Ice Chips

Published on December 27, 2013 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release

Demonz Come From Behind to Beat the Privateers

(Dayton, Ohio) This evening the Dayton Demonz returned to home ice for the first time in two weeks hosting the Watertown Privateers. While on the road where they played the Danbury Whalers, winning the first game in overtime and losing the following weekend in regulation that has them sitting in 2nd place in the Federal Hockey League behind the Whalers. The Privateers came into tonight's game in the final play-off position only percentage points behind the 3rd place Danville Dashers.

Tonight Dayton was able to battle back from a 3-1 deficit and scored 4 unanswered goals to pull out a 5-3 win over Watertown. The Demonz outshot the Privateers 45-28 in the game.

The Privateers played aggressively through most of the game. Only playing 2 games over the last two weeks the Demonz' did not look like a team that was in sync. The Privateers were led by strong goaltending by Matt Anthony, while his team was able to cut down passing lanes, provide strong puck support, and frustrate the offensive minded Demonz.

With Dayton trailing 3-2 over mid-way through the 3rd period, Dayton tied the game 3-3 on Anthony Battaglia's first of two goals on the evening. Ahmed Mahfouz's power play goal with less than a minute to play in the game put Dayton ahead for good 4-3. The game winner by Mahfouz was a thing of beauty, with Battaglia and Jonathan Juliano working the puck down low, while Mahfouz stationed himself on the corner of the Privateer's crease. Battaglia sent a perfect pass across the front of the net where Mahfouz was able to blast the puck into the open net with the Privateer goaltender out of position. The play and shot in basketball is called a slam-dunk. Battaglia's second goal of the evening with 10 seconds left on the clock was scored into the empty net as the Privateers pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. His goal sealed the win for Dayton 5-3.

Watertown got on the scoreboard 5 minutes into the first period to take a 1-0 lead. On what looked like a routine play, Privateer Defenseman Craig Cole flipped a shot from the blue line at the Demonz net, however Jeff Dill was able to get his stick on the puck and redirect it past Demonz goalie Matt Anthony. Beni Berisha was also credited with an assist on the play.

Berisha added a goal of his own later in the period to make it 2-0 Watertown. Dayton cut the lead 2-1 a minute later, on Roger Tagoona's goal. Watertown would retake the two goal lead before the period would end, 3-1 on Branden Parkhouse's tally.

The second period saw Watertown continue to frustrate Dayton, where they were able to finish their checks and cut down the Demonz in the neutral zone. Although the Demonz were not able sustain any offensive zone time, Jesse Felton of the Demonz was able to score off the rush, taking the puck from inside his own blue line, taking it coast to coast, busting through the Privateer defense, and blasting a shot into the Privateers net under the halfway point in the period. The 2nd period would end 3-2 Privateers.

In the 3rd period, Dayton was able to tie the game and win the game and show the character of the team. This is their will to win, and never say die attitude.

On Saturday evening the Demonz host the defending Commissioner's Cup Champions Danbury Whalers with a start time at 7:35 p.m.

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Danbury Wins 6-3 as Danville Loses 3rd Straight

A pretty good crowd showed up for a Friday night game here in Danville as the Dashers gave it their best shot, but simply could not get the job done. Danville came to play with several new faces at all positions, 2 players who formerly played for the Whalers, and a goaltender from the ECHL. Ryan Vanwynsberghe and Ryan Dolance, who started the year with Danbury, played their first home game in from of the Palmer Arena crowd, while Matt Cooper, who played 2 games with Gwinnett of the ECHL this season, was between the pipes as Jeromy Semtner had the night off. Joey Spagnoli earned his 1st win as Mike Brown took the night off for Danbury

The first period was pretty even and it saw no scoring, but plenty of shots, some good goaltending, as well as plenty of good hits, which were seen throughout the evening. Julian Fraser earned a double minor for a high stick however the Dashers did not convert. With a minute to go in the first period, David Lun and Ray Tremblay exchanged plenty of shoves and nearly came to blows but the officials jumped in at the key moment to prevent that, and both got incidental roughing penalties.

The 2nd period would be nothing but goals however, as Justin Barr would score at the 4:30 mark to make it 1-0. Not to be outdone, Cody Ayers would score only 15 seconds later to tie it up. At the 7:35 mark, Ray Tremblay would score to make it 2-1 on the power play, but once again, Danbury responds, with a power play goal of their own to make it 2-2, from Pietrasiak at 9:04. Soon after, Joe Pace would meet with Steve Brown, and both would drop the gloves and Joe Pace got most of the punches in that fight. The last 5 minutes of 2nd periods seems to haunt the Dashers as just like last game, the opponent would explode with offense, as Danbury scored 3 times just 1:41 apart to take a commanding 5-2 lead, with goals from Karlov, Patsch and Solarev.

The Dashers would not give up though, and Justin Barr would score his 2nd of the night just 1:50 into the 3rd to get Danville back within a pair. At this point Joey Spagnoli would make several key saves as Danville pushed hard in the first half of the period to get back into it. However it simply would not work as Jason Pietrasiak would cap things off with a goal with just under 7 to go to make it 6-3. The game would finish with fireworks though as Joe Pace would come back for another fight, this time against Julian Fraser. Both landed well over 10 shots each and the crowd would give one last roar of approval as Joe Pace saluted the fans.

Jason Pietrasiak would score twice for Danbury, Ilya Solarev had a goal and 2 assists, Cody Ayers had a goal and assist. Karlov and Patsch would also add goals, and Joey Spagnoli stopped 34 of 37. For Danville, Justin Barr scored twice and Ray Tremblay added a goal and 2 assists, and Roman Andrejev would add 2 assists. Matt Cooper stopped 42 of 48. Joe Pace led in PIM with 10 while Julian Fraser had 9. Danbury plays tomorrow at Dayton, as the Demonz come up with a 5-3 win over Watertown. Meanwhile the Dashers will face Watertown at home tomorrow night before playing Dayton on Sunday night.

Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2013

• Ice Chips - FPHL
• Whalers Home New Years Eve - Danbury Whalers

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