"I don't think anyone knew what to expect, but it was great to see (Tower Square) full and the kids' enthusiasm," Falcons captain Ryan Craig said.
By GREG CAMERON
SPRINGFIELD - This season, not many scorers and opponents have gotten the better of the Northeast Division leading Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League.
That notion changed some during the February school vacation week as the team hosted an interactive floor hockey event at Tower Square. Area youngsters, all outfitted in Falcons gear, had a fun-filled day of floor hockey activities.
"I don't think anyone knew what to expect, but it was great to see this place full and the kids' enthusiasm," Falcons captain Ryan Craig said. "It's all in good fun and great to see the kids handle a stick and shoot some pucks and balls. It's good to grow the game."
As part of the event, Craig and teammates Bryan Helmer, Greg Amadio, Ryan Russell, Scott Howes, Mike Banwell and Allen York participated in a handful of drills, from straight-up shootouts to slalom-style stickhandling drills, as well as a stickhandling drill using the SuperDeker game.
SuperDeker is a machine using LED lights to gauge awareness and stickhandling skills. When the lights would appear on the floorboard of the game console, the puck handler had to hover the puck over the light.
"It was great. I thought the kids had fun," Craig said. "It malfunctioned a few times but I think everyone had a great time."
In shootout drills, the young participants in the team-sponsored events had opportunities to score goals on both Amadio and York. York, one the Falcons two standout netminders, was seen flashing the pads like he has all season for the Falcons, but letting a few goals from the sharpshooting youngsters trickle in.
Not many professional opponents have been able to score against the Falcons during this season. "It's a been a good run," Craig said. "We're about 50 games in, and we still have a lot of work left to do. It's been a great group of guys that's been assembled. I think you can tell the way that we play for each other and play hard and hopefully we can keep rolling."