First Practice Goes Well for Aces

After holding their first practice of the 2008-2009 season at Aviator Arena on Tuesday night, the Brooklyn Aces took to the ice and showed that they have both the skill and depth to be more than a passing fad in the borough’s rich sports history.

Speedy forwards such as Brooklyn-native James Brannigan, CJ Tozzo and Chris Holmes stood out repeatedly throughout the practice and should give the Aces the pieces on the forward lines that could give the first-year team a smörgåsbord of offensive options.

“We got some great guys on this team and in the locker room,” said Tozzo. “We’re going to be a lot of fun to watch.”

Aside from Brannigan, Tozzo and Holmes, the Aces’ other forwards, players like Jessie Felten and Scott Estey, also have the speed needed to perform in head coach Chris Firriolo’s high puck pursuit game as well.

“I think I’m capable of scoring a point a game,” said Felten. “That’s what I’m going to try and do this season.”

The team however isn’t all about flashy offensive players. Aside from solid two-way defender and team captain Dan Rohanna, the Aces defense is all about speed and smarts with guys like Mike Richards and speedster Nick Grove all showing the ability to play solid defense and make the first pass out of the zone. If that wasn’t enough, the team also has a grizzled veteran in Rob Miller, who ironically was the assistant coach of the New Hampshire Freeze before the team folded a few weeks ago.

That combination of experience, size and smarts may end up playing a huge factor in the team’s play this season.

“I know it’s the first day, but they seem like a really good group of guys,” the 29 year-old defenseman Miller said. “They all want to get to the next level.”

Aside from the offense and defense, the team’s goaltending looked solid as well, as both Eddie Neville and Miroslav Recicar stopped several solid scoring opportunities. Sporting bright orange pads and a mask depicting the Marvel comics character “The Thing,” Neville may be someone to watch as the season progresses. The team has even more support in net however, as ECHL netminder Ryan Scott is set to join camp this weekend, giving the team three solid goaltenders to battle for the starting spot this season.

“All three of these guys are going to battle it out for that number one spot,” said Firriolo. “They all will have every opportunity to fight for this job. The next week is going to be really competitive between them.”

While it may be a bit too early to tell how Brooklyn’s newest team may fare this season, Firriolo expects the best from his boys, many of who are setting lofty expectations for themselves. Putting together a team that looks like it can hold their own in net and on both ends of the ice through their first practice, Firriolo may already know what cards he has in his deck this season.

“I think I got really lucky with these bunch of guys,” said Firriolo. “We have a bunch of talented guys on this team that I know aren’t going to be here at the end of the year. We’re going to be a really competitive team. I know they’re itching to play that first exhibition game on Saturday night. We’re really excited.”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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