FRANKLIN HOCKEY LEAGUE FINALS PREVIEW 2012

Crosby’s #1 Overall Seed (14-6 regular season) (48-31 total wins/losses)
Captain: John George   6th year as Captain
 

Thunder #2 Overall Seed (13-7 regular season) (46-33 total wins/losses)
Captain: Andrew McDonald   4th year as Captain

Scoring is the ultimate factor when it comes to winning hockey games. In any sport for that matter, you need to score to win, plain and simple. And scoring goals gets the most recognition and attention from amongst the league’s players and personalities. But goaltending has quickly picked up the pace and gained its necessary praise. With teams now having their own goalies full-time, goaltending just might be on even keel with scoring in terms of importance. This week’s Franklin Hockey League Final proves what goaltending means to each of the teams in the series. The Crosby’s have first year player Joey Neutrelle, a proven rookie who has taken the league by storm with his stellar play inside the crease. Andrew McDonald’s Thunder have veteran goalie Dave Kwolek. Or do they? If you haven’t heard yet since moments after the Semi-Final Round or Facebook, Kwolek has reportedly said he will not be there for Saturday’s Final due to vacation and has even expressed that he would like the game to be moved to another date.
The same situation is occurring with the Crosby’s and one of their top players, Brian Barca. Who is going on…yup, you guessed it, VACATION. He was said to have asked to look into a possible date switch and that’s about it. But since the game was scheduled back in November, it will go on this Saturday at Noon.
So what do the Thunder do for a goalie? No one knows, not even Andrew McDonald, who is taking his second team to a Final- In 2008-2009, McDonald took the then named Pirates on an impressive run and eventually losing to the Jets 3 games to 1. McDonald has simply said, “I don’t know”, when asked what he will do for a net minder in the Final. Without Dave Kwolek, the Thunder has to replace the statistically best goalie in the league. Kwolek went 43-27 overall with a 61.4 win%. Whatever the Thunder do, they will do something and show up with good scoring talent, like McDonald, Chad Kanz and Andrew’s brother, Roy. Kanz won the scoring title, with 57 pts. Andrew and Roy McDonald had 50 and 43pts, respectively.  Other complimentary players include veteran D-man, Dan Rojtas, and up and coming Ryan Perhac.
The Crosby’s, as mentioned will probably be without Brian Barca. Although it seems as if the whole year he would say he wasn’t going to show up for said week, and then would be there. Barca amassed 47pts this year, good enough for 4th overall in the league. A big loss for John George and his team but they have power behind Barca in Tony Bonacorso and Ryan Cleary. They also have a strong defense which we know is anchored by George. Jamie Zelena, Jim Johnston, Tom Cunningham and Ben Bobick also help and make up a very strong and patient team. The Crosby’s biggest story this year that has been a little un-noticed is their rookie, Joey Neutrelle, in between the pipes. Since replacing Dave Gilson who was 6-5 in total wins and losses, Neutrelle had 28 wins and 18 losses and posted a league best 0.56 GAA. Captain John George couldn’t be more impressed with his redheaded, red hot goalie. “
There has been some fire leading up to the Final if some of you have forgotten. Early on in the season Chad Kanz was traded from the Crosby’s to the Thunder, after it was learned that Kanz requested a trade from George. “He said he wanted to be on Amac’s (Andrew McDonald) team because he plays dek with those guys”, George said. “(Kanz) told me we didn’t have a good enough chance at winning the cup for him.” George granted Kanz’s wish and sent him to the Thunder. The trade will have to bite someone back in the butt, conventional wisdom says Kanz. The situation is relative to the NHL back in 2008 when Marian Hossa chose not to re-sign with the Penguins and hop on with Detroit for the same contract offer. Hossa cited the chance to win the Stanley Cup was better with the Red Wings. John George even had this to say back in February:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln4ePjNY-oo  . This is a very personal series for each of these teams and it should be a grueling one as well. As the last 5 Finals did, this Final should go down in FHL history as one of the best with the pending storylines. Let’s hope it gets to a full, five game series that will be talked about for years to come.
 

The Weather Forecast for Saturday (subject to change):
High of 84degrees with some sun and clouds
 

Top Five Scorers Regular Season:
Kanz, Thunder 57pts
Bonacorso, Crosby's 51pts
McDonald, A    Thunder 50pts
Barca, Crosby's 47pts
McDonald, R Thunder 43pts
 

PREDICTIONS:
Adam Cristallini:  CROSBYS IN 4. MVP BONACORSO
Joe Rogers: CROSBYS IN 4. MVP BONACORSO
Dan Campbell: CROSBYS IN 4. MVP NEUTRELLE
Zak Campbell: THUNDER IN 5. MVP A.MCDONALD
Brian Grise: CROSBYS IN 4. MVP GEORGE
Nick Siniawski: THUNDER IN 5. A.MCDONALD
 

FHL FINAL 2012- CROSBYS v. THUNDER
Introduction Ceremony and Anthem 11:00 AM
GAME 1 Face-Off 11:30 AM 
GAME 2 Right After
GAME 3 Right After
GAME 4*
GAME 5*
*-IF NECESSARY

-FHL AWARDS COOK-OUT ANNOUNCEMENT TO FOLLOW IN COMING WEEKS
-TOURNAMENTS TO ANNOUNCED AT AWARDS COOKOUT