The Millionaires host the expansion Bearcats tonight in the first game of Season 7 of my historical hockey league. Below are the three major storylines I'll be following this season!
Bearcats Hit the Ice
The Millionaires joined for Season 4, and now the Bearcats will hit the ice as our sixth and final franchise. All eyes will be on the Bearcats' rookie goaltender, Hap Holmes, whose Strat-O-Matic game stats surpass even the great Bowse Hutton. Holmes should be able to steal some wins for our newest team, but his value as a trade chip is almost incalculable. Teams like the Comets or Thistles might inquire about a deal -- one that would surely rock the very foundations of the league.
A New Victorias Dynasty?
On the heels of the most successful regular season in league history (10-1-5, +21 goal differential) as well as the franchise's third Creighton Cup title, the Victorias remain strong contenders to reach the championship series yet again. On this superstar-heavy team, however, any regression by key players will have an outsized impact on the team's overall performance. A lot will depend on second-year forward Newsy Lalonde and whether he can reproduce his gaudy rookie stats (12 goals, 13 assists, +11, in 16 games).
Expanded Playoffs
In the three seasons since the Millionaires joined the league, the playoff format has involved the first-place team getting an automatic berth in the best-of-five Creighton Cup Finals, and the second- and third-place teams playing a single winner-take-all game for the other spot in the Finals. In all three of those seasons, the wild-card game went to overtime and provided incredible drama. Sadly, the wild card is no more! Going forward, the top four teams will reach the postseason (first place against fourth, second place against third). With more teams involved and two full rounds of best-of-five play, the road to the Creighton Cup has never been more difficult.
No comments:
Post a Comment