Rapid Fire Tournament

Rapid Fire Tournament

Is a Roller Hockey tournament held twice and sometimes three times a year at Rapid Fire Arena in Moriches, New York. Players play for the Mike Knowles cup names for its creator Mike Knowles. The tournament has been held 13 times since February 2004. The format consists of four color coded teams with 10 players (9 skaters and goalie) playing 12 preliminary games to determine seedings for a single elimination playoff round robin. Team colors over the years have included Red, Black, Blue, White, Yellow and most recently Green.

Rules

Each team plays a total of 6 preliminary games and atleast one playoff game. Teams seed from 1 to 4 with 1 playing 4 and 2 playing three in the playoffs with the winners facing off in the finals.

Game's are 20 minutes with a running clock in the prelim's and 2 15 minute periods in the playoffs.

Clock stops on penalties, puck leaves playing surface, final 90 seconds of a tie or one goal game in prelim's and final 2:30 of playoff games that are tied or 1 or 2 goal games.

Penalties are called according to the NHL rulebook (penalty shots, etc) with minors being 1:30 in length.

One official is assigned to most games (some acceptions are made).

In the final 45 seconds of a prelim game, and final 90 seconds of a playoff game that is tied or a one goal game, all penalties will result in a penalty shot.

Players must play in a minimum of three preliminary games in order to qualify for the playoff roster.

Tournament Results

1. 2/27/2004 Winner: Team Black MVP: George Parublev G, Team Black

2. 5/30/2004 Winner: Team Black MVP: Andrew Marino G, Team Black

3. 7/31/2004 Winner: Team Black MVP: Sean Beatty D, Team Black

4. 1/2/2005 Winner: Team Blue MVP: Andrew Marino G, Team Blue

5. 3/26/2005 Winner: Team White MVP: Rick Craine F, Team White

6. 11/23/2005 Winner: Team Black MVP: Shawn Hroch F, Team Black

7. 4/15/2006 Winner: Team Blue MVP: George Parublev G, Team Blue

8. 7/22/2006 Winner: Team Black MVP: Anthony Larocco F, Team Black

9. 10/7/2006 Winner: Team Black MVP: Will Estes G, Team Black

10. 3/24/2007 Winner: Team Black MVP: Shawn Hroch F, Team Black

11. 10/13/2007 Winner: Team Blue MVP: Doug Kuveke F, Team Blue

12. 3/22/2008 Winner: Team Blue MVP: John Kamensky G, Team Blue

13. 10/4/2008 Winner: Team Green MVP: Rob Crowley D, Team Green

Tournament Directors: 1 John Filkowski 2-present Sean Saphire

Music Director: Zach Johnston

Referees: Zach Johnston (7,12), Ryan O'Brian (8), Glen Bahmann (9), Joe Gordon (10) , Sean Johnston (10,12), Dave Imondi (11), Richie Longo (11), Sean Saphire (12), George Parublev (13)

Black and Blue Domination11 of 13 tournaments have been won by teams wearing the colors blue or black

CursedOriginal tournament director John Filkowski never won a Knowles cup playing in 8 straight tournaments, before being suspended prior to Rapid Fire 9. Brian Logan and Eddie Barbieri despite being extremley talented and often being on contending teams have never won the Knowles cup since they began playing in Rapid Fire 5.

Shootouts4 tournament finals have been decided in shootouts. The most recent two being won by teams captained by Sean Saphire. In both shootouts, Saphire scored the decisive goal.

Future TournamentsPlans are for 3 more tournaments in 2009. The usual spring tournament in March and an additional summer tournament possibly in July or August with the fall tournemant in October.

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