02/11 ISCA Recap (Semi)

Half of the Atlantic division, in semi-pro, met on Saturday at Inline Skaters Club in Arlington, NJ.  Three of the division's top teams were in attendance, including the Deuces, the defending champion Gladiators, and coming in undefeated Wheel City.  In addition, the Grizzlies who've struggled out of the gate, were hoping for some home cooking playing at their home facility.

For all four teams, the first half of the season highlighted a pair of festivals against the Northeast division.  The remaining schedule is back loaded with inter division match up, with enormous playoff implications.  

Going into the night, Wheel City sat above everyone else in the east coast with a perfect 8-0 record, the only minor blemish being a lost point in an OT victory.  Things changed in a hurry in the Atlantic division, as Saturday night would belong to the Philadelphia Deuces.  Not only did the Deuces go undefeated, but they beat Wheel City twice, both by a decent margin (6-3 & 5-1).  In a rematch of last season's PIHA Championships semi final, the Deuces took down the Gladiators (3-2) in one of the best games of the night.  The loss was the only one of the night for the Gladiators, who also defeated Wheel City, to inch to within a point of them for second place.  The Grizzlies failed to record their first win of the season, but proved worthy as they were in tight games in all four match ups Saturday, including an OT loss in their final game against the Gladiators.

The Atlantic division will get right back into action next Saturday, as all eights are scheduled to meet at Yellow Breeches.  The event should prove to be a pivotal inter division festival that will set up the final weekend of the season in early March.

Photo Credit: jtryonphotography