Posts Tagged ‘Cardinale’

Although it was by the skin of their teeth in their last game on Friday, the Brooklyn Aces proved they could beat a quality team in the New Jersey Rockhoppers without then-leading scorer James Brannigan.

Now they’ll have to face an improved Hudson Valley Bears team and prove once again that they have the personnel to stay on top of the EPHL standings.

Against New Jersey on Friday, Brooklyn got a two-point night from winger Jesse Felten, who will be asked again today to be a factor for the Aces. While his 17 points in 19 games this season aren’t exactly eye-popping, Felten is one of the speediest players in the league and has the ability to take over a game. Working hard in the corners and playing a physical game as well, despite his size at 5′8, 165 pounds, Felten is one of the best two-way players in the league and someone who will be counted on down the stretch for the Aces.

Tonight’s pre-thanksgiving battle between the Brooklyn Aces [6-1] and Hudson Valley Bears should be an intriguing contest to say the very least, as both teams seem headed in completely different directions.

Despite picking up former Aces Jerry Cardinale and Dan Rohanna [who has yet to appear in a game for the team and may be still nursing a hand injury he suffered two weeks ago in a fight with Joe Pelle. However, at this time, his current status is unknown.] last week, the Bears [1-4] were defeated 9-2 by Brooklyn in their last game on Saturday. In spite of possessing a handful of capable offensive players in Chris Seifert [4 goals & 5 assists, good for 4th in the EPHL in scoring], former Ace Scott Estey [4 goals & 4 assists good for 6th in the EPHL in scoring] Scott Horvath [1 goal & 7 assists] and Dan Malloy, the Bears have looked out of sync on the ice this season.

Giving up seven goals in the first period over their last three games, the Brooklyn Aces couldn’t afford to make the same mistakes against the Danbury Mad Hatters on Saturday Night at Aviator Arena.

Scoring four goals in the first period, the kings of the EPHL coasted to a 7-1 win in their most complete effort of the young 2008-2009 season.

Stressing the importance of a 60-minute effort after the team’s come from behind victory on Friday, Aces head coach Chris Firriolo was all smiles after the game.

“I think this was a great turn around from the past few games,” said Firriolo. “We came out hard and we did it early. I thought that was key.”

The Aces got an early lead after Chris Holmes smoked a vicious slapshot past Mad Hatters goaltender Derek MacIntyre at 3:14. At 11:47, James Brannigan too proved that he could slap it with the best of them, sending one past MacIntyre and giving Brooklyn a 2-0 lead.

With 1,609 fans packed inside the Aviator Arena screaming their heads off for their undefeated Brooklyn Aces, things originally looked pretty grim for the New Jersey Rockhoppers.

Beating New Jersey in their two prior meetings and scoring 12 goals through their first two regular season contests, the Aces were the heavy favorite before the game.

New Jersey goaltender Nick Niedert had other things in mind though, making 60 saves in a 3-2 Rockhoppers win.

“You got to tip your hat to the guy,” said Aces coach Chris Firriolo. “They deserved to win tonight. He was the reason why they won.”

The game started well enough for the Aceshowever, as they were aggressive on the forecheck and fired a ton of shots early on Niedert. A fight early in the period by Aces forward and Bensonhurst-native Jerry Cardinale also got the fans into the game and seemed to sway the momentum. Nevertheless, the Aces offense, which came into the game with ten players averaging a point a game, couldn’t find the back of the net.