The New York Islanders dynasty of the early ’80s had players like Andurs Kallur and Butch Goring who consistently came through in the clutch. The 1994 New York Rangers had Esa Tikkanen and Craig MacTavish who annoyed defenses and won big faceoffs. The Devils still have John Madden and Jay Pandolfo, who drive opposing offenses crazy every night with their endless hustle.

The Brooklyn Aces have C.J. Tozzo.

“I’ll do whatever they need me to,” he said. “I don’t see myself as a one-dimensional player. I can fill a variety of roles. I like to use my speed to create offensive opportunities and find my teammates. Because of that, I’d ideally like to be in a playmaking center type role and play with a good scoring winger with speed. I’m the type of player who can create offensive opportunities, but I’m responsible defensively as well.”

After losing the Div. III national championship with Plattsburgh State last season, Tozzo is ready to make the most of his first season as a pro.

“I knew my career wasn’t over [after college] and I had a bitter taste in my mouth,” he said. “Because of that, this season was something I’ve been really looking forward to and I’m really happy that I have an opportunity here.”

A leader at Plattsburgh State, where he scored 11 goals and 31 points in 70 games in two and a half seasons, Tozzo opened up the eyes of the fans and coaching staff with his work ethic and consistency.

“What C.J. brings to the team is his relentless penalty killing,” Plattsburgh State Head Coach Bob Emery told the Journal News in January. “Offensively, C.J. leads the team as far as penalty chances he creates. He’s had a little bit of bum luck finishing, but we’re just thankful he gets the opportunities, and most of the opportunities he creates himself.”

That type of work ethic is what got Tozzo a shot with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign this summer, but in a turn of events that worked out in the Aces favor, less than a week before the team’s first practice, Tozzo arrived in shape and ready to contribute. However, with skilled finishers the likes of Chris Holmes, Jesse Felten, Mike Christensen and James Brannigan on the team, Tozzo isn’t likely to get first line ice time and will most likely be used in a Richard Park/Blair Betts energy type role.

However, that doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t contribute anywhere the team puts him.

Either way, he’s just happy to be on the ice.

“I’m from Westchester, I live 35 minutes away from here,” the 5′9 180-pound Tozzo said. “The opportunity to play in my own backyard is great. I was looking at a few other teams in the SPHL and I went to a free agent camp as well. I wasn’t even aware of this league at first and then me and coach Firriolo started talking and I decided to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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To succeed in pro hockey, the 22-year-old, who stands in at 5′9 and 165 pounds knows he has to have a few endearing qualities to make a career out the game he’s spent his entire life playing.

Luckily, he’s got NHL-caliber speed and has been playing against bigger players his entire life.

“I come from a big family,” said Felten. “I was adopted and have 16 brothers. There are 23 of us all together. 10 of us were in hockey at one time. It’s a huge thing in our family.”

Add in a wicked release and some solid stick handling ability and it’s easy to see that Felten has the potential to be a star in his first season in pro hockey.

Calm and cool, Felten too sees himself playing a big part in the Aces offensive attack this season.

“I see myself scoring a point a game,” he said. “I think it’s something that I can do. I’m really excited to get an opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.”

During the team’s first practice last week, Felten seemed more than comfortable on the ice, looking like another speedster, former Islander Jason Blake. Buzzing and drawing defenders with every stride, Felten wasn’t shy about calling for the puck in the neutral zone either, looking eager to bring the biscuit into the offensive zone and create. Much like Blake, with his speed, Felten should also see considerable time on the penalty kill this season and will be a serious shorthanded threat.

“He can kill penalties and score if he has to,” Aces coach Chris Firriolo said after interrupting Felten when he was asked about his penalty killing prowess. “He scored a few shorties a few years ago when he was with me.”

Registering an impressive 35 goals and 63 points in only 49 games, while playing for Firriolo with the Oswego Admirals of the OPHL in 2006, Felton knows he’s going to fit right in with the coach’s high puck pursuit game this season.

“I’ll play wherever they need me to,” Felten, who models his game after former Ranger Martin Straka, said. “There are a lot of guys trying to fit in right now, but I know what I’m capable of.”

Scoring 32 points in only 24 games with Briercrest College last season, Felten proved his first season with Firriolo was no fluke. With one season of college hockey under his belt, Felten then got a call from his old coach this summer and felt the time was right to turn pro.

An admitted small town boy, Felten has been taking his time getting used to life in Brooklyn.

“I’ve never been in this area before,” the Wisconsin-native said. “It wasn’t too much of a culture shock, but I haven’t done much here yet. I can’t wait for the guys to show me around.”

Nevertheless, he’s eager to get his professional hockey career started.

“I can’t wait to get going,” he said. “I’m really excited.”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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As a matter of fact, the 22-year-old forward may be the most most talented player on the roster.

Scoring a goal and adding an assist during the team’s first exhibition game this season as well, Holmes has already begun to prove his worth on an already talented Brooklyn offense.

“I’m going to lead by example,” Holmes said. “I don’t talk much, but I’ll try to get my teammates going by doing something on the ice. If it’s a fight or a big goal, it doesn’t matter. A lot of people know me as someone who has a good shot, but I’ll do anything I have to order to help this team win.”

A better than point a game player in his first pro season, Holmes scored 41 points in 23 games with the Valley Forge Freedom of the MAHL and knows he can bring that same type of scoring ability to the Aces this year. After a cup of coffee in the ECHL last season with the Elmira Jackals, where he went scoreless in 10 games, Holmes also knows he is capable of playing at higher levels. Because of that, he’s looking to make a splash with the Aces in order to solidify his reputation as a talented scorer.

For that reason, Holmes is looking forward to the new season even more.

“I think this is going to be a great opportunity for me,” said Holmes. “I was up and down last season and it was a lot of fun. I played in front of 5,000 people every night. It was overwhelming at times, but it was a very competitive environment. I’m going to keep working hard this season and I know it’s not a long shot for me to get called up again. I know I fit in here and I’ll have an opportunity to make the most of things. I’m happy to be here.”

Despite being an admitted sniper by trade, Holmes, who claims to own a 96 mph slap shot as well, has no problem dishing the puck either and could fit in nicely with Brannigan on the team’s top line. Comparing his game to that of former NHL star Claude Lemieux and current NHL bad boy Sean Avery, the Brick, NJ-native and lifelong Devils fan isn’t scared to drop the gloves if he has to either and believes that great players come up big when the chips are down.

This season, all he believes he needs is a few opportunities in crunch time to show his coach and teammates exactly what he is made of.

Regardless of where he projects to be or what he feels he’s capable of doing though, Holmes is ready to help the team in any way he can.

Because in the end, all he cares about is winning.

“I’ve been waiting all summer for this,” he said. “I can’t wait to get going. I know people care about this team in the area and they’re going to come out and watch us. That’s going to help motivate me and it’s going to be great.”

With a plethora of variety in his game and a passion to do whatever it takes to win, Holmes will be a valued commodity on the Aces this season.

“I’m a small guy, but I always like the guys who hit, fight and do whatever it takes out there,” Holmes said. “I’m not the type of guy that’s going to stay in the slot and not expect to be hit. I’m going to hit back too. I love that part of the game. I’m more of an all-around guy, I’ll do whatever the coaches need me to do, whether it’s killing penalties or taking shots on the powerplay. I think as a professional hockey player, you have to be prepared to step into any situation and perform. That’s what I try and do out there every night.”

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Speedster Jesse Felten got the Aces on the board 24 seconds into the game on Saturday and they didn’t look back, adding five more goals by the game’s end in a 6-2 rout over the Rockhoppers.

Felton told me after practice on Tuesday that he feels he can score a point a game this season.

So far, so good.

Brooklyn-native James Brannigan added two goals as well while Chris Holmes [goal, assist], Mike Christensen [goal, assist] and assistant captain Nick Grove [two assists] all registered two points.

If you’re a fan of this team, this is great news. Holmes and Christiansen are extremely talented players that will be depended on this season. Grove is a leader that can be a force on both ends of the ice and getting him started on the right foot after a year out of professional hockey is a great sign for them as well.

With that being said, with less than two weeks to go before the season begins, it looks like the Aces are firing on all cylinders. Good goaltending and solid defense win championships, but a great offense certainly makes things that much easier. While it’s obvious that no team can keep up this type of pace for an entire season, it’s good to see that the Aces have the firepower needed to keep themselves ahead of the pack.

It makes this first season in the EPHL an even more interesting one.

Site News:

I did an interview with Aces forward Chris Holmes last week, and that will be the next piece featured on the site. I apologize for the delay, but after attending the team’s practice, I had to write a recap of that and do a podcast. Holmes was a really nice guy and I’m sure everyone will enjoy the piece when I post it this week.

Also, I just want to say for the record that while this site is an individual venture, it is made possible in part to the fact that I am the sports editor of Bay Currents newspaper. I am not a freelance blogger or crazed fan. While I thank the team for putting a link to my site on their’s, I am not associated with the Aces in any way, shape or form. I am a credited journalist with a college degree in journalism. I’m not doing this to toot my own horn. Rather, instead to make a statement. I am covering the team because as a journalist, it is my job to report the news. I know that so far, the majority of my coverage has been positive. That doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be fair and unbiased once the season starts.

Just wanted to throw that out there.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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You can listen to it here, or you can download the file here. It should be up on I-Tunes in the next few days as well.

Enjoy!

P.S.

Expect an interview with Aces forwards Chris Holmes and Jessie Felton next week. After Tuesday’s practice, I also interviewed CJ Tozzo, Scott Estey and Rob Miller. Those should be up on the site soon as well.

Stay Tuned!

Related posts:

1. Part II of Miller Q & A in Next Issue of Bay Currents Stay Tuned! ...
2. New Issue of Bay Currents Out on Newstands It’ll be up on the website in the next few...

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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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Nevertheless, in spite of those losses, you have to like the direction this team is going. With only three players announced thus far, the Aces have already addressed several key roles, which could play a pivotal role in their success this season.

In Rohanna, the Aces have a wily veteran who has everything to prove. Underrated offensively, but with plenty of upside, Rohanna could see time on the powerplay as well. Playing against several NHL and AHL players in Kansas City in 2005, Rohanna has the leadership ability and experience to be a great addition to the Aces this season.

Aside from being the team’s poster boy this season, James Brannigan has the offensive ability to be a force in the EPHL. Used to the limelight from his time at Colorado College, big things are expected from Brannigan this season. Comparing his game to NHL superstars Alexander Ovechkin and Jarome Iginla, the 24-year-old gives the team their first big time offensive star.

Nick Grove is also going to be a fun guy to watch. A converted forward, Grove is going to be the guy who’s game a lot of fans are going to fall in love with. Adept at making the first pass out of the zone and priding himself on shutting down the opposition, Grove is built in the mold of someone like former Islander Adrian Aucoin or current Ranger Dan Girardi, meaning you’re going to see him on the ice quite a bit this year.

However, while these three players will be counted on this season to make sure the team makes it out of their inaugural season in one piece, there is another Ace who will play a crucial role in the team’s success as well. Brick, NJ-Native and forward Chris Holmes who scored 41 points with the Valley Forge Freedom last season in the short-lived MAHL, before playing 10 games with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals, is the newest member of the Aces to be announced. While it’s impossible to see where he fits on the team just yet, it looks like Brannigan has a competent line mate already, giving the Aces an edge on offense as the season opener draws near.

If you’d like to know more about Holmes, stop by the site during the week, where you can read his first interview as an Ace.

Photos by the Brooklyn Aces and the ECHL

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Smarts and heart.

However, like fellow teammate Dan Rohanna, Grove has been out of professional hockey for a while, having played his last game during the 2006-07 season with the SPHL Pee Dee Cyclones.

Nevertheless, he’s ready to resurrect his career in Brooklyn this season.

“This is a chance for me to prove to myself that I can play again,” the New York City Native said. “I’m ready to go.”

Ironically, Grove was a teammate of Rohanna’s at SUNY- Fredonia before transferring to Johnson and Wales University in 2004 and has remained close to him over the past few years. Nevertheless, during his time at Fredonia with Rohanna, Grove battled serious leg injuries that limited his ability to develop as a forward. Once at Johnson and Wales however, Grove developed into an excellent two-way defenseman, scoring 36 points in 52 games, while serving as the team’s lone captain.

That proved to many that a future in pro hockey was still within his sights.

Immediately becoming comfortable at the blue line, Grove was a force his last two seasons in college and will give the Aces an excellent option on the powerplay this season. A smooth skater and hard worker, Grove admits he gets a kick out of stopping forwards in their tracks and making the big pass out of the zone. If everything goes as planned, he plans to be doing a lot of both this season.

“Since I played forward, I think my skating is up to par with them,” Grove, who compares his game to former New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer, said. “Usually, you see these big defensemen that can’t keep up with these guys, but are factors down low. I’m different though. Having experience at forward allows me to play smart and take advantage of their mistakes and at the same time, be a factor on offense. I love springing guys with a big pass.”

In spite of his development in college, Grove’s pro hockey career hasn’t been as successful as he would have liked. A wrist injury while with the Cyclones and subsequent release afterwards temporarily ended his career and left him contemplating his future in the sport. Spending the next year in the banking industry and training in an MMA camp, Grove didn’t know if he’d ever get a chance to play pro hockey again.

Then in July, his old friend Rohanna came calling about a new team in Brooklyn that was having tryouts.

“He’s one of the reasons why I’m playing again,” Grove said of his teammate. “He heard about what was going on here and I really wasn’t skating, probably only about once a week and he got me back on the ice.”

Now that he’s back on the ice, Grove is ready to prove he belongs in pro hockey again.

“I’m happy that I have a second chance,” he said. “I’m really excited to play again.”

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That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to prove though.

Having been out of professional hockey for nearly three years, Rohanna is eager to get back in the game that at one point, he saw himself making a career out of.

“It’s nice to be back and playing again,” Rohanna said. “I always missed it and it was something that I was always meant to do. Being away from it was tough on me.”

Things changed for Rohanna after his mother, Terrie, passed away in 2005. Forced to pick between the sport he loved and keeping his grief-stricken family above water, Rohanna chose the latter, prematurely ending a career some thought could have ended much differently.

Coming at the high point of his pro hockey career, after a successful three-year stint at SUNY Fredonia, where he scored 37 points in 69 games from the blue line and a year in the UHL with the Kansas City Outlaws, where he set a new career high in goals in 2005, the 6′3, 215 pound Rohanna admits the decision, at the time, was a tough one to make.

“I had to make a choice between being an adult or chasing my dream,” Rohanna, who has played with current Buffalo Sabres stars Thomas Vanec and Ryan Miller over the course of his career, said. “It was really hard on me, but I finished the season. I had a great year that year and the next season, I was in camp at Fresno California [with the Fresno Falcons of the ECHL] and I was tearing it up there and they really wanted me to play, but it was too hard on me mentally and emotionally. I needed to be with my family at that time. They were struggling and I just wanted to help out as much as I could. People were telling me that I could make a career out of this, but I didn’t know how much money I was going to be able to make, so in the end, I had to make a choice.”

The next three years were an odyssey for Rohanna, as he traded in his blue collar and went to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite that though, the Waynesburg, PA-native was itching for an opportunity to get back into professional hockey.

Enter the Brooklyn Aces, who gave the defenseman, who now resides in Queens, a golden opportunity to resurrect his career and serve as a leader on a young team.

For Rohanna, it’s a chance to simultaneously prove he still has what it takes to be a professional hockey player, while helping the next generation achieve the stardom that sadly eluded him.

“I’m going to teach these guys what it takes to get a spot on a team at the next level,” he said. “It’s not about being able to shoot, skate and pass anymore, because everyone at this level can do it. It’s about being a member of a team. A lot of these guys are used to the superstar treatment because where they came from, they were the best players. I’m going to help them get accustomed to playing at this level and teach them how to be a part of a team.”

In spite of his ability to be a helping hand to the youngsters on the Aces this season however, Rohanna isn’t quite ready to give up on his dreams either.

“I like to play very physical,” Rohanna, who compares his game to former New Jersey Devils legend Scott Stevens, said. “But I have good offensive ability too. I don’t care about how good I look on the ice either. I’m out there to get things done and be as consistent as I can.”

Photos by the Brooklyn Aces

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AOB- How do ticket sales look so far?

Cerulli- Things are going great so far and we expect a great crowd in the stands this season. We’re not worried.

AOB- The reason why I’m asking this is because over the past few weeks, a pair of teams have folded, leaving some fans to question the structural integrity of the league. Knowing this, how are the Aces holding up?

Cerulli- Well, I can’t really comment on the financial situations of those teams, but from the information that I have, I think it’s better that those teams did what they did now, than ten games into the season.

AOB- Do you think the Aces are built to last in this league and won’t fall victim to the same situation?

Cerulli- Yes I do. I am confident that they are.

AOB- From the known players on the team thus far, it seems that the level of play might be better than expected. From a business point of view, how does that affect the team?

Cerulli- I think it’s going to help us market the team. We are going to be putting together events with businesses and we will be using the players in that effort to help promote the team. They are all marketable guys and good players, so I see no reason why that couldn’t help us out.

AOB- Can we expect to see the team on public-access TV or the radio any time soon?

Cerulli- It’s something that is in our thought process. I can’t promise anything, one way or another though. I can’t make any promises because I don’t want to let anyone down. Our games will be web-cast however.

AOB- Is there anything that you guys feel that will set you apart from the other teams in town?

Cerulli- My answer may be a bit biased here simply because I love the sport of hockey. That’s not a knock against another sport out there, but it’s just how I feel about the game. As far as what the fans can expect, the level of play will be up to par and I expect us to be a very solid team. The fans can expect to see a good product on the ice.

AOB- Is there anything else you want to say?

Cerulli- Yes. Obviously, we want to cater to a good, affordable family night out, but we feel that watching a game of hockey with us would be great for a bunch of buddies as well. From a hockey fan’s point of view, if I wasn’t involved with this, I know that even though I live on Long Island, I could get a bunch of people to come hang out and watch a game. We don’t want to discourage young people either from coming over and having a great time with us.

Photo by the Brooklyn Aces.

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His name is James Brannigan.

Forged on the Abe Stark hockey rink in Coney Island and solidified in the youth hockey leagues of Long Island, Brannigan’s game is somewhat of legend in Brooklyn.

Turning down an opportunity to play in the CHL this season, Brannigan signed with the team a few weeks ago and is thrilled to come home where his career- and life, started.

“It feels really good to be able to play in front of the city I grew up in,” Brannigan said. “It’s very exciting.”

At 24 years old, Brannigan already has a year of pro hockey under his belt, splitting last season with the Augusta Lynx and Columbia Inferno in the ECHL. Before that, Brannigan spent three seasons as a full-scholarship athlete at Colorado College. However, Brannigan’s star power was dimmed at Colorado, playing behind future AHL stars Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling and former Rangers draft pick Joey Crabb. Limited to fourth line duty while in college, Brannigan knows he has an opportunity to prove himself in Brooklyn this season.

“I’m used to high pressure situations,” Brannigan, who scored 23 goals in the USHL before going to Colorado in 2004, said. “In college, my team made the frozen four and we played on ESPN. When I was in the USHL, I was like a local celebrity. I was in the newspaper and on TV all the time, so I’m ready for the atmosphere here. In college, I was hit with a bunch of injuries and I had to play behind some great players. It was tough for me, but it was the way things work out. Here, I feel like I can contribute more than I did before. I want to show how successful I can be here this season.”

Comparing his game to that of Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla, Brannigan sees himself fitting in perfectly with Aces coach Chris Firriolo’s high puck pursuit game as well.

“I’m a speedy winger and a shooter,” Brannigan, whose father owns B & A Pork store on 13th avenue in Dyker Heights, said. “I try and model my game after Alexander Ovechkin, he’s sick. I love watching him and trying to do what he does. I’m always the first forechecker in as well, the aggressor, so I think I’m going to be very comfortable here.”

Add in the fact that Brannigan is a short 10-minute drive from Aviator Arena and it’s possible that his decision to play in Brooklyn could be a match made in heaven for both him and the organization.

“I’m home,” Brannigan, who grew up a Rangers fan and idolized Brian Leetch as a youngster, said. “I know I’m going to get a great opportunity to show what I’m made of. It’s surreal. It hasn’t really hit me yet.”

Photos by Casey B. Gibson.

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Can a minor league hockey team survive in Brooklyn?

As of right now, all signs point to yes.

With about a month left to go before the season starts on November 8, fans and media alike are anxiously awaiting the drop of the first puck.

However, no one is more excited than the team’s coach, Chris Firriolo, who sees the Aces as a team that can not only win, but can also develop talented players in Brooklyn that go on to join the ranks in the ECHL, AHL and ultimately, the NHL.

Nevertheless, he does understand what his biggest goal for the season is.

“We are going to be a breeding ground for players to develop and move on,” Firriolo, who has coached several prospects and draft picks in the Chicago Blackhawks system that have gone on to spend time in the NHL, said. “At the end of the day, everyone wants to win and being in a market like Brooklyn, teams are expected to win here. We understand that, but we realize that next year, people aren’t going to ask who won the EPHL title. They’re going to ask how many guys did we develop or who got called up. I think ultimately, that’s our number one mission.”

Paying most of his attention on the development of his young team, Firriolo originally was hesitant about employing any type of coaching philosophy this season. Instead, intended to wait until he saw what his players were capable of, before taking the team’s inaugural season in stride. However, in his short time with the team, he sees a group of energetic and feisty players that are going to catch a lot of people by surprise this season.

That alone is making the upcoming season a very special one for him.

“At this level, most coaches have to adapt their philosophies to the player personnel they have because they don’t have the luxuries the other leagues have,” he said. “I think I got pretty lucky this year though because I think these guys are going to be able to play my style of hockey. My style has always been a high puck pursuit game, which is built on a lot of speed and puck movement. I like to open up the ice, but I make sure we always take care of things in our zone as well. I really think we have the horses this year to be really aggressive and we can really play that brand of hockey. ”

Brooklyn-natives will be happy to know that one of their own will look to be a pivotal part of the team as well this season.

“James Brannigan is a kid that left Brooklyn to go play in Cedar Rapids in the United States Hockey League, where he was very successful and then went on to play at Colorado College, which is one of the true Division-1 powerhouses,” said Firriolo, who was born in Manhattan and is currently a resident of New Jersey. “He’s probably one of the most recognizable hockey players from Brooklyn in the past decade. Because he’s a Brooklyn boy, he’s going to kind of be our poster boy. We’re excited to have him.”

Despite the excitement congealing around the team over the summer and early fall, Firriolo also knows that things won’t be easy. However, in a show of candor and confidence, Firriolo admitted that while he sees Brooklyn as more of a baseball town, he did say that he believes the Aces and hockey in general have a place in the Borough.

“I think, we can, in time, become a huge part of the Brooklyn culture,” Firriolo said. “The type of team and players were are building are trying to fit that mold and in a few years we hope people will feel that we are a part of the community and culture.”

Photo by the Brooklyn Aces

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