Phelan96
04-22-2008, 10:51 AM
From: The Predictor
Northeast Division
1. Boston Swamp Rats - obviously the returning PIHA champs have to be the early favorite
2. Long Island 495'ers - Long Island is just a major hotbed for roller hockey
3. Conneticut Blaze - Pinheiro and company can be tough to beat
4. Marple Gladiators - The studs of ECRHA d2 will pull in the last playoff spot
5. Massachusettes Bombers - Look to be strong but will be ousted in the final week
6. Hartford Fire Ants - Look to be stuck in a tough division
Atlantic Division
1. Philadelphia Growl - 2 time champs just revamped and made their roster even better
2. NJ Stampede - Look to be extremely strong with their decisive preseason wins over Feasterville
3. Aston Demolition - New look great team made up of most of the Gladiators from last year
4. NJ Grizzlies - Will squeeze their way into the playoffs
5. Feasterville Fury - Will miss the playoffs again. Roster improved but to many major losses in personnel
6. NE Philadelphia Revolution - In a division that is going to be way to tough for them to withstand
Mason Dixon
1. Pittsburgh Bandits - They will not falter again in the playoffs to the Lunatics
2. Harrisburg Lunatics - Seniority will carry them through but youth will beat age
3. Potomac Mavericks - Welcome to PIHA and they show everybody why they belong
4. Winchester Generals - Former MLRH players all over will definately give all the teams a scare
5. Scottsdale Inferno - With the Bandits so close there isn't enough talent for them to survive
6. Maryland Knights - No information really available could be the bottom or a true sleeper
Southeast
1. Raleigh Assault - Early favorites with a great roster
2. South Carolina Pirates - Should be equally as strong as the Assault
3. Savannah Stingers - Should be interesting year in this new division give them guys from Georgia and Alabama a shot
4. Richmond Robins - Will get their first taste of playoffs in PIHA
5. York Typhoon - New division same team thats falling apart like last year
Gateway
1. Southside Snipers - Early favorite as the league finalist last year
2. Midwest Tornadoes - Could very well be the best in the division
3. Chicago Untouchables - Chicago has some major talent there should do well
4. St Louis Cobras - Could very well squeak in as the thrid st louis team
5. River City Whalers - Could be the other third st louis team in the playoffs
6. Cinncinatti Flying Monkeys - Still way overmatched in a phenominal division
Rocky Mountain
1. Colorado Springs Thunder - CJ and Brian will not miss the playoffs and will win their division
2. Littleton Fire - Should be a very good team this year
3. Parker Prowlers - New name and location will be solid
4. Fort Collins Catz - Last team in this division
5. Westminster Blizzard - Somebody has to get left out each year
PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST - Don't know much about these teams so I cant say
From: Growl89
1. Growl - very seasoned team, did win the league 2 years in a row in 05 and 06, lots of experience and hungry after last years upset.
Who's In? Charlie Sgrillo (feastervilles leading scorer) Gene Gsell (marple stand out) Jimmy Redstreake (30 goals for the Bandits last year) Dan Quartucio (Savage Wolves Narch leading scorer, NCAA D3 SUNY Potsdam) Jake Cline (NCAA D3 Manhattanville) Matt Mckeon (savage wolves)
Who's out? Jimmy Vivona (retirement) Brian Fischer (Fury) Mike Catalano (Fury) Mike Sanchez (Scrappers) Jon Mosenson (L.I. 495ers)
X-Factor - Joey D'alosio - if he stays as consistent as he has been over the past 2 seasons then look for the Growl to be the division Champs.
2. Feasterville Fury - made some great pick - ups to deal with the loss of Charlie Sgrillo. If they can keep their full team together for home and road games, will challenge the Growl for the top spot.
Who's In? Brian Fischer (growl) Mike Catalano (growl) Carmello Stracuzzi (Blaze) Gary Kull (Blaze) Pudge Kull (Blaze) Jeff Columbo (Express) Chris Altomare (great young talent from the scrappers) Brandon Tunstall (pesky defenseman from scrappers) Anthony Merrigan (Scrappers talented defenseman) Dave Columbo (express) Neel Bhatla (Express)
Who's out? Charlie Sgrillo (Growl) Benny Dahms (Revolution)
X-factor - new faces coming together and playing consistent. This team looks VERY solid on paper, but can they gel together and be a force like we think?
3. NJ Stampede - with the rumored off season that these guys have had, look for them to be a contender this year. Formily the NJ Minutemen, they have started fresh with a pretty new roster and they appear to be ready to go. Great goaltending is the highlight of this team along with a very tough building to play in.
Who's In? Chris Havelock (moved back to NJ in time to hook back up with his old club) Felix Guzman (at one time was on the NJ Rockin Rollers Taxi team, will be great when hes back in shape) Sonny Kim (former Savage wolves and NJ scorpions star) Joe Tan (NJ Scorpions)
Who's out? Eric Namowicz (retirement) Mike Mitchell (Grizzlies)
X- home rink advantage, over the years, this has been one of the toughest buildings in the league to play in. There are a lot of new faces there this year that have played in this building before. If they use their rink to their advantage with their defensive system, they will be in a lot of games and win even more.
4. NJ Grizzlies - This team likes the youngsters and this off season was no exception. A fast team that also plays in a tough place to be a visiting team. My bet is the grizzlies earn the last playoff spot in this tough division.
Who's In? JJ Fichter (Scrappers) Mike Mitchell (NJ Mimutemen)
Who's out? Eli Napolitano, Dale Sona, Brian Troholidays (Retired, coaching Growl)
X-factor J.J. Fichter - this kid can snipe, dangle and play make. If he plays like i have seen him play in minors, he will have no problem making a name for himself as a pro and should score lots of goals.
5. Aston Demolition - New team in the league this season, a lot of them played with the Marple Gladiators last season from what i have heard. This team has talent, i have personally played with and against most of these guys for years now. While i have them ranked at 5th, it would not suprise me if they were to finish 3 or 4.
Who do they have? Pat Barano (great 2-way defenseman) Jason Yocum (Yokes has proved himself in this league for years as a legitimate #1, when you think he's done, he always has a great next game) Bill Sherwood (drexel roller hockey standout, decent year for Marple last year, expect goals from him) Mike Roman (not many like him left, gritty player with a scoring touch)
X-factor- they have talent that is for sure, my only question is, are they deep enough for the grind of the whole seaon? I hope so, and we'll soon find out!
6. NE Revolution - Sorry i hate ranking teams last, but someone has to be last. Another new team in the league, that plays in one of, if not the toughest division in the league. My guess is that they will stay in some games that maybe they shouldn't because of solid goaltending. And others they may get blown out of. Either way, i wish them the best of luck..
Who do they have? Tom Conners (been a while since he played PIHA, but a great 2-way defenseman with a scoring touch) Nick Dipalo (solid goaltender fro Jr. Team USA that won torhs Pro D 2 two years ago) Benny Dahms (has a great rookie year in PIHA for the Fury)
X-factor - like i said earlier, goaltending will be the strength of this team. So if they have a good defensive strategy they will be in a lot of their games.
Northeast Division
1. Boston Swamp Rats - obviously the returning PIHA champs have to be the early favorite
2. Long Island 495'ers - Long Island is just a major hotbed for roller hockey
3. Conneticut Blaze - Pinheiro and company can be tough to beat
4. Marple Gladiators - The studs of ECRHA d2 will pull in the last playoff spot
5. Massachusettes Bombers - Look to be strong but will be ousted in the final week
6. Hartford Fire Ants - Look to be stuck in a tough division
Atlantic Division
1. Philadelphia Growl - 2 time champs just revamped and made their roster even better
2. NJ Stampede - Look to be extremely strong with their decisive preseason wins over Feasterville
3. Aston Demolition - New look great team made up of most of the Gladiators from last year
4. NJ Grizzlies - Will squeeze their way into the playoffs
5. Feasterville Fury - Will miss the playoffs again. Roster improved but to many major losses in personnel
6. NE Philadelphia Revolution - In a division that is going to be way to tough for them to withstand
Mason Dixon
1. Pittsburgh Bandits - They will not falter again in the playoffs to the Lunatics
2. Harrisburg Lunatics - Seniority will carry them through but youth will beat age
3. Potomac Mavericks - Welcome to PIHA and they show everybody why they belong
4. Winchester Generals - Former MLRH players all over will definately give all the teams a scare
5. Scottsdale Inferno - With the Bandits so close there isn't enough talent for them to survive
6. Maryland Knights - No information really available could be the bottom or a true sleeper
Southeast
1. Raleigh Assault - Early favorites with a great roster
2. South Carolina Pirates - Should be equally as strong as the Assault
3. Savannah Stingers - Should be interesting year in this new division give them guys from Georgia and Alabama a shot
4. Richmond Robins - Will get their first taste of playoffs in PIHA
5. York Typhoon - New division same team thats falling apart like last year
Gateway
1. Southside Snipers - Early favorite as the league finalist last year
2. Midwest Tornadoes - Could very well be the best in the division
3. Chicago Untouchables - Chicago has some major talent there should do well
4. St Louis Cobras - Could very well squeak in as the thrid st louis team
5. River City Whalers - Could be the other third st louis team in the playoffs
6. Cinncinatti Flying Monkeys - Still way overmatched in a phenominal division
Rocky Mountain
1. Colorado Springs Thunder - CJ and Brian will not miss the playoffs and will win their division
2. Littleton Fire - Should be a very good team this year
3. Parker Prowlers - New name and location will be solid
4. Fort Collins Catz - Last team in this division
5. Westminster Blizzard - Somebody has to get left out each year
PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST - Don't know much about these teams so I cant say
From: Growl89
1. Growl - very seasoned team, did win the league 2 years in a row in 05 and 06, lots of experience and hungry after last years upset.
Who's In? Charlie Sgrillo (feastervilles leading scorer) Gene Gsell (marple stand out) Jimmy Redstreake (30 goals for the Bandits last year) Dan Quartucio (Savage Wolves Narch leading scorer, NCAA D3 SUNY Potsdam) Jake Cline (NCAA D3 Manhattanville) Matt Mckeon (savage wolves)
Who's out? Jimmy Vivona (retirement) Brian Fischer (Fury) Mike Catalano (Fury) Mike Sanchez (Scrappers) Jon Mosenson (L.I. 495ers)
X-Factor - Joey D'alosio - if he stays as consistent as he has been over the past 2 seasons then look for the Growl to be the division Champs.
2. Feasterville Fury - made some great pick - ups to deal with the loss of Charlie Sgrillo. If they can keep their full team together for home and road games, will challenge the Growl for the top spot.
Who's In? Brian Fischer (growl) Mike Catalano (growl) Carmello Stracuzzi (Blaze) Gary Kull (Blaze) Pudge Kull (Blaze) Jeff Columbo (Express) Chris Altomare (great young talent from the scrappers) Brandon Tunstall (pesky defenseman from scrappers) Anthony Merrigan (Scrappers talented defenseman) Dave Columbo (express) Neel Bhatla (Express)
Who's out? Charlie Sgrillo (Growl) Benny Dahms (Revolution)
X-factor - new faces coming together and playing consistent. This team looks VERY solid on paper, but can they gel together and be a force like we think?
3. NJ Stampede - with the rumored off season that these guys have had, look for them to be a contender this year. Formily the NJ Minutemen, they have started fresh with a pretty new roster and they appear to be ready to go. Great goaltending is the highlight of this team along with a very tough building to play in.
Who's In? Chris Havelock (moved back to NJ in time to hook back up with his old club) Felix Guzman (at one time was on the NJ Rockin Rollers Taxi team, will be great when hes back in shape) Sonny Kim (former Savage wolves and NJ scorpions star) Joe Tan (NJ Scorpions)
Who's out? Eric Namowicz (retirement) Mike Mitchell (Grizzlies)
X- home rink advantage, over the years, this has been one of the toughest buildings in the league to play in. There are a lot of new faces there this year that have played in this building before. If they use their rink to their advantage with their defensive system, they will be in a lot of games and win even more.
4. NJ Grizzlies - This team likes the youngsters and this off season was no exception. A fast team that also plays in a tough place to be a visiting team. My bet is the grizzlies earn the last playoff spot in this tough division.
Who's In? JJ Fichter (Scrappers) Mike Mitchell (NJ Mimutemen)
Who's out? Eli Napolitano, Dale Sona, Brian Troholidays (Retired, coaching Growl)
X-factor J.J. Fichter - this kid can snipe, dangle and play make. If he plays like i have seen him play in minors, he will have no problem making a name for himself as a pro and should score lots of goals.
5. Aston Demolition - New team in the league this season, a lot of them played with the Marple Gladiators last season from what i have heard. This team has talent, i have personally played with and against most of these guys for years now. While i have them ranked at 5th, it would not suprise me if they were to finish 3 or 4.
Who do they have? Pat Barano (great 2-way defenseman) Jason Yocum (Yokes has proved himself in this league for years as a legitimate #1, when you think he's done, he always has a great next game) Bill Sherwood (drexel roller hockey standout, decent year for Marple last year, expect goals from him) Mike Roman (not many like him left, gritty player with a scoring touch)
X-factor- they have talent that is for sure, my only question is, are they deep enough for the grind of the whole seaon? I hope so, and we'll soon find out!
6. NE Revolution - Sorry i hate ranking teams last, but someone has to be last. Another new team in the league, that plays in one of, if not the toughest division in the league. My guess is that they will stay in some games that maybe they shouldn't because of solid goaltending. And others they may get blown out of. Either way, i wish them the best of luck..
Who do they have? Tom Conners (been a while since he played PIHA, but a great 2-way defenseman with a scoring touch) Nick Dipalo (solid goaltender fro Jr. Team USA that won torhs Pro D 2 two years ago) Benny Dahms (has a great rookie year in PIHA for the Fury)
X-factor - like i said earlier, goaltending will be the strength of this team. So if they have a good defensive strategy they will be in a lot of their games.