The National Strat-O-Matic Hockey League Newsletter League Established May 1, 1997 Volume #11, Issue #2 - October 3, 2007 ********************************************************************* Current League Officers: Commissioner: Doug Norris Vice-Commissioner: Brian Leahy (7/15/07 to present) Email the whole league: mailto:nshl at yahoogroups dot com NSHL Chat List: mailto:nshlchat at yahoogroups dot com Web Page Administrator: Guy Caron League Web Site: http://nshl.org 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 ********************************************************************* INTRODUCTION: Two weeks until the start of the 2007-08 campaign! Remember that you must be down to 36 players (skaters plus goaltenders) by the end of Monday, October 15. And I will not be spending a lot of time trying to track you down to make sure that you are in compliance. ********************************************************************* 2007-08 NSHL SCHEDULE RESLEASED The NSHL will kick off their eleventh season on October 17, with games in twelve rinks. Teams will travel a total of 1.7 million miles during the year, with the largest component of that being Sweden-related trips. Corner Creek alone will travel 145,000 miles, nearly twice that of the next-highest travelled team (Florida). The Farley Cup champion Seattle Rainiers will raise their banner on the 17th, hosting one of their fiercest rivals, the North Calgary Hawks. "We are honoured to have the Hawks in our building, and can't think of a better way to kick of the new season," said general manager Doug Norris. "Good rivalries are what make this sport what it is." The Houston Aeros open October 17th, causing consternation amongst the team's ownership as they struggle with arena availability (see below). The newly-rechristened Empire State Americans will open against Corner Creek, who then travels across the country to play the Rainiers. Three days later, the Green Calves host Buffalo. "We try everything we can to alleviate the burden of travel for our league members," remarked Norris. "But one thing is universally true - no matter how much you manipulate the schedule, Sweden is really far away." The season concludes on March 17 with seven games, before the 2008 Farley Cup playoffs begin. ********************************************************************* WHITECAPS TAKE 2007 CCCI FINAL Brian Leahy, CCCI host Results from the recently-completed CCCI tournament! Vancouver-5 at Seattle R-3 (Championship Game) Long Island-5 at North Calgary-4 (OT) (3rd Place Game) Complete game box scores of each contest can be found on the Schedule section of the tourney site: http://capcity.tripod.com/CCCI/index07.html AWARDS: Al Arbour Cup (Tourney Champion): Vancouver Whitecaps Bryan Trottier Trophy (Tourney MVP): Craig Anderson, Vancouver Whitecaps Mike Bossy Award (Best Forward): Jonathan Cheechoo, Seattle Rainiers Denis Potvin Award (Best Defender): Ryan Whitney, Long Island Berzerkers Billy Smith Award (Best Goaltender): Craig Anderson, Vancouver Whitecaps ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS: First Team Goaltender: Craig Anderson, Vancouver Defense: Ryan Whitney, Long Island Defense: Jay Bouwmeester, Vancouver Left Wing: Alexander Frolov, North Calgary Center: Chris Drury, Seattle R Right Wing: Jonathan Cheechoo, Seattle R Second Team Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov, Long Island Defense: Zdeno Chara, Long Island Defense: Brian Rafalski, Seattle R Left Wing: Michael Cammalleri, Vancouver Center: Sidney Crosby, Vancouver Right Wing: Jaromir Jagr, North Calgary Congrats to the Vancouver Whitecaps - champions of the CCCI 2007 Tournament! The Seattle Rainiers finished 2nd, runners-up. The Long Island Berzerkers finished 3rd, with the North Calgary Hawks taking 4th place. The CCCI 'league' file updated with all tournament games can be found in the 'Files' section. Previous tournament results: 2006 - Champion: North Calgary Hawks, Runner-up: Seattle Rainiers 2004 - Champion: Quebec City Patriotes, Runner-up: Capital City Cougars 2003 - Champion: Buffalo Bulldogs, Runner-up: Toms River Lightning 2002 - Champion: Toms River Lightning, Runner-up: Seattle Rainiers 1999 - Champion: Seattle Rainiers, Runner-up: Lyndonville Blades Thanks to all participants for a successful 2007 tournament! ********************************************************************* AEROS LOOK TO MOVE HOME OPENER Michael Kuduk, Houston owner The Houston Aeros, victim of a scheduling conflict with Walt Disney's hottest property, will look to open the defense of their Central Division crown away from the Toyota Center. The Downtown Management Corporation, operators of the Toyota Center, added an October 17 date for pre-teen sensation Hannah Montana after shows on the 15th and 16th sold out in a record 9 minutes. However, they did not realize that the Aeros' opener was scheduled for the same date as the added show. DMC's Wayne Walters said, "There would be overt bloodshed amongst Houston's teen and pre-teen population if we were to cancel the show. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused the Aeros, and we will be looking to assist them in finding a suitable location for their home opener." Unfortunately, one may not exist. The Aeros' former home, The Summit, is now a church. While worshiping Our Lady of the Hip Check may appeal to some fans, the Lakewood Church in all likelihood will not be sharing their enthusiasm. The AstroHall has been reconfigured since Reliant Stadium was built, and the AstroArena is too small by about 10,000 seats. There is one building which is guaranteed to be unoccupied - and that is the Houston Astrodome, which last saw use as a sports venue three years ago before the regional high school football championships were moved to the larger Reliant Stadium. The Aeros still own the ice making equipment from the Summit, and may be able to set it up inside the Dome. With temporary stands on one side of the rink, and 7 levels of seating on the other, the potential for a truly memorable home opener might be just around the corner. Aeros management will be making an announcement Friday. ********************************************************************* FLORIDA HELLCATS SEASON PREVIEW Rob Ryan, Florida owner Well, the Florida Hellcats made the 2007 NSHL draft memorable by selecting 14 players, some of them with great expectations. But with those growing expectations comes a realization that these 2007-08 Hellcats will be a team in transition. South Florida won't have any idea of how this draft will pan out until the 2009-10 season, most likely. Highlights of their choices were Ryan Callahan, a quick sniper who has done well in every league he's been in, David Krejci, a point-per-game centerman, Jaroslav Halak, a steady, if unspectacular goalie, Matt Lashoff, a great offensive defenseman and Andrej Sekera, a defenseman with a well-rounded game. Other players of note that were acquired were checking center Kevyn Adams, youngster Brandon Dubinsky, veteran forward Eric Perrin, defensemen Doug Janik and Bobby Allen and a few long shot forwards in Junior Lessard and Alexei Mikhnov. Florida also acquired career minor-leaguers Mark Hartigan and Noah Clarke at the draft but as of press time they are on the bubble to make the team along with prospect goaltender Yann Danis. At goaltender, Ray Emery will finally be at the helm full time. Florida general manager and president Rob Ryan thinks he can be a great number one goalie in the NSHL. Not far behind in potential is Jason Bacashihua and Halak. Lots of defensive experience was unloaded at the draft and in trading near the draft as the Hellcats parted ways with Duncan Keith, long-time Hellcat Hal Gill, Andrew Alberts and Paul Ranger. The blue line will be manned by top-rated defenseman Chris Phillips along with offensive defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky. Christian Ehrhoff and Rob Scuderi should round out the top four. Ben Clymer will work his way into the lineup as a defenseman and a wing. The other defenders will be made up of Brendan Bell, Janik, Lashoff, Allen, Niclas Wallin and Jeff Woywitka. Kevin Klein will once again toil in the minors to prove he belongs with the big club. The top line looks like it will be newly acquired center Daymond Langkow, left winger Chris Kunitz and right wing Vaclav Prospal. The second line will be made up of Brad Boyes at center, Jochen Hecht at left wing and Chris Clark at right. The third line will consist of checkers Chad Larose, Chris Gratton and Kevyn Adams. Fourth line grinders and utility players are Perrin, Matt Bradley, Jason Williams, Ryan Clowe, and Brandon Bochenski. Ben Walter, ex-NHLer Ryan Walter's son, will be the top star in the minors. ********************************************************************* BROOKLYN FOURTEENTH NOTES Jeff Tsuruoka, Brooklyn owner In a long and successful NSHL career, Alexander Mogilny has seen it all, but he saw a new role for himself when Brooklyn picked him up from Montreal near the trade deadline - that of a mentor for the Fourteenth's star rookie. "He was like big brother to me," said Ovechkin. "He helped me a lot to learn how to play in playoffs. He's a great player. He made us a better team." One of the lingering images Brooklyn hockey fans will take away from the final game of their Fourteenth's Farley Cup Finals defeat in Seattle is a visibly disappointed Alexander Ovechkin talking quietly to teammate and fellow Russian Alexander Mogilny. "He's such a competitor," said the elder Alex about the younger. "He takes the loss personally. I try to tell him that there's no shame. He tried his hardest. He understands but doesn't like losing. Who does?" "We basically brought Mogilny in to bolster the second power play unit and maybe take a little of the pressure off of Ovie," said Brooklyn owner and head coach Jeff Tsuruoka. "He's had the pleasure of hoisting the Farley Cup before and we were thrilled to give him one last kick at the can. He was great with Alex, and not just Alex but with all of our young guys. They all learned valuable lessons about poise in big game situations and they're all better for having skated with him." Moginly will be honored at Konstantinov Hall on Opening Night 2007. ********************************************************************* RAINIERS PREPARE FOR CUP DEFENSE Doug Norris, Rainiers owner The last time the Seattle Rainiers won the Farley Cup, they followed things up with a rousing six-game first-round playoff loss to North Calgary. General Manager Doug Norris hopes that the team will step things up a bit better this time around. "That summer (of 2004), it was just constant non-stop committments, and we never really got a chance to catch our breath. Fortunately, many of the guys from this year's team were on that one, and we seem better prepared." Unfortunately for the Rainiers, they face a stacked division and conference this time around. Despite setting franchise records with 56 wins and 115 points in 2006-07, the Rainiers placed no better than third in the conference. And the other teams in the Northwest Division have all improved over the offseason, while the Rainiers' 2007 draft was widely panned by critics. "One of the new guys we are very excited about is goaltender Marek Schwarz," referring to the club's first-round choice last month. "With Roloson and Toskala here, we're going to give him plenty of time to prepare down in Tacoma, but we think he could be a cornerstone." A concern for the team has been centre Joe Nieuwendyk, the reigning Beliveau Trophy winner who may need back surgery at some point. According to the veteran, "I'm hoping to play through this," but he has struggled and was not dressed for the club's runner-up appearance in the 2007 CCCI. The club fared well at the CCCI, but saw a glimpse of future troubles in the championship game against Vancouver. The Whitecaps broke out to a 5-1 lead before coasting to a 5-3 victory, and Seattle had trouble containing Vancouver's young, quick offense. "We need faster defensemen," said Norris, who remarked that Chris Chelios may need to bring a Rascal scooter out on the ice with him. "Bottom line - we've got two weeks." Still fighting for final roster spots are veterans Petr Nedved and Kirk Maltby, who hope to hold off the young kids and spend another year with the big club. ********************************************************************* NSHL CALENDAR October 15 - All NSHL teams must be at 36 players or less. October 17 - NSHL Week 1/2 - good luck to everyone! ********************************************************************* INCENTIVE POINTS: 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. BRK: -1 IP, newsletter article FLO: -1 IP, newsletter article HOU: -1 IP, newsletter article CUMULATIVE INCENTIVE POINTS: BRK -1 IP CCC exempt FLO -1 IP HOU -1 IP NYL -1 IP SHS -1 IP ********************************************************************* ASSOCIATE LIST: SINCE GP Dean Engemoen June 16, 2007 2 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 Francois Lessard December 10, 2006 0 Chris Beddick June 11, 2007 0 Scott Bruner June 18, 2007 0 Dale Ripley September 11, 2007 0 If you're still an active associate, and aren't on this list, please get in contact with me. Thanks! Doug ********************************************************************* TRANSACTIONS: MIN - RELEASE Tomi Maki, Garth Murray, George Parros, Brandon Prust. SES - RELEASE Doug O'Brien. ********************************************************************* 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 Brian Leahy, Vice-Commissioner Andy Bartalone, St. Michael's owner (vacant) *********************************************************************