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*Pyro182* · 10-02-2023, 10:03 AM

The SMJHL season is about to start, after we all got a taste of juniors hockey with preseason. In the 7-game span of preseason, teams got a pretty good look into what to expect, and also who the key contributors are likely to be. How is your team looking ahead of this season, and who are gonna be the main pieces of your squads?

Written option: Talk about how your team is looking ahead of the coming season. Include at least 3 players who will be key to the success of the team, plus an explanation why they will be crucial. Must include 150 words.

Graphic option: Create a magazine cover style graphic with a headline for the team, plus a render for a key player on your team's squad. Make sure to identify which player the render is supposed to be in the graphic.

Reward

3 TPE for doing the thing. (Just one, not both.)

Only S73 SMJHL Rookies (S74 SHL Draftees) are eligible for this PT.

Link PBE, ISFL, or SSL submissions here to get credit for affiliate claims.

Do not claim this TPE until a post is made in the claim thread.

Deadline: Sunday, October 8th @ 11:59pm PST
It's ok James, I can't read this in light mode

***Chevy*** · 10-02-2023, 10:26 AM

Coming off a last place finish is tough for any team going through a minor rebuild, however I feel the grizzlies are set to make an impact again now in Season 73. With the high earning, high driving acquisitions of myself helping fill out the defensive pairings and Gordon-Williams Gibbles shoring things up at the bottom line of the face-off circle, another last place finish is far from the minds of the players. In terms of players to watch out for for the Grizzlies this season, with netminder Beau Kavanagh between the pipes and a top duo of defensemen in Billy Hill and RIP Thunderdome, it will be hard pressed to get the puck anywhere near the net I feel. Now granted, not all pre-season statistics can be taken for gospel, it still is a nice preview of some performance attributes. The biggest surprise to keep an eye on will be back-up goaltender Yves "Stinky" D'Odeur, who despite being new to the franchise surprised everyone with a fantastic 4.13 goals saved above average as well as a 93.8% save percentage. For a new backup goalie, those are some numbers that many will continue to wonder if it is sustainable or not. If it is, the league had better be on the lookout.

PSUwithBigBlue · 10-02-2023, 10:42 AM

For the Colorado Raptors to truly take a huge step forward this season, they will need some reliance of their youngest players.

Xavier Beausoleil, for instance, provided 73 points and 30 goals last season, and Jussi Mutou tallied 74 points with 37 goals. Both were rookies last season, and both will need an even bigger step up this season.

For them both to step up, they will need a very capable center, and they might just have found that with their 3rd round pick, Shadow Fenix. He had a hell of a pre-season, and if he can keep that up throughout the regular season as well, that could very well be one of the most dangerous lines in the SHMJL this year.

For them to keep up their offense production, let alone taking a step forward, the Raptors will need to provide better defense than last season's league-worse effort in goals against. They've addressed that by adding Konhe and Dinkledge to the defense corps, but they also added a defensive minded winger of Kodiak to shore up their PK as well.

Lastly, the rook goalie of Tanner Pitts had a strong pre-season, but that will have to continue into the regular season for them to have any chance of making the post season.

funk · 10-02-2023, 11:05 AM

The Grizz seemed to have underperformed in the past season, but it looks like that bump in the road came at the time of an incredibly deep draft class. The pantry is stocked up with the next generation of GFG torchbearers and the team is looking to make a sharp turn towards success in the coming seasons. The acquisitions of John Peanut, Brandon Strongstick, Poiklm, Gordon-William Gibbles, Austin Dood, as well as myself, should bring some support for the stable core of veteran Grizz in the room.

The preseason has had some hard-fought games with a lot of people trying to prove themselves, and it's resulted in fantastic preseason performances from young guys like Dodd, Peanut, Poiklm, and Gibbles. This team is a lot deeper than it used to be, and I think the league is going to notice that pretty soon as well.

RIP THUNDERDOME, Billy Hill, Beau Kavanagh, Andre Latrielle, and Levin Schattenaxt highlight the leadership group of returning Grizzlies to lead the charge, onward and upward.

ShadowFenix · 10-02-2023, 11:08 AM

Coming off of a surprising pre-season, the Colorado Raptors Raptors

ended up with a better record than expected. Bringing on 9 rookies from the SMJHL entry draft, you would expect that this team wouldn't have ended pre-season with a 4-2-1 record. It's a record that places them 5th in the league, but unfortunately only 3rd in the Tamper Town division because of two talented teams in Anchorage and Maine. However, the Raptors being in a rebuild, are still happy with these results, especially when looking at three key players, Shadow Fenix, Tanner Pitts, and Liam Rodgers.

Rookie Shadow Fenix (center) leads the team in points with 8-6-14 g-a-p in 7 games. With a lot of his success coming from his two linemates, Jussi Mutou and Xavier Beausoleil, if Fenix continues to have this chemistry on the ice, it will definitely win games for the Raptors.

Also a rookie, Tanner Pitts, is the starting goaltender this year for Colorado. Having a 0.893 save percentage in the pre-season, you have to ask if Pitts is able to get that number above 0.900, or if those numbers will go down. If Pitts is able to evolve into the netminder that Colorado expects him to, there is no doubt that he will be a key player this season.

Lastly, defenseman Liam Rodgers, drafted to the Calgary Dragons in the most recent SHL entry draft, quarterbacks the first power play line. And you know something is going right there when the team has gotten 9 power play goals in those 7 pre-season games. If he is able to continue to let the power play produce, while also working defensively with his partner Nik Smith, he will be a key player on the blue line.

ibuprofenaddict · 10-02-2023, 11:10 AM

The Detroit Falcons look to be primed for a step forward in S73. With an up and down preseason behind them, lets take a look at some of the things to watch for in the regular season.

Key Players:

Luma Lee, C: Despite simply banking any and all available TPE, this second year, third line center lead the team in scoring with 6 points through 7 preseason games. Currently flanked by fellow sophomore Mike Badcock and Rookie Marek Carda, it will benefit the Falcons immensely if this sort of performance can continue into the regular season grind, with Lee leading an effective third line and helping to create mismatches.

Trevor Lahey, C: The Falcons return their talisman forward for S73. Lahey lead the team in goals (four) and was joint-top in shots (twenty) in 7 preseason games. If the Falcons have a chance at making some noise in the playoffs, they'll be relying on a strong first line centered by Lahey to hurt the opposition.

Wayne Holloway, G: All-League goaltender Holloway returns for his third SMJHL season. While this Falcons roster is improved from the side that placed second-last in S72, they are still a young squad that will lean heavily on their top line, experienced players - which makes having Holloway around during the shifts taken by the second and third lines & pairs a crucial cog in pushing for honors this season.

Overall, I expect the Falcons to push for their division title, although it is probably the weakest division in the league - despite what was shown in the preseason. The Falcons would probably be pleased to win a round in the playoffs this season and continue building in the future, though it really could play out in any number of ways.

honey · 10-02-2023, 11:43 AM

The Scarecrows are in an interesting spot, having just come off of a championship but ultimately still being left with plenty of holes on the roster. Because of this, I think that the rookies will need to make a difference early if we're going to manage to repeat our success. Lets start with our new Defensive Back, Bog Damsel. With a penchant for fighting and an already undefeated record on the ice, I think she'll need to make a splash both when it comes to pushing back enemy assaults on the net and instilling fear in those around her to cause mistakes. Flanked by Gadget, another Scarecrow Scrapper in the defensive backfield, the duo will need to work well to use their aggressive playstyles to their advantage instead of getting locked away in the penalty box.

Crazy Tomato is the clear standout, though, and we'll need him to put up an All-Star level performance on the offense to have a decent shot at the post-season. Being snubbed last season has put a fire in him, and I'm excited to see how that translates to the ice.

***Jexter*** · 10-02-2023, 11:57 AM

The Yukon Mamalutes made a great run to the semifinals last season and this year are looking to get even closer. They reloaded in the draft with a large amount of wingers including Squidwardo Tentacles, Fred Bread and Langston Hardison-Laurent. With quite a few new players, Yukon will look to capitalize on the great base built up on their veteran players.

One of the obvious keys to success on this roster lies with the returning Theodore Svatos, the SMJHL's top goal scorer last season. Svatos was named captain this year and we will see how he meshes with a new line. Coming off a season with a league leading 346 shot season, he will likely have plenty of opportunities to expand on last year's success as long as his linemates can help on the defensive side. New Alternate Captain Bobby Tkachucky will need to lead Yukon's second line, and continue to work in odd-man situations. Finally, Jordan Tanner, the assist leader on Yukon last year, will need to continue his excellence going into the next season.

181 words.

JoeSteel · 10-02-2023, 11:58 AM

ISFL Affiliate

TheOPSquid · 10-02-2023, 11:58 AM

The Yukon Malamutes are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs this season, with a core of returning players looking to lead the way. In a division of 3 teams, Yukon has already locked up a playoff spot before the season begins and wants to figure out their roster in order to make it a successful season.

Key Players for the Malamutes:

Bobby Tkachuky: After a successful rookie campaign that saw him put up 25G 40A 65P in 66GP, Tkachuky is looking to improve on those totals as he takes on a leadership role for the squad. With picking up the A on his jersey, the 6'6 Center is going to be a key contributor again this season.

Furious Chicken: Another Alternate Captain for the Malamutes, the 6'11 Defenseman had 130 Blocks last season to add onto his 37P in 66GP. With 127 hits to go with the 130 blocks, Chicken will look to be a menace on the 1st RD spot for Yukon again this season.

Jordan Tanner: The 30 goal scorer for the Malamutes last season capped off the regular season with 85P in 66GP. The Left Winger returns to the Malamutes and if he continues his pace from last season; he looks to be Yukon's most dynamic offensive player. If he comes close to last season's production, it could be a promising season for Yukon.

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