The National Strat-O-Matic Hockey League Newsletter League Established May 1, 1997 Volume #10, Issue #4 - October 4, 2006 ************************************************************************** Current League Officers: Commissioner: Doug Norris Vice-Commissioner: Eric Goodman Email the whole league: mailto:nshl at yahoogroups dot com NSHL Chat List: mailto:nshlchat at yahoogroups dot 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 Team Websites: Capital City Cougars: http://members.tripod.com/~CapCity/ Seattle Rainiers: http://math.colorado.edu/~norrisdt/rainiers/rainiers.html ************************************************************************** ONE WEEK UNTIL OPENING NIGHT! Rosters must be trimmed to 36 by Monday evening. I will not be tracking you down individually in order to do so; do not press the issue, please. Great article this week about changes with the Massasauga - enjoy! ************************************************************************** THE MUST-READ PART OF THE NEWSLETTER Since many of you seem to skip parts of this treasure, and all. If you intend to use a lock code during the 2006-07 season, please file it with the commissioner. I do spot-check computer managers to make sure that things are being done within the rules, but this is mainly in case you need assistance with something. Thanks! Also, READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT: http://math.colorado.edu/~norrisdt/newownerfaq.html You are responsible for all contents within. Until I hear otherwise, I'm assuming that the last paragraph of the document is correct. If you have any suggestions for things to add to this New Owner FAQ, I welcome them. ************************************************************************** CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT UPDATE The North Calgary Hawks stormed through the 2006 CCCI field this fall, dominating all comers before whitewashing the Seattle Rainiers 6-0 in the final on Saturday. Fort Garry defeated Vancouver, 3-2, in the third-place game. Tournament Website: http://capcity.tripod.com/CCCI/index06.html AWARDS: Al Arbour Cup (Tourney Champion): North Calgary Hawks Bryan Trottier Trophy (Tourney MVP): Miikka Kiprusoff, North Calgary Mike Bossy Award (Best Forward): Teemu Selanne, North Calgary Denis Potvin Award (Best Defender): Sami Salo, Vancouver Billy Smith Award (Best Goaltender): Miikka Kiprusoff, North Calgary ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: First Team Goaltender: Miikka Kiprusoff, North Calgary Defense: Sami Salo, Vancouver Defense: Jaroslav Spacek, Seattle R Left Wing: Brian Rolston, North Calgary Center: Joe Thornton, Fort Garry Right Wing: Teemu Selanne, North Calgary Second Team Goaltender: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Seattle R Defense: Kimmo Timonen, Fort Garry Defense: Alexei Zhitnik, North Calgary Left Wing: Paul Kariya, North Calgary Center: Chris Drury, Seattle R Right Wing: Joffrey Lupul, Vancouver ************************************************************************** MINNEAPOLIS NEWS AND NOTES by Mike Steudle, Minneapolis owner With a couple days to go before the season opener versus Pittsburgh, Massasauga general manager Michael Steudle unexpectedly fired Minneapolis head coach Gord Murphy. Murphy, who led Minneapolis for the last two seasons to an 18-129-16 record, was unavailable for comment. Steudle named himself interim head coach for the time being. He also signed Brett Hull to one year player/coach deal. The two time NSHL champ will oversee the wingers and power play units. This move comes to no surprise to the fans who are used to Coach Steudle's shenanigans as the locker room last year was filled with drama and mistakes from the beginning to Tomas Vokoun's screaming matches with Murphy to management's mishandling of Adam Oates' last year in the NSHL. According to a team source the search for a new coach will start within a couple of weeks. Sutton named Captain of Massasauga for 06/07: Andy Sutton, who was acquired this summer from Montreal, was named Captain on Sunday night. Originally signed as free agent, he went to play 160 games, becoming a rock for the Wanderers backline. "This is a huge challenge and opportunity for me. I'd like to thank Mr. Caron who took a chance and developed me not just as a player but as person too," said the captain. "This squad has really improved over this summer - I can almost say we'll match our franchise single season record in wins this season. I'm very excited," Sutton added. Minneapolis also announced Niko Kapanen, Toni Lydman and Erik Rasmussen are the assistants for 06/07. Sutton becomes the third captain in the team's history with Robert Reichel (02/03) Kelly Buchberger (03/04) being the others. During the 2004-2005 season Minneapolis had no captain. Tuomo Ruutu injured! Ruutu who had been excited to play with the likes of All-Star Petr Sykora and rookie hotshot Thomas Vanek will have to wait for extended amount of time. A sprained ankle will keep him out until the New Year. The Return the of three headed goalie: With Vokoun's spot vacated, Minneapolis will have to depend on veteran goalkeepers this season. Sean Burke, Jussi Markkanen and Garth Snow will all get time between the pipes. "I've been through this before with Greensboro, but this core is differently better - especially with Burkie around, I'm expecting more wins," said Snow. ************************************************************************** FARLEY CUP PLAYOFF PREVIEW by Doug Norris The final episode in the three-parter! EASTERN CONFEREN QUARTERFINALS: #1 LONG ISLAND over #8 FLORIDA (five games) Fight between two aging teams ends with Berserkers advancing. #2 MANAYUNK over #7 STONE HARBOR (seven games) The scrappy Sound push things to the limit; Blades finally win a playoff round. #6 BUFFALO over #3 CORNER CREEK (seven games) Fast forwards ultimately doom Khabibulin and company. #5 ST. MICHAEL'S over #4 LYNDONVILLE (six games) If the Blades play both Esche and Roloson simultaneously, then Blades in six. WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS: #1 HOUSTON over #8 NEVADA (five games) The Thunder take one game at home, but the Outlaws are just too powerful. #2 FORT GARRY over #7 HAMPTON ROADS (seven games) It takes some time, but Thornton and Luongo sneak past the pesky Hounds. #3 NORTH CALGARY over #6 SEATTLE SASQUATCH (four games) The Sasquatch faithful rue the Kiprusoff trade after a short series. #5 CAPITAL CITY over #4 SEATTLE RAINIERS (six games) Injuries to regulars doom the Rainiers as Sakic regains top form. EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: #1 LONG ISLAND over #6 BUFFALO (six games) Long Island takes advantage in 3rd/4th-line matchups to prevail. #2 MANAYUNK over #5 ST. MICHAEL'S (six games) St. Michael's snipers thwarted by Hasek. WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: #1 HOUSTON over #5 CAPITAL CITY (four games) Outlaws just too powerful for upstart Cougars. #3 NORTH CALGARY over #2 FORT GARRY (seven games) Paul Kariya reminds everyone why Berserker and Sasquatch fans still curse him. EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #2 MANAYUNK over #1 LONG ISLAND (six games) Up-and-coming Bullies outmuscle Long Island to advance. WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #1 HOUSTON over #3 NORTH CALGARY (six games) Kiprusoff nearly reprises his role of 2005 before falling. 2007 FARLEY CUP FINALS: #1 HOUSTON over #2 MANAYUNK (five games) The only thing capable of stopping Houston is Houston. ************************************************************************** 2006-07 REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE STANDINGS: NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Brooklyn Fourteenth 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Buffalo Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Corner Creek Green Calves 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Long Island Berserkers 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Lyndonville Blades 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 New York Lancers 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Florida Hellcats 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Manayunk Bullies 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Montreal Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Quebec City Patriotes 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 St. Michael's Privateers 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Stone Harbor Sound 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 NORTHWEST DIVISION GP W L OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Nevada Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 North Calgary Hawks 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Seattle Rainiers 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Seattle Sasquatch 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Vancouver Whitecaps 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Capital City Cougars 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Hampton Roads Hounds 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Houston Outlaws 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Minneapolis Massasauga 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Pittsburgh Sound Chasrs 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 Topeka Tarantulas 0 0 0 0 0 --- 0 0 0- 0- 0 0- 0- 0 ************************************************************************** INCENTIVE POINTS: MIN: -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: MIN -1 IP SHS -1 IP TPK -1 IP ************************************************************************** ASSOCIATE LIST: SINCE GP 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 J.J. Schrems May 1, 2006 0 Mike Kuduk August 1, 2006 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: HOU - TRADE Evgeny Artyukhin to MIN for MIN#5. - TRADE John Erskine to VAW for VAW#7. MIN - RELEASE Kyle Brodziak, Brian McGrattan. MON - TRADE BRK#3 to SEA for Marc-Antoine Pouliot. SEA - TRADE Marc-Antoine Pouliot to MON for BRK#3. VAW - TRADE VAW#7 to HOU for John Erskine. - RELEASE Noah Clarke. ************************************************************************** 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 at verizon dot net) Doug Norris, Commissioner Eric Goodman, Vice-Commissioner Andy Bartalone, St. Michael's owner (vacant) **************************************************************************