Harrisburg, PA ? The Professional Inline Hockey Association announced today that they will rename the annual Coach of the Year Award. With the tremendous loss of one of roller hockey's original ambassadors within the past few weeks, the award will now and forever be recognized as the Todd Melton Coach of the Year Award.

Colorado Springs, CO - This weekend, the Professional Inline Hockey Association announced the winners of the 2011-2012 league awards and to no one's surprise the Suffolk Sting organization and its players walked away with a good bit of hardware. While the organization's Pro and Minor teams both skated away with championships, the trophies and plaques did not stop there.

Harrisburg, PA - The Suffolk Sting came into the PIHA Finals this past weekend determined to make up for last season's Finals loss and they did just that with a 4 games to 1 series win. The league believed this series was going to be a tight one and the teams and players did not disappoint. Back and forth games, two overtimes, and three days of action proved to be one of the best Finals' series in the league's 11 years of existence. "It became the series the league hoped for. Both teams played hard, physical hockey and were very well matched. Two overtimes and some of the best players in the country coming together to show off our sport was exactly what the league was looking for," said PIHA Co-founder, Charley Yoder.

Parker, CO - This weekend?s Western Conference Finals turned out to be a statement series for the Parker Prowlers as they welcomed the Mile High Miners to their home, the Parker Fieldhouse for the best of 5 series. The series wouldn't even go four as the Prowlers brought out the brooms and swept the Miners to finish the series and punch their tickets to the PIHA Finals.

Littleton, CO ? The Western Conference Finals look a bit different than some people may have thought as the Mile High Miners take on the division leading Parker Prowlers in the 5-game series. The Miners had to knock off perennial division favorite, the Colorado Springs Thunder, in the first round and did it with ease taking the three game series skating away in a 7-3 blowout in game 3.

Lakewood, CO ? The Mile High Miners are fighting for a playoff spot and are now fighting the biggest fight, the fight against Cancer. This Friday night the Mile High Miners will take on the Colorado Springs Thunder in a PIHA matchup that has heated up this season as the Miners come into their own as an elite PIHA organization. The Miners have come a long way in building a professional product both on the floor and off it. General Manager Mike Penman has done a tremendous job building a young, quick team with talent that should be around for years to come.

"We just are not playing to our potential. The Miners came into our place and played with great emotion and yes we pulled out two wins, but they played us well and we have no reason to think that they can't beat us.

Colorado Springs, CO ? The Colorado Springs Thunder had this past weekend off to recuperate after a 4-game stint that had the team in Denver on Friday to face the Miners and then a quick turnaround back home to face the Fort Collins Catz. The Thunder road the skates of Jake Miller and Larry Fairchild as the two combined for 23 points (Miller 8g, 4a / Fairchild 3g, 8a).

1.       You?ve been in the league since day one. How much has the league changed from the beginning? ]]> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:29:00 CST http://thepiha.com/article.php?article_id=54911 http://thepiha.com/article.php?article_id=54911 When the Harrisburg Lunatics took the floor at the 422 Sportsplex in Pottstown, PA a few weeks ago to start their 2011 PIHA campaign, a lot of the environmental details were the same as they always are when they take the floor. The Rocket puck was exactly the same as it had been the season before.

Professional Inline Hockey League action returns to The Asylum, the home of your Harrisburg Lunatics, on Saturday October 22nd. All Pro and Minor teams in the Eastern Conference will descend upon the Sport Center for one day of action packed roller hockey. Games begin at 7:30am with the Minor Division playing during the first half of the day.

Colorado Springs, Colo. ? The fans are excited, the team has been practicing hard, and the wait is finally over ? the Colorado Springs Thunder are set to open the 2011-12 season on Saturday night October 8 at the CETSports Inline Hockey Arena in Colorado Springs.

Minor league action kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

Colorado Springs, Colo. ? The Colorado Springs Thunder is pleased to announce an agreement with the New Mexico Venom, a PIHA minor-league team based in Albuquerque that joined the league last year. Building upon the Venom?s successful 2010-11 inaugural season, the agreement includes the Venom playing their home games at the Thunder?s home rink, the CET Sports Inline Hockey Arena in Colorado Springs, and the ability for Venom players to get called up to the Thunder?s pro squad throughout the season.

Colorado Springs, Colo. ? After two nights of intense tryouts which offered one of the deepest and most even talent pools yet, 36 players have earned the right to represent the always competitive Colorado Springs Thunder organization for the 2011-12 season.

The pro team will welcome back veteran team and league leaders including skaters CJ Yoder, Eric Bogenrief, Jesse Tuttle, and the Pedersen brothers, Matt and Ryan; second-year standouts Larry Fairchild and Matt Charbonneau; and goaltender Dan Lamb.