Danbury Mad Hatters Week In Review
November 17, 2008 - Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL)
Danbury Mad Hatters News Release
The Mad Hatters took to the highway (and New York Parkways) this week for their first road test of the season. How would the team fare being away from the friendly confines of DIA? Also, would the team be able to right the ship after losing the first two games of the season and make it two in a row to get to the .500 mark? Answers abound to these questions in your Mad Hatters week in review...
GAME RECAPS
Danbury Mad Hatters at Brooklyn Aces
November 15, 2008
This was the second game of the season between these two teams. The first one was a tough loss for the Mad Hatters just 9 days earlier at the DIA. It also featured two Aces players ejected in the first period for fighting from the bench. The Mad Hatters were facing arguably the best team in the EPHL in their barn. The Mad Hatters would need all of the support of the many who made the trek down to an area that resembled, thanks to some dreary weather and heavy fog, more London, England than the most famous city in the world if they would hope to upset the Aces.
1st Period
The Aces, during warm-ups, wore pink jerseys which would be auctioned off during the game for breast cancer research. The Aces would come out of the locker room to start the game wearing their red game jerseys. That same shade of red would later show on the faces of Mad Hatters players and coaches as they felt that the officiating was conducted in a poor manner.
The Aces didn't waste any time on the power plays they were given. Chris Holmes punched one in on a blast from just inside the Mad Hatters blue line to give the Aces a 1-0 lead. 1 for 1 on the power play, so far. Mykul Haun and Jerry Cardinale (who quickly became a fan favorite as chants of "We want Jerry" rang through Hangar 5 at the Aviator) both received fighting majors after Haun continued goading Cardinale behind the Mad Hatters net. Haun never dropped the gloves despite Cardinale shedding the equipment and going after him. Haun, surprised at the fighting major considering he never really fought, went to the box, shortening the Mad Hatters defensive unit. It was shortly thereafter Mike Payne would throw a hit to the Aces' Mike Christensen shortly after the whistle blew inside of the Mad Hatters zone. Taking exception to the hit was the Aces' Jesse Felten who went in after Payne to defend his teammate. Payne shed the gloves and began throwing bombs on Felten who agreed to the dance. Payne, who owns about 4 inches and 40 pounds on Felten, obliterated the Aces' forward. After retreating to the penalty bench, the Mad Hatters captain was incensed to discover he'd been given 9 minutes: 5 for fighting, 2 for roughing Christensen, and 2 for instigating. The Aces would go on a power play for 4 minutes. They would capitalize on the opportunity. Just 48 seconds after the penalties were issued James Brannigan scored his league leading 6th goal by firing a shot to the stick side of Derek MacIntyre which just trickled past him to make in 2-0. 2 for 2 on the power play, so far.
The Aces would still have 2 full minutes of power play time to try and extend their lead. They would only need 67 seconds to do so. CJ Tozzo, who was in front of MacIntyre, swatted at a blocked shot and just touched it enough to get it to turtle its way past the Mad Hatters' netminder to make it 3-0 in favor of the Aces. 3 for 3 on the power play in the first period for the Aces.
If this weren't enough, James Brannigan wasn't done. He scored his second of the game, and seventh on the season to light up the scoreboard once more, giving the Aces a 4 goal lead going into the locker room.
After 1 period, the Aces lead it 4-0.
2nd Period
The Mad Hatters were not impressed with how the first period went. They knew they needed to come out firing in the second. They would get their opportunity just two and a half minutes into the second. The Mad Hatters were afforded a power play after Holmes went to the box for tripping. Igor Karlov took the faceoff inside of the Aces' zone and won it back to Dan Hickman. Hickman passed over to the other point to Mike Payne. Payne passed it down in front to Karlov, who was perched in front of Aces goaltender Eddie Neville. Karlov spun to his backhand and slid the puck in underneath the glove of Neville and the Mad Hatters were on the board making 4-1.
The Aces extended the lead back to 4 when Jesse Felten faked a backhand shot and roofed it past MacIntyre on a 2 on 1 at the 8:05 mark.
After 2 periods, the Aces are up 5-1.
3rd Period
There would be a whole slew of penalties called (and some which should have been called, but weren't) that helped propel the Mad Hatters into a level of frustration they've yet to be in this year. The Aces scored twice in the third period on goals by Brannigan, who completed his hat trick, and TJ Kuper.
The Mad Hatters, unbelievably frustrated and angry, would try to exact their punishment for the Aces' victory by pummeling the Aces with body checks and one set of 3rd period fisticuffs. Mike Payne and Jerry Cardinale were both on the ice in front of the Mad Hatters bench. Payne and Cardinale both tossed off their gloves and helmets, but that would be the last of the evenness of the fight. Payne took it to Cardinale, another man 4 inches and about 30 pounds smaller than he. Payne threw bomb after bomb to the head of Cardinale who, to his tribute, wouldn't go down easily. Payne would skate off the ice and head back to the Mad Hatters locker room. Frustrated by the scoreboard, Payne would come back and stand behind the team's bench, pound on the glass in front of him, and urge them on, proving his leadership. However, on this night, his leadership was about all the Mad Hatters had as they would go on to lose their third game of the year.
Final Score: Aces 7, Mad Hatters 1.
UP-AND-COMING, COMING UP
The Mad Hatters will head to West Orange for their first meeting with the Jersey Rockhoppers this Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 pm. It will also be the first game of a home and home series with the Rockhoppers. Tickets are on sale for the game at jerseyrockhoppers.com. Fans are encouraged to make the approximate 1 hour 45 minute drive down to help support their Mad Hatters. If you do attend, be sure to wear as much Danbury merchandise as you can to support your Mad Hatters!
GUARANTEED WIN NIGHT
The Mad Hatters will return to the DIA on Wednesday, November 26 to take on the Jersey Rockhoppers. It will be Guaranteed Win Night. If the Mad Hatters lose, each fan will be able to exchange their ticket stub for one FREE ticket of equal or lesser value to the Mad Hatters home game on December 11. Only ticket stubs from the November 26 game can be redeemed for the December 11 game.
If the Mad Hatters win on Guaranteed Win Night, each fan in attendance will receive a coupon good for one FREE hot dog which can be redeemed at any Mad Hatters home game with any valid game ticket. It's a guaranteed win-win for fans of the Mad Hatters!
Start time for Guaranteed Win Night is 7:00 pm and tickets can be purchased online at madhattershockey.com and in person at the Danbury Ice Arena box office.
SEKUND STARR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
MAD HATTERS THREE STARS OF THE WEEK
FIRST STAR: Igor Karlov (1 Goal)
SECOND STAR: Mike Payne (1 Assist, 2 Gold Gloves for his heavyweight beatdowns)
THIRD STAR: The fans who drove down to Brooklyn despite the loss and the miserable weather. Thanks to all of you! Hope to see you in West Orange on Saturday.
VILLAIN OF THE WEEK
This week's villain is Brooklyn's James Brannigan for running up the score in the Mad Hatters' loss this week. Some may say it's sour grapes (and maybe it is, but it is our Week In Review), but you're already up 5-1 with 10 minutes left. Don't get greedy and go for a hat trick just because you can!
Also, this week's villain would've been Jerry Cardinale, but I think he learned his lesson in taking on Mike Payne in the third period. Hopefully, that lesson is "Don't take on Mike Payne!"
ON THE AIR
Due to extreme technical difficulties, the Mad Hatters broadcast on Saturday ended before the start of the third period. The Mad Hatters and broadcaster Jerry Savage want to apologize for this. Also, we would like to apologize for those of you who were shut out of the broadcast. For those were able to listen, we apologize for the poor quality. We will strive to make everything better for the next game this Saturday in Jersey. Be sure to visit madhattershockey.com for instructions on how to listen to the games and how to listen to any archived broadcasts.
ONE LAST THING...
Even though the Mad Hatters are 1-3 on the season, they have shown a lot of promise in a few areas. Team Captain Mike Payne is showing his true leadership skills being a leader both on and off the ice. When the team clicks on all cylinders, like they did last Saturday against Hudson Valley, they can be a very dangerous team. Although a lot of people may be down on the team this early, some changes are on the way to improve the team. It's still early. Good things come to those who wait, and the people in charge of the Mad Hatters want to reward their supporters with a quality product.
It will come.
Eastern Professional Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2008
- Danbury Mad Hatters Week In Review - Danbury Mad Hatters
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