Aces Over Brooklyn: Independent Brooklyn Aces Coverage

Through five games this season, the Aces have a 4-1 record and have scored a league-leading 28 goals, making every goalie in the EPHL look like they were made of swiss cheese in the process.

Well, every goalie except Nick Niedert that is.

The last time the Rockhoppers were in town on November 8th, the Aces took 62 shots on the New Jersey goaltender and lost 3-2 after the team’s powerplay ended up going 2 for 13.

Since then, Brooklyn has lit the lamp 14 times in their past two games and have come full circle as a team. After winning 7-6 over the Hudson Valley Bears last Friday, despite playing their worst defensively all year, the Aces defeated Danbury 7-1 in their best overall performance of the young season.

With Aces goaltender Eddie Neville and the Aces defense core playing their best hockey of the season as well, Brooklyn head coach Chris Firriolo saw the game as a step in the right direction.

“We did the things we had to do in order to be succesful out there,” he said after the game. “I know it’s a long season, but after five games, you can’t ask for much better than 4-1.”

The only question is, what Brooklyn team shows up on Friday?

Defeating the Bears 10-4 in their last game on November 14, the Rockhoppers have plenty of momentum of their own and with players the likes of Kyle Bozoian, Justin Todd, Drew Sanders and Russell Spence all with six points in just three games, the Rockhoppers offense can fight fire with the Aces “BMT line” of James Brannigan Kyle McCollaugh and C.J. Tozzo.

After the team’s last loss against New Jersey however, the Aces felt quite different, believing they came out flat and failed to put a team away they beat twice during the preseason.

With both teams riding two-game winning streaks and obviously not liking each other very much, this game should be an entertaining one.

“We lost this game because we made mistakes. We know we’re better than this team,” Aces assistant captain Chad Wilcox said. “A bunch of us didn’t pick our spots and it ended up costing us. We know we’re better than these guys. We beat them two times before.”

Notes- Former Ranger Nick Fotiu, who scored 62 goals and amassed over 1300 PIM in 646 games played in the NHL from 1976-1989, will be on hand for the game and will also serve as the team’s assistant coach for the contest. He’ll also sign autographs and take pictures with fans after the game.

With five points in his first four games, Brooklyn Aces defenseman Doug Hoffman has proved to be more than a force at the blueline this season.

However, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago, that he decided to come strut his stuff in the EPHL.

Joining the team during the last week of training camp and just a few days before the season began, the 6′4, 210-pound defenseman has a renewed sense of vigor and is paying big dividends for the Aces.

“I took a few years off; I kind of came out of retirement,” Hoffman said. “I lost that desire for a while, but I was still skating every day. Now, I got that itch back and I’m ready to play and produce for this team. I was down South playing with a team down there and heard about what was going on here, so I figured I’d give this a shot.”

Possessing a big shot from the point and more than solid skating and passing skills, Hoffman, who grew up on the rinks of Long Island idolizing Brian Leetch, may remind hockey fans of Islanders defenseman Mark Streit, who too is known more for his offense, but is far from a slouch in his own end. Regardless of who you think Hoffman resembles the most on the ice however, he knows exactly why he’s out there.

He also expects quite a lot from himself this season.

“I love to join the offense,” he said. “I like to make plays. I like to shoot the puck a lot. That’s my thing. It comes naturally.

“I think I can be on the top of the list in this league when it comes to defensemen. That’s what I expect from myself this season.”

While players the likes of Rob Miller and Nick Grove have been far from sub par offensively on the blueline this season for Brooklyn, both averaging close to a point a game, Hoffman’s big presence with the man advantage has given the Aces a different look and has helped maintain the team’s uncanny amount of offensive production.

It’s something the coaching staff is fully aware of and is hoping can continue the rest of the season

“He’s been outstanding,” Aces coach Chris Firriolo said. “He’s been huge for us and has stepped up. He’s very poised and moves the puck very well and works hard in the corners too. We really like the way he’s played so far.”

Last playing with the US Junior A New York Bobcats a few seasons ago and the Professional In-line Hockey Association, where he scored 29 points in 32 games with the L495ers last season, Hoffman is relishing in his early play, but isn’t getting comfortable just yet with his success.

As a matter of fact, he expects to get even better as the season progresses.

“It feels really good,” said the 25-year-old Hoffman of the praise he’s garnered this season from the team’s coaching staff. “I really like this franchise and I’m happy that I’m here. It’s great to be playing here. I think I can produce a lot more than I have been as well.”

Photo by Ron Hatcher

Here we go guys, another podcast. This time I break down the team’s play over their first five games, discussing the things the Aces will have to do as the season progresses to stay on top of the EPHL standings. I also talk about the play of all the forward lines, systematically breaking down the play of all the team’s forwards and discuss how important the team’s defense and goaltending will be in determining their overall success this season.

You can listen directly here at:

http://media.switchpod.com/users/patrickhickeyjr1/AOBPODCAST1118.mp3

Or you can download the file on to your I-Pod or I-Phone here:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=294739484

Also, the podcasts will now begin as soon as you access the site. I figured it would save some of the less tech-savvy people a few steps. If that doesn’t work for you, you can simply click the stop button and resume surfing as usual.