Spring Previews - Week Five - March 18th

Shukr vs Ikhlas
What sprung as an imposing season start has slowly deflected Shukr off it's tracks. Losers of two straight, the blue shirts need to dislodge from their disheartening 6-3 loss to Emaan and target on Ikhlas, a team that's been deficient globally. Shukr's getting the most mileage from Ali Murtaza and Luqman Arshad but are sadly missing the presence of injured d-man Sadat Malik. Many might assume that this game for Shukr will be easier than taking sweets from a baby. However, we remind you that it doesn't take much to wake up the sleeping bear in Ikhlas. Can Aazar Zafar and Saleem Malik find their game versus Ikhlas?

Every team has a bad game, but last week broadcasted Ikhlas's struggling defense and anemic offense once again. An offense that's only managed to light the lamp twice in three games and a defense that's been getting their doors busted each week. Ikhlas still has a chance to get this right as the youngsters face the veteran squad of Shukr. GM Naveed Mohammad's unit is sorely missing Junaid Mohammad's attendance and is yearning for a realignment or even a facelift? Goaltender Yusuf Kapoor has endured a lot of defensive turmoil each game and has been left abandoned only to take the brunt. Can Ikhlas rebound against Shukr? Will the green shirts be able to run down their opponents?

Burning Questions?
Will Ikhlas be able to get their first win?

Who's Hot?
Luqman Arshad has been an immense aid to his team, both defensively and offensively. Last week his efforts shouted volumes with a huge 2 point night.

Player To Watch:
Goaltender Yusuf Kapoor has seen it all and can hope to heal despite a 7-1 whipping last week.

Emaan vs Sabr
With the way things are flowing with Emaan, I think it's safe to say that their offensive chemistry has been nothing but organic. Emaan's top line has been ridiculously ablaze while their defense is guarding well. GM Ibrahim Hindy and the gents beat Shukr in a 6-3 tilt and now face Sabr, a team they've had a close brush with some weeks ago. Now as much as Emaan is surging upfront, their defense has been vulnerable but hasn't crumbled yet. Both Shukr and Sabr have backfired from deficits so it is an area of onus. Can Emaan extend their winning to streak to four? Will the orange shirts defence subdue the Soliman's?

Sabr had the itch to exit the pit of the standings and they finally did it, momentarily that is. The teele shirts shadowed the opposition to the bone and generated a point off the heels of fill-in goaltender Sameer Subedar, who played like a possessed man. The Soliman brothers need to start generating things as this team continues to get afflicted with short benches. Defensemen Sajid Khan and Abdul-Wahab Mohammad will lead the squad on the back end as Sabr's defensemen are assigned the appalling task of clouding Emaan's stern first line? Will Sabr be able to abolish Emaan's sketchy defense?

Burning Questions?
Can Sabr get on the board with a big win?

Who's Hot?
Forward Sami Haque has been a delightful surprise for his team, the forward cranked a firm three point night last week.

Player To Watch:
Hany Soliman has yet to scratch the surface of the scoresheet. The canny forward will be a monstrous task for any Emaan defeseman. 

Ihsan vs Haya
Despite playing with a short bench, the red shirts held their own and settled to a scoreless tie with Sabr, only to inch up the standings. Fill-in netminder Zaid Majoo pulled all the rabbits out of the hat and earned accolades for his stellar job in net. With Majoo filling in the shoes for Fraz Khan again this week, we foresee this team's effort at the same parallel as Majoo. Amir Multani, Ahmad Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri have been fruitless and will have an upward battle versus a hot Haya team. While Ihsan be able to oppose the heat of Haya? Can the red shirts paint the town red with a big win?

Haya's continues to illuminate the standings as GM Zuhair Fancy's team is riding off a solid 7-1 win over a brittle Ikhlas group. Is Haya bragging early? The navy blue shirts played Ikhlas twice and sent the kids packing, but with the convincing win over the warhorses of Shukr we realize that Haya certainly isn't sympathizing over age. Ihsan is on deck this week and you can expect goaltender Kaunain Saiyed to be on his tiptoes versus the red shirts. Haya will utilize Farrukh Khan and Farooq Sani to refrain buddy Amir Multani and company. Can Haya extend the win streak to four? Will Ihsan cool down Haya?

Burning Questions?
Zaid Majoo hasn't allowed a goal thus far. Has his time come versus Haya?

Who's Hot?
All of Haya is hot, but to be critical with three points on the night: Asim Gauhar (best dressed with the Quebec jersey), Shoaib Bhatti, Usamah Rao and Waqar Khan

Player To Watch:
Mohammed Hamoud has known to be a versatile player, but has yet to prove it this season. Can Hamoud justify to be the tentpole for this tribe?

Spring Previews - Week Four - March 11th

Ikhlas vs Haya

Ikhlas embarks on another attempt in notching their first win of the season as they tussle again with Haya. The green shirts broadcasted some improved cohesiveness last game and the result was rewarding with Yusuf Kapoor blanking the opposition, and the team potting 1 point. Ikhlas is about vengeance this week. Although their season opener was about getting the feet wet, Ikhlas drowned in their own zone and couldn't buy a life jacket, hence losing in a 5-1 decision. GM Naveed Mohammad will be hopeful this week as the minors upfront try to align the stars in their favour. Will Ikhlas be able to pour cold water on the hot Haya team?

Haya arrived into their previous game as underdogs and put the sting into Shukr's diminutive roster. Shukr was beat like a rented mule leaving Haya flashing a two game winning streak leading into their tilt versus Ikhlas, a team they've owned in the past. GM Zuhair Fancy's squad was heavily suspected of a lacklustre offence, but has silenced the critics and continues to rocket to the top of the standings. This seasoned squad has been playing some stubborn hockey and most of the accolades come from their tenacious backend. Can Farooq Sani and Farrukh Khan continue shouldering the defensive fort against a determined Ikhlas?

Burning Questions?

Will Ikhlas be able to generate a win?

Who's Hot?

Azhar Kalair displayed some veteran prowess and scored a climactic goal to lead his team for an immense win.

Player To Watch:

GM Naveed Mohammad will need to pave the path for his team. The polarizing leader had his team trajecting the right direction where Ihklas's defence assisted in generating a tie game.

Shukr vs Emaan

Shukr shrugs off a filthy loss against Haya as the troops regroup versus Emaan, a team that hasn't displayed mercy on opposing backends. GM Kashif Taqiuddin and company need to neutralize Emaan's first line which has proved to be the underlying threat for some teams. Shukr hopes to field a full squad and will be hellbent in resurrecting to their winning ways with Faisal Mehboob and Saleem Malik at the forefront. Luqman Arshad and Nadeem Qureshi will have their work cut out at the blue line. Will Shukr upset GM Ibrahim Hindy and company? 

If you didn't get a chance to see Emaan's first line in action last game, let's just say it was equivalent to watching weapons of mass destruction at work. Emaan shredded Ihsan to pieces as Gehad Al-Hundi, GM Ibrahim Hindy and Yousuf Sowdagar tallied up a total of 15 points. The joyride is over, here comes Shukr. Emaan will have their hands full with many versed players from the opposing team that don't have an off switch. Conversely, the orange shirt's stable defence will need to be cognizant and regulate snipers like Faisal Mehboob and Saleem Malik. Can Emaan prolong their win streak?

Burning Questions?

Will Emaan's forwards make a feast out of Shukr?

Who's Hot?

Emaan's first line, who else?

Player To Watch:

The guy with the blue helmet, Ali Murtaza. Ali scored a beauty of a goal last game and is fluent in finishing many scoring opportunities. Will he be able to get his team going this week?

Ihsan vs Sabr

The battle of the basement dwellers might not hold value for spectators but for the teams playing, it's a segway for their first win. Ihsan had a bad night last game where their defence had more holes than swiss cheese. Let's hope that the wounds have alleviated cause here comes Sabr, a team that's also roaming around for a win. GM Fuzail Thakur will hopefully anticipate full attendance and get Ahmad Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri going offensively, an area where the two have been muffled. Can Ihsan's defence handle the Soliman's? Will the red shirts be able to deflect Sabr?

Sabr is still prowling for a point. Despite valiantly clawing back from a 3-1 deficit versus Emaan, the teele shirts dropped their second consecutive game and have many perplexed. The weeks off have been absorbed and it's time to hit the reset button for GM Salman Alvi's team. With a struggling Ihsan team coming to play with them in the sandbox, only time will dictate which team can get the ball rolling. Osama Soliman, Hany Soliman and Mazhar Hussain look to frequent the scoresheet while Sajid Khan and Imdad Ali lead the defensive cohort. Can Sabr exit the bottom of the standings?

Burning Questions?

Which team will be able to exit their respective slumps?

Who's Hot?

Yousuf Soliman's work effort can't be transcended. The stalwart scored twice last game and lead the charge to a comeback. 

Player To Watch:

Ahmad Hathout's offensive dexterity usually exhibits for itself. Will Hathout be able to revive his offensive touch?

Spring Previews - Week Three - February 26th

Haya vs Shukr

GM Zuhair Fancy's team comes off a bye week and will try to preserve their winning pace as they square off against Shukr. Haya looks to prove the sceptics that their win versus a depleted Ikhlas wasn't just a fortuity. However to authenticate that fact, they'll have to jump over a powerhouse in Shukr. Does Haya have the defensive knack to clam down Shukr's offence? Waqar Khan has been the tentpole for this franchise and will need to shoulder a lot of directions to get this team past team blue. 

Shukr is coming off a big 3-1 win over Sabr and will venture to trump Haya this Friday night. 

Against Sabr, Shukr came flying off all canons where Faisal Mehboob jolted the teele shirts with a two goal performance. GM Kashif Taqiuddin's crew will use all the utensils imaginable in generating a 2-0 record against Haya, whom also exhibited a solid showing against Ikhlas. Nadeem Qureshi and Luqman Arshad will lead the defensive duties while stud goaltender Yasir Hussain looks to shutout the opposition. Can Haya overthrow Haya?

Burning Questions?

Can Haya stop Shukr's weathered squad from climbing the standings?

Who's Hot?

Farooq Sani was instrumental in his team's last game, Sani bagged a 4 point night.

Player To Watch:

Faisal Mehboob scored two goals in Shukr's debut and will be on Haya's watch.

Emaan vs Ihsan

After coming off an enthralling win over Sabr, GM Ibrahim Hindy's posse confronts an offensively undernourished team in Ihsan. Emaan demonstrated that they have the most influential firepower in their first line and even their second line produced ample chances. However, last week Sabr blew the roof of Emaan's backend and almost tied the game, considering that Emaan was up 3-1; is there a reason to worry? Will Emaan's defence be able to sustain Ihsan's tight forecheckers? 

Ihsan has picked up Amir Multani off waivers and consequently shipped out d-man Imdad Ali, who was later handed to Sabr. The red shirts pickup a decent offensive minded player in Multani but is the defensive sacrifice sufficient to increase prowess upfront? Ihsan should worry, and especially against Emaan! Netminder Fraz Khan stepped in some big shoes last year as a fill-in and quite frankly looked great. Will he be able to meet the challenge of shutting down the orange shirts willful forwards?

Burning Questions?

Can Ihsan's find a way to win?

Who's Hot?

Gehad Al-Hundi was a force to reckon with last week and had a relishing 3 point night. 

Player To Watch:

There was a lot of commotion with the acquisition of Amir Multani this week. Is Multani pure firepower or just fluff?

Spring Previews - Week Two - February 19th

Ihsan vs Ikhlas

Ihsan swings into action as they cascade onto the arena with Ikhlas. GM Fuzail Thakur and his band of merry men look to snatch their first win while trying to put a dent into Ikhlas's winning ambitions. Ahmad Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri will plug in the holes for offence while Salman Khalid gets service from Mohammad Hamoud in the backend. However, after their first line, offence for Ihsan appears watery. Many players will have to rise to the occasion and provide a touch of their own if this team wants to be a part of that winning conversation. Will Ihsan be able to strike a winning chord?

Ikhlas had a trembling game versus Haya last week. It's perplexing, cause Yusuf Kapoor just reeled off a solid winter season but unfortunately allowed a confounding 3 goals on 3 shots. First game jitters? Not only were the critics scratching their heads in disorientation but many remain to see that headlined "potent" offence strike. GM Naveed Mohammad strolls back to the drawing board and realigns his team's direction. Arif Bijabhai and the youngsters upfront have gotta get the kicks going or else a soggy fate awaits them. Will Ikhlas be able to rebound from their gruesome season opener? 

Burning Questions?

Will Ihsan's defence be able to sustain Ikhlas's alarming forwards?

Who's Hot?

Abdur-Rahman Buttar got the lone goal for his team.

Player to Watch:
He's a one man wrecking machine and was an instrumental factor to winning the championships last season. Watch out for Ahmed Hathout.

Sabr vs Emaan

Sabr suffered a frustrating loss versus Shukr last week. The 3-1 defeat was a back-and-forth battle where the teele shirts had the momentum swaying with them at times, but were muted by two quick goals by Shukr. Despite the loss, GM Salman Alvi's squad exhibited some promise and now head for another litmus test with a top notch team in Emaan. Sabr's defence must shutdown Emaan's first line which boasts some solid tier one components. The Soliman's have yet to strike and missing Hany Soliman last game put a dent in the Sabr's aspirations. Can this group make it happen against Emaan's dubious defence?

Emaan plays their first game and flexes it's muscles on the offensive department. Battered with an array of gents who can score and cause chaos, Emaan brandishes some solid weaponry that can put on a big hurt. GM Ibrahim Hindy, Gehad Al-Hundi and Yousuf Sowdagar are known culprits upfront. The question is; do they have the defensive capacity in thwarting pressure from the Soliman's and company? Huzaifa Manjara and Emad Hussain lead the charge defensively while veteran netminder Khalid Mufti mans the pipes. Will Emaan finish the night in the win column?

Burning Questions?
Can Sabr carve a win against Emaan?

Who's Hot?
No one yet...

Player to Watch:

Sometimes you wonder if he has ABS brakes installed in his shoes, cause he can really move out there. Keep your eyes peeled for Yousuf Sowdagar.

Spring Previews - Week One - February 12th

Haya vs Ikhlas

Haya gets their feet wet as they face-off with Ikhlas this Friday. GM Zuhair Fancy and his defensive corps of Farrukh Khan, Farooq Sani and Rayhan Malik will try to restrict Ikhlas's time on Haya's turf. The black shirts talent in the backend eclipses their offensive prowess, that means Waqar Khan will need to squeeze the talent of each forward in garnering them a point. Haya needs to come out of the gates hard and diffuse any murmurs of their offensive capacity. Can Haya's defence withstand Ikhlas's firepower? 

GM Naveed Mohammad and his tribe of Ikhlas warriors will employ their nimble legs versus Haya. Coached by the polarizing Ijaz Chaudhry, team Ikhlas will buy into Chaudhry's orders and try to win each ball battle. Arsalan Mian, Humza Chaudhry and Farhan Buttar lead the offensive charge while Haris Mallick, Naveed Mohammad and Rayhan Taqiuddin provide the defensive cohesion. Will Ikhlas be able to take the brunt of Waqar Khan and company? Does this young core have the brain-smarts of winning? 

Burning Questions?

Which team will win their first game?

Player To Watch:

Will he be the saviour or the one man show for Haya? Waqar Khan hasn't been a stranger and will be on Ikhlas's watch list. Will Khan be able to get his crew a big win?

Who's Hot?

No one yet.

Shukr vs Sabr

Don't let these dinosaurs deceive you, cause these guys have plenty of bite. There's enough depth on this squad to drown the opposition, so think twice before stepping in the ring with these weathered gents. From back to front, GM Kashif Taqiuddin went for booksmarts and collaborated a roster that's been to hell and back. Saleem Malik, Aazar Zafar, Ali Murtaza will be the main guys trying to cause pandemonium in Sabr's zone, while buddies Luqman Arshad and Sadat Malik lead the defensive department. Will Shukr be able to keep pace with Sabr?

Sabr is comprised of the Soliman's and many grainy individuals that will work some taxing shifts. GM Salman Alvi might've scored the Soliman's in the draft but will need a well rounded effort from his squad every game. Mazhar Hussain and Sulmaan Azmat look to provide some secondary scoring while Baseer Khan and Qasim Khan provide some grit on the third line. Netminder Sadiq Rehman hasn't been a foreigner and will search for better fortunes this season on Sabr. Can Sajid Khan and Abdul-Wahab Mohammad sustain Shukr's pressure?

Burning Questions?

Which team will win their first game?

Player To Watch:

Saleem Malik returns to the grind and has the repute of a hard working forward. His determination and efforts will be a pivotal in Shukr's fate.

Who's Hot?

No one yet.

Fall Previews - Week Thirteen - January 15th

Sabr vs Ikhlas

If you think pulling off one upset this year for Sabr was tolerable, then think again. Sabr's "Cinderella" team has certainly crafted quite a run and shouldn't be underestimated. The teele shirts pulled off another stunner last Friday as GM Huzaifa Manjara's squad brushed aside first place Shukr in a 3-1 jaw-dropper. Sabr got a consolidated effort and silenced Shukr's top guns. Sabr now faces Ikhlas; a team they've beaten once and lost once. Luqman Arshad and the Siddiqui's will be hellbent on protecting the blue line as Ikhlas's compelling offence won't display any resiliency. Will Sabr be crowned champs? Can Ahmad Hathout lead his team to the big dance?

Despite a few hiccups along the trek, GM Ahmad Ibrahim's crew have been a force to reckon with and have battled through some rough terrains. Last week, Ikhlas eliminated Ihsan in an authentic 2-0 win and sent them packing for the season. The green shirts have the anatomy to win this but that'll be orbiting on Kaunain Saiyed, who drastically did a 360 compared to previous seasons. Farooq Sani and Farrukh Khan will be playing critical minutes as Waqar Khan and his offensive comrades try to play antagonists against Sabr. Ahmad Hathout will be someone's duty. Who'll be up for the challenge in taming the hulking forward? Can Ikhlas make it past the finish line? 

Burning Questions?

Who will win the championships?

Player To Watch:

Hanif Kasuji provided some firepower in materializing Sabr's championship appearance. Can he echo the same performance this week?

Who's Hot?

Waqar Khan had two big assists and has been the wind behind Ikhlas's wings all season long.

 

Fall Previews - Week Twelve - January 8th

Sabr vs Shukr

The way Sabr functioned during the course of the regular season compelled many to believe that perhaps they were suffering from, "limited ambition." They straggled in the bottom of the standings till the end but eventually jolted the i-Slam critics by closing Haya's darkest chapter in a 4-0 smackdown. The teele shirts now have the task of facing Shukr, a team they've been owned by twice. Ahmad Hathout and Luqman Arshad need to provide the insight in cranking out another upset. Can Sabr become the Cinderella team this year? GM Huzaifa Manjara, Saqib Khokhar and Tariq Hathout will log heavy minutes while the Siddiqui's try to shadow Aazar Zafar and company.

As much as the cast of Shukr is licking their chops from having a banner year and maintaining a 10 game unbeaten streak, their still reminded of, "the myth." No first place team has ever won the championships. Will this be the year to toss superstitions out the window? GM Naeem Akhtar and company are gung-ho on climbing the ladder to the finals. Firepower isn't the issue here. Shukr has 5 players on their stats with double digits and a defensive core that's tighter than two coats of paint. Shukr must focus on taming Sabr's speed and striking Zaid Majoo with everything and the kitchen sink, simply because you can't underestimate the opposition. Will Shukr be able to make it to the next round?

Burning Questions?

Which team will make it to the finals?

Player to Watch:

Naeem Akhtar hasn't made too much noise in stats (compared to other years) but can definitely escalate his game in strenuous situations. Can Akhtar manhandle Sabr?

Who's Hot?
Luqman Arshad was clutch last week with a 3 point night. He'll be an instrumental player for this Friday's tilt.

Ihsan vs Ikhlas

The road to the finals are 30 minutes away for Ihsan. The red shirts bolted by Emaan with a firm 2-0 score and now confront Ikhlas for a date to the semis. The climate on Ihsan has hit a fever pitch with the squad winning two consecutive games, and ironically one of those wins coming from the green shirts. Ihsan's offence has maintained some texture, particularly with Arsalan Mian and Humza Chaudhry. The receptive duo have been a solid storyline that'll give the opposing defensemen a rude awakening. Shuaib Hussein and Ibrahim Hindy will provide their leadership on attacking Ikhlas's pressure points. Will Ihsan's defensemen been able to avert Waqar Khan and company? Can Coach K make this win happen?

Ikhlas might've hit a road block with three straight loses, but don't discount them yet. This is a group of guys that might bend but not break. The green shirts have had their legs on the recliner for the past weeks and will try to stay in the conversation for the finals. With all the marbles on the line, Ikhlas will have to play like they have a vendetta and drop the temperature on Ihsan's hot streak. Waqar Khan, Nadeem Faqiri and Junaid Mohammad will be heavily relied upon to get their team to the promise-land, while Farrukh Khan and his defensive mates eclipse Ihsan's ringers. Will Ikhlas be able to rebound and make it to the finals? Will Ihsan's experience triumph or Ikhlas's speed?

Burning Questions?

Which team will make it to the finals?

Player to Watch:
Arssal Shahabuddin will be a focal point in winning this game. The patient defenseman has a sharp eye in playing making things happen from the backend.

Who's Hot?

Nadeem Faqiri has more moves than a U-Haul and will and has ritually become a "regular" on the scoresheet.