Aviators look to land FHL crown

BROOKLYN, NY – Hockey fans who frequent Floyd Bennett Field could be forgiven if they are a bit skeptical. After all, they have seen two different leagues ice teams in successive years only to be gone as quickly as they entered.
Rob Miller feels the fans’ anguish. He also hopes the third time around will be the charm.
As Head Coach of the New York Aviators of the newly founded Federal Hockey League, Miller’s job is to put a competitive team on the ice and win a championship. He’s also had to be the reassuring voice among the masses who wonder if the FHL has the backing to stay around for more than a season.
“It looks like more of a brighter situation than the other leagues,” Miller said of the latest single-A venture in the northeast region.
Miller was a player/assistant coach and captain of the Brooklyn Aces of the Eastern Professional Hockey League which played during the 2008-09 season. When that league folded, the Aces, under new ownership, became the Aviators in the NEPHL. Miller put away the skates and became the Aviators’ coach. The NEPHL collapsed in mid-January, leaving the Aviators to join the FHL which had been announced a month earlier.
Now Miller begins what he anticipates will be his first full season behind the bench. While his plans for the future include coaching at a higher level, his focus now is clearly on the Aviators.
“I need to take care of what needs to be taken care of here,” he said.
The first task for Miller was to assemble his team. In concert with general manager Mark Richards (who left the Aviators on October 22 to become the G.M. of the SPHL’s Augusta RiverHawks), Miller

devised a plan to field a roster with tough, hard-nosed players mixed with scoring talent.
“I need guys that can play hockey and defend themselves,” Miller said of the players he was recruiting.
Richards’ influence – and to an extent that of the other two single-A leagues (SPHL and AAHL) – can be seen all over the opening night roster. When the Aviators took the ice in Danbury, CT against the Whalers on October 29th, Miller’s starting goalie was Kevin Druce, who played for Richards with the SPHL Twin City Cyclones along with new Aviators Matt Puntureri and Stephen Obelnicki. Two defensemen, Andrew Scampoli and CJ Schneider , spent time in the AAHL a year ago with league champion Evansville.
Miller also rewarded some of his troops from last season with well-earned roster spots. Forwards Jesse Felten, John Goffredo, Chris Holmes and Angelo Serseare all back for a second year in an Aviators jersey. Defensemen Dan Capizzuto and KC Timmons have also returned to Brooklyn for another go.
Miller said that the blend of new and old will also be an asset in the locker room where chemistry is a key.
“I won’t keep any guys that aren’t good locker room guys,” he said.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Aviators and the rest of the teams is the aggressive schedule of 60 games in 20 weeks. With back-to-back games just about every weekend and bus travel thrown in, Miller acknowledged that keeping players healthy could be an issue. Still, with the league trying to establish itself in a metro area that is loaded with top flight competition (NHL, NBA and NFL), the coach feels it is important to have as many opportunities to show off the fan-friendly atmosphere and affordable pricing that the FHL offers.
“It’s the luck of the draw,” Miller said about the possibility of injuries. “There is more opportunity to make more money if there are more games at home.”
Miller said that he expects that the on-ice product in the FHL to be exciting and competitive as each team tries to put its best squad out on the ice. He said that his Aviators should bring lots of action and goals to the table for the fans to enjoy.
That assessment will be tested right away as they start off with seven consecutive road games before finally returning to Bennett Field and the Aviator Sports and Events Center on November 12 for the home opener against the Broome County Barons. With promotional nights such as Law Enforcement, Military and Firefighter Appreciation nights, Pink in the Rink night benefiting breast cancer awareness and others planned, the Aviators expect the fans to have plenty of reasons to come to games.
And if Miller makes good on his goal with the team, the fans may get to enjoy a first class flight to a championship.
Contact the author at susan.erichsen@prohockeynews.com