The National Strat-O-Matic Hockey League Newsletter League Established May 1, 1997 Volume #9, Issue #25 - February 7, 2006 ************************************************************************** Current League Officers: Commissioner: Doug Norris Vice-Commissioner: Eric Goodman Email the whole league: mailto:nshl@yahoogroups.com NSHL Chat List: mailto:nshlchat@yahoogroups.com Web Page Administrator: Brian Leahy League Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/nshlweb Files Adminstrator: Brian Leahy / Tom Vinacci League Files Site: http://www.highrantdistrict.com/SOM/NSHL ************************************************************************** 214 DAYS! Until the 2006 NSHL entry draft, live from beautiful downtown Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, September 9! I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to this draft more than any other - partly because it's been so long since we've been playing games, and partly because of the huge quantity (and quality) of rookies that will be available. ************************************************************************** STATE OF THE UNION: I've heard from nineteen of our twenty-four owners (and one associate!), and I'm pleased to report that things are looking good so far. I was worried that an NHL lockout of this magnitude could decimate our league, but (knock on wood) I'm very optimistic. My plan at this point is to get back to at least a monthly newsletter schedule, even though I don't know if I can fill it with enough articles to make it interesting (that's never stopped me before!) If you've got any ideas or suggestions for the league, for the newsletter, or for my pathetic love life, send 'em along! ************************************************************************** START GETTING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS READY! I'd like to get this started pretty soon - if you have any ideas for Constitutional amendments, please send them to Patrick and myself. (Patrick, are you still interested in heading this committee? Please let me know ASAP. Thanks!) Some major issues that are going to come up will involve the new rules in the other league we like to watch (the NHL, duh). For instance, are we going to do start doing a shootout? One proposal I'm going to submit will be an "every game has three points" rule. I can't stand that some games (overtime games) are worth three points, while others are only worth two, so I'm going to suggest the following: Win in regulation 3 points Win in overtime 2 points Lose in overtime 1 point Lose in regulation 0 points It's not how the NHL does things, but it's how they should do it (in my opinion). Anyhow, I'm going to suggest it, and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Nyah nyah nyah. ************************************************************************** HASEK DEALT With both Ryan Miller and Marc Denis signed to long-term contracts, the Stone Harbor Sound today dealt veteran netminder Dominik Hasek to the Manayunk Bullies in exchange for forward Jan Bulis, defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, and a the ninth overall selection in September's entry draft. Hasek, who has 197 victories in his eight-year NSHL career, returned to the league with Stone Harbor last year and struggled. However, the Bullies feel that the two-time Sawchuk Trophy winner will return to form behind a solid Manayunk defense. Jan Bulis, a fifth-round selection in 1998, is still trying to transition from "prospect" to "regular" in the NSHL, although his 29 goals in 281 career games belies his true abilities. Hutchinson has yet to make his NSHL debut, but the Chicago native projects into a top-four blueliner. ************************************************************************** MORE ON CONSTITUTION... If anyone has a copy of the Constitution which was sent out in the summer of 2004 (the last time we voted on changes), please send me a copy. I'm having archival issues with my university server, and I'm trying to deal with it myself instead of bothering the college - because they haven't yet realized that I don't go to CU any more, and I don't want to push my luck. I'll give an internet high-five to anyone who can help. Hoo-hah two times Tuesday! Thanks! ************************************************************************** HAWKS CONTINUE SEARCH FOR SCORING by Jason McCorrister, North Calgary owner In the past two Farley Cup playoffs, the NC Hawks have performed well with what they had. They managed to piece together enough of the puzzle to put up a good fight. Last season's revenge series against the rival Seattle Rainiers and the even more remarkable upset of the heavily-favored Houston Outlaws, have raised expectations for the rejuvenated club. Now, the fans will be satisfied with nothing less than the Cup. The team has based its success on good goaltending and solid defense. However, without a proven sniper on the team, history is likely to repeat itself. "Every championship team needs a go-to guy, somebody who can put it in the net when the game is on the line," says GM Jason McCorrister. "Sometimes, it just seems like we're missing that guy. Two years ago it was Eric (Daze), but he goes down and the next thing you know we're playing golf." There are so many question marks in the scoring department. Will Pavol Demitra or Paul Kariya provide enough scoring this year? Will Eric Daze's wonky back finally allow him to play? Can Mike Modano and Rod Brind'Amour turn back the clock? As the draft gets closer, don't be surprised if the Hawks make a major trade. They'll be in the hunt for a top eight goal scorer and nobody on the roster, save star goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff, will be safe until they get one. When asked about rumors that continue to surface in the media, Demitra commented, "I like our team and I like our chances. I just hope I'm here next season." ************************************************************************** 2004-05 REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE STANDINGS: NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L T OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Long Island Berserkers 82 49 25 6 2 106 0.646 281 220 25-11- 4- 1 24-14- 2- 1 Corner Creek Green Cal 82 42 32 6 2 92 0.561 234 256 27- 9- 3- 2 15-23- 3- 0 Lyndonville Blades 82 41 31 10 0 92 0.561 230 179 16-18- 7- 0 25-13- 3- 0 Brooklyn Fourteenth 82 36 36 9 1 82 0.500 186 217 24-13- 3- 1 12-23- 6- 0 Buffalo Bulldogs 82 28 47 5 2 63 0.384 210 271 13-25- 3- 0 15-22- 2- 2 New York Lancers 82 17 52 9 4 47 0.287 174 272 10-25- 4- 2 7-27- 5- 2 ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L T OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road St. Michael's Privatee 82 46 18 14 4 110 0.671 272 202 26- 7- 7- 1 20-11- 7- 3 Quebec City Patriotes 82 48 21 9 4 109 0.665 324 217 27-11- 2- 1 21-10- 7- 3 Montreal Wanderers 82 41 25 10 6 98 0.598 231 198 22-12- 5- 2 19-13- 5- 4 Manayunk Bullies 82 30 37 12 3 75 0.457 222 239 18-18- 3- 2 12-19- 9- 1 Florida Hellcats 82 26 40 13 3 68 0.415 203 242 14-17- 8- 2 12-23- 5- 1 Stone Harbor Sound 82 18 52 11 1 48 0.293 159 276 10-23- 7- 1 8-29- 4- 0 NORTHWEST DIVISION GP W L T OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Fort Garry Fiddler Cra 82 48 22 11 1 108 0.659 254 180 27- 9- 5- 0 21-13- 6- 1 Seattle Rainiers 82 47 22 12 1 107 0.652 271 216 27-10- 4- 0 20-12- 8- 1 North Calgary Hawks 82 44 22 11 5 104 0.634 249 199 21-10- 6- 4 23-12- 5- 1 San Francisco Hedgehog 82 35 32 13 2 85 0.518 235 238 17-17- 5- 2 18-15- 8- 0 Seattle Sasquatch 82 35 37 7 3 80 0.488 230 236 19-17- 2- 3 16-20- 5- 0 Vancouver Whitecaps 82 19 56 5 2 45 0.274 194 321 8-29- 2- 2 11-27- 3- 0 CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L T OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Houston Outlaws 82 58 17 6 1 123 0.750 350 181 31- 7- 3- 0 27-10- 3- 1 Topeka Tarantulas 82 49 19 12 2 112 0.683 288 204 24- 8- 8- 1 25-11- 4- 1 Capital City Cougars 82 41 29 10 2 94 0.573 258 225 23-10- 6- 2 18-19- 4- 0 Pittsburgh Sound Chase 82 42 34 3 3 90 0.549 264 253 20-19- 1- 1 22-15- 2- 2 Hampton Roads Hounds 82 24 44 9 5 62 0.378 234 310 10-24- 6- 1 14-20- 3- 4 Minneapolis Massasauga 82 10 64 7 1 28 0.171 92 293 2-32- 6- 1 8-32- 1- 0 ************************************************************************** INCENTIVE POINTS: CGC: overusage penalty (pending) NYL: overusage penalty (pending) PIT: overusage penalty (pending) NCH: -1 IP, newsletter article Incentive points are not discretionary, and are assigned strictly per formula, without respect to extenuating circumstances. Incentive points may be appealed through the Review Board. CUMULATIVE INCENTIVE POINTS: BRK: -3 IP BUF: 4 IP CCC: -5 IP CGC: 2 IP FLO: -1 IP HOU: exempt LIB: 1 IP MAN: 2 IP NCH: -1 IP NYL: -1 IP PIT: -1 IP SFH: 2 IP SES: -10 IP SHS: 5 IP TPK: -2 IP VAW: -1 IP ************************************************************************** ASSOCIATE LIST: SINCE GP Dan Irvine July 20, 2004 46 Larry Spencer April 27, 2004 0 Ryan Barckert May 17, 2003 0 Steve Kramer December 13, 2004 0 Greg Ralls December 14, 2004 0 Andrew Smith November 19, 2005 0 If you're still an active associate at and aren't on this list at please get in contact with me. Thanks! Doug ************************************************************************** TRANSACTIONS: LIB - TRADE LIB#1 to MAN for MAN#2. (*) MAN - TRADE MAN#2 to LIB for LIB#1. (*) - TRADE MAN#1, Jan Bulis and Andrew Hutchinson to SHS for Dominik Hasek. SHS - TRADE Dominik Hasek to MAN for MAN#1, Jan Bulis and Andrew Hutchinson. (*) Correcting a trade in newsletter 9.15 in which Long Island dealt an already-traded pick to Manayunk. ************************************************************************** League Governing Boards Responsibilities of the following governing boards are outlined in the Constitution. Review Board Tom Vinacci, Buffalo Bulldogs Patrick Shea, Long Island Berserkers Mark McNeil, Lyndonville Blades Constitutional Council Head: Patrick Shea (patrickjshea@verizon.net) Doug Norris, Commissioner Eric Goodman, Vice-Commissioner Andy Bartalone, St. Michael's owner Lance Milligan, associate **************************************************************************