DEMONS THIS WEEKEND
Tonight: vs. Cape Cod, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday: vs. Cape Cod, 7:35 p.m.
By John Cummings
Contributing Writer
When Dayton Demonz coach Marc LeFebvre saw the Federal Hockey League schedule, he knew his players would have to be road warriors early in the season.
And that meant he would have to make sure he kept “Shawshank Redemption” from getting on the bus.
“I have seen that movie so many times I banish it,” LeFebvre said with a laugh. “We have quite a variety in tastes.”
LeFebvre’s squad, in its inaugural season in the six-team FHL after filling the void created when the Dayton Gems of the Central Hockey League folded, has handled the 12-hour bus rides better than he expected.
Dayton, home tonight and Saturday at Hara Arena for 7:35 p.m. faceoffs with Cape Cod, sits in first place and enter the weekend 6-1-1 despite having played three home games.
“We have a veteran team,” LeFebvre said. “I thought we would need that to get over the tough hurdle of being on the road, and the way they have dealt with it has been real impressive.”
LeFebvre thought his squad had a chance to be one of the top teams in the league, but the start has even surprised him. The Demonz have a five-point lead on second place 1000 Islands.
“I felt we were one of the top two or three teams in the league,” LeFebvre said. “I thought we had a chance to be good, but I didn’t really expect this, not with six of our first seven on the road.”
Dayton’s secret has been a deep lineup, something that injuries and call-ups can mess with throughout the season. LeFebvre, however, is looking forward to the latter.
“Call-ups happen all the time,” he said. “The more players we have called up the better. It shows that we are doing something right.”
Topping the leaderboard: The Demonz have three of the top four FHL scorers as well as the top goaltender.
Brayden Metz leads the league with 19 points (10 goals, nine assists through nine games) while Jason Hill is right behind him with 16 (7 goals, 9 assist). Mike Hoban is fourth with eight goals and six assists for 14 points.
“I expected Brayden to be among the top scorers in the league this year,” LeFebvre said. “We are getting scoring from some unexpected guys. Some of the guys started out slow, but they are finding their way.”
Goaltender Jeff Rose leads the league with a 2.00 goals-against average.
Turnstiles spinning: The Demonz rank third in attendance in the FHL, averaging 1,126 fans through three games. Danbury leads at 2,111 through four games.
“We are a blue-collar hockey team and this is a blue-collar town,” LeFebvre said. “The fans have been great. They have been loud and into the game; they like our brand of hockey.”
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