A little summary of this weekends activities:

Delco Demons

The  Delco Demons have come firing out of the gate to defend their Elite Division Championship.  The Demons are the only undefeated team after the first week with a 6-0 record.  Delco’s highlight wins included victories over the NJ Alliance 6-3 who they beat in their division finals last year and the Empire State Legends 5-1 who they defeated in the Conference Finals.  Delco has returned former player Kevin Keene to the lineup this year as he looks to help Delco repeat on last years championship as well as his 2013 crown!  Led by defenseman Shane Fox with 21 points in his first 6 games is there anyone who is going to stop the Demons this year.

NJ Alliance

The NJ Alliance was selected as a potential favorite to make it to the National Finals this year and they made a statement to everyone that they plan on being there.  Picking up veteran AIHL players Gene Gsell and Mike Campanaro they look to add to their already studly lineup including PJ DiMartino and Anthony Koslow.   PJ helped lead the team to 4 victories with his 17 points.

Philadelphia Liberty

Newcomer to the Elite division Nick Popoff led the Philadelphia Liberty in scoring.  Last years Atlantic division Minor scoring leader put up 16 points and helped the Liberty secure 4 wins against some very stiff competition.  They started the season off playing the very first game against a 495ers team who is in a rebuilding phase and got the W with 3 seconds remaining on the clock with an unassisted goal scored by Shane Brennan.

Long Island 495ers

Jonathan Mosenson has decided to retool the 495ers after 2 years of not making it to the National Finals after they won.  He has gotten a new coach in Kenny Halverson and replaced some veterans with young up and comers. Though the record of 3-3 was not exactly what they were looking for Jon knows that there is plenty of season ahead to get them going.  Their highlight of the weekend was beating the NJ Alliance 2-1.

Empire State Legends

Led by last years New England Division Scoring Leader Jim Mcgrath and his legendary beard the Legends stumbled through the first weekend with a 3-2 and record.  As personnel was limited over some games this weekend the Legends look to build off their 3 W’s and are looked at as having a great opportunity to return to the National Finals.

Hartford Fireants

The Hartford Fireants have gone almost full blown Maple Leaf this year adding more Canadian players to their roster.  General Manager and Coach Jim Miller was heard singing “Oh Canada” late Sunday afternoon as he was able to salvage the weekend with his 2nd win in a tightly contested contest against the newcomers Long Island Bulldogs.

NJ Grizzlies

Led by veteran Chris Wolf the Grizzlies look to rebuild their program from the ground up this year.  Bringing former veteran Ryan Hazlett (Scorchers, Liberty) out of retirement and putting legendary coach Denis Jelcic on the bench the team looks to return to its glory days from a few years ago when they were one of the toughest opponent anybody had on their schedule.

Long Island Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are a new team with some older roller hockey faces resurfacing from the past. Led by coach Brian Benedetto the Bulldogs took a few lumps their first weekends but by their last game finally showed to be the team everyone expected them to be.  They lost a tightly contested  game to the Hartford Fireants but showed great promise for them as they were able to light the lamp 8 times.   A lot of their players are former minor division players who have made the jump to the much tougher elite level.  If there is anyone who can turn these guys into a top contender it is coach Benedetto.  Watch out for this team as they will be a sleeper that most will overlook.

The first festival is in the books and it was a very eventful weekend at ISCA.  Stay tuned next week as the Minor Tier 1 Division for the Eastern division opens their season at ISCA as well and the Pacific South Elite and Minors get started with their season at the Ducks Irvine Inline.  Stay tuned as the Alpo will be getting dished out every couple weeks.

Pucky McSlapshot

AIHL Roving Reporter