As the 2012 season for the Philadelphia Wings came to a close after a 14-13 first round loss to the eventual champion Rochester Knighthawks, GM/Head Coach Johnny Mouradian started to plan for 2013. Using the model of the NY/Orlando Titans of 2009-2010, coach Mouradian and Asst. GM Jimmy Butler (put the 09-10 Titans together) wanted to go with a roster of mostly American players. The Titan team of 09 lost in the title game and in 2010 lost in the semi-finals.
So why wouldn’t it work here. After all, when you look at who the American players are, Drew Westervelt, Brendan Mundorf, Max Seibald, Ned Crotty, and Kevin Buchanan (trade prior to draft), Brett Manney, you think why not. Add in some Canadians, Kevin Crowley, Kevin Ross, Brodie Merrill and you have a nice core to build on.
Well a couple weeks prior to the draft, Brendan Mundorf injures his ankle and needs surgery to repair it, return date was speculated late February, early March. Mundorf returned March 29, game 11 of the season. Transition player Max Seibald breaks his foot playing beach volleyball. Max was expected to return, but that never happened. And finally Eric Hoffman. Hoffman tore the ACL part way through the 2012 season, and came into camp ready to go. It took awhile to get the mobility back, then he had to have another minor knee cleaning to remove scar tissue. Unfortunately, Hoffman never made it off the IR this season. Could a healthy Max, Brendan (offense) and Hoffman(defense), a big strong kid help he American style team? Probably.
Late September the Wings make a trade for defender Kyle Hartzell. Wings sent their 3rd round pick in 2012 and a 5th round in 2013 for Hartzell and a 5th round pick in 2012. Now the Wings will not pick until the fourth round after that trade. Obviously this has the fans and the lacrosse experts already thinking what is going on? Wings go on and draft Mike Manely (4th rd/32nd overall) and CJ Costabile (5th rd/39th overall) both out of Duke University. No worries though, Wings still have Dan Dawson….right?! WRONG!
On December 14th the Wings and the Knighthawks pulled off a 6 player deal. Rochester would send; Paul Rabil, Jordan Hall, Joel White, Rob Campbell and their second round selection in the 2014 Entry Draft to the Philadelphia Wings in exchange for Dan Dawson, Paul Dawson and their first round selection in the 2016 Entry Draft. Once the trade happened, people started talking why? Dan did not want to be here, he wanted to be closer to home, as he was working crazy hours just to come to Philly to play. Rabil expressed how he wanted to play in Philadelphia, which is closer to his home in Maryland. Rabil is the man in the field game, and needs to be seasoned in the indoor game. While Dawson is a well accomplished veteran in the game. The trade had the Wings faithful wondering, where will we get our scoring from? With the trades, and the players moving from team to team, from a numbers standpoint it seemed to even out, and most of all the Wings decreased the minutes in penalties.
After training camp, and a total of 8 goalies, the Wings decided on Kevin Croswell to back-up Brandon Miller, instead of 2012 back-up Steve Fryer. Well we saw how that worked out.
The Wings opened up the 2013 with two huge wins. First defeating Buffalo at home 13-8, then going on the road and winning in Toronto 8-7. Not a bad start for the Americans, 2-0. That was short lived as the Wings would go and drop three straight. First at Buffalo 14-13, a close game where the bounces didn’t go their way. Then two games at home that were embarrassing. Loss to Calgary 16-8, then the following week a 20-10 loss to the Knighthawks. This started to bring out the nay sayers, sure losing three in a row will do that, especially the way they lost at home.
The Wings rebounded quickly by going on a three game winning streak moving them to 5-3. This would be the last time they would be above the .500 mark in 2013, as they would now go on a five game losing streak. The first two losses in this streak were at home, and again woeful. The Stealth come in and control the game beating the Wings 16-10. Wings were without Merrill, Manney, Reynolds due to injury, not an excuse, just three big names could of made a difference. Then the Toronto Rock come in and get revenge 13-8. The third game was on the road and was humiliating, 20-11 loss to the Swarm, this was a game without Brandon Miller as he served his 1 game suspension from an altercation versus the Stealth. Would Miller of made a difference? Maybe, game may have been closer. Game four of this ugly streak was a 10-9 loss to Colorado. A great game on both ends, but just fell short. Could this be a sign, could they be coming around?? NO.. Travel to Rochester and doubled up 14-7. With three games remaining the once hopeful Wings team that was in reach of a home playoff game is now in reach of not making the playoffs as they are in the mix with Colorado, Minnesota, and Buffalo all are within a game of each other.
We get to the stretch run, and things start to bounce the Wings direction. They win their final two home games, 15-13 over the Swarm and 10-9 overtime win over the Rock that had the Philly Phaithful as loud as ever. On the last week of the season they needed a Knighthawk loss and a victory over the Stealth to have a home playoff game. The dream came to a quick end as Rochester defeated Buffalo dashing any hopes for the Wings to host in round one. SO in a game that really meant nothing as far as standings, the Wings fell 17-13 to the Stealth.
We all know playoffs are a different animal, so anything can happen. Unlike last season, the Wings were in this playoff game until the very end. But just like last season, they fall in round one 10-8.
So 2013 ends the same as 2012 7-9, and a first round playoff loss to the Knighthawks.
Could we say the season was better then last? In some ways yes, but overall no. We seen the young defense mature, watched Rabil grow playing on the offense instead of transition as he had his 2nd best year of his indoor career. We cant say what would of happened if Mundorf was healthy all year, can only wonder what if?!
We have less then five months until the draft. A bunch of things can happen between now and then.
Wings need to get a qualified back-up for Miller. Someone who can step in when he is struggling, and someone who can take over the starting role when Miller decides its time to call it a career. Need to get more firepower up front, along with another big defenseman.
Do I think the American system can work? With the right mix it can, they are only missing a few key ingredients. Theses need to be found quick as the veterans are getting older…
Team Leaders:
Goals: Kevin Crowley 34
Assist: Kevin Crowley & Kevin Buchanan 38
Points: Kevin Crowley 72
PIM: Mike Manley 26
LB: Brodie Merrill 123
PPG: Kevin Crowley & Kevin Ross 9
SHG: Brodie Merrill 4
Thank You Philadelphia Wings and the Loyal, Loud, and Proud Fans…..see everyone in 2014
W-I-N-G-S!
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