Victory are Victorious

The Chatham Victory have won the 606hl King's Cup for the first time in franchise history defeating the favoured Boston Shamrocks 5-0 in a devastating game 7.

Grand Supremo Buff took over the middle of the road Sunderland Av's towards the end of season 1 and immediately relocated them to his birth town of Chatham naming them after the greatest product to come from the the town's Royal Dockyard, Nelson's HMS Victory. The farm were moved to Hampshire under the auspices of his uncle to another Royal Naval dockyard, Portsmouth, to become the Pirates. Buff set ambitious yet realistic plans to qualify for the play-offs in 3 seasons and win the cup in 5. Buff felt that whilst the pro roster he inherited was not bad it was never going to be a contender. The less said about the farm the better.

As such a rebuild began. The play-offs were eventually achieved a year late, in season 5, due to playing in the toughest division in the league - season 4 had yield over 100 points and no playoff berth- through adding key pieces each season. Daniel Sedin, Jonathan Toews, Dennis Wideman, Andy Greene and Jose Theodore were all added in succession in those intervening seasons and the appointment of Dan Byslama as Head Coach was crucial. After qualifying for the play-offs Buff did not rest on his laurels. It was clear more goals and a more disciplined approach were needed. Brett Connolly was given a shot and Jackub Voracek and Scott Glennie were added to that end before Eric Staal was bought on board in mid-season providing the final piece to the puzzle.

Inaugural Prego Division and Nandos Conference championships followed before climaxing in a thrilling run to the Cup.

Next season the good work must continue. The forwards are in great shape with secondary scoring from Vermette, Glennie and rookie and Buff's first ever pick second rounder Brett Connolly complimenting the big four of Voracek, Toews, Sedin and Staal. The Kostitsyn brothers' could be the odd ones out making them potential trade bait as Moulson, Fosberg and Huberdeau wait in the wings. On defence the top three of Wideman, Greene and Suter look formidable whilst youngsters Pitlick and Crashley look set to make the move up to the pros. Pysk's development could leave Stuart looking for a new home. Theodore and Harding look set to continue the tandem in net.