Halifax Floor Hockey League
The shorthanded Slayers, who had to borrow two players from the Lynx, were most importantly missing two of their anticipated leaders, Kenzie and Jason Royal. Slayers 2000B interim captain Peter Rankin promised former captain Paul Chui that he would be bringing home the gold for the Slayers this season, but it looks like he'll need the full support of the brothers Royal to cop any hardware at season's end.
Both of the Wednesday night games also proved to be one-sided affairs. First up was the new-look Lite-Sabres against last year's runner-up Keane Fire. The game was the first in the South Park YMCA. The arena was smaller in total size, with nets slightly larger than those at the Needham Center. The smaller arena proved to be a blessing for both teams, who collectively had one substitution. However, the game was delayed for half as hour as YMCA staff double booked the arena. First and second periods of both games were limited to 12 minutes.
The Lite-Sabre/Fire game proved close for the first period as the two teams felt each other out and even felt each other up (in some of those awkward scrums in the corners). It was tied 2-2 after the first stanza but the Sabres pulled away in the second outscoring the Fire 4-0 to take a 6-2 lead. Two late third-period goals by Fire forward Mike Montgomery made the final a more respectable 12-4 in favour of the Lite-Sabres. Fire inspirational leader Don Abbott was not impressed with the team's effort. "We didn't work hard enough. I ran 10K before the game and I was still outhustling my &@^# teammates!"
The nightcap pitted the 3-time defending champion LAN Hackers against the expansion Halifax Chill. The Chill kept it close early thanks to some solid goaltending by Michael Griffiths, but it wasn't long before the relentless Hacker attack wore down the Chill defenders. Three-time scoring leader John Price was his usual self scoring 9 goals and 5 assists as the Hackers won going away 23-9. Newly acquired Hacker Richard MacMillan exploded for 2 goals and an assist. Ex-teammate Chris McMaster interrogated MacMillan after the game for his lack of production in previous years. "Where the heck were those goals when you were playing with me last year? The only time you scored two goals in a game last year was on me!" Retorted MacMillan, "I guess I just needed a good captain to motivate me." When reminded that the only other captain he has played for was himself, the red-faced MacMillan had no comment.
The AdcFhl will return to the Needham Center Tuesday for the start of week 2.