Posts from ‘December, 2008’

When Brooklyn Aces speedster Tony Resendes went down with a third degree sprain of his MCL two weeks ago, the organization knew they had to get a player of equal caliber as soon as possible if they wanted to maintain their impressive lead atop the EPHL standings.

Enter Eric Frank.

A point a game player for his entire college career at U-Mass-Darmouth, the 27-year-old, who was signed on his birthday by the team, was brought in to fill Resendes’ shoes and has done more than anyone had thought he was capable of up to this point.

In five games with the team, Frank, who played his last professional game nearly a year and half ago before joining the Aces, has five points and has formed an instant camaraderie with new linemates B.J. Kuper and Jesse Felten.

The end result has been a match made in heaven for both Brooklyn and Frank.

In 17 games this season, Brooklyn Aces defenseman Doug Hoffman has 16 points, good for third in the EPHL behind Danbury’s Dan Hickman and Hudson Valley’s Dan Malloy. However, in spite of his offense prowess, Hoffman has proven he’s a more than capable defender and has played a pivotial part in the Aces giving up only 53 goals this season despite the injuries and departures of key blueliners line Dan Rohanna, Mike Richards, Andrew Scampoli and Rob Miller.

Chatting with Aces Over Brooklyn this past Saturday before the team took on the Mad Hatters at Aviator Arena, Hoffman talks about his game this season, in addition to discussing how it feels to be only one of three healthy natural defensemen on the team and how the team’s recent losing streak may have been a good thing after all.

Check it out!

As always, you can listen directly here at: http://www.switchpod.com/users/patrickhickeyjr1/DougHoffman1227.mp3

According to a press release by the EPHL, Brooklyn Aces forward James Brannigan has been called up to the Utah Grizzlies, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders. In 17 games this season in Brooklyn, Brannigan was leading the Aces and the league with 22 goals and 35 points.

In other news, Brannigan’s older brother, Bobby, who scored his first professional goal yesterday against the Hudson Valley Bears, has been placed on waivers.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Leading the EPHL with 25 assists, Kyle McCollaugh has proved on countless occasions this season what a talented passer he is. Last night against the Hudson Valley Bears, McCollaugh lit the lamp twice in a 7-4 Brooklyn Aces win, proving he isn’t too bad a shooter either.

The Aces started off quickly in the first, getting goals from McCollaugh, James Brannigan and the still white-hot Mike Christensen, giving them a 3-0 lead after one period of play.

Hudson Valley was far from finished for the night however. A goal by defenseman Chris Clark cut the Brooklyn lead to 3-1 at 5:33. The Aces bounced right back after recent addition Bobby Brannigan, the brother of the Aces and EPHL’s leading scorer, netted his first professional goal just 1:36 later to make it a three-goal game again. Tallies by Dan Malloy and Mark Lebenns [who some may remember was a training camp invitee of the Aces this season] cut the Brooklyn lead to 4-3.

Both sides of the EPHL standings will be represented tonight when the Brooklyn Aces take on the Hudson Valley Bears at the Ice time Sports Complex in Newburgh.

Outscoring their opponents 98-49 this season, the Aces have gotten amazing offensive production from all three lines for most of the season. However, in spite of the balanced production, the Aces top line of James Brannigan, Kyle McCullough and C.J. Tozzo, aptly dubbed the “BMT” line, has been the team’s bread and butter offensively the majority of the time. That hasn’t been the case recently though, as center Mike Christensen has been on a tear, recording 11 points in his last four games. Already averaging a point a game and playing exceptional two-way hockey all season before his recent hot streak, Christensen has now put himself on center stage and has quickly become one of the league’s best all-around players.

Over the past week, the Brooklyn Aces have proved they can play just as gritty as the Danbury Mad Hatters, despite being out-sized and out-manned.

This afternoon, they did it again, but it wasn’t pretty.

Both teams fought hard all game long, combining for 44 penalty minutes, but it was the Aces who ended up prevailing in a 3-1 win, thanks in part to a solid defensive effort, quality goaltending and of course, timely offense.

“Today, we were very consistent,” said Aces head coach Chris Firriolo. “We battled through a lot last night and showed a lot of character and to do what we did today was very impressive. We’re starting to gel and play better defense.”

Miro Recicar made his first appearance for Brooklyn since Dec. 6, after a stint with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL and dealing with an injured ankle afterwards. Shaky at the start, Recicar gave up an Igor Karlov tally at 4:59 that put Danbury ahead 1-0.

Mike Christensen has been absolutely on fire as of late, nailing down three four-point games over the past two weeks. Last night in Danbury, the slick two-way center was up to the same antics again,dealing out four assists and powering a 4-2 road win over the Mad Hatters on Friday that continues to prove that the Brooklyn Aces are the team to beat in the EPHL.

Continuing to play with only three natural defensemen in the lineup and Ian McLoughlin and Mike Thomson being double-shifted at forward and defense, the Aces continue to outperform their opponents. Last night, the Aces were forced to come back from an early deficit, after Danbury sniper Igor Karlov scored at 1:20 to give the Hatters an early 1-0 lead.

Luckily for Brooklyn, Jesse Felten scored with just 1:34 remaining in the period to tie the score going into the second. A three- goal period in the second for the Aces on tallies by Chris Holmes, James Brannigan and a powerplay marker by Nick Grove gave Brooklyn a 4-1 lead going into the final period.

The Aces last win over Danbury on Tuesday should have convinced any naysayer that this Brooklyn team can rise above any adversity. Scoring seven goals on a quality goaltender the likes of Derek MacIntyre and matching a gritty team like Danbury in physical department, all with only three natural defensemen in the lineup, it was obvious that the Aces rose to the occasion Tuesday in grand fashion.

Nevertheless, after surrendering three goals in the third period, Aces head coach Chris Firriolo wasn’t happy and he let his team know it.

“I was disappointed,” he said on Tuesday night following the Aces 7-3 win over the Hatters. “As a coach, I’m not as concerned with the score of the game. I just want them to come out and give a complete 60-minute effort. That didn’t happen tonight and it’s something I’m going to be concerned with until it happens consistently. In spite of that though, they got back on track afterwards and put the pieces together. I was impressed with that.”

Before injuring his MCL on Dec. 18, Aces forward Tony Resendes was thriving in the EPHL, scoring 13 points in just eight games. Drawing praise from his teammates and coaches, Resendes was quickly becoming a big piece of the team’s puzzle and formed an exceptionally exuberant line with Mike Thomson and B.J. Kuper, which was producing offensively as well as shutting down the opposition’s top line every night.

Now out six to eight weeks with a third-degree sprain of his MCL, Resendes is now forced to watch on the sidelines.

Nevertheless, the youngster has proved his ability as a teammate over he past few games, cheering for his teammates in the stands and handing out congratulatory slaps on the rear outside the locker room after games. Chatting with Aces Over Brooklyn on Dec. 13 before the team took on the New Jersey Rockhoppers, Resendes talks about his game, his influences and what he thinks of his new teammates.

The last time the Brooklyn Aces were on the ice with the Danbury Mad Hatters on Dec. 18, it was obvious they were frustrated. Facing a gritty team that plays physical in both ends, the speedy and smaller Aces couldn’t beat Danbury goaltender Derek MacIntyre when it counted, ultimately falling 5-4.

Five days later and fresh off a 4-2 win against New Jersey however, the Aces had their way with MacIntyre all night long, scoring seven goals on 42 shots in an impressive 7-3 win.

“Danbury is a good club,” said Aces coach Chris Firriolo. “Every time we play them it’s a battle. This win gives us a bit of momentum when we go there on Friday.”