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***WARNING: Any foul language and behaviour directed towards MMGL referees in the playoffs will NOT be tolerated. Players are reminded to play a clean game and keep a strict adherence towards the rules of the game. Any foul play and/or behaviour will result in an automatic ejection from the game.***

 

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Winter 2015 Team Previews

 

  Shoaib Khan is back at the helm of the Nordiques again, where it seems he feels most comfortable. The Nords will boast a never before seen offensive of Shoaib Khan, Yahya Ingar and Shahrukh Shah. If this power line wasn't enough, Khan has gone forward and drafted Mohammed Kazi and Faiz Vaid for solid shutdown play. Goalie Mohamed Bashir is a Nord again, hopefully this time under better circumstances. There's no doubt this team can score, the question lies in their defense.


 The Hawks led by Adil Patel will be a force to reckon with as it boasts the talents of Yusuf Ingar, Farhan Saleh and the goaltending capabilities of Nadir Ahmed. Ahmed is the goalie of choice for GM Adil Patel, and with a strong defensive squad he is sure he can win it all. The question that comes into play for this team will be historically rough play (lots of penalties) and the attendance of the GM himself when it matters most.

 The Sharks under the management of Omar Husain will see a group of players come together that excel individually but have not yet played together in the past. Abu Bakr Hafejee and Vasim Kagzi will be the core of this team, alongside veteran Waseem Kalair. Everyone is looking forward to the mythical Dave Singh and what he has to offer. Goalie Abbas Shaikh has been out of play for quite a while, and it is expected he will require a few games to settle in.

 The Bruins, rebranded under GM Suhaib Shaikh, is built around a core group of players that have been consistent and perform day in day out. Abdul Manjra will compliment the offensive efforts of Shoaib Rangrez and Arif Hanslod very well, while the Shaikh brothers take care of things defensively. Goalie Kaleem Mirza can play to his true potential this season knowing there is a strong team in front of him.

 

 The Falcons, being led by Erfan Bhanapatel this season, is a team versatile in its skill. Syed Ahmed and Huzaifah Panchbhaya are expected to take the lead up front, while players like MVP Zahid Panchbhaya and Gurmit Bhatal can interchange roles as needed. Goalie Yasir Hussain makes his return to MMGL this season, and I would not consider him rusty as he's always been one to plan ahead. It will be interesting to see how this group of players meshes on the hardwood.

 

 The Jets and Ricky Saili seem to have a way of finding each other. Saili has gone with what he knows is true and tested and drafted former teammate Moosa Bhoola, along with friends Jason Gogna, Manjot Bhatti and Arwinder Banwait. Vezina winner Mohammed AK Patel will be the netminder for the Jets again, hopefully this season coming out on top. With a group that has seasons of chemistry behind them, it will be tough to knock these Jets off their pedestal.

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Fall 2014 Award Winners

FALL 2014 VERDI CUP CHAMPIONS! 


 

 

FALCONS DOWN JETS 7-6 IN THRILLER TO BE CROWNED VERDI CUP CHAMPIONS!

 

The regular season came and went, and within a span of three months GMs Fahad Panchbhaya and Muzammil Khan matured and developed into management stars. Both GMs made huge trades that shook the league and profited their respective teams. Twelve weeks later, here they are in the MMGL Verdi Cup Finals. The Falcons are riddled with injuries and a short bench, yet pushed through and seem resilient in the face of obstacles. The Jets created a strong chemistry that would prove to come clutch in the dying seconds of games to lead them to where they are today. But there can only be one.

 

The ball dropped at 9:00PM and both teams went at it in what was probably one of the best finals this league has seen to date. The Falcons struck first with a goal from Ricky Saili, who is no stranger to the Finals. Determined not to let this game get away as it has in the past, Abdul Manjra would score for the Jets, tying it up with 18 minutes left in play. The Flacons however would persist as the offensive duo of Shoaib Khan and Ricky Saili would produce a pair of goals, leaving goalie Mohammed AK Patel baffled. Huzzy Pancbhaya would step up and answer the call for the Jets, as he scored his first goal of the night to cut the deficit to one. With 10 minutes left in play, the Jets defense left Shahrukh Shah wide open and he wired home his first goal of the night. Muzammil Khan would keep the Jets within one with a nice set up from veteran Sadik Patel, but not before Ricky Saili would complete his first period hat trick. The Falcons lead this one 5-3 going into the half, and look very comfortable even with only one sub.

 

The second half was a completely different story as the Jets came out stronger and with a determination not seen before. Abdul Manjra would be their saviour as he netted a pair to tie things up. With the game tied at 5 a piece, Huzzy Panchbhaya would step up and beat goalie Deepinder Brar and give the Jets the 6-5 lead. Both teams were pushing hard, yet playing one of the cleanest Finals to date. The Jets slipped and left Shahrukh Shah open again, giving the Falcons the tying goal with 8 minutes left in play. With the game tied and the whole season on the line, it would be Zahid Panchbhaya who would score the winning goal for the Falcons, claiming his first ever Verdi Cup. The Falcons win this one 7-6 in one of the most exciting games to date.

 

Congratulations to Fahad Panchbhaya on GM-ing a team through tough times and making smart moves when it counted the most. Special mention goes to GM Muzammil Khan for a great show of leadership and sportsmanship during the whole season.

 

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Here we are ladies and gentlemen, the MMGL finals! The road to the Verdi Cup was a long one, and for one team on Friday at 9PM, it will have been worth it all. The Falcons, led by GM Fahad Panchbhaya have seen a roller coaster of a season with injuries, trades, and inactive players. That being said, this is by far one of the strongest teams thanks to the Shoaib Khan and Ricky Saili offensive duo. Goalie Deepinder Brar has been thankful for a strong defense that has kept this team in, especially during the semi finals when they had to work with only one sub. The Jets, led by GM Muzammil Khan, have been a solid team since day one. The acquisition of Huzzy Panchbhaya early in the season was a strong move, and playing alongside Abdul Manjra has brought out the best in him. Goalie Mohammed AK Patel is making a strong case to be the strongest goalie in the league, and he will be put to the test this Friday.

 

Just a few things to remember, the final game is played with two 25 minute halves. Referees will be extra vigilant with chirping and physical play, so players are humbly warned to play the game and let all else be. Awards ceremony will take place after the game, and all silverware will be handed out on the spot. There is also word that Mississauga's new mayor Bonnie Crombie may be making a special drop in...but that's just a rumor for now.

 

Jets VS Falcons - MMGL Verdi Cup Finals Season 6

 

 

 

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Semi Finals Summaries


Falcons defeat Bruins 7-6  
The Bruins and Falcons faced off first this week, with both teams seriously undermanned. The Falcons were without Moosa Bhoola and GM Fahad Panchbhaya. The Bruins were without Aziz Patel and goalie Shahir Shaikh, forcing Syed Ahmed to put on the pads and carry the team. The Bruins were phenomenal to start, with three straight goals coming from Arif Hanslod and Yahya Ingar (2). The Falcons responded with goals from a Shahrukh Shah slapshot and Shoaib Khan breaking down the Bruins defense. Yahya Ingar would complete a first period hat trick followed by a goal from Falcons' Zahid Panchbhaya. Bruins lead 4-3 going into the half with Syed Ahmed doing his best to keep the team alive. The second period saw Fahim Shaikh leave the game, leaving both teams with only one sub to finish. Shoaib Khan would have the first goal of the second period to tie it up, but the Bruins would not budge as both teams kept trading goals. With 6 minutes left in play, Asif Saleh would score the last goal for the Bruins, putting them up 6-5. With gas running out quickly, the Falcons took advantage and put the game away in the last two minutes with goals from Ricky Saili and Shoaib Khan. Falcons win this one 7-6 to move on to the finals. Congratulations to GM Suhaib Shaikh on building a team that most thought would be DOA, and taking them this far.
Jets defeat Sharks 10-3 
With the Falcons celebrating their big win, the Jets and Sharks would face off to see who would face them in the finals. The Jets struck first with a goal from Huzaifah Panchbhaya, who was especially energetic that night. Vasim Kagzi would get the tying goal for the Sharks, who looked a bit perplexed by the constant wave of attacks from the Jets. The Jets struck hard with four straight goals in the first period, coming from Fayaz Kazi, GM Muzammil Khan and Abdul Manjra (2). The Jets were doing everything right and goalie Mohammed AK Patel was on top of his game. I wish I could say the same for the Sharks, but there was a consistent breakdown of plays and communication before they got moving. Haran Karunakaran and Shoaib Rangrez would both score before the period end, but the Jets still led this one strong 6-3 going into the half. The second period was all Jets as it seemed the Sharks had simply given up. With an array of balanced scoring and 5 assists on the night from Huzaifah Panchbhaya, this game was over long before the final buzzer. The Jets win this one 10-3 and will face off against the Falcons in the 6th Verdi Cup finals. Congratulations to GM Sufyaan Shaikh on bringing the team this far, and the result may have been different if key players were still a part of the team.
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Semi Finals Previews


Bruins Vs Falcons @ 8:45 pm 
The Falcons and Bruins face off in our first semi-final game of the night. The Bruins are coming off a huge quarter-final win against the Hawks, and will be looking to carry the momentum into this game. They will be without Aziz Patel, and the Falcons will be missing out magician Moosa Bhoola. The Falcons game plan seems simple enough, have Shoaib Khan and Ricky Saili control the front while the rest of the team locks down on D. It's been a working formula so far this season, and the Bruins will have their hands full. At the end, it comes down to the goalies and both have been playing phenomenally as of late. May
the best team win.
Jets Vs Sharks @ 9:45 pm
At 9:45, the Jets and Sharks will face off to see who will face the winner of the previous game in the finals. The Jets came off with a narrow win against the Nords, and will be aiming to use the same style of play against the Sharks, who are without Abu Hafejee. The core of the Jets success has come from Abdul Manjra, and GM Muzammil Khan will need a Plan B if he is locked down. As for the Sharks, there is not much this team lacks in, it will only be the long grind of keeping a very energetic Jets team contained. Let's hope the bye week was a week of rest and not rust.
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Quarter Finals Summaries

 
Jets defeat Nordiques 6-5 
Jets eliminate Nordiques.

Starting the night were the Jets and Nordiques, two teams we were eagerly hoping would meet in the playoffs. Wish granted. The Jets scored first with a goal from Abdul Manjra, only to be outdone by Arwinder Banwait and Gopi Johal minutes later. Manjra would lead by example and tie the game up with his second goal of the night. With a goal from teammate Sadik Patel, Manjra would complete his hat trick a minute later as the Jets dominated 4-2. The Nords' Johal pushed back with his second goal to lessen the gap, but Andrew Persaud would be in the right place at the right time to get a goal with 7 seconds left in the first. Jets lead 5-3. The second half was an all-out assault from the Nords as Johal would get two more goals, courtesy of some hustle plays from GM Farhan Saleh.  Abdul Manjra would be the eventual savior for the Jets as he netted the game winner with 4 minutes left to play. With goalie Mohamed Bashir running to the bench, Farhan Saleh just missed a tying goal by half an inch. Tough luck, but here are some soothing words from the Mighty Ducks, "A quarter of an inch this way and it would have gone in. A quarter of an inch, Charlie. | Yeah, but a quarter inch the other way and you'd have missed completely." Jets win 6-5 and move on to face the Sharks.At 8:45PM, we have the Jets and Nordiques face off in what is likely to be a very exciting game. The seasons series between the two teams is split 1-1, and there really is no telling who will win it tonight. The Jets have offensive capabilities in Abdul Manjra and Huzaifah Panchbhaya, and a solid goalie in Mohammed AK Patel. That may not be enough as the Nords are fueled by a season-long frustration to prove they do not deserve to be in the basement. Expect Farhan Saleh, Jason Gogna and Gopi Johal to take over when it matters. 
Bruins Vs Hawks @ 9:45 pm
At 9:45PM, the Bruins take on the Hawks in a scenario the league is all too familiar with. The Bruins swept the season series 2-0, but I would hesitate to give them the credibility of a playoff win so soon. Both games had seen the Hawks without a full squad and a load of penalties called. Unfortunately for the Hawks again, Mohammed Kazi will be out due to a suspension, leaving Adil Patel to lead the team. As for the Bruins, GM Suhaib Shaikh will need quick shifts and strong man on man defense to contain the offensive threats coming their way. Goalies in question seem to be Kaleem Mirza and Shahir Shaikh.

Don't miss this one folks, it will get rowdy. 
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Week 10 Summaries

Bruins defeat Nordiques 12-10
Ladies and gentlemen the final games of the regular season have come and gone, and here's how it went down. The Bruins and Nordiques faced off for the battle of last place, with the respective GMs agreeing to go in net. Gopi Johal and Jason Gogna took advantage of this with the first goals of the night, but were not alone as Aziz Patel and Yahya Ingar went to work on Farhan Saleh as well. Both teams traded goals back and forth in a free for all frenzy, with the Nords managing to hold onto a 6-5 lead going into the half. Kudos to both teams for being great sports about the final game of the season, although I'm sure being guaranteed a playoff spot had something to do with it. The second half was the Yahya Ingar show as he went off to score 6 goals with a total tally of 8 goals on the night! This was all the Bruins needed as even a last second goal from the Nords' Arwinder Banwait would do nothing, as the Bruins walk away with a 12-10 win. 
Jets defeat Hawks 8-5
Next up the Hawks and Jets faced off in a game that involved a lot of physical play. Goalie Mohamed Ingar was called up to play for the Hawks, and quite frankly, didn't seem all too energized to play. Huzzy Panchbhaya scored the first goal of the night, only to be matched by a goal from Joe Bruno. Perhaps infuriated by this, Panchbhaya would score another goal to double his tally, while Erfan Bhanapatel would score a pair of his own. GM Muzammil Khan would have the last goal of the half as both teams get ready for the second tied at 3 a piece. The second period took a more shifted turn as the Jets came out strong, seeing two goals from Abdul Manjra, and a single from Sadik Patel and Muzammil Khan. The Hawks had a pair of goals towards the end including a fist fight instigated by GM Mohammed Kazi. Needless to say, suspensions are coming and the Jets walked away with an 8-5 win. 
Falcons defeat Sharks 10-8

 

And finally the Sharks and Falcons faced off to end the season on a clean note. The Sharks were short-benched, missing Abu Hafejee, Haran Karunakaran and Shoaib Rangrez. The Falcons took advantage 50 seconds into the game with a goal from Ricky Saili. Sharks GM Sufy Shaikh responded with a goal of his own, but Ricky would come back with another goal to one-up him. Shaikh and Vasim Kagzi would score to give the Sharks the brief lead, but the Falcons came back with two goals prior to period end for the 4-3 lead. The Sharks held it down in the second as Kagzi had back to back goals to reclaim the lead. Both teams went on to trade goals until the Falcons went off on a 4 goal streak, courtesy of Ricky Saili (2) and Moosa Bhoola (2). Despite a last minute effort from Vasim Kagzi, this game was over and won by the Falcons 10-8. Kudos to the Sharks for staying in the game as long as they did.

 

Next up...PLAYOFFS!

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