The National Strat-O-Matic Hockey League Newsletter League established May 1st, 1997 Volume #2, Issue #11 - March 10th, 1998 ************************************************************************** Current League Officers Commissioner: Richard Farley work phone: 619.553.4072 home phone: 619.618.5578 Vice-Commissioner: Andy Bartalone Email List Administator: Andy Bartalone Email the whole league: mailto:nshl@otd.com NSHL Chat List: mailto:nshlchat@otd.com League Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/9090/NSHL.html ************************************************************************** LEAGUE NOTES ------------ ON THE ICE ... Everything is almost set in the East. Long Island and Brooklyn have won their divisions. Delaware has clinched a playoff birth, and Buffalo will clinch a birth with their next win or Bethlehem's next loss. Brooklyn needs to get four points or have Long Island miss out on four points in order for them to clinch home ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. In the West, nothing is clear. Seattle and West Coast joined Fresno in the playoffs, and the top two finishers out of those three teams will have home ice in the first round. Still, only one point seperates the three teams, but Fresno has the inside track because they have two games in hand on Seattle, the team that is currently tied with them for first place. The Central Division is almost in the hands of the Hellcats. The next Toronto loss or tie will clinch the division for Florida, who will be playing at the second place finisher from the West to start the playoffs. Additionally, because the Western Division heavyweights have been beating up on each other over these last four weeks, home ice advantage for the duration of the playoffs is up in the air. Brooklyn now owns the best winning percentage in the league, and, if they can out distance Fresno, Seattle, and West Coast, they will have the advantage through the post season. ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS ... Wanna get those IPs down to a minimum before the season ends? Wanna just help the league out? I could really use as many volunteers as possible during Week 22 to help get these games done. Please let me know if you can help out. As an extra incentive to get people to help, I am going to offer -2 IP Points for each game that you can play (instead of the normal -1). HOW GAMES WILL BE HANDED OUT ... I don't want to inhibit anybody from volunteering to help, but, at the same time, I do not want to set up any situations where there will be a conflict of interest as it regards, well, anything! So, those who volunteer for makeup games during Week 22 will be assigned games on a random basis. Basically, I will put all the game into a hat and draw randomly. For more information on how Week 22 will be connducted, look below. [FROM LAST WEEK] CALENDAR OF EVENTS ... Here is a tentative schedule of events in the NSHL/ISHL through this summer's Free Agent Draft. 3/11 - Week 21 3/22 - Week 22 3/22 - Ballot Released - Discussion Begins 3/23 - Expansion Teams Announced 3/25 - Conference Semifinals 4/5 - Ballot Votes Due 4/8 - Conference Finals 4/22 - League Championship Series 5/6 - Trading Allowed 5/13 - Protection Lists Due 5/20 - Expansion Draft Begins 7/1 - Free Agent Draft Begins [FROM LAST WEEK] WEEK 22 ... In the past I have said that there would not be a delay between the regular season's conclusion and the playoffs. Well, I have to admit, I was lying. I knew full well that there would be one week of pause. Still, I WILL NOT HAVE THE FIASCO THAT OCCURED LAST YEAR REPEAT ITSELF HERE! Week 22 will serve as a make-up week, to some extent. Here are the rules I have laid out regarding Week 22 and who can/will play these games. 1. Home owners will have the option of playing their attributed games up through March 17th, the Monday following Week 21. Home owners will not be allowed to play games after this point unless they are from Week 21. This hard-line policy is being adopted to encourage the play of late games. 2. Games that have not been played by home owners will be given to "volunteers," other owners or associates who want to help their IP situation. 3. Should an insufficient number of owners be available to take on these responsibilities, the visiting owner will have the opportunity to play the game. 4. If neither the visiting owner nor another owner can play the game, the home owner will then again be given the opportunity to play the game. 5. All games are due by March 23rd. Any games not received by that date will be considered lost, and will taken off the schedule. Teams involved in these games will finish the season with less than 82 games played. Home owners will be penalized 5 IP points for each game not finished by March 23rd. ************************************************************************** Regular Season Standings, after Week 20 Eastern Conference Northeast Division GP W L T PTS PCT GF GA IP y-Long Island Ghouls 79 44 26 9 97 0.614 239 190 -4 Buffalo Bulldogs 78 31 30 17 79 0.506 210 206 0 Bethlehem Ironmen 73 28 39 6 62 0.425 186 194 1 Pittsburgh Sound Chasers 73 24 36 13 61 0.418 158 186 10 Mannyunk Bullies 79 19 49 11 49 0.310 188 271 -7 Atlantic Division GP W L T PTS PCT GF GA IP y-Brooklyn Gulag 77 45 22 10 100 0.649 234 181 -7 x-Delaware Destroyers 77 35 30 12 82 0.532 237 226 3 Baltimore Clippers 70 21 37 12 54 0.386 193 239 22 St. Michael's Privateers 76 19 44 13 51 0.336 198 259 -2 Western Conference Western Division GP W L T PTS PCT GF GA IP x-Vultures of Fresno 78 46 23 9 101 0.647 255 189 2 x-Seattle Pirates 80 44 23 13 101 0.631 260 217 0 x-West Coast Dopplegangers 79 47 26 6 100 0.633 247 200 -5 Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs 80 42 31 7 91 0.569 251 216 -8 Vancouver Scouts 80 25 40 15 65 0.406 192 252 -4 Central Divison GP W L T PTS PCT GF GA IP Florida Hellcats 71 36 26 9 81 0.570 205 187 5 Toronto Arenas 78 33 36 9 75 0.481 195 172 0 Chicago Destroyers 70 31 33 6 68 0.486 181 189 0 Chillicothe Arrows 70 20 39 11 51 0.364 149 204 4 x - clinched playoff birth y - clinched division title ************************************************************************** IP Penalties The following penalties have been assigned in accordance with the Constitution. Penalties are subject to further alteration in light of possible developments. -2 - Florida, ill-assigned penalties last week 2 - Baltimore, Late Week 20 Results 2 - St. Michael's, Late Week 20 Results 2 - Chillicothe, Late Week 20 Results 2 - Baltimore, Various Late Stats 2 - St. Michael's, Various Late Stats ************************************************************************** Missing Games The following games are missing. Although there are different policies that apply to each of these games (differing giving the situation), all of these games are assumed to be unplayed. If you have any questions, please ask the Commissioner. Week 5 Baltimore at Chicago Delaware at Chicago Week 6 Bethlehem at Pittsburgh Week 10 Buffalo at Chicago Week 13 Pittsburgh at Bethlehem Long Island at Baltimore Week 14 Delaware at Chicago Chicago at Pittsburgh Week 15 Florida at Bethlehem Baltimore at Chicago Week 16 Fresno at Pittsburgh Vancouver at Pittsburgh Chillicothe at Baltimore Florida at Baltimore Bethlehem at Chillicothe Brooklyn at Chillicothe Brooklyn at Chicago Baltimore at Chicago Week 17 Bethlehem at Pittsburgh West Coast at Chillicothe Week 18 Florida at Chillicothe Week 19 Toronto at Florida Chillicothe at Florida Florida at Chillicothe Pittsburgh at Bethlehem Week 20 Toronto at Chillicothe Chillicothe at Chicago Florida at Chicago Florida at Chillicothe Brooklyn at St. Michael's Baltimore at St. Michael's Delaware at Baltimore St. Michael's at Baltimore ************************************************************************** League Governing Boards Responsibilities of the following governing boards are outlined in the Constitution. Review Board Doug Norris, owner, Seattle Pirates Patrick Shea, owner, Long Island Ghouls Jeff Tsurouka, owner, Brooklyn Gulag Constitutional Council Head: Patrick Shea (isles2@idt.net) Richard Farley, Commissioner Andy Bartalone, Vice-Commissioner Dean Engemoen, owner, Vancouver Scouts Robert Ryan, owner, Florida Hellcats ************************************************************************** RESULTS Games Played at Eastern Conference Sites: Buffalo 2 Buffalo 0 Pittsburgh 1 Pittsburgh 2 Long Island 1 Long Island 3 Pittsburgh 3 Long Island 3 Long Island 3 Mannyunk 2 Mannyunk 4 Bethlehem 1 Mannyunk 5 Mannyunk 2 Bethlehem 3 Bethlehem 2 Buffalo 1 Buffalo 2 Bethlehem 4 Brooklyn 2 Baltimore 1 Pittsburgh 1 Delaware 1 Brooklyn 2 Delaware 2 St. Michael's 0 Brooklyn 3 Delware 3 Games Played at Western Conference Sites: Fort Garry 2 Fort Garry 3 West Coast 4 West Coast 1 Fresno 3 Fresno 3 West Coast 5 Fresno 2 Fresno 4 Vancouver 2 Vancouver 3 Seattle 6 Vancouver 3 Vancouver 2 Seattle 8 Seattle 4 Fort Garry 4 Fort Garry 5 Seattle 3 Toronto 3 Chicago 3 West Coast 4 Florida 5 Florida 4 Chicago 2 Chillicothe 2 Toronto 0 Toronto 2 ************************************************************************** INJURIES All injury time is announced via the newsletter. Injuries time is assigned per the Constitution's rules which state injuries at home are to be served first on the road, and injuries suffered on the road are to be served first at home. SUSPENSION: A player is assessed a one game suspension for his third game misconduct, and a suspension of one day longer for each addition game misconduct. Please report players from your team who receive their third misconduct. Eastern Conference BET - Fetisov out Week 21 versus Pittsburgh Muller out Week 21 Adams out the rest of the season Tinordi out the rest of the season DEL - Sakic out Week 21 on the road LIG - Rucchin out Week 21 at home MAN - Dimaio out the rest of the season PSC - Selivanov out the rest of the season Western Conference FGF - Sweeney out the rest of the season Gusarov out the rest of the season Bureau out the rest of the season Dykhuis out Week 21 on the road FLO - Ranheim out the rest of the regular season and 2 playoff games Driver out Week 21 on the road SEA - Slaney out Week 21 at home Linden out the rest of the regular season Andersson out Week 21 VAN - Gavey out the rest of the season Healy out the rest of the season Dean out the rest of the season Moger out Week 21 on the road VOF - Bohonos out the rest of the regular season and 6 playoff games Richter out the rest of the regular season and 4 playoff games Mironov out the rest of the regular season and 1 playoff game ************************************************************************** TRANSACTIONS Transactions are announced weekly in the newsletter based on confirmations received throughout the week. Eastern Conference BAL - BET - BRK - BUF - DEL - LIG - MAN - PSC - STM - Western Conference CHA - CHD - FGF - FLO - SEA - TOR - VAN - VOF - WCD - ************************************************************************** SCHEDULE Week 21 - MIS due March 11th Fort Garry at Vancouver Buffalo at Mannyunk West Coast at Seattle Pittsburgh at Bethlehem Fresno at Fort Garry Long Island at Buffalo Vancouver at West Coast Mannyunk at Pittsburgh Seattle at Fresno Bethlehem at Long Island Toronto at Chicago Brooklyn at Baltimore Chicago at Chillicothe Baltimore at Delaware Chillicothe at Florida Delaware at St. Michael's Florida at Toronto St. Michael's at Brooklyn ************************************************************************** NSHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NSHL Player of the Week is a joint decision by the Commissioner and Vice-Commissioner based on your suggestions and the game reports. The NSHL Player of the Week is a purely honorary destinction and has no real league value. Jaromir Jagr, RW, Seattle Pirates The Pirates have been one of the biggest surprises of the NSHL this year, but the great performance Jaromir Jagr have given us have not been surprises. In Week 20, Jaromir Jagr made his pressence felt, tallying six goals and two assists in a 3-1-0 week for Seattle. During the week, Jaromir had a natural hat trick, scored his 50th goal and notched his 100th point. Players of the Week Week 1 - Mario Lemieux, F, Vultures of Fresno Week 2 - Vincent Damphousse, F, Buffalo Bulldogs Week 3 - Kevin Kaminski, F, Vultures of Fresno Keith Thachuk, F, Florida Hellcats Week 4 - Martin Gelinas, W, Long Island Ghouls Week 5 - Doug Gilmour, C, Seattle Pirates Week 6 - Derek Plante, C, Mannyunk Bullies Week 7 - Peter Forsberg, C, West Coast Dopplegangers Week 8 - Peter Bondra, W, Brooklyn Gulag Week 9 - Matteiu Schneider, D, Buffalo Bulldogs Week 10 - Dan Trebil, D, Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs Week 11 - Vincent Damphousse, C, Vultures of Fresno Week 12 - Zigmund Palffy, W, Long Island Ghouls Week 13 - Mark Messier, C, West Coast Dopplegangers Week 14 - Zigmund Palffy, W, Long Island Ghouls Week 15 - Dale Hunter, C, Brooklyn Gulag Week 16 - Marty McInnis, F, Vancouver Scouts Week 17 - Peter Bondra, RW, Brooklyn Gulag Week 18 - Peter Forsberg, C, West Coast Dopplegangers Week 19 - Adam Graves, F, Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs Week 20 - Jaromir Jagr, RW, Seattle Pirates ************************************************************************** NSHL GOALIE OF THE WEEK NSHL Goalie of the Week is a joint decision by the Commissioner and Vice-Commissioner based on your suggestions and the game reports. The NSHL Goalie of the Week is a purely honorary destinction and has no real league value. Dominik Hasek, G, Pittsburgh Sound Chasers I just felt like giving him the award this week. No nominations from any owners for the GoTW, and I thought it would be a shame, considering the year Hasek had for the Sabres last year, to go this whole year and not have one GoTW award given to him. Goalies of the Week Week 1 - Patrick Lalime, G, Seattle Pirates Week 2 - Felix Potvin, G, Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs Week 3 - Jocelyn Thibault, G, West Coast Dopplegangers Week 4 - Patrick Roy, G, Chillicothe Arrows Week 5 - Felix Potvin, G, Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs Week 6 - Guy Hebert, G, Vultures of Fresno Week 7 - Patrick Roy, G, Chillicothe Arrows Week 8 - Tommy Salo, G, Brooklyn Gulag Week 9 - Jocelyn Thibault, G, West Coast Dopplegangers Week 10 - Rick Tabaracci, G, St. Michael's Privateers Week 11 - Stephane Fiset, G, Vancouver Scouts Week 12 - Chris Osgood, G, Long Island Ghouls Week 13 - Martin Brodeur, G, Toronto Arenas Week 14 - Nikolai Khabibulin, G, Buffalo Bulldogs Week 15 - Guy Hebert, G, Vultures of Fresno Week 16 - Patrick Lalime, G, Seattle Pirates Week 17 - Mike Richter, G, West Coast Dopplegangers Week 18 - Martin Brodeur, G, Toronto Arenas Week 19 - Felix Potvin, G, Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs Week 20 - Dominik Hasek, G, Pittsburgh Sound Chasers ************************************************************************** "Dedication to the game. Responsibility to each other."