The National Strat-O-Matic Hockey League Newsletter League Established May 1, 1997 Volume #12, Issue #1 - September 13, 2008 ********************************************************************* Current League Officers: Commissioner: Doug Norris Vice-Commissioner: Brian Leahy (7/15/07 to present) Email the whole league: mailto:nshl at yahoogroups dot com NSHL Chat List: mailto:nshlchat at yahoogroups dot com Web Page Administrator: Guy Caron League Web Site: http://nshl.org Files Adminstrator: Brian Leahy / Tom Vinacci League Files Site: http://www.highrantdistrict.com/SOM/NSHL Team Websites: Capital City Cougars: http://members.tripod.com/~CapCity/ Seattle Rainiers: http://math.colorado.edu/~norrisdt/rainiers/rainiers.html ********************************************************************* PRICE GOES FIRST OVERALL; 2008 ENTRY DRAFT REVIEW: The NSHL draft changed formats this September resulting in an abbreviated entry draft on Saturday, but nineteen owners crowded into the NSHL chat room to restock and reload their rosters to gear up for the 2009 Farley Cup. The Minneapolis Massasauga had the first overall selection for just the second time in their club's history, and they used the pick to make a bit of history of their own. In Tri-City Americans' goaltender Carey Price, the Massasauga took a goaltender with the first pick for just the second time in league history, and for the first time since the initial dispersal draft back in 1996. YEAR FIRST OVERALL SELECTION 1996 Dominik Hasek, G, Pittsburgh Sound Chasers 1997 Eric Lindros, C, Buffalo Bulldogs 1998 Sergei Samsonov, LW, West Coast Dopplegangers 1999 Chris Drury, LW, Seattle Rainiers 2000 Scott Gomez, C, Houston Outlaws 2001 Mario Lemieux, C, Buffalo Bulldogs 2002 Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Buffalo Bulldogs 2003 Jay Bouwmeester, D, Vancouver Whitecaps 2004 Tuomo Ruutu, C, Minneapolis Massasauga 2005 (no entry draft) 2006 Alexander Ovechkin, W, Brooklyn Fourteenth 2007 Evgeni Malkin, C, Long Island Berserkers 2008 Carey Price, G, Minneapolis Massasauga Minneapolis can only hope that Price's career turns out similar to the other first-overall goaltender selection, Dominik Hasek. Draft-day rumours were that the Montreal Wanderers would have selected Price at second overall, but they were content to go with University of North Dakota pivot Jonathan Toews. With the next two picks, the newly-minted Pittsburgh Hornets took two-thirds of the London Knights' scoring line, knowing that Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner already have a history of playing well together. Fifth overall, the Stone Harbor Sound took young center Kyle Turris from the BCHL's Burnaby Express. Turris is not expected to make much of an impact in 2008-09, but the club has high hopes for his development. Peter Mueller (Everett) went to the incumbent Pittsburgh franchise sixth overall before Lyndonville took the first blueliner of the draft, the University of Minnesota's Erik Johnson. Overall, five goaltenders were taken in round one, with fifteen forwards and four defensemen rounding out the top twenty-four. Other than Price, the goaltenders went in a run of four-in-five-picks, with Capital City starting things off by taking Swiss-born Jonas Hiller. Jonathan Bernier, Erik Ersberg and Tuukka Rask followed, with the only interruption being Drummondville centre Derick Brassard. The Florida Hellcats might want to consider bringing in some extra nets to training camp this month. At the conclusion of Saturday's draft, Florida had seven goaltenders on their 35-man roster. In addition to holdovers Ray Emery, Jaroslav Halak and Jason Bacashihua, the club picked up Jason LaBarbera (via trade with Vancouver), Curtis McElhinney (third round), Tobias Stephan (fourth round) and Drew MacIntyre (seventh round). The Massasauga also have seven goaltenders, and one wonders if some of them will have to pull a Tyrone Garner and suit up at forward for a few games this year. Minneapolis only has twelve rostered forwards at this point in time, with four of those eligible to play four games or less in 2008-09. It shouldn't be a problem on Opening Day, though, since Mike Steudle has never been shy about trading. Mr. Irrelevant? Defenseman Zach FitzGerald, taken in the eleventh round (155th overall) by the Vancouver Whitecaps, who closed the draft with four picks in succession. ********************************************************************* WAIVER DRAFT PRIMER: The waiver draft will be conducted on Saturday, with myself and at least one other individual determining the draft results in parallel (for quality control). We will then compare lists and iron out differences, and release the results as soon as they are ready. Please submit your list and instructions to the Commissioner's office no later than Saturday morning at 11am EDT. Players eligible for the waiver draft are to be found at the bottom of the updated rosters: http://math.colorado.edu/~norrisdt/rosters.txt Teams may draft until they are at thirty-nine rostered players. If you would like to halt drafting prior to that point, please note it on your draft instructions. The draft order will be the same as today's rookie draft. The specific order is as follows (with the current number of rostered players in parentheses): 1. Minneapolis Massasauga 32 players 2. Topeka Tarantulas 31 players 3. Montreal Wanderers 37 players 4. Stone Harbor Sound 33 players 5. Pittsburgh Hornets 34 players 6. Lyndonville Blades 34 players 7. Pittsburgh Sound Chasers 31 players 8. North Calgary Hawks 26 players 9. Corner Creek Green Calves 32 players 10. Manayunk Bullies 33 players 11. St. Michael's Privateers 35 players 12. Long Island Berserkers 29 players 13. Florida Hellcats 35 players 14. Quebec City Patriotes 32 players 15. Hampton Roads Hounds 38 players 16. Seattle Sasquatch 30 players 17. Capital City Cougars 31 players 18. Seattle Rainiers 34 players 19. Vancouver Whitecaps 35 players 20. Nevada Thunder 27 players 21. Fort Garry Fiddler Crabs 33 players 22. Houston Aeros 32 players 23. Buffalo Bulldogs 29 players 24. Brooklyn Fourteenth 32 players Long Island will not be selecting in the first round, and St. Michael's will not be selecting in the third round. Other than this, there will be no deviations from this draft order. If you do not submit a list by Saturday morning (11am EDT), we are not going to mother you in order to get it. We will just assume that this is an indication that you are not interested in any players available in this particular draft. Releasing players is not allowed until after the waiver draft. Once the draft ends, teams will have until the first week of regular-season action to trim their rosters to thirty-six players. Released players will enter the free agent pool. ********************************************************************* DEJA VU FOR MIKE MODANO by Chris Beddick, Pittsburgh Hornets owner From 1987 thru 1996, Dave Gagner was a pivotal player and teamate of Mike Modano's. Twenty plus years later, the Pittsburgh Hornets have drafted Gagner's son Sam, with the fourth overall pick on the 2008 NSHL Entry Draft. After his retirement, Gagner founded Custom Ice Rinks, Inc., a company that builds ice rinks in people's backyards in the winter. He is thrilled about his son's opportunity. "For Sam to be picked in the top 5, and the opportunity to play alongside Mike, it is a thrill for all of us." Modano, feels more excitment than anxiety. "Sam is a great kid and I am looking forward to playing on the same team with him and watching him grow" Asked if he feels a little age as he prepares to play on the same team with his former teamates son, Modano responded "playing alongside these kids helps keep me young. I am just trying to keep up" Whether or not Sam Gagner plays on the same line as Modano remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, Sam will have to excuse Modano if he feels the urge to call him Dave. "I remember when Sam was born", says Modano. " Come to think of it, boy I do feel old at the moment!" As he laughs it off. ********************************************************************* SUMMER CALENDAR OF EVENTS: September 20: 2008 NSHL Waiver Draft (conducted via draft lists). October 8: Week 1/2 of regular season begins; all teams must be down to 36 rostered players. ********************************************************************* 2007-08 REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE STANDINGS: NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Brooklyn Fourteenth 82 62 16 2 2 128 0.780 280 181 36- 3- 1- 1 26-13- 1- 1 Buffalo Bulldogs 82 56 23 2 1 115 0.701 287 213 32- 9- 0- 0 24-14- 2- 1 Long Island Berserkers 82 42 36 0 4 88 0.537 257 259 22-18- 0- 1 20-18- 0- 3 Corner Creek Green Cal 82 36 37 2 7 81 0.494 233 242 24-12- 2- 3 12-25- 0- 4 Lyndonville Blades 82 31 42 4 5 71 0.433 218 241 21-15- 3- 2 10-27- 1- 3 Empire State Americans 82 30 42 3 7 70 0.427 177 253 14-21- 1- 5 16-21- 2- 2 ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Quebec City Patriotes 82 43 30 3 6 95 0.579 245 242 24-12- 2- 3 19-18- 1- 3 Florida Hellcats 82 41 33 4 4 90 0.549 231 237 21-17- 2- 1 20-16- 2- 3 St. Michael's Privatee 82 41 36 2 3 87 0.530 229 236 25-14- 0- 2 16-22- 2- 1 Manayunk Bullies 82 39 36 3 4 85 0.518 226 215 18-20- 1- 2 21-16- 2- 2 Stone Harbor Sound 82 31 44 1 6 69 0.421 178 231 15-23- 1- 2 16-21- 0- 4 Montreal Wanderers 82 25 52 1 4 55 0.335 183 291 10-28- 1- 2 15-24- 0- 2 NORTHWEST DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Fort Garry Fiddler Cra 82 51 25 3 3 108 0.659 259 202 27-10- 2- 2 24-15- 1- 1 Nevada Thunder 82 50 27 3 2 105 0.640 284 216 25-15- 0- 1 25-12- 3- 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 82 49 27 3 3 104 0.634 256 231 24-13- 1- 3 25-14- 2- 0 Seattle Rainiers 82 50 29 2 1 103 0.628 302 231 25-15- 0- 1 25-14- 2- 0 Seattle Sasquatch 82 47 30 0 5 99 0.604 291 275 24-14- 0- 3 23-16- 0- 2 North Calgary Hawks 82 43 33 2 4 92 0.561 281 252 22-15- 2- 2 21-18- 0- 2 CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OL SL Pts Pct GF GA Home Road Houston Aeros 82 54 26 0 2 110 0.671 308 212 29-11- 0- 1 25-15- 0- 1 Capital City Cougars 82 48 27 3 4 103 0.628 276 246 23-13- 2- 3 25-14- 1- 1 Hampton Roads Hounds 82 45 28 4 5 99 0.604 247 221 20-16- 2- 3 25-12- 2- 2 Pittsburgh Sound Chase 82 40 38 0 4 84 0.512 243 242 20-19- 0- 2 20-19- 0- 2 Topeka Tarantulas 82 23 51 3 5 54 0.329 188 314 12-27- 0- 2 11-24- 3- 3 Minneapolis Massasauga 82 7 71 2 2 18 0.110 129 325 3-37- 1- 0 4-34- 1- 2 ********************************************************************* 2007-08 EXPANDED LEAGUE STATISTICS: EXPANDED STATISTICS Total Home Road NORTHEAST DIVISION REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO Brooklyn Fourteenth 59-16 1- 2 2- 2| 35- 3 0- 1 1- 1| 24-13 1- 1 1- 1 Buffalo Bulldogs 45-23 2- 2 9- 1| 27- 9 0- 0 5- 0| 18-14 2- 2 4- 1 Long Island Berserkers 35-36 2- 0 5- 4| 18-18 1- 0 3- 1| 17-18 1- 0 2- 3 Corner Creek Green Calv 32-37 2- 2 2- 7| 22-12 0- 2 2- 3| 10-25 2- 0 0- 4 Lyndonville Blades 25-42 3- 4 3- 5| 16-15 3- 3 2- 2| 9-27 0- 1 1- 3 Empire State Americans 24-42 2- 3 4- 7| 13-21 1- 1 0- 5| 11-21 1- 2 4- 2 ATLANTIC DIVISION REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO Quebec City Patriotes 38-30 1- 3 4- 6| 20-12 1- 2 3- 3| 18-18 0- 1 1- 3 Florida Hellcats 34-33 2- 4 5- 4| 17-17 1- 2 3- 1| 17-16 1- 2 2- 3 St. Michael's Privateer 34-36 1- 2 6- 3| 21-14 1- 0 3- 2| 13-22 0- 2 3- 1 Manayunk Bullies 35-36 1- 3 3- 4| 16-20 1- 1 1- 2| 19-16 0- 2 2- 2 Stone Harbor Sound 23-44 2- 1 6- 6| 11-23 2- 1 2- 2| 12-21 0- 0 4- 4 Montreal Wanderers 20-52 3- 1 2- 4| 8-28 1- 1 1- 2| 12-24 2- 0 1- 2 NORTHWEST DIVISION REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO Fort Garry Fiddler Crab 41-25 4- 3 6- 3| 20-10 3- 2 4- 2| 21-15 1- 1 2- 1 Nevada Thunder 43-27 1- 3 6- 2| 22-15 0- 0 3- 1| 21-12 1- 3 3- 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 42-27 4- 3 3- 3| 21-13 3- 1 0- 3| 21-14 1- 2 3- 0 Seattle Rainiers 44-29 5- 2 1- 1| 24-15 1- 0 0- 1| 20-14 4- 2 1- 0 Seattle Sasquatch 33-30 6- 0 8- 5| 17-14 5- 0 2- 3| 16-16 1- 0 6- 2 North Calgary Hawks 37-33 3- 2 3- 4| 17-15 3- 2 2- 2| 20-18 0- 0 1- 2 CENTRAL DIVISION REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO REG OVT SHO Houston Aeros 50-26 2- 0 2- 2| 28-11 0- 0 1- 1| 22-15 2- 0 1- 1 Capital City Cougars 44-27 1- 3 3- 4| 22-13 0- 2 1- 3| 22-14 1- 1 2- 1 Hampton Roads Hounds 40-28 1- 4 4- 5| 17-16 0- 2 3- 3| 23-12 1- 2 1- 2 Pittsburgh Sound Chaser 37-38 1- 0 2- 4| 19-19 0- 0 1- 2| 18-19 1- 0 1- 2 Topeka Tarantulas 17-51 2- 3 4- 5| 8-27 1- 0 3- 2| 9-24 1- 3 1- 3 Minneapolis Massasauga 7-71 0- 2 0- 2| 3-37 0- 1 0- 0| 4-34 0- 1 0- 2 ********************************************************************* INCENTIVE POINTS: PIH -1 IP, newsletter article Incentive points are not discretionary, and are assigned strictly per formula without respect to extenuating circumstances. Incentive points may be appealed through the Review Board. CUMULATIVE INCENTIVE POINTS: PIH -1 IP ********************************************************************* ASSOCIATE LIST: SINCE GP Dean Engemoen June 16, 2007 17 Francois Lessard December 10, 2006 8 Steve Kramer December 13, 2004 0 Greg Ralls December 14, 2004 0 Andrew Smith November 19, 2005 0 J.J. Schrems May 1, 2006 0 Scott Bruner June 18, 2007 0 Dale Ripley September 11, 2007 0 Steve Beren February 2, 2008 0 If you're still an active associate, and aren't on this list, please get in contact with me. Thanks! Doug ********************************************************************* TRANSACTIONS: BRK - TRAED BRK09#1, BRK09#2 and Jarret Stoll to STM for STM#2, NEV#4 and Martin Biron. - TRADE John Madden to CCC for CCC#2 and CCC#3. CCC - TRADE CCC#2 and CCC#3 to BRK for John Madden. FLO - TRADE FLO09#2 to VAW for Jason LaBarbera. - TRADE Tobias Enstrom to TPK for Trevor Daley. LIB - TRADE LIB#1 to TPK for Gilbert Brule and TPK#2. - TRADE LIB#2 to MON for MON09#2 and MON09#3. MIN - TRADE LIB#4 to STM for STM09#4. - TRADE Trevor Daley to TPK for Robert Nilsson and TPK09#5. MON - TRADE MON09#2 and MON09#3 to LIB for LIB#2. NCH - TRADE BUF#4 and NCH#5 to PIH for PIH09#4 and PIH09#5. PIT - TRADE PIH09#4 and PIH09#5 to NCH for BUF#4 and NCH#5. STM - TRADE STM#2, NEV#4 and Martin Biron to BRK for BRK09#1, BRK09#2 and Jarret Stoll. - TRADE STM09#4 to MIN for LIB#4. TPK - TRADE Gilbert Brule and TPK#2 to LIB for LIB#1. - TRADE Robert Nilsson and TPK09#5 to MIN for Trevor Daley. - TRADE Trevor Daley to FLO for Tobias Enstrom. VAW - TRADE Jason LaBarbera to FLO for FLO09#2. ********************************************************************* League Governing Boards Responsibilities of the following governing boards are outlined in the Constitution. Review Board Tom Vinacci, Buffalo Bulldogs Patrick Shea, Long Island Berserkers Mark McNeil, Lyndonville Blades Constitutional Council Head: Patrick Shea (patrickjshea at verizon dot net) Doug Norris, Commissioner Brian Leahy, Vice-Commissioner Andy Bartalone, St. Michael's owner (vacant) *********************************************************************