While the Danbury Hat Tricks forward/defenseman Brendan Dowler may have just joined the Federal Prospects Hockey League this year, he is already making a beneficial impact. He’s played 37 games and been a crucial aspect in helping the Hat Tricks to 85 points.
The Hat Tricks are first in the Empire Division, the teams located in New England, and second in the whole league. They have 29 wins, 6 regulation losses, and 5 overtime losses. They lead the league in overtime wins, 5, and penalty minutes, 1165.
Back in December of 2022, I was luckily able to ask Brendan Dowler some questions alongside teammate Dmitry Kuznetsov.
On Saturday, December 10, the Hat Tricks hosted the Motor City Rockers and were victorious with a score of 5-2. Both Jonny Ruiz and Michael Marchesan scored 2 goals for their home team.
The game started wildly, with Daniel Amesbury dropping his gloves at the opening whistle and fist-fighting a Motor City player. The home team was relentless through the game, totaling 24 penalty minutes. When asked about rougher games with a more physical aspect, Dowler noted that the tension and fighting “gets the team all ready to go.” Teammate Dmitry Kuznetsov pointed out that fighting is a part of the game, a part where the Hat Tricks tend to excel.
A week earlier, the team suffered their first regulation loss to the Columbus River Dragons. The 0-5 loss ended their 8-game win streak, but Kuznetsov said, “it was a weight on our shoulders, but one team wins, and one team loses.” Dowler suffered an injury from a stick to the face, requiring stitches., “It’s a tough go, but it is what it is. Games like that with teams that are that strong, it’s a good wake-up call,” Dowler said.
December 2, the day before the loss, the Hat Tricks won in a shootout against that same team, the River Dragons. Dowler scored early in the first period, giving the team the go-ahead goal. In an overtime shootout, Kuznetsov scored one of only two goals, both by the Hat Tricks. Both players praised goalie Brian Wilson for leading them to victory.
When asked about their role models and choice of numbers, they had great answers.
Kuznetsov said he looked up to two players growing up, Evgeny Kuznetsov and former player Alexander Semin, who inspired his original number, 28. For this season, he decided to change his number and “doesn’t think there is any meaning behind 77.”
Dowler’s number, on the other hand, 11, was one he had used growing up. He said it was “always the tough guys” he looked up to since “it’s a key piece of the game now,” and specifically mentioned Brendan Shanahan, a former NHLer who played for a handful of professional teams.
Based on 37 games and a five-minute talk, it’s obvious that Dowler has found his place on the team and has the skills and mindset to achieve great things. I’m positive he’s going to make a name for himself, so watch out for Brendan Dowler.
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