October 6th, 2011

And the wait is finally over. AFHL arenas will be jumping tonight as each team will take the ice in their first matchups of the 2011-12 regular season.

Let’s take a look around the league…

 Boston Giants:

Evgeni Malkin is simply fantastic. A lot of people are predicting a career year for him and that would mean surpassing his 113 point total from the 08-09 season. Marian Gaborik and Matt Moulson are two 30+ goal scoring wingers that will skate with him on Boston’s top line and with Nicklas Backstrom and Kari Lehtonen in between the pipes, the Giants have a good shot at making the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history.

 Buffalo Phantoms:

The Phantoms have one of the greatest hockey players in the history of hockey in Sidney Crosby. Beyond him, there’s a reason why Buffalo has moved into the conversation of climbing back to the top of the standings… the new faces will make a very good group even better. In particular, the addition of Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski to one of the league’s top powerplay units will make the special-teams unit a real asset for the Phantoms. It almost feels like an acquisition, but the return of Crosby and Derek Roy will obviously be a big boost, too. Both centers missed the second half of last season due to injuries.

 Comox Valley Hitmen:

Pat McKenna did a masterful job last season with taking over a team that looked like a mess with little star power to speak of and helping to get them to the playoffs with a disciplined, well-balanced offensive style that the players have bought in to. After trading Jonathan Quick for Roberto Luongo less than a week ago, Comox Valley’s goaltending went from very good to great.

 Deer Park Chiefs:

Henrik Lundqvist is as steady and durable as they come in the crease, and a goaltender that’s capable of stealing a matchup by himself. Ryan Kesler, Dustin Brown, Alex Tanguay, and Tyler Ennis bring a nice mix of skill and scoring to the top lines. They have a ton of depth on offense with extra forwards that have the ability to score somewhere between 15-20 goals. Having a lot of depth will be a huge plus once Spring comes around.

 Goldsboro Rebels:

There is a good amount of individual talent here, starting with Corey Perry and Jeff Skinner. With the abundance of talented and skilled skaters this is a team with plenty of speed up and down the lineup. If Jason Spezza and David Booth return to form, and one of Michael Neuvirth or Chris Mason wins the starting goalie job, then this has a good chance of making the playoffs.

 Fort Drum Killers:

The jury is still out on GM Stryska’s decision to trade Ilya Kovalchuk for three prospects, obviously, but there’s no denying the Killers’ needed to add some talent to their farm after missing out on the free agent signings frenzy that happened over the summer due to the increase of the farm team roster limit. Mikko Koivu, Chris Stewart are now their biggest stars on offense and they picked up another top young forward prospect back in June when they selected Mark Scheifele with their first round draft pick.

 Detroit Icemen:

Even after trading away Martin Brodeur, the Icemen still have one of the best goalie tandems in all of hockey in Jaroslav Halak and Tomas Vokoun. Along with a strong pro team, their farm system is also a strength. In addition to heralded prospect Markus Granlund, they have forwards Evegny Kuznetsov, Tomas Tatar, and Paul Byron waiting in the wings.

 Twin City Vikings:

The Vikings were incredibly active in the free-agent market this summer, after launching a rebuild, they added a bunch of players to hold the tide while the youngsters develop. Undoubtedly the Vikings are in a full rebuild mode but it can’t be denied that the Vikings will eventually have AFHL star players across their lines. The trick in Twin City is not doing anything risky to hinder the future, which is very bright as the system is loaded with prospects such as Nazem Kadri, Nick Bjugstad, Mark McNeill and Matt Puempel.

London Mustangs:

After having to make a couple of big trades to fix some issues created by GM Schmansky who was given the axe after his first 11 days on the job, Matt Plachta will ice a cast of characters that includes the new faces Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, and Martin Havlat. Throw in Alex Pietrangelo and Nick Lidstrom to give the team some serious firepower from the backend plus the reacquisition of Pekka Rinne who led the Mustangs to their first Cup in ’09, and this team is very well-rounded.

 Lakehead Thunderwolves:

Talk about a team that went through a transition this summer. When all was said and done the Thunderwolves put together an excellent top six on offense led by a superstar that goes by the name of Steven Stamkos. The acquisitions of defensemen Keith Yandle and Kris Letang, who both bring AFHL Stanley Cup experience to the team, will certainly increase the chances of the club making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

 Manhattan Supermen:

The Manhattan Supermen made headlines last season because of the GM’s decision to launch a full rebuild in the middle of the season. They should make headlines this season because they’re an improving team that could quite possibly squeak into the playoffs yet again thanks to their impressive collection of young forwards, and a goaltending staff that could churn out a total of five starting goalies by the end of the season.

 Montreal Xtreme:

It’s another rebuilding year, but they’re getting closer, slowly but surely, to making an impact. And they might be the most entertaining — and exciting — non-playoff team in the league with an impressive list of young forwards and a young goaltending staff that includes Jacob Markstrom, Henrik Karlsson, Braden Holtby, and Jake Allen… just to name a few. And even if they end up in last place for a second straight year, come the month June, GM Cancilla might be standing at a podium and selecting Nail Yakupov with the first overall pick in the 2012 AFHL Entry Draft. Yakupov is already being regarded by many as the best player to come into the league since Sidney Crosby in 2005.

 North Bay Warriors:

As everybody knows, the Warriors can score, almost all of them. Last season, 16 of their current players recorded double digits in goals scored, led by Jarome Iginla’s 43. There is certainly loads of experience in North Bay, too. These guys aren’t in their first rodeos. That especially includes former 50 goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. Having the leadership that players like Ovechkin and Iginla can provide certainly doesn’t hurt. Also, you might have heard this Brunetta fellow on their bench isn’t so bad.

Oshawa City Leafs:

Where the success of this team will likely hinge on goaltenders Cam Ward and Corey Crawford. They have a couple of excellent young talents in John Tavares and Zach Parise with some solid veteran players to go with them like Shane Doan and Zdeno Chara. A breakout season for Tavares is being predicted and that would mean the Leafs could have two 40+ goal scorers this year in Tavares and Parise.

 Ottawa Knights:

There’s hope that the Knights could breakthrough this season and see some playoff hockey because their top line of Thomas Vanek, Jonathan Toews, and Michael Grabner can compete with the best of the best. They also have a couple of promising young forwards making bids for roster spots this season. Nikita Filatov, who hadn’t lived up to his perceived potential since turning pro, will also be given a shot to show what he can for the Knights. If he fits in and focuses on his game, his addition could prove to be a steal for Ottawa. While second year GM Ryan Armstrong is saying all the rights things about this team being competitive this season, it will serve as a good opportunity to get a glimpse of the future.

 Hamilton Firestorm:

Taking over for former GM Barry Hickey, Gates Imbeau ushers in a new era that the fans are very excited about. Overall, the team has no holes in it whatsoever. It will just come down to how talented the team proves to be as there are multiple players capable of 60+ point seasons. As talented as they are on offense, their best players probably sit in the blue paint all game long. Marc-Andre Fleury and Tim Thomas are two of the absolute best in the game.

Toronto Red Devils:

Hope is high in Toronto as the Red Devils GM Jordan Carbone was active all summer landing big name players like forwards Ilya Kovalchuk, Jeff Carter, and Loui Eriksson and goalies Martin Brodeur, Jonathan Quick, and Semyon Varlamov. It’s tough to find a better trio of goalies than Brodeur, Quick, and Varlamov and that will be a big reason why the Red Devils are successful this season.

Pittsburgh Heroes:

The Heroes reached the Stanley Cup Finals for a second straight year last season, losing to the Washington Power 7-1.  But with that disappointment in the rearview mirror, the Heroes are bringing back a roster that remains loaded from top to bottom, and is one of the top contenders in the league. They’ve got the Sedin Twins anchoring the offense, Tomas Kaberle expected to return to form on the blueline, and Ryan Miller is still one of the best goaltenders in the AFHL.

 Victoria Vipers:

You can see the potential on the Vipers roster, especially after the trades GM Hartley made during the offseason, the offense is expected to see a huge uptick in scoring. With such an abundance of talented and skilled skaters this is a team with plenty of speed up and down the lineup. Like both teams above them here, the Vipers now have an oustanding man living in the crease. It took him a while, but Carey Price is finally living up to his expectations. Last season he posted a 2.35 GAA and .923 save percentage. The trick will be doing it again, but the safe bet is that he turned a corner and an encore shouldn’t be a problem.

Washington Power:

In a bizarre twist, new GM Rick Charron made a lot of changes to the roster after the team won the AFHL Stanley Cup just five months ago. New faces James Van Riemsdyk, David Krejci, and Tyler Seguin are excellent young forwards, and Van Riemsdyk could be ready to have a breakout season following his impressive postseason last Spring. Joe Thornton is still around to be one of their leading offensive weapons and their defense is still solid. Whether or not this team repeats will be based on how well Ilya Bryzgalov and Antero Niitymaki perform in goal.

GM Nellany draws first blood on the eve of the Killers-Chiefs rivalry matchup

December 12th, 2011

“In a rivalry matchup like this, the team that draws first blood normally has an advantage the whole week,” Deer Park GM Mike Nellany told a reporter late last night. “We’re going to draw first blood.”

Nellany did just that on Monday morning when he called Fort Drum GM Steve Stryska a “scrub”.

“I called him a scrub,” said Nellany. “He’s a scrub, plain and simple.”

The Killers-Chiefs rivalry is one of the most storied and well known rivalries ever in the Amazing Fantasy Hockey League. Both GMs have plenty of history to build upon. They experienced two ferociously competitive trash-talking sessions, with each GM claiming victory once. They even, once upon a time, came close to blows in the parking lot, gang style, outside of the John Jay hockey rink in Deer Park.

“There’s just something special in the air when we play against the Killers,” said Chiefs defenseman Andrew Ference. “They don’t like us and we don’t like them.”

The intensity level during this week’s matchup is expected to be very high as both clubs are battling for the top spot in the American Conference.

“All week it’s going to be a slugfest back and forth – figuratively,” Killers forward Chris Neil told reporters after today’s pregame skate. “We’re a couple points out of first place. We’re not going to let them stop us.”

This cross-river battle will likely will be won between the pipes, with Fort Drum goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and Deer Park counterpart Henrik Lundqvist in the spotlight.

Lundqvist has been sensational this season, posting a 2.08 goals-against average with a .932 SV%, and it appears he’s taken his play to another level.

“To me, why he’s playing well is that he’s in control of his head and his emotions,” said Chiefs forward Scott Hartnell, who will most likely be the centerpiece of the rough stuff against the Killers this week. “Henrik’s very focused. I haven’t seen him get up or down.”

Meanwhile, Kiprusoff has been stellar in Fort Drum, posting 14 wins and two shutouts. Despite his 2.40 GAA, he has single handedly won matchups for Fort Drum this season.

“He’s always at level 10 for matchups vs. the Chiefs”, said Killers forward Chris Stewart. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he outplays Henrik this week.”

Blast from the past:

12/14/2010: Chiefs-Killers up the trash talking

3/7/2011: Chiefs-Killers ready to add another chapter to rivalry

3/10/2011: Chiefs vs. Killers matchup gets ugly

City of Buffalo to get a crack at its first AFHL All-Star Game

January 16th, 2012

The Buffalo Phantoms will host the 2012 AFHL All-Star Game, the League and team announced Monday. The mid-season showcase weekend will be Jan. 28 and 29.

“We know Buffalo can do a fantastic job of hosting hockey events,” AFHL Commissioner Tony Furino said. “We know their great venue and their city are more than well-equipped to handle this marquee event.”

Furino drew prolonged applause from the audience attending the special announcement Monday, as Phantoms GM/Coach Daryn Beckman and players Marian Hossa, Patrick Marleau, Sidney Crosby, and Joe Pavelski joined Furino as he made the announcement at the Hyatt Hotel in Buffalo, New York.

Furino credited not only a winning record for the Buffalo Phantoms being awarded the All-Star Game, but he also cited the GM’s participation which is backed by his passion and love for the league, as well as his tireless work since he started building the franchise back in 2009.

“Perhaps the most significant and most important reason as to why we’re all here today, not just for the All-Star announcement, but for Phantoms hockey in Buffalo, is Daryn Beckman,” Furino said. “He has been a vocal GM, with a stable, firm, guiding force of the Phantoms franchise since the AFHL began in 2009. He is a passionate, knowledgeable, involved GM. I believe the AFHL is fortunate to have him as one of our GMs and we are grateful for all he does.”

Of course, no one is perfect.

“Occasionally he calls me on officiating questions,” Furino joked about Beckman, “but we’re even grateful for that.”

“The Buffalo Phantoms and our hockey fans couldn’t be more excited at the opportunity to host and showcase the AFHL’s top players in 2012,” said Daryn Beckman. “We will create a once-in-a-lifetime, weekend long celebration of all that is great about hockey, the AFHL and our city.”

Furino wants the league’s signature game to be a message to all GMs that the league is doing everything it can to continue bringing the fun and excitement to the AFHL.

“It’s just another layer of activity that shows our GMs how much we care for them, that we go the extra mile, that we go the extra step in appreciation to bring such world class events in fantasy hockey,” Furino said. “What we’re trying to do, and I think we’re doing that successfully, is just continuing that message. And it’s not just talk. We get things done. I go back to the expansion of farm teams last summer and what that did for this league on such a large scale, it was just phenomenal. I think this upcoming All-Star Weekend is just another stepping stone in building that solid foundation for the AFHL going forward as the most amazing fantasy hockey league on the planet.”

“The fact is it all starts with the GMs and the fans, and the GMs and fans bring their passion to the league every day,” Furino said. “They’re involved, they’re excited, and we’re thrilled to provide this event for them.”

With the All-Star Weekend about two weeks away, the coaches for the American Conference and Canadian Conference All-Star teams have not yet been announced, but as with the previous All-Star Games, they are chosen based on which teams are on top of the overall league standings.

Aside from last year’s injury plagued season, the Phantoms have been one of the consistent winners in AFHL history. In 2009, they won the President’s trophy for best overall record in the league, and this year, they sport the second best record in the American Conference. The team has averaged close to 19,000 fans a night, and there’s a good chance they’ll have a hometown player to cheer for on January 29th.

Marian Hossa, who represented Buffalo in the 2009 AFHL All-Star Game, is expected to be one of the players nominated to play in this year’s game.

“I’d love to be part of it,” said Hossa. “I’m sure I’ll be part of it even if I’m not playing in the game.”

Additional details on the 2012 AFHL All-Star Celebration, including information on tickets, special events and television broadcasting will be released within the next week or so.

* * *

QUICK HITS:

– They may not be the best in the league, the Comox Valley Hitmen are still a very competitive club and have not yet ruled out a second consective playoff birth. “We’ve got veterans such as Michael Ryder and Todd Bertuzzi still getting the job done,” said Hitmen GM Pat McKenna. “Alex Steen should return from the IR soon so that should certainly give us a boost. Apparently Dennis Wideman wants to be traded to a Cup contender, so maybe we’ll use him to add another forward to our offense. There’s still plenty of season left and lots of key decisions to be made.”

– Rewind to a little over a month ago and you’ll see Washington was in 17th place… Fast forward to today and you’ll see Washington is in 9th place! The defending Stanley Cup champions have finally turned a corner under new GM Rick Charron and Power forward Joe Thornton says the Stanley Cup hangover is completely gone. “We’re playing our best hockey of the year right now,” said Thornton. “Lots of changes needed to be made but now it seems like everything is gelling.”