errant rebounds because Danbury's "100 Line" of Mike Atkinson, Cody Ayers and Tyler Noseworthy are experts at converting scrambles in front. Dayton must take both home games at Hara Arena and look to polish off the Whalers in front of their home crowd and do everything in their power to avoid having to come back to Dayton for a fifth and deciding game.
For Danbury to win they must head home for games 3 and 4 with at least a split in Dayton. Mike Brown will need to play even better then he has and stand tall in what is sure to be a relentless attack by the Demonz. The Whalers will need to score early and often getting big games from their leaders Atkinson, Noseworthy, Ayers and playmaker Phil Aucoin. A late season pick-up of the always dangerous James Sanford could become an X Factor for the Whalers. They must take chances and not play conservative hockey because you can bet the rent Dayton won't. They must come fast and hard in the offensive zone and crash the net while continuously screening Jeff Rose in order to get him off his game if they wish to avenge last season's Commissioner's Cup loss. Whaler's owner Alan Friedman likes his team's chances and knows games 1 and 2 in Dayton are key. "Having ended the season on a high note and then sweeping the Privateers in three games we are right where we want to be. I see no reason why we can't go into Dayton and come away with at least one win if not two. We are on a roll right now and the guys are playing great hockey and know what is expected of them and what they must do to accomplish our goal."
Prediction:
As "Keeper of the Cup", at the conclusion of game 3, 4 or 5, I will come out on the ice wearing white gloves and turn over possession of the Commissioner's Cup to FHL Commissioner Don Kirnan for presentation to the winning team's captain.
John Landers
Sr. Correspondent - Fischler Sports
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2013
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