The National Strat-O-Matic Hockey League Newsletter League Established May 1, 1997 Volume #13, Issue #15 - April 1, 2010 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* 2010 FARLEY CUP PLAYOFFS UNDERWAY! Some great first round matchups coming up - the Western Conference features three divisional rivalries (Sasquatch/Whitecaps, Fiddler Crabs/Rainiers, and Scouts/Tarantulas), as does the Eastern Conference (Bulldogs/Berserkers, Hellcats/Wanderers, and Green Calves/Blades). The Pittsburgh Hornets made the playoffs despite earning 43% of possible points - for more on the Hornets, please see Chris' excellent article. The playoff league file will be out shortly - thanks to Brian for his work on this! After the file is out, road teams should get their computer manager to the home team as soon as possible, and all series need to be complete by April 15. Netplay of games is strongly encouraged if at all possible (noting that I haven't tried these capabilities since I moved to my condo). NOTE: Computer-only players can NOT play in the Farley Cup playoffs. Aside from that, players are limited to their actual NHL games played in the playoffs. I will roll an injury chance after each postseason game. Take note of the injuries present at the start of the quarterfinal series, listed at the bottom of the newsletter. NOTE: Please re-read the preceding note. Remember the new goaltender rule (reprised below). Also, please check below for starting playoff injuries. Remember that a new injury is "rolled" after each game, and I will update each series' participants with new injuries after each game. Lastly, the Seattle Rainiers have recalled Jonathan Bernier from SCMHL Tacoma. Bernier will serve as the team's spare goaltender during the 2010 Farley Cup playoffs. ********************************************************************* POSTSEASON GOALTENDER USAGE: 1- There are no limits on Goalies rated 5+. 2- A goalie rated 1 or 2 cannot start a game. 3- A goalie rated 3 or 4 can start a playoff game under two conditions: a) He starts the first game of the playoffs and he plays until he reaches special fatigue rating (SFR: See Point 3) b) He starts the game AFTER another goalie of his team reaches his own fatigue rating (or SFR if less than 5) and can play until he becomes fatigued again. 4- The special fatigue rating (SFR) is faced when a goalie rated less than 5 allows 4 goals or more in a game (instead of the 6 of the regular fatigue rating). A goalie reaching his SFR can finish his game, but has to sit until the conditions in Point 3b are fulfilled. *************************************************************************** 2010 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS: #8 PITTSBURGH HORNETS at #1 ST. MICHAEL'S PRIVATEERS #7 BUFFALO BULLDOGS at #2 LONG ISLAND BERSERKERS #6 FLORIDA HELLCATS at #3 MONTREAL WANDERERS #5 CORNER CREEK GREEN CALVES at #4 LYNDONVILLE BLADES *************************************************************************** 2010 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS: #8 SEATTLE SASQUATCH at #1 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS #7 NEVADA THUNDER at #2 HOUSTON AEROS #6 KANSAS CITY SCOUTS at #3 TOPEKA TARANTULAS #5 FORT GARRY FIDDLER CRABS at #4 SEATTLE RAINIERS ********************************************************************* SUBMIT YOUR TROPHY NOMINEES! Please submit your nominees for the NSHL's 2010 awards ballot by April 15th. You may submit as many nominees for a "name" trophy as you would like - so long as you don't get ridiculous. Here are the trophies to be voted on this spring: GRETZKY TROPHY (Awarded to the league's most valuable player) SAWCHUK TROPHY (Awarded to the league's top goaltender) ORR TROPHY (Awarded to the league's top defenseman) LEMIEUX TROPHY (Awarded to the league's top first-year player) BLAKE TROPHY (Awarded to the league's top coach) GAINEY TROPHY (Awarded to the league's top defensive forward) HARVEY TROPHY (Awarded to the league's top defensive defenseman) PARENT TROPHY (Awarded to the comeback player of the year) NORRIS TROPHY (Awarded to the owner/associate who best exemplifies the spririt of the league and its members) For the league's postseason all-star team, please nominate one player from each position (left wing, centre, right wing, left defense, right defense and goal) from your team. ******************************************************************** THIS IS A PLAYOFF TEAM? by Chris Beddick, Pittsburgh Hornets owner Yes, folks, it is true. The Pittsburgh Hornets, despite giving up a franchise record 305 goals, despite having mediocre special teams, despite a 32-43-7 record, despite amassing only 71 points, are returning to the Farley Cup Playoffs. Hornets fans are optimistic. This will be the 2nd consecutive trip to the Playoffs for this franchise under the Beddick ownership. However, the excitement is somewhat subdued. The reward for making it to the post season, is the privilege of facing the defending Farley Cup Champion St. Michael's Privateers. "We have a ton of respect for the Privateers and what they have accomplished. They are a great team, and it is going to be a tough battle. They are a championship franchise. They are what we are striving to build", said Hornets d man Brian Campbell. The Hornets went 1-3 against STM, losing two games by only 1 goal. "We know what is ahead of us". said owner Chris Beddick. "But we also know that anything can happen once you get into the tournament. We found that out the hard way last season." Beddick is referring to last season's loss to Corner Creek, a 7th seed that bounced the Hornets out in 7 games of the first round. Regardless of the results, the Hornets young core, will gain invaluable experience as they continue to grow. "We are really excited about our future, Beddick continued. Kane, Okposo, Giroux, Dubinsky, Yandle, are all very young, and getting better. Add in Troy Brouwer, Marty Havlat, Jussi Jokinen, and our franchise goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, strong leadership from Phillips, Sarich, and Campbell. We feel we will be highly competitive for years to come." The future is now for PIH. The best days are surely ahead for this franchise. The evolution continues with Game 1 against the Farley Cup Champion St. Michael's Privateers. ********************************************************************* WEEK TWENTY-ONE RESULTS AND INJURIES: Topeka Tarantulas 2, Brooklyn Fourteenth 3 BRK SERGEI GONCHAR (2 goals, 1 TA, 4 hits) BRK ALEXANDER OVECHKIN (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 TA, 1 hit) BRK MICHAEL NYLANDER (2 assists) INJURY: TPK ADRIAN AUCOIN (0 gm) Houston Aeros 3, Buffalo Bulldogs 0 HOU TOMAS VOKOUN (25/25 shots, ShO, 5/5 GR) HOU PATRIK ELIAS (1 goal, 1 assist, 8 SOG, 1 hit) BUF CAM WARD (42/45 shots, 8/11 GR) INJURY: HOU MIKE RICHARDS (0 gm) Manayunk Bullies 0, Capital City Cougars 1 CCC JONAS HILLER (31/31 shots, ShO, 4/4 GR) CCC JOE CORVO (1 goal, 5 SOG, 3 hits) CCC MATTHEW LOMBARDI (1 assist, 1 hit, 8/11 FO) INJURY: MAN MARCO STURM (12 gm) Capital City Cougars 1, Corner Creek Green Calves 2 CCC JONAS HILLER (31/33 shots, 7/7 GR) CGC CHRIS MASON (26/27 shots, 5/5 GR) CGC MARC STAAL (1 assist, 5 TA) INJURY: CGC MARC STAAL (0 gm) Nevada Thunder 7, Florida Hellcats 3 NEV PAVOL DEMITRA (2 goals, 2 assists, +3, 6/9 FO) NEV DENNIS WIDEMAN (3 assists, +2) NEV JASON BLAKE (2 assists, +2, 6 SOG, 1 TA) INJURY: NEV JASON BLAKE (0 gm) Brooklyn Fourteenth 5, Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs 6 FGF JOE THORNTON (2 goals, 3 assists, 12/21 FO) FGF SERGEI SAMSONOV (1 goal, 3 assists, +2) BRK BROOKS LAICH (2 assists, 6 SOG, 2 TA, 2 hits, 12/20 FO) INJURY: FGF LUKAS KASPAR (35 gm) Stone Harbor Sound 1, Houston Aeros 3 HOU MIKE RICHARDS (2 assists, 6 SOG, 10/15 FO) HOU SIMON GAGNE (2 goals, 1 TA) HOU MATHIEU GARON (27/28 shots, 3/4 GR) INJURY: HOU MATHIEU GARON (1 gm) Florida Hellcats 3, Kansas City Scouts 1 FLO CURTIS McELHINNEY (30/31 shots, 4/4 GR) FLO DOMINIC MOORE (2 assists, 8/11 FO) FLO BLAKE WHEELER (2 goals) INJURY: FLO JOEY CRABB (10 gm) Kansas City Scouts 5, Long Island Berserkers 4 (SO) LIB JEREMY ROENICK (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 TA, 6/8 FO) KCS FRANCOIS BEAUCHEMIN (2 goals, +2, 6 SOG, 2 TA) LIB GILBERT BRULE (1 goal, 2 assists) INJURY: KCS OWEN NOLAN (5 gm) Pittsburgh Sound Chasers 2, Lyndonville Blades 5 LYN DEREK ROY (1 goal, 2 assists, +2, 9 SOG, 2 TA, 8/11 FO) LYN JASON POMINVILLE (2 goals, +2, 8 SOG, 1 TA) LYN RYAN KESLER (2 assists, 1 TA) INJURY: LYN ALEX BURROWS (0 gm) North Calgary Hawks 1, Manayunk Bullies 3 MAN JOEY MacDONALD (33/34 shots, 6/7 GR) MAN MARCO STURM (1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 5 SOG) MAN MAXIM AFINOGENOV (1 goal, 1 assist, +2) INJURY: MAN NATHAN OYSTRICK (10 gm) Montreal Wanderers 3, Minneapolis Massasauga 2 MIN STEVE MASON (30/33 shots, 10/12 GR) MIN TUOMO RUUTU (2 goals, 5 SOG, 1 TA) MON MAREK ZIDLICKY (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 TA, 1 hit) INJURY: MIN MARCEL GOC (12 gm) Seattle Rainiers 2, Montreal Wanderers 3 MON ALEXANDER SEMIN (1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 3/3 FO) MON NIKOLAI ZHERDEV (1 goal, 1 assist, +2) MON MAXIM LAPIERRE (1 goal, 2 TA, 8/10 FO) INJURY: SEA PATRICK MARLEAU (0 gm) Long Island Berserkers 2, Nevada Thunder 6 NEV DOUG WEIGHT (2 goals, 1 assist, +2) NEV MIKE COMMODORE (1 assist, +2, 3 TA, 2 hits) NEV JASON BLAKE (2 assists, +2) INJURY: LIB DARRYL SYDOR (9 gm) Corner Creek Green Calves 2, North Calgary Hawks 4 NCH JASON WILLIAMS (2 assists, +2, 2 TA) NCH JASON SPEZZA (1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 8/13 FO) CGC MIKAEL SAMUELSSON (1 goal, 1 assist) INJURY: NCH MATT PETTINGER (4 gm) Minneapolis Massasauga 2, Pittsburgh Hornets 1 MIN STEVE MASON (32/33 shots, 4/4 GR) MIN PHIL KESSEL (1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 5 SOG) MIN ANZE KOPITAR (1 goal, 1 assist, +2) INJURY: PIH KYLE OKPOSO (5 gm) St. Michael's Privateers 3, Pittsburgh Sound Chasers 0 STM TIM THOMAS (26/26 shots, ShO, 7/7 GR) STM PAVEL DATSYUK (1 goal, 1 assist, 6 SOG, 2 TA, 7/11 FO) STM FILIP KUBA (1 goal, 2 TA) INJURY: STM ALEXEI KOVALEV (0 gm) Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs 4, Quebec City Patriotes 3 FGF RYAN GETZLAF (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 TA, 7/10 FO) FGF JOE THORNTON (2 assists, 1 TA, 12/20 FO) FGF MARIAN HOSSA (2 goals) INJURY: QCP TOMAS KABERLE (4 gm) Vancouver Whitecaps 1, St. Michael's Privateers 3 STM MARTIN St. LOUIS (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 TA) STM TIM THOMAS (28/29 shots, 5/5 GR) STM PAVEL DATSYUK (1 goal, 1 assist, 5 SOG, 7/10 FO) INJURY: VAW DUSTIN BROWN (0 gm) Pittsburgh Hornets 0, Seattle Rainiers 4 SEA DWAYNE ROLOSON (30/30 shots, ShO, 8/8 GR) SEA BRIAN RAFALSKI (1 goal, 3 TA) SEA CHRIS DRURY (1 goal, 5 SOG, 1 TA) INJURY: PIH MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI (0 gm) Buffalo Bulldogs 5, Seattle Sasquatch 3 SES JEFF CARTER (1 goal, 5 SOG, 1 TA, 15/24 FO) BUF MARC-EDOUARD VLASIC (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 TA) BUF DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN (1 goal, 1 assist) INJURY: SES JIM SLATER (1 gm) Seattle Sasquatch 3, Stone Harbor Sound 4 SHS KYLE TURRIS (1 goal, 1 assist, +2) SHS MILAN MICHALEK (2 goals, 1 TA) SES ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY (1 goal, 1 TA) INJURY: SHS MIKE LUNDIN (8 gm) Quebec City Patriotes 2, Topeka Tarantulas 5 TPK ADRIAN AUCOIN (1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 5 TA, 1 hit) TPK COREY PERRY (2 assists, 7 SOG, 1 TA, 1 hit) QCP JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE (50/55 shots, 9/12 GR) INJURY: QCP RON HAINSEY (0 gm) Lyndonville Blades 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 5 VAW NIKLAS BACKSTROM (38/39 shots, 7/7 GR) VAW JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER (2 assists, 1 TA, 1 hit) VAW DUSTIN BROWN (2 assists, 1 TA) INJURY: LYN PAUL MARA (1 gm) ********************************************************************* 2009-10 REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE STANDINGS: NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Long Island Berserkers 82 47 25 5 5 104 0.634 273 255 Lyndonville Blades 82 47 28 6 1 101 0.616 259 219 Corner Creek Green Calves 82 47 29 0 6 100 0.610 249 210 Buffalo Bulldogs 82 42 33 2 5 91 0.555 230 227 Pittsburgh Hornets 82 32 43 3 4 71 0.433 243 305 Brooklyn Fourteenth 82 28 48 2 4 62 0.378 208 291 ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA St. Michael's Privateers 82 59 16 3 4 125 0.762 286 164 Montreal Wanderers 82 51 22 2 7 111 0.677 306 256 Florida Hellcats 82 42 30 3 7 94 0.573 268 263 Quebec City Patriotes 82 29 48 3 2 63 0.384 233 322 Stone Harbor Sound 82 27 46 3 6 63 0.384 230 292 Manayunk Bullies 82 27 48 4 3 61 0.372 194 296 NORTHWEST DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Vancouver Whitecaps 82 59 16 1 6 125 0.762 307 199 Seattle Rainiers 82 49 25 5 3 106 0.646 292 231 Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs 82 48 28 1 5 102 0.622 298 240 Nevada Thunder 82 39 38 1 4 83 0.506 242 277 Seattle Sasquatch 82 36 41 1 4 77 0.470 271 261 North Calgary Hawks 82 29 43 2 8 68 0.415 266 346 CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Houston Aeros 82 57 22 2 1 117 0.713 287 194 Topeka Tarantulas 82 55 21 1 5 116 0.707 348 233 Kansas City Scouts 82 43 36 1 2 89 0.543 258 258 Minneapolis Massasauga 82 32 44 2 4 70 0.427 201 261 Pittsburgh Sound Chasers 82 31 44 3 4 69 0.421 226 302 Capital City Cougars 82 28 46 2 6 64 0.390 221 294 ********************************************************************* OVERUSAGE PENALTIES: Brian and I are independently reviewing overusage results for 2009-10, and penalties will be assigned shortly (we will run them past the review board first). Be prepared! I will say that overall, they are much less than in years past. Well done! ********************************************************************* CALENDAR OF EVENTS: April 1: conference quarterfinals begin! April 15: all conference quarterfinal games must be reported *************************************************************************** INCENTIVE POINTS PIH: -1 IP, newsletter article 2009-10 CUMULATIVE INCENTIVE POINTS BUF -1 CGC 2 FLO 1 HOU -4 LIB -1 NEV 2 PIH -1 QCP 2 STM -1 SES -1 SHS -2 TPK -2 VAW -19 *************************************************************************** ASSOCIATE LIST: SINCE GP Dale Ripley September 11, 2007 28 Francois Lessard December 10, 2006 8 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 Scott Bruner June 18, 2007 0 Steve Beren February 2, 2008 0 If you're still an active associate, and aren't on this list, please get in contact with me. Thanks! Doug *************************************************************************** CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL INJURIES: This will change with every playoff game, and will be announced to the relevant owners at that time. CGC MATT CULLEN 1 games through Game One, ECQF CGC NIKLAS HJALMARSSON 51 games through Farley Cup playoffs FGF LUKAS KASPAR 35 games through Farley Cup playoffs FGF TUUKKA RASK 2 games through Game Two, WCQF FLO DAVID BOOTH 3 games through Game Three, ECQF FLO JASON LaBARBERA 3 games through Game Three, ECQF FLO JOEY CRABB 10 games through Game Three, ECSF HOU BRENDAN SHANAHAN 23 games through Game Two, Farley Cup Finals HOU JEFF HALPERN 6 games through Game Six, WCQF HOU MATHIEU GARON 1 game through Game One, WCQF KCS OWEN NOLAN 5 games through Game Five, WCQF LIB DARRYL SYDOR 9 games through Game Two, ECSF LIB EVGENI NABOKOV 2 games through Game Two, ECQF LIB MIKE IGGULDEN 45 games through Farley Cup Finals LIB TEEMU SELANNE 4 games through Game Four, ECQF LYN JAMIE LUNDMARK 5 games through Game Five, ECQF LYN PAUL MARA 1 game through Game One, ECQF LYN PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD 1 game through Game One, ECQF MON DREW MILLER 1 game through Game One, ECQF MON ERIC FEHR 3 games through Game Three, ECQF MON STEVE REINPRECHT 1 game through Game One, ECQF NEV CHRISTOPH SCHUBERT 2 games through Game Two, WCQF NEV JONAS FROGREN 6 games through Game Six, WCQF NEV MATHIEU DANDENAULT 5 games through Game Five, WCQF NEV MICHAEL PECA 1 game through Game One, WCQF PIH KYLE OKPOSO 5 games through Game Five, ECQF PIH PETTERI NOKELAINEN 2 games through Game Two, ECQF PIH TYLER KENNEDY 3 games through Game Three, ECQF SES JIM SLATER 1 game through Game One, WCQF TPK ALES HEMSKY 1 game through Game One, WCQF *************************************************************************** TRANSACTIONS: All free agents *must* play in at least six of your team's games the following biweek. Violation of this results in the player being released immediately. *************************************************************************** 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 Jeff Tsuruoka, Brooklyn owner ***************************************************************************