line up so far - how's it looking?

[ginger]

With Yaremko being one of the final two Cardiff forwards, I still have them light on goals. They were only 6th in scoring at a team level last year and there's too many returnees or like for like replacement to suggest they'll massively step it up. They were nearly 40 goals behind Steelers as top scorers last year

[Doom]

My current prediction is Nottingham and Sheffield the same number of goals, Belfast 15 ahead of us both and Cardiff 15 behind us both.

Regards

Doom

[Jayboy]

Confirmed Team Roster (technically a full squad)


Forwards
08 Ryan Tait
18 Sam Tremblay
27 Cole Shudra
29 Nick Seitz
61 Logan Neilson
62 Evan Jasper
63 Mikko Juusola
75 Robert Dowd
77 Derek Gentile
86 Cliff Pu
92 Mitchell Balmas


Defenders
05 Joona Huttula
06 Kevin Tansey
10 Jordon Southorn
55 Jack Dougherty
58 Dominic Cormier
65 Brien Diffley
67 Reece Kelly


Netminders
01 Matt Greenfield
37 Eamon McAdam


Two Way players
32 Alex Oldale (NM)
03 Liam Steele (D)

[smbmetal]

Confirmed Team Roster (technically a full squad)


Forwards
08 Ryan Tait
18 Sam Tremblay - Keep
27 Cole Shudra - Keep
29 Nick Seitz
61 Logan Neilson
62 Evan Jasper
63 Mikko Juusola - Keep
75 Robert Dowd - Keep
77 Derek Gentile
86 Cliff Pu
92 Mitchell Balmas - Keep


Defenders
05 Joona Huttula - Unsure
06 Kevin Tansey - Keep
10 Jordon Southorn
55 Jack Dougherty
58 Dominic Cormier - Keep
65 Brien Diffley - Release
67 Reece Kelly - Keep


Netminders
01 Matt Greenfield - Keep
37 Eamon McAdam


Two Way players
32 Alex Oldale (NM)
03 Liam Steele (D)

Going back to my own 'arm chair coach' thread, I've updated the returnees above to match my personal hopes.......Only Diffley I had as 'Release' and would have taken Saucerman returning over him, but I'm not disappointed to see Diffley return. Could we have used the Uni place he's taken for an upgrade though? I was unsure on Huttula, but again, I'm not disappointed to see him return either. The club have also released the players that were also on my personal release list at well.

As for the goalies, we must have THE BEST goalie tandem in the league. McAdam should keep Greenfield on his toes and we should have no worries splitting duties when required. A fantastic piece of off season business there.

As for the new signings, Tait, Southorn and Neilson are very much a wait and see for me. Seitz is a proven goal scorer last season so I hope he continues this season. Jasper and Gentile could be nice surprises if it works out and I'm looking forward to Pu and Dougherty play who I'm hoping will be the stand out performers of our new signings. Lets hope our special teams are improved with the new signings as well.

Note to Fox - please don't coach the physical side of the game out of people like Dougherty and Tansey. Having a hard nosed no nonsense defender(s) who make people accountable can be the X factor in winning games for me.

Overall, I think an upgrade perhaps on last season's squad. Could there also be one more 'spare' import to sign?

Looking forward to the season starting!

[ginger]

Just been looking at a few stats for all teams in the league. There may be some slight adjustments needed to take in to account on some but in terms of listed roster players on Elite Prospects, we have the tallest and heaviest team on average. We're the 4th oldest, with an average age of just under 28. There are no teams with an average age of over 30 - Cardiff are the oldest at just under 30.

Not sure it means that much but interesting all the same. With Harper and Warburton to be announced that will keep the height and weight up.

7 out of our 12 forwards will be 6ft+, all the D are over 6ft.

All on paper but I like the idea we're going to be big and fast. Board battles are key to how Fox likes the team to play, and I think at times last year we missed Allen and Nicholls who would win a lot of those and create chances. We got a bit of it back when Tremblay came onboard full time, but hopefully we get this from Harper/Jasper etc as well.

[BontSteeler]

@smbmetal I think the Panthers may push you on the best netminder tandem in the league.

Grande & Carr are no mugs, especially Grande who was outstanding for the Panthers.

Stewart has built an excellent team down the M1.

[ginger]

@smbmetal I think the Panthers may push you on the best netminder tandem in the league.

Grande & Carr are no mugs, especially Grande who was outstanding for the Panthers.

Stewart has built an excellent team down the M1.

Grande will be interesting. I don't think he'll replicate his frankly ridiculous stats last year, but no doubt he'll be very good again and at the top end of the stats. Probably a tie with Greenfield in terms of ability. Carr Vs McAdam is relatively equal but Carr is significantly older - I'd probably give McAdam the edge based on that.

Don't discount Belfast and Cardiff though - both very good tandems on paper. Coventry also could be interesting now Robson has some backup too.

Standard of goaltending generally looks very good across the whole league

[Firefox1001]

@smbmetal I think the Panthers may push you on the best netminder tandem in the league.

Grande & Carr are no mugs, especially Grande who was outstanding for the Panthers.

Stewart has built an excellent team down the M1.

I'm glad they've signed Carr as I think he's poor. Could always guarantee at least 3 goals against him.
I assume Grande will play 85% of games.

[smbmetal]

@smbmetal I think the Panthers may push you on the best netminder tandem in the league.

Grande & Carr are no mugs, especially Grande who was outstanding for the Panthers.

Stewart has built an excellent team down the M1.

Quite close, but I'd take our goalie tandem over theirs and I still believe ours is the best pairing in the league.

[Jayboy]

That's it guys we are complete... what do we think?

Forwards
08 Ryan Tait
13 Stephen Harper
18 Sam Tremblay
27 Cole Shudra
29 Nick Seitz
61 Logan Neilson
62 Evan Jasper
63 Mikko Juusola
75 Robert Dowd
77 Derek Gentile
86 Cliff Pu
92 Mitchell Balmas


Defenders
05 Joona Huttula
06 Kevin Tansey
10 Jordon Southorn
55 Jack Dougherty
58 Dominic Cormier
65 Brien Diffley
67 Reece Kelly


Netminders
01 Matt Greenfield
34 Curtis Warburton
37 Eamon McAdam


Two Way players
32 Alex Oldale (NM)
03 Liam Steele (D)