Wikipedia

2012–13 Harrisburg Heat season

The 2012–13 Harrisburg Heat season was the first season of the new Harrisburg Heat indoor soccer club. The Heat, an Eastern Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Farm Show Arena at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, owned by Harrisburg Heat Sports Group, LLC, was led by general manager David Grimaldi, head coach Richard Chinapoo, and assistant coach Gino DiFlorio.

Harrisburg Heat

2012–13 PASL season
General ManagerDavid Grimaldi
Head CoachRichard Chinapoo
ArenaFarm Show Arena
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
PASL3rd, Eastern
US Open CupQuarter-finals
Highest home attendance2,517[1]
(January 26, 2013)
vs Illinois Piasa
Lowest home attendance1,250
(January 25, 2013)
vs San Diego Sockers
Average home league attendance1,781
(8 regular season games)[2]
← N/A
2013–14 →

Season summary edit

The team struggled in the regular season, finishing 6–10, and failed to advance to the postseason. Four of Harrisburg's six wins came against the Ohio Vortex who they swept for the season. Their other wins came against the struggling Illinois Piasa and in an upset of the Eastern Division-leading Detroit Waza. The team fared better at the box office with the third-highest average attendance at home games, behind only the Dallas Sidekicks and San Diego Sockers.[2]

The Heat participated in the 2012–13 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer. They received a bye in the Wild Card round then defeated Real Harrisburg in the Round of 16 before losing to the Detroit Waza on the road in the Quarter-Finals.

History edit

The new Heat claim the heritage of the original Harrisburg Heat professional indoor soccer team which played 12 seasons in the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, from 1991 through 2003.[3][4][5] When the Heat played host to the Cincinnati Kings on November 17, 2012, it was the first professional indoor soccer game held at the Farm Show Arena since the original Heat franchise folded in 2003.[6][7] The arena was upgraded with a new scoreboard in November 2012, just before the team's home debut.[8]

Off-field moves edit

 
The Heat at the Dallas Sidekicks home opener, November 3, 2012.

General manager David Grimaldi is a former commissioner of the National Indoor Soccer League and former deputy commissioner of the current Major Indoor Soccer League.[9] Heat head coach Richard Chinapoo and assistant coach Gino DiFlorio both played for the original Harrisburg Heat.[7][10] Chinapoo also served as that team's head coach from 1998 through 2002.[5] DiFlorio's playing career included the Cleveland Force, Dallas Sidekicks, Dayton Dynamo, Canton Invaders, Cleveland Crunch, Toronto Rockets, Buffalo Blizzard, Cincinnati Silverbacks, Baltimore Blast, and the original Harrisburg Heat.[11]

Broadcasts of Heat games for the 2012–13 season are carried on radio station WMSS (91.1 FM, "Super 91") as well as webcast on wmssfm.com and pennlive.com.[7] Original Heat radio voice John Wilsbach handles play-by-play for the broadcasts.[12]

Chuck Mummert, the "Singing Mayor" of nearby Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a December 2012 home game for the Heat.[13]

The team wore pink soccer jerseys for their January 25, 2013, game against the San Diego Sockers. After the game, the sweaters were auctioned to raise money for a breast cancer awareness charity.[14][15] On January 26, 2013, the team wore camouflage jerseys which were then auctioned to benefit Operation Comfort Warriors, an initiative by the American Legion.[16] Operation Comfort Warriors provides wounded military personnel with comfort items such as DVDs, puzzles, books, ping pong tables, entertainment centers, and computers.[17]

Roster moves edit

The Heat's opening night roster included 10 players with experience playing for Harrisburg's professional outdoor soccer team, the Harrisburg City Islanders, a team in the National Division of the USL Pro soccer league.[18][19] Along with his professional experience playing for the Islanders, goalkeeper Sam Bishop had been a standout college soccer player as a member of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks men's team, having recorded the best goals against average in the team's history.[20]

Of all the players on the opening night roster, only goalkeeper Dave Kern and defender Jason Hotchkin had experience playing professional indoor soccer.[7][21]

Rookie forward Tyler Witmer missed the team's open tryout but persuaded head coach Richard Chinapoo to allow him to work out with the team and earned an invitation to training camp. He went on to become one of the team's leading scorers.[22]

In late January 2013, player Kent Ramirez left the team for a career in law enforcement.[15]

On February 10, 2013, top player Chris Williams left the Heat to sign with the Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League.[23]

Head coach Richard Chinapoo, age 56, donned a number 22 jersey and put himself in as a defender for the final three minutes of the team's season finale against the Ohio Vortex on February 16, 2013.[24][25]

Awards and honors edit

The Heat honored head coach Richard Chinapoo during a halftime ceremony during the team's inaugural home game on November 17, 2012.[26] Chinapoo retired as a player in 2000 and was inducted into the Harrisburg Heat Hall of Fame in 2001.[24] The team honored original Harrisburg Heat player and former team captain Bill Becher during a halftime ceremony during the November 24, 2012, game.[27]

The team retired the #9 jersey of Danny Kelly, a top player and first-ever draft pick for the original Harrisburg Heat franchise in the 1990s, in a halftime ceremony during the December 8, 2012, game.[28] After retiring as a player, Kelly became the head coach of the Baltimore Blast in May 2006.[29]

The Heat retired the #30 jersey of Gino DiFlorio, now the team's assistant coach, in a halftime ceremony during the December 15, 2012, game.[30] DiFlorio is one of professional indoor soccer's all-time leading scorers and was a member of the original Harrisburg Heat from 1998 to 2002.[31]

The team retired the #40 jersey of David Bascome, the all-time leading scorer for the original Harrisburg Heat franchise, in a halftime ceremony during the December 29, 2012, game.[26][32][33] Bascome played with the original Harrisburg Heat in 1991 and from 1993 through 2000.[34][35]

On January 19, 2013, the team had original Harrisburg Heat owner Rex Herbert kick out the ceremonial first ball. Also, the team recognized Jim Pollihan, the coach of the original Heat from their launch in 1991 through 1999, in a halftime ceremony.[36][37]

The team retired the #5 jersey of Bob Lilley, a standout player for six seasons with the original Heat franchise in the mid-1990s, in a halftime ceremony during the January 25, 2013, game against the San Diego Sockers.[15][38]

Schedule edit

  Win   Tie   Loss

Regular season edit

Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[39] Attendance
Final Score Record
1 Saturday November 3 7:00pm
(8:00pm Eastern) 		at Dallas Sidekicks L 2–6[40] 0–1 Allen Event Center[41] 5,909[21]
2 Saturday November 17 7:05pm Cincinnati Kings L 4–7[42] 0–2 Farm Show Arena[43] 1,819[44]
3 Saturday November 24 7:05pm Ohio Vortex W 13–1[45] 1–2 Farm Show Arena[27] 1,864[46]
4 Saturday December 8 7:05pm Cincinnati Kings L 8–9 (OT)[28] 1–3 Farm Show Arena[29] 1,627[47]
5 Saturday December 15 7:05pm Detroit Waza L 3–6[30] 1–4 Farm Show Arena[48] 1,735[49]
6 Friday December 21 7:35pm at Cincinnati Kings L 4–7[50] 1–5 GameTime Training Center 216[51]
7 Saturday December 22 7:35pm at Ohio Vortex W 9–2[52] 2–5 Pinnacle Sports Complex 112[53]
8 Saturday December 29 7:05pm Ohio Vortex W 9–2[32] 3–5 Farm Show Arena[34] 1,705[54]
9 Saturday January 12 7:35pm at Detroit Waza† L 4–8[55] 3–6 Taylor Sportsplex 417[56]
10 Sunday January 13 2:05pm at Detroit Waza L 8–15[57] 3–7 Taylor Sportsplex 351[58]
11 Saturday January 19 7:05pm Detroit Waza W 10–6[37] 4–7 Farm Show Arena[36][59] 1,735[60]
12 Friday January 25 7:05pm San Diego Sockers L 3–10[15] 4–8 Farm Show Arena[14][22][61] 1,250[62]
13 Saturday January 26 7:05pm Illinois Piasa W 10–5[1] 5–8 Farm Show Arena[16] 2,517[63]
14 Friday February 1 7:00pm
(8:00pm Eastern) 		at Chicago Mustangs L 8–10[64] 5–9 Grand Sports Arena 299[65]
15 Saturday February 2 7:05pm
(8:05pm Eastern) 		at Rockford Rampage L 3–5[66] 5–10 Victory Sports Complex 200[67]
16 Saturday February 16[64] 7:35pm at Ohio Vortex W 8–3[24][25] 6–10 Pinnacle Sports Complex[23] 259[68]

† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.

2012–13 US Open Cup for Arena Soccer edit

Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance
Final Score Record
Wild Card BYE
Round of 16 January 4 7:30pm Real Harrisburg[69][70] W 11–8[71] 1–0 Sports City Harrisburg[72] ?
Quarter-finals January 12 7:35pm at Detroit Waza L 4–8[55] 1–1 Taylor Sportsplex[69] 417[56]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Sandrick, Andy (January 26, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat end home schedule with resounding win over Illinois Piasa". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "League Attendance". Professional Arena Soccer League. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  3. ^ Bullock, Michael (November 14, 2012). "Heat's new scoreboard ready for Saturday night's home opener". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  4. ^ Bristol, Jason (May 1, 2012). "Heat indoor soccer team returning to Harrisburg". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (November 16, 2012). "Memorable dates in Harrisburg Heat history". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  6. ^ Bullock, Michael (May 2, 2012). "Indoor soccer making return to Farm Show as Harrisburg Heat is reborn". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d Bullock, Michael (November 3, 2012). "New Harrisburg Heat to make PASL debut Saturday night in Dallas". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  8. ^ Sedor, Michael (November 14, 2012). "Harrisburg Heat Saturday home opener to feature new Farm Show scoreboard". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  9. ^ Bristol, Jason (May 9, 2012). "Former Harrisburg Heat players, coaches excited about team's return". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  10. ^ Bristol, Jason (August 22, 2012). "Chinapoo to coach newly-formed Harrisburg Heat soccer team". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  11. ^ Ngo, Toan (November 16, 2012). "DiFlorio Named Assistant Coach". Harrisburg Heat. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  12. ^ Bullock, Michael (November 16, 2012). "Whether describing the game or performing another role, John Wilsbach glad to be part of "new" Harrisburg Heat". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  13. ^ Bristol, Jason (December 25, 2012). "He serves and sings: 'The Singing Mayor' of Elizabethtown". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (January 25, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat to host three-time PASL champion San Diego on Friday night". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d Bullock, Michael (January 25, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat fall 10–3, become San Diego's 48th consecutive victim". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  16. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (January 26, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat to entertain Illinois on Saturday night". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  17. ^ "Operation Comfor Warriors". American Legion. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  18. ^ Meluzio, Derek (November 1, 2012). "Numerous current and former City Islanders ready for 2012–13 indoor season". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  19. ^ Bullock, Michael (November 16, 2012). "Yann Ekra, Tom Mellor and Brian Ombiji, fresh from the outdoor Harrisburg City Islanders, trying indoor game". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  20. ^ "Bishop signs professional contract with Harrisburg Heat". Bethlehem, PA: Lehigh University. November 9, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  21. ^ a b "Box Score: Allen Event Center – Sat, Nov 03, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  22. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (January 23, 2013). "Tyler Witmer thriving with the Harrisburg Heat while learning the indoor game". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  23. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (February 10, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat's Chris Williams has signed with MISL's Baltimore Blast". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  24. ^ a b c Bristol, Jason (February 19, 2013). "Chinapoo, 56, plays in final Heat game". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
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  27. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (November 24, 2012). "Heat to entertain Ohio on Saturday night at Farm Show". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  28. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (December 8, 2012). "Harrisburg Heat tumble to visiting Cincinnati for the second time in as many tries". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  29. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (December 8, 2012). "Harrisburg Heat to host Cincinnati Kings Saturday night at the State Farm Show Complex". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  30. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (December 15, 2012). "PASL: Harrisburg Heat can't make early lead stand up in 6–3 loss to visiting Detroit". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
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  34. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (December 29, 2012). "Heat to entertain Ohio on Saturday night at Equine Arena". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  35. ^ Burgess, Don (January 4, 2013). "Thanks for the memories, David! Bus fire, pranks and character building were all part of playing for the Heat". Bermuda Sun. Hamilton, Bermuda. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  36. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (January 19, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat at home Saturday night against Detroit". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  37. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (January 19, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat defeat Detroit 10–6 at Equine Arena". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
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  39. ^ "Harrisburg Heat Schedule". Our Sports Central. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
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  56. ^ a b "Box Score: Taylor Sportsplex – Sat, Jan 12, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
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  63. ^ "Box Score: Farm Show Complex – Sat, Jan 26, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 26, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  64. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (February 2, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat surrender late lead, fall 10–8 at Chicago". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  65. ^ "Box Score: Grand Sports Arena – Fri, Feb 01, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  66. ^ Bullock, Michael (February 3, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat fall for second straight night, drop 5–3 decision at Rockford". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  67. ^ "Box Score: Victory Sports Complex – Sat, Feb 02, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 2, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  68. ^ "Box Score: Pinnacle Sports – Sat, Feb 16, 2013". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  69. ^ a b Bullock, Michael (January 4, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat to meet Real Harrisburg in Open Cup play Friday night at Sports City". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  70. ^ Bristol, Jason (January 5, 2013). "Heat tops Real Harrisburg 11–8 in PASL Open Cup match". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  71. ^ Bullock, Michael (January 4, 2013). "Harrisburg Heat advance in Open Cup with 11–8 victory". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  72. ^ "Heat Game Added To Schedule" (Press release). Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Heat. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.

External links edit

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