True North Hockey. The only name in hockey equipment, and soon the only name in the Sponsors Shield tournament

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With the World Junior Championship all wrapped up, and the VHL and VHLM seasons heading towards the stretch drive, the hockey world turns its attention to a brand new tournament. The Sponsors Shield Cup.

 

Six of the most respected brands in all of hockey are represented in this unique competition. This is truly a best on best series, with all the brands competing for players, although there is a concern for the creation of so called super teams that could make the tournament one sided.

 

One of the brands competing this year will be True North Hockey Equipment, based in Yellowknife and manufactured in undisclosed locations in China. Management is led by Andrew Warren, he also brings along rookie winger Alexsiy Revchenko with him. The lineup is quite deep with 2 full forward lines of VHL talent. Although the final rosters have yet to be finalized, were going to take a broad guess at what the lineup will look like.

 

In goal Toronto Legion teammates Shawn Brodeur and Johnny Havenk Carison will share the net. Brodeur will likely get the majority of the starts as is the case in the VHL. Carison looks to be the goalie of the future at this point, with Brodeur nearing the end of his career and no one else coming up the ranks yet.

 

One position with a lack of numbers at the time of this writing is on defense. Although it is reported that True North is scouring for another few defenseman, they have 3 high quality offensive rearguards as is. Maxim Kovalchuk of the Seattle Bears headlines the group, he is currently in a bit of a sophomore slump after a terrific S62 campaign, but he will be able to put up points by the bunches. Halifax’s Jesse Wilson is enjoying a great year as is Saskatoon’s Toby Fitzgerald. Both are hoping for long playoff runs in the VHLM.

 

At forward some shuffling of positions will need to happen, as there is currently only one natural center on the roster. Luckily a few of the wingers have spent time down the middle, which will ease the transition. The first line is an all Calgary Wrangler line with Goal scoring Evan R. Lawson who is currently penciled in as the top center, he leads the club with 31 VHL markers. Lawson is flanked by playmaking Oleksiy Revchenko and sniper Oyorra Arroyo. The second unit consists of a trio of VHL rookies with Ryuu Crimson of Riga in the middle and another Calgary member Karl Von Moltke and New York’s Dan Wilinsky on his flanks. This is very well balanced line with Von Moltke being a dynamic setup man, Wilinsky a shooter and Crimson a solid mix of both. The only true center mans the third line, and with a name like Las Vegas’ Connor McDavid, much will be hoped for with the young offensive pivot. He has Vegas teammate Randoms, who as his name suggests has a very random skill set, and passing dynamo John Madden alongside him. Speedster Pat Svoboda is currently the odd man out, as the 10th forward, but will undoubtedly rotate in and out with some of the other wingers.

 

This lineup has a boatload of potential and while it will be a dark horse in this tournament, in a year or two, True North could be one of the dominant forces. Expect lots of offense from this group.