2007–08 PIHA season

2008 PIHA season
League	Professional Inline Hockey Association
Sport	Inline hockey
Duration	December 1, 2007 – June 15, 2008
Regular season
Season MVP	Kyle Gouge (Midwest)
Top scorer	Brian Yingling (Colorado Springs)
Playoffs
Eastern champions	Connecticut Blaze
Eastern runners-up	Philadelphia Growl
Western champions	Phoenix Dragons
Western runners-up	Southside Snipers
Playoffs Playoffs MVP	Josh Laricchia (Phoenix)
Finals
Champions	Phoenix Dragons
Runners-up	Connecticut Blaze

The 2008 PIHA season is the seventh season of the Professional Inline Hockey Association. It began on December 1, 2007, and will run through April 27, 2008. The Founders Cup Playoffs ended on June 15, with the Phoenix Dragons taking the championship by defeating the Connecticut Blaze four games to two.

League business

This season is the first for 18 expansion teams; the Arizona Strike, Chicago Untouchables, East Bay Jawz, El Paso Black Diamonds, Long Island 495ers, Marple Gladiators, Maryland Knights, N.E. Philadelphia Revolution, Northern California Mustangs, Phoenix Dragons, Potomac Mavericks, Raleigh Assault, Sacramento Saxons, San Jose Pirates, Savannah Stingers (moved to Williamsburg,VA midseason and were renamed Williamsburg Stingers), South Carolina Pirates, Tucson Desperados, and Winchester Generals.

• The defending Founders Cup champions, the Boston Roller Rats changed their name to the Boston Swamp Rats.
• The Littleton Fire changed their name to the Lakewood Fire.
• The Marple Gladiators, who had relocated to Aston, Pennsylvania during the 2007 season, were renamed to the Aston Demolition.
• The New Jersey Minutemen changed their name to the New Jersey Stampede.
• The Pikes Peak Prowlers changed their name to the Parker Prowlers.
• The Richmond Rollin Robins officially shortened their name to the Richmond Robins.
• The St. Louis Vipers changed their name to the St. Louis Cobras.

Ryan Grant of the defending champion Boston Swamp Rats scored the first goal of the season against the N.E. Philadelphia Revolution on December 1 in Holbrook, Massachusetts.

Final Regular Season Standings

GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime/Shootout Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PTS = Points.

Divisional standings

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
y-Philadelphia Growl	32	28	4	0	178	76	56
x-New Jersey Grizzlies	32	25	5	2	123	79	52
x-Aston Demolition	32	15	12	5	123	118	35
x-Feasterville Fury	32	15	14	3	134	136	33
e-Northeast Philadelphia Revolution	32	8	22	2	86	174	18
e-New Jersey Stampede	32	6	22	4	86	151	16

Mason Dixon Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
y-Harrisburg Lunatics	32	27	5	0	195	79	54
x-Pittsburgh Bandits	32	21	7	4	134	89	46
x-Scottdale Inferno	32	19	10	3	137	100	41
x-Potomac Mavericks	32	19	12	1	161	122	39
e-Maryland Knights	32	18	12	2	149	104	38
e-Winchester Generals	32	0	32	0	52	241	0

Northeast Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
z-Connecticut Blaze	32	28	2	2	165	90	58
x-Long Island 495ers	32	20	11	1	135	114	41
x-Boston Swamp Rats	32	17	13	2	140	127	36
x-Massachusetts Bombers	32	15	15	2	147	142	32
e-Hartford Fire Ants	32	9	19	4	84	140	22
e-Marple Gladiators	32	6	22	4	113	167	16

Southeast Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
y-South Carolina Pirates	32	25	5	2	179	74	52
e-Raleigh Assault	32	21	11	0	130	113	42
x-Richmond Robins	32	15	14	3	123	106	33
x-York Typhoon	32	10	21	1	89	167	21
e-Williamsburg Stingers	32	1	31	0	39	193	2

Western Conference

Gateway Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
b-Midwest Tornados	32	30	2	0	145	53	60
x-Chicago Untouchables	32	20	11	1	154	104	41
x-Southside Snipers	32	18	12	2	111	111	38
x-St. Louis Cobras	32	14	15	3	115	109	31
e-River City Whalers	32	8	22	2	68	131	18
e-Cincinnati Flying Monkeys	32	5	25	2	70	155	12

Pacific Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
y-San Jose Pirates	32	27	5	0	163	100	54
x-Northern California Mustangs	32	18	10	4	105	96	40
x-East Bay Jawz	32	12	18	2	100	127	26
e-Sacramento Saxons	32	7	23	2	102	147	16

Rocky Mountain Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
y-Colorado Springs Thunder	32	29	2	1	191	80	59
x-Westminster Blizzard	28	16	9	3	110	93	35
x-Lakewood Fire	32	15	16	1	101	123	31
x-Fort Collins Catz	30	9	19	2	101	141	20
e-Parker Prowlers	30	7	22	1	87	153	15

Southwest Division	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
y-Phoenix Dragons	32	26	6	0	185	122	52
e-Arizona Strike	30	18	10	2	121	103	38
x-Tucson Desparados	30	9	18	3	105	148	21
e-El Paso Black Diamonds	32	9	20	3	95	133	21

Conference standings

*-Denotes Division Leader

Eastern Conference	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
z-Connecticut Blaze *	32	28	2	2	165	90	58
y-Philadelphia Growl *	32	28	4	0	178	76	56
y-Harrisburg Lunatics*	32	27	5	0	195	79	54
y-South Carolina Pirates *	32	25	5	2	179	74	52
x-New Jersey Grizzlies	32	25	5	2	123	79	52
x-Pittsburgh Bandits	32	21	7	4	134	89	46
x-Long Island 495ers	32	20	11	1	135	114	41
x-Scottdale Inferno	32	19	10	3	137	100	41
x-Potomac Mavericks	32	19	12	1	161	122	39
x-Boston Swamp Rats	32	17	13	2	140	127	36
x-Aston Demolition	32	15	12	5	123	118	35
x-Richmond Robins	32	15	14	3	123	106	33
x-Feasterville Fury	32	15	14	3	134	136	33
x-Massachusetts Bombers	32	15	15	2	147	142	32
x-York Typhoon	32	10	21	1	89	167	21
e-Raleigh Assault	32	21	11	0	130	113	42
e-Maryland Knights	32	18	12	2	149	104	38
e-Hartford Fire Ants	32	9	19	4	84	140	22
e-Northeast Philadelphia Revolution	32	8	22	2	86	174	18
e-New Jersey Stampede	32	6	22	4	86	151	16
e-Marple Gladiators	32	6	22	4	113	167	16
e-Williamsburg Stingers	32	1	31	0	39	193	2
e-Winchester Generals	32	0	32	0	52	241	0

x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, b - clinched Best Overall Record, z - clinched best conference record, e - eliminated from playoff contention, * - division leader

Western Conference	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	PTS
b-Midwest Tornados *	32	30	2	0	145	53	60
y-Colorado Springs Thunder *	32	29	2	1	191	80	59
y-San Jose Pirates *	32	27	5	0	163	100	54
y-Phoenix Dragons *	32	26	6	0	185	122	52
x-Chicago Untouchables	32	20	11	1	154	104	41
x-Northern California Mustangs	32	18	10	4	105	96	40
x-Southside Snipers	32	18	12	2	111	111	38
x-Westminster Blizzard	28	16	9	3	110	93	35
x-Lakewood Fire	32	15	16	1	101	123	31
x-St. Louis Cobras	32	14	15	3	115	109	31
x-East Bay Jawz	32	12	18	2	100	127	26
x-Tucson Desparados	30	9	18	3	105	148	21
x-Fort Collins Catz	30	9	19	2	101	141	20
e-Arizona Strike	30	18	10	2	121	103	38
e-El Paso Black Diamonds	32	9	20	3	95	133	21
e-River City Whalers	32	8	22	2	68	131	18
e-Sacramento Saxons	32	7	23	2	102	147	16
e-Parker Prowlers	30	7	22	1	87	153	15
e-Cincinnati Flying Monkeys	32	5	25	2	70	155	12

x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, b - clinched Best Overall Record, z - clinched best conference record, e - eliminated from playoff contention, * - division leader

Tiebreaking Procedures

Where two or more clubs are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

1. The greater number of games won.
2. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
3. The greater differential between goals for and against.

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; PTS = Points; STAR = Star Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes

As of April 28

Player	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	STAR	PIM
Brian Yingling	Colorado Springs Thunder	32	63	57	120	64	22
CJ Yoder	Colorado Springs Thunder	32	37	70	107	43	24
Josh Laricchia	Phoenix Dragons	24	44	57	101	52	10
Mike Ciolli	Colorado Springs Thunder	32	30	69	99	33	10
Marc Genest	South Carolina Pirates	23	45	48	93	22	45
Darcy Anderson	South Carolina Pirates	21	41	46	87	22	16
John Pinheiro	Connecticut Blaze	31	49	37	86	56	18
Danny Marmorstein	Phoenix Dragons	32	31	52	83	34	20
Brian Fleury	Potomac Mavericks	28	27	49	76	29	10
Kevin Donovan	Potomac Mavericks	30	30	36	66	26	18

Founders Cup playoffs

Playoff seeds

After the 2008 PIHA regular season, 27 teams qualified for the playoffs, 14 from the Eastern Conference and 13 from the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

1. Connecticut Blaze - Northeast Division and Eastern Conference regular season champion; 58 points
2. Long Island 495ers - 41 points
3. Boston Swamp Rats - 36 points
4. Massachusetts Bombers - 31 points

Atlantic Division

1. Philadelphia Growl - Atlantic Division champion, 56 points
2. New Jersey Grizzlies - 52 points
3. Aston Demolition - 35 points
4. Feasterville Fury - 33 points

Mason Dixon Division

1. Harrisburg Lunatics - Mason Dixon Division champion, 54 points
2. Pittsburgh Bandits - 46 points
3. Scottdale Inferno - 41 points
4. Potomac Mavericks - 39 points

Southeast Division *

1. South Carolina Pirates - Southeast Division champion, 52 points
2. Richmond Robins - 33 points
3. York Typhoon - 21 points

Western Conference

Gateway Division

1. Midwest Tornados - Gateway Division and Western Conference regular season champion; Best Overall Record Trophy winner, 60 points
2. Chicago Untouchables - 41 points
3. Southside Snipers - 38 points
4. St. Louis Cobras - 31 points

Rocky Mountain Division

1. Colorado Springs Thunder - Rocky Mountain Division champion, 59 points
2. Westminster Blizzard - 35 points
3. Lakewood Fire - 31 points
4. Fort Collins Catz - 30

Southwest Division *

1. Phoenix Dragons - Southwest Division champion, 52 points
2. Tucson Desparados - 21 points

Pacific Division

1. San Jose Pirates - Pacific Division champion, 54 points
2. Northern California Mustangs - 40 points
3. East Bay Jawz - 26 points

* The Southeast Division was to have four teams qualify for the playoffs, but the Raleigh Assault were removed before playoffs began.
* The Southwest Division was to have three teams qualify for the playoffs, but the Arizona Strike were removed before playoffs began.

	Division Semifinals					Division Finals					Conference Semifinals					Conference Finals					Founders Cup Finals
	1	Connecticut Blaze	2
	4	Massachusetts Bombers	0
						1	Connecticut Blaze	2
	Northeast Division
						2	Long Island 495ers	1
	2	Long Island 495ers	2
	3	Boston Swamp Rats	1
											NE1	Connecticut Blaze	2
										SE1	South Carolina Pirates	0
	1	Philadelphia Growl	2
	4	Feasterville Fury	0
						1	Philadelphia Growl	2
	Atlantic Division
						2	New Jersey Grizzlies	0
	2	New Jersey Grizzlies	2
	3	Aston Demolition	0
																NE1	Connecticut Blaze	3
		Eastern Conference
																A1	Philadelphia Growl	2
	1	Harrisburg Lunatics	2
	4	Potomac Mavericks	0
						1	Harrisburg Lunatics	2
	Mason Dixon Division
						2	Pittsburgh Bandits	1
	2	Pittsburgh Bandits	2
	3	Scottdale Inferno	1
											A1	Philadelphia Growl	2
										MD1	Harrisburg Lunatics	0
						1	South Carolina Pirates	2
	Southeast Division
						2	Richmond Robins	0
	2	Richmond Robins	2
	3	York Typhoon	1
																					NE1	Connecticut Blaze	2
																					SW1	Phoenix Dragons	4
	1	Midwest Tornados	2
	4	St. Louis Cobras	0
						1	Midwest Tornados	1
	Gateway Division
						3	Southside Snipers	2
	2	Chicago Untouchables	0
	3	Southside Snipers	2
											RM1	Colorado Springs Thunder	1
										G3	Southside Snipers	2
	1	Colorado Springs Thunder	2
	4	Fort Collins Catz	0
						1	Colorado Springs Thunder	2
	Rocky Mountain Division
						2	Westminster Blizzard	1
	2	Westminster Blizzard	2
	3	Lakewood Fire	0
																G3	Southside Snipers	1
		Western Conference
																SW1	Phoenix Dragons	3
						1	Phoenix Dragons	2
	Southwest Division
						2	Tucson Desparados	0
											SW1	Phoenix Dragons	2
										P1	Northern California Mustangs	1
						1	San Jose Pirates	0
	Pacific Division
						2	Northern California Mustangs	2
	2	Northern California Mustangs	2
	3	East Bay Jawz	0

See also

• 2008 PIHA Prospects Draft
• 2008 PIHA transactions
• List of current PIHA team rosters