State of the Loons; 4 years in the making

 Almost 4 years ago (March 2022) CCHL breaking news out of Capeside was of multiple

copyright lawsuits being filed against the Loons by rival teams. In over 25 years of

CCHL history this was a dark time for the league. There was a lot of anger towards the

Loons as their aggressive player movement and win at all cost measures (though we

have never won anything) rubbed a lot of owners the wrong way. The then Minnesota

Norsemen filed a lawsuit over the Loons logo. The lawsuit stated that the logo was

almost identical to Minnesota's precious lottery logo. Since Mr. Wendt littered his arena

with lottery ads, he did not like the Loons wearing the same logo on their chests when

they were skating circles around his Norsemen.

Next were petty lawsuits from the Portland Owls. They claimed that there was not

enough room in the CCHL for two arenas being named the Nest. Even though both owls

and loons live in nests in the wild, there could only be one Nest in the CCHL. Seems

that we in Capeside got the last laugh as Portland spent so much time filing frivolous

lawsuits instead of focusing that energy on their team and had to be removed from the

CCHL. Now there are no Nests in the league.

These lawsuits forced us in Capeside to make difficult decisions back in 2022. We

easily could have went the way of the Owls and folded, deciding not to invest in our fans

and organization. However, our passionate fans would not allow that and they pushed

local lawmakers to approve state funding for a new waterfront arena. Four years ago

these sophisticated blueprints were released to the public

No one with in the league believed that such an ambitious project could ever happen let

alone in Capeside. For four long years we have been mocked by opposing

organizations as they visited our no name old arena with new Loon logos that people

had trouble recognizing that they were even a Loon. Play on the ice suffered as the

embarrassment affected player morale. Even with strongly constructed rosters the

Loons never made it past the second round on the CCHL playoffs.

After 4 long years things in Capeside are about to change. Earlier this week the new

Capeside logo was introduced along with our new jerseys

. But as of tomorrow, nearly a year ahead of schedule the Capeside

Loons will take the ice against the Springfield Isotopes in our brand new, state of the art

arena !

To prepare for this momentous day general manager Czepiel has been hard at work

behind the scenes to put a winner on the new ice. Czepiel has gone back in time and

dusted off his aggressive mindset with a flurry of deals, depleting his prospect pool. If it

weren’t for the Falcons, on paper the Loons would have to be considered one of the

favorites for the Kehler cup this year. Czepiel has brought in a combination of skill and

toughness over the past few weeks with additions of Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews,

Luke Hughes, Alex Laferriere, Mikey Anderson and Keifer Sherwood. The hope is this

team will be a reward to the fans for their unwavering support over the last 4 years and

a big FU to those rival organizations that tried to hold these red eyed, neon green loons

under water!

A New Edge, A New Core: Fort Erie Pushes Its Chips In

 The Fort Erie Falcons didn’t just make trades on December 27th — they made a statement.

These moves weren’t about winning a press conference. They were about reshaping the identity of the roster, fixing long-standing issues, and setting the team up to be harder to play against now while getting younger and more sustainable later. That’s a tough needle to thread — and Fort Erie threaded it.

Let’s break down what the Falcons are getting, and why this matters.

Trade 1: Grit With Purpose

FOR receives: Tom Wilson, Jacob Battaglia
FOR sends: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Dickinson

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been a good soldier, but this deal acknowledges a reality: Fort Erie needed bite, not just brains. Enter Tom Wilson.

Wilson instantly changes how teams prepare for Fort Erie. He brings size, intimidation, playoff-tested nastiness, and a willingness to drag games into uncomfortable territory. This is a team that has needed someone willing to make opponents hate every shift — Wilson does that naturally. He doesn’t just add grit; he creates space for skilled players and forces defenders to keep their heads up.

Alongside him comes Jacob Battaglia, a younger forward with pace and upside. Battaglia isn’t a finished product, but he fits the profile Fort Erie is targeting: competitive, energetic, and moldable. He’s the type of player who benefits from a heavier lineup and could grow into a meaningful middle-six contributor.

Losing Nugent-Hopkins hurts from a versatility standpoint, and Sam Dickinson is a future asset, but this trade is about changing the temperature of games — and Fort Erie just cranked it up.

Trade 2: From Star Power to Structure

FOR receives: Pavel Dorofeyev, Simon Nemec, Josh Anderson, Nick Lardis, Jacob Fowler, CHC 2nd (2027)
FOR sends: Kirill Kaprizov, Carter Hart, Ethan Czata, CAP 1st (2027)

This is the franchise-altering move — and the boldest.

Let’s start with the obvious: Kirill Kaprizov is an elite talent. But talent alone doesn’t guarantee fit. Kaprizov was headed for a $17 million cap hit next season, and despite multiple looks, he never truly found a permanent home on a line that maximized his strengths. Add in roster balance concerns and future flexibility, and Fort Erie made the hard — but calculated — call.

What they get back is depth, structure, and a future core piece.

Simon Nemec: The Cornerstone

This trade revolves around Simon Nemec. He’s not just a defense prospect — he’s a potential top-pair, minute-eating, franchise defenseman. Calm, smart, and positionally elite, Nemec gives Fort Erie something it has lacked: a young blue-liner you can build around for a decade.

Defense wins in April. Nemec gives Fort Erie a legitimate path there.

Pavel Dorofeyev: Scoring Without the Chaos

Dorofeyev brings scoring punch without the volatility. He’s creative, confident with the puck, and capable of producing while staying within structure. He won’t replace Kaprizov one-for-one — but that’s not the goal. The goal is sustainable offense that fits the system.

Josh Anderson: Size, Speed, Pressure

Anderson adds another element Fort Erie clearly prioritized: relentless north-south pressure. He’s fast, heavy, and built for playoff hockey. When paired with players like Wilson, Anderson helps create a lineup that wears teams down shift after shift.

Nick Lardis & Jacob Fowler: The Future

Nick Lardis adds pure goal-scoring upside — a shooter who can change games if he hits his ceiling.
Jacob Fowler gives Fort Erie a legitimate goaltending prospect to develop patiently, especially important after moving Carter Hart.

And don’t overlook the 2027 second-round pick — it gives the front office flexibility in future deals or another swing at value.

The Big Picture: Identity Over Individual Stars

These trades tell you exactly who Fort Erie wants to be:

• Hard to play against

• Deeper, not top-heavy

• Built around structure, defense, and edge

• Financially flexible moving forward

Yes, stars went out. But what came in is a more complete roster, one that can survive injuries, play playoff hockey, and grow together.

This isn’t a retreat.
It’s a recalibration.

Fort Erie didn’t just add players — they added intent. And for a team serious about taking the next step, that’s exactly what you want to see.

Icecats at the World Junior Championship

 Hello sports fans. With the upcoming U20 world junior championship in Minnesota, starting the day after Christmas, let’s take a look at the Iceland Icecats representation at the tournament.

 

We begin with Team Canada, which has the most Icecats prospects on the roster. Iceland has a balanced representation, with 2 forwards, 2 defenders and 1 goalie. Up front, they have top prospect Porter Martone, currently leading Michigan State in scoring, along with recently acquired Cole Reschny. Cole is second in scoring on a solid North Dakota team. The defense is represented by talented but enigmatic Zayne Parekh and Harrison Brunicke. Both players have gotten a taste of NHL action this year but both need some more seasoning. In goal, Iceland is represented by Joshua Ravensbergen. Joshua, drafted by Iceland in the 2025 draft, is the 3rd goalie but may get some playing time. One notable snub is Justin Carbonneau, who is averaging nearly a goal per game in the Q.

 

Team USA has two Iceland prospects, one forward and one defender. Up front we have recently acquired Trevor Connelly. Trevor is in his first full season in the AHL and has 7 points in 11 games. On the back end, we have EJ Emery. EJ struggled last year with a single assist in 31 games, but he has already quadrupled that in 17 games. NOTE: Trevor Connelly was injured and is being replaced.

 

Team Sweden also has 2 Iceland prospects. Budding power forward Eddie Genborg and defender Leo Sahlin-Wallenius. Genborg is have a strong sophomore year in the SHL with 15 points in 26 games. Leo is having a steady but unspectacular year in the SHL.

 

Rounding out Icecats representation with 3 additional players. Vaclav Nestrasil represents Czechia, Aron Kiviharju and Daniil Ustinkov represents Switzerland. Nestrasil is having a strong year in the NCAA while Ustinkov still has a cool name and is helping GM Saouaf forget about Marcel Marcel. Aron Kiviharju is currently playing for Helsinki in the Finnish league.

 

Overall, Iceland has strong representation at the 2026 World Junior Championship with 12 representatives.

Millers Musings

 Georgetown makes 2 deals, welcoming back a franchise mainstay in one of them. 

(12/18/25) GEO trades Y. Gourde & David Goyette-p to SEN for C. Sissons

Yanni Gourde’s 4th time with the organization lasted a little bit longer than last season’s return, but hopes that he could lock down the 3rd line C spot didn’t pan out. Gourde was fantastic on the power play, with 7 of his 13 points (in 21 games)  coming on the man advantage. Unfortunately 6 even-strength points and a minus 8 and 29 PIMS led to Millers management approaching Senneterre about Sissons, and the Beavers agreed to move him for Gourde and prospect David Goyette. 

Sissons trends more towards being a 4th line C these days, but the Millers plan to play him in-between Foegele and Johansson on the 3rd line to start, as well as the penalty kill. Sissons will allow Marco Kasper to continue as the LW on the top line, where he has shown good chemistry with Larkin and Necas. Sissons is signed for a couple more years. 

(12/19/25) FEK trades S. Theodore to GEO for J. Edmundson

A couple of months after moving him out, Georgetown welcomes back Theodore after he’s not seen the ice for Fergus since thy acquired him. Edmundson had been okay since he was acquired for Jamie Oleksiak, but the club wanted another puck mover on the blue line. In his return Theodore was on the 3rd pair and the 2nd PP unit, which is where he’s likely to stay unless there are injuries.

The Millers are likely not done, still hunting for more scoring for their 18th-ranked offense. Looking at the recent arrivals among the forwards, Dylan Cozens has been outstanding, Jaden Schwartz has been fine, Foegele has been excellent on the PP but not so great on ES, and Johansson has seen the majority of his time in the bottom 6 and with not a lot of PP time, so the jury is still out there. 

League office: CHATGPT power rankings and Momentum vs. Strength chart

 Let's take a look at the Power Rankings as CHATGPT sees them.  

ChatGPT has also taken these power rankings and added momentum to them at the bottom to see who are the most powerful teams with the most momentum behind them at this point.  

It's a fun study because it essentially also takes into account how well the team is playing in there.  Enjoy!

North American Power Rankings (Combined League)

1. Fort Erie Falcons (COR)

• PCT: 0.840, GD: +91, Last 10: 9-0-1

• Dominant on all fronts — best team by far.

2. Denver Spurs (CAN)

• PCT: 0.708, GD: +15, Last 10: 7-3-0

• Top Canosa team, consistent and strong record.

3. Iceland Icecats (CAN)

• PCT: 0.643, GD: +40, Last 10: 6-2-2

• Excellent GD and hot streak, very dangerous.

4. Calgary Chinook (COR)

• PCT: 0.643, GD: +42, Last 10: 7-3-0

• Same PCT as Iceland, slightly worse recent momentum (L1), but strong GD keeps them here.

5. Amos Comets (COR)

• PCT: 0.612, GD: +20, Last 10: 7-2-1

• Riding a 6-game winning streak — hotter than Capeside right now.

6. Capeside Loons (COR)

• PCT: 0.650, GD: +37, Last 10: 5-4-1

• Points are good, GD strong, but last 10 mediocre pushes them behind Amos.

7. Las Vegas Aces (CAN)

• PCT: 0.635, GD: +26, Last 10: 4-6-0

• Solid overall, but slightly cold last 10 drops them below Amos/Capeside.

8. New Mexico Scorpions (CAN)

• PCT: 0.592, GD: +17, Last 10: 6-3-1

• Strong recent form, consistent scorer.

9. Fergus Flapping Kilts (COR)

• PCT: 0.622, GD: +18, Last 10: 5-5-0

• Balanced team; neutral recent form keeps them mid-pack.

10. Wisborg Donuts (CAN)

• PCT: 0.553, GD: +4, Last 10: 4-4-2

• Middle-of-the-pack team, slightly behind Fergus due to weaker GD.

11. Victoria Ronin (CAN)

• PCT: 0.551, GD: +1, Last 10: 4-5-1

• Similar to Wisborg, slightly worse recent form.

12. Halifax Norsemen (COR)

• PCT: 0.541, GD: -4, Last 10: 4-5-1

• Negative GD and recent slump put them just below Victoria.

13. Seattle Reign (COR)

• PCT: 0.521, GD: -10, Last 10: 5-4-1

• Slightly worse GD than Halifax but similar recent form.

14. Parry Sound Orrsmen (CAN)

• PCT: 0.510, GD: -7, Last 10: 3-5-2

• Struggling recently; negative GD keeps them low.

15. Niagara Falls Thunder (COR)

• PCT: 0.500, GD: 0, Last 10: 5-5-0

• Neutral GD and middling recent form, just below Parry Sound.

16. Chippawa Crackerjacks (COR)

• PCT: 0.490, GD: -7, Last 10: 6-4-0

• Slightly better recent form than Niagara, but worse overall PCT.

17. Senneterre Beavers (COR)

• PCT: 0.417, GD: -31, Last 10: 4-6-0

• Deep negative GD; streaky performance.

18. Georgetown Millers (CAN)

• PCT: 0.418, GD: -20, Last 10: 5-5-0

• Slightly better recent form than Senneterre, but worse season stats overall.

19. Chattahoochee Crawdads (CAN)

• PCT: 0.365, GD: -56, Last 10: 3-7-0

• Bad all-around, weak last 10, bottom-tier.

20. Willowdale Rush (CAN)

• PCT: 0.320, GD: -49, Last 10: 2-8-0

• Poor performance across metrics.

21. Springfield Isotopes (COR)

• PCT: 0.344, GD: -52, Last 10: 2-7-1

• Slightly better PCT than Willowdale, but GD and form poor.

22. Val-d’Or Nuggets (CAN)

• PCT: 0.316, GD: -75, Last 10: 3-5-2

• Absolute bottom; worst GD in the entire league.

Here’s a visual of the league-wide power rankings.

• Red dashed line marks roughly the “elite threshold.”

• You can clearly see Fort Erie Falcons way ahead, with Denver, Iceland, Calgary, and Amos in the next tier.

• Middle-tier teams cluster around 50–60 points.

• Bottom-tier teams (Val-d’Or, Springfield, Willowdale, Chattahoochee) are far below.  

Here’s a Momentum vs Strength chart for the league:

• X-axis: Goal differential (team strength)

• Y-axis: Wins in last 10 games (momentum)

• Color: Overall power score (darker/brighter = stronger team)

• Red dashed line: Neutral GD

• Green dashed line: Average momentum (5 wins in last 10)

Observations:

• Top-right quadrant: Teams like Fort Erie Falcons, Calgary Chinook, Amos Comets combine high strength and hot momentum — true elite.

• Top-left: Teams with poor season stats but streaking recently (e.g., Senneterre, Georgetown) — momentum over strength.

• Bottom-right: Strong teams recently cold (e.g., Las Vegas Aces, Calgary just lost one) — might correct momentum soon.

• Bottom-left: Weak teams both in GD and streaks (Val-d’Or, Willowdale, Chattahoochee) — clear cellar dwellers.

League wide Christmas report card (by Calgary)

 

TOP CONTENDERS

1. Fort Erie Falcons

Snapshot: League-best record, dominant +89 goal differential

Player Impact: Reinhart, Draisaitl, Jarvis form the most lethal top core in the league

Outlook: Clear championship favorite if health holds

Grade: A+

---

2. Denver Spurs

Snapshot: Excellent consistency, strong road play

Player Impact: Guentzel and Nelson drive offense; depth scoring steady

Outlook: True contender, just needs defensive tightening

Grade: A

---

3. Calgary Chinook

Snapshot: Elite goal differential, red-hot form 

Player Impact: Makar is league-defining; Rantanen & Ovechkin still lethal

Outlook: Built for a deep playoff run

Grade: A

---

4. Capeside Loons

Snapshot: Strong offense, slight recent stumble

Player Impact: Eichel, Matthews, Boldy give elite firepower

Outlook: Dangerous if defensive play sharpens

Grade: A-

---

5. Iceland Icecats

Snapshot: Excellent balance, strong possession team

Player Impact: McDavid leads the pace; Sanderson & Suzuki add structure

Outlook: One of the hardest teams to play against

Grade: A-

---

6. Fergus Flapping Kilts

Snapshot: Consistent, physical, disciplined

Player Impact: Barkov dominates both ends; Weegar logs monster minutes

Outlook: Built for playoff hockey

Grade: A-

---

PLAYOFF TEAMS / STRONG MID-PACK

7. Las Vegas Aces

Snapshot: Solid record, recent slump

Player Impact: Panarin, Miller, Crosby still drive offense

Outlook: Veteran group—dangerous if they peak late

Grade: B+

---

8. Amos Comets

Snapshot: Strong surge (W5), good depth scoring

Player Impact: O’Reilly, Cooley, Marner provide balance

Outlook: Legit playoff threat

Grade: B+

---

9. New Mexico Scorpions

Snapshot: Strong home play, good goal output

Player Impact: Tuch and Thompson bring power scoring

Outlook: Tough out, matchup-dependent

Grade: B

---

10. Victoria Ronin

Snapshot: Slightly above average, tight goal margin

Player Impact: Quinn Hughes drives offense from the back end

Outlook: Fringe contender

Grade: B

---

11. Halifax Norsemen

Snapshot: Even record, negative goal differential

Player Impact: Kucherov provides offense; Celebrini shows promise

Outlook: Needs defensive consistency

Grade: B-

---

12. Wisborg Donuts

Snapshot: Competitive but inconsistent

Player Impact: Kempe & Lindholm carry scoring load

Outlook: Bubble team

Grade: B-

---

13. Seattle Reign

Snapshot: High scoring, leaky defense

Player Impact: Hischier, Connor, Nylander keep games close

Outlook: Entertaining but risky

Grade: B-

---

14. Parry Sound Orrsmen

Snapshot: Inconsistent results, good home stretch

Player Impact: Hughes and MacKinnon still elite drivers

Outlook: Needs defensive help

Grade: C+

---

15. Niagara Falls Thunder

Snapshot: Slightly positive trend

Player Impact: Marchand brings edge; Point solid

Outlook: Still alive but fragile

Grade: C+

---

16. Chippawa Crackerjacks

Snapshot: .500 team with momentum

Player Impact: McCann & Stamkos steady offense

Outlook: Playoff longshot

Grade: C+

---

REBUILD / STRUGGLING TEAMS

17. Senneterre Beavers

Snapshot: Defensive issues, limited offense

Player Impact: Pinto shows flashes

Outlook: Development year

Grade: C

---

18. Georgetown Millers

Snapshot: Cold stretch (L5), scoring droughts

Player Impact: Larkin, Necas doing heavy lifting

Outlook: Needs structure

Grade: C-

---

19. Chattahoochee Crawdads

Snapshot: Severe goal deficit

Player Impact: Zacha, Johnson competitive but overmatched

Outlook: Asset evaluation season

Grade: D+

---

20. Willowdale Rush

Snapshot: Poor road play, weak defense

Player Impact: Robertson still dangerous

Outlook: Rebuild underway

Grade: D

---

21. Springfield Isotopes

Snapshot: Defensive struggles persist

Player Impact: Seider & Hronek overworked

Outlook: Needs roster overhaul

Grade: D

---

22. Val-d’Or Nuggets

Snapshot: League-worst goal differential

Player Impact: Slafkovský developing under pressure

Outlook: Long-term rebuild

Grade: D-

The Calgary Chinook Christmas report card

 Mikko Rantanen

Role: First-line winger

A model of consistency and production. Nearly 70 points at midseason, strong shooting efficiency, and excellent physical engagement. He remains a matchup nightmare and a key offensive engine.

Grade: A

⸻

Brent Burns

Role: Top-pair defense / power-play weapon

Burns continues to defy age with heavy minutes, strong secondary scoring, and physical play. While foot speed can be exposed at times, his puck movement and presence remain invaluable.

Grade: A-

⸻

Alex Ovechkin

Role: Goal-scoring specialist

Still lethal. His 22 goals in 47 games underline that the shot hasn’t gone anywhere. Not as dominant at even strength as in his prime, but his finishing and power-play value are elite.

Grade: A-

⸻

Matthew Tkachuk

Role: Power forward / emotional driver

Brings offense, grit, and edge every night. Strong shooting efficiency, heavy physical play, and consistent point production. Occasionally undisciplined, but his impact outweighs the risks.

Grade: A-

⸻

Adin Hill

Role: Starting goaltender

Hill has delivered a strong, dependable first half. A solid .913 save percentage and 16 wins in 23 starts show he’s given the Chinook a chance to win most nights. While the 3.17 GAA suggests some defensive breakdowns in front of him, his consistency and ability to steady the team in key stretches have been crucial. Not elite every night, but clearly reliable.

Grade: A-

⸻

Alex DeBrincat

Role: Top-six scorer

Solid but slightly streaky. Generates shots at a high rate and remains dangerous offensively, though consistency has dipped compared to expectations. Still a dependable scoring option.

Grade: B+

⸻

Mikael Backlund

Role: Two-way center

Quietly excellent. Reliable defensively, positive point totals, and strong situational usage. Not flashy, but extremely effective in his role.

Grade: B+

⸻

John Tavares

Role: Top-six center

Very steady production and strong faceoff/possession impact. His skating isn’t what it once was, but his hockey IQ and offensive instincts remain top tier.

Grade: B+

⸻

Dustin Wolf

Role: Backup / goaltender of the future

Wolf’s rookie season has been encouraging. His 15 wins in 25 games reflect strong competitiveness, even if the .903 save percentage and 3.27 GAA show expected growing pains. He’s faced heavy workloads and handled pressure well for a young goalie. The foundation is there, and his development trajectory remains very positive.

Grade: B+

⸻

Adam Larsson

Role: Shutdown defenseman

Plays hard, physical minutes against top competition. Limited offense, but his defensive reliability and toughness are crucial to the team’s structure.

Grade: B

⸻

Connor Bedard

Role: Offensive center

The raw skill is obvious, but finishing hasn’t caught up yet. Playmaking is strong, ice time is solid, and growth is evident. The breakout feels inevitable.

Grade: B

⸻

Nikita Zadorov

Role: Physical defenseman

Brings intimidation and energy every night. Offense is modest, but his physical dominance and willingness to engage set the tone. Penalty risk is the tradeoff.

Grade: B

⸻

Rasmus Andersson

Role: Two-way defense

Solid minutes, reliable puck movement, and steady defensive play. Not a standout offensively this year, but dependable overall.

Grade: B

⸻

Kevin Bahl

Role: Depth defenseman

Low offense but strong physical presence. Used effectively in limited minutes, especially in defensive situations.

Grade: B-

⸻

Ryan Suter

Role: Veteran depth defense

Experience and positioning still help, but impact is limited. Useful in sheltered minutes, though his role needs to remain controlled.

Grade: B-

⸻

Matt Coronato

Role: Middle-six winger

Flashes of scoring ability, but overall impact has been inconsistent. Needs to drive play more regularly to solidify his role.

Grade: C+

⸻

William Karlsson

Role: Depth center

Struggled offensively and defensively relative to expectations. Limited impact at both ends of the ice so far.

Grade: C

⸻

Tyson Foerster

Role: Depth forward

Limited sample size, modest production. Hasn’t hurt the team, but hasn’t made a strong case for expanded minutes either.

Grade: C

⸻

Alexis Lafrenière

Role: Bottom-six winger

A disappointing first half. Very low shooting percentage and limited offensive confidence. Needs a reset to rediscover his game.

Grade: C-

⸻

Eeli Tolvanen

Role: Depth winger

Too small a sample to judge. Scored once in limited action, but needs sustained opportunity to evaluate properly.

Grade: Incomplete