Lynx Look to Break Hacker Jinx

For the fourth time in the 11-season history of the ADC FHL the LAN Hackers will square off against the ADC Lynx for the rights to be called champion. In each of the previous three meetings, the Lynx have failed to breakthrough against the league’s most successful franchise.

Although the Lynx had the edge on the Hackers in the regular season, winning the series 1-0-1, many league observers suggest that the Hackers are the favourites. After starting the season 1-3, the Hackers have gone eight games without a loss, culminating with a thrilling 9-8 upset of the defending champion Lite-Sabres in the semi-finals.

Another reason for the oddsmakers to support the Hackers is the potential absentees in the Lynx line-up. Confirmed as a scratch for the final is first-team all-star Matt Blades, who will be out of the country. In a similar predicament is Mark LeBlanc, who also may be out of town for the title game. Even without those stars, the Lynx will be tough to beat, as evident in their 10-3 thrashing of the Keane Chill in the semi-finals. Neither LeBlanc nor Blades played in that game.

Undoubtedly the most famous game between these two teams was in the 2000B final, in an affair which has become known as the “Water Bottle Game”. In that game, a third period bench minor was assessed to the Lynx for throwing a water bottle towards the referee. In the subsequent powerplay, the Hackers took the lead and went on to win the championship by a single goal.

Notes: The Hackers are 16-2-2 all-time against the Lynx…the 2004A title game will mark the first time the Hackers have played in the final without John Price…nobody playing in the final has won the championship more than once