Challenge 17: The Sarnia Sting (Discussion Thread)

[visualdarkness]

Completed the first 17 games and I'm quite satisfied. At the start we actually lead the league but fell to 5th spot and 9-7-1.

Leading goal scorer is Ritchie with 8 but before last game it was Katic with 7.
Arniel only scored 2 freaking goals but he's leading the team in points (16) and assists (14).

Our PK I think is one of my best ever at 84.1% and PP is steadily around 20%.

[joehelmer]

So now I've past the NHL Entry Draft and this is how my players got drafted:
Victor Rask who was ranked 26th in the final ranking got picked by Flyers as #11.
Brett Richie who was ranked 16th in the final ranking got picked by Penguins as #24.
Shayne Campbell who was ranked 118th in the final ranking got picked by Kings as #66.
David Broll was unranked and was picked by Canucks as #210.

In the Import Draft I drafted Max Örnskog from Sweden and Timo Hämäläinen from Finland, next season I will try to get a new goalie, if I can't get a new one in the trade.

[Loosie]

Well that was fun.

We surprised London in Game 1 winning 5-3. We got a 4-0 lead on them, but again let them back into the game with 3 unanswered goals before Ritchie got the insurance goal late in the Third period. We had goals from 5 different guys so we had nicely balanced scoring.

The next night was a dog fight. London jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period. We got back into it in teh second but couldn't stop London as we each scored 3 goals in teh period to make it 5-3. London would seal it with two early goals in the third. And after we got one more goal before the midpoint of the period London shut it down. 7-4 London was the final. Series tied 1-1 after two games. Rookie standout Braydon Schell suffured a cut hand and his status for Game 3 was questionable.

So now the scene switches back home to Sarnia. And team fell back into its old ways. We jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Kyle Paat. There was no scoring in the second period. We went up 2-0 43 seconds in the third on a goal by surprise rookie D-man Brett Morin. And then we forgot that there was still abother 19 minutes to play as London roared back with 2 goals in the next few minutes, and then scoring the winner with less than 5 minutes to go. London up 2 games to 1.

And then our team forgot to show up for Game 4. After two periods London was up 4-0 and that was enough to make a goalie change. Out goes Campbell and in comes May. We shut down London in the third period but was only able to manage one goal at about the halfway point.

With the season on the line I decided to keep May in net for Game 5 in London and it payed off. It was another nice defensive effort by our team as we scored 8 minutes in the game and shut things down for the second period. We added another goal early into the 3rd, and when London scored just a few minutes after the midway point of the third period I'm sure our fans were expecting another collapse, but instead we bounced back and added a 3rd goal just a minute later. And suddenly it's a series again, London is up 3-2.

Back home for Game 6 where we haven't been succesful yet in the playoffs. We didn't make any lineup changes. The first period was intense and no goals were scored. London opened the scoring with two goals in the second. Down 2-0 after 2, in Game 6 when we are down 3-2 in th esreis, our fans were hoping for some heroics. And that's just what they got. We scored 7:45 into the thrid period and then tied it up about 5 minutes later. This game is going to overtime. Once again there was intense back and forth action in the 1st overtime period and then London was called for slashing. While we didn't score during the powerplay we finally gave our fans somethign to cheer for at home as 30 seconds after the PP ended we scored to tie the series up at 3.

Game 7.

Well lets just say we forgot the series went 7 games as London cam out full force and won 4-0.

It was a good season with some major improvements. We have a lot of bright spots for next year. We may get Ritchie back as he has yet to sign with the Blue Jackets.

[bruins72]

Well I got destroyed by Windsor and swept in that series. I can't wait for the draft!

[batdad]

Oh oh. Lost game one in OT to Saginaw 1-0. Well, not OT...3 OT.

[CatchUp]

Well I got destroyed by Windsor and swept in that series. I can't wait for the draft!

1st season? Don't get your hopes up. Both the OHL and Import draft SUCK.

[jbsnadb]

I - like a few others - picked up Victor Rask in the import draft. Guess you have to pick high (got him 9th overall). If he can be picked 11th overall a year later in the NHL draft, I wouldn't consider it a SUCKy draft. Thin, maybe, but there are serviceable players available everywhere.

Remember, there is no long term in junior hockey.

[CatchUp]

Agreed, the Import draft was stronger than the OHL draft.

I didn't get Rask, but I did grab a couple guys who might actually play on the team next season. RD Oskar Engsund and RW Olle Liss. Both are 6-2' and beefy.

[bruins72]

Well I got destroyed by Windsor and swept in that series. I can't wait for the draft!

1st season? Don't get your hopes up. Both the OHL and Import draft SUCK.

Yeah, 1st season. I know it's supposed to be a weak draft. I just want to get to that point so I can move forward though. I hate sitting around during the playoffs waiting for the other teams to finish.

[joehelmer]

At least you made to the playoff, I didn't in season 1 so I had to wait from March 17 to the OHL draft in May.

I'm now in July 2008 and I'm waiting for season 3 to start. When I tried to sign one of my draft picks in the 2008 OHL draft he signed with Moose Jaw Warriors, which is in SJHL in Lidas' updates, instead. But I hope to sign him for this season.

[Loosie]

I - like a few others - picked up Victor Rask in the import draft. Guess you have to pick high (got him 9th overall). If he can be picked 11th overall a year later in the NHL draft, I wouldn't consider it a SUCKy draft. Thin, maybe, but there are serviceable players available everywhere.

Remember, there is no long term in junior hockey.

I was one of the few that did not pick up Victor Rask, becuase in my game his 'future' did not include playing Major Junior Hockey. I did draft Felix Liljegren and Christian Elsborg. Liljegren has 97 points in 130 games (two seasons) and Elsborg has 32 points in 108 games, and turned into quite the two-way player.

Liljegren just signed with the NYR so I may not have him next season. Elsborg is Danish, but was born in Toronto so even though I could only pick him up in the Import Draft he doesn't count as a foriegn born player.

But I'm definitly amoung those that believe the Import draft is stronger the the OHL draft for 07.

[batdad]

Great game 1 of my series, which I lost 1-0 in 3OT as mentioned above. This seemed to upset my boys as I went on to win the series vs Saginaw in 5 games. Won the next 4 games. On to 2nd round

Interesting results

2nd place Erie wins their series 4-2 over Kitchener
6th place Owen Sound wins their series over 3 seed Plymouth
5th seeded London Knights....SWEEP Windsor 4 games to 0, wow!

So that leaves 2nd round looking like this

1. Sarnia vs 6. Owen Sound
2. Erie vs 5. London

All good for me!

[jbsnadb]

One of things that made Rask so attractive was that he was unsigned at the time of the Import Draft. I'm using him in a primarily defensive capacity as third line centre, and h. leads my team in bocked shots,

[batdad]

Wow, things are falling into place for me.

First off final ISS ratings

Rogalski 144
Chiarlitti 154

I just defeated Owen Sound in a sweep. And right now London is about to play its 5th game against Erie. London leads 3-1. Hmmm...

Game 5, Erie wins, 3-2 for London
Game 6, Erie 6 London 2. Tied 3-3
Same day-Kyle Neuber gets contract offer from Port Huron Icehawks of the United Hockey League.

Things not looking so good now...

Game 7 Erie 5 London 3. Erie comes back and wins...

So Conference Finals

1 Sarnia vs 2 Erie. Season record 1-1-0 GF: 6 GA: 8
3 Belleville Bulls vs 5 Brampton Battalion

Oh boy. here we go.

[Loosie]

Season 4 about to start. I am at work right now and do not have access to Photobucket so last quarter of season 3 will be posted once I'm home.

For the NHL Draft:
Brandon Francisco drafted in the 2nd round 55th overall (ranked 86th) by Washington.
Drew Lemarie (my '07 1st round pick) drafted in the 5th round 121st overall (ranked 125th) by Florida.

In the OHL Preseason ranking we wre ranked 6th with Bryson Schell being the MVP and Jarred Smallman being the Key New face (1st round draft pick in the '09 draft)

Position wise I had five players ranked in the top 10 postion.
Atcheynum May was ranked 7th Goalie.
Ales Cizek 3rd D
Bryson Schell 2nd LW
Brett Ritchie 4th RW
Christian Elsborg 7th RW
Jarred Smallman 7th Prospect.

It looks like I've lost Liljegren to the Rangers as they signed and then assigned him to Hartford.

So my lines look like this right now:
Schell-Goodwin-Ritchie
Francisco-Smallman-Elsborg
Milligan-Campagna-Labrecque
Gignac-Lemaire-Ladoucer

Cizek-Paat
Chiarlitti-Johnson
Pearce-Tanti

May
Campbell

[batdad]

Well...after the draft, and the OHL final my Sarnia Sting are off to the Memorial Cup. I selected 11 players in the draft. 2 C, 2LW, 2 RW, 1LD,3RD,1G

I will be releasing the remainder of my 20 year olds and one or two other bums when the time goes to get back to the 50 man limit. I have to release 7 guys when that time comes.

[CatchUp]

Finished the first quarter of season two with much more balanced scoring. Went 10-5-2.

Lines are usually:
Kerbashian - Zion - Ritchie
Milligan - O'Quinn - Hottot
Campagna - Preisinger - Vickers
Kavaratzis - MacQueen - Alderson

Rogalski - Sullivan
Chiarlitti - Engsund (Import Draft Pick)
Percy (traded for Stoughton) - Paat

Campbell - Raymond

[Loosie]

So I finished the first quarter of Season 4 last night and am very pleased with the team. The scoring is very balanced this year as opposed to previous years. Our special teams have improved over previous years (could still be better though). And our defence has also improved.

I had five players ranked in the Preliminary ISS Rankings.
Bryson Schell is ranked 4th.
Ales Cizek is ranked 12th
Renaud Goodwin is ranked 50th
Ian Hayes is ranked 146th
Brody Pearce is ranked 163rd

I see Pearce and Hayes eventually switching spots as Pearce had the better training camp and is actually playing for the Sting where as Hayes is playing for the Legionnaires.

[bruins72]

So I did my draft...

Simon Richard 5'9" 205 lbs LD
Darcy Koenig 5'8" 196 lbs RW
Lindsay Germain 5'7" 191 G
Duilio Cyr 6'0" 185lbs LD
Ryne Trudel 5'10" 183 lbs LW
Russell Venard 5'8" 198 lbs RD
Stephane Petitti 6'0" 218 lbs C
Reggie Lamoureux 5'11" 185 lbs LW/RW
Yvon McAllister 5'11" 200 lbs RD/LD
Brock Rebek 5'7" 202 lbs C
Brycen Eaves 5'9" 194 lbs G

Out of them Lamoureux and Eaves have stated that they want to play US College Hockey but I figured I'd try to change their minds. McAllister says he wants to play US College and Junior, so I guess he's open to either.

[jbsnadb]

At the midway point of season two and my first line is both going so right: Kerbashian (15), Ritchie (13) and Zion (5) have combined for 33 goals in 33 games (they've each missed at least one) and so wrong: Kerbashian (-14), Zion (-14) and Ritchie (-11) are also a combined -39. Ouch.

Might be time to break up the band and give Milligan (5-6-11, +12) or Rask (6-12-18, +6) a shot at the top. Milligan is the most impressive...he's put up those numbers as my 4th line LW.

[batdad]

So lots to update on. I don't have a single player the same as you Bruins. At least I don't think so, in the draft.

Memorial Cup Teams

Host-Vancouver Giants
WHL-Brandon Wheat Kings
OHL-Sarnia Sting
QMJHL-Cape Breton Eagles


OHL Priority Draft-I got 20th pick

20th-Jean-Claude McAllum C 6'1 191
43rd-Dallas Barker-LD 6'0 180
64th-Pat Marcoux-LW-5'9 198 (Guy was ranked 1st overall in the final rankings for the draft...talk about messed up)
80th-Riley Wiseman RW/LW 6'0 183
100th-Lui Gallant RD 5'11 202
120th-Carey Cooke LW 5'9 183
137th-Stu Bowman C 6'2 191
140th-Matthieu Turgeon RD 6'2 209
160th-Norm Bootland G 5'9 202
180th-Mackenzie Herauf-RD 6'2 200
200th-German Mackinnon-RW/C 6'1 207

None of my boys are looking at going to college. All are major junior wannabees. As I mentioned above the guy I got in the fourth round was the #1 ranked player for the draft. piddle poor rankings.
The most interesting thing in this draft to me is German Mackinnon. He has an agression of 20 and strength of 17. At age 16. Like this dude!

Mackinnon may actually make my roster in first year..because my boy Neuber is gone. I was shocked when Neuber was signed off my team. Anyone else lose him?

So, anyway because I was not prepared for Neuber to sign, there will be a screen shot of his history showing his PIM in my final challenge stats. I forgot to take it.

In my draft..what you will notice is most everyone is 6'0 tall. If they are not they weigh almost 200.

[batdad]

Whooo! With 2 minutes left in OT of the final of the Memorial Cup vs Brandon...My captain and most consistent forward all season...Peter Stevens, steals the puck from Travis Hamoncic at the Brandon blueline, and rips a slapshot over the shoulder of Jacob Deserres.

STING WIN! STING WIN! Final score Sting 3 Wheaties 2.

[Marsac]

I'm about to start the playoffs of season two. We had a pretty darn weak season and were battling for a playoff spot until the final quarter when things finally seemed to click, giving us a fifth place finish.

Brett Ritchie and Shayne Campbell really carried the team down the stretch. Campbell regained his Goaltender of the Year form and Ritchie finished as the OHL goal scoring leader with 43, 25 of them on the PP.

It looks to be a short playoff adventure this year as our first opponent is Erie who took the season series four games to none while scoring 19-9.

The team is in dire need of improvements in the offseason. We need two new scoring LWs to replace Kerbashian (age) and Francisco (good on paper, sucks in games). We also need depth RWs, this was my third line RW this season. A couple of penalty killing centers wouldn't hurt either, we were below 80% for most of the season. Then we need some RD improvements as only one of the top six defensemen on the depthchart is a RD. And finally we need atleast one goalie since my import refuses to come over even though he's played 0 games for his club this season.

My top line combined for 231 points and +38 this season while the second line managed a measly 85 and +5, that's just not acceptable. Especially considering that I usually run my forward lines at equal usage unless we are behind in the game. The third line was +17 and the fourth +14.

[Marsac]

Heh, just played the first game of the series and it seems my boys wanted to show Erie that they shouldn't be taking penalties against us. 4/5 on the PP and a 5-1 victory, let's hope we can keep the momentum going.

[bruins72]

I just finished my first Import Draft. I'm not sure how well I did. I got Adam Pettersson and Marcus Sorensen, both from Sweden.

Pettersson was ranked 6th and we got him at 33rd. I'm not sure why he was passed by. He's 6' 178lbs and plays LW. He's an 18 skilled forward. He'd probably start out as my top LW. I wouldn't have drafted him (because his favorite team is listed as Skelleftea AIK) but he was just signed to a 2 year deal by the Canucks 2 weeks before the import draft. I've just got to hope Vancouver loans him to me.

By the time my next pick came around, the pickings were much slimmer. Sorensen was ranked 78th and I got him at 90th. He's not under contract by any team and he wants to play Major Junior. He's 5'11" 165lbs and 18 years old. Obviously, he needs to put on some weight. My scouts say he's a skilled forward (RW/LW) with first line potential. He should be easy to get signed.

Adam Larsson was ranked #1 and still available when I picked. He was under contract with his Swedish team (Skelleftea J20) but I think he's expected to be a high draft pick in the next NHL draft, so maybe I could've held onto his rights until he was drafted and signed by a team and then hope for him to be loaned... but that was a bit of a gamble.