By ANDREW STAHL

Throngs of Deerfield students will fill the rink this winter for more than varsity and JV hockey games. Friday Night Hockey League (FNHL) is generating a lot of excitement this year.

FNHL is the brainchild of Math teacher Nils Ahbel, who serves as the league's supervisor. The program started seven years ago when Mr. Ahbel, a lover of hockey, arrived at Deerfield and wanted to start a program that would give students who were not on a hockey team a chance at some ice time.

"FNHL is about having fun and getting exercise," Mr. Ahbel said. He found that the rink had open ice on Friday nights between January and March. FNHL was born.

FNHL is open to anyone who is not on a Deerfield hockey team. Knowing how to skate helps, and in the past, both male and female students as well as faculty and staff have participated. According to Mr. Ahbel, the amount of enthusiasm has varied from year to year.

When asked about one his most memorable moments, Mr Ahbel said, "One night a few years ago, we had 30 people playing and over 70 people in the stands. Two guys were playing music and announcing the game from the 'crow's nest;' the hockey rink was really rockin that night."

All one needs in order to play is a stick, skates and a helmet with a face-mask. Knee and elbow pads are optional but strongly recommended for novice skaters. Mr. Ahbel and the hockey players implore that FNHL participants do not take equipment from the locker rooms without specific permission.

Teams are formed every Friday when the players throw their sticks in a pile, and Mr. Ahbel shoves half to one side and half to the other. If the teams are extremely unfair, trades may be made and "Ahbdog" himself may play.

Even the Varsity Hockey team gets into the action as. Mike Collins '05 said, "When I see FNHL, I see the roots of hockey. The heart, the desire, the falling down. It reminds me of when I played Mini Might hockey." Mike Butler '04 added, "I respect the FNHLers as athletes and competitors. I try to go every Friday to see the fire in their eyes."

The rules of FNHL are fairly simple. The nets are turned backwards, eliminating the need for goalies. In order to prevent one player from dominating the game, the puck can only be carried over one line before the player must pass. Checking is forbidden. Mr. Ahbel feels that in an ideal game there would be continuous action and he would never have to blow his whistle.

For the most part, things are taken lightly and the goal is to have fun playing hockey. "FNHL is an incredible opportunity for student bonding," said OIly Merrill '06, a FNHL regular. Oily enjoys FNHL because he feels it provides a opportunity for people who otherwise would not get to play hockey. He thinks that the games are especially fun when there are experienced players present who have some because it can result in good games and a slight increase in intensity.

In years past, the final night of FNHL brought about the return of the coveted Deerfield hockey trophy, the Stanley Can. The Stanley Can has an ancient and storied history dating back to the days before co-education when the Intramural Hockey League was active.

The IHL too played an important role in the Deerfield hockey program. The teams were set for the entire year and were taken fairly seriously. There were playoffs at the end of the year and the winner was awarded the Stanley Can, which resides in the trophy case in the hallway between the east and west gyms.

In years past, score was kept for the last night of FNHL and the Stanley Can was awarded to the winning team (but, unlike its more famous cousin, not filled with champagne).

If the promise of fun hockey and the possibility of winning the Stanley Can is not enough to convince you to give FNHL a try, maybe Mr. Ahbel's famous sweatshirt is. The sweatshirt hails from Choate and the bright yellow "C" is encompassed and slashed by a red circle and line, similar to 'no smoking' signs.

Mr. Ahbel found the sweatshirt during his days as a teacher at Kent. The first time Mr. Ahbel wore it here he was met with hostility and, therefore, added the circle and bar with red masking tape.

Though captivating, do not be distracted from the real action. The players bring the heat to the ice, tearing it up every Friday night until the term is over. Be there.