Demonz Capture First Championship, Defeat Danbury 9-2

April 19, 2014 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release

DANBURY, CT - In the Championship series of the Federal Hockey League, both the Danbury Whalers and Dayton Demonz had won two games each on their own home ice. These games were close affairs, with Game 1 and Game 3 both decided in overtime. The ultimate game of the Commissioner's Cup Championship would bear no relation to the previous four games in the series as the Dayton Demonz stormed into Connecticut and captured their first championship in convincing fashion, winning 9-2.

The first period of the last game of the Federal Hockey League season started with a bang, as just a minute and 31 seconds into the game the Dayton Demonz were on the board as Dustin Skinner capitalized on a broken play down low in the Whalers' end. Skinner's third goal of the playoffs was assisted by August Aiken and Brian Marks. The Demonz continued pressuring the Whalers in their own end, and goaltender Mike Brown took an unnecessary penalty just over 5 minutes into the game, laying a hit on a Demonz forechecker and giving Dayton their first power play of the game. Brian Marks and Casey Mignone were able to draw the Whalers penalty killers out of position with crisp passing at the blue line, eventually leaving leading scorer Ahmed Mahfouz open along the side boards. Mahfouz darted to the net and put the puck past an outstretched Mike Brown. As Brown attempted to make the save, he kicked the net off of its mooring, but referee Derek Wasiak let the goal stand as Brown was not forced into the post. The teams traded chances, each looking for the all important next goal, and with just under five minutes left in the first the Whalers finally got on the board as Andy Willock sent a one timer through the five hole of Demonz goalie Jeff Rose. Ilya Solarov was the catalyst for this play, as he was able to fend off the defense of Brian Marks and find the open ice needed to feed Willock in the slot. For Willock, it was his first goal of the playoffs, and Igor Karlov also received an assist. The first period ended with a shot total of 19-7 in favor of the Whalers.

The Demonz came out of the first intermission with a fire reignited as they once again pushed the Danbury Whalers onto their heels. The Demonz once again went onto the power play after Ryan Patsch hooked Jared Hicks to break up an offensive opportunity, and once again Ahmed Mahfouz scored on the power play to reestablish Dayton's two goal lead. It was Mahfouz's second goal of the night and his league leading 9th of the postseason, assisted by Dustin Skinner and August Aiken. Just over a minute after Mahfouz's second, Lee McClure launched into a hit on Cody Ayers, injuring the Whalers leading scorer and giving the Whalers their third power play. While Ayers was tended to on the bench, his teammate Tim Richter scored ten seconds into the power play with a quick shot from the top of the circle through the five hole of a screened Jeff Rose to cut the deficit to one. James Sanford and Steve Brown had the assists on Richter's first goal of the playoffs. This was the closest the Whalers would get to repeating as Commissioner's Cup Champions, as the Demonz proceeded to score four unanswered goals to finish the second period with an insurmountable 7-2 lead. First, Roger Tagoona scored the Demonz third power play goal of the game, assisted by Joe Pace and Wehebe Darge. Jason Pietrasiak made it a three goal lead by scoring on his old team, collecting a loose puck in the slot that had trickled behind Mike Brown and depositing it into the empty cage. August Aiken scored with under two minutes to go in the period by putting the puck just under the crossbar, catching Mike Brown off guard and chasing Brown from the game. For Brown, he finished the game with 18 saves on 24 shots. Backup Kevin Hoy came in with unfinished business against Dayton after recording losses in Games 3 and 4 of the series. Instead, Ahmed Mahfouz completed the hat trick and scored with 3.4 seconds remaining in the period to give the Dayton Demonz an unexpected 7-2 lead to end the period.

The Demonz potted two more goals in the third period, the first from Brett Wall three minutes into the period, assisted by Casey Mignone and Ahmed Mahfouz. The assist capped off a five point night for Mahfouz, with three goals and two assists. August Aiken finished the scoring for the Demonz, completing a pass from Dan Mercer for his team's 9th tally of the night. Goaltender Jeff Rose was named MVP of the playoffs, marking the second year in a row that a goaltender had captured that award. With the victory, Dayton exorcised the demons of last year where they fell to the Whalers in a sweep, winning their first championship on Danbury's ice. This concludes the 2013-14 Federal Hockey League season, and the Demonz will begin their championship defense in November of 2014.

Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2014

• Demonz Capture First Championship, Defeat Danbury 9-2 - FPHL
• Whalers Play for Title Tonight - Danbury Whalers

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