Dick here, reporter for the newly crowned Season 23 New England Wolfpack. Reporting once again from the janitors closet due to the team not wishing to spend budget money on an office for me, or a desk, or a chair, or more paper, pens, and pencils. I have been writing interviews in my own blood for days now since Samsinov is so stingy, he won't even pay me so asking for more funding to do my job is simply out of the question.

Earlier in the season we released Issue #1 of The Sunday Hunt, where we had a look at how the season played out so far, breaking down each game and analyzing where things went wrong and where they started to go right ultimately ending in the Wolfpack lifting the Challenge Cup for the first time in the teams history.

We will now in several parts look at the struggles, the triumphs, the playoffs, the draft and saying goodbye to some teammates.


Welcome everyone to...

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THE PROWL #2

Presented by

THE NEW ENGLAND WOLFPACK

Thursday, July 2nd, 2015

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3,122 Words

Please divide the pay evenly between the following people

Mac
Laxk
Vyskoc
Wik
Buckley
TaNGO



Colt

We already spoke at the cabin, congratulations again on the Challenge Cup win, few questions here for you, Dean. Midway through the season, the penalty kill was changed and from then on, the team showed sheer dominance in defensive play when a man down, any clue as to the reasons for this?

Well, as I said before Dick, my ability to win the draw has been a complete boon. You can't win without the puck and having it more often then not keeps them from getting prime scoring chances as well as all of us being rather strong both in the physical sense and our puck handling and defensive play. I think that combination would work well in any situation but for us, we happened to have the right people and we just seemed to click very well. As the season went on, we got more and more comfortable to the point we just knew what each other would do in every situation.

You were among the league leaders and have been among the league leaders in faceoff percentages since the beginning of your career and continued that trend during the season and into the playoffs, there has to be more to this then meets the eye.

Working on a farm for many years causes you build up a rather strong core, the intense workouts the team goes through are right up my alley. Not a stranger to a hard days work, so if my muscles are burning we must have really pushed it. I find that except for a select few, I am able to simply muscle them out of the way and kick the puck back to our defense or wing and we start towards the net, plus the other person tends to blade their body towards who they are likely going to pass to so iI alter how I take the faceoff and it really throws them off as they try to adjust to something completely different on the fly.

With the exodus of talent to Seattle, Toronto and the glue factory, what do you see happening to this team in coming seasons?

There definitely will be a bit of lull in our competitiveness, that's not to say we won't be competitive but we simply do not have the depth available that we did last season. I should be able to replace Carter, Russell should replace McZ and Buckley should replace Kovy, that's a great start. On the backend we have O'Reilly making progress, however he is a mostly defensive defensemen so we may need to draft a more two way defensemen at some point but for now, we have two top lines, two pairings and a starter that is reassuring.

Do you think you will be able to step into O'Callahans void?

That has been the focus, I have trained and trained and done my best to replicate Carters style, tenacity, aggressiveness and ability. We both have our strengths and weaknesses. He's a far better shot then I am however I am a bit stronger so I win faceoffs a bit more, not a bad trade off as I prefer to pass to someone who actually can put a puck in but I am working on it, he also is a bit more responsible defensively, not to say I am not but I prefer to risk losing the puck if it means a quality chance where he would rather wait to create the chance since I can out muscle in the corners if they dump in or knock them off it if they try skating in.

Predictions for you and your teammates this season?

Sherill, probably twenty goals and twenty five assists. Myself, ten goals and forty assists, Russell will likely hit twenty and thirty or so, Vyskoc should hit twenty points as well, Wikstrom around forty, mostly assists, Buckley should put up about fifteen goals and ten assists.

Back end, I see Reid nearing fifty, Tsizling around thirty but all assists. O'Reilly, probably twenty to thirty and Winchester should have a good year with more ice time, expecting ten goals and five assists and lastly Cant, he should be a forty point defensemen with the absense of Willie Weber.

In the back, we have Laxk, who is right at the level of questions. I'd say we are a good defensively sound team, I see him in the top half of goalies for stats.








Wikstrom,

You were quite productive in the regular season, though some say you had difficulty adjusting to the SHL training regiment, you quite clearly do not show that on the ice. With the departure of O'Callahan and Colt seemingly getting the top spot for now, that would give you Marek Vyskoc and Butch Buckley as your wingers, how do you think they will do with a strong two presense like yourself in the middle?


While I'm still working hard to see if I can move up, I think that Coach knows how I've played my career. Since I've come over from Sweden to Regina and now the Wolfpack, I have always played with strong, physical players. Me and Vyskoc have a lot of work to do; we've been on the roster for quite some time but haven't had a lot of time to figure each other out and what we can do. However, I think that Buckley is going to come in and have a chance at Rookie of the Year. Buckley is a physical guy, he gets under everyone else's skin; he's the kind of player you hate to play against but love on your team. With the exception of the locker room. Sometimes I've gotta tell him to shut up cause he get's so cocky; but, off the record, I think it's good for him mentally to be that way. The SHL is a tough league, but I hope that we can make some things happen and give him a good rookie year.

There are rumours you get annoyed when sports reporters misspell your last name as Whikstrom, instead of Wikstrom, good thing I know the difference, huh?

Aw nuts, Dick. You've been with me since the first day I stepped on the continent. I'm glad you've had the opportunity to find work in New England and continue following my career, especially since you don't botch my quotes like Richard Shakes.

In the post season, what would you say is the game that gave you butterflies?

Well, if we're being honest, game 6 of the finals. But that's cliche. I'd have to say the game against Manhattan where I put away the only goal. The past two seasons, we've really focused as a team on a high-powered offense and outscoring our opponents, so those 1-0 defensive games make me nervous. I knew how hard we had to work for that goal, and how many things had to have happened for it to develop; I think that my main concern was making sure we didn't get lazy and have to make the magic happen all over again in an incredibly tight series.

Having been the first forward taken in the Season 20 draft, how do you feel you compare to the rest?

That's a loaded shaft of a question, Dick. For one, I think that the draft ran deep and many players have exceeded expectations. Blake Sherrill is one of those examples. But I don't think any of the scouts looked at me to be a "showy" player in this league. When Chisling reached out to me and asked what my goals were, I told him three things in this order: 1) Bring a championship to a city that deserves it, 2) Lead by example, and 3) Play a 200 foot game every night. I think I've fulfilled all three of those promises; some not a strong as I would like, but that championship. . . I've been snubbed a few times because the way I play my game won't make the TSN highlight reel every night, but I promised New England a championship, and I think that validates my pedigree.


Predictions for your teammates this season?

Blake Sherrill will be in the running for League MVP. Titsling will set a league record for PIMS, and the Pack will lead the league on the kill. Laxk will post 5 shutouts, and Colt, Russell and Buckley will combine for over 300 hits. Reid and Cant will both score 20 assists, and Tenny's banner will "go missing" by season's end.





Vyskoc,

Ah, a rookie. Welcome to the team!

Right.
You got to be fucking with me.
If you weren't, I haven't had a hangover this bad since Vancouver won the cup.
I could've swore I got drafted that year and then won the challenge cup eventually.
*Kaspars Tsizling leans over and whispers to Marek*
I WAS IN VANCOUVER FOR TWO YEARS?

Really, you have been here that long? Why didn't you speak up before?

You tell me, I show up early to all of our games for a red carpet appearance-
*Butch Buckley* He Means five hours!
. . . . I'm OCD

You scored in the playoffs, how did that make you feel?

Well, it felt great for the first few hours.
Then I figured greatness goes down well with some tequila.
Then I met Ashley and ended up getting peg- . . . . . next question.


You should be on the second line to start the season and we should see your point totals increase drastically, do you think you will have your breakout season and hit double digits?

*Intense stare for a few minutes*
Double digits . . . haven't seen those since . . . well, Ashley.

Predictions for your teammates this season?

They're gonna score more then me, that's for sure.

*Marek begins to walk away takes a swig from his flask of unknown concoction, mumbling*

Why do I always get all of the confused bitches[/b]



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ROOKIES, NEW FACES, AND PROSPECTS

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Laxk

When you had found your rights were traded to New England, how did you feel?

Honestly it's a great feeling to be a part of this team. Perhaps it's the number of Force alumni we have here in New England, but also the fact that we are already a contender for the Cup. It for sure has made the future more interesting for me as a goaltender. But there is one more thing, that is New England definitely gives me this "home" feeling, it is an important thing for goalie.

You weren't aware our goaltender decided to retire and that you would be starting, did that influence your decision to sign for multiple seasons?

Yes indeed. Before the trade, I was the back up goalie for both the Manhattan Rage and Seattle Riot, and did not see a lot of action. But now, here I am in the new market and with a chance to be the starter, this has effect on my decision, no doubt.

What do you see happening from here?

There is not much I can do but to be active and carry my team to victory. Maybe a goaltender needs his team to step up for him, but first you have got to train and improve until you are the number one in the league. Then magic will happen.

Predictions for this coming season for your teammates?

I'm sure that the Force core will be strong as usual and with guys like Reid, Gcool, and TNGO we will have a deep playoff run. We have one of the strongest core herenin NE, once everyone steps up, we could be unstoppable.[/QUOTE]





Buckley

  Butch, there are rumours I have have heard that you actually headbutted someone during a game?

Hey man, I just got out of fuckin' jail. I'm a saint currently. However, to answer the question. Yes, I head-butted somebody, man. A little shameless promotion, brother you can purchase my very own shirt at shop.shl.com!


  You seem to play with an edge and enjoy the physical part of the game, leading juniors in hits, will we see that carried over to the SHL?

Oh hell yeah, brother! I love pounding guys. I'll be pounding so many guys in the SHL, you'll forget how many guys I was pounding in the SMJHL, man. You can count on that!

  If you are called up this season, how much of an impact would you see yourself making?

Well, dude... The Pack are in a bit of a transition season, so I'll definitely have a chance to prove myself, but the brothers/sisters in charge of the team will definitely not be pressuring me to be a huge goal scorer or anything, man. Going to focus on providing my physicality, and hopefully that opens up chances for the other dudes.

  With the absense of Alexey Kovalenko, the scoring touch on the right wing and with Russell more a passing forward then a scoring, do you think you'll be able to produce goals the way Kovalenko did towards the end of the season?

Did I not just fuckin' answer that, man? I'll humor you, brother. If the puck goes into the net, it goes into the net. With me, man, expect to see more knuckles to faces.
  Predictions for you and your teammates?
Cup, baby!


O'Reilly

  You previously mentioned you'd like to make a Kaspars Tsizling type player, do mean the guy who warms the penalty box seat or the guy who throws hits and starts the breakout?

When did I ever mention that? I think you should do your research before asking ludicrous questions. I would rather end up with a Willie Weber type player, a guy who's not afraid to hit and can play well defensively, well putting up the points. But really as long as I can help the team win, without spending a quarter of the game in the box, it's a good game for me.

  How has your overall experience been in New England so far?

It has it's characters. The team for the most part has the same beliefs, and that is fuck Tennyson. All the returning players won a cup last season and now are facing a possibly down season, with all the trades after the cup win. But everyone seems to understand what will/is happening, and everyone is understanding of the emotional roller coaster the pass season and this upcoming one can be.

  Are you excited to be playing possibly your first SHL game very soon?

Does a bear shit in the woods? It's a thing a lot of players look forward to and it's something that I'll be happy to experience. Some may say I made the jump too early, and I kind of agree with them, but the team needs me up this season and I have to do what the team wants me to do, or else I'll be sent to Mexico City. And no one wants to go to Mexico City.

  How was the experience in the former Regina locker room during your rookie season and what are your thoughts on it now?

The Force locker room wasn't as active in my rookie season as it is this season, but S22 was a shit season for the SMJHL in total, so it's kind of understanding. It's nice to see the activity pick up and hopefully stays active. Sometimes it's too hard to keep track of what is all going on in there. I think the other day someone found a video of Prince dancing on the ice in goalie equipment.

  Predictions for everyone?

Ummmmmm. Four teams won't make the playoffs, eight will. One of those eight will win the Challenge Cup, beating a team from the other conference in four or more games. Someone's going to have a breakout season, and someones going to have a lackluster season. Goals will be scored, assists will be made, points will be earned, shots will be taken, some missed, some blocked and a Goalie will let one of those shots in or save it.


Well, thats all for this time folks, see you next time for the Season 23 breakdown.