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?

Spring Previews - Week Eight - April 17th

Ihsan vs Emaan

In desperate times, comes desperate measures, this was the scenario for Ihsan. The Red Army wrote another chapter to their tale after demoralizing a dazed looking Sabr team by a 5-2 score. With three games left in the regular season and a tough Emaan team anxiously awaiting; will Ihsan by able to gett'er done again? The red shirts showed some awesome energy down low and feasted off of Sabr's defensive lapses last week, causing them to explode minute after minute. Ihsan is still looking outside in, and need the help of Haya to keep team yellow tamed, provided they win. 

Emaan was slipping and sliding in frustration over trying to solve Khalid Mufti last week. The Orangemen overloaded Shukr with pressure yet settled in a 1-1 tie that assisted them in maintaining their second place stature for another day. Emaan has a rematch versus the red shirts this week, where a win will earn them the bragging rights to a series sweep. The Orangemen's speed and first line has been their stomping grounds thus far, but with Ihsan's HUGE win we may witness an upset. Can Emaan stretch their unbeaten streak to four?

Player To Watch:

Known for his in-your-approach and rugged approach, Belal Hafeez will be a mission for Ihsan players to dodge.

Who's Hot?

Since most of the team was severely active, it's really too hard to pick a player on Ihsan. Let's just say team red is red hot.

Burning Questions?

Will Ihsan be able to build off their momentum and avenge their previous loss to Emaan?

Sabr vs Haya

If Sabr is serious about making the post season then they've really got to saddle up against Haya this week. Despite scoring first last game  and setting off a positive atmosphere, Sabr exhibited a lacklustre defensive game and got blown away in a 5-2 drubbing. The yellow shirts are tied in the final playoff spot and have a frustrated Haya team knocking at their door. The yellow shirts must play a more cognizant and lively game in the back end, cause it killed them last game. Can Sabr upset the Misty Marauders once again? 

Haya orchestrated a bullheaded first period last week and then got stampeded by Ikhlas in the second period. Honestly, despite the grey shirts lethargic performance in the second half, they had no business stealing the two points. Ikhlas choked. However, we know Haya is better than this and bad games happen from time to time. Haya will probably have everyone on deck this week to avenge their only loss to Sabr. Will Haya be able to capture a win over Sabr? 

Player To Watch:

There was a lot of rant about Navaz Sheikh before the draft. Can Navaz live up to all the hype and chatter, cause he's been awfully quite thus far.

Who's Hot?

Umar Muhammad was on a rampage last game and nabbed two big points. There would've been more rewards for Mr. Muhammad last game, but let's just say he's waiting for this week.

Burning Questions?

Can Sabr push themselves north in the standings?

Shukr vs Ikhlas

The Blue Battalion is also another team that went through a heck of ordeal last week. Despite being short benched, Shukr mustered out another tie game. The blue shirts have the last place Ikhlas on hands and although they haven't been playing the best hockey lately, you just can't underestimate team green. A win for Shukr would be a welcoming addition to their record since this squad has feasted off the one point nights. Can Shukr handle Ikhlas's speed? Besides Ibrahim Hindy, who else will initiate some scoring?

It's a challenge watching Ikhlas's games. Sometimes they make the crisp passes and decent plays and you ponder that maybe it's their night. Then there are times where watching the green shirts is like watching a child carrying a bowl of cereal to the dinner table. The Green Machine were minutes away for their second win of the season when all of a sudden the wheels started falling off. Ikhlas has to do something positive this time around. Could the resurrection of Ikhlas be this week?

Player To Watch:

The towering Mohammad Hamoud has helped out in every department thinkable, besides goaltending obviously. Can Hamoud make an impact this time around for Ikhlas?

Who's Hot?

Imran Lakhanpal got an the board last week with a meaningful goal. Is there more where that came from? 

Burning Questions?

This might be Ikhlas's last chance to revive themselves, depending on what transpires with the rest of the teams. Can the Green Machine cash out a victory?

Spring Previews - Week Seven - April 10th

Shukr vs Emaan

After getting shell shocked in their first loss of the season by the multitude of Emaan's hands, Shukr looks to seek vengeance this week. Recently relishing their 3-1 victory over Ikhlas, the blue shirts must refocus on winning more games. The ties are all fun and dandy, but is their any team that Shukr owns the "head-to-head" to? Captain Ibrahim Hindy continues his surge for Shukr while Shuaib Hussein leads the supporting cast. Will Shukr succeed in vengeance? 

Emaan is licking their chops in anticipation of snatching another two points from the blue shirts this week. Last game, the Orangemen lurked by Ihsan and overthrew the Red Army in a 3-2 result. Emaan's achilles has been their first line tacked with some solid defensive push by Belal Hafeez, Bilal Pervaiz and Kashif Taqiuddin. The orange shirts gave a depleted Shukr squad a bad nightmare in the a form of a 6-1 beat down. Can Emaan preserve their second place standing? Will their persistent "crashing the net" reign again?

Player To Watch:

Riaz Lasania's defensive prowess has been an instrumental tool for Shukr.

Who's Hot?

Jibraan Salam continues to rolls his wheels every game. The lanky lad has been a menace for defenders but a hearty contributor for his team.

Burning Questions?

Will Shukr be able to continue their rise up the standings?

Ikhlas vs Haya

The account of the Green Machine is slowly running out of funds. Every game has triggered a wave of anxiety for Ikhlas and now with only a mere 4 games remaining in the regular season, the post season window is gingerly closing. It's either giddy up or get off now. The green shirts sported another bruiser by the hands of Shukr and need to step it up against Haya, whom they played a better game against last time. Will Ikhlas be able to come back to life with a win over the first place squad?

The Misty Marauders swallowed a pill that might've been bigger than anticipated, but let's face it, it's reality. How long can you go unbeaten for? We can debate till the cows come home that Sabr's net-minding stole the show; or did Haya came out flat? That being said, I'm willing to bet my wooden hockey stick that Ikhlas will probably get minimized once again, cause Haya's got some frustration to release. Umar Muhammad and Saleem Malik have been solid shareholders to Haya's offence, expect them to procure some points. Can Haya get back in the win column?

Player To Watch:

Rizwan Malik is the energy of his team. Expect Rizwan to give Ikhlas a lesson or two on how to "drive" towards the net.

Who's Hot?

Umair Awan was the lone point getter last game for the green shirts. Can he transport his team out of the dark and into the light. 

Burning Questions?

How will Ikhlas reply to Haya's abundance of firepower? 

Sabr vs Ihsan

Sabr's aura after edging Haya was obviously euphoric. Yousuf Sowdagar pounced on a nifty short handed goal while Mohsin Lalva sealed the deal on a yawning Haya net. Zayd Agjee's gleaming performance gave the yellow shirts a critical win that stabilizes their post season aspirations for another day. This week's theme for team yellow will pretty much be "encore". Will Sabr be able to conquer an Ihsan team that's simply yearning for a win? Can GM Mustafa Alam's team build off the momentum and spank Ihsan?

We can't even hashtag this team #bleedred, cause seriously, the bleeding just won't stop. Ihsan's biggest of woes is simply failing to win. In what was a close game last week, losing to Emaan really stung the Red Army. The plethora of talent on Ihsan and what their producing has many of us wondering what's going on. The big red has gotta get this ship sailing! Time is running out and with a burnishing Sabr team coming up for battle this week, it might not be a smooth sail. How will Ihsan reply to Sabr?

Player To Watch:

Ahmad Hathout sits as the poster boy for the Red Army this year. With ten points already pocketed, it's foreseen that Hathout can revive his team's post season dreams.

Who's Hot?

Yousuf Sowdagar's two point night was more than welcoming. Will Sowdagar be able to deliver this week versus Ihsan.

Burning Questions?

Two teams headed in the opposite ends of the food chain? Which team will correct their paths to the playoffs?

Spring Previews - Week Six - March 27th

Haya vs Sabr

Haya looks to prolong their win streak to 6 games as they face off against Sabr tonight. Everything is swinging in the right direction for the grey shirts, but can Sabr be a roadblock for Haya? Naeem Akhtar and Junaid Mohammad still prove to be the main arteries for Haya while Yusuf Kapoor also continues to glimmer for the Misty Marauder. Can Haya devour Sabr?

Sabr was plagued with some weird plays last game as all didn't go well globally. Losing 4-2 to Ihsan in a somewhat lethargic fashion, we question if the yellow shirts are still in this? With 2nd place and last place being distanced by two points, every point is critical as this season the parity for each team is pretty darn close. Can Sabr rebound from their dreadful loss?

Emaan vs Ihsan

I wouldn't call it a pummelling but let's just say the Orangemen "freshly squeezed" the life out of Shukr. Waqar Khan, you're probably tired of hearing his name but this guy is showing no mercy to any team. GM Furqan Salam and his crew are on cloud nine with their last win and anticipate to forward that momentum when they battle Ihsan. Will the Orangemen prevail over the Red Army? 

Ihsan pulled of a towering victory last week with Nauman Abbasi and Abdul Wahab Mohammad showcasing sound performances. The needed win puts the Red Army back into the playoff picture but now have the daunting task of battling Emaan. GM Salman Khalid missed the last game so his presence versus the Orangemen just might be what the doctor ordered. Can Ihsan pull over the impossible?

Ikhlas vs Shukr

The Green Army are close to broke if they don't succeed tonight. GM Wakaas Khan and his clan played with their hearts on their sleeves but couldn't handle the Haya's abundance of talent. Ikhlas's playoff chances are on the line versus Shukr tonight. Who'll take home the bragging right? Can the green shirts give the seasoned Shukr squad a run for their money?

Shukr played a game that probably should be forgotten, or a lessons learned. Playing with a shortened bench, the blue shirts couldn't withstand Emaan's offensive firepower and got smudged by a 6-1 score. Tonight's Shukr's "playoff game" versus Ikhlas, Shukr must perform a earn a win or things won't look good for the blue shirts. Anticipate Captain Ibrahim Hindy and Shuaib Hussein to get these boys jolted up for tonight. Will Shukr be able to win their first game?

Spring Previews - Week Five - March 20th

Emaan vs Shukr

You can bet all your marbles that Emaan will be storming out of the floodgates when they face Shukr this Friday. After giving their Ikhlas chums a rough ride in the form of a 6-0 beatdown, expect the Orangemen to pour it on to a team that's still floating in the lake. The biggest peril on Emaan is none other than Waqar Khan. The guy has been hotter than Rob Ford's crack pipe and quite frankly the most tenacious player on orange. Netminder Sadiq Rehman will heavily rely on the expertise of both Bilal Pervaiz and Belal Hafeez at the blue line. With a win, either team locks up a firm stance on second place. Can Emaan hand Shukr their first loss?

Despite pocketing four ties in four games, it seems that Shukr is still roaming around and trying to find a win. In their last tilt, Shukr found themselves trailing the game, but held together once again only to construct another tying performance. The Blue Battalion have managed to hold their own each week and are very close to getting that monkey off their back. Can it be this week? Will Captain Ibrahim Hindy's troops counter Emaan's quick legs? Shuaib Hussein and Gehad Alhundi once again face the limelight and hope to relieve the pressure that resides on Shukr's management. Will Shukr give Emaan a run for their money? 

Player To Watch:

Ibrahim Hindy has been full throttle for the blue shirts, notching 5 points in 4 games. 

Who's Hot?

Waqar Khan had a 4 point night last game and is clearly leading his pack in points. 

Burning Questions?

Which team will get a grasp on second place?

Haya vs Ikhlas

The Misty Marauders continue their ascent in the spring season with another illuminating win over Ihsan. Much can be said about the plethora of offence gushing out of Haya's veins, as alike has been their tough defence. However, we bite our nails in fear of what might transpire when grey faces green this week. Am I going to call this a washout? Well, pretty much. There's a lot of depth in Haya and it seems that Ikhlas just won't be able to sustain it. Several Haya entities have attributed to the team's stature, yet most polarizing have been Junaid Mohammad and Naeem Akhtar. Is this the biggest free ride Yusuf Kapoor will get this week? Watch out Ikhlas, this may get ugly!

What will become of Ikhlas when they tango with Haya this. The Green Machine got pickpocketed by Emaan and pretty much didn't show any urgency whatsoever. The green shirts got served 6 unresponsive goals and outshot 26-9...pretty staggering statistics eh! I know it's been a struggle for Ikhlas but someone has to dictate the orders in this team. Team green is only two points away from the final playoff spot so let's not totally mail this home yet! Ikhlas requires a solid performance from everyone but most critically they need Ibad Khan back ASAP. Ibad, I hope you're reading this. Will the fate of Ikhlas be murky or magnificent? Time for Ikhlas to get their act together.

Player To Watch:

Amir Multani has been quiet this season. Will this "shoutout" get him going?

Who's Hot?

Aazar Zafar has been a big factor to this team. His versatility has experience has shouted volumes for Haya.

Burning Questions?

Can Ikhlas even buy a win?

Ihsan vs Sabr

Ihsan still seems to be lost in the woods when it comes to capturing a win. The Red Army played a vacillating game versus Haya but couldn't capitalize on the chances and essentially tasted defeat once again. We're almost halfway through the season and it's quite baffling to see Ihsan in this conundrum, especially with the seasoned roster they possess. Many would've guessed that Ihsan would at least be a top four team, guess we were wrong about that, thus far. Yousuf Soliman, Hany Soliman and Ahmad Hathout will have to elevate their presence while they can. Will the red shirts be able to topple Sabr? Can GM Salman Khalid's team turn it around and get into the win column?

Despite getting a few lucky bounces and missing key players, Sabr had Shukr on the edge of their seats early in the game. While the winning spirit was evident, Sabr's legs started to deteriorate over time as Shukr pounced on the yellow shirt's depleted roster. Long story short, Sabr walked away with a tie, which is still great news for GM Mustafa Alam. Versus Ihsan, you can expect Sabr's young guns to crash the net all night long and give netminder Abu Mamooji an grueling time between the pipes. Atif Mian, Yousuf Sowdagar and Navaz Sheikh will be the guys that require the utmost attention for the Red Army. Can Sabr claw out a win against a salivating Ihsan team?

Player To Watch:

He was called out and he delivered. Nadeem Qureshi dished out a 3 point night and will need to hit the repeat button this week.

Who's Hot?

Yousuf Sowdagar also had a stellar 3 point night last game.

Burning Questions?

Can Ihsan find a way to win?