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monochameleon · 12-07-2015, 06:24 PM

SEASON PREVIEW: 1985/86 Premier League Hockey

The first ever season of the Premier League of Hockey is about to get underway. Today in the Hockey Times, we take a look at the four divisions and see who might win the flags, who might lead the scoring, and what impact interleague play will have on the new merged league.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE EAST

The Atlantic League East Division would appear to be the closest division in the entire league. Four of the five teams have played in the Atlantic League final over the last two years, and even the Ottawa Nationals made back to back finals just a few years ago, in 1980 and 1981. That said, it all may not appear as close as you'd think.

The Ottawa Nationals have gone 6-1 in the pre-season, losing only to interleague rivals the Montreal Victory. The obvious star of the Nationals is new captain Trevor Spivak, first-line left-wing. Former captain Paul Plummer is still with the time, but suggested in an interview after the Montreal game that he would prefer to finish off his career as a player, not a captain. The Nationals will be concerned principally about their lack of depth. Brandon Moore is a promising goalie with a great deal of potential but the best back-up the Nats can muster appears to be Keegan Steiert. The Nationals may take a swipe at the championship this year, but within a few years we will probably be seeing them rebuild. Look for the Nats to finish fourth in the division.

The Charlottetown Islanders would like to defend their St. Lawrence Trophy, and have the line-up to do it. A first three consisting of Matias Malmivaara, Andrey Ostafiyev and Erik Mather will not only give the commentators some concerns but also many of the league's goalies. Star defender Johan Jonsson and young prospect Mikhel Sell, freshly called up from a great season last year with the Novascotia Tridents in the minors, will provide some solid defence. Unlike Ottawa, however, Charlottetown also have the depth to go far: Derek Power is now 32 but shows no signs of slowing, Zak Makin would be a captain and first line centre on many teams in this league, and defenders such as Jeff Fields and Connor Maxwell will back up well in the long stretch of February. One trade the Islanders could stand to make is for a better goaltender: Thomas Talley will start for them but Dan Dubielewicz is back-up at best, if Talley is injured there will be trouble. Charlottetown should trade for the best young goaltender they can find. If the Islanders can get a solid backup tender, they could come first in the division, failing that, look for them to finish second.

After winning back-to-back St. Lawrence Trophies in 1982 and 1983, the New England Whalers are deep in a rebuilding phase. Bob Clemens, now 36, will captain the Whalers for what must be approaching the last time. Players like Clemens and Bill Chaundy will lead one of the youngest teams in the league, with upcoming stars such as right-wing Terry Lowe, left-winger Tyler Wheeler and centre Chris Coats. Goalie Colby Froehlich is still developing. Failing a stunning turn-around, the Whalers will almost certainly finish fifth and last in their division.

The Toronto Aces are seeking to avenge their loss to the Islanders in last year's final. Jakub Vanek is an all-star forward in the making, who any team would kill to have. Lovell DeSerres and Harold McNary provide a great backline in front of goalie Russ Card, who - though aging at 34 - is one of the best in the league. Geoffrey Rielly's captaincy was a hugely underrated element in the team's playoff run last year and in a team with so many potential stars, his ability to keep a check on everyone's egos is invaluable. Expect the Aces to finish first in their division and challenge for the cup - they will never be better positioned to do it.

In Allentown, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms might wear the purple of royalty, but they are a special breed of warrior princes: the Phantoms are shaping up as a steamroller of a club. Knocked out of the playoffs last year by the Islanders en-route to the final, the Phantoms will start this year looking for revenge. Their top 4 players are all, perhaps not surprisingly, defencemen: Ekbom, Zaporzan, Johansson and Vrzacek. Goaltender Matt MacKenzie and centre Juraj Gajdos could be franchise players elsewhere but here play second fiddle to the bruising Phantom defence - and even Gajdos has evolved over the last few seasons to play a tough, physical game. It'll be the second line of Jamie Carrick, John Roberts and Emil Fahlstrom who will be counted on to score the goals after everyone else has roughed the opposition up a bit. Lehigh Valley are a wildcard and could finish anywhere, but odds are they'll end up in the middle and finish third.

Up next, the Atlantic League West.

12-07-2015, 06:24 PM	#6
monochameleon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 114	September 18th 1985 SEASON PREVIEW: 1985/86 Premier League Hockey The first ever season of the Premier League of Hockey is about to get underway. Today in the Hockey Times, we take a look at the four divisions and see who might win the flags, who might lead the scoring, and what impact interleague play will have on the new merged league. ATLANTIC LEAGUE EAST The Atlantic League East Division would appear to be the closest division in the entire league. Four of the five teams have played in the Atlantic League final over the last two years, and even the Ottawa Nationals made back to back finals just a few years ago, in 1980 and 1981. That said, it all may not appear as close as you'd think. The Ottawa Nationals have gone 6-1 in the pre-season, losing only to interleague rivals the Montreal Victory. The obvious star of the Nationals is new captain Trevor Spivak, first-line left-wing. Former captain Paul Plummer is still with the time, but suggested in an interview after the Montreal game that he would prefer to finish off his career as a player, not a captain. The Nationals will be concerned principally about their lack of depth. Brandon Moore is a promising goalie with a great deal of potential but the best back-up the Nats can muster appears to be Keegan Steiert. The Nationals may take a swipe at the championship this year, but within a few years we will probably be seeing them rebuild. Look for the Nats to finish fourth in the division. The Charlottetown Islanders would like to defend their St. Lawrence Trophy, and have the line-up to do it. A first three consisting of Matias Malmivaara, Andrey Ostafiyev and Erik Mather will not only give the commentators some concerns but also many of the league's goalies. Star defender Johan Jonsson and young prospect Mikhel Sell, freshly called up from a great season last year with the Novascotia Tridents in the minors, will provide some solid defence. Unlike Ottawa, however, Charlottetown also have the depth to go far: Derek Power is now 32 but shows no signs of slowing, Zak Makin would be a captain and first line centre on many teams in this league, and defenders such as Jeff Fields and Connor Maxwell will back up well in the long stretch of February. One trade the Islanders could stand to make is for a better goaltender: Thomas Talley will start for them but Dan Dubielewicz is back-up at best, if Talley is injured there will be trouble. Charlottetown should trade for the best young goaltender they can find. If the Islanders can get a solid backup tender, they could come first in the division, failing that, look for them to finish second. After winning back-to-back St. Lawrence Trophies in 1982 and 1983, the New England Whalers are deep in a rebuilding phase. Bob Clemens, now 36, will captain the Whalers for what must be approaching the last time. Players like Clemens and Bill Chaundy will lead one of the youngest teams in the league, with upcoming stars such as right-wing Terry Lowe, left-winger Tyler Wheeler and centre Chris Coats. Goalie Colby Froehlich is still developing. Failing a stunning turn-around, the Whalers will almost certainly finish fifth and last in their division. The Toronto Aces are seeking to avenge their loss to the Islanders in last year's final. Jakub Vanek is an all-star forward in the making, who any team would kill to have. Lovell DeSerres and Harold McNary provide a great backline in front of goalie Russ Card, who - though aging at 34 - is one of the best in the league. Geoffrey Rielly's captaincy was a hugely underrated element in the team's playoff run last year and in a team with so many potential stars, his ability to keep a check on everyone's egos is invaluable. Expect the Aces to finish first in their division and challenge for the cup - they will never be better positioned to do it. In Allentown, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms might wear the purple of royalty, but they are a special breed of warrior princes: the Phantoms are shaping up as a steamroller of a club. Knocked out of the playoffs last year by the Islanders en-route to the final, the Phantoms will start this year looking for revenge. Their top 4 players are all, perhaps not surprisingly, defencemen: Ekbom, Zaporzan, Johansson and Vrzacek. Goaltender Matt MacKenzie and centre Juraj Gajdos could be franchise players elsewhere but here play second fiddle to the bruising Phantom defence - and even Gajdos has evolved over the last few seasons to play a tough, physical game. It'll be the second line of Jamie Carrick, John Roberts and Emil Fahlstrom who will be counted on to score the goals after everyone else has roughed the opposition up a bit. Lehigh Valley are a wildcard and could finish anywhere, but odds are they'll end up in the middle and finish third. Up next, the Atlantic League West.