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 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]
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]
The team wore pinksoccer 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
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]
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
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]
