A new year has arrived in the CCHL and I've put together a wish list of things each of our teams might be hoping for in 2018.
CALGARY - Most points in the league, best offense, best defense, best power play, best penalty killing, fewest pims, leading scorer and almost certainly home ice through the entire upcoming playoffs. What's left to hope for? The 2018 Kehler Cup, nothing else.
DAYTON - 1st overall pick? With 16 top 40 draftees and the second most prospects playing in this year's Junior Tourney, two highly effective drafts in 2018 and 2019 would go along way to building a deep, deep organization. There will be some consolidation down the road, but if the next two drafts are good quality ones, this could be quite something brewing in SW Ohio in a few years.
DARTMOUTH - For EDM to give Cam Talbot a decent defense to play behind.
FORT ERIE - An upset win over the Chinook which would present a very doable path to the Falcons first CCHL championship. A big hump to get over but the most likely team to trip up the gang from Calgary.
GEORGETOWN - Only CGY has earned more points than GEO has over the last two seasons. How about a victory over the Corfield Conference foe in the upcoming Finals?
HALIFAX - Two years of great earnings and a good scouting department to target the next iteration of the Hammerheads.
HAMILTON - The Tiger's point totals over the last 4 year (projected for this season) are 42, 37, 84, 110. They are coming and coming hard. A bit of a darkhorse to win a Cup this year, they may be the team no one wants to deal with come playoff time. Beyond a successful playoff run this year, some influx of his prospects to address some aging on the big club probably his biggest wish.
LONG ISLAND - Like Hamilton, the Express hope for an influx of high upside youth to help form the core of the new edition for Long Island.
LAS VEGAS - Like the Hammerheads, two years of great earnings and a good scouting department to target the next iteration of the Aces.
MINNESOTA - A productive off-season to address a few holes and the arrival of 3-5 high-end prospects to make the lineup for the Norsemen.
NIAGARA FALLS - With 5 or more prospects hitting the lineup next year for the Thunder, the future isn't far away
OTTAWA - Again, we look to the upcoming drafts and development of prospect as key to the future of the Barracudas.
PARRY SOUND - With three first rounders in the next two drafts, and plenty of draft picks, factor in a league-high of prospects playing in this year's World Juniors tourney in Buffalo, time and development will serve the Orrsmen very well. Look for a Tiger-like improvement in the next few years in OTT.
PORTLAND - High on the Owl's wish list are some high-upside goaltenders and centermen. A few nice pieces will be in Portland next season, but more will be needed over the next few years.
REYKJAVIK - The Puffin could use an influx of homegrown talent to restock the cupboard with youngsters. They are very close to being on the short, short list of contenders, so, otoh a trade to mortgage some future for some top line additions to make a big-time Cup push.
SANIBEL - With ZERO goaltending prospects, a good haul of 5-8 well-regarded goalies from the next two drafts seems like a worthwhile thing to wish for.
SEATTLE - A crack scouting department to identify the proper targets to complement the already nice, high upside prospects currently in the Reign's system.
SIBERIA - A successful first four picks in the 2018 entry draft will go along way to maintaining the impressive stream of great young talent for the Icecats. Also hoping for a healthy Matt Murray and an improved Pens defense to help the guy out.
SPRINGFIELD - Patience. If the 'Topes nail the next two CCHL Entry Drafts, look for them to be a perennial top six team going forward. A nice but not elite group of prospects on the way, Mr. Stacey is doing a nice job at the helm but a heavy, serious investment into the next two drafts will pay off.
SUDBURY - Quietly building a stellar prospect system, with 42 picks in the next two CCHL Drafts, the Miners are following the path of Siberia and Hamilton which will serve them well.
VICTORIA - Under the radar flies Donpaulo but he has some serious talent on the way to the CCHL in a few years. Wishing for a couple of strong drafts to add to his growing list of high upside talent who will take the ice for the Ronin in a few years.
WISBORG - Wishing for an upset to slay the Chinook and then its quite realistic to plot a course where the Donuts might be enjoying a Finals and dare we say it? A Kehler Cup?
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