Capeside Loons & CCHL preview 2018-19...

We are just days away from the puck being dropped on the 2018/19 CCHL season. The Capeside Loons are new to the CCHL this year and no one knows just what to expect from them. Last year as the Ottawa Barracudas, the Barracudas finished a single point out of the playoffs thanks to a strong final showing from the Musicmen and their goaltender in the final game of the season. However, one would be hard pressed to find any similarities between that Ottawa team and the current Capeside team. New ownership and the new GM did a complete overhaul of the Ottawa roster in 6 short months leaving only 7 players that played with the Barracudas (Ryan, Cammalleri, Ladue, Ritchie, Gorges, Wood and Holden).

Key Additions: 
Pierre-Luc Dubois (C), Ryan Donato, James Van Riemsdyk, Matt Niskanen, David Krejci, Jesse Puljujarvi

Key Losses:
Connor Hellebuyck, Zdeno Chara, Nick Schmaltz, Tyson Barrie, and Tyler Toffoli

Outlook:
The Ottawa Barracudas were a team filled with aging, overpaid veterans and not much of a future. Their leading goal scorer was Brett Ritchie who now finds himself at home in the press box during games. No one knows what to expect from the inconsistent Capeside Loons. The league appears to have changed from a defensive, goalie dominated league to a more skating, goal scoring CCHL. Capeside will go as newly appointed captain Dubois goes. How Dubois performs in his first CCHL season will determine if the Loons can sneak into the playoffs or fall into the lottery. Dubois expects to anchor the second line along with fellow rookie Ryan Donato and Micheal Ferland. If this combination can provide secondary scoring then the Loons have a realistic chance at sneaking into the playoffs as the 6 seed in the Corfield division.

Corfield Division:
No one knows what to expect with the new look CCHL. Will Calgary continue its dominance over the league this year? Will Dayton surge back to being the king of the league or will the continue their rebuild? Is this the year that the Falcons put it all together and capture their first Kehler Cup?

Predictions:
Loons goal-scoring leader - James Van Riemsdyk   
Loons Point Scoring Leader - David Krejci   
Loons 7th Player award (Player that exceeded expectations) - Miles Wood

We predict the Loons to fight and scratch their way to the 6th seed and final playoff spot in the CCHL and then lose in the first round.

Corfield regular season division winner - Fort Erie Falcons
Canosa regular season division winner - Siberia IceCats

Corfield Division Champ - Falcons over Chinook
Canosa Division Champ - IceCats over Norsemen

Kehler Cup Champions 

SIBERIA ICECATS

CCHL MVP - Connor McDavid