2023-24 FPHL Season Thread

[The Hobgoblin]

We are waiting to chomp into whoever we get into the playoffs. The River Dragons have phenomenal support in the city and surrounding areas. We are getting an in state rival now with the Athens new franchise joining the SPHL. Great times!

 

[JMCx4]

Congrats to the Columbus River Dragons, the 2024 Continental Division and FPHL Regular Season champions.

 

[CarolinaThunderbird]

looking forward to the three game series with Columbus and Carolina. The season series is tied at 4-4, and though I’m obviously biased, I believe Carolina is the better team.

1. At least two of the losses were short handed. Not only was Carolina without their top 4-5 players, in at least one game they only had 12 skaters. Carolina had several of their top players called up (Ford, Baker, Cavaliere, Kraemer, Firth) while Columbus has mostly kept their team together, other than a few exceptions.

2. Columbus has had a much easier schedule all year. They didn’t play Binghamton (Carolina went 2-2). They didn’t play Danbury (Carolina went 3-1 I believe). The two teams Carolina didn’t play was Elmira and Watertown (the bottom teams in their division). Columbus played Baton Rouge (worst team in the league) more than any other team.

 

[JMCx4]

FPHL playoffs begin tomorrow night, River Dragons v Seawolves. Here's a series preview ... WTVM-ABC9: River Dragons to begin FPHL playoff run on Wednesday, April 17


The other three first round (Division Semifinals) start on Friday, Apr. 19th: Carolina vs. Port Huron, Binghamton vs. Watertown, and Motor City vs. Danbury. More on those series later in the week ... if I can remember to search for AND find previews.

 

[GindyDraws]

Well, the worst team of the season was *drumroll* Wytheville, to the shock of nobody, edging out Baton Rouge.

If Delaware comes back, we should expect a fierce competition for the basement between the two.

 

[JMCx4]

Well, the worst team of the season was *drumroll* Wytheville, to the shock of nobody, edging out Baton Rouge.

If Delaware comes back, we should expect a fierce competition for the basement between the two.

But, hey, they still batted nearly .300 (.298 W%). For a franchise with an unfortunate choice of location & team name & logo [has there ever been confirmation that the former Danville SPHL franchise owner was behind those last two conditions in some manner or fashion? ], they would've made a pretty decent middle of the line-up hitter.

 

[JMCx4]

The rest of the 2024 FPHL Commissioners Cup playoff preview local coverage ...

• WICZ-Fox40: Black Bears To Face Watertown In First Round Of Playoffs

• MCR: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST ROUND (Rockers vs. Hat Tricks)

• And the T'birds get third hockey billing from the Winston-Salem Journal: Two local hockey teams win national championships; Thunderbirds begin playoffs on Friday at Port Huron


First Round Playoff Schedule HERE. The usual free streaming gameplay will be on the individual team's FPHL Live! feeds.

 

[JMCx4]

Catching up on The Fed playoff scene ...

• #1 Columbus River Dragons easily swept #4 Mississippi Sea Wolves in their Round 1 Continental Division series. Game Recaps HERE (7-2) and HERE (8-0).
• #1 Binghamton Black Bears swept #2 Watertown Wolves in their Round 1 Empire Division series. Game Recaps HERE (1-0) and HERE (7-2).
• #2 Carolina Thunderbirds & #3 Port Huron Prowlers are tied 1-1 in their Round 1 Continental Division series. Game Recaps so far HERE (3-2) and HERE (4-2). The deciding Game 3 is tonight (Sunday 4/21) @ 6 PM Eastern on FPHL Live! (You Tube streams).
• #2 Motor City Rockers & #3 Danbury Hat Tricks are also tied 1-1 in their Round 1 Empire Division series. Game Recaps to date HERE (3-2 OT) and HERE (4-2). The rubber (puck) Game 3 is tonight (Sunday 4/21) @ 5:05 PM Eastern on FPHL Live! (You Tube).

 

[JMCx4]

Both #2 seeds advance to meet their #1 rivals next weekend. It'll be Columbus vs. Carolina and Binghamton vs. Motor City to determine the FPHL Finals matchup.

 

[Dingo44]

Great article about how hockey succeeded in Wythe County, Virginia.

Wytheville's first pro hockey team scores at the box office

The team, in its first year, finished in last place on the ice but averaged 1,294 fans per game.

cardinalnews.org

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Nice, need to get up there.

 

[JMCx4]

Nice, need to get up there.

"up there" where? Binghamton, or Fraser?

 

[Dingo44]

Two amazing games tonight! Motor City manages to tie Binghamton with 5 seconds left in regulation to keep their season alive but lose about halfway through OT.

Thunderbirds tie their game with 1:23 left in regulation to keep their season alive and win in OT on a sick knock it out of the air goal! Game three to decide the series is at 6:05 EST tomorrow on YouTube.

 

[Dingo44]

Thunderbirds WIN in the second OT in Columbus! Finals are Binghamton vs Carolina. Can't wait!

 

[JMCx4]

From:

Stats - Federal Prospects Hockey League

www.federalhockey.com