Start of '09-'10 CCHL Season

(AP) Denver, CO Much has transpired with the Denver CCHL franchise since the last article. After collapsing in the semis last season vs. the Havana Moon after being up 3-1, Spurs' management was displeased to say the least.
GM Poelker said, "What a deplorable way to defend the CC Cup. While I realize the Havana Moon are an excellent club, to fold like that after being up 3 games to 1 was embarrassing. Our congrats go out to Havana, the President's Cup winning Dayton franchise and, of course, to JimLeopardi and his Quebec Remparts on winning the CCHL Cup last season. Congrats to all the playoff clubs of the CCHL last season and all the other outstanding franchises that make up the CCHL for an excellent '08-'09 season."
Well, as things turned out the GM and ownership were more disgusted than most realized. Because during this past off season, Marian Hossa, who had been dubbed the franchise more than once by Poelker, was dispatched to River Cities along with backup netminder Kevin Weekes for a collection of players.
Leading the group was rookie blueliner Matt Hunwick who won a starting position on the 2nd line defense pairing this past training camp.
Also making the club this year from this trade is goaltender Pekka Rinne who will backing up Marty Brodeur to start the season. With Marty getting a bit long in the tooth, the plan is to have him get a lot more games off this season.
There were three other players obtained in the deal, all prospects, those being Joe Colborne centerman, who is currently playing for the University of Denver Pioneers, rearguard Bobby Sanguinetti with the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL and winger Mike Hoeffel of the University of Minnesota.
In a surprising move Captain Joe Sakic was offered a 2yr deal worth $1.6mil which the free agent quickly accepted. In accepting the offer, Joe said, "It'll be great to be back with some of the guys I won the CCHL Cup with in Denver. This will probably be my last contract and I'll be more than happy to retire as a Denver Spur".
Management certainly hopes that some of Super Joe's 'magic' can rub off on his teammates and the prospects in the organization.
Free agent Left winger Ryan Smyth was resigned to a 2yr deal worth $7.7mil and will man the 1st line LW position with Sakic at the center pivot to start the season. In a startling move, it has been decided to have Milan Lucic man the 1st line RW position after being utilized sparingly in his rookie campaign last season.
In preseason they seemed to click fairly well, it'll be interesting to see what the regular season brings.
To fill some holes at winger and to provide depth at the position, vets Brendan Shanahan, Jamie Lundmark and Landon Wilson were picked up in the waiver draft this year. So it appears that two old warhorses, Sakic & Shanny, might be retiring in Denver Spurs' uniforms. Not bad for a franchise relocated from the wilds of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Only 250 miles (400 km) south of the Arctic Circle.

Dasher Notes:
Other players leaving the club from last season either through contract expiration, cuts or trades were Hlinka (F), MacDonald (F), Malik (D), Paetsch (D), Parrish (F), Peca (F), Richardson (F), Skrastins (D), Stillman (F) and Tkachuk (F).
Other additions either via free agency or from within the system have been Ebbett (F), Giordano (D), Salo (D), Visnovsky (D) and Yelle (F).
Quite a turnover and what came in, sorry guys, doesn't replace what went out.
I'm afraid it'll be a long year for the Spurs. While the playoffs are possible in the new look CCHL (no conferences or divisions), going far probably isn't going to happen.

Until next time this is...









Peter Puckhead signing off...