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End of Season 3
It's the end of Season 3 for the ATHL, and what an eventful season it was. First, Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles 80s captured the league's MVP award for the third consecutive year. Additionally, the Ottawa 90s (my team!) Mario Lemieux led the league in scoring for the third consecutive season, snagging a new record 50 goals and 61 assists (second to Bobby Orr's record-breaking 64 assists) for 111 points, while missing 3 games due to injury.
While our 90s squad led the new Canada and UK Division for most of the season, a late surge (and faltering from us) from the Toronto 60s put us in second place. With the new playoff format, we faced the London 10s in a rematch of the finals from Season 1. Same outcome, as they passed us by. The 10s eventually went on to play the Seattle 70s in the ATHL Cup Finals, where the 70s won for the first time ever! The ATHL has had a different champion each season, and the expanded playoff format likely helped them with this.
The minors saw Bonnie Lake Night Train (the 70s minor-league affiliate) capture their third-consecutive championship. Maybe their development should be looked at, after all?!
The JHL (Junior Hockey League) just saw the Portland Winterhawks capture their second Memorial Cup Trophy in three seasons over the San Francisco Liberty. There are some seriously good prospects in the wings waiting to be drafted.
Finally, both Brett Hull and Teemu Selanne have been unhappy with their roles, and refuse to negotiate to extend their contracts, preferring to test free agency. It should be fun!
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