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Hawaiian Islanders Open Season Saturday at Central Valley

March 23, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Hawaiian Islanders News Release


QUICK FACTS:
HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (0-0)
at CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (0-0)
Date: Saturday, March 27, 2004
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. HST (7:30 p.m. PST)
Site: Selland Arena (capacity: 8,911)
Officials: Steve Strimling (Referee), Torrance Crable (Umpire), Steve Hoslett (Head Linesman), Mike Cuttone (Linesman), Ken Sarna (Back Judge)
Radio: Live on KUMU2 AM 1500 (Alema Harrington)
Internet: Live on www.hawaiianislanders.com
Series Record: Central Valley leads 4-2 (Note: CV was formally the Bakersfield Blitz and will assume all records from that team.)
Coaches: Islanders – Cal Lee (11-7, second season)
Coyotes – Cree Morris (0-0, first season in Central Valley; 14-20, third season overall)

TRAVEL INFORMATION:
DEPARTURE: Thursday, March 25
United Airlines flights 32 departing at 10:30 p.m.
Arrive San Francisco at 5:18 a.m.
United Airlines flight 6416 at 9:15 a.m.
Arrive Fresno at 10:10 a.m.

HOTEL INFORMATION:
Piccadilly Inn - University, 4961 N. Cedar Avenue,
Fresno, CA 93726, Phone (559) 224-4200.

RETURN: Sunday, March 28
United Airlines flights 6906 departing at 5:40 a.m.
Arrive Los Angeles at 6:42 a.m.
United Airlines flight 53 at 9 a.m.
Arrive Honolulu at 12:52 p.m.

HOME GAME INDIVIDUAL TICKET INFORMATION:
(Available March 29)
Walk Up Sales: Neal Blaisdell Arena, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On game day, the Box Office will open through halftime.

Ticketmaster Outlets including: Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus, and all 12 Time Supermarket locations.
Phone Sales: Ticketmaster (808) 526-4400.
Internet Sales: www.ticketmaster.com

Ticket Prices:
· $25 Lower level adult (reserved)
· $15 Upper level sideline (reserved)
· $10 Upper level end zone (general admission)
· $5 Youth (Age 17 and below)
(Convenience fees apply at all outlets)

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Hawaiian Islanders: Thomas Yoshida
(808-532-7362 x-22; cell – 808-282-2299) tyoshida@hawaiianislanders.com

Central Valley Coyotes: Anthony Martinez
(559-498-1182; cell – 626-290-8870
anthony@centralvalleycoyotes.com

THE STAKES: The Hawaiian Islanders open their 2004 season with renewed determination. With an af2 West Division Championship under their belt, teams will now bring their "A" game as Hawaii begins the defense of its title. Hawaii's biggest division rival last year was the Bakersfield Blitz and this week, the Islanders opens the season against Central Valley Coyotes, which moved its franchise from Bakersfield to Fresno. CA.


@
HAWAII CENTRAL VALLEY

HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (0-0) (11-7 in 2003; West Champs)
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
3/27 at Central Valley 5:30 L-1 CV 4-2
4/10 at Louisville 1:30 W-1 Hawaii 1-0
4/17 BOSSIER-SHREVE 6:30 -- 1st Meeting
4/24 BAKERSFIELD 6:30 -- 1st Meeting
4/30 at Bossier-Shreve 2:00 -- 2nd Meeting
5/08 at San Diego 4:00 W-3 Hawaii 4-2
5/22 CENTRAL VALLEY 6:30 L-1 CV 4-2
5/28 SAN DIEGO 6:30 W-3 Hawaii 4-2
6/05 at Bakersfield 4:00 -- 2nd Meeting
6/12 CENTRAL VALLEY 6:30 L-1 CV 4-2
6/19 SAN DIEGO 6:30 W-3 Hawaii 4-2
7/03 at San Diego 4:00 W-3 Hawaii 4-2
7/10 BAKERSFIELD 6:30 -- 3rd Meeting
7/17 LOUISVILLE 6:30 W-1 Hawaii 1-0
7/24 at Central Valley 4:30 L-1 CV 4-2
7/31 at Bakersfield 4:00 -- 4th Meeting

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (0-0) (Formerly Bakersfield)
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
3/27 HAWAII 7:30 W-1 CV 4-2
4/10 BAKERSFIELD 7:30
4/23 at San Diego 7:00
5/01 PEORIA 7:30
5/08 at Green Bay 5:30
5/15 RIO GRAND VALLEY 7:30
5/22 at Hawaii 9:30
5/29 BAKERSFIELD 7:30
6/05 SAN DIEGO 7:30
6/12 at Hawaii 9:30
6/19 at Bakersfield 7:00
7/03 at Oklahoma City 5:30
7/10 SAN DIEGO 7:30
7/17 At Bakersfield 7:00
7/24 HAWAII 7:30
7/30 at San Diego 7:00

THE SERIES: The Bakersfield Blitz franchise moved to Fresno to become the Central Valley team. All records that were previously Bakersfield are now the Coyotes. This will be the seventh meeting between the two teams with Central Valley owning a 4-2 advantage. In Fresno, Hawaii holds an all-time record of 1-1 when they faced the Fresno Frenzy in 2002.

THE IFs:
If the Islanders defeat the Coyotes, it would ...
· Give the ISLANDERS a 3-4 record with Central Valley
· Give the ISLANDERS an 6-11 all-time record on the road in 2003.
· Give the ISLANDERS an all-time record of 3-0 record in the month of March.
· Give Hawaii Head Coach Cal Lee a 12-7 record
· Record their third straight opening day win.

HEAD COACHES: Cal Lee was named head coach of the Hawaiian Islanders on October 23, 2002 giving fans across Hawaii an added excitement for the 2003 season and he delivered on his promise. He turned a 5-11, 2002 season to a 11-7 record in 2003. He also gave Hawaii its first west division crown. Lee is the most prolific football coach in Hawaii high school history. In 21 years as a head coach at St. Louis High School (Honolulu), his teams have compiled a 241-32-5 record, which include 18 league titles and 15 state championships.

Central Valley Head Coach Cree Morris is in his first season with Central Valley but it is his third af2 season as he coached two seasons with the San Diego Riptide. Morris spent three years at San Diego State, before transferring to Division II St. Mary's (CA). In two seasons with the Gaels, he threw for 3,451 yards and 24 TDs, and six rushing scores. He is listed 16 times in the school's all-time record books after leading them to consecutive winning seasons in just 15 starts.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
Head Coach Cal Lee on Central Valley:
"There's nothing like starting a season where everyone's 0-0. It now doesn't matter that we were division champs because now everyone will be gunning for us this year."

ISLANDERS ILLUSTRATED:
Join host Alema Harrington for Islanders Illustrated, an informative 30-minute look behind the scenes at the Hawaiian Islanders, the only professional franchise in the state. See highlights from last week's game as well as a preview of upcoming opponents. You'll also see interesting interviews with coaches, players and items that make the Islanders your only team in town.

The show airs 11 times each week with a new show on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on Oceanic Cable 16. Check local listing for air times

ISLANDERS' INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
QB Brian Ah Yat Shoulder Short IR
WR/DB Gabe Amey Shoulder Short IR
DS Eddie Klaneski Hamstring Short IR

KEY DATES IN TEAM HISTORY:
September 6, 2001 – The league offices of arenafootball2 announces Honolulu will be awarded a franchise for the 2002 season. Charles Wang and his daughter Kimberly will be the operators of the team. Hawaii becomes the ninth (of 10) expansion team named for the 2002 season.
January 7, 2002 – Former all-state quarterback Darnell Arceneaux is assigned to the Islanders making him the first player in team history.
January 19, 2002 - The Hawaiian Islanders hosts an open tryout at Central Oahu Regional Park. Over 30 players endured the soggy conditions and participated in the three-hour workout
February 4, 2002 – Islanders host Pacific Rim Training Camp where over 180 participants from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, and Fiji attended.
March 30, 2002 - Islanders defeat the Fresno Frenzy 50-47 before 4,376 fans at the Blaisdell Arena marking the first game, the first win and the first home win in team history.
June 22, 2002 – Despite losing 56-48 at Bakersfield, quarterback Darnell Arceneaux rushes for an af2 record-tying five touchdowns.
July 20, 2002 – Hawaii rallies from a 21-0 deficit to upset the two-time defending af2 champion Quad City Steamwheelers 56-55 before 5,185 fans. Two days later, Nian Taylor was named National Ironman for the second consecutive week. Combined with his National Built Ford Tough award three weeks earlier, he becomes the first player to win three national awards in a four-week period.
October 23, 2002 –Cal Lee become the Islanders new coach for the 2003 season.
March 12, 2003 – Training camp opens with 16 veterans making the 35-man squad. Islanders announced they sold nearly 1,200 season tickets compared to only 16 from last year.
March 30, 2003 – Exactly one year following the Islanders' first season and first win against Fresno, Hawaii opens the 2003 with a 48-37 win over Green Bay and gives head coach Cal Lee is first win as an af2 coach.
April 4, 2003 – A missed extra point gives Hawaii a stunning 53-52 win over Quad City. It only the third time in 25 games in which the Steamwheelers have lost a game at home.
July 5, 2003 – Hawaiian Islanders qualifies for the playoffs, its first in franchise history.
July 21, 2003 – With Hawaii's win over San Diego and the Bakersfield-Wichita tie, the Islanders clinch their first west division title and the number three seed in the playoffs.
Aug. 1, 2003 – Hawaii defeats Wichita 57-30 in the first round of the af2 playoffs.
Aug. 9, 2003 – The eventual af2 champion Tulsa Talons ends Hawaii season with a 59-38 win in Tulsa, Oklahoma.


FORWARD MOTION: The Islanders go on a bye next week and will go back on the road again in week 2 when they face the Louisville Fire on April 10. Hawaii's first home game is April 17 against Bossier-Shreveport.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
3/22 Placed on Short IR Brian Ah Yat
3/22 Placed on Short IR Gabe Amey
3/22 Placed on Short IR Eddie Klaneski
3/22 Reassigned to af2 Justin Colbert
3/22 Reassigned to af2 Jaron Cunningham
3/22 Reassigned to af2 Neal Gossett
3/22 Reassigned to af2 Jonathan Kauka
3/22 Reassigned to af2 Fabian Manumaleuna
3/22 Reassigned to af2 Johnny Wayfer
3/22 Recallable Reassign Tiki Sagapolutele
3/22 Assigned to Hawaii Kimo Naehu

LAST SERIES MEETING: BAKERSFIELD 75, HAWAII 61
(Saturday, July 27, 2003, Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu) – Chad Elliott tossed for 253 yards and nine touchdowns to lead Bakersfield to a 75-61 win over Hawaii. The game was played with a heavy heart as Blitz linebacker Julian Yearwood passed away the weekend before in Wichita.
The Bakersfield win gave the Blitz the sixth seed in the playoffs.
In a planned move, both Darnell Arceneaux and Mike Tillis each played a half as Hawaii had already clinched a playoff spot. Arceneaux threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns while Tillis threw for 148 yards and four touchdowns.
Receiver Nian Taylor caught nine passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns.


2004 HAWAIIAN ISLANDER TRANSACTIONS
(by player)


Aguiar, Kealii - Assigned (3/11/04)

Ah Yat, Brian - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Short IR (3/22/04)

Akiona, Randyn - Assigned (3/11/04)

Amey, Gabe - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Short IR (3/22/04

Arceneaux, Anthony - Assigned (3/11/04)

Arceneaux, Darnell - Assigned (3/11/04)

Colbert, Justin - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Cunningham, Jaron - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Davis, James - Assigned (3/11/04)

Gossett, Neal - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Harris, Channon - Assigned (3/11/04)

Kauka, Jonathan - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Kemfort, Robert - Assigned (3/11/04)

Klaneski, Eddie - Assigned (3/11/04)

Manumaleuna, Fabian - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Maul, Desmond - Assigned (3/11/04)

Miller, Mike - Assigned (3/11/04)

Misipeka, Keiki - Assigned (3/11/04)

Naehu, Kimo - Assigned (3/11/04)

Notoa, Vai - Assigned (3/11/04)

Puna, Evile - Assigned (3/11/04)

Ramos, Andy - Assigned (3/11/04)

Robinson, Joshua - Assigned (3/11/04)

Roe, Morrie - Assigned (3/11/04)

Sagapolutele, Tiki - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Recall Reassign (3/22/04

Simpson, Antoine - Assigned (3/11/04)

Smith, Aaron - Assigned (3/11/04)

Taylor, Nian - Assigned (3/11/04)

Tillis, Mike - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Tuia, Mose - Assigned (3/11/04)

Ura, Teruhiro - Intl Squad (3/11/04)

Wayfer, Johnny - Assigned (3/11/04)
- Reassigned (3/22/04)

Withy-Allen, Shawn - Assigned (3/11/04)

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