BKN Aviators ~ A's Crash ACE's Party in Hangar Five

From the desk of:   THE COOLEST GUYS IN BROOKLYN

Friday Night ~ Pre-Game Skate

NEW JERSEY OUTLAWS vs. BROOKLYN AVIATORS

BROOKLYN AVIATORS:  It Was Party Night at Hangar Five Friday Night; Until the Home Team Crashed It.




Seeing Matthew Puntureri and John Goffredo certainly brings back memories, doesn't it? - Back to a time when they used to score goals for the home team and leading us to the Finals last season.  Without them, life in Hanger Five has been somewhat of a struggle this season.



The return of Josselin St. Pierre wasn't enough to thwart a fourth consecutive loss by the Aviators.  New Jersey heisted the game from Brooklyn in a big first period.  The A's were left chasing down the Outlaws the rest of the night.

Jesse Felten rushes back on defense.

The Skates of Flatbush were grounded before they ever took off.  In the first period alone,

One Goal - Two Goals - Three Goals - Four Goals, found net beyond Josselin St. Pierre before the Aviators could muster even one before the session expired.

John Goffredo scored New Jersey's fourth goal of the first period.  That's when Coach Miller decided to use his time-out.

Later, Matthew Puntureri scored a third period power play goal to make the game a 6-3 affair at the time.  Brooklyn ultimately lost a 7-3 final to the FHL's first place team.

#27 - Casey Mignone

The Aviators were kind of skating around in figure-eights right around this time last season also.  Then, along with a bunch of this year's A's, former Brooklyn favorites Matthew Puntureri and John Goffredo embarked on a remarkable twenty-one game winning streak, and rode that wave all the way into the Finals against Akwesasne.

If that's Brooklyn's plan again this year.  They had better hurry up.  There's only twenty-three scheduled games left in the season.  And there's no time like the present.  The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn will try to end this four game losing streak in the second game of a home-and-home series out in Wayne, New Jersey tonight.

The final score might have sent everyone home in a somber mood.  But it was a festive night inside Hangar Five during the first intermission.  Team mascot, ACE, celebrated his second birthday Friday night.  Seven hundred-two fans and a few of ACE's closest friends stopped by to offer their congratulations to the Crazy Bird and Keeper of the Hangar.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ACE!

Johnnie, the St. John's Red Storm mascot stopped by.  And the Brooklyn Cyclones' own Sandy the Seagull came down off his perch atop the Parachute Jump in Coney Island to help ACE make sure he had some fun on his birthday.

Ace's party gift?  -  An opportunity to take a couple of slap-shots against his unprotected and vulnerable buddies.  Johnny and Sandy didn't walk away too bruised though.  ACE has quite the accurate shot.  Many of his goals found nothing but net although you couldn't convince Sandy of that.

Sandy better stick to Baseball because there is no future Brooklyn's beloved seagull as a goalie.  Look at all those pucks in the lower left corner that got by.  I think this shot (pictured) clipped Sandy in the wing.  But just look at the smile on Ace's face.  You know that Crazy Bird was having fun and that's all that really matters.  Johnnie from St. John's was forced to put his body in front of a few shots as well.  His message was simply - Real Mascots don't wear pads! - Then ACE let him have it.

After scoring some goals, even more little friends joined the on-ice party, and along with the fans, joined together in singing Happy Birthday to ACE.

Mike.BTB

BKN Aviators ~ Doors to Hangar Five Open October 29th

From the desk of:  THE COOLEST GUYS IN BROOKLYN

BROOKLYN AVIATORS HOCKEY CLUB ~ 2011-2012:

Coach Miller Making Final Preparations Before Take-Off.

Back in July the organization officially dropped "New York" from their name and opted instead to more accurately represent the Borough of Kings and the local crowds who cheer for them inside Hangar Number Five off Flatbush Avenue.

As the start of the second Federal Hockey League season draws closer, Coach Rob Miller is busy scouting and finalizing his roster.  Many of the Coolest Guys from last season will be returning.  Unfortunately, two very popular players and key contributors from the previous season's success will not.  But all players starting this season forward; whether returning from last season or are new faces to the team, and any future club member, will now represent and play as:

THE  BROOKLYN  AVIATORS

This just reaffirms what I've been saying about them generally being regarded as,

The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn! 

To drop the puck on the 2011-2012 campaign, the Aviators and Akwesasne Warriors will pick up where left off last season, which is on Warriors home-ice where Akwesasne's home team defeated the A's three games to one to win the Federal Hockey League Inaugural Championship back in March. 

Brooklyn and Akwesasne will officially start the FHL season on Oct. 27th.  The A's will play a second road game on Oct. 28th against the Cape Cod Blue Fins.  Then, Brooklyn's home-ice opener will be on Saturday, October 29th, versus one of the three new additions to the League; the New Jersey Outlaws.

The Federal Hockey League is an eight team circuit now.  The returning member clubs from last season are Brooklyn; Akwesanse; 1000 Islands Privateers; and the Danbury Whalers.  Last year's Broome County Barons are now this year's Cape Cod Blue Fins.

The three new teams joining the League for the 2011-2012 season are the Danville Dashers; New Jersey Outlaws; and the Vermont Wild.

One of the most popular players not returning to the A's this season is the 5'10" little bull and (now former) crowd favorite; Matthew Puntureri.  He was traded to the New Jersey Outlaws back in May.  The transaction was an unfortunate situation Coach Miller admitted was made due to financial considerations.


You don't just seemingly and suddenly ignite like the A's did last season and roll off a 21-game winning streak and finish the regular season in first place only after playing at such a ferocious pace as they did to close out last season, without riding your Goalie like an old WWII Flying Tiger.  The Aviators did just that, and their goalie was Kevin Druce.  He also will not be returning this season.


But many familiar names to us locals are returning for another campaign at Hangar Five.  Forwards -Andrew Scampoli, Steve Obelnicki, Anthony Longo, Jesse Felton, Michael Thomson, Casey Magnone, John Goffredo, and Nick Vandenbeld are some of the returning skaters.


On Defense - The truth is, we're thin.  KC Timmons and Jarrett Rush will be back on the blue line.  Nicholas Kuqali makes three signed defenseman.  After that, this is perhaps the team's biggest issue and Coach Miller's toughest challenge ahead.  Coach hopes to solidify his blue line through scouting the southern circuit before the season's opener.


In goal tender Kevin Druce's absence, the Aviators will mostly likely go with a tandem of Peter Dundovich, and Ryan Scott in net this season.


We'll see what new players earn a Brooklyn jersey once Training Camp concludes.  Until then...



...Let's Go A's!




Mike.BTB

N.Y. AVIATORS ~ Face Must Win Friday Night

From the desk of:  The Coolest Guys In Brooklyn

2010-2011

Federal League Championship

NEW YORK AVIATORS:  Drop Game Two; Fail To Win On Home Ice.  Face Must Win Situation On The Road.


Akwesasne Warriors lead series 2-0



As of Sunday, March 20 ~ GAME TWO:

For the first two periods, Jesse Felten kept the A's confident they'd be heading to Ontario, Canada for the next phase of this series tied at one game apiece having dropped Game One Saturday.  After the first period, the Aviators led after Felten scored at the 8:39 mark (assisted by Michael Thomson).  A little past the midway point of the second period, Jesse Felten scored his, and the Aviators second goal of the game (assisted by John Goffredo at 10:41) making the score 2-0 after two periods.

Then as if flying over the Bermuda Triangle, our Aviators' gauges went wacky; our compass spun out of control; and we lost all direction.  After four and a half minutes into the third period, the Warriors unleashed a five minute assault that overwhelmed the A's.

An Akwesasne goal at the 4:35 mark started them on the war path.  Seventeen seconds later this game was tied at two.  Two minutes and fifty-four seconds after that, Akwesasne's Amhed Mahfouz scored his second goal of the period to give the Warriors their first lead at 3-2.  And Akwasasne's Pierre Dagenais, not wanting to be out-done scored his second goal of the game at the 8:13 mark to make it 4-2

The dueling Akwesasne forwards were not done yet.  At 9:49, Amhed Mahfouz completed the natural hat-trick with his third goal of the period.  Michael Thomson (assisted by Matthew Puntureri; KC Timmons) managed to get a goal back for the Aviators on the power play to make the score 5-3 in favor of the visitors.  But then, you kind of sensed it coming, Warrior Pierre Dagenais equalled his teammates feat with a natural hat-trick of his own scoring at the 12:12 mark to up their lead to 6-3.

With a half minute left in the game, Andrew Scampoli scored (assisted by Nick Vandenbeld; Michael Thomson) to make the score a bit more respectable.  But the New York Aviators would lose 6-4 and go down in the Federal Hockey League's Championship Series 2-0.

The shots-on-goal totals were even for the teams at twenty-eight apiece; a manageable number.  But for the second game in a row, Kevin Druce had trouble protecting a third period lead.  This time he was knocked out of the box and replaced by Peter Dundovich who finished the last half of the final period.

The best three out of five series moves to Akwesasne, Ontario.  The Aviators need to win the next two games to bring this series back home to Brooklyn for a Game Five.


Game One Results

GAME THREE

Friday, March 25, 2011

NEW YORK AVIATORS

vs.

Akwesasne Warriors

Ontario, Canada

Mike.BTB

N.Y. AVIATORS ~ Beat Danbury; Force Decisive Game Five

From the desk of:  The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn



N.Y. AVIATORS WIN GAME FOUR !!

FINAL:
New York Aviators 7;  Danbury Whalers 0
Series Tied 2-2



New York Aviators:  First Round Elimination Showdown

Brooklyn will host a decisive Game Five Match-Up against the Danbury Whalers on SUNDAY afternoon.

Sunday's Winner Will Move On To Play For 
The FHL Inaugrual Championship


Brooklyn; - At stake? - Who gets to represent the Southern Division in the Federal Hockey League's Inaugural Championship Series?  The Northern Division Champs; the Akwesasne Warriors, have already settled their business and wait for the conclusion of this Southern Division match-up.

Last weekend, the Aviators and Whalers split the first two games played in Brooklyn.  With the series now in Connecticut, Friday night the Whalers defeated the A's to take the series lead and put themselves in a position to clinch a spot in the Championship Round with a win tonight. 

So in Game Four, being down two games to one and facing elimination in this best 3 out of 5 first round series, Brooklyn's own New York Aviators, staked themselves to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Matthew Puntureri (assisted by John Goffredo; Andrew Scampoli) at the 8:56 mark of the opening period.  The Aviators out-shot Danbury thirteen shots-on-goal versus six against during the first period.

After the first intermission, the A's quickly increased their lead by cashing in on a holding penalty called against Danbury's Leland Fidler with a power play goal off the stick of Andrew Scampoli (assisted by Michael Thomson; KC Timmons) at the 1:10 mark of the second period to make the score 2-0.  Then, at the 8:23 mark of the second period, the Aviators tacked on another goal to make the score 3-0 after Nick Grove scored (assisted by Casey Mignone; Stephen Oblinicki). 

The A's maintained furious pressure on Danbury's goalie Peter Vetri; peppering him with thirty-three shots through the first period and a half.  On the other side of the ice for New York's goalie, Kevin Druce's defense only required him to stop 10 shots over the same 30 minute span of time.  Then, all that peppering of Peter Vetri led to Brooklyn's fourth goal and their third of the second period.  Matthew Puntureri scored his second goal of the game (assisted by Nick Grove; Michael Thomson) this time coming on the power play. 

The A's fourth goal resulted from Danbury's eighth penalty.  The Aviators would capitalize on two of those opportunities going 2 for 8 to that point.  The Aviators, being somewhat more disciplined, limited the Whalers to 3-0 on their PP chances through the first two periods.

After 40 minutes of Hockey, the Aviators led 4-0.  The Danbury Whalers were limited to a measly 12 shots-on-goal while the New York Aviators took target practice on Danbury's Peter Vetri with 43 shots (30 in the second period).

Early in the third period, the Aviators third different scorer of the night would add his name to the box score.  At the 1:17 mark, Brett Dickinson (assisted by Matthew Puntureri; KC Timmons) scored on another power play following yet another Danbury penalty.  This time, a boarding penalty was called against Danbury's Devin Guy, just 0.35 seconds into the period.  This made the score 5-0 in favor of the visiting Aviators.  Then, less than three minutes later, Andrew Scampoli (assisted by Nick Vandenbeld; Jarrett Rush) scored his second goal of the night (to join Matthew Puntureri in that regard) at the 3:56 mark of the period to put the New York Aviators firmly in control of this game by a score of 6-0 and seemingly putting this contest out of reach for the home-ice Whalers.

There was a roughing penalty committed by Danbury's Devin Guy at the 20:00 mark of the first period that could have been a foreshadowing of things to come.  The zebras would whistle-up eight different infractions against the Whalers mostly of the roughing, slashing, and fighting variety during the second period alone.  The Danbury Whalers had one ejection ~ Corey Fulton; last seen taking his 15 minutes of penalty time and an ejection to the locker-room midway through the second period.


Danbury's Lucas Schott then took it upon himself to pick up the level of indiscretions for the Whalers.  He accumulated all 18 of his penalty minutes after Corey Fulton's departure.  I'd assume there's no correlation there...right?  Well..., he picked up where Fulton left off regardless.  Danbury's Lucas Schott was called for tripping at 12:09, but was also slapped with a 10:00 unsportsmanlike/misconduct penalty.   So, naturally, you guessed it;  The New York Aviators cashed in to make the score 7-0 favoring New York as Jarrett Rush (assisted by Matthew Puntierri) scored on the resulting power play with his first goal of the game.

The more Danbury tried to bully their way through this game, the more the Aviators made them pay for it on the scoreboard.  The Danbury Whalers had ten penalties against the Aviators four.  Four of those penalties were for roughing, to include two 10:00 minute majors.  A boarding; slash; and a cross-check rounds out the scope of the Whalers' offensive effort tonight.  None of which got them on the scoreboard though.  Danbury did mount more of an effort over the third period and managed to out-shoot the A's over the period.  It never amounted to much though.  The A's woefully out-shot the Whalers 51-22 tonight. 

The Aviators managed to do what they absolutely needed to do in order to extend this series and bring it back home.  And they did it in convincing fashion by shutting out the Danbury Whalers after suffering a crushing OT defeat the night before on Friday.  Now, both teams will board their respective team buses and head back to Brooklyn and play a decisive Game Five at Hangar #5 to see which of the two teams will get to go play for the FHL's Inaugural Championship against the Akwesasne Warriors.

C'mon Brooklyn! - They will drop the puck on tomorrow's Game Five Do-Or-Die Series Final at 3:05pm.  Come out to Floyd Bennett Field and let's show Danbury how we do it.  Show up and cheer on the Coolest Guys In Brooklyn with me as they try to win a clincher on home-ice.  If we want our Brooklyn Hockey Club to become big, we need to start by making tomorrow Huge!

Sunday - March 13, 2011

FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Southern Division

Series Tied 2-2

GAME FIVE

Danbury Whalers

vs.

NEW YORK AVIATORS

From Hangar No. 5 ~ Floyd Bennett Field

BROOKLYN, New York

SEE YOU THERE!

Let's Go Aviators

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Aviators Out of the Clouds

I told you a little home cooking would do our Boyz fine. 

After "The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn" started the season 0-3, they stabilized going 2-2 over the next four games.  All seven games were on the road.  Now with Thursday night's victory over second place Danbury, the A's have a three game winning streak going away, with all three wins coming at home; their first three home games of the year.  They now go back on the road having corrected their faulty start.

They chipped their way out of last place and their ten points after ten games is now good for third place in the standings.  They've only given up 31 goals in 10 games which rates them second in the League in that category.

The Akwesasne Warriors still lead the Federal League with an 8-3 record.  They've practically doubled N.Y.'s offensive output scoring 60 goals thus far.  However the Aviators are sporting a tighter defense as the Warriors have allowed 45 goals against.
.


AVIATORS Scoring Leaders:
* RW ~ Matthew Puntureri ~ 10 games; 6 goals; 10 points.
* C ~ John Goffredo ~ 10 games; 5 goals; 10 points.
* D ~ Andrew Scampoli ~ 10 games; 6 goals; 9 points.
* RW ~ Casey Mignone ~ 8 games; 6 goals; 8 points;  +7

NEXT GAME ~ TONIGHT

Saturday 20 November 2010

Danbury, Connecticut

The Coolest Guys in Brooklyn

visit the DANBURY WHALERS

Mike.BTB