Flying high with the Falcons - Junior Hockey News

Published: Monday, 30 Apr 2012

By: Randy Russon

It's one of the best junior hockey stories in years and there's still another chapter to be written.

The outhouse to penthouse rise of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons is a stirring saga of a second-year North American Hockey League franchise.

Port Huron's 2010-11 debut in the NAHL was a rather-forgettable one.

The Fighting Falcons won just 6 of 58 regular-season games and had the worst record of any team in the 5-division NAHL.

But what a difference a year can make.

In a dramatic turnaround, the Fighting Falcons won 38 of 60 regular-season games to finish atop the NAHL's North Division for the 2011-12 campaign. Port Huron has since upended the Michigan Warriors and Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings in the first and second rounds of the playoffs to advance to the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament.

Remarkably, Port Huron's 6 playoff victories this spring match their regular-season win total of a year ago.

And now, the Fighting Falcons are one of 6 of the NAHL's 28 teams that will still be playing hockey when Robertson Cup action begins on Thursday.

Joining Port Huron at the Robertson Cup playdowns, which will be held in Frisco, Tex., are fellow division champions St. Louis Bandits (Midwest), Bismarck Bobcats (Central), Amarillo Bulls (South) and Fairbanks IceDogs (West) along with the Texas Tornado, which is the host entry.

Fighting Falcons coach/general manager Bill Warren, who took over in Port Huron midway through the 2010-11 season, acknowledged that his team's ascent from also-rans to Roberston Cup competitors "has been a helluva ride. Looking back to a year ago, I don't think many of us expected this."

A thorough team that has balance from goaltending to defense to offense, close to half of the Fighting Falcons roster is the result of trades made by Warren. And while there are seasoned performers aplenty, there are rookies who have contributed in big ways, including forward Brett D'Andrea, defenceman Alex Archibald and goalie Max Milosek.

D'Andrea and Archibald, who both have 1994 birth dates, are Ontario Hockey League draft picks of the Soo Greyhounds.

Milosek, a 1993 birth year, has teamed with 1991 birth year vet Peter Megariotis to give the Fighting Falcons a twine-tending tandem that is tried, tested and tough to beat.

Then there's forward Easton Powers, who spent a productive 2010-11 season with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

Powers, a 1992 birth year who tallied 16 goals in 49 regular-season games with Blind River in 2010-11, lit the lamp 15 times in 57 regular-season contests with Port Huron in 2011-12. And in 8 playoff games this spring, Powers picked up 8 points, including 2 goals.

Also worth noting has been the playoff production of 1991 birth year forward Mike Moroso.

Moroso, who netted 14 goals in 56 regular-season games, scored 5 times in the 8 playoff tilts.

Going into the 6-team Robertson Cup, the Fighting Falcons are the fifth-seeded team based on regular-season points. But keeping in mind how far this team has come and how obviously determined it has been, betting against the Fighting Falcons may not be a wise gamble.

Off to Texas go the Fighting Falcons, from oblivion to ovation in the space of a year.

Author: Randy Russon

Russon brings a a lifetime of media experience to the JuniorHockey.com staff.

View all articles by Randy Russon

Email Randy Russon

Discuss:

posted Apr. 30th, 2012 - 1:21pm

John Trenchard says:

This is a "good story" by Randy on what is the "best story" of the year in the N.A.H.L. and perhaps all of Junior Hockey.
Go get 'em Coach Warren & the Fighting Falcons !!!

posted Apr. 30th, 2012 - 9:13pm

Randy Russon says:

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has released the schedule for the 2012 Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament, which will be played from May 3-8 at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.

The six qualifying teams were broken into two pools, with each team from Pool A crossing over to play each team in Pool B and vice-versa. Pool A features the #1 seed Amarillo Bulls, #3 seed St. Louis Bandits, and #5 seed Port Huron Fighting Falcons, while the #2 seed Bismarck Bobcats, #4 seed Fairbanks Ice Dogs, and #6 seed Texas Tornado will be playing out of Pool B.
The seeding was based upon the respective teams’ regular season record. The Tornado received the 6th seed because they did not win their divisional playoff title as the other five did.

Pool A
#1 Amarillo Bulls (South Champion)
#3 St. Louis Bandits (Midwest Champion)
#5 Port Huron Fighting Falcons (North Champion)

Pool B
#2 Bismarck Bobcats (Central Champion)
#4 Fairbanks Ice Dogs (West Champion)
#6 Texas Tornado (host)

Robertson Cup Schedule (all times central)
May 3-Fairbanks vs. St. Louis, 12:30pm; Port Huron vs. Bismarck, 3:30pm; Texas vs. Amarillo, 7:30pm
May 4-St. Louis vs. Bismarck, 12:30pm; Fairbanks vs. Amarillo, 3:30pm; Texas vs. Port Huron, 7:30pm
May 5-Bismarck vs. Amarillo, 12:30pm; Port Huron vs. Fairbanks, 3:30pm; Texas vs. St. Louis, 7:30pm
May 6-(No Games) NAHL Banquet of Champions, Cocktails at 6:00pm, Dinner at 7:00pm
May 7-Semi-Finals; A1 vs. A2, 3:30pm; B1 vs. B2, 7:30pm
May 8-National Championship Game, 7:30pm

All overtime Robertson Cup games, including those played during pool play, will be played using Sudden Death format. If the score is tied after three periods, the teams will go to their respective dressing rooms while the ice is resurfaced for a 20-minute overtime period. This process will repeat until a goal is scored.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the semifinal round, to be played Monday May 7th. However, should all three teams in one pool go 3-0 in the round-robin, all teams from that pool will advance to the semi-finals. The team with the best goal differential in the opposite pool will also move on to the semi-finals. Similarly, if all three teams from one pool go 2-1, the same rules apply. Goal differential will be used as the first tiebreaker, while goal quotient will be used as the second tiebreaker. By dividing goals scored by goals allowed, positions will be determined based on the highest quotient.

All tournament games can be viewed live over the Internet through FASTHockey.com.

posted May. 1st, 2012 - 9:41am

Derek McPherson says:

Great Article!

posted May. 1st, 2012 - 10:33am

Randy Russon says:

Derek,

Thank you.

Regards,

RR

posted May. 1st, 2012 - 2:23pm

Hurd Applegate says:

RR - excelent work as usual & hoping to read more about the new Elliott Lake Bobcats of the N.O.J.H.L.

posted May. 1st, 2012 - 5:48pm

Randy Russon says:

Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings Press Release

APPLEYARD HONORED
Named to NAHL All Rookie Team

Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, proud members of the North American Hockey League, announce that defenseman Anthony Appleyard has been named to the NAHL’s All Rookie First Team.

After playing AAA last season with the Chicago Fury 18U team, Appleyard quickly made a seamless transition to hockey at the Junior A level.

The Indian Head Park, Illinois native was one of four Jr. K-Wings who appeared in 60 games during the regular season. He lead all Kalamazoo Defensemen with 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists), while he also lead the entire North Division with his +32 rating. His best single game performance came on December 18th against the Michigan Warriors, when he posted two goals, one assist and was a +6.

The nineteen year old skated in eight games during the postseason and raked up an assist during Kalamazoo’s North Divisional Final run.

Appleyard was the only member of the North Division to make the leagues All Rookie First Team, as he joins Frank Dichiara (St. Louis), Gage Christianson (Alaska), Brandon Bradley (Fresno), Garrett Cecere (Janesville), and Connor Hellebuyck (Odessa).

posted May. 2nd, 2012 - 5:25pm

Randy Russon says:

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE, MEDIA RELEASE

NAHL announces 2011-12 All-Division Teams

FRISCO, TEXAS -- The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its All-Division teams for the 2011-12 season. The teams represent the five divisions in the NAHL: Central, Midwest, North, South and West Divisions, as selected by the league’s coaches and general managers.

Central Division
Forward: Charlie Adams, Austin Bruins
Forward: Cory Ward, Aberdeen Wings
Forward: Castan Sommer, Bismarck Bobcats
Defenseman: Christian Folin, Austin Bruins
Defenseman: Bryce Anderson, Bismarck Bobcats
Goaltender: Jacob Meyers, Alexandria Blizzard

Midwest Division
Forward: Joe Kalisz, St. Louis Bandits
Forward: Kyle Cook, Springfield Jr. Blues
Forward: Joe Birmingham, St. Louis Bandits
Defenseman: Garrett Cecere, Janesville Jets
Defenseman: Eric Drapluk, Coulee Region Chill
Goaltender: Tony Kujava, Janesville Jets

North Division
Forward: Andrew Graves, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
Forward: Sean Murphy, Traverse City North Stars
Forward: Ian Miller, Port Huron Fighting Falcons
Defenseman: Nolan Valleau, Port Huron Fighting Falcons
Defenseman: Anthony Appleyard, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
Goaltender: Kyle Laslo, Traverse City North Stars

South Division
Forward: Jack Prince, Texas Tornado
Forward: Brooks Behling, Amarillo Bulls
Forward: Brian Christie, Topeka RoadRunners
Defenseman: John Rey, Amarillo Bulls
Defenseman: Karl Beckman, Amarillo Bulls
Goaltender: Connor Hellebuyck, Odessa Jackalopes

West Division
Forward: Gabe Levin, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Forward: Brett Lubanski, Kenai River Brown Bears
Forward: JT Osborn, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Defenseman: Sean O’Rourke, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Defenseman: Joe Schmitz, Alaska Avalanche
Goaltender: Robert Nichols, Wenatchee Wild

The All-NAHL Team, All-Rookie Team, Forward of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Brian’s Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, General Manager of the Year and Organization of the Year, along with the Academic Achievement Award, Gongshow Lifestyle Community Service Award and Mark Messier Leadership Award winners, will be announced on May 6th and 7th.

Don't have a Facebook account?

Log in with your JuniorHockey.com account »

New visitors: Click here to create your JuniorHockey.com account »

( we'll bring you back here when you're finished! )

Back to Junior Hockey News

* Article disclaimer: This site may contain advice, opinions and statements from various authors and information providers. Views expressed in this article reflect the personal opinion of the author, Randy Russon, and not necessarily the views of JuniorHockey.com. JuniorHockey.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other info provided in the article, or from any other member of this site.