A Falcon’s Flight: The Sam Reinhart Trade

The summer sun hung low over the Niagara Peninsula as fans of the Fort Erie Falcons poured into the local arena for a hastily called press conference. Whispers and speculation filled the humid air. Something big had happened—something that could change the course of their franchise forever.

Inside the arena’s media room, decked out with freshly printed banners proclaiming the Falcons’ recent Kehler Cup Championship, General Manager Matt Young stood at the podium with a calm but electric energy.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, gripping the microphone with both hands, “today marks a monumental day in Fort Erie hockey history.”

He paused, letting the weight of the moment sink in.

“We have acquired forward Sam Reinhart from the Calgary Chinook in exchange for Alex DeBrincat and a first-round pick in the upcoming CCHL Draft.”

The room erupted.

Just months earlier, the Fort Erie Falcons had raised the Kehler Cup for the first time in franchise history. Led by the explosive scoring of Draisaitl, the veteran grit of captain Claude Giroux, and a deep blueline corps, the team stormed through the playoffs with unmatched tenacity, going 16-2 to win it all.  

But behind the scenes, Young and his analytics team had identified one looming threat: complacency. They wanted to build a dynasty, not just win once. And to do that, they needed a game-changer.

That game-changer was Sam Reinhart.

“We loved Alex,” Young told reporters. “But Sam brings a different level of playmaking and playoff intensity. We didn’t win the Cup to stand still. We won it to win more.”

Back in Calgary, the reaction was mixed. Fans were sad to see Reinhart go—he had become the face of the franchise. But they were intrigued by DeBrincat’s potential and the valuable first-round pick, which the Chinook hoped would land them a future star.  

Reinhart, for his part, was stunned—but excited.

“It’s a business,” he said at the Fort Erie press conference. “But man, coming to a team like this—a defending champ, with a fanbase like this? I’m fired up.”

He meant it. As he slipped on the deep blue and gold Falcons jersey—number 23 freshly stitched—Reinhart cracked a rare smile.

He already saw it: the roaring playoff crowds, the tight games under the arena lights, the chance to build something lasting in a town that lived for hockey.

Whle Reinhart will miss Calgary dearly, he knew he was home.  He was a Falcon.  

Soaring Dreams: Misa and Desnoyers Land in Fort Erie

 The buzz in Fort Erie was electric the night of the draft. Fans gathered outside the Falcons’ arena, eyes glued to their phones, waiting to see who their team would select. Inside the war room, the Falcons' front office made the move that would shape the future of the franchise: selecting two of the most promising young stars in junior hockey — Michael Misa and Caleb Desnoyers.

Misa, known across the province for his dazzling speed and elite hockey IQ, didn’t hide his emotions when the announcement came.

“I’m pumped,” he said, grinning wide at the cameras. “To be a part of something like this, with a team that believes in me and wants to build something special? I couldn’t ask for more.”

Desnoyers, a skilled two-way forward with a reputation for gritty leadership, echoed the sentiment moments later.

“This is where we want to be,” he said. “Michael and I, we’ve talked about what it would be like to play together — and to do it in a place like Fort Erie, with the fans, the community, the history? It’s perfect.”

The Fort Erie Falcons had just won their first Kehler Cup in years, but with winning comes a desire to build a strong long-term program. With Misa and Desnoyers arriving as the centerpiece of a youth movement, hope surged through the locker room and into the town itself.

“They’re future game-changers,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “You don’t just get skill — you get passion, work ethic, and the kind of character that builds champions.”

They aren't just drafted to their new team — they are invested, and quickly.

“We’re here to win,” Misa said after his introduction. “It’s not about stats. It’s not about hype. It’s about banners.”

Desnoyers nodded beside him. “And we want to bring that Kehler Cup back to Fort Erie. Together.”

In a town where the rink is the heartbeat of the community, Misa and Desnoyers aren't just players — they are sparks. And with their new jerseys in hand and a tour of the arena complete, the dream of a Kehler Cup championship didn’t seem like a dream anymore.

It felt like destiny waiting to happen in the coming years.  

Can they lead the Falcons to another Kehler Cup?  Only time will tell.  

Strome’s New Chapter: Chasing a Second Straight Kehler Cup with Hagel and Reinhart

 Fort Erie, ON – June 19, 2025

As the summer heat settles over Fort Erie, Dylan Strome is already thinking ahead to the cool intensity of the rink and the roar of the hometown crowd. After hoisting the Kehler Cup last season in a run that electrified the Niagara region, the 28-year-old centre isn’t dwelling on past glory. Instead, he’s focused on what’s coming — and who’s coming with him.

“I’m fired up,” Strome said with a grin, standing outside the Fort Erie Arena during a youth hockey camp. “Getting the chance to play with Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart this year? It’s special. These are guys I’ve battled against, respected for years — now we’re on the same side, and I think we’re going to do something pretty special together.”

The Fort Erie Falcons, a team once seen as a small-market underdog, has quickly become one of the league’s most dynamic squads. Much of that success can be credited to Strome’s leadership and playmaking, but the front office hasn’t stood still. 

In a pair of high-profile offseason acquisitions, the Falcons brought in Forsberg, the relentless two-way winger with a nose for clutch goals, and Reinhart, the cerebral power forward with a scoring touch and a calming presence in the room.

“We’ve got chemistry already,” Strome said after a recent informal skate. “Reino’s got such great vision and patience — he slows the game down when he has to, then speeds it up when you least expect it. And Hags? That guy never quits. He’s always in the right spot, and he makes the rest of us look good.”

While the trio hasn’t yet hit the ice in a game that counts, early signs from training skates and video sessions have Falcons fans buzzing about the potential of what some are calling “The SHR Line.” But for Strome, individual stats and accolades aren’t the priority.

“We’re all here for one reason,” he said. “To bring Fort Erie another cup. Last year was unforgettable — that parade, the connection with the fans, the way the town rallied around us. But we’re not satisfied. We want to prove it wasn’t a fluke. We want to build a legacy.”

As camp approaches, there’s a quiet confidence in the locker room. The Falcons know the league will be gunning for them now. The target’s on their back — and Strome welcomes it.

“That pressure? That’s a privilege,” he said. “It means you’re doing something right. We’ve got the group to do it again. And with guys like Forbersg and Sam in the mix now? I like our chances.”

The road to the 2026 Kehler Cup will be long, and nothing is guaranteed. But one thing is certain — Dylan Strome is ready, his linemates are ready, and Fort Erie is already dreaming of another championship summer.

State of the Loons; New faces in Capeside (part 2)

 6.18 Asher Barnett D

One of the qualities that the Loons organization prioritizes in the later round is leadership and Asher demonstrates that. As the captain of the USA U18 team Asher out up 6 points in 7 games leading the US to a bronze. Barnett will never lead a power play but his work ethic and leadership could pave the way of being a bottom pairing, pk defenseman for the Loons in the future.

7.6 Brent Solomon RW

After getting too cute and missing out on Cooper Simpson the Loons turned to the other Minnesota high school phenom. Brent tore up the high school circuit with 38 goals in 28 games but more importantly that offense translated to the USHL as Brent had 4 goals in 8 games. Brent will continue to work on his game in the USHL before heading off to Wisconsin next year.

7.12 Everett Baldwin D

Baldwin is a boom or bust pick for us here late in the draft. On one hand Baldwin is the best skater in the draft in our opinion but he relies too much on that skating to make up for poor decisions. This was fine while in prep school but he will have to play a smarter game as the competition increases.

8.12 Caeden Herrington D

Loons grab another New Englander here. A 1 year overager Caeden shouldnt be overlooked this year as his strong two way game for USHL Lincoln opened a lot of eyes this year. Caeden will stay at home and attend the Unniversity of Vermont this year.

9.12 Matthew Lansing C

Lansing is constantly overlooked even though he routinely is the best player on the ice. We were thrilled to get him this late.

10.11 Gavin Cornforth RW

We will never pass up the opportunity to add a masshole to the organization. Gavin has been ranked as high as 42 by SMAHT scouting but routinely is seen as a 7th round pick. 

10.12 Cameron Rowe G

Thanks to the solid young goaltending tandem of Otter and Daccord that will be in place for years to come the Loons have allowed ourselves to become thin at goal depth througout the organization. Rowe helps solve that. After five years in college Cameron really fine tuned his game and lead Western Michigan to a NCAA title. 

10.22 Alex Donovan RW

With the final pick in the 2025 Draft the Loons added another New Englander in Donovan. After dominating the prep school circuit at Shattuck Alex will face better competition in the Q this year before heading to powerhouse Denver next year.

Trade Chris Pelosi C

Iceland offered up Pelosi for two late round picks during the draft and we couldn't say no. This former third round pick of the Bruins had a successful freshman year at Quinnipiac this past year, Chris plays a strong hard working game and we are thrilled to add him to the Loon organization.

If you have made it this far I am sure you don't have a lot going on today so I bet you are dying to know if any of these 17 new faces cracked our top 10 prospects

1. Ryan Leonard RW

2. Zeev Buium D

3. James Hagens C

4. Isaac Howard LW

5. Cole Eiserman LW

6. Teddy Stiga C

7. Will Zellers C

8. Drew Commesso G

9. Jack Murtagh LW

10 Ryan Ufko D

Chippawa relocates farm team

 "The Chippawa Crackerjacks" are excited to announce our new development program and partnership with the City of Thorold. Placing our new development farm team the "Thorold Thundercats" in the heart of Niagara is a strong fit for our culture. This year is Thorold's 50th anniversary and with the changes to our development transitioning to a much more robust program in the coming years it made sense to get back to the "gritty city" in preparation for developing a section of our future players into hard nosed and highly competitive grit grinders."

Iceland makes moves for now and the future

 Hello sports fans. We are back in frigid Iceland to see what GM Saouaf has been up to this offseason. It’s no secret that the Icecats are hungry to win the Kehler Cup again and that was obvious in their offseason moves. The offseason started with the free agent draft where GM Saouaf shored up his backline by signing veteran dman David Savard. David is one of the best defensive dmen in the league and should give some of Iceland’s offensive dmen the room to create. It’s quite likely the Savard will partner with Evan Bouchard. Little did we know until a few days ago that the Cats had a deal to send veteran winger Ryan Nugent Hopkins to Amos for Zach Benson and a pick, let alone also trading young dman Mason Lohrei. This seems contradictory to the Cats going for a cup, but it became clearer what GM Saoua had in store with his next moves. In a surprising deal, the Cats acquired all around veteran center Jordan Staal. Staal’s presence seems to compensate for the loss of Nuge, while allowing the Cats to explore the possibility of moving captain McDavid to the wing. This should give the Cats lots of options to explore on offense. Losing Lohrei left a bit of a hole in defensive depth, given the injury filled year that Miro Heiskanen experienced. GM Saouaf swooped in and acquired veteran defensive dman Rasmus Ristolainen to address that need. Risto can easily slot into the 2nd or 3rd defensive lines, providing grit and solid defense. All in all, the Cats team looks strong and should challenge for the cup. Their acquisitions of Zach Benson and the extra picks allows them to continue to build for the future. That’s all for now, from icy Iceland!

State of the Loons; 2025 Draft

 When the Loons were eliminated at the hands of the Norsemen there was a long boring offseason ahead as the Loons had zero draft picks over the next two years. After meeting with ownership, Czepiel was given the go ahead to do whatever he needed to do in order to change that. Over the next month and a half through a series of trades and by throwing cash at teams the Loons were able to acquire 19 picks in the 2025 draft and 2 in 2026. The problem was our scouts had done zero scouting work while and had to cram a years worth into a few short weeks. Luckily our scouting coverage focuses strictly around the United States so it was not an impossible task.

When it was all said and done the Loons drafted at 3, 38, 47, 56, 77, 100, 121, 122, 128, 132, 138, 144, 166, 188, 209, 210 and 220. Our scouts identified James Hagens, Jack Murtagh, Cole McKinney, Mason West and Teddy Mutryn as our wishlist and thought we could get get most of them if we got lucky. We knew Hagens was a definite and would be the jewel of our draft. We did not think we had a chance at Murtagh or McKinney as all the rankings we studied had them going between 25 and 32. To our amazement Murtagh fell to us at 38 and even though McKinney went at 45 we were able to swing a post draft trade to bring him home. Mason West was a player we were really high on and we felt we had the inside track due to his friendship with current Loon and fellow Minnesota football star Anders Lee. But we blew it by opening our mouths with a rival team and gave them the heads up around West and his decision to choose hockey over football. We thought we could grab West at 56 but he was selected four picks earlier. Our favorite target was local kid Teddy Mutryn. Our scouts love Teddy's game and believe it will translate well to the pros if his development continues on its current trajectory. Rankings had him going around the 120 pick but we decided we were not going to get cute and grab him at 77. 

The rest of our draft saw us loading up with players that will likely fill depth roles throughout the organization or be assets in future deals. This draft ;lacked depth after the first round and finding players that held one strong skill became our priority. We hoped that a player like Everett Baldwin who we considered the best skater in the draft could possibly develop his secondary skills over the next few years and could possibly be a boom or bust prospect. 

Stay tuned for out next riveting blog where we go over all 18 of our new prospects, I know you can't wait!

State of the Loons; New faces in Capeside (part 1)

 The Loons ended up making 17 selections in the 2025 CCHL draft and one new face through a trade. I am sure everyone has been dying to know where they fit in amongst our current prospect and our thoughts on them - well you are in luck because here is an entire blog about them.

1.3 James Hagens C

Hagens is the jewel of the draft for us. We truly believe he is the best player in the draft and was thrilled that all the experts out there have him sliding down the rankings allowing us to grab him at 3rd overall. The consensus number one pick a few months ago has slipped outside the top 5 in a lot of pre draft ranking due to only being a point per game player in the NCAA. Having scouted James throughout the year we believe he was taking a backseat to Leonard and Perrault instead of driving the line himself. If he does return to BC this year I expect his numbers to explode as he becomes the clear top dog.

2.16 Jack Murtagh LW

After multiple failed attempts to move up in the draft to get Jack we were stunned to be able to call his name at 38. Jack was the one standout in our eyes in the NTDP. Scouting reports call him a freak athlete with a great motor. Sounds like he is made for the neon green and black!

3.3 Cole McKinney C

Pick 47 was used on Will Horcoff but he was sent along with a future pick to VGN for center Cole McKinney. In a down year for the NTDP Cole, like Murtagh, was a bright spot for the program. 61 points in 60 games is impressive for a player whose calling card centers around defense. Cole is a classic high floor player who could center a second line in Capeside if he develops well at Michigan.

3.12 Conrad Fondrk C

Conrad was a first round talent that because of a significant injury and a down year for the NTDP saw him slide in pre draft rankings. Loons are betting on him rebounding at Boston U

4.11 Teddy Mutryn LW

Our scouts rave about Teddy and like Stiga last year, this Teddy is our favorite player in the draft. He plays a hard nose pro style game that we hope is our diamond in the rough. 

5.12 Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen D

The son of Manon, Dakoda plays a responsible defense first game game that is backboned by top end skating. As a freshman at Michigan, Dakoda gained the trust of the coaching staff and was skating on the top pair by the end of the year.

6.11 Brandon Gorzynski LW

The Loons went out of our comfort zone and went to the WHL to select Gorzynski.Brandon's defensive reliability in the offense first WHL stood out to our scouts.

6.12 Charlie Cerrato C

We went back to the NCAA to grab two time overager Cerrato. Charlie was over looked twice do to questions of how his offense would translate to a pro game, but this past year he put those questions to bed as he saw his game explode at Penn st with 42 points in 38 games leading the Lions to the Frozen Four. 

6.18 Ethan Wyttenbach LW

Ethan is an offence first winger that tore up the USHL 51 points in 44 games for Sioux Falls. Ethan will likely dominate the USHL for one more season before heading off to Quinnipiac .

Millers Musings June 15, 2025

 iscussing a couple more trades and Georgetown’s 2025 CCHL Entry Draft selections. 

(05/31/25) CAP trades WIS 2nd-26 to GEO for Will Zellers-p  & GEO 6th-25

The Millers picked up a 2026 2nd for Zellers, originally acquired from Fergus for Yanni Gourde. However the pick did not remain Georgetown property for very long, as…

(06/04/25) CHP trades J. Huberdeau & J. Oleksiak to GEO for S. Gostisbehere, Matt Rempe-p, Vladislav Kolyachonok-p, Mikael Pyythia-p, Jack Thompson-p, GEO 1st-26 & WIS 2nd-26

GEO’s revamping of their scoring lines and defense by raiding Chippewa’s roster continues with the acquisitions of Huberdeu and Oleksiak. The Millers went against their usual philosophy of dealing 1st round picks for pending UFAs but found the opportunity cost acceptable given what both players bring. 

Huberdeau enjoyed a renaissance season and could slot in at the wing on either scoring line and will vie for time on a now-stacked power play unit. Huberdeau is UFA at season’s end and is vying with Shea Theodore and Jake Walman as the club’s designated re-sign. 

Oleksiak replaces a little of what was lost when Mario Ferraro was dealt in the McCann trade with Chippewa, adding back some physicality to the team’s blue line. It’s possible he passes UFA signing Jalen Chatfield for a spot in the top 6 and on the penalty kill. He has another year left on his contract after the 25-26 season. 

CCHL Entry Draft

1. Blake Fiddler, D (18th overall). Georgetown was hoping to add a potential top 4 Dman with their initial pick and landed the Edmonton Oil King with the first of their 2 first round picks. Fiddler is not lauded for his offensive acumen; although he can make a decent first pass and even skate the puck out as needed, his calling card is on the defensive side of things. He skates very well for his size, has a long reach (he is 6’4’) and is disciplined in his play. Improvement in his decision making is the key to reaching his ceiling as a top 4 stopper. Fiddler’s comparables range from Brett Pesce to Joel Edmundson.  As a side note, Fiddler’s father Vernon played with the Millers franchise several years ago. 
2. Jesse Kiskanen, W (22nd overall). Originally drafted in 2023, Kiiskanen went unclaimed in the dispersal draft a couple of years ago, and following a break-out 19 year-old season in the top Finnish league, the Millers pounced on the winger with their second 1st round pick. Competing against men Kiiskinen put up 44 points in 46 games in the Liiga and added 6 goals in 7 WJC games. At 6’1, 190 he has good size and can skate well and just needs to work on his consistency. His play away from the puck is already good for his age. He profiles as a middle 6 NHL winger, with Reilly Smith cited as a comparable. 
3. Alexander Zharovosky, W (40th overall). For pure skill Zharovosky rates high in this class, with the Russian factor and his inconsistency knocking him down many draft lists. Zharovosky’s profile is extremely boom or bust, but if he hits he’s a top 6 winger. One comparable has been Andrei Kuzmenko, which really highlights the direction this pick could go. 
4. Alexei Medvedev, G (42nd overall). Regarded as one of the best North American Goaltender in this class, Medvedev has less of a track record due to being a backup on a stacked London team. He showed well in his 34 appearances and should take over as the number one this coming season. He is a long-term pick who may not sniff the NHL for 5 or 6 more years. 
5. William Sharpe, D (107th overall). The Canadian Dman playing for Kelowna has yet to take off offensively, but the toolbox points to more production if things come together. A very good skater with high-end end puck skills, a mid-season trade to one of the weakest WHL teams dampened his numbers. Sharpe has said he models his game after Vince Dunn, and if can become 75% of what Dunn is this would be an excellent value pick. 
6. Drew Shock, D (151st overall). Michigan-bound defender was regarded as the best overall Dman for a USNTDP program that had a down season. Shock is a good puck mover, solid positionally and routinely found himself on the program’s number one pairing. He is average-sized for the position but his skating and compete are on the high end. One comparable is Troy Stecher. His full name is Harold Schock IV. 
7. Kieren Dervin, C (173rd overall). Dervin is a 6’2 Canadian center who has committed to Penn State. A prolific prep scorer, Dervin is expected to play one year in the OHL for Kingston before heading to campus. Middle 6 center is Dervin’s best case, as he plays a 200 foot game and his big frame should serve him well even if the offense does not rise to his prep school numbers. 
8. Brady Peddle, D (217th overall). Peddle is a 6’3 Defender playing for Waterloo in the USHL who will matriculate to Michigan State after his USHL stint ends. The offense is unlikely to develop beyond 3rd pairing quality, but his defensive play is strongly projectable as he is a very good skater and highly disciplined for such a heavy hitter. 

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CCHL Draft Underway from Fergus!

 Starting at 6:00AM on Sunday, June 8, 2025, the CCHL will hold its annual Entry Draft in the picturesque town of Fergus, Ontario. Known for its rich Scottish heritage and the renowned Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the town provided a fitting backdrop for a day that blended athletic prowess with cultural celebration.

 

While the clock won’t officially start until 6:00AM Saturday June 14^th to enforce time limits on picks, the league will kick things off on Sunday June 8th to get a head start on things.  

 

The event will kick off with a special performance by pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter. After the Commissioner welcomes attendees and initiates the draft proceedings, Carpenter will take the stage to sing her hit song "Espresso," followed by renditions of both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems. Her performance added a touch of glamour and excitement to the draft, captivating the audience and setting a celebratory tone for the evening. Immediately following her performance, she will be joined by the Highland Dancers who will perform with her on stage.  

 

Yes, you’ve read that correctly – the CCHL has secured both pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter and the Highland Dancers for this year’s Entry Draft extravaganza.  

 

The draft features several notable selections and rumors that have fans buzzing.

• Matthew Schaefer: The highly anticipated defenseman from the Erie Otters was rumored to be taken by the Val-d'Or Nuggets. Known for his elite skating, offensive prowess, and defensive reliability, Schaefer is considered one of the top prospects in the 2025 draft class. 
• James Hagens: The talented forward expressed a strong desire to join Team USA's Capeside Loons as the third overall pick. However, the Fort Erie Falcons, holding the second overall pick, had the potential to disrupt those plans by selecting Hagens, adding an element of suspense to the draft proceedings.
• Porter Martone:  Where will Martone end up?  With Fort Erie also having the fourth overall pick, could he end up there or will Capeside strike back should Fort Erie select James Hagens with the second overall pick? 

 

 

Following the draft festivities, the players will be escorted to the Elora Gorge where they will pose with sticks while wearing their new CCHL team jerseys and hats.  It’ll be the first time the CCHL will conduct outdoor draft photos and allows the league to see the tremendous beauty that is both Fergus and Elora. 

Millers Musings 5/31/25

 After very little action on the trade front thus far in the off-season, Georgetown hooked up with regular partner Chippewa to make 2 deals this past week. 

Georgetown trades C Jesperi Kotkaniemi to Chippewa for C Sean Kuraly. 

Kotkaniemi was re-acquired from the Crackerjacks last off-season with the hope that he might finally find his footing as a middle 6 NHL forward. Unfortunately in the eyes of Millers management that step was not taken, and the emergence of Marco Kaspar pushed “KK” further down the projected depth chart for the 25-26 season. The organization loves Kotkaniemi’s work ethic and attitude and wish their former 1st round pick success as he heads back across the border. 

Kuraly will likely take over as the 4th line C and see time on the penalty kill. Although he offers next to no offense, (15 pts in 82 CCHL games in 24-25)  Kuraly can skate, hit and stay out the penalty box, major attributes that coach Brind’Amour wants from his depth forwards and non-scorers. 

Georgetown trades D Mario Ferraro, RW Maxim Tsyplakov, RW Logan O’Connor and Senneterre 5th-2026 to Chippewa for LW Jared McCann and D Alex Pietrangelo. 

McCann returns to the Bluegrass after being dealt early the previous season to Amos when the Millers got off to the terrible start and decided to shake up the roster. A move to CHP followed and for the season he put up 30-37-67 in 79 games. McCann had 8 points in 9 games with GEO before being dealt. McCann will play somewhere in Georgetown’s top 6 on the LW and will see plenty of PP time. The club likes his solid all-around game as his defense is underrated for a player seen as a scorer. 

Pietrangelo put up 74 points as Wisborg’s top Defenseman in 24-25. The 35 year-old will not be counted on as much for his offense as he enters the final year of his contract. With Theodore, Walman and the emerging Jackson LaCombe expected to lead the offense from the blue line, the club is wanting Pietrangelo to pair with LaCombe as a veteran stabilizer , ikely on the 2nd pairing. AP will see time on the 2nd PP unit and on the PK, but the club hopes to keep him around 20 minutes a night to keep him fresh. 

Below is an early, best guess as to how the lines will look when training camp opens. This does not account for any potential forward position additions once that process opens up. New acquisitions and rookies are in italics. 

Larkin-McCann-Necas

Malkin-Mikheyev-Guenther

Kaspar-Moore-Henrique

Kuraly-Martinook-Copp

Rasmussen-Robinson-Joseph

Roy-Theodore

Pietrangelo-LaCombe

Chatfield-Walman

Gostisbehere-Marino

Dostal

Allen

Ingram

State of the Loons; Post Free Agency

Weeks prior to annual Unrestricted Free Agency meetings were held in the Pond's offices on the direction of the team. The room was reportedly divided right down the middle. After this past year's Patrick division championship but subsequent playoff failure there was a strong push for a transition year. Half of the room wanted to play the kids (Will Smith, Frank Nazar, Matty Beniers, etc) stockpile some cash and build for the future. The other half of the room pointed out that it will be unlikely to ever have a player along the lines of a Jack Eichel and we should do all we can to make a run at a Kehler Cup while we have a superstar leading the way. Executives left the room that day without a decision being made.

Over the next week Capeside analyzed the free agent class and saw that at best there were 5 targets that could improve the current roster - and only 3 of those had a place in Capeside with our strict theme of American only. Rumors of newer CCHL teams pledging to throw cash around in order to be competitive furthered our uneasiness around bidding. So it was decided that we would be aggressive at the 3 or 4 targets that made sense and our future would be based on those free agent's decisions.

Contracts were offered to Massholes John Carlson and Connor Murphy veteran Minnesotan Anders Lee. Injuries to Capt Kreider, McAvoy and Zegras left huge holes that these three could fill. After an extended wait all three agreed to don the neon green and black. Alex Lyon signed to be the 3rd string goalie and Luke Kunin agreed to a one year deal to bring some grit to the team, most likely in practice. 

After all was said and done, nearly $28m was added to this year's payroll. A far cry from a transition year. In the team's press conference introducing the newest Loons Czepiel inserted that constant attention will need to be kept on the team's performance. "We need to be vigilant in order to remain financially responsible." Sounds like at the earliest sign of struggles roster moves will be made.

This is how the roster shapes up post free agency

Caufield     Eichel     Boldy

Lee           Nelson     Vatrano

Kreider      Beniers     Coyle

Beecher     Dowd      Duhaime

Werenski     Carlson

Faber           Hanifin

Murphy        McAvoy

Otter

Daccord

Lyon

Bench: Zegras, Will Smith, Nazar, Cole Smith, Kunin, Pacioretty, Wahlstrom, York, Thrun, Harris

Time for the IceKittens to step up

 This was a very important offseason in Iceland. After losing several forwards to free agency and agreed upon trades of a few other forwards, Iceland had an important decision to make ahead of this year’s free agent frenzy. Do we go all in for the few good forwards available in the free agent market or promote from within? We had some young forwards who were ready to step up and cement themselves in the top 9. Three young forwards who played for Frigia last year claimed a spot. Those three forwards are Aliaksei Protas, Dylan Holloway and Dmitri Voronkov. All three showed a knack for scoring goals, which will be needed on this team. All three are excited to get a chance to get a full time roster spot and contribute. It is yet to be determined where each will play, but they all have a great chance to be in the opening night lineup against conference rival, Wisborg. Holloway, with his checking as well as scoring, has the best chance to be in the top 6.

 

With the money saved on going after forwards, we went after a chink in our defensive armor. Young defensive star, Miro Heiskanen, saw a drop in his ratings due to a long injury in the NHL. We decided to shore up our defense and add one of the best defensive dmen available by adding David Savard. David will likely play in the top 4, possibly partnering with stud offensive dman, Rasmus Dahlin or Evan Bouchard. Savard’s leadership and experience will help bring some needed stability to the Icecats’ defensive corps. Time will tell if the young forwards and veteran defenseman will help us get back to the CCHL finals.