Ice Chips

Published on February 22, 2013 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release

Whalers Defeat Privateers as Caranci Tallies Twice

Danbury, CT - If tonight's game was any indication, the upcoming playoff series between the Whalers and Privateers should be a wild one. Matt Caranci scored twice and Mike Brown made 30 saves as the Whalers defeated the Privateers 5-4 in their last regular season home game of 2012-2013. The night was made all the more special by the professional hockey debut of Specialist Shawn Allen. Allen, who started playing hockey at the age of seven, was given his one and only shift of the night midway through the third period."It was a rush, said Allen. Just the atmosphere of the arena and the adrenaline running through the fans was amazing. The team was so intense from the get go. It was a dream come true, no doubt. "

Former Whaler Carlo Ricci(5th) struck first against his old squad opening the scoring for the Privateers at 4:28 of the first. The Whalers appeared to have tied the game just a few minutes later, but the puck was ruled to have been kicked in by Richard Vanderhoek and disallowed. Kelly Miller (5th) would tie the game up for real at 7:21 of the first on a blast from just inside the right circle. Ryan Dolence sent a hard dump into the far corner; the puck took a hard carom off the end boards right into the wheel house of Miller, who buried it. The Whalers would take the lead for the first time at 9:42 of the opening frame on a beautiful tip in by Matt Caranci(7th). Caranci(8th) would give the Whalers a two goal advantage at 17:21 of the first and it appeared the Whalers were sitting pretty. However, Sean Walsh (1st) would counter just 22 seconds later bringing the Whalers lead to one entering the intermission.

The Privateers would tie the game at 2:25 of the second, thanks to a power play goal by Peter Campbell (31st) . The goal came at the tail end of a 5 minute major penalty to Kamil Vavra, who was also ejected from the game. The Whalers would retake the lead at 9:17 of the middle frame thanks to a power play goal from Mike Atkinson(35th). Atkinson's shot went off the glove of 1000 Island defenseman Nick Temple and in behind goaltender Matt Anthony. The Privateers would even the score once again at 18:37 on the second goal of the game from Peter Campbell(32nd). Campbell took a deceiving wrist shot from just outside the circle which somehow found it's way through a screen and past Mike Brown. The Whalers would regain the lead for good just 31 seconds later as Anthony Pisano(2nd) blasted a shot from the point up over the glove of Anthony for the game winner.

"I just tried to put the puck on net and hoped for the best. Luckily I put it in the perfect spot and it went in. I don't get to score too many goals, so this one was special." -Anthony Pisano, Whalers defenseman.

The Privateers had their opportunities to tie the game in the third, but Mike Brown shut the door the rest of the way to guide his team to victory. Matt Anthony made 37 saves in the defeat. These two teams will become very familiar with each other in the next few weeks, as they play each other twice next weekend at 1000 Island and then start a best of five series against one another on March 9th. The Whalers are back in action tomorrow night as they visit the Danville Dashers. Puck drop is at 7:05 and can be tuned into through livesportsvideo.com.

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Dayton's Tony Tabisz Stones Danville in Shootout

By Robert Kirchner

(Dayton, Ohio) Tonight the Dayton Demonz looked to avenge their only regulation loss at home, last Sunday to the hands of the Danville Dashers. The Dashers won 7-5; this came in the Demonz 23rd game at Hara Arena, with only two weeks left in the regular season.

This evening the Demonz redeemed themselves in a shootout victory; 6 to 5 over the Dashers. The game had a play-off atmosphere to it. Both teams fought hard, had great scoring chances, outstanding goaltending, and momentum swings throughout the contest.

For the better part of the first period, Dayton had many scoring opportunities. However, the Demonz were unable to finish. Timing, and holding onto the puck a split-second to long, created missed scoring opportunities.

Danville would take a 1-0 lead midway through the first, as the Dayton Defencemen inside the Danville blue line, turned the puck over to Dasher forward Jonathan Juliano, and skate three quarters the length of the ice on a breakaway, putting it past Demonz goaltender Aaron Barton (who would be injured later in the game, and replaced with Tony Tabisz of Kettering, Ohio).

From this point on the Dashers took advantage of Demonz turnovers, pressuring Dayton in their own zone, and creating many scoring opportunities. Dayton was outshot in the period by Danville 18 to 7 in the period.

Danville's second tally of the period came with 31 seconds left in the period. Danville made it 2-0; Ryan Stern was credited with the goal which went off a Demonz player and into the net. This was a result of Danville outworking Dayton in their zone. Danville continued to beat Dayton to loose pucks, frustrating the Demonz by pinning Dayton deep in their defensive zone.

There must have been a good motivational talk in the Demonz locker room between the first and second periods. Dayton controlled the period, from the beginning to end. Outshooting the Dashers 17 to 10, spending most of the period in the Dashers zone, and scoring 4 unanswered goals to lead at the end of two periods 4-2.

After killing off a penalty the first 2 minutes of the period, the Demonz became offensive. Dayton out worked the Dashers in every aspect of the game. The Demonz sustained offensive zone pressure through puck control, and play, would be the story of the period

Seconds after killing off the penalty, the Demonz went offensive. The Demonz thought they cut the Dasher lead in half, however, the goal was washed out, due to the net being moved as the puck was on its way into the net.

The next one would count, as Dayton cut the Danville lead 2-1 five minutes into the 2nd, on a power-play goal by Chris Leveille.

Ahmed Mahfouz tied the game 2-2, on another Dayton power-play. Quarterbacking the point, Trevor Karasiewicz, was able to keep the puck into the offensive zone a couple of times, as the Dashers failed to clear the puck. The Demonz forwards were able work the puck in low, which lead to Mahfouz's goal.

Dayton went ahead 3-2 with Ryan Wiley scoring from the left face-off circle, with the Demonz again taking advantage of the Dasher defensive zone breakdown.

Dayton's 4th goal was done through a tic-tac-toe play between, Karasiewicz, Nick Petriello, and Mahfouz in the slot area. This was a thing of beauty, as Mahfouz (2nd goal of the period) one-timed it, from the door-step, into an open-net, with 4.3 seconds left in the period.

The third period became another wide open affair. Dayton would take a 5-2 lead early in the period only to see Danville storm back, and rally with 3 un-answered goals to tie the game at 5-5, sending the game into overtime.

Less than a minute into the final frame, Mahfouz's hat trick, put Dayton up 5-2, off a 2 on 1 play with Karasiewicz. The Dashers quickly responded with a goal only seconds later, Dustin Skinner, cut the lead to 5-3, with his blast from the high slot.

Danville's Dustin Skinner added his 2nd and 3rd goal (giving him the natural hat trick); his 3rd goal of the game with under 6 minutes left in regulation sent the game into overtime

The overtime session saw many scoring opportunities by both teams. Neither team was able to score in the overtime session.

In the shootout, Demonz goaltender Tony Tabisz came up big to record the victory, denying all 5 Dasher shooters. Ahmed Mahfouz would be credited with the shot out winner for the Demonz.

Tonight's game was the first of three games this weekend at Hara. On Saturday, Dayton welcomes 1000 Islands, New York at 7:35 p.m. Sunday afternoon's game the Demonz host Danbury, Connecticut with a start time of 4:05 p.m. Dayton, Danbury, Danville, and 1000 Islands all have qualified for the Federal Hockey League Play-offs with begin next week. Dayton will host Danville in the first round, with the series opening up, Friday night, March 1st at 7:35 p.m.

Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2013

• Ice Chips - FPHL
• Whalers Home Tonight - Danbury Whalers

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