FHL Connected: Game Recaps November 6th
Published on November 8, 2015 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
Danville at Port Huron
Prowlers shut out in home opener
Courtesy Joseph Hayes, Times Herald
It was exactly what they didn't want to happen in their home opener.
The Port Huron Prowlers were out-shot, out-hustled and most importantly outscored against the Danville Dashers Saturday, in front of 1,053 fans at McMorran Arena. It all amounted to a 6-0 loss.
The Prowlers surrendered a pair of goals in the first three minutes of the game and never recovered.
"I honestly thought they scored two weak goals on us early within two minutes and that set us back," Prowlers coach Trevor Karasiewicz said. "We couldn't get back our emotions after that. It just put is in a hole. After two weak goals like that, the whole team just caved."
Losing the home opener dampened the team's mood after coming from behind to defeat the Dayton Demolition, 4-3, Friday in a shootout.
"Having your home opener like that, you want a better effort and outcome," coach Karasiewicz said. "Right now, the boys are all down. We just had a few bad bounces and bad breaks. The score shouldn't have been 6-0, but they will bounce back (today)."
The Prowlers entered the first intermission down 2-0 and trailed 3-0 entering the second intermission. Instead of chipping away at the score, they gave up another score at the seven minute mark and the floodgates were opened.
Matthew Kinsella had 19 saves and Curtis Martinu had 13 for the Prowlers (1-1), which will return home at 3 p.m. today against the Berlin River Drivers. The Prowlers could only muster 30 shots of their own while surrendering 38. Danville was also 2-for-4 with the man advantage while Port Huron was 0-for-2.
"To get the fans in the stands we have to come out hard (today) and prove everyone wrong," Prowlers forward Brian Soskin said. "We had a few bad bounces and everything tumbled downhill. We will get off to a fresh start. We will be ready to go (today)."
Brewster at Danbury
Bulldogs Bite Back, Score Four Unanswered to Win 6-5
By: Zak McGinniss
DANBURY CT -- After the Danbury Titans spoiled the home opener for the Brewster Bulldogs in last night's game, the Bulldogs came to Danbury with redemption on their mind. They scored four answered goals in the third period, including three in a span of one minute, fifty seconds, to return the favor to the Titans.
The Titans controlled the flow of the game for the first seven minutes of the game, putting up seven shots to none for Brewster. Both teams had ample opportunities on the power play, with both teams have three opportunities, but neither team was able to connect. The game remained deadlocked until Ryan Patsch scored on a turn around shot with traffic in front to score the Titan's first home goal in franchise history. The goal was assisted by Tyler Gjurich and Dean Yakura. Danbury outshot Brewster 16-7 in the period.
Danbury was quick to strike again early in the second period as Matt Caranci scored a power play goal by taking the puck from his own end, past the Brewster defense, and lasering a wrist shot over the outstretched leg of Bulldogs' goaltender James Robbins to double the Titans' lead. Al Graves scored less than four minutes later, assisted by John Scorcia, to make it a 3-0 game. However, a string of undisciplined play by Danbury allowed Brewster back into the game, as the Titans incurred four penalties in a row during the period. While they were able to kill a five on three advantage that lasted 1:20, the Bulldogs were finally able to solve Alex Vazzano for two power play goals two minutes apart. The second period ended with Danbury holding onto a 3-2 lead, while shots on goal were even at 11.
The third period began with Danbury again scoring twice. Ryan Patsch started by scoring his second goal of the game, assisted by Jason Popek and Tyler Gjurich. Zach Tatrn then scored his first as a Titan, assisted by Brett Liscomb and Phil Bronner. The offensive guns of Danbury fell silent after that, and Brewster began their comeback. First, Mike Zannella two in a row, the first from Marcus Mitchell and Alex Johnson, and the second from Easton Oliver and Marcus Mitchell. Zannella's second is what opened the floodgates for Brewster, as Dan Loughlin scored a minute later, and John Scully tallied the game winning goal fifty four seconds after. Zach Hale assisted on both goals. Outshooting the Titans fifteen to eight in the third, the Bulldogs left the home crowd disappointed.
For Danbury, it was an uncharacteristic defensive collapse, while for Brewster the game represents their first win in franchise history and a stepping stone towards the rest of the season. Danbury was also called for eight total penalties, killing off six. Final shots on goal were 35-33 in favor of Danbury. The Titans and Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday, November 14th with a 7:35 PM faceoff at Brewster Ice Arena.
Berlin at Dayton
Demolition Win First Game; Flooding the River Drivers 7-5
By Lee W. Mowen
DAYTON, OHIO - In a physical battle throughout a Saturday Night intended for fighting, the Demolition come away with their first win on a 7-5 triumph over the Berlin River Drivers.
Dayton, coming off a tough 4-3 shootout loss to the Port Huron Prowlers, wasted little time lighting the lamp. Rob Morton connected on his first goal as a Demolition member, bouncing a loose puck off the pads of Bradley Barone. While Barone made the initial stop, the puck continue to roll backwards just thirty-seven seconds into the match. Michael Dolman, last year's FHL Rookie of the Year, dished out his first assist in the Gem City.
Berlin would tie things up at 5:31 on a turnover in the neutral zone, with Brandon Contratto doing the work himself for an unassisted score. Contratto's first goal of the year would also represent the first short-handed goal of the year against the Demolition.
Tom Tracy (DAY) shown what he could do next, lighting the lamp twice at the 7:11 and 15:57 marks. Tracy's first goal was a Power Play offering, working the Berlin goalie to the far side of the ice from Michael Lipari and Cody Milligan passes. Brett Wall and Cody Milligan helped on Tom Tracy's second goal, to help put the home team up 3-1. For the last hurrah of the first period, Junior Harris slices a shot over Louie George at the 17:12 mark, with some help from Cameron Yarwood and Tyler Prendergast. Dayton led 3-2 after one.
Things would slow down, but only from a scoring standpoint. Throughout the match, we saw both teams rise to the occasion on standing their ice. The match ended up with 90 minutes of infractions on 26 penalties, many of those minutes for fighting.
In the second period, both teams exchange a goal with Dayton's Harry Mahesh striking at 15:43, and Berlin's Cody Dion at 18:50. Dayton led 4-3 after 40 minutes.
The third period resulted in five goals, similar to the first twenty minutes. Berlin answered with Shane Cavaleri's first of the year from Stathis Soumelidis and Steven Gallo at the 4:48 mark. Dayton kept up the pressure on the River Drivers, with a Michael Dolman goal at 8:13 (Morton and Tristan Lysko assists) before Berlin once again squared things away on Junior Harris's second offering on the night. Prendergast and Nicholas Wright help tie things again at 5-5, with 8:46 gone from the third.
Dayton wasn't finished, as Mike Henderson scores on a Power Play opportunity, with some help from Martin Uhnak and Rich Ledy at 15:04. Local Daytonian Brett Wall iced the game away at 19:52 with Rob Morton and Tristan Lysko's assists, closing the deal for the Wrecking Crew at 7-5.
With the win, Dayton improves to 1-0-1 on Opening Weekend, scoring 10 goals on the two nights and nearly 100 shots. Berlin fell to 0-2 on their second road game in the Midwest, with one more road game awaiting the River Drivers in Port Huron. A total of 1,039 people made it to Hara Arena for the first victory.
Robert Morton was the third game of the game with his one goal, two assists, and eight shots; Tom Tracy awarded the second star with his two goals and 10 shots, and Mike Henderson with the Game-Winner was the top star on the night. Louie George took the win with24 saves on 29 shots; Bradley Barone with 41 saves on 48 shots in the loss.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2015
- Dashers Build off Last Seasons Success in Home Opener - Danville Dashers
- FHL Connected: Game Recaps November 6th - FPHL
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