April 11th, 2011
Goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas stopped just about everything in the Stanley Cup playoffs. With thousands of jubilant fans celebrating the Power’s title last Thursday, they couldn’t stop their emotions.
“I’ve had to wipe away a few tears,” Tim Thomas said. “This is why I play in Washington.”
Three days after Washington raised the hallowed trophy, spectators jammed downtown to join the party.
Patrick Marleau, who led the Power on offense during their playoff run, said now he was ready to enjoy more of the spoils.
“It’s a special feeling,” Marleau said as fans chanted his name. “I couldn’t be prouder right now. I’m a little bit taken aback by it.”
Defenseman Kris Letang, a candidate for this year’s Norris Trophy, called the accomplishment a high honor and looks forward to bringing the Cup to his roots.
“I think everybody in my hometown is proud,” he said. “I’m proud. I can’t wait to bring the Cup home.”
Roberto Luongo hoisted the Conn Smythe Trophy above his head. The playoff MVP said he was happy to share the Cup win with fans.
“Time of my life right now,” Luongo said. “This is unbelievable.”
The last vehicle in the parade carried forwards Teemu Selanne, Dany Heatley, Mike Richards, and Coach/GM Ray Irwin, with Selanne holding the Cup aloft to the delight of the crowd.
Under sunny skies and with temperatures around 60 degrees, the crowd was filled with Power fans bedecked in jerseys and other red-and-blue gear.
These are good times for the Power. The team was at the top of standings all year long, and finished the regular season with a record of 128-79. They steamrolled through all of their opponents in the playoffs, with final scores of 8-1, 10-0, and 9-1 to win their first Stanley Cup.
The Power’s win gave fans the chance to temporarily put aside the economic doldrums that have dominated the news for months.
“There’s been so much doom and gloom about the current state of the economy with so many people losing their jobs,” said a spectator. “This brings people together.”
Coach/GM Ray Irwin, now known as “The Architect”, said he was surprised by the turnout of the parade.
“Lots of incredibly happy people out there,” Irwin said. “I’ve seen a woman faint, several people vomit, and an old man had to be escorted away” said Irwin, referring to the fact that there were many drinking at the parade.
At the end of the parade, Irwin gave a victory speech and thanked all of the fans for coming out.
“I didn’t know there were so many people in Washington,” Irwin told the screaming crowd. “It’s great to have the Stanley Cup here in Washington, and we’re going to do our best to have it again next year.”
Monday, April 18th, 2011
The Amazing Fantasy Hockey League (AFHL), often called the most famous fantasy hockey league in the world, has begun it’s million-dollar renovation, it’s first in AFHL history.
“The AFHL is moving full-speed ahead on it’s renovation to provide AFHL fans and GMs with the state-of-the-art website the greatest league in the world deserves” AFHL Commissioner Anthony Furino said in a statement today.
The duration of the renovation period is currently unknown, but the AFHLcommissioner said if all goes according to plan, then renovation will be complete around the time of the 2011 AFHL Entry Draft in June.
Free agency fireworks could start tonight @ midnight
AFHL farm team roster limit will increase from 12 players to 23 players
May 31st, 2011
The first thing to remember when shopping for diamonds in the free agency rough: the key to success in all hockey formats is carefully crafting a well-rounded team. The question is what players are still available in such a deep league? Currently, there are about 700 players signed to AFHL contracts (20 teams with 35 players each).
Most AFHL GMs admit they have no idea who to sign let alone who is still available. But the consensus among those team builders and rebuilders is that they plan to be patient rather than pounce, hoping the glut of available players will depress the market and eventually names will pop up here and there.
“It depends on how the market goes,” Montreal GM Keith Cancilla said. “You can speculate – we’ve been speculating for months. But (tonight) speculation will turn into reality. And I don’t know whether stuff is going to happen in the first 24 hours of this roster limit increase or whether it’s going to be spread out and become a league-wide waiting game.”
Newly hired Wolves GM Jason Briggs suspects there will be a bit of both.
“I think most people are uncertain as to what’s going to happen come (tonight) – I know I am,” Briggs said. “And I think we’re just going to research, prepare and see how it unfolds.”
The free agent pool is lacking in overall depth, but if there’s one position that bucks a trend, it’s in goal, where there are a multitude of free agents looking for jobs.
“It’s the year of the goalie, it seems,” netminder Alex Kangas told theAFHL.com on Monday night.
Kangas, a prospect goalie for the Thrashers (soon to be Jets) is one of many of the free agent goalies. As Kangas looks at his options, he has competition. Joining him in the free-agent waters are prospect goalies such as his former teammate Edward Pasquale, and Columbus’ Gustaf Wesslau.
“You look into stuff and try to understand what’s going on, but ultimately, it’ll come down to which teams believe in you and believe you’re a fit,” said Red Devils goaltender Al Montoya. “And you know, a lot can change at the draft. You have your teams in line that you think need goaltending, but then they make a trade. You really never know what team you’re going to play for come the first game of the season.”
Vipers GM Chris Hartley says goaltending is very important in this league but you’ve got to go after what’s best and grow your players from within.
“I’ve said from Day 1 that I think the way to win the AFHL Stanley Cup is to grow your own,” Hartley said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t surround those guys with good, quality players.”