View Single Post
Old 01-17-2016, 08:46 AM   #4
monochameleon
Minors (Double A)
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 114
Season Preview: DHL

SEASON PREVIEW: DOMINION HOCKEY LEAGUE

From left to right: Lakeside Hawks, Northewestern Bears, Ottawa Wolves, Montreal Champions, Calgary Tigers, Hartford Robins

Founded in 1901, the Dominion Hockey League is the oldest surviving hockey league in North America since the collapse of the NHA in 1921. Founded as a Canadian league by four teams - the present day Wolves and Champions, the Toronto Greenshirts (who defected to the FHL) and a now-defunct Quebec City team - the league arrived in the USA through both expansion (Hartford and Seattle) and relocation (the Hamilton Hawks moved to Cleveland and became the Lakeside Hawks).

The Calgary Tigers, having set various records for continual playoff and finals appearances throughout the 1940s and 1950s, have finally finished rebuilding and are ready to challenge for cup again. Anchored by captain Scott White (LW, 30) and defender Jan Skvarka (RD, 24), the Tigers have great depth - except in their goaltending. Poor recruitment in net is likely to see Andre Monette (G, 28) as their starter and it would be easy to question if he is up for this kind of challenge. Jim Robertson (G, 33) is the other option but is hardly any better. A trade for superior netminding ability would not go astray, but if they can overcome this weakness the Tigers have the depth to challenge for the playoffs. Expect them to finish third in the Dominion League.

The Hartford Robins have gone for a quantity of good players rather than a handful of stars. Players as varied as veteran Dylan Anderson (LD, 38) and rising star Richard Curtis (C, 24) will share the workload. A rapidly aging team - other big names include Aleksandr Mitryakov (RW, 40) and Rocky Neal (LW, 38) - the Robins are rapidly running out of chances to take a run at the cup. If all their players can click together into a unit, they will overcome their lack of star power and finish fourth. If not, it will be some years before they are ready to challenge again.

There has been no joy in Cleveland for the Lakeside Hawks in recent years, and time is beginning to run out for local hero Len Warren (RD, 34). Still an all-star pick on anyone's team, Warren is nevertheless creeping toward retirement and if he is ever to etch his name into history as a member of a winning team, it will have to be soon. The Hawks as a squad are at a prime age - no-one is older than Warren, but Brock Flynn (RD, 25) is the youngest, meaning there are few still waiting to maximise on their potential - and have the depth and will to go all the way. Should finish second in the league.

With Charles Bice (G, 26) in net, the Montreal Champions seem like they should be a title threat - but Bice can't do it all on his own. The most successful team in the history of the league (16 championships), they are led by Kris Wilson (C, 27) and are a team on a very rapid rise. Seemingly, it's only a matter of time until they fire up and take the title, but odds are that the stocks are just too young this year. When players like Jozef Horvath (RD, 25) and Mitchell Augustus (RW, 27) fulfill their potential, this team will win. Until then, fifth is the most likely finish for them.

Like their rivals in Hartford, the Seattle-based Northwestern Bears have opted for several good players rather than one or two exceptional ones. Playing deep with quality skaters like Andrew Dolson (RW, 32) and Antonio Desiderio (C, 28), and veteran goaltender Michal Pav (G, 36), the Bears have a solid unit and are hot favourites to run away with the Prince of Wales Trophy as Dominion League Champions.

The rising star of Derek Brison (RW, 19) - a superstar in the making - can't disguise the lack of depth suffered by the Ottawa Wolves. As with Calgary, it will be a lack of goaltending talent that will hurt them, as Randy Turner (G, 27) and Joe Lockhart (G, 29) look likely to be out of their depth. Valentin St. Martin (RW, 28) is a captain of the future, and - much like Montreal - the whole team seems to be looking to the years ahead rather than the year at hand. Clever drafting - especially of goaltenders - will see the Wolves challenge in coming seasons, but this year they are likely to settle for last in the Dominion League.

Coming up - the Federal League preview.
monochameleon is offline   Reply With Quote