New Goldsboro GM

Goldsboro GM Rich Mauch is given the boot;

New GM Matt Dwyer says Rebels have potential

November 21st, 2011

Rich Mauch was dismissed as coach and GM of the Goldsboro Rebels shortly after their matchup with the Twin City Vikings on Sunday night. Matt Dwyer was introduced as the Rebels new coach and GM  in a press conference on Monday morning.

AFHL Commissioner Tony Furino said Mauch is a good man but his participation level was low for far too long.

“The participation level is probably the biggest thing I look at,” said Furino. “Aside from participation, I also saw an underachieving team and another season getting away from Goldsboro, which has yet to make a playoff appearance in their franchise history.”

Goldsboro is 23-37-12 this season and 16th in the league standings. Mauch was 104-172-48 in his two year tenure as Rebels coach and GM. He replaced the fired Ken Richardson in 2009.

“Obviously, I try and support every GM in this league all the way up until the last second,” said Furino. “This was based more on a gut feeling that there was a different direction we could go with someone new who is committed to participating much more, someone who would post comments on the message board more often, and someone that could poke and prod and get a young core to meet their potential.”

QUICK HITS:

– The Buffalo Phantoms and Lakehead Thunderwolves are still undefeated in the 2011-12 regular season.

– The Phantoms have managed to be the top team in the league without Sidney Crosby on the ice. Tonight against the Detroit Icemen they’ll add their captain and top scoring threat to their arsenal. “There’s been a buzz in the arena all day today and we’re all very excited that he’s back,” said Phantoms coach Daryn Beckman. “In practice, he’s the best player on the ice. He’s going to bring that into his return tonight.”

– The Manhattan Supermen and Montreal Xtreme are still seeking their first win in the 2011-12 regular season. Manhattan GM Tony Furino said he’s “disgusted with this club’s awful start to the season” after they gave up a big lead late in the matchup in their loss to the Killers last week.

– Things got a little chippy between GM Furino and Hamilton Firestorm GM Gates Imbeau during last week’s matchups. Furino announced that he’s looking to trade Petr Sykora in a one-for-one deal. Imbeau said “Sykora is a waiver wire player”. Furino fired back with “If anyone should be on the waiver wire, it’s Henrik Zetterberg.” At the time, Sykora had 9 points for the Supermen, while Zetterberg only had 7 points for the Firestorm. (After the comment was made, Zetterberg scored a goal and an assist in Sunday’s game.)  Shortly after their matchups ended on Sunday night, both Furino and Imbeau laughed about the verbal exchange to the media. “It’s all in good fun,” Imbeau said. “We’re all good sports about trash talking in this league. We don’t take things personally so we’re free to say whatever we want to say.”

– The defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Power finally notched their first win of the season defeating Goldsboro 8-1 two weeks ago, but lost to the Victoria Vipers 8-1 last week. “We’ve seen some flashes of good play,” said Power GM Rick Charron. “Consistency seems to be the issue, but it’s going to get better.”