FHL Connected: Game Recaps November 6th
Published on November 7, 2015 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
Port Huron Prowlers Edge Demolition, 4-3
DAYTON -- Friday, Nov 6 marked the season opener for the Dayton Demolition hockey team; this is their first year under the new name after relocating from North Adams, MA where they were known as the Berkshire Battalion. What better way to kick off a season than with an opener against a rival team - the Port Huron Prowlers. Based out of Michigan, the Prowlers are coached by Trevor Karasiewicz, former head coach of the Dayton Demonz from 2013-2015.
The puck hit the ice at 7:30 p.m. in Dayton's Hara Arena with the faceoff being between Uhnak of the Dayton Demolition and Hicks of the Port Huron Prowlers. The animosity felt between the two teams was definitely present during the first period with a four-player fight breaking out between Assistant Coach/player Wall & Schwartz of the Dayton Demolition and Vanwysberghe & Leveille of the Prowlers 4:45 min. into the game. Just 17 seconds later, there was another fight between C. Milligan of the Demolition and J. Alonzo of the Prowlers resulting in a penalty against Milligan.
The Demolition and the Prowlers demonstrated how much heart and drive both have during the first period with several shots taken between the two showing it wasn't going to be an easy victory. L. George, goalkeeper of the Demolition, remained unscathed despite multiple shots taken on him by the Prowlers throughout the first twenty minutes.
Shots were taken by Lysko, Marks, Pestriakov, and Morton of the Demolition during the first period but it wasn't until 3:11 was left on the clock when Schwartz sealed the deal with an assist by Marks. Within the last three minutes, Lysko and Carter both received two minute penalties for tripping leaving the Demolition with four players on the ice while the Prowlers had six. First period ended with a score of Dayton 1 and Port Huron 0.
Less than a minute into the second period, Fuller of the Prowlers slams into Milligan resulting in Milligan leaving the ice in seek of medical attention. Both teams were out for blood - and it seemed so quite literally with a plethora of penalties for roughing, tripping and fighting throughout the second period.
Skinner of the Prowlers, with the assistance of Henning and Tagoona, scores the teams first point 2:32 into the period. The remaining time on the clock was a tug-of-war between the two teams for control of the ice. Prowlers' Pace frequented the penalty box this period beginning 7:37 minutes in with a two-minute penalty for interference resulting in a Demolition Power Play. Skinner enters penalty box with 9:19 on the board for slashing.
Henderson of Demolition gets a two minute penalty for tripping a Prowler 11:12 into the second period. Pace of the Prowlers and Dolman of Demolition are each given two minute penalties for roughing with 8:02 left in the period. With 5:25 left, Milligan and Kenney are sent to penalty box for five minutes for fighting.
2:38 left on the board and a brawl breaks out between Mahesh of the Demolition and Tagoona of the Prowlers. The two men go at it for almost a minute until split up by referees; each received five minute penalties for fighting. Despite the aggressiveness of the teams, the second period ends with Dayton 1 and Port Huron 1.
First two minutes in of the final period and Pace scores on George bumping the Prowlers up to 2 points. Both teams played with intensity and aggressiveness with the puck never remaining on one half of the rink. Milligan assists Tracy for a goal with 12:23 on the board, equalizing the game.
Two minutes later, Leveille sneaks past two Demolition defenders for a goal. With 6:48 left on the board, Milligan and Morton assist Marks for another point, tying up the game once again, where it remained tied through the end of the period.
The game goes into shootout mode with Henderson of Demolition scoring the first goal, and after a miss by each team, Vanwysberghe of the Prowlers nails the puck in the net. Two more misses and its back to Henderson who gets another point for Dayton. At the end of the shootout, Leveille of the Prowlers scores the game winning point resulting in the final score of Dayton Demolition 3 and Port Huron 4.
Danbury at Brewster
Titans Spoil Brewster Home Opener
Brewster, NY - It was a new beginning in Brewster, NY as the Bulldogs introduced professional hockey to the packed Brewster Ice Arena this Friday night. It was also a new beginning for Danbury hockey as well, as the Whalers fade into history, and the Titans jump into the present. Danbury's winning spirit is still ever present, however, as they easily stole the show, winning 6-1.
As David Lun made his official coaching debut, he would definitely tell you he wished it had gone better, as the Titans would jump right out of the starting gate, scoring three goals in the first 10 minutes, from Brett Liscomb and twice from Tyler Gjurich. The Bulldogs would recover and stop the bleeding in front of James Robbins, and in the 2nd period, got on the scoreboard on a tally from Mike Zanella on the power play to make it 3-1. The Titans would quickly rebound and take the game right back, in only 26 seconds as Al Graves scored his 1st professional goal to make it 4-1, and Tyler Gjurich would finish the hat trick later in the 2nd to make it 5-1. The Titans would add one more in the 3rd from Ryan Patsch to round out the scoring, 6-1.
For the Titans, Tyler Gjurich was the stand out, with 3 goals for his 1st hat trick in his first game, shades of Derek Stepan and the New York Rangers. Ryan Patsch scored a goal and assist, and Brett Liscomb and Al Graves added a goal each. Justin Blaszak and Zach Tatrn each added two assists, and Alex Vazzano earned the victory with his 36 saves on 37 shots. For Brewster, Mike Zanella scored the lone goal from Chris Wilcox, and James Robbins was handed the loss after stopping 37 of 43 shots, many from close range.
These two teams meet again tomorrow night at Danbury Arena for the Titans home opener. 540 fans packed into tonight's Bulldogs home game at Brewster Ice Arena.
Titans Towers Over Brewster 6-1
Brewster NY - The Danbury Titans opened their inaugural season with a 6-1 victory over the Brewster Bulldogs. In front of a capacity crowd at the Brewster Ice Arena, both the Danbury Titans and the Brewster Bulldogs officially took the ice for the first time Friday evening. The home fans would be disappointed, however, as Danbury looked to grab control of the game early and often. Scoring the first goal in Titans history was Brett Liscomb, assisted by Justin Apcar-Blaszak and Zach Tatrn. Danbury continued their onslaught in the first period with a pair of goals less than a minute apart both scored by Tyler Gjurich. His first was assisted by Mike Driscoll, and the second was from veteran Ryan Patsch.
The second period saw Brewster score their first goal in franchise history as Mike Zannella scored on the power play with Phil Bronner sitting in the penalty box. Undeterred, Danbury powered back immediately, as Al Graves scored just sixteen seconds later to restore Danbury's three goal lead. Tyler Gjurich completed his hat trick unassisted late in the period, and the second period ended with a Danbury four goal lead.
The third period saw only one goal, as Ryan Patsch connected on the power play, assisted by John Scorcia and Matt Caranci. This was the only goal in the third period, though the period was highlighted by a series of saves by Titans goaltender Alex Vazzano. An alumnus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, he played six games in the ECHL as a member of the Evansville Icemen before plying his trade in the Nutmeg State. The Titans and Bulldogs will complete a home and home series to begin the season tomorrow at the Danbury Ice Arena. For more information, contact the Danbury Titans at 844-DTHOCKEY (844-384-6253).
Berlin at Danville
Dashers Build Off Last Seasons Success in Home Opener
Story by Easton Hoskins
The Danville Dashers came into the 2015-2016 hockey season looking to build off last years success as they opened up on Friday night in front of a crowd of over 1,700 people as the took on Berlin River Drivers, a Federal Hockey League expansion team. The Dashers found themselves in the River Divers end of the ice with a tired set of skaters for Berlin when Andrew Harrison got the seasons opening tally. Harrison snuck in behind the River Driver defense and tapped home a rebound off of a shot by Brad Denny. Ray Tremblay also got an assist on the goal.
When asked what he saw as the play developed, Harrison said, " We had it deep in their zone, and (Grant) Holliday and Tremblay made a great play to get it back to the point and (Brad) Denny made a great shot on net, and I snuck in behind their D and banged in the rebound. "
The Dashers had set up their offense deep in the Berlin zone, and as Ray Tremblay sat in behind the net looking for an open Dashers to pass to, Gehrett Sargis came screaming down the middle of the ice and buried the pass delivered by Tremblay. Tremblay tallied his second assist of the game on the goal. He would later add on one more assist giving him three for the night. He said, " I ' m just looking to do what I can to help my team win, and that usually means passing first. I enjoy setting up my line mates for chances " when later asked if he was coming into this season with a pass first mentality.
Matt Anthony came up big at the end of the first period for the Danville Dashers as he stopped a two on zero breakaway
The Danville Dashers went to the power play as Brandon Contratto went to the penalty box for a hooking penalty at the 5:50 mark of the second period. But, as the Dashers got caught in a bad line change, the River Drivers ' Junior Harris managed to sneak a wrist shot through goalie Matt Anthony and cut the Dashers lead in half. Not to be out done, the Dashers came back with two goals of there own. The first from Gehrett Sargis (his second of the night) with an assist going to Zach Zamora, and the second was scored by Brett Clarke off a fead from Andrew Harrison to increase the Danville lead to 4-1. Berlin would add one more goal late in the second period as Troy Polino split the Danville defense and beat Anthony with a fancy deke move before shooting the back-handed shot.
The Dashers entered the third period with a 4-2 lead, and they left the period with the same lead. The Danville Defense killed off two big penalties as Aleh Shypitsyn and A.J. Tesoriero were both booked for penalties in the third period.
The Dashers will be on the road for their next three contest, with the next home game coming on November, 20th against the Brewster Bulldogs.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2015
- Prowlers Open with Shootout Victory - Port Huron Prowlers
- Dashers Build off Last Season's Success in Home Opener - Danville Dashers
- Titans Towers over Brewster 6-1 - Danbury Titans
- Port Huron Prowlers Edge Demolition, 4-3 - Dayton Demolition
- FHL Connected: Game Recaps November 6th - FPHL
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