Seals Split Opening Weekend Series With Havoc

October 30, 2006 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release


KISSIMMEE, Fla. - If a tie is like kissing your sister, then what do you call it when two teams split a two game series?

Call it a typical weekend in the Southern Professional Hockey League.

The Florida Seals hockey team opened the 2006-2007 season last weekend with a pair of contests against the Huntsville Havoc at the Silver Spurs Arena. The visitors from Alabama spoiled Opening Night by drubbing Florida 7-2 Friday but the Seals got their revenge one day later with a resounding 7-1 victory.

As the curtain rose on Opening Night, it was apparent from the outset that Huntsville was not going to stick to the script. Before the game was two minutes old, the Havoc had posted goals by Mike O'Sullivan and Bill Monkman to jump to a quick 2-0 lead.

Then the new "zero tolerance" officiating style kicked in. The fans weren't happy with the steady stream of players going to the penalty box until Florida took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play when Brett Larson blasted a drive past Havoc goalie and reigning SPHL MVP Matt Carmichael to draw within 2-1.

The Seals used another man advantage situation early in the second period to tie the game when Ryan Coghlan lit the lamp for the first time this season. The deadlock lasted until the 15:51 mark of the stanza when Huntsville tough guy Luke Phillips stuffed a rebound under Florida net minder Terry Denike, giving the Havoc a 30-2 lead after two.

Huntsville's lead doubled early in the third when Craig Bushey scored the first of his two goals. Tallies by Bushey, Phillips and Tristan Senior in the final ten minutes of the contest sealed Florida's fate and gave the road team a well deserved victory.

Saturday was another night and judging by the events of the first period, you'd have sworn there was a full moon above the Silver Spurs Arena. Referee Mike Hughes was the star as he and his linesmen had not one, not two but three disputed goals to discuss in the span of four and a half minutes.

First was a shot by Florida's Justin Keller from the face-off circle that got past Carmichael, made a funny sound and bounced right back out as quickly as it went by. After talking to the goal judge and his linesmen, Hughes signaled goal. Next came a blistering shot by Huntsville's Chris Nichols that appeared to beat Seals' rookie goalie Matt Balsar. No goal light went on and Hughes determined that it had not crossed the line, much to the chagrin of Havoc Coach John Gibson. Gibson's blood pressure rose a few more points soon after when Keller scored his second of the night, stuffing home the rebound of a shot by teammate Rob Sich. Again, after a lengthy discussion, Hughes ruled good goal for the home team.

The lead for the Seals grew to 3-0 less than a minute into the second when veteran Kahlil Thomas used a pretty wrap-around move to beat Carmichael. Huntsville got one back when Monkman scored for the second time in two nights, this one coming on a power play. It took Florida less than two minutes to answer when on a power play of their own, Sich rocketed a laser shot home. Craig Miller finished off the second stanza with a man-advantage goal to give Florida a commanding 5-1 lead after two.

Tempers were short in the third. Following two second period fights - Steve Zoryk and Billy Rochefort were the Seals dropping the gloves - it was more of the same. Sich was involved in a fracas that nearly got out of hand in front of the Huntsville bench. Later, Seth Gray went toe-to-toe with Havoc forward Travis Kauffeldt. The main event featured rookie Chad Haacke holding his own and then dropping Huntsville's Chad Wilcox with a devastating haymaker that brought thunderous applause from the home fans. Mixed in were a gorgeous breakaway goal by Keller to complete his hat trick and Miller's second of the night, also on a breakaway, to produce the final score.

Slap Shots........

The two games marked the first time the Seals and Havoc had met since Florida ended Huntsville's playoff run back in April...Seals' rookie goalie Balsar was outstanding in his first regular season game as a pro. He stopped 40 of 41 shots, including a brilliant diving stop of a shot by Huntsville's Bushey early in the second...Miller added three assists to his pair of goals on Saturday and had two helpers on Friday night. He is tied for the league lead in scoring with Knoxville's Kevin Swider...Keller's hat trick goal Saturday night was the Seals' first shorthanded tally of the season...Zero tolerance and they mean it: The two teams combined for 60, yes 60, power play opportunities in the two games. The Seals went 2-12 in game one and 2-23 in game two while Huntsville was 2-25 for the weekend...It was also premiere weekend for the newly selected Florida Seals' Ice Girls presented by B & W Mobile Auto Detailing and their brand new dance team. As usual, the ladies, led by coordinator Kristin DeCubellis and dance choreographer Jenna Straub, were a huge hit with the fans...The Seals have a pair of home games this weekend. Friday night they host their in-state rivals, the Jacksonville Barracudas. Although they are 0-2, the Cudas are much improved from last season with new Head Coach Rick Allain behind the bench and former Knoxville Ice Bear KC Caudill leading the offense. Saturday night, legendary Coach John Brophy and the expansion Richmond Renegades invade the Silver Spurs Arena. The Renegades won both of their opening weekend games. Both contests start at 7:35 P.M.



SPHL Stories from October 30, 2006


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