2021 FPHL Season Thread

[JMCx4]

On the cusp of completing Regular Season #11. What could go wrong?

 

[Atlantian]

The Ignite Cup Finals will be the Elmira Enforcers vs the Columbus River Dragons. Columbus will have home ice advantage.

 

[JMCx4]

The Ignite Cup Finals will be the Elmira Enforcers vs the Columbus River Dragons. Columbus will have home ice advantage.

But Elmira will have the height & weight advantage ...

Team Abg. Height Avg. Weight Columbus River Dragons 5' 11.5" 186.6 lbs. Elmira Enforcers 6' 2" 190.5 lbs. [TBODY] [/TBODY]

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[bleedblue94]

So what's the outlook for this league for the 21-22 season? How many teams are going to come back? Which ones are relocation candidates? Seems all minor pro leagues are dealing with tremendous flux at this point.

 

[JMCx4]

So what's the outlook for this league for the 21-22 season? How many teams are going to come back? Which ones are relocation candidates? Seems all minor pro leagues are dealing with tremendous flux at this point.

1. Same outlook as it's been for their first 11 seasons ... murky.
2. Refer to 1. above. Though odds are at least even that the four teams who competed in the nominal 2020-21 season (refer to the graphic in this post above) will return to play in some form in the nominal 2021-22 season.
3. All of the teams that don't simply disappear - and any franchises currently dormant/homeless/gone up in flames (e.g., Bloomington, Danville, Battle Creek, Mentor, Delaware ... ran outta room & memory to list more ...) - are candidates for relocation. Though the two active teams currently owned by Barry Soskin (Port Huron, Carolina) might be considered best bets to stay put, but even those aren't dead locks.
4. For those who haven't followed the FHL/FPHL (and I'm guessing you have stumbled into that group recently), you ain't seen "tremendous flux" in hockey before.

 

[SargeR]

So what's the outlook for this league for the 21-22 season? How many teams are going to come back? Which ones are relocation candidates? Seems all minor pro leagues are dealing with tremendous flux at this point.

 

[SargeR]

First let it be noted that the Fed is the only league that I am aware of that never had to cancel a scheduled game due to COVID. As of right now we are expecting to have at least eight teams for next season. Danville is looking into relocating, Danbury, Carolina, Columbus, Delaware, Elmira, Port Huron and Watertown are all planning on returning and there may well be a new team or two.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

First let it be noted that the Fed is the only league that I am aware of that never had to cancel a scheduled game due to COVID. As of right now we are expecting to have at least eight teams for next season. Danville is looking into relocating, Danbury, Carolina, Columbus, Delaware, Elmira, Port Huron and Watertown are all planning on returning and there may well be a new team or two.

Wow, the league's assistant commissioner posting on message boards!

As far as Covid scheduling goes, can you tell us what the testing protocol was for players, coaches, team staff, bus driver, etc. that made it possible for the league to not have to cancel any scheduled games due to Covid? Did any players miss any games this season because they tested positive for Covid?

Do FHL teams now carry suitable insurance should, say, a player take a stick in the eye the way Kyle Moje did?

 

[bleedblue94]

1. Same outlook as it's been for their first 11 seasons ... murky.
2. Refer to 1. above. Though odds are at least even that the four teams who competed in the nominal 2020-21 season (refer to the graphic in this post above) will return to play in some form in the nominal 2021-22 season.
3. All of the teams that don't simply disappear - and any franchises currently dormant/homeless/gone up in flames (e.g., Bloomington, Danville, Battle Creek, Mentor, Delaware ... ran outta room & memory to list more ...) - are candidates for relocation. Though the two active teams currently owned by Barry Soskin (Port Huron, Carolina) might be considered best bets to stay put, but even those aren't dead locks.
4. For those who haven't followed the FHL/FPHL (and I'm guessing you have stumbled into that group recently), you ain't seen "tremendous flux" in hockey before.

No, I'm familiar with it, but I wasn't sure where things sit now coming out of covid and everything that happened this last season

 

[JMCx4]

First let it be noted that the Fed is the only league that I am aware of that never had to cancel a scheduled game due to COVID. As of right now we are expecting to have at least eight teams for next season. Danville is looking into relocating, Danbury, Carolina, Columbus, Delaware, Elmira, Port Huron and Watertown are all planning on returning and there may well be a new team or two.

Thank you for chiming in.

 

[JMCx4]

2021 Ignite Cup Finals schedule from this article ...

Ignite Cup Finals (Best of Five)

Columbus River Dragons vs. Elmira Enforcers

Game 1 – Friday, April 23 at 7:05 p.m. ET at First Arena in Elmira, New York

Game 2 – Saturday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m. ET at First Arena in Elmira, New York

Game 3 – Friday, April 30 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Georgia

Game 4 – Saturday, May 1 at 6:05 p.m. ET at Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Georgia *

Game 5 – Sunday, May 2 at 5:05 p.m. ET at Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Georgia *

* – If Necessary

 

[JMCx4]

River Dragons win Game #1 in Elmira, 4-2. Five of the six goals scored in the 1st period, and the Columbus insurance goal came in the last minute of the 2nd. Game #2 on Saturday night on the FPHL Live-Enforcers You Tube channel.

 

[JMCx4]

Finals Game #2 in Elmira is in the 3rd intermission, River Dragons 3 - Enforcers 3 through regulation. Columbus had the offensive edge for most of the first 60, but Elmira showed flashes of dominance & also killed off a key penalty in the middle of the 3rd period. First Arena ice having issues tonight, something that might impede the visiting team's speed & give some advantage to to the home boys.

 

[JMCx4]

4th intermission in Upstate NY, still 3-3. The start of overtime was delayed several minutes while the ice crew brought out the fire extinguisher to freeze a patch for a chronic divot. Once underway, play was back-and-forth for the 20, with Enforcer goalie Dillon Kelley keeping his team in the game. Columbus was a pipe ringer away from taking the 2-0 series lead with under two minutes left in that 1st OT period. Both teams showing significant fatigue as the horn sounded; this game is increasingly likely to end on a fluke play or an extraordinary effort by one player who just wants to get some sleep tonight.

 

[sabremike]

Before we get people doing a run in to take potshots I'd like to point out the ECHL game in Indy was apparently abandoned tonight due to ice conditions.

 

[JMCx4]

Columbus wins 4-3, 4:04 into the 2nd overtime period on an innocent looking shot from the point by D-man Nate O'Brien. River Dragons heading back home, where they'll only have to win one of the three games scheduled for next weekend. Those games (or that game) will also be webcast on FPHL Live.

 

[JMCx4]

Before we get people doing a run in to take potshots I'd like to point out the ECHL game in Indy was apparently abandoned tonight due to ice conditions.

It's springtime, never ideal for ice conditions no matter the league.

 

[Atlantian]

Columbus wins 4-3, 4:04 into the 2nd overtime period on an innocent looking shot from the point by D-man Nate O'Brien. River Dragons heading back home, where they'll only have to win one of the three games scheduled for next weekend. Those games (or that game) will also be webcast on FPHL Live.

That was the longest game in the 11 season history of the Fed by less than a minute.

 

[JMCx4]

That was the longest game in the 11 season history of the Fed by less than a minute.

Timing is everything.

 

[Atlantian]

Columbus takes a decisive 8-1 victory over Elmira in game three to sweep the series 3-0 and win the Ignite Cup. Will definitely make for a fun rivalry with Carolina next season. Glad to say this is likely one of the least controversial Fed seasons they’ve ever had. Granted there was the brawl between Elmira and Watertown before game 1 of the season and there were only four teams, but they could be turning over a new leaf. Next season will be huge for the future of the league.

 

[JMCx4]

... Glad to say this is likely one of the least controversial Fed seasons they’ve ever had. Granted there was the brawl between Elmira and Watertown before game 1 of the season and there were only four teams, but they could be turning over a new leaf. Next season will be huge for the future of the league.

You are forever the optimist. Don't ever change.

 

[AHLFAN]

One or two new teams? I wonder if the Motor City Rockers are one of them. Or did the die out?

 

[JMCx4]

One or two new teams? I wonder if the Motor City Rockers are one of them. Or did the(y) die out?

I would have expected this post by @SargeR to cite Motor City as an existing team vs. new, as the Rockers were nominally prepared to begin play in Fall 2020.

 

[sabremike]

BRING BACK THE RUMBLE BEES YOU COWARDS!!!!!!!

 

[JMCx4]

BRING BACK THE RUMBLE BEES YOU COWARDS!!!!!!!

No love for a return of the Brewster Bulldogs?