ItDoesntMatter wrote:

ItDoesntMatter wrote:

narva sneaking into the playoffs purely on the back of their weaksauce division will be really funny when they use it to make a run to the cup

sorry did I say this last year? I meant to say it this year. in my defense numbers can be confusing

told y'all #ridethewave

1994 MARCOTTE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
2 Narva Neptunes vs 4 Abrieden Bucks

The 1994 matchup for the 35th Marcotte Cup featured two teams who couldn't be more different from each other. It seems eerily similar to Abrieden's '82 run which featured a young goaltender carrying his team to the finals, only to meet a stacked team with high expectations.

The Abrieden Bucks enter as the major underdog after a resurgent season and a pair of upsets in the playoffs. The big storyline is the sensational play of rookie goaltender Billy Monday, who took home Best Goalie after a stunning season in the crease. Monday and Jarkko Bergstrom are back to splitting time which helps limit Monday's minutes for a 1-2 punch. Not to be outdone on defense, the much improved play from Byron Schwartz has ignited the roster and helped carry the offense. Schwartz and Gale Muncy form a tough top pair and the defense has solid if not spectacular depth with Johnie Shipley and Jonathon Mras among others. The offense has been a work in progress but has found its stride late in the season and through the playoffs, led by two Swedes in Ric Rundstrom and Joel Eklund. The Bucks moved young Russian forward Josef Tyoma to the wing to allow Eklund to play the pivot and it yielded dividends. The depth can be spotty but a second line of center Eric Dupree flanked by Neal Osborne and Alden Varney and proven to be effective. 3rd line center Alec Gage is a name to keep an eye on. The Bucks are coached by Darren Jefferson who came in from the college ranks in his first gig as a professional. The veteran Trent Everett assists on the bench and has championship experience from his days in Kirkenport.

The Narva Neptunes have a completely different script as a heavily-favored team all season after the splash signing of coveted free agent Bill Bronkowski. The lofty expectations didn't seem to phase them as the Neptunes found their chemistry and a blueprint for winning, landing the #2 seed and a division title. Bronko's former Polish Juniors linemate JoJo Gorka and young power forward Kevin Kozlosky create a formidable top line but Narva also has enviable depth, especially down the middle. Center Alex Kirkland is a former Finals MVP and the bottom six pivots in Mike Mott and Damion Fortt are quite strong. The blue line doesn't feature a true star but is very deep with August Goulet and Johnny Kapua up top with strong support in Romeo Porter and Dick McManus. In the net, Elvis Pepper is the workhorse veteran with longtime journeyman Collin Hawks backing him up. Narva is coached by the legendary Byron Peachey who brings multitudes of experience to the bench. Assisting him is Tom Dobbins.



Game 1: ABR 1 @ NAR 2 (OT) – The opening act of the finals in the Crown City Center was as advertised as both squads looked prepared and focused. Alex Kirkland opened the scoring for Narva and the Bucks answered back with a Rundstrom tally but it was tightly-fought and both Pepper and Monday were on a high level. A backbreaking penalty on Abrieden in OT brought in the power play unit and Bronko bashed home a greasy goal to win it.

Game 2: ABR 0 @ NAR 1 – In another closely-contested affair, both goalies again were standing on their heads in a scoreless game deep into the third period. A gorgeous save by Elvis Pepper on a surefire one-timer from Joel Eklund turned into a 3-1 chance the other way which became a goal by JoJo Gorka to blow the shutout for Monday and earn a victory for Narva and a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: NAR 0 @ ABR 1 (OT) – Back in Abrieden at Clarenrane Arena the Bucks steeled themselves behind a brilliant shutout from Billy Monday as Byron Schwartz launched a missile from point in OT to bank home a win and get back into the series.

Game 4: NAR 3 @ ABR 0 – Narva responded in kind and saw a pair of goals from Bronkowski hold up a great game from Pepper as the Bucks were stifled and couldn't find much offense. An empty-netter from Mike Mott sealed it.

Game 5: ABR 3 @ NAR 7 – With elimination on the line and the Bucks having a penchant for making comebacks, the Neptunes were determined not to allow that to happen. Narva opened the scoring with back-to-back goals early in the first period from Kirkland and Bronko. A third from Motte put the Bucks in jeopardy but Josef Tyoma found a home for a long snipe to break the goose egg. The Bucks briefly tied it in the second on goals from Eklund and Alec Gage but it was all Narva after that as Bronko posted a hat trick and the tide couldn't be stopped. Bill Bronkowski was awarded Finals MVP as the Narva Neptunes won their third Marcotte Cup and first since 1978.

1994 Marcotte Cup Champions: Narva Neptunes (3)

Congrats to Narva and good on Abriden for making a run to the finals

1995 Amateur Player Draft

The '95 draft class featured a pair of prized centers in Bobby Turk, son of former Herons hall of famer Mozzy Turk, and Belarusian national Yan Pakovich. In a distinct second tier, the draft featured Lecayne defenseman Rex Bergstrom, Swedish winger Leif Karlsson, and a unique centerman hailing from Greece in Ravi Zartarian.



1 – PRE – C Bobby Turk
The son of the Hall of Famer is a no-brainer, especially with Bobby looking like an even better skater and potential scorer than his father. Turk is an easy choice to build around and the Blazers finally get some draft luck to begin building in earnest. Turk's well-developed all-around game will translate well to the big leagues and he's known to have an extra gear during big games.

2 – COB – C Yan Pakovich (Belarus)
The Belarusian center is extremely fast, has quick hands, and great vision. Known as “The Blur”, Pakovich brings instant panache to the Cardinals with his lightning-fast style and big personality. Pakovich and last year's top choice Ollie Rubidoux will bring a solid 1-2 punch down the middle.

3 – KUR – D Rex Bergstrom
The Killers elected to choose Bergstrom, a well-developed defenseman who can quarterback the power play and has solid defensive chops. With nobody of note on their blue line, Bergstrom is a player Kurohara can build around. Bergstrom is also known to be a capable leader and mature individual.

4 – KAV – C Ravi Zartarian (Greece)
The Greek centerman is an intriguing prospect who blossomed late after moving into European junior leagues. The Kavs drafted their top winger in Louis Lindstrom last season and find Zartarian as a potential Top-6 center for another piece in their huge rebuild.

5 – TRO – C Claud Lacaria
The Herons decided to swing big on potential in selecting Lacaria, a centerman from San Antoza. He's not the most developed but he possesses rare scoring potential and Trowburgh needs a major influx in scoring. Lecaria has Top-6 talent if he can get to the next level.

6 – CHA – RW Leif Karlsson (Sweden)
The Swede is a big-bodied winger with big mitts, still finding his power game to fit his body, but has talent as a future scoring option.

7 – WAT – RW Wally Gallmeier
A do-it-all winger with ability to play anywhere in the lineup, Gallmeier could be a valuable Swiss Army knife for the Dragons.

8 – FTB – RW Dusty Clews
A throwback thumper with wheels, Clews is a physical presence who isn't afraid to mix it up with anyone.

9 – POR – RW Jeff Alstrom
A bulldog of a winger, short and squat but a very powerful skater with major potential if his mitts can make the leap to the pros.

10 – PA – RW Brent MacRedmond
An interesting prospect, MacRedmond can be very streaky but when he's on he's one of the best young scorers.

11 – ALK – C Tanner Bauza
12 – VEN – C Rafael Jariwala
13 – KIR – C Pierre Alain
14 – BAN – G Ben Fitchette
15 – DC – LW Pat Heidlebaugh
16 – SIN – LW Matt Verry
17 – YBG – C Lucien DeSlatte
18 – KRK – C Jarvis Cadieux
19 – KAV (via YUB) – D Nolan McKaughan
20 – QUE – LW Adam Cabello
21 – ABR – LW Mikel Santovenia
22 – AKB – C Jared Vranek
23 – NAR – LW Jacob Markins
24 – KAV (via PTP) – D Bernie Esber


Free Agency, Trades & Signings

The biggest free agent was goaltender Manu Harmaajarvi, considered already to be among the best of all-time at his position. His 12 years in Bancana had been very fruitful but with the Kings in full rebuild, the Finnish goalie decided to test free agency and find a new home. Despite dozens of suitors, it was fellow Finnish goalie Juha Laukkanen and the pitch of GM Sid Myrick who convinced him to go to Prestonburg and be part of a new revitalization. With the Blazers landing a huge prize, especially after losing so many prized players in recent years, it gives them new credibility and a brilliant tandem in net. They also signed defenseman Fletcher Armenta from Fort Bevin.



Former Kings defender Lemuel Schmitz, 28, signed a 5-year deal with the Dragons to headline a revamped blue line as Waterdee begins to emerge from their expansion roster. Meanwhile the Cardinals signed a pair of defensemen in Jesse Powell and Stephen Lacy.

In a shocking blockbuster trade, the Anchors sent a massive package of assets to Kirlow for the rights to the Romanov brothers, who each had 1 year remaining on their deals. They preferred to stay together and one of the few teams with enough capital to pull it off was Port Alrene, who were looking to continue to contend as opposed to rebuilding. The Anchors sent forwards George Maffitt, Mark Delre, David Drace, and defenseman Donovan Glass, and a 1996 1st-round pick to the Kodiaks for Rafi Romanov and Sami Romanov.



The Glaciers made a splash into free agency and signed goalie “Large” Arlie Lozano, longtime Whales defenseman Herb Hass, and brought back former Glacier Jarrett Falk after seven years in Vensessor.

Hockey on the Mount

The '95 matchup for Hockey on the Mount at the Icebox in Lobure, Lismane will feature a pair of '65 expansion teams in the Kirlow Kodiaks and Narva Neptunes that are forever tied together, as the Neptunes were the original Kodiaks before moving to Lecayne and eventually Narva. To muddy the historical waters a bit, the new Kirlow sweater features modified elements of their original look from the first iteration of the Kodiaks, pairing brown, blue, and cream with the K-paw logo. The Neptunes bring back a version of their original "cornflower blue" from their first days in Narva with a diagonal chest logo and simplified striping.



Team Identity Changes 

Two teams made tweaks to their EliteVision duds with the Kings and Blazers rolling out modifications.


Previous Set: 1992 Bancana Kings

Due to fan clamoring, the Bancana Kings rectified their "mummy" look by straightening out their striping pattern for a bolder look.


Previous Set: 1992 Prestonburg Blazers

Meanwhile the Blazers decided to adjust their look by dropping silver and the futuristic looking numbers in favor of a cleaner color palette and bold serifed numbers to match the logo. The home jersey number is now filled with white instead of orange. They also chose an arched NOB which is a unique feature in the THL. The striping remains the same.


And that wraps the '95 offseason. Tell me what you think!