President's Update - November 8th, 2013

First of all an apology to all of our fans and especially to the Strasbourg Maroons….We have had to reschedule Friday’s game between the Maroons and the Marlins. We tried starting the season a week earlier this year and unfortunately the Marlins are not quite ready to play. This situation is my fault and I assure everyone that we will be set to go next week.

The good news is we will have one game this weekend. The season begins with the Wynyard Monarchs in Bethune on Saturday evening at 8 p.m.

The Monarchs had an exceptional year last year making it to the League Final and the Provincial Final only to lose to the Cupar Canucks. The Monarchs finished 15-4-1 in 2012-13. They scored the second most goals and had the second best goals against average and yes it was the Cupar Canucks that also led those categories. They received the third highest penalty minutes in league.  There are a few changes to the team this year. Gone are Derek Halldorson, Mike Kesserling, Aaron Lindal, Devin Bowey and Chris Anderson. New to the team are Dillon Stubbs and Andrew Bzdel from the minor system along with Dylan Shewchuk and Davis Shewchuk.  From Foam Lake, Katlin Blight, Justin Zadorozniak and Kyle Jones join the Monarchs. All Star Chad Mazurak and All Star and league scoring leader Brett Leffler are back for another year.

The Bulldogs finished fourth in our league with an 11-6-3 record last year.  The Bulldogs won three rounds of Provincials in Provincial ‘D’ before losing in the semi-finals to the Avonlea Arrows. In league playoffs the Bulldogs won their first round against Raymore before losing to Wynyard in the semi-finals. That semi-final went five games and the Bulldogs won two games in Wynyard only to lose in overtime in the fifth and deciding game in Wynyard.

Pocket schedules will be available next week at your local rink.

There are two exhibition games this weekend. On Saturday evening the Milestone Flyers will be in Avonlea for a 7 p.m. tilt and the Cupar Canucks will host the Balgonie Bisons at 8 p.m. in Cupar.

Gerry Tomkins

HHL President

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