PORT HURON, MI – Pro Hockey News was in Michigan this past weekend to cover the Port Huron Prowlers as they completed a three game sweep of the Danbury Titans. It makes for the second time in as many years that a new franchise has won the FHL Commissioner’s Cup, following in the skate tracks of last year’s Watertown Wolves.
Although this is the Prowler’s first season in the FHL, the beautiful and bustling little city at the south end of Lake Huron is ripe with hockey history. Prior to the Prowlers, many minor league teams have come and gone here. PHN interviewed the then newly hired head coach Trevor Karasiewicz last September in the following article:
Dustin Skinner recorded 7 playoff goals with an outstanding .333 shot percentage, and Chris Leveille recorded 10 assists in a diverse offensive effort that proved too much for the Titans, who held first place in the FHL for much of the regular season. Even the Port Huron defense came up with some huge offensive plays; Matt Fuller netting the deciding goal in game two and Jack Callahan grabbing a bouncing puck and going five hole past Alex Vazzano in game one.
“It felt great to give this city a championship after 44 years,” said Callahan. “Anytime you’re the last team standing it’s a very special feeling.” Along with Justin Alonzo and Jr. Harris, Callahan is a former member of the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL. With 38 goals and 59 assists through the post season, Alonzo has the distinction of earning two consecutive championship rings.
It was Port Huron’s defensive effort that proved to be the obstacle too large for Danbury to mount in the Prowlers’ 5-1 post season rout to the cup. Shutting down the momentum on power plays, the combination of blue line effort and extraordinary goaltending choked the Titans out of the opportunities they needed to make anything happen.
“Our D core has quarterbacked the ice throughout the year,” said head coach Trevor Karasiewicz. “My captain Joe Pace has kept them going night in and night out and keeps them focused. All six of them feed off of each other and really make it work.”
“Our guys played amazing hockey all season long,” said Pace. “We battled when we were short guys. In the playoffs we just played smart hockey. It was great to see the guys come together and fill in the roles; even though some didn’t get to play as much as others. But at the end of the day we were all champions and I think we all feel that way.”
Pace was called for a slashing penalty in game 1 of the finals that injured Titan’s center Ryan Patsch and benched Pace for the remainder of the series. As a result, FHL Coach of the Year Phil Esposito brought enforcers to the opening face-off of game 2, clubbing on the Prowlers’ front line from the start and racking up 59 PIMs in the first two seconds of the contest. Esposito was ejected from the game after attempting to shove his way past security to get to Karasiewicz.
“Game one against Danbury was an intense game,” said Pace. “Over the past 3 years Patsch and I have gone head to head many times. I like playing against him; he’s been one of Danbury’s better players since his rookie season. His stick came up and I just reacted. I didn’t want to see him get hurt and I wish him a quick recovery and too see him out there again next season.”
The affair likely gave Port Huron the momentum they needed to shut down Danbury on their home ice. The penalties resulted in an initial 5 on 3, which Port Huron failed to convert, but when the first penalty expired the Prowlers struck twine during the remaining 5 on 4.
“There’s a lot of history between our group of fellas and Danbury,” said Port Huron defenseman Julian Fraser. “It feels like the sweetest revenge I’ve ever had. And I woke up today a champion.”
Much of the credit to Port Huron’s playoff success goes to the goaltending team of Dan McWhinney and Andy DiCristifaro. In an extraordinary performance, both netminders combined for 235 saves with 15 goals against for .940 average. Although DiCristfaro spent most of the season between the posts, McWhinney took over in game 3 for the remainder of the playoffs and was awarded MVP with 163 saves and 9 goals against.
“I knew McWhinney was a playoff big-game goalie,” said Karasiewicz. “I played with him and against him during my playing career, and I knew that when big games were on the line he was the no-brainer choice. Andy played his lights out during the season, but Quinner has the experience and has played in bigger games. I went with my gut and it paid off.”
The Port Huron Prowlers; 2015-2016 Federal Hockey League champions.
Photos courtesy of Anthony & Darci Essmaker
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