Bratislava Watchmen Training Camp Begins

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On a warm summer morning in Slovakia, the doors of Samsung Arena are propped open for the arrival of the Bratislava Watchmen, ready and eager to kick off training camp. After an off-season of change that sees only four players returning from the previous season, it will be imperative for the Watchmen to bring their group together quickly in a year with high expectations. After playoff appearances in six of their first seven seasons in the VHLE, it's been three seasons in a row with no action past the regular season. That combined with a six season Championship drought leaves Bratislava plenty hungry for success coming into this season.

 

Bratislava is hoping to reap the benefits of back to back solid drafts, with four picks from the S89 draft and three picks from the S90 draft expected to be solid contributors. The forward group should be led by returning LW Otis Boudreaux Jr., who had a 53 point rookie campaign for the Watchmen last season. Key to the scoring success of the group will be three graduates from the VHLM: Harry Callahan, Mikko Borisyuk and Carson Walker Jr. It is imperative that Bratislava get contributions from these young forwards, and that they continue to progress into key performers as the season moves on. S91 free agent signing Spanish Moon Moth enters the season as one of the youngest forwards in the E, but should not be discounted for contributions this season. Rounding out the forward group are a trio of veterans, C Loki Baker DMD, C Luke Glendenning, and LW Johnny Kalamazoo. Glendenning is returning to the Watchmen for a second season coming off a 59 point season, while Baker and Kalamazoo make their debuts for the squad.

 

On the blueline for the Watchmen there has been a youth movement, one that might see growing pains to start the season, but should flourish into a solid group as the year goes on. Only one of the blueliners on the roster for Bratislava has seen more than one season of VHLE action, and that is veteran D Nagy AL. After stops in Istanbul, Cologne, Stockholm, Rome, Oslo, and Geneva, they hope to bring some veteran experience after eight seasons in the league. D Tobias Weiss is the lone returning defense for the Watchmen, coming off of a very solid rookie season that saw them put up 52 points from the blueline. Continued production on a similar level would help Bratislava immensely. The biggest growth on the back end for Bratislava is expected to come in the form of a trio of defenders making their VHLE debuts this season. S90 first round picks Jebediah Big Ol Doinks in Amish and Walter Fitzroy Jr. are both coming into the league in a good spot to contribute this season, while S91 free agent signing Sunset Moth has a chance to do so as well.

 

Finally, in goal for the Brats this season is a pair of goaltenders who look to backstop the Watchers to a season of success. Jonny Elgar returns for their second season following a rookie year that saw them make 63 starts, posting a .905 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average with 2 shutouts. Looking to push Elgar is goaltender WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. While they're unproven, coming up from the VHLM after just 2 starts last season, they look to forge a solid tandem in net that Bratislava can count on.

 

As training camp goes and the Watchmen look to settle in, they get to see the results of their work in just 6 days, when the new season begins.

 

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