A tale of two seasons

We’re at that transitional point between two seasons where one season is ending and another will shortly begin.  For captains of teams still in the playoff race, we have a few things going on in trying to get our team ready for our next playoff game, but also to get ready for the summer.  I’ve found that there tends to be a “behind-the-scenes” season that goes on between Winter and Summer, where teams are reloading and adding players to their rosters.  And even though Winter 2007-2008 is still going on, teams are trying to solidify their rosters for the summer. I find this transitional time the most mentally exhausting, and it’s more so now.  With us still in the playoffs, it’s a little hard to focus while trying to organize for next season at the same time.

Our next game – the Winter 2007-2008 semifinal – is tomorrow.  We’re playing the mighty Ice Dawgs, who were third place in the regular season, and I think it will be our toughest game of the year.  The Dawgs are a close-knit group and as I mentioned in my last post, our season series against that team was very even.  I just know they’re going to come out hard and have a big game.  They are an offensive powerhouse, and I think we’re going to have to play a tight defensive game.  Maybe someone should fly Jacques Lemaire in here so we can learn the ins and outs of the neutral zone trap.

We’re also already working on next season, but I’m trying not to let that be a distraction (I get easily distracted by shiny objects and roadside drive thrus).  With our move to the Silver B league next season, we’ll be playing on Friday nights, and this plays a factor in trying to add anyone to our roster.  I want to stay focused on our playoff run but my e-mail inbox has been quite busy with messages going back and forth with potentials.  I will say this, I don’t think there’s any kind of shortage of people who want to play for us as a sub!

And, while after this season the Bronze League really won’t be my business anymore, I’ve noticed that some teams that will be remaining in the Bronze League after the split are now approaching players who have moved to Silver B in the hopes of adding them to their roster.  Now, this isn’t against the rules.  Teams are allowed to have five “upper division” players on their roster.  But, I do think it goes against the spirit of fair competition in Bronze, and as an observer, I’m not really big on this.  The whole point of Silver B was to move up the experienced players to a new league, and keep Bronze as the rookie/novice league to make it fair for new and rookie teams coming into the league.  If a Bronze team wants to add or poach Silver B players on to their roster, I think it undermines the effort of creating the new league, and is unfair to the new teams coming in next season.  Besides, if a team wants Silver B players on their roster, they should just move up to Silver B themselves.

The most ironic thing to me is that people in Bronze who constantly would say that my team should move up to a higher league, are now approaching my players to play for their team in Bronze, now that we are moving up.

See? I just got distracted again.  Focus, Singh10.  The Ice Dawgs, and a chance to make it to the Bronze League final (on March 30), is tomorrow.

Singh10.

Silver B, to be

It’s now official.  The Puck Hogs are barely two seasons old, but it we (and the other top six teams in Bronze this season) are moving on up next season.

In order to help balance the talent level in Bronze, Silver B has indeed come to fruition.  Our teams are moving up to this new intermediary league will sit between the current Silver and Bronze Leagues, and will play on Friday nights starting in April. Game times will be about 7:15 PM and onwards.  We don’t have much say in it and are required to move up out of Bronze, but  personally I think it’s a good thing.  This will keep the Silver players (which I can only assume will become “Silver A”) out of Bronze and hopefully will increase that league’s parity.  It’ll also toughen up the competitive landscape in the league we’ll play in, and hopefully make us all better players as a result.

Besides, after two years of playing hockey in Bronze, it’ll be nice to tell people that I play in another league other than the novice league!

The new Silver B will include us, the Volcanoes, Ice Dawgs, Phantoms, Pints, and Kodiaks.  There’s also a rumor that the Steelheads could be coming back, and if so, they might very well re-emerge in Silver B too.  The Foothill Flyers, Pirates, and Roseville Rotties will continue to play in Bronze.  Apparently, two to three new teams will be coming into Bronze as well – including a team of former goaltenders, a roller hockey team and/or a new girls team.  I’ve heard that A Peine Legal will be folding. 

To make this change really work, I do hope that Skatetown maintains some scrutiny on who plays on the teams that are in Bronze.  I think that despite this move, there still might be players on the teams in Bronze who should play in Silver A/B. But, that is for the league to decide.  It would be a shame though, that if after all these changes, some teams in Bronze still get beat up week after week.

But, this is all for consideration later.  This season isn’t quite over, and until then, the Puck Hogs have the Winter 2007-2008 Playoffs (that starts in a few days) to worry about.

Singh10.

Silver B?

The powers that be at Skatetown have called a Bronze League Captains Meeting for this Sunday.  Apparently, on the agenda is discussion of a split of the Bronze League to create a (much rumored and discussed) new Silver B League.  Some Silver League team captains have been invited too.

Will the Puck Hogs (and others) be moving up to a new league?  I’ll let you know as soon as I do. Stay tuned!

Singh10.

UPDATE 3/01: Patience, my young padawans. All will be revealed on Sunday. However, if you are one of the top four teams in Bronze, you may want to clear your Friday nights next season.  More to come…

Wednesday Wusings: Big Changes Ahead for Bronze?

We played a great game on Sunday night in our 4-0 shutout of the Phantoms: from our goaltender to our defense, to all of our forwards.  It takes a lot to keep the Phantoms off the scoreboard.  They have some talented runners-and-gunners on that team and it takes a team effort to defeat the reigning Bronze League champs.  RDA had another statistically good night, combining for three goals and four assists.

You’ll forgive me if I sound like I’m gloating.  We just never had the chance to say we beat the Phantoms in two tries last season, so this one felt good.  But, we can’t rest on our laurels.  I’m quite sure the Phantoms were not happy with their effort, and will be especially motivated when we play them for the third and last time this season in February.

Before this game, Yama2 presented the Canucks jersey that the team bought for me.  They didn’t have to go to that effort, but the jersey looks great, and I really appreciate it.  I’ll try to get a picture of it up soon. Thanks guys! 

And now, for some rumour mongering…