January 2nd, 2012
From top to bottom, every team in the Amazing Fantasy Hockey League has some important decisions to make in the coming months. Some may say that all teams are looking for the same things: a Sidney Crosby-sized forward with an indestructible head, a 25 year old Nicklas Lidstrom and the next coming of Patrick Roy. But since those are more difficult to come by than gold, here are some of the more realistic new year’s resolutions for 2012…
Gabriel Landeskog, F, Goldsboro: I resolve to take my place among the best up-and-coming young forwards in the game.
Joffrey Lupul, F, Toronto: Continue being the AFHL’s most underrated player.
Tony Furino, GM, Manhattan: Take my free-falling team on a trip to Oz to get some courage.
Matt Dwyer, GM, Goldsboro: I resolve to take the Rebels to the next level that includes making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Mike Phelan, GM, Boston: Express the unique personality that I have and show that I want to stay in the league by acknowledging the AFHL’s rule on participation.
Ryan Armstrong, GM, Ottawa: See above.
Ryan Malone, F, Detroit: Get a new cyborg body.
Scott Hartnell, F, Deer Park: I resolve to waiting until my opponent is looking before I throw the first punch.
Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Hamilton: Keep on playing like a Norris Trophy candidate until the day I finally hang ’em up.
Marian Hossa, F, Buffalo: I will never again show up drunk to practice.
Pat McKenna, GM, Comox Valley: I resolve to continue building from within and icing a club that excites and entertains our fans.
Henrik Zetterberg, F, Hamilton: Try to shoot the puck more often.
Kyle Kebert, GM, Pittsburgh: Give up on the Steve Mason experiment before he ruins the season for the Heroes.
Steven Stamkos, F, Lakehead: I resolve to thank the Lord every day that Martin St. Louis is my linemate.
Mike Nellany, GM, Deer Park: Lead the Chiefs to the Stanley Cup Finals while being the super pest of the league and a thorn in my opponent’s side.
Daryn Beckman, GM, Buffalo: See if Dr. Frankenstein can build a goalie for my team by spring time.
Valtteri Filppula, F, Fort Drum: I resolve to keep playing great hockey for the Killers even if I don’t get the credit I deserve.
Phil Kessel, F, Victoria: Continue to be the AFHL’s most improved player.
Rick DiPietro, G, Manhattan: Retire.
Mike Brunetta, GM, North Bay: I resolve to get my struggling superstars, such as Alex Ovechkin, Eric Staal, and Ryan Getzlaf, motivated and back to playing their game.
Evgeni Malkin, F, Boston: Keep piling up the points and win the Art Ross trophy!
Zach Parise, F, Oshawa City: Start laughing when I hear a funny joke instead of saying the letters “LOL”.
Devin Setoguchi, F, Deer Park: I resolve to breaking out and living up to my potential as a star forward.
Chris Hartley, GM, Victoria: Acquire some leadership for my otherwise Stanley Cup-contending team.
Evgeni Nabokov, G, Manhattan: Stop breaking sticks over the crossbar when I give up a goal because it’s not my fault that my team blows!
Jason Briggs, GM, Lakehead: I resolve to find that missing piece so the T’wolves can be contenders to win the Stanley Cup.
Steve Downie, F, Oshawa City: Fight less, score more.
Tyler Kennedy, Comox Valley: I will stop boring my coach with the same old excuses and I will think of some new excuses instead.
Anze Kopitar, F, Victoria: I resolve to playing like I’m proud to be one of the faces of the Vipers franchise.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F, Toronto: Continue to silence the naysayers.
Steven Stryska, GM, Fort Drum: Not talk on my cell phone while in the bathroom unleashing the chocolate terrorist.
Phil Svoboda, GM, Twin City: I resolve to continue churning out some really talented youngsters and draft smart in the offseason.
Matt Plachta, GM, London: Get my team to play hungry and disciplined hockey so we can make a run at another Cup!
Keith Cancilla, GM, Montreal: I resolve to FAIL FOR NAIL!
Earl McNeill, GM, Oshawa City: Make some good trades at the trade deadline for the sake of the franchise’s future.
Gates Imbeau, GM, Hamilton: Get my name engraved on the AFHL Stanley Cup.
Ilya Kovalchuk, F, Toronto: Stop watching cute and cuddly kitten videos on Youtube.
Jordan Carbone, GM, Toronto: I resolve to win the Jack Adams trophy as GM of the Year.
Ryan Miller, G, Pittsburgh: Re-establish myself as the most reliable stopper in hockey.
Patrick Kane, F, Victoria: Never again take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
Tony Furino, AFHL Commissioner: I resolve to continue stockpiling ideas for the AFHL to remain the Roman Empire of the fantasy hockey world.
Kyle Turris, F, Montreal: Work as hard as possible during practices.
Martin Brodeur, G, London: Help kids stay safe by not texting on my cell phone while eating Taco Bell and speeding on a highway with a frost covered windshield.
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.”
January 23rd, 2012
The AFHL will showcase it’s best and brightest on January 28th in Buffalo at the Phantoms’ home ice arena, as the American Conference will take on the Canadian Conference in the third annual AFHL All-Star Game.
On Monday morning, the AFHL released the list of eligible players for both conferences and now it’s up to the coaches to decide on the lineups.
* – Denotes rookie playing in Young-Stars Game
# – Denotes a player is injured and unable to participate
^ – Denotes a player named as injury replacement
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AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Head Coach: Mike Nellany (Deer Park) Assistant Coach: Daryn Beckman (Buffalo)
ALL-STAR FORWARDS Daniel Alfredsson (Manhattan) Marian Gaborik (Boston) Colin Greening (Pittsburgh) * Pavel Datsyuk (Manhattan) Adam Henrique (Manhattan) Marian Hossa (Buffalo) Ryan Johansen (Twin City) * Mikko Koivu (Fort Drum) # Gabriel Landeskog (Goldsboro) * Evgeni Malkin (Boston) Milan Michalek (Buffalo) Corey Perry (Goldsboro) Jason Pominville (Buffalo) Daniel Sedin (Pittsburgh) Henrik Sedin (Pittsburgh) Tyler Seguin (Washington) Craig Smith (Montreal) * Jason Spezza (Washington)
ALL-STAR DEFENSEMEN Brian Campbell (Fort Drum) Dan Girardi (Pittsburgh) Justin Faulk (Detroit) *
ALL-STAR GOALIES Henrik Lundqvist (Deer Park)
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CANADIAN CONFERENCE
Head Coach: Mike Brunetta (North Bay) Assistant Coach: Gates Imbeau (Hamilton)
ALL-STAR FORWARDS Luke Adam (Lakehead) * Jamie Benn (Lakehead) Sean Coutourier (Ottawa) * Logan Couture (Victoria) Jordan Eberle (Victoria) ^ Claude Giroux (Hamilton) Cody Hodgson (Comox Valley) * Jarome Iginla (North Bay) Nick Johnson (Hamilton) * Patrick Kane (Victoria) Phil Kessel (Victoria) Joffrey Lupul (Toronto) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Toronto) # * Alex Ovechkin (North Bay) Matt Read (London) * Steven Stamkos (Lakehead) John Tavares (Oshawa City) Jonathan Toews (Ottawa)
ALL-STAR DEFENSEMEN Dustin Byfuglien (Lakehead) # Zdeno Chara (Oshawa City) Alexander Edler (Victoria) Erik Karlsson (Toronto) Adam Larsson (Toronto) * Kris Letang (Lakehead) Dion Phaneuf (Ottawa) Ryan Suter (Hamilton) Kimmo Timonen (Oshawa City) Shea Weber (Hamilton) Dennis Wideman (Comox Valley) Keith Yandle (Lakehead)
ALL-STAR GOALIES Brian Elliot (Comox Valley) Jimmy Howard (North Bay) Carey Price (Victoria) Jonathan Quick (Toronto) Tim Thomas (Hamilton) |
ROSTER POSITIONS:
9 Forwards (any positions) – must include at least 3 rookie forwards
4 Defensemen – must include at least 1 rookie defenseman
1 Utility Player
1 Goaltender
STAT CATEGORIES:
(Same as regular season matchup)
Offense/Defense: G, A, P, +/-, PPP, SHP, GWG
Goaltending: W, GAA, SV%, SVs, SO
OTHER NOTES:
– Rosters are based on the players in the real NHL All-Star Game and Young-Star Game.
– Coaches were selected based on season standings (top two teams in each conference).
– Coaches must communicate with each other and make roster decisions together.
– Head coach must submit their All-Star Team’s lineup to the commissioner by midnight on Thursday, Jan. 26th
BLAST FROM THE PAST