i-Slam Hockey proudly announces the return of the Tier-1
Division for the 2019 Fall Season. Registration link is at the bottom of the
page.
Heading into the final week of the season, the playoff
matchups are set in stone.
Sabr (1) VS Ihsan (4)
Haya(2) VS Yaqeen (3)
The team in yellow, Sabr, has looked simply unstoppable this
season. Boasting the best goalie, the best defence and the best offence. GM Arslan
Mian has to be praised for his noteworthy choice of picking Omar Husain
1st Overall over Yusuf Ingar. Omar Husain has been nothing short
of spectacular as he picked up yet another multi point performance, including a
beautiful snipe set up by Arslan. These two have become unstoppable when
playing together. Although the offence is elite, the bread and butter of this
team is on the defensive side. Farhan Saleh and Umar Mahmood, Vasim
Kagzi and rookie Syed Talha Iftikhar helped limit the opposition to
a measly 6 shots. Over the past few games the opposition is averaging 10 shots
on goal. Goalie Ahmad Mobin had another easy night picking up his 2nd
shutout of the season. This team looks good heading into the playoffs. They
should cruise easily into the finals.
Attendance issues. Injury issues. Ihsan has been decimated
with the lack of attendance. The whole offence was nowhere to be seen last
week. Ammal and Ajmal Esmatyar, Yusuf Ingar, Abraar
Gangat, all missing in action. This team desperately needs them back.
Another loss that could have been avoided had the big guns simply had shown up.
Imran Alvi, has done his part in keeping the squad competitive, but this
team needs some sort of momentum heading into the big playoff game against
Sabr. Barring a miracle, this team is doomed. They will be the basement
dwellers of this season and will be knocked out in next weeks playoff game.
With the GM gone, it looks like the spark of the team has
also gone. With Mo Hamoudi missing in action, Yaqeen looked to have lost
a step last week. Failing to score and losing 2-0 to the surging Haya. The team
has also not put up a goal in 2 games. Half of the team goals have come from
Hamoudi and Ali Murtaza. Not much needs to be said except to get more
shots on net from everyone. The defensive core is strong, but it needs to be
scoring. EBP, who played a pivotal role in the 2018 Fall playoffs has to
play up to that same potential and start putting some in to the net. Veterans Ahmad
Ibrahim and Azim Siddique have been a great source of secondary
scoring and the team will look to them to get those gritty, ugly goals. Goalie Yasir
Hussain has been quietly put up a fine season with a 2.00 GAA. After coming
oh soo close to winning the championship last season, look for Yasir be on his
tip toes and deliver another top notch performance heading into the playoffs.
The only team that looks like it can hang with Sabr. Haya
has reversed its fortunes with the timely addition of Farooq Sani. Sani
earned the 2nd star of the week and notched 2 assists. This is what
he does and that is make everyone around him better. This team now has a solid
first line to go along with a speedy second line consisting of the feisty Ubaid
Khan, Rizwan Malik and Ali Haroon. Although this team still
has holes, mainly on defense. The offense will carry this team deep into the
playoffs. But the defence is where this team has BIG question marks. Omar
Essawi has established himself as a premier defenceman who can also score,
but beyond him, there is no standout defenceman. Umer Buksh, Imran Lakhanpal
and Basit Sheikh look out of position and should be playing on the
offensive side of things. Unless Farooq or Dawood drop back to defence, this
team will always be susceptible to get out hustled. Rumblings are that this
team will be shorthanded heading into the final game.
Erfan Bhanapatel, who had 5 goals and 4 assists last
season looks to have lost his scoring touch this season. But perhaps his
presence is all that is needed to guide Yaqeen into the finals. As EBP has been
to the finals each of the past 2 seasons. Erfan needs to get his big shot back
in order for the playoffs.
Arslan Mian and Omar Husain have been a nice
combo this season as the pair have been near unstoppable this season, making
play after play. Early MVP favorites as these two are now #1 and #2 in points.
A strong showing to the end of the season and into the playoffs will help their
cases as these two players look to make the big jump into Tier-1 next season.
The Regular Season Points champion race looks to be about
the only race that uncertainty lies. #1-#8 seeds are separated by 1 Point. This
week will decide it.
3 Burning Questions of the Week:
1)
Wil Ahmad Mobin get his third straight shutout
of the season???
2)
Do Arslan Mian and Omar Husain continue their
offensive show in the final leg of the MVP race? Who will win the Regular
Season MVP?
3)
Is this the game where Mr Playoffs, EBP uses his
big shot to score a goal? Or will he have a scoreless season for the first time
in his career?
2019 FALL SEASON REGISTRATION: https://mailchi.mp/9db3360c728e/bzro5svplm-3018201?e=0edff7ee63
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