Transition

Yellowknife (CP) It’s been several months since YDP experienced another heart wrenching game 7 lost to the Rovers. Despite the disappointment RHL17 was viewed as a major success as YDP captured it’s 2nd consecutive division title, made it’s first final four appearance, and was co-winner of the Toe Blake award for coach of the year. Since then Penetrators brass has made many tweaks (http://rhloly.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/rhl18-preview-ydp/) in hopes of building on last seasons performance.

‘We were one game away from making the finals last year,’ said GM Wong, ‘so if we to mirror our success, we’ll need to do the little things right like win every corner battle, every shift and every period, before we can even think about winning games.’ The Calder division is by far the best division in hockey. With the exception of the expansion Grizzly Bears, every team can roll out 2 scoring lines plus 4 decent defensemen. The goaltending fraternity is also excellent in the Calder, which boasts names such as Lehtonen, Giguere, Khabibulin, Kolzig, Vokoun and Fleury. ‘Every divisional game will feel like the playoffs,’ said Wong, ‘we could see as many as five teams in our division making the playoffs this year.’

With training camp winding down, YDP’s coaching staff will have some tough decisions to make, who to play, who to keep in the press box and who to send down to Charlotte. ‘Depth is a nice problem to have,’ said Wong, ‘I’ll do my best to keep everyone happy with their icetime.’ Here’s a quick peak at YDP’s current roster:

Rolston – Sakic – Stempniak
Tanguay – Brind’Amour – Hemsky
Axelsson – Sykora – Boyes
Chimera – Getzlaf – Lupul
Kelly - Gaustad – Ouellet

Bouwmeester – Boyle
Zhitnik – Weber
Carle – Lukowich
C.White – Lydman
Meszaros – Jurcina

Fleury - Garon
Ima Dumass (CP)