State of the Loons!!!

The Loons season could be summed up in two words : Roller Coaster.

After a successful inaugural season, GM Czepiel went all in during free agency hoping to take the next step and win a playoff series in our second year. Mid way through the season in was apparent that this team was mediocre and had taken a step back. The Loons were hanging around the 4 seed but were a team with a lot of holes and were losing way too much money. Czepiel turned the Loons into sellers.

Aho, Krejci and Ellis were sent packing, and many more were rumored to be moved by the trade deadline. Around that same time it became evident that no one was going to stop either the Falcons or Icecats. It seemed like every other CCHL organization was sending out trade blocks with intentions of rebuilding as well. With Only the top four teams looking to be buyers, the trade market was at a stand still. In a blink of an eye Czepiel turned the Loons into buyers.

Panarin, Carlson, Handsome Phil, Krejci, Chara and Halak were acquired. Thoughts of a making a run and winning a playoff series or two returned, however the only thing that returned was a mediocre team with a high payroll.

The Loons went on a winning streak to end the regular season and held off the now relocated Dartmouth Lakers for 6th and final playoff seed. Unfortunately, playoff injuries exposed the Loons lack of depth and they fell to the Seattle Reign 4 games to 2 in the first round. 

The one positive from this year is the farm system. Through all the back and forth this year, Czepiel was able to add (and re-add) Turcotte, Kaliyev, Boldy and Oettinger to go along with Zegras, Wahlstrom and Afanasyev to give the Loons a solid future.  Let’s hope the fans can remember this as the Loons look to be cellar dwellers next year.

Congratulations to the Siberia Icecats on winning their first title.