The Tortugas are captain Mike Hackman’s third EBHL franchise. Between endeavors with the Aztecs (2015-2017) and Tribe (2018), Hackman decided to change it up for 2019 and start the Evesham Tortugas. An even bigger change for Hackman is the jump from goaltender to defenseman, a position he has not played since 2013 with the Marlton Deer. Hackman will have great help on the defensive end. His defensive partner, Casey Graham, is expected to be one of the top defensemen in the league.
Hackman and Graham have a bond beyond being defensive partners. Both players have a younger brother on the Marlton Goats. In the offseason, Casey decided not to sign with his brother Justin's team and instead signed with the Tortugas. Graham also turned down an offer from the Marlton Raw Dawgz. This free agent battle has formed rivalries between the three squads. The Goats and Tortugas play on Sunday 6/9 (nice) in what is expected to be one of the biggest bloodbaths we will see this season.
Leading the offense will be Aaron “Huff Daddy” Huffnagle. The only player in the EBHL to get paid to play professional ice hockey (so far), he is expecting to see a massive decrease in his pay check while wearing a Tortugas uniform. Also on offense is the Osherow trio. Mack and Steve won MVP awards in 2015 and 2016. Will 2019 be the year for the youngest Osherow, Cubby? Only time will tell. Ball hockey veteran Joe Trapani is a player looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2018 rookie EBHL campaign. Trapani tallied only 12 points last year for the Mallards in what critics call, “a season that was probably not as good for Joe as it could have been.”
Rounding out the Tortugas defense are John and Jared Kelley. Another pair of brothers with awards, Jared won MVD in 2015 and John won the award in 2018. Both players have beautiful hair, but incredibly different play styles. With co-commissioner Gianni Sanrocco between the pipes, the Tortugas are going to be a tough team to play against. Only defenseman Rob Agnoni has won an EBHL title (2016 with Team USA) and the rest of the Tuges will be looking to join him in the legendary EBHL ranks.