Game Preview: Hat Tricks at Motor City Rockers | Dec. 6, 2024

LAST TIME OUT

The Hat Tricks posted five goals for the second straight night and took down the Port Huron Prowlers 5-2 to sweep the weekend series at McMorran Arena in Michigan on Saturday. For the first time this season, the Hat Tricks have won back-to-back games and closed out their November schedule with three wins in four contests. Noah Robinson’s goal seven seconds into the game set the tone in the three-goal win.

Captain Jonny Ruiz had a four-point night (1g, 3a), while newcomer Aleksandr Vasilyev notched his first goal as a Hat Trick. Defenseman Kyle Gonzalez buried his first goal of the season.

Vasilyev, 35, also picked up an assist on Robinson’s go-ahead goal in the first, marking his first multi-point outing of the season. Additionally, the Hat Tricks have scored on the power play in three straight games.

Making 30 saves for the seventh time in 11 starts, Conor McCollum earned his fourth win in the net.

Danbury moved ahead of Port Huron for third place in the Empire Division with the win and secured its first win streak since March 29 of last season. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Hat Tricks travel to Fraser, Mich., for the first and only time this season for a weekend series battle with the Motor City Rockers at Big Boy Arena. The two teams opened the 2024-25 season against each other on Oct. 18 and 19, splitting the weekend set in Danbury. The Hat Tricks won their first game of the Ruiz-Gonzalez coaching era 6-2 on Oct. 19 after dropping the season opener the prior night, 4-2. Following two games in Michigan this weekend, the two Empire Division foes will face off three more times this season, all coming in Danbury.

The season series will resume on Dec. 20 in Connecticut for its fifth contest and then wrap up with two games in mid-January (Jan. 17 and 18). 

Last season, the Hat Tricks were eliminated from the playoffs by Motor City after losing the winner-take-all game of the opening round playoffs series. Danbury dropped its lone home game of the series, 3-2 in overtime (April 19) and despite grabbing a 4-2 win in Game 2 (April 20), fell 4-1 in the win-or-go-home contest to end the season (April 21). In Game 3, the Rockers snatched a three-goal lead late in the second period and Motor City netminder Trevor Babin stole the show, especially down the stretch, stopping 42 of 43 shots on goal. Scott Coash, Motor City’s leading goal scorer in the regular season, buried two for the Rockers. Danbury was 0-for-19 on the power play in the series while Motor City connected twice on the man advantage.

Danbury finished the regular season with a 22-19-6-9 record and 90 points, just seven back of the Rockers (97) for the second-best record in the division. In the regular campaign, the division opponents only met twice, a two-game series from Dec. 1-2 in Danbury. The sides split the set, with the Rockers taking the first game in overtime, 5-4, and the Hat Tricks responding the next night in regulation, 5-3.

ABOUT THE ROCKERS

Motor City has won back-to-back games and three of its last five entering Friday’s matchup, after scoring 10 goals and sweeping its series with the Dashers. In their third FPHL season, the Rockers enter Friday’s matchup at 3-9-0-3, nabbing two wins, one in a shootout, in Danville on Nov. 29 and 30. Before the weekend sweep over the Dashers, the Rockers had just one win in the previous seven games. The Rockers have nine regulation losses through 14 games, the third most in the FPHL behind the Dashers (11) and Mississippi (12). Motor City trails Port Huron by five points for fourth in the Empire Division and sits seven points behind Danbury for third.

The Rockers have yet to win at home this season, falling in their first four games at Big Boy Arena. Their latest home defeat came against Watertown, 8-3, on Nov 22.

Through their first 14 games, Motor City has the third-worst goal differential in the FPHL (-19), only trailing the Dashers (-43) and Mississippi (-46). On the power play, the Rockers hold the league’s second-worst percentage (16.4%) and have scored the third-fewest goals (9) on the league’s fourth-fewest opportunities (55). TJ Sneath is the team’s leading power play scorer for Motor City, with three. Last season, the Rockers gave up the third-fewest power play goals (39) in the league.

Defenseman Nick Magill-Diaz is the only Rocker with a positive plus-minus (+2). Eli Rivers is Motor City’s leader in both goals (8) and assists (6) and has scored in back-to-back games. The first-year forward logged one goal in each of the Rockers’ first two games against the Hat Tricks, also adding an assist in Motor City’s 6-2 loss on Oct. 19.

Last season, Motor City was swept by Commissioner’s Cup champion Binghamton in the Empire Division Finals.

HAT TRICKS HEADLINES

The Hat Tricks make the final stop of their six-game road trip in Fraser with two games against the Rockers starting Friday with a chance to extend their first winning streak of the season to three games. Registering its fourth road victory of the season on Saturday, Danbury has tallied a combined 23 goals away from its home barn and is 3-0-2-1 when scoring at least four goals on the road.

Danbury has scored at least one power play goal in each of its past three contests, a revelation from its 2-for-44 mark over a seven-game stretch leading up to Vadim Frolov’s power play score on Nov. 27 at Binghamton.

Contributing to the Hat Tricks’ 3-1 lead after the first period on Saturday, Noah Robinson scored seven seconds in, a franchise record, to give the Hat Tricks their fourth win of the season (3-1-2-1) when scoring first. The Hat Tricks improved to 3-0-1-0 when leading after the opening period and 3-0-2-1 when leading after two.

Co-head coach and defenseman Kyle Gonzalez’s first goal of the season in the second helped Danbury to a 5-0-2-1 record when leading into the third.

The Hat Tricks lead the FPHL with four shorthanded goals this season, including two from Chase Harwell, after tying with Mississippi for the second most (13) last season, but have surrendered power play goals in nine of their first 14 games. 

Danbury has started the inaugural season of the Ruiz-Gonzalez coaching era with six wins in its first 14 contests. Four of the Hat Tricks’ six victories have been decided by three or more goals. Jonny Ruiz leads Danbury with 14 points (4g, 10a) after notching four points (1g, 3a) against the Prowlers on Nov. 30. Chase Harwell and Aleksandr Gamzatov each hold a team-high six goals and Jacob Ratcliffe leads in assists, with 11.

FIRST WIN STREAK

Defeating Port Huron on Saturday, the Hat Tricks have established their first win streak of the season and their first since March 29 last season. Before falling to Motor City in last season’s opening round playoffs, Danbury registered six straight wins from March 15–29 for its longest win streak of the season, also winning five straight from Dec. 30–Jan. 12.

CAPTAIN HEATS UP

In Saturday’s 5-2 victory, co-head coach and captain Jonny Ruiz provided a team-high four points (1g, 3a), tying his season-high. The 30-year-old forward also recorded four points in the Hat Tricks’ first road win of the season against Hudson Valley on Oct. 26 and has his first point streak this season. Now in his fifth season with Danbury, Ruiz remains the Hat Tricks’ all-time leader in points (282), goals (151) and games played (215). 

VASILYEV’S BEST NIGHT YET

Aleksandr Vasilyev had a season-high two points (1g, 1a) in Saturday’s victory in Port Huron. The 35-year-old Russian scored the game-winner on the power play in the first period and added an assist on the first goal of the game. Vasilyev plays in his fourth game with the Hat Tricks on Saturday after spending 223 games across eight seasons in the KHL.

GONZALEZ GETS HIS FIRST GOAL

Co-head coach Kyle Gonzalez scored his first goal of the season in the second period on Saturday, marking his first since April 7 of last season, an 8-1 win against Elmira. The sixth-year defenseman now has eight career goals, including three in the Hat Tricks’ Commissioner’s Cup championship season in 2022-23. Gonzalez totaled nine points (3g, 6a) last season.

WOOLLEY STAYS HOT

Connor Woolley has netted goals in back-to-back games. In his third FPHL season, the 26-year-old provided one on Saturday for his third over the past two contests. Four games ago against Binghamton (Oct. 23), Woolley also turned in two assists for the second time this season and now holds four goals and eight assists in 14 outings.

BERRY MAKES RETURN

Forward Billy Berry is set to make his season debut on Friday. The Redding, Conn., native returns for his second season with the Hat Tricks after totaling 12 points (6g, 6a) in his rookie year. Additionally, Berry added a goal and an assist in three playoff games against Motor City, last season. Last season, the 25-year-old got off to a hot start securing a seven-game point streak (6-4-10) from March 2–29. In five seasons at Wilkes University (Division III), Berry put up 64 combined points.

LABELLE CONTINUES POINT STREAK

Josh Labelle supplied two assists on Saturday, extending his point streak to a season-long three games. A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Labelle holds two multi-point outings this season, his first coming in the Hat Tricks’ first road win in Hudson Valley on Oct. 26. Labelle’s longest point streak last season lasted eight games, Feb. 16–March 2, resulting in 17 combined points. The 25-year-old recorded his 100th FPHL point with an assist on Nov. 29 at Port Huron. Since being acquired from the Columbus River Dragons last season, the 6-foot-6-inch defenseman has accumulated 44 of his 100 points (11g, 33a) with Danbury in just 49 games.

Single-game tickets and full/partial season membership plans are still available for purchase. If you are interested, email herm@danburyhattricks.com or go to Tixr.

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ABOUT DANBURY HAT TRICKS:

The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut, competing in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Since their founding in 2019, the Hat Tricks have brought thrilling, hard-hitting hockey to the Danbury Ice Arena, earning a reputation for their fierce competitive spirit and strong community presence. The team is dedicated to providing an exciting game-day experience for fans of all ages, with a focus on building long-lasting connections within the local community.

Proudly representing Danbury, the Hat Tricks are committed to excellence both on and off the ice. In addition to developing top-tier hockey talent, the team engages in numerous community outreach programs, fostering relationships with local schools, businesses, and charities. The Hat Tricks aim to continue growing the sport of hockey in the area and provide entertainment that brings the community together.

Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or new to the sport, the Danbury Hat Tricks promise an unforgettable experience every time they take the ice.