After going 10-1 through their first 11 games this season, not many expected the Brooklyn Aces to go on a losing streak.
However, following an overtime loss to New Jersey and a tough loss to a gritty Danbury team on Thursday, the Aces find themselves in unfamiliar waters.
Add in injuries to assistant captain Rob Miller and speedster Tony Resendes and it’s obvious that the Aces have hit their lowest point of the young season. Nevertheless, the team has shown a camaraderie and togetherness that looks like it will help them weather through the storm.
In spite of the loss, the Aces still have the top line in the league with James Brannigan, C.J. Tozzo and Kyle McCollaugh and a host of other players who can put the puck in the net.
The problem right now isn’t so much with the Aces offense as much it is the team’s defense.
Recent addition Tom Collingham looked solid offensively in his first game with Brooklyn, joining the rush and pinching on several occasions, but didn’t get on the scoresheet and gave up on the puck on the powerplay and in the neutral zone a few times. Released by the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL earlier in the season, the Aces need Collingham to step in and be the same player who scored 41 points in 54 games in Germany last season in order for the defense to stay as solid as it has been.
Other D-men Ian McLaughlin and Mike Richards are still getting used to being back or to the position and are getting better with every game under their belts. Steady blueliners Nick Grove and Doug Hoffman didn’t have their best game defensively against Danbury Thursday night and will have to bounce back quickly. At the end of the day, in order for the Aces to get back in the in column, the entire defense has to limit the neutral zone breakdowns and make the smart first pass. Over the past two home games, Aces goaltender Eddie Neville has been facing a plethora of quality shots. That has to stop if the Aces want to turn their recent fortunes around.
The New Jersey Rockhoppers, on the other hand, are surging, getting quality goaltending from Nick Niedert and a point a game offensive production from Chris Ferazzoli, Kyle Bozoian, Tom Boudreau, Drew Sanders and Russell Spence. They also have Teague Willits-Kelley, who according to the Rockhoppers official website, is in the running for professional hockey’s most popular player. While I’m not sure exactly what that means, I do know that Kelley has an extensive collection of fight video on YouTube and is an accomplished energy player that can annoy the hell out of the opposition.
With that being said, the Aces will have their biggest test of the young season tonight against New Jersey.
With their game last night against Danbury postponed due to inclement weather, New Jersey will also have plenty of energy, making this a great game to watch.
Photo by Ron Hatcher.
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