Maraurders Season Review

Following the close of the regular season the Maraurders website published these statements from the GM, coach and captain.

GM Nick Mason had this to say.

'Well, obviously we are disappointed to miss out on the playoffs this season, but we are looking towards next season and already have tied key players to long contracts and armed with a greater understanding of the wage cap rules, we will be looking at moving some player on, and bringing in some fresh faces to drive the team into a much better perfomance next year.

As a franchise we are also delighted that the Mini Maraurders were able to make it to the playoff, build mainly on massive output from the forwards scoring 285 goals this season, the highest of all the farm teams this year. We will be looking to strengthen the D for the farm team in the summer in the hope of driving us closer to the top of the table.

This years performance in the playoffs will really depend on Round 1 against the Farm Team 2, with their exceptional .768 hockey in the regular season. If we progress against them, we will have the confidence that beating the best team in the league brings, and will be looking to progress deep into the playoffs.'

Coach Dan Bylsma had the following to offer.

'We failed to make the play offs this year and I think that the lack of movement of players to this team to strengthen us by a Rookie GM hurt us down the stretch. Hopefully he will learn from his mistake and get fresh faces in, and the dead wood out in the close season.'

Captain Jason Blake also commented on the season.

'Although we were above .500 hockey this season, we just couldn't keep hold of the play off position that we held when our new GM joined.
we relied to much on our games in hand and got hurt down the stretch, a few more bounces of the puck in our favour in the games against the Sharks (OT loss) Shamrocks (SO loss) and Duck a l'orange (4-3 loss) in our 4 game losing streak at the end of the season, could have put us in the hunt for that 99 point playoff spot.'

So overall a season of some disappointment, but with signs of hope just around the corner.

(can you tell I'm a Leafs fan? Means I have 4 seasons of missing the playoffs and trading away my first rounders for sweet FA! )