S66 Saskatoon Wild

[Peace 1,562]

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN -- GM Peace has announced his teams roster for the upcoming VHLM season, and oh boy is it a competitive roster, but there are certainly holes that need to be filled further down the season either through trade or free agent signings. Peace elected to trade the majority of his S66 draft stock in a failed attempt to get the Saskatoon Wild into the playoffs - the first time they've missed under his control - so the Wild don't have any draft assets to use as ammunition in a trade. Thus it's more likely Peace dips into his pristine arsenal of S67 picks to make a trade happen, or pursues free agents to the best of his ability. 

FORWARDS 

Nethila Dissanayake @nethi99

 

Like Jagr last season, Dissanayake will be the Wild's best player this season, and he's already had a respectable start to his VHLM career on the strength of Saskatoon's top unit last season. The right winger elected to stay down in the VHLM this season to assist the Saskatoon Wild and it has significantly bolstered their offensive capabilities, in fact Dissanayake was named Captain of the roster and replacing Nazarians who's unfortunately taken a step back during the struggles of Saskatoon's previous season. Dissanayake registered a point per game, notching 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points in 72 games. What gives Dissanayake Captaincy is his willingness to play where ever he is needed, from top line minutes to third line energy shifts for the club, on top of his incredible locker room presence.

Dissanayake is anticipated to start the season on the top line, and will likely remain there the entire season. 

Brian Strong @Wheaties

Strong originally started his VHLM career in Saskatoon, but was stripped from the club during the expansion draft, and brought back less than half a season later in a trade that everyone hoped would propel Saskatoon into a playoff position. Strong rejoins the Wild for his third VHLM season - and although the stats are error'd at the moment - he did briefly play during season sixty four. Last season the steadily improving right winger recorded an even goals to assists ratio with thirty two each for sixty four points in a seventy two game campaign. Since Dissanayake was used as a left winger last season for the majority, Strong will slot into the Wild's lineup as the teams top right winger. 

As such, Strong is confirmed to start the season on the top line, and will likely remain there the entire season. 

John Perdue @johnnyhockey42

John Perdue is another member of Saskatoon's steadily improving depth, and although he hasn't been seen in Saskatoon since the off-season began, he's still checked in from time to time in the teams locker room. Perdue's offensive skills and defensive reliability make him a significant asset for the Saskatoon Wild, and GM Peace utilised that last season as Perdue was on both the second units for nearly every penalty kill. Perdue finished last season with a respectable fifty one points, earning twenty two goals and twenty nine points mainly from the third offensive line. This season he'll be on the second line centered by Nazarians, so his offense should pick up. 

As such, Perdue will be the teams second line left winger, but there's always room for shuffling and may make an appearance on the top line if things get stale. 

Raphael Nazarians @LIL V O D AK

Nazarians was explosive early into S65 - in fact him and Jagr lead the lead in points up until twenty games or so - but Saskatoon's luck slip away from them and their holes became exactly that - holes, very big and bumpy holes that derailed the entire Saskatoon train. They never recovered and Nazarians grew distant from the team as the struggles continued, and hasn't been seen in community events since the late portion of Saskatoon's miserable season. Despite that, he still showed up for games, and in seventy two skates he recorded twenty two goals and forty three assists for sixty five points. 

With Nygren on the roster, Nazarians will slot in as the teams second line as confirmed by GM Peace. 

Lucas Nygren @Advantage

Nygren is a highly anticipated addition to the Saskatoon Wild, especially by GM Peace, who was absolutely thrilled when he fell to him in the draft. Despite a pointless campaign with Minnesota (who won the championship) he's already slotted in as the teams top centre. The Advantage agency has been known to endorse quality and effective players, and the decision to have trust and faith in the young prospect is a display of respect and anticipation by the Saskatoon Wild. 

With that being said, Nygren is the teams top centre. 

Tormund Giantsbane @Jonessee27

When Saskatoon selected Giantsbane forty seventh overall there was no one else in mind. Peace saw a player he knew he wanted and didn't hesitate to make the selection, and since then reports have surfaced that Giantsbane was singing music to Peace's ears. The prospect has been in smooth development since joining the league and is anticipated to be a key element to the Saskatoon roster for a few seasons, which makes him both a depth asset and a dangerous prospect for other VHLM teams. 

Giantsbane is anticipated to start the season on the third line, but given the rate of development he can be promoted to the second line over a complacent LaGarza. 

Hayden Clarkson @Kootscoot

Perhaps a late round steal, Kayden Clarkson joins the Saskatoon Wild from the dispersal draft, but he's shown an eagerness and will to learn and that's impressive for such a late round pick. GM Peace may have struck a gem in Clarkson, who can be projected as a smooth developing prospect for a few seasons in the VHLM. What makes Clarkson an asset to Saskatoon is - given he continues to develop - he'll be an asset in future seasons for sure. 

Clarkson will start the season on the teams third line. 

DEFENSE 

Rusty Shackleford @K1NG LINUS

Despite announcing he'd be down for another season, Shackleford fell to fourth overall and was immediately gobbled up by the same club he competed with in the season prior. Shackleford was immediately given an A behind Dissanayake's C, and the reasons are very similar. Shackleford is all about winning with Saskatoon, and what ever it takes, he'll do everything within his power to make it happen. Rusty wasn't rusty last season as the defender potted fifty points from the blue line, recording fifteen goals and thirty five assists on a team that struggled offensively down the stretch. 

Shackleford is Saskatoon's top defender, and will be that defender for the entire season. 

Anthony Amberback @Oost

Within the walls of the Saskatoon Wild's home rink, Amberback has been seen working harder to achieve greater levels of competitiveness. While we'll never know what happens behind closed curtains, it can be certain that Amberback takes his role as a member of the teams top two pairing once again. Last season he was overtaken by Apollo Hackett but a renewed or rekindled fire will see him stay one of the teams go-to guys on the back end. Amberback also had a decent season, scoring twelve goals and acquiring helpers on twenty five others. 

Amberback is Saskatoon's second best defender, and will be on the top defensive unit when the season starts. 

Goaltenders 

Juan Juandice @Jus

Juandice returns to Saskatoon after getting 'lit the fuck up' last season, and from what we can tell he's still happy to be a member of the Saskatoon Wild. The team drafted him back to the club after starting last season without a starting goaltender. Fortunately, this time around, Saskatoon has a team around Juandice and he won't be Juandance anymore as he flops around the ice trying to make a save after getting peppered with ninety shots in the first seven minutes of a hockey game. Juandice had a respectable season in a competitive VHLM, earning a record of 34-33-1, and the team would have been far worse without him. 




With that being said, here are the anticipated lineups of the Saskatoon Wild. 

Dissanayake - Nygren - Strong
Perdue - Nazarians - LaGarza
Giantsbane - Baier - Clarkson

Shackeford - Amberback
Champ - Kachur

Juandice

1300+ words. Claiming for this and next week. 

[nethi99 39]

This team will win the cup I just know it!

[Jus 35]

Worst goalie in the league last season, still positive win to loss ratio. Hang that on the fridge, mom! Haha this season should fair much better.

[K1NG LINUS 145]

1 hour ago, Jus said:

Worst goalie in the league last season, still positive win to loss ratio. Hang that on the fridge, mom! Haha this season should fair much better.

Worst to first in 1 season. Calling it now.

[Jus 35]

1 hour ago, K1NG LINUS said:

Worst to first in 1 season. Calling it now.

Your confidence in me astounds me haha. I'm gunning for second to worst and everything after is a bonus!

[Peace 1,562]

Claiming for the week ending on the 12th.