NOVEMBER 18-24, 2009 UCW 7
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
There's been a lot of changes
over the summer to Fayetteville
hockey. The FireAntz have welcomed
a slew of new players to the team,
and they have welcomed three new
teams to the league. Even with all
the changes, fans can still expect to a
great season.
"We have brought back 10
players, but at least half of our team
will be new," said Dean Russell, the
vice president of sales and marketing.
"The guys are fi nding their place and
getting to know each other. We got
off to a slow start, but the players feel
that they are coming together."
As the team gels, Russell said
fans can expect to see the hard-
hitting hockey they've come to expect
from the team.
"This should be our year," said
Russell. "Last year we were one
minute and a half away from winning
the championship. The guys really
feel like it's their year."
Leading the team will be
veteran player Rob Sich, who has
started the year in a big way. Sich
leads the league in goals at this
point of the season.
Bryan Bridges will keep the
goal hot again this year. Russell said
Bridges is playing very well, and he
expects him to be key in the FireAntz
success this season.
New faces to watch are Jesse
Biduke, a forward who has been
playing a three game tryout with
the team. Biduke impressed the
coaching staff, and he is expected to
stay in the lineup for the remainder
of the season.
Also new to the lineup is Connor
MacDonald. MacDonald has been
playing in Wichita, Kan., but was
recently released.
"He is a very tough kid," said
Russell. "We were very excited to pick
him up."
The team is going to need the
added power, as they are joined in the
league by three new teams.
"The dynamics of the league have
changed," said Russell. "We have
added three teams that we are calling
the I-10 rivalry. All three teams are
located along Interstate 10."
The teams, located in Mississippi,
Louisiana and Florida, have made
a very noticeable change in the
scheduling for this season. FireAntz
fans will fi nd their team on the road a
lot more; however, they will have more
weekend-long stands and will be in
the community more during the week.
One of the new teams, the
Ice Gators, has a little in common
with Fayetteville — the city shares
our namesake. The Ice Gators
are based in LaFayette, La. In
December, Mayor Tony Chavonne
will issue a challenge to the mayor
of LaFayette during a homestand
here in Fayetteville. The winner of
the best of three will pay up - either
a southern barbecue meal from
Chavonne or a Cajun dinner from
the LaFayette mayor.
"It's all in good fun," said Russell.
For more on the FireAntz, check
out the team's interactive Web site at
www.fi reantzhockey.com. The site
has everything from player stats to
upcoming appearances.
Lenoard G. McLeod Gallery
Rick Kenner
Presented by:
Thursday, Dec. 3
5:30-7 p.m.
in the Corporate Office of
Up and Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St.
Premiere Party
Premiere Party
NEW
EXHIBIT
Complimentary Food and Drinks Will Be Served
5:3
C
o
m
i
ng
Leonard G. McLeod Gallery
Rick Kenner
Heat Up the
Ice and the
Road
JANICE BURTON, Associate Publisher,
COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or
or email editor@upandcomingweekly.com
