Federal Hockey Leage Newspaper 2010
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$1.00 Inaugural Edition 2010 Distributed at the Arena Federal Hockey League The News Magazine for; Akwesanse, New York, Danbury, 1000’ Islands, Rome & Broome County Hockey in New York! Ice Hockey is alive and well in Brooklyn, New York! As the Avia- tors play at the Floyd Bennett Field. — see Aviators on page 6 Historic Hockey Opener The Federal Hockey League opens it’s gates this October with 6 markets in the Northeast. The members are; The Danbury Whalers, 1000 Islands Privateers, Rome Frenzy, New York Aviators, Akwesasne Warriors, and Iconic Jerseys for Sale Broome County Barons. The FHL is a professional minor hockey www.danburywhalers.net league. Each member host venues which range from 1200 to 3500 seating ca- OnlineOnline ShoppingShopping pacity. Ticket prices range from $5 to $15 at most venues. The atmos- phere at the games are designed to be family friendly. The teams are made up of ex-collegiate stars from North America & world wide. The league has plans to have affiliations with several NHL teams, and hope to move players up into their systems. The level of play has been fantastic starting in April at the free agent tryout camps and thru the pre-season proc- ess at the individual team camps. Note worthy player signings; Alaine Queeneville for The Warriors and Mark Roebathan for the Privateers served as the former captain of U. Mass Lowell in 2008-09. Also signing for the pri- vateers Tyler Fernandez played at Brown University, the speedy forward comes to the Privateers anxious to com- pete and establish his offensive game. Fernandez was a three time all-star in the EJHL before attending Brown. Hockey News…….. Page 3 Will Rathje finished his junior hockey playing for the Battleford Northstars in the SJHL. Rathje played briefly Danbury………….. Page 4 with the Red Dear Rebels in the Major Junior A WHL before winding out his junior career in 2006-07. Aviators…………. Page 6 Akwesasne…... Page 8 -See Story on page 5 Broome County…… Page 10 Rome…………… Page 12 1000 Islands…….. Page 14 The Original 6 Team Logos… Aviators www.federalhockeyleague.net online 24/7 365 Purchase your iconic hockey movie jersey today on our website www.federalhockeyleaguenews.com Welcome to the FHL Newspaper! From the desk of the Publisher How exciting is this? A new single A professional league in the Northeast! From unveiling of the iconic colors of the Whalers jerseys, the first league to do this since April of 1997. To having a team basically a stone’s throw from Coney Island in New York City. I’m thinking on getting a hot dog at Nathan’s fa- mous. Before an Aviators game! To taking a bus trip way up into New York state for a possible scalping on the Indian reservation. Or go west into New York to revisit three fantastic upstate cities; Alex Bay, Rome, and Binghamton. For those of us that love hockey getting a chance to watch these young journeymen players giving it their best is what it is all about. The Federal League will embody the sport as it once was. It is the closest thing in professional sports to a bygone era where history has it’s hockey purity. Michael J. Mullaney 508-208-2265 [email protected] www.federalhockeyleague.net www.federalhockeyleaguenews.com Photo Awkesanse Tryout Camp The Economic Impact of Minor League Hockey By Michael J. Mullaney What is an economic impact study? If you speak to an economist his/her answer might bring up Keynesian multiplier mathematical models. These symbols for discussion purposes might go like this F x H x L = FHL. For the simple hockey fan or medium sized town administration here is how it works. Bring- ing minor league pro sports can have a huge benefit for the town. Here’s why. Each franchise brings the players to the city or town. Those players usually rent property for starters. Then the players live in the area. Living in the area brings revenue to the; restaurants, Laundromats, super markets, pharmacy, and all the other stores that normal people frequent today living in our society. This is only the beginning of the stimulus. Next comes the revenue generator for the local ice arena. At roughly $250 dollars per hour for a medium Players who tried out and/or contracted for The FHL sized facility the civic center has hit the jackpot. Each game during the season sends fans out to the local pubs and eateries. Thus starting a rippling affect thru out the entire community. Such as jobs created at the Player Name Player Name CLR Team rink for the home stand. Minor league teams in hockey usually play at least 30 games at home per sea- Nick Niedert Scott Estey Whalers son. RC Lyke Phil Labeck Whalers Phil Defranco . FHL League Chief Administrator, thinks “we are a family friendly option for tickets gen- Eric Lind Ryan Donavan Whalers erally in the price range of 7 to 12 dollars.” “And ac- tually there are more like 23 to 40 players that may Chris Seifert W. Galloway Whalers rotate thru on each team, the season starts at the end of Matt Nelson Brad Towsend October and runs till end of March”. “ Players can get Whalers called up to the double and triple A levels easily”. Shawn Fensel Alex Lacomb Privateers “Add to the players is the coaching staff, the admin, Nick Laporte Alex Goupil and all the behind scenes people not to mention the Privateers fans of the teams staying in the local hotels and going Will Laporte Chad Jones out to eat.” “And the refs and off ice officials coming Privateers to town, Phil said”. Will Rathje Ryan Loach Privateers Phil added that this is “great opportunity for business Josselin St. Pierre W Malcolm Privateers to interact with the team, and the fans coming to the games will be able to get to know the local business Kyle Legace Justin Elliot Warriors thru the local sports marketing”. Phil also feels that when the team interacts with the local schools and Nick Montour Bryce Luker Warriors youth programs that has a very positive impact”. “A win win for everyone”. Carter Trevisani Nick Filion Warriors If you Google this topic lots of stuff comes up on this Patrick Deraspe Martin Beaulne Warriors subject matter. What seems real to all of us might be this. In the dead of winter with the snow covering Robbie Matt Lauoie Warriors everything, a night out on the town to watch a profes- sional hockey game is priceless! Brian Dunford Joe Kubliak Frenzy Ilja Urushev D Pashkov Frenzy Don Kirnan is The FHL Commissioner Alex Andrusvich Frank Soscia Frenzy David Fimiani Vince Nucci Frenzy Anthony Monte Shane Davis Frenzy KC Timmons Chris Testa Aviators Matt Puntureri M. Thomson Aviators Tyler Lyon V. Kouroedov Aviators Justin Schmidt C. Robinson Aviators Chris Bain Chris Tutalo Aviators Tim Thomas J. Sheppard Barons Joshua Gacek A Hutton Barons Graham Fallon Ryan Axsom Barons Brent Fallon T. Hlookoff Barons Nick Verch J. Brooks Barons The Danbury Whalers On the first day of 2010, the Danbury Whalers received commitments for over 50 full season tickets. The Danbury Whalers are members of the Class A Professional - Federal Hockey League which will start it’s first season of play in November 2010. The team will play its games at the Dan- bury Ice Arena. The Whalers held events throughout the last ten months such as: A party at TK’s American Grille, marching in the St. Patty’s parade, hosted a local police versus Fire Charity game, their players attended a fashion show, participated in a youth hockey jamboree, and unveiled their iconic jerseys all in an effort to launch their team. We met up with team owner, Herm Sorcher, on the phone. In Herms words, “Our first home game represents the re- surgence for the 1st time since April 13th, 1997 that a professional hockey team is wearing a Whalers uniform.” Herm mentioned that he has been blown away by the support of the Danbury community. “The Whaler colors has “special meaning and takes everyone back in history.” Herm feels that the Whalers jersey is “the best in minor hockey”. Herm may have a point. Historically the Whalers jersey, despite not hav- ing a team in over a decade, still seems to ring the register as fans con- tinue to want to wear the colors. The Whalers will play at the Danbury Ice Arena and parking is $1 dollar for season ticket holders. We spoke with head coach Chris Firriolo, and he said, “my coaching style will adapt to player personnel, and more important with will have a high puck pursuit with the key being our fore check.” “We also want our play- ers to make quick decisions and create turnovers off pressure applied to Whalers Coaching staff helping out during tryout Camp! the other team.” “Danbury is a blue collar town and we intend to be physical”, Chris said. The Federal league will play 3 lines and 6 defense- man. Coach Firriolo mentioned “that he may use 3 lines and 6 defensemen, or use 5 defensemen and leave one player for specialty work such as a fighter.” Slap Shot’s McCracken drops the Puck on Nov 6th Herm Sorcher announced that veteran actor Paul D’Amato will make an ap- pearance at the Danbury Whalers game on Saturday, November 6thagainst the Broome County Barons. D’Amato appeared in the Paul Newman movie, Slapshot – cast as Newman’s rival, Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken of the Syra- cuse Bulldogs. D’Amato will drop the ceremonial first puck, sign autographs, take pictures with the fans, and will address the crowd.