Home v. Barons, Saturday January 29th + Rundown

Danbury plays a two game homestand this weekend, tonight against the Barons, and tomorrow against the Aviators for an early 5pm start.

• This morning Danbury signed defenseman Ryan Hughes to a contract. The info I could find says in the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons he played a combined total of 6 games. In the 2003-2004 season he played 49 games for the Knoxville Ice Bears, scoring 5 goals and 17 assists for 22 points. 
• Peter Skoggard was called up this past week to the ECHL, as well as Alex Kirschner, which means that there's no doubt you'll see Nick Niedert in net tonight. 
• The biggest question on a lot of minds is whether or not Danbury can hang onto the fire that Kirschner brought the team. Only one way to find out. 
• A big impact change that was barely publicized is that the playoff entry is now determine based on winning percentage and not earned points. This is due to the Barons' extended hiatus from the league during their move. The effect this has is that Rome is all but guaranteed to be out of the playoffs, leaving Danbury and the Barons fighting for the fourth and final spot.

Akwesasne .711

1000 Islands .662

New York .618

Danbury .514

Cape Cod .479

Rome .310

• This makes the game between the two tonight all the more important. It's also worth nothing that Danbury has 18 games left in the season. Danbury starts an absolutely unheard of 11 game homestand tonight that will carry them through to Friday, February 25th. They then play two road games, one home game, one road game, and close the season with a 3 game homestand on sequential nights. 
• The framework is there for Danbury to make a run and possiby overtake the third place team in the league, but it's all going to come down to how badly they want it. We'll see tonight if they do. 

Until then, have a good one Whalers Fans!

Federal Cup in 2011!!!!!

Blog Get-Together @ Two Steps Tonight! 1/22

Starting at 7pm tonight we'll be getting together at Two Steps to watch the Rangers and Whalers games. All are welcome to stop by for dinner, a drink, or just to talk hockey. 

The updates will pick up again soon; I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Started a new job full time and just finally getting into the swing of things. I'll be taking care of some of my back log starting tomorrow morning. 

A Request For The Fans Tonight v Rome 1/8

Relaying a message for Mike V in 102 to as many people as possible. We need to get that spark back in the team's game, so 5 minutes before puck drop tonight, we are fitting as many fans as possible along the walkway leading to the Whalers entrance to get the team pumped up before they come out. Let's make this as big as we possibly can and keep it thunderous from start all the way to finish. 

Thank you all for the support!

Transactions This Week

Danbury is in Brooklyn tomorrow to face off against the Aviators before they come home this weekend to finish their set with NY on Friday night, and take on Rome Saturday night.

Meanwhile, this week:

We last left off with Guy on IR and Velasquez on leave.

• Rome canned 3 Dmen and a Center on the 4th and has yet to replace them. 
• Danbury traded Alex Hager to the Barons + cash for Tim Recio, a Dman. 
• Dagenais, the FHL's leading scorer (Akwesasne) was recalled by Norway's Oslo Elite on the 4th. He was replaced by new signing Luc Mazerolle, also a right wing. Will be very interesting to see if the Warriors maintain their standings without him. 
• Today, Rome signed Rich Zalewski to fill an open Dman spot, and waived goalie Shane Davis. 
• Tim Recio, Danbury's acquisition in the Hager trade, was recalled by the Augusta Riverhawks of the SPHL today. 

Clearly the mostly impactful among them seems to be the Dagenais signing, and we'll get a glimpse tonight when the Warriors take on Rome.