With Scampoli Back and Miller Close, Aces Defense Facing Major Shakeup

While the Brooklyn Aces struggles as of late have had more to do with a lack of team-wide grit and the ability to produce offensively, it’s fair to say the defense hasn’t been on it’s best behavior either.

Veteran Nick Grove has been battling injuries for most of the season and Doug Hoffman has been battling offensive consistency for the past few weeks. Dan Carney is still getting in the thick of things after being out of hockey for a few months. Chris Robinson has quietly carved out a solid niche for himself as a stay at home defenseman and can even land a big hit when he has to, but hasn’t been as noticeable the past few games. The forward turned defenseman combination of Ian McLoughlin and Mike Thomson has been eerily solid, but may be served better on the forward lines, especially considering how inconsistent the offense has been lately, against every team not named the Hudson Valley Bears.

With defenseman Andrew Scampoli being activated on Monday, the Aces will now have a top notch, puck-moving defenseman in the lineup and someone that will fit in well with anyone he’s paired with. His presence on the powerplay will also be a huge addition and with Hoffman, should put the team in a much better situation to produce with the man advantage.

The same thing does for Rob Miller, who is scheduled to return on Feb. 24. Possessing much more grit than Scampoli, Miller would look great with either Carney or Robinson, giving the team a great shutdown combo that could play against the top lines in the league. With his offensive ability as well, Miller too expects to spend time at the point on the powerplay.

However, with Scampoli and Miller back in the lineup, the team will have to part ways with as many as two defensemen it currently has. The only question is who? Thomson and McLaughlin are both extremely talented forwards that could help revitalize the offense, but Aces head coach Chris Firriolo has said on numerous occasions that he prefers the both of them at the blue line. Robinson was originally brought in on an emergency basis and lacks the seniority of the other D-men, but he has earned his stripes over the past few weeks. Grove and Hoffman have been steady most of the season, but have been inconsistent as of late. The question remains as well if the Aces can wait for Carney to get re-accustomed to professional hockey in the middle of a playoff run.

Considering all of this, Firriolo is going to have some difficult decisions to make over the next week.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Sherrie Ocasio.

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