Welcome to the latest edition of Federal Offenses, my semi-weekly recap of the insane asylum known as the Federal Prospects Hockey League. As we enter the final weekend of the regular season, all but one playoff spot has been clinched.
Elmira and Watertown are still fighting it out in the Empire Division. The River Sharks hold a slim 2 point lead over Watertown and with the unconventional points system, where you get 3 points for a regulation win, means anything can happen. Elmira ends their regular season Saturday when they travel to Binghamton, where they will know what they must do to secure a playoff berth. Watertown travels to Wytheville to face the Blue Ridge Bobcats. If Watertown wins in regulation Friday, they will control their own destiny, but if they go to overtime, even winning in overtime, they will have no control over their fate as you only get 2 points for an OT win and Elmira would own the tie breaker. Watertown literally needs to sweep Blue Ridge and Elmira to lose to Binghamton in order to make the playoffs. I predict just that, Binghamton will take care of business Saturday and Watertown will take 5 of the 6 available points.
The rest of the playoff picture is pretty clear. Matchups are set, just not the seeding in the Empire Division, as Motor City will face Danbury in Round 2, but who gets home ice? The Rockers only lead Danbury by 2 points, but the Hat Tricks close their season Friday hosting Binghamton while Motor City closes with a home in home against their in state rival Port Huron Prowlers. I predict Danbury beating Binghamton and Port Huron sweeping Motor City, but I feel one will take overtime giving the Rockers the tie breaker and the #2 seed. Bingham has had the division wrapped up for a while, they will face either Watertown or Elmira, 
In the Continental Division, everything is settled. Columbus ended up running away with the division and locking up the best record in the league. They get Mississippi in the opening round as the Sea Wolves secured their first playoff berth. Even though Carolina didn’t run away with the division, they didn’t have much trouble locking up the #2 seed where they will face off with the Port Huron Prowlers. Port Huron has a solid season easily locking up the third seed. Unfortunately their reward is the always tough Thunderbirds.
Next week I’ll give a thorough predictions after the seedings are decided, but the Continental Division is easy to choose, a rematch between Columbus and Carolina. The Empire Division is a little tougher to choose. Binghamton will make the Division Finals, their opponent is too tough to call right now.
Now it’s time for my weekly rant.
This week, I want to talk about the dumpster fire that appears to be the Watertown Wolves. Recently, two of their owners were arrested for DWI. March 16th, Tyler Weese was charged with Aggravated DWI for blowing a 0.31. Just over a week earlier on March 7th, Ashley Skanlin was arrested for aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle. In New York, under Leandra’s Law, that is a felony and misdemeanor Child Endangerment. While the off the ice issues are bad enough, on the ice actions gave the once proud franchise another black eye. Friday night with Watertown is getting blown out by Elmira, off the faceoff Justin Schmit squared off with Jake Schultz, a fair fight between two respected tough guys. But, Joshua Tomasi and Dakota Seaman decide to sucker punch two Elmira players with Seaman literally dragging Steven Klinck across the ice. Now, I love a good hockey fight like everyone else, but there is no place in the game for this. While I have been critical of the league’s disciplinary style, the blind squirrel may have finally found the nut. Tomasi was suspended 4 games, but Seaman got 11 games essentially ending his season. Head Coach Brian Verbeek was also hit with a 4 game ban.
Retired FPHL legend Justin Coachman who won a pair of Championships with Watertown didn’t hold back his opinion on the events, “I played a game that maybe crossed the line every so often, I’ve been a part of my fair share of craziness in this league, but I played tough within the game. I knew when was right and when was wrong and I never hit someone who was vulnerable.” Coachman continued, “I mean come on. Down 6-1 and Tomasi jumps the center and Seaman thinking he’s tough again with that sucker punch(on Klinck), what a joke. Seaman is only tough when there’s no one tough around him. Tomasi is lucky he didn’t play a few years ago, he would get killed for that. Then (Tate) Leason acting tough behind the glass, let’s remind him that when it’s time to answer the bell he doesn’t do so hot. And you have Verbeek on the bench waving goodbye. You’re down 6-1. Your guys jumped them. You’re a joke. Organization is a joke. Classless hockey from a classless team.”
This coming from someone who proudly wore their jersey for 4 seasons winning 2 Championships. If anything defines the epic collapse of the Watertown Wolves, it’s Justin’s comments. Between the off ice allegations and actions of the ownership and the on ice antics shown last weekend, it may be time for the league to step in before the once proud franchise sinks too deep to be saved.
Editor’s Note – This is a day late for no other reason than a slow old editor.
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