Fall Previews - Week Eleven - December 18th

Emaan vs Ihsan

The orange shirts gained an appreciable amount of traction during the second half of the regular season and will relay that momentum this Friday night. Presently unbeaten in 4 and not losing to Ihsan in their prior matches, Emaan can't take the red shirts delicately. Ihsan may have suffered numerous blows but brandish many "textbook" type of players to garner success. Emaan offensive triumph (2nd best) pays dividends against a team who've strained to score. Will Emaan be able to sustain Ihsan's snappy forwards? Can Yousuf Soliman's team find the path to the semis?

Reeling off their jolting 3-2 win over Ikhlas, the red shirts feasted off their opponent's errors and tolerated Ikhlas's final minute push. A timely win for Ihsan might've been what the doctor prescribed, but now a tall order in Emaan awaits them for a one game wonder. Despite a dismal regular season, Coach K's seasoned core is made for the playoffs. The mix of youth and veteran presence on the team should tame Emaan's soldiers. Fill-in netminder Sameer Subedar will have his hands full against the Soliman's and company. Will Ihsan be able make it to the next round?

Burning Questions?

Which team will advance to the next round?

Player To Watch?
Osama Soliman's returned back to the ball hockey circuit was well timed. Osama sits perched on the team stats and has been a primary point producer.

Who's Hot?
Humza Chaudhry played big minutes for his team last week and has been the lad with the lucky hands. Chaudhry has 6 points in his last 3 games.

Haya vs Sabr

There's no room for blunders when it boils down to the playoffs. For Haya, it's about maintaining cooler tempers and playing disciplined ball hockey. The grey shirts had numerous defensive lapses and appeared perplexed during many occasions last week in a 4-1 trouncing from Shukr. Versus Sabr, a team they've recycled marginally, Haya must mercilessly expose the teele shirts measured defence. Salman Khalid and Nadeem Qureshi will be expected to pull up their sleeves while Haya's offence tries to rev up a scoreless Salman Syed. Can Haya walk in the sunset as winners? 

Sabr's plunge in the abyss has been a lengthy one. The lack of players and foolish penalties have been some avenues to this team's stature on the standings. Huzaifa Manjara's squad has a ghastly record that has everyone shrieking and many doubling down on this week's fate. The teele shirts have one last chance to resurrect this team's integrity when they face Haya. Ahmad Hathout will surely lead the charge but will need some secondary support from Tariq Hathout and Saqib Khokhar. D-man Luqman Arshad and the Siddiqui's need to eclipse the opposition with their defensive attendance. Can Sabr pull off the inevitable?

Burning Questions?

Which team will advance to the next round?

Player To Watch?
Luqman Arshad will need to enter "beast-mode". The rugged defenceman has been through thick and thin for his tribe and will thwart any Haya's players.

Who's Hot?
Based on both team's previous game, no one.

Fall Previews - Week Ten - December 11th

Haya vs Shukr

Haya has one last chance to acquire the final "guest pass" to the semi's, but that hope is also contingent on Ikhlas's outcome. Will the stars align for the grey shirts this Friday? Last week Haya got beat like a rented mule in a 5-1 downpour and now conclude their regular season against Shukr. Haya previously lost to Shukr by a 3-0 score and will anticipate some vengeance this week. Team grey's defence was riddled with sloppiness but more surprising has been the poverty in the offensive department (2nd last in league). Can Haya thwart Shukr's offensive cohort?

Shukr took full advantage of a yawning net and laughingly worked on widening their goal differential. The blue shirts beat a handicapped Ihsan team by a healthy 9-2 score and clinched first place. Naeem Akhtar, Aazar Zafar and Abdu Sharkawy plus a handful of other players, to no surprise, attributed to the win. However, it's all about this week? Can Shukr ride their hot streak and finish unbeaten in ten? Haya has been 4-1-0 in their last five and might've had a bad game last week, but don't count them out. Will Shukr be able to tame Haya's hunger for the final "bye" spot?

Burning Questions?

Astonishingly Salman Syed has yet to score. Can he make it happen this week?

Player To Watch:

Shabil Ahmed is a player that will be on Haya's watch. Ahmad brings an incredible amount of hustle and scoring prowess. 

Who's Hot?

Their were a handful of players that lit the empty net, but if I had to chose one then I'd say Aazar Zafar. Zafar had a solid 4 point night and has consistently been an asset to Shukr. 

Ikhlas vs Ihsan

Ikhlas's been riding some rough terrains lately and are yearning to reclaim their winning tempo. The green shirts were defeated narrowly by Sabr and are losers of two straight. Ikhlas's back end been is sufficient, but at times vulnerable, refraining from irrational penalties would be a ginarmous benefit. Waqar Khan needs to get into his game and lead this clan heading into the playoffs. A win/tie secures a "bye" right into the finals. Indeed this will be a valuable 30 minutes for Ikhlas to seal the deal. Will the green shirts be able to halt their little losing slide?

We feel for Ihsan. The red shirts were minus many pivotal players and had no options but to entertain Shukr with no goalie. The result wasn't as what you'd expect, let's just say Shukr was on them like a dog on a bone. On deck is Ikhlas, Ihsan previously lost to Ikhlas in a 2-1 thriller and require all the legs they can to play with a vengeance. Youngsters Humza Chaudhry and Arsalan Mian will give their team 110% effort in challenging Ikhlas's backend. Can Ikhlas reorient their track before the post-season? Can Coach K put this team back on the winning map?

Burning Questions?
Which team will exit their losing auras?

Player To Watch:
Expect Humza Chaudhry to log heavy minutes. The talented young forward is tied in first on his team's stats.

Who's Hot?
Farrukh Khan is getting it done. Despite his team falling short, Khan seized a 2 point night and will need to heighten his game versus Ihsan.

Emaan vs Sabr

GM Yousuf Soliman's squad took advantage of Haya's abbreviated roster and sent the grey shirts for a heck of a roller coaster ride. The credible 5-1 win plants Emaan in a three game unbeaten streak with Sabr awaiting for a rematch. Abdul-Rahman Buttar, Yousuf Soliman and Osama Soliman were packing up points like it's no one's business while bored netminder Sadiq Rehman refused a mere nine shots last week. Sabr may be deprived in many areas but their forwards can hustle and will give Emaan a run for their money. Will Sabr's defence be able to subdue Ahmad Hathout and company?

Despite being beaten by every team at least once, Sabr finally turned a new leaf and managed to stave off Ikhlas in a 3-2 upset win. Have the offensive floodgates opened for Sabr? We're all aware the Ahmad Hathout has been the posterboy for the teele shirts but Saqib Khokhar and Hanif Kasuji need to continue their supporting roles for a better fate against Emaan. Can brothers Farhan and Kamran Siddiqui neutralize the speed of the Soliman's? A win for Sabr makes a huge impact morally but hardly dents the standings. Will a big win over Emaan resonate to a bigger picture for Sabr?

Burning Questions?
Is Sabr the real deal? 

Player To Watch:
Ever since his acquisition, the speedy Tariq Hathout has been a welcoming addition to the tribe. 

Who's Hot?

Abdur-Rahman Buttar continues his offensive plague against rival teams. The young gaffer picked up a 3 point night last week.

Fall Previews - Week Nine - December 4th

Ihsan vs Shukr

Are happy days resurrecting for Ihsan? The red shirts pulled all the rabbits outta the hat last game and finally struck a chord with 1.6 seconds remaining only to acquire a 2-2 tie. The theatrical finish of rallying back from a two goal deficit speaks volumes for Coach K's cadets. Ihsan has some positive momentum to work and needs to shatter their winless streak badly. Can Ihsan win this rematch? The young bloods, Arsalan Mian & Humza Chadhry have been the pulse for this team and must provide that needed hustle. Is Ihsan due for win after tying Shukr?

The Shukr gang left the arena with a losing ambience and buckled with mere seconds wilting away on the clock. Shukr failed to seal the deal on a two goal cushion and hasn't won a game in their last two outings. Despite tying their recent games, the blue shirts failure to close games has been exemplified last game. Aazar Zafar and Mehmed Rizwanovic will need to be dreadfully utilized while Naeem Akhtar needs to go beast mode and lead the charge. Netminder Yusuf Kapoor has managed to keep his team's first place stature glimmering week to week and has to shut down Ihsan. 

Burning Questions?

Can Naeem Akhtar's team get back in the win column?

Player To Watch:

Atif Mian has been an offensive threat and has to find a way to get back onto the scoresheet.

Who's Hot?

Arsalan Mian hit the twine twice and has proven that he's an instrumental player for Ihsan.

Sabr vs Ikhlas

It seems like nothing has reformed with Sabr. The squad suffers from demise each week and needs to start taking things gravely. How long can this rough patch continue? The teele shirts lost their third consecutive game and have allowed 15 goals within that term. Some one has gotta pickup the slack here. Ahmad Hathout and Luqman Arshad continue to be the saving grace while goaltender Zaid Majoo eight games in is still trying to discover himself. There are no parallels between Sabr and Ikhlas. This might be a washout for Sabr, unless Sabr can surprise us. 

Ikhlas faced a crack in the armour and lost to a gung-ho team in Haya. Despite missing some pivotal players last game, the green shirts played their hearts out and lost a marginal game. Guess what though. Ikhlas gets to take Sabr for a joyride this week! This win is over Sabr is on the house! Oops, shouldn't have said that. Regardless, watch Ikhlas permeate through Sabr's porous offence and dance around Sabr's brittle defence. Nadeem Faqiri continues to impress while netminder Kaunain Saiyed has appeared to find his rhythm. Can Farrukh Khan barricade Ahmad Hathout? Will Ikhlas be able to revive to their winning ways? 

Burning Questions?

Can Sabr put up a challenge against Ikhlas?

Player To Watch:

Saqib Khokhar has been around the block in i-Slam and is huge contributor to Sabr's offensive cohort.

Who's Hot?
I'll say it again. Nadeem Faqiri. He may not have the quickest pace but he can finish when he gets the ball.

Haya vs Emaan

"What's hotter than Frankie's Hot Sauce?" Haya is, well at least for now. The grey shirts gave the spectators full entertainment value when they beat Ikhlas by a thunderous 4-2 score. The game teetered with glorious chances by both teams, but in the end Haya's relentless troops extended their win streak to four. Emaan will be a great litmus test for the Umar Muhammad's tribe. Both teams are relishing solid wins but Haya is starting to breath up Ikhlas's backs when you gander at the standings. Are they keen on snatching that "bye" spot? Can Haya make it 5 straight wins?

After slipping and sliding around the standings earlier this season, Emaan appears to have gotten a grip of themselves after their painless win over Sabr. The Soliman's and company led the charge in a 4-2 victory and will now square off with an upbeat Haya team. Emaan's defence has been stellar after the injections of Naiem Malik and Zuhair Fancy. It's apparent that the backend has broadcasted enhanced stability and their transition game has become smoother than peanut butter. Can Emaan cool off Haya? Will Emaan be able to compete with Haya's hustle?

Burning Questions?

Can Sadiq Rehman weather Haya's seasoned forwards?

Player To Watch:
That patented slapshot from Nadeem Qureshi has yet to score. I think this will be his lucky game.

Who's Hot?
Hany Soliman has been solid for Emaan. The pesky forward is a menace to play against and has 9 points in 7 games.

Fall Previews - Week Eight - November 20th

Ihsan vs Shukr

Ihsan has been star-crossed and continues to face adversity. Last week Ihklas gave the red shirts a run for their money and eventually went straight for Ihsan's jugular in a 2-1 decision. Ihsan, losers of three consecutive need to find a way some to stop the bleeding. How could a team with so much depth be treading for water in the standings is beyond me? Whether it be juggling lines or a tongue lashing, Coach K must resolve this winless drought. Will Ihsan conquer their quest at winning? Can Ihsan's backend neutralize Shukr's offence?

Life isn't always a smooth ride. Shukr's transit this regular season has been fruitful as they still remain an undefeated team. However, last week was a close shave for the blue shirts as they refermed and showed some character in concealing a single point. It was a game that Shukr would regret, mainly broadcasting a lot of sloppiness, but in the end Naeem Akhtar's squad showed some character and avoided any collateral damage. Shukr brushes with Ihsan for their first of a two game series and will have to eclipse their errors from last week. Can Shukr withstand Ihsan's weathered players? Will Atif Mian and Shabil Ahmed prolong their swing of points?

Burning Questions?

Is Ihsan the real deal? Will Shukr be able to penetrate Ihsan's seasoned defence?

Player To Watch:
Humza Chaudhry was torching the points earlier this season. Can Humza Chaudhry help in getting his team out of this depression?

Who's Hot?
Aazar Zafar has been on a mean streak and has provided 7 points in his last 4 games.

Sabr vs Emaan

The basement tenants of the standings will pursuit to avoid a rerun of last week's act. Sabr will once again try to prove their substance in the league after slipping away from Haya last week. The teele shirts failed to clasp a two goal league and consequently succumbed to Haya's pressure, losing the game 3-2. Sabr needs to stay away from the sin bin and concentrate on how to close games. The procrastination has to stop and some dedication needs to start for Sabr. Can Sabr turn over a new leaf and break free from their two game slump? Fans, have your tomatoes ready!

Emaan put up a gallant effort versus Shukr and almost left the arena two points heavier. Unfortunately, the orange shirt's defence went numb and the game resulted in a draw. The same issues plague Emaan weekly and transforming this team into a competitor has been quite an intimidating chore. It's awesome that every team makes the playoff. However, with this regular season acting as a 10 game rehearsal; does Emaan have enough chemistry when it comes to, "showtime?" Can Emaan continue to degrade Sabr? Zuhair Fancy added a profitable layer of defensive presence; will the remainder of the back end be able to echo his efforts?

Burning Questions?

Which team will surge victorious?

Player To Watch:
Osama Soliman etched a stellar 3 point tally last week and needs to relay that same hunger against Sabr.

Who's Hot?
Ahmed Hathout continues to be the poster boy for Sabr with 15 points and clearly leads the scoring race.

Ikhlas vs Haya

Ikhlas went nose to nose with Ihsan in what verified to be the match of the night. Call Ikhlas's performance, "poetry in motion" but the green shirts played a riveting game with Farrukh Khan sealing the deal on a beaming howitzer. Still bullheaded in clinching first place, the green shirts brandish a 2 game win streak and confront Haya in what many may attest this a cakewalk. Waqar Khan continues to be the player this Ikhlas wagon is hitched to while Farooq Sani and Mohammad Hamoud pour in their supporting efforts. Can Ikhlas sustain Haya's persistent forwards? 

Despite missing players and illustrating a baggage of errors, Haya got it's turn in beating up on the league's current rag doll (Sabr) in a 3-2 convening win. All credit to the grey shirts in roaring back into a game they probably had no business winning. Although Salman Syed, Rehan Makhani and Faisal Mehboob catered some pivotal performances, a surplus of credit goes to fill-in goalie Fraz Khan who had big shoes to replace and ultimately delivered. Now the test comes when it'll be Ikhlas's "gung-ho" hockey versus Haya's "wait and see" approach. Will the grey shirts avenge their previous loss to team green?

Burning Questions?

Two teams. Both with hot streaks. Who's the winner?

Player To Watch:
When Waqar ain't racking the points the you know Mohammad Hamoud is always up for the challenge. Hamoud sits comfortably at the higher end of the spectrum in his team's stats.

Who's Hot?
Salman Khalid stepped up his game and provided some much needed offence, sealing a two points night.

Fall Previews - Week Seven - November 13th

Ihsan vs Ikhlas

At first blush when I filtered through Ihsan's roster I was convinced that these guys had the juices to pack a huge punch. Well, things haven't materialized properly. Goalie missing, players missing, foolish penalties and the inconsistency to just delivery has many perplexed. Truthfully, Ihsan's record is contradictory to who they really are. Last week, the red shirts were forced to dance to Haya's tunes as playing with a yawning was equivalent to walking the plank. Ihsan will tango with Ikhlas who've clearly been at the higher end of the food chain. Will Ihsan become the prey for another week? It'll be Shuaib Hussein versus Waqar Khan, which of the brawny players will get their team the win? 

Electric. That's how I depict these guys and their devotion! There's more currents flowing in this team then Hydro One! Either Ikhlas's brass was beaten with brilliance or simply fluked it off when drafting this squad. The green shirts dug deep and thwarted Emaan last week in a 3-1 thumping. Ikhlas's newest hardware, the weathered Junaid Mohammad didn't disappoint as he got his team on the board, after that the onslaught started. If surprises like Nadeem Faqiri can keep sweating their guts out then Ikhlas is going to be a team that everyone will be afraid to play. Can the green shirts keep things rolling in the win column?

Burning Questions?

Will Ihsan be able to march their way to victory?

Player To Watch:

It's only fitting to match beast with beast. Known for his booming shot and determination, Shuaib Hussein will attempt to get his team amped up for this tilt.

Who's Hot?
Who else? Waqar Khan obviously. Khan picked up a three point night last Friday and scored a beauty of a breakaway goal after outpacing an Emaan defenceman.

Haya vs Sabr

Winning an open net game perhaps isn't the best avenue to building character. Unfortunately when that's the best the opposition has to offer, then what do you do? Simple, you take the win and run. Despite Haya beating a struggling Ihsan, there's still items on their bucket list that require attention. Eliminating the solo efforts and minimizing the unnecessary penalties, then watch your fate inshallah. Haya sits comfy in the standings but has yet to convince the critics on their stature in the league. Umar Muhammad and Imran Lakhanpal have been the maestros of the offensive cohort while Salman Syed and Nadeem Qureshi have yet to hit the twine. What will be Haya's fate this week against Sabr? The grey shirts squeezed by Sabr last time but with Sabr coming into this this match hungrier than a 17 hour fast, anything is possible.

Everyone forgets about Sabr in this league, and realistically they've been ignored like that red headed stepchild. Teams are beating this squad time after time and basically passing them around like currency. Last week, Shukr handed Sabr their fifth loss and let's just say the score was beyond humiliating. Either Huzaifa Manjara's team needs to pull up their socks and get their hands dirty or it'll be a washout when it comes to the post season. Ahmad Hathout has been the only saving grace for Sabr, but how much can he do? Is anyone there? The Siddiqui's brother's (Farhan & Kamran) have been at the forefront on defence and need to step up their d-game and lead this squad to a monumental win. Will Sabr make a splash or continue drowning?

Burning Questions?

Has Haya met their match versus Sabr?

Player To Watch:

Imran Lakhanpal has been soaring with 6 points in his last 3 games.

Who's Hot?
If there's one person who truly has Sabr with his team is Ahmad Hathout. The crafty forward sits warmly on top of the league with a mammoth 13 points. 

Emaan vs Shukr

They say what hurts you is always good for you. If that's the case then these baffling losses must be building blocks for something really positive to come, at least we hope. Emaan has been plagued with short benches and is mostly arrested in their own zone. The orange shirts suffered another blow and succumbed to Ikhlas's stubborn henchmen, hence losing 3-1. The Soliman's are going to have to push the right buttons this week and hopefully get back into mix with a big win, cause after them the depth just ceases from what we see. The injection of Naiem Malik proved to have tamed some defensive lapses but unfortunately the remainder of the cast seem to be loose bricks. Can Emaan turn the tides on Shukr and get the ball rolling? 

Naeem Akhtar and Fahad Malik continue to enjoy their team's fortunes. Though it was unorthodox for them to be hunting earlier in the game versus Sabr last week, the blue shirts buried their foes in a 8-2 destruction. Shukr is on a roll and has been hotter than a five alarm blaze. Can Emaan cool them down this week? Dangling sensations; Aazar Zafar and Mehmed Rizwanovic have been big time shareholders in churning out goals. Conversely, nimble forwards like Shabil Ahmed and Atif Mian will make defenders go bonkers just from their grit and determination. Rookie Danish Qureshi has played some strong defence and has garnered quite some attention. Will the blue shirts be able to prolong their unbeaten swing or have they met their match this week?

Burning Questions?
Will Emaan be able to rebound after only pocketing 1 point in their last 5 games? Zuhair Fancy has been claimed on waivers for the orange shirts; can Fancy turn this team around?

Player To Watch:
Abdur-Rahman Butter leads his team with 7 points but the Soliman's must turn it up a few notches.

Who's Hot?

Atif Mian had an unforgettable 4 game night versus Sabr. 

Fall Previews - Week Six - November 6th

7:45PM Shukr v. Sabr

Sabr! True to their name, Sabr has been patient and persevered! At exactly the half-way point through the season, Sabr has won their game!

And they did it in dramatic fashion. Ahmad Hathout, who has been producing all year and currently leads the league in points, rolled of the half-boards and deposited the game winner with 30 seconds left in the game.

Wow! Sabr with a full bench and scoring goals? Shukr might be in for a bigger test than they thought. The same guys who are sitting on top of the league standings and undefeated, are going to have their hands full dealing with the tank-like Ahmad Hathout and the maniacal rover Huzaifa Manjra (does he play forward? Defense? “Forence”?)

Burning Question?

Will Shukr keep chugging along and remain undefeated?

Players To Watch: You gotta watch Ahmad Hathout. Why? He’s just fun to watch man.

Who’s Hot? For the fourth mention in this game preview (and yes I’m totally his cheerleader at this point): Ahmad Hathout with 12 points in 5 games including SEVEN(!!!) in his last TWO(!!!!)

8:45PM Haya v. Ihsan

Oh Ihsan. Ihsan, Ihsan, Ihsan. How far are you from your namesake (Ihsan means excellence). This team has the most blown leads/ties in the last minute of a game than any other team in the league. That’s far from excellent.

There’s some kind of mental toughness that this team needs to conjure otherwise they’re in for a rough season. And coach K? He’s gotta do some coaching and get this team ready for closing out 1 goal games. This stuff can’t happen for a team with that much talent.

On the brighter side, Haya finally scored goals! Four of them! This after scoring only two goals in their last three games. What’s even more impressive is that they did it with a short bench and with almost all their better players as no-shows.

Not to worry. Faisal Mehboob and Imran Lakhanpal both picked up the slack and scored two goals apiece.

But to give credit where it’s due, Rizwan Ali basically stood on his head for Haya in that game. And he had to because Haya was dominated possession-wise throughout that game. He might have to do that more often!

Burning Questions? Both teams are middlingly average. Which team is getting back on the road to decency?

Who’s Hot? Imran Lakhanpal had 3 points last week including 2 goals and he can really score goals if he’s ignored.

Player to Watch: I’m giving this to Humza Chaudhry because he deserves some attention. He has 5 points this season and scored a highlight reel goal where he split the defense and scored an incredible goal.

9:45PM Emaan v. Ikhlas

Hard luck. Both teams just suffered some terrible luck last week.

Emaan totally dominated Haya last week and poured it on for the entire second period and couldn’t buy a goal. The better team, ran into a hot goalie, and lost. That’s hockey. It happens.

Ikhlas had a tighter game but also probably outplayed their opponents but also lost 1-0 and suffered their first loss of the year.

Captain, and perennial player-of-the-game winner, Ahmad Ibrahim needs to grab his team by the collar and get them refocused on this game. Ahmad Ibrahim will also need to engage some of his minor depth players like Waqar Khan, and get him scoring goals again.

Meanwhile, the Solimans need to tell Yousuf Soliman that it’s a good idea to shoot the ball from time to time – especially if he’s playing defense. Might help them get on track.

Burning Questions? Will Ikhlas return to dominance? Will Emaan finally start scoring the way they can?

Who’s Hot? Kaunain Saiyed has a 1.60 GAA and a league leading .860 SV%. Great stats for him!

Player to Watch: Hani Soliman’s is starting to heat up (3 pts in last 2 games), and he’s the playmaker that makes his team tick, so watch out for him. 

Fall Previews - Week Five - October 30th

7:45PM Ikhlas v. Shukr

This is a rematch of game one of the season, where these two teams played tentative hockey and finished the game with a 1-1 tie.

Since then? Both teams have won 3 straight and sit tied at the top of the standings with 7 points each. 

Waqar Khan and Mohammad Hamoud have developed a special type of chemistry that has made them a tough duo to shut down. Khan stands tied for first in scoring with 9 points and Hamoud is tied for second in scoring with 7 points.

Haya has also been an offensive force, but their scoring has been mostly by committee rather than by any particular player or line. Aazar Zafar, Atif Mian, Mehmed Rizvanovic, Abdu Sharkawy and Shabil Ahmed have all contributed to lifting Haya over most of their opposition.

This game, being the 5th of the season, is officially the mid-point. And we'll know which team will stand alone at the top of the standings.

Burning Question?
An under-rated aspect of these teams success has been in goal. These teams were the last two to select goalies in the draft and yet are top two in the league. The competition between Yusuf Kapoor and Kaunain Saiyed will likely be the deciding factor.

Player to Watch:
Naeem Akhtar has yet to produce the way we expect him to. Look for him to break out soon.

Who's Hot?
Mohammed Hamoud had 4 point last week and is on a tear right now.

8:45PM Ihsan v. Sabr

Ihsan versus Sabr is the second game of a back-to-back series, as these two teams will once again face-off. Last week's game was a huge debacle for Sabr.

Sabr looked poised for their first win of the season after the Ihsan team showed up without a goalie. Instead, Sabr somehow managed to lose 7-6 against an empty net!

To their credit, Ihsan found a way to control the play using the extra man, and continued to pepper Sabr with shots and breakdown their defense.

But Sabr has blamed their struggle mainly lack of turnout and have added Tariq Hathout through player replacement system and hope it will help them start winning some games.

This will be a tough game and one that will test mettle of both teams.

Burning Questions?
Can Sabr persevere? Can they win their first game?

Player to Watch:
Ahmad Hathout holds the league lead with 9 points including 4 points in his last game (albeit against an empty net). He is a game-breaker to watch.

Who's Hot:
The snakebitten Ibrahim Hindy got his first point of the season last week, and then added three more.

9:45PM Emaan v. Haya

Just like Ihsan, Emaan showed up without a goalie last week however fell 6-4 to the 1st placed Shukr team. Emaan barely losing to the top team in the league without a goalie is a pretty good sign that they're an underrated team and probably better than their spot in the standings right now.

Haya, meanwhile, has had a lot of trouble competing lately. They're lost their last 3 games and have only scored 2 goals in those games. Now, part of the problem is that star defender Salman Khalid has been missing lately but these are not good signs for the team. A team with Salman Syed should score goals.

GM Nadeem Qureshi has been having trouble himself with moving the needle, but he also needs to start looking to make trades if things don't turn around soon. If things aren't working, then you gotta shake things up!

Burning Questions?
Can Haya turn their season around or will they continue their nosedive?

Player to Watch:
Rizwan Ali was drafted early and is capable of being the best goalie in the league, but he hasn't carried his team in the way they thought he would.

Who's Hot?
Abdur-Rahman Buttar has 7 points and has gotten points in every game this season. Buttar has been a pleasant surprise for his team.

Fall Previews - Week Two - October 9th

Shukr vs Sabr - 7:45PM

Shukr kicked off the season last week against Ikhlas in what was a very tentative game, especially during the first period. Mehmed Rizvanovic scored the only goal for Shukr, showing he may have been a very smart pick for Shukr as they looked extremely strong at the centre position.

Another good omen for Shukr must have been the play of Kaunain Saiyed, who looked very strong during his match, although Shukr did a good job limiting chances against him.

Sabr lost their first game, despite having clear moments of strength on the team. Ahmad Hathout put up two assists, and newcomer and GM Hanif Kasuji scored in his first I-Slam game but had difficulty dealing with the speed Haya had put together. This will be a big test for the group, as Shukr is not particularly fast but does have skill.

Burning Questions?
Can Zaid Majoo rebound from last week? The rookie goalie covers a lot of the net but had some difficulty posting a .727 save percentage.

Players to Watch:
Aazar Zafar is being asked to carry a line and create offense on his own. Normally a playmaker, this will be a big role for Zafar to fill in.

Who's Hot?
Ahmad Hathout had a two point game last week and is always a threat.


Haya vs Ihsan - 8:45PM

Ihsan was embarrassed last week and shut out with all their big guns going radio silent. Shuaib Hussain, Arssal Shahabuddin and Ibrahim Hindy couldn't create any offense and the team suffered as a result.

For a team built to be offensively minded, there can't be more scoreless games on the schedule.

Haya, on the other hand, now leads the league in goals for after they defeated Sabr 3-2 last week. The combination of speed, grit and booming slap-shots allowed them to create solid offense chances over and over again.

Salman Khalid helped them push the pace of their game and Umar Muhammad and Imran Lakhanpal took advantage of time and space to score. They certainly look to be one of the tougher teams to counter this season.

Burning Questions?
Can Ihsan create more offense this year?

Player to Watch:
Umar Muhammad used his speed all game last week and will need to be controlled by the opposition.

Who's Hot?
Faisal Mehboob 


Emaan vs Ikhlas - 9:45PM

Ikhlas played a disciplined games last week and resulted in a tie against a team most thought carried far more talent than them. The expectation for opponents has to be to expect a team that grinds and plays well defensively.

Rookie Nadeem Faqiri scored for Ikhlas and the Khan (not actually) brothers were always a threat on the floor.

Emaan won resoundingly last week as well, making a strong statement. Even missing one of their top picks in Naiem Malik, the team was not worse for the wear. The chemistry between the (actual) Soliman brothers was clear to see and will give them a distinct advantage over their opponents.
Ikhlas will need to create a game-plan to deal with Yousuf, Osama, Hani and Walied Soliman.

Burning Questions?
Can Ikhlas grind out another game?

Player to Watch:
Waqar Khan will lead the way for Ikhlas.

Who's Hot?
Hani Soliman had three primary assists last week, to lead the league.

Fall Previews - Week One - October 2nd

Ikhlas vs. Shukr

We'll kick off the 2015-16 I-Slam Hockey season with this matchup between Ikhlas and Shukr.

Ikhlas, beneficiaries of the top pick in the draft, will be lead by the two Khan's: Waqar and Farrukh (no relation). To augment the group, savvy GM's Ahmad Ibrahim and Mohammad Hamoud used some late picks to add what they described as "serious sleeper picks".

This includes Nadeem Faqiri, Yasser Malik and Fawad Shaikh. The team will be backstopped by Kaunain Saiyed - who, I believe, has not played in I-Slam since capturing the championship in 2013.

Shukr brings the brainchild of Fahad Mallik and Naeem Akhtar. This team was drafted with a simple philosophy: Defense, Centers and Friends.

Mallik and Akhtar will provide the defense, top picks Aazar Zafar and Mehmed Rizvanovic will provide the centers and Shabil Ahmad, Imran Abdullah and Amir Baig will play the role of long-time friends of Mallik and Akhtar. The team also pulled out a sleeper pick in Montreal native Danish Qureshi who joins the Toronto ball hockey scene.

Burning Questions?
Shukr - and their strengths as a skilled and smart team, will have to matchup against Ikhlas with the identity of size and aggression.

Players to Watch:
Mehmed Rizvanovic, the big center reminiscent of Sundin in his playing style will be interesting to watch. He's talented but has never played against players as talented as Waqar Khan and company. It will be interesting to see how he does.

Who's Hot?
No one yet!


Haya vs. Sabr

Sabr has been labeled (by their own GM) as the "team of hot heads". Huzaifa Manjra and Hanif Kasuji - the two GM's are known to lose their cool and the team is stocked with players with passion and aggression. 

This means the two sets of brothers, the Mohammad's (Junaid and Naveed) and the Siddiqui's (Kamran and Farhan) will have their work cut out to keep this team under control and have their energy channeled in the right direction.

Sabr has lots of speed up front and is thought to have the biggest sleeper pick in Ismail Malek and Ziyad Syed.

Haya, on the other hand, tried to add some defense right off the bat with the two Salman's: Khalid and Syed. Khalid will control the defense and be counted on to play big minutes while Syed will be expected to use his speed, skill and creativity to create goals and setup his teammates who have big shoots like GM Nadeem Qureshi and Imran Lakhanpal.

And with experienced veteran Rizwan Ali in goal, the team knows it has one of the better goalies helping them out game after game.

Burning Questions?
Can Sabr come together as a team? Can Huzaifa Manjra perform in a leadership role?

Player to Watch:
Imran Lakhanpal - given time, Lakhanpal can score and owns perhaps the most lethal shot in the league. In the bigger arena, I think Lakhanpal will be a deadly offensive weapon.

Who's Hot?
No one yet.


Ihsan vs Emaan

In my mind, even though this is week one, this is the match-up between the top two teams.

On Emaan's end, they lack depth. And though you can say that about pretty much any team in the league, it seems a bit exaggerated on Emaan's end. On the flip side, Emaan likely has the best first line in the league featuring the Soliman brothers (Hani - Yousuf - Osama).

Emaan also added some rugged defenders in Naiem Malik, Sajid Khan and Firasath Ali. And in net they have Sadiq Rehman who is certainly not the biggest goalie but is known for his high compete level.

For Ihsan, the mirror is flipped in many ways. Ihsan may be the deepest team in the league - but only at forward. The team did not draft many defenders but did pull what they called their biggest sleeper pick: goaltender Mohammad Kasuji.

GM and coach Kashif Taqiuddin said this: "I expect us to be the Oilers of the 80s and win games with lots of goals". Presumably that makes Kasuji this league's version of Grant Fuhr - a good goalie without support.

Burning Questions?
Can Ihsan utilize their speed in this game against such a tough opponent?

Player to Watch:
Osama Soliman makes his debut in I-Slam Hockey and will likely turn many heads with his offensive skill.

Who's Hot?
No one yet.

Championships Finals - Series Preview

The night of game 2's couldn't have concluded in dynamic fashion as it did some time ago. There were broken hearts, glum faces, yet riveting finishes and absolute shock! Emaan cruised to an easy finish and plodded through Shukr in a 5-3 win. Conversely, the aura in the Ihsan-Haya game was of a different telltale. The Red Army shocked the I-Slam fanfare and beat Haya in regulation only to sail through the shootout and reserve their tickets to the finals. Now let's get to the nitty gritty of the finals...

Emaan vs Ihsan

(Head to Head: Emaan wins 1-0-1)

The Orangemen glided past Shukr in round one and didn't show any sign of over indulgence. Emaan held their fort in every department and pounced on Shukr's blunders in sealing the deal. Now that the orange shirts have made it to the promiseland; will they be able to surmount Ihsan's energy? Emaan's ability on drowning the opposition in their own end has sparked wonders. The culprits behind that are the Orangemen's first line of Waqar Khan, Arif Bijabhai and Furqan Salam. Toss in the the prowess of Jibraan Salam and Abdu Sharkaway and you've got a menacing offensive crew that has substance. Equally willful has been Orange's defense. Adeel Awan and Bilal Pervaiz have played pivotal minutes along with Belal Hafeez. However the surprise defender has been Kashif Taqiuddin, whose existence has generated nothing but offense. Can Emaan blanket their sketchy goaltending with robust defense? Let's admit it, and this is no knock on Sadiq Rehman, but he can be better. The Orangemen must prep themselves as Ihsan will pour pure momentum in this series. 

The odds were limp on Ihsan winning the series versus Haya, but astonishingly the Red Army did the deed minus stalwarts Salman Khalid and Nauman Abbasi, which hails accolades to the red shirts on conquering such a feat. Sporting a shriveled bench but playing with bucket's of passion, Ihsan's storybook ending couldn't have finished in such a cinematic style. Since the birth of the spring season, Ihsan has been reputed in making the finals of which they've claimed the cup only once. Can they own the championships for a second time? Ihsan's defensive core has been very stingy on allowing any visas over the blue line. Salman Khalid, Nadeem Qureshi, Nauman Abbasi and Abdul Wahab Mohammad have tolerated the d-man life and will once again provide their hearty services in keeping Emaan's bullheaded forwards outside the boundary. Meanwhile, Ahmad Hathout and the Soliman's (Yousuf & Hany) will try to find their groove as they spear their way through Emaan's defensive core. Netminder Abu Mamooji hasn't been parallel from previous seasons and he knows it. If there's a time to show some value in your game then it's now. 

Burning Questions?

Nadeem Qureshi and Bilal Pervaiz have been vital players in the backend whose perseverance has shouted volumes offensively. Who'll prevail in making an impact?

Players To Watch:

Furqan Salam and Yousuf Soliman will be on both teams's peripheral vision. Both individuals carry oodles of speed and are known for their volatile gameplay. 

Who's Hot?

Beast vs Beast!!! Both Waqar Khan vs Ahmad Hathout have topped the stats in their teams and have repeatedly proved that they got more mileage then a set of Michelin tires. Which player will drive their team to the distance?

Round One Playoffs - Series Previews

Playoff Series Previews:

Shukr vs Emaan 

(Head to Head: Emaan wins 1-0-1)

Shukr is a team that might not be offensively loud like Emaan, but defensively very sound. Captain Ibrahim Hindy has sold the defensive notion to the boys in blue as his team's season long perspiration shadows a team record of 3-1-6. Khalid Mufti has been solid and stingy in net for the blue shirts, while stalwarts Arssal Shahuuddin and Riaz Lasania lead the back end. Shukr must decipher Emaan and neutralizing their speed. Shuaib Hussein has been one of the top guns on the squad and will look to get chum Gehad Al-Hundi into the same rhythm. There many more pieces that have rounded out Shukr's season but with one loss as a blemish to their record, will they be able to counter Emaan's run and gun style?

Emaan has had a flourishing season and only sport two losses to their ten game stretch. The Orangemen's bread and butter has been their first line, tacked with some solid defence. Waqar Khan has been a hulk all season long and has caused too much turmoil for his opponents. Emaan being the only team to beat Shukr anticipates to finish the blue shirts faster than you can blink. The only kink on Emaan is their goaltending. Netminder Sadiq Rehman has seen brighter days but for some reason he's been a tad erratic this season. Nevertheless, with Bilal Pervaiz, Belal Hafeez and Kashif Taqiuddin providing the back end insulation, Rehman should be sufficient. Can Emaan run all over Shukr once again?

Burning Questions?

Which team will win their series? 

Player To Watch:

Arssal Shahabuddin played the entire game versus Haya last week and once again asserted his leadership on Shukr. 

Who's Hot?

Furqan Salam also pulled off a riveting performance last game and also had a big hand in pulling the plug on Sabr's playoff lifeline. Will Furqan be able to forward this momentum versus Shukr.

Ihsan vs Haya

(Head to Head: Haya wins 2-0-0)

Ihsan has had a second lease at life and is headed to the playoffs. A team that was once written off and hibernating near the pit of the standing has recollected their mindset and hasn't gotten off the gas pedal since then. GM Salman Khalid and company are the hottest team headed into the post season with a four game unbeaten streak under their belt and will be keen on trying to upset the 1st seed kingpins. Ahmad Hathout, Farooq Sani and the Soliman's (Yousuf and Hani) have been show stealers here and will be heavily entrusted in making this upset happen. The Red Army have had tough times containing Haya's seasoned players and will need to be cognizant of Naeem Akhtar and company. Will Ihsan make life challenging for the Misty Marauders?

Haya's a team that went straight for their opponent's jugular way back in the Rink City days, winning every game and out-hustling the opponents with their veteran presence. However, something happened then when they made the shift to the larger arena. They still won games, but not as dominantly like the past. Regardless, against Ihsan, Haya will need to interrogate Abu Mamoooji till the cows come home and wear down the red shirt's firm defence. While most of the odds fair well with Haya, only time will dictate whether their first place accomplishment was virtually hard work or utterly luck. Logically, we envision a Haya win, but then again, anything is possible. Can Saleem Malik and Akib Malik lead Haya in winning this series?

Burning Questions?

Which team will win their series? 

Player To Watch:

There's a lot riding on Naeem Akhtar. The giant has played a pivotal role to Haya's stature and is forecasted to log heavy minutes in this series. 

Who's Hot?

Yousuf Soliman notched up a 3 point night while exterminating Ikhlas of their misery. Expect Yousuf to turn the pace up a few notches against Haya. 

Spring Previews - Week 10

Whoever thought that the final week of regular season would have such matches that shoulder so many implications. We know that Haya and Ikhlas are cemented in their respective seeds; so what about the rest? Emaan, Shukr, Sabr and Ihsan are all fighting for booking their seats to the post season. Three spots are available, and four teams fighting for, it doesn't get any intense than this folks!!!

Ikhlas vs Ihsan

Although this game for Ikhlas is strictly for their allegiance, it's the perfect opportunity for the Green Machine to play spoilers. Ikhlas was handcuffed in playing with an open net last game and the result was a nasty 6-1 beat down. This is last chance for the green shirts to pack up the season on a winning note. Rumour has it that there's a familiar face between the pipes this week (Ibad won't be there) that might be able to cash out an upset on the Red Army. Can Ikhlas dig deep and conclude this appalling season with a solid team victory?

Ihsan mauled a handicap Ikhlas squad where many players collected petty points, and basically "rehearsed" plays just to entertain the opposition, or even themselves. The weight of this game for Ihsan is costly. A tie won't be feasible for the red shirts so they'll need Ahmad Hathout and Nauman Abbasi to continue playing pivotal roles and grab a win. GM Salman Khalid's team has been through many tussles and are inches away from a playoff spot. Can Ihsan etch their own fate on Friday?

Shukr vs Haya

The Blue Battalion faced Haya for the first time and once again concluded the game in a feisty 1-1 tie. Imran Lakhanpal has been the arena-master since the transition to the larger surface and has been a solid utensil in supporting the offensive department. Although Shukr had waves of chances on overthrowing Haya, they've still got to find a way to win this Friday. Another tie would suffice the blue shirts but a win would be better. Can Shukr solve the number one team?

Haya's unbeaten streak stretches to three games and could prolong to four if they can solve Khalid Mufti and company. The Misty Marauders tanked the blue shirts and came out firing on all cylinders, launching an explosive 24 shots on Shukr. Contrarily, Yusuf Kapoor made some dazzling saves and helped his squad to collect another point. This week's rematch with team grey is all about spoilers. A win for Haya could keep Shukr on the edge of their seats. Will Haya be able to eclipse Shukr's tenacious squad?

Sabr vs Emaan

A win during dire times is purely rewarding and for Sabr to deliver what they did last Friday is pretty ballsy. However, is Sabr buying time or are these guys the real deal? Like Emaan, the yellow shirts will need to be hellbent with their motives and tame the neutral zone battle versus orange. Zaid Toorawa potted two goals for his team while the remainder of Sabr played a sound and disciplined game. Is this the resurrection of Too-Too? Can Sabr make it to the post season?

There's a rumour orbiting that Emaan thought they clinched a playoff birth prior to playing Sabr. Wake up my Emaan brothers! You're as vulnerable as the other three teams fighting alongside side you. Netminder Sadiq Rehman will need to be a man on a mission and try to steal Friday night's game. Conversely, Waqar Khan and company will need to find a way to bandaid any backend blemishes. Will Emaan be able to avenge their loss to the yellow shirts? Or will Emaan end up looking from outside in?