Posts Tagged ‘Ian McLoughlin’

According to wikipedia, the population of the Northern Rockhopper penguin has “declined by 90% since the 1950s, possibly because of climate change, changes in marine ecosystems and overfishing by humans.”

Despite that shocking information however, the Rockhoppers that wear skates in New Jersey aren’t worried about going extinct any time soon.

With three of the top offensive players in the league in Kyle Bozoian (17 goals & 18 assists), Chris Ferazzoli (15 goals & 20 assists) and Tom Boudreau (15 goals, 19 assists) and a pair of solid danglers in Drew Sanders (30 points in 24 games) and Logan Bittle (19 points in 15 games), Jersey can take it to any team in the league offensively. They also have a more than solid netminder in Nick Niedert (9-10 3.87 GAA), who has stopped the top flight Brooklyn offense before.

With Danbury Mad Hatters top scorer Igor Karlov gone to Russia, it appears as well that New Jersey has clearly become the second-best team in the EPHL.

Seven points in 17 games may not seem like something to go crazy about, but Aces defenseman Ian McLoughlin’s game is more about desire than numbers. Originally one of the team’s extra forwards when the season began, McLoughlin filled in on defense after injuries to Mike Richards and Dan Rohanna and hasn’t look back since. Now a dependable two-way defenseman with enough speed to make opposing teams think twice about taking chances with the puck in the offensive zone, McLoughlin has filled a niche for Brooklyn and is quickly earning rave reviews from his teammates and coaches.

Chatting with Aces Over Brooklyn during the team’s last homestand, McLoughlin talks about making the change to defense and some of the blueliners he tries to emulate when on the ice.

Aces Over Brooklyn: After a few injuries, you were moved to the blueline. Knowing that you were originally slated on the roster as a forward, how do you think you’ve handled the move?

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.

A few weeks ago, the Aces defense featured five defensemen, Dan Rohanna, Andrew Scampoli, Nick Grove, Doug Hoffman and Rob Miller, that could all perform extremely well on both ends of the ice.

Isn’t it funny how a few weeks can change things?

After trading then captain Rohanna to Hudson Valley and watching Scampoli leave the team in order to play in Holland last week, the Aces, while still having the sturdy and dependable Hoffman, Grove and Miller on the roster, will have to ask for more out of guys like Ian McLoughlin and Mike Richards, two players that haven’t been getting a ton of ice-time up to this point in the season.

Just coming back from injured reserve a few days ago after being placed there on Nov. 21st with an undisclosed injury, Richards won’t have the luxury of getting time to acclimate to his surroundings.