Congrats to the Swans!

1993 OFFSEASON

League News

After a turbocharged offseason that featured a new uniform manufacturer, new identities, a new sports network contract, two new expansion teams, and plenty more, things turned inward toward the business side of hockey and the THL.

The Torland National Men's Ice Hockey team won bronze at the Chasonne Winter Olympics against the United States in a significant game for both hockey and Torland. After the Games were over, the IOC announced a decision to include women's ice hockey for the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Glory O'Shea, currently serving as Torland vice president in the David Doubek administration, announced that a committee would be established to build a women's national team to compete in 1998 and soon rumors began to fly that there may also be a new women's professional league in the works after Monica Marcotte, a lawyer and sister of current Elite Vision exec Ben Marcotte, the grandkids of THL founder Rey Marcotte, made vague comments to the media. Monica played collegiate hockey at Robinette.

Several franchises were looking at their futures with ownership, arenas, and finances looming large. Sterling Aquino, the loquacious longtime owner of the Yubay Glaciers, was having health issues at 81 years old. His son Kevin, 53, himself a local business investor in Yubay, seemed primed to take over team operations but Sterling has been ignoring doctors' advice and continuing to work. Meanwhile in Quebel, Andrew Conti and the Crusaders were having a hard time financially despite the team's success and facing a difficult path to building a new arena in Quebel. The Alrene Athletics Arena, known as the AAA, was in serious disrepair and local recession of marine-based industry had finances in a crunch. Another arena facing needs for upgrades was the Song City Forum in Chasonne. The Olympics made it clear that the venerable old barn was barely keeping up with more modern needs and the heavy usage during the Olympics put a massive strain on the building's infrastructure. Jack Elam has been an active owner but with a team that hasn't been successful in nearly a decade, the company coffers have run low.

Two other teams with ownership questions were the Trowburgh Herons and reigning champions Vensessor Swans. The Herons owner Craig Kern, 78, was looking to retire soon. The obvious choice was his son Chris, 43, however Chris was more focused on building a nightclub in Trowburgh, which the THL brass was not too excited about. In Vensessor, Wilton Henson, original founder of the Swans from their UHA days was in poor health. Henson, turning 80 soon, had been a close friend to the league with his lawyer connections in the capitol and pundits felt the league would do everything in their power to reward the team with a viable owner with similar connections.

With mounting pressure from several groups and sources regarding their team name in light of rising Asian gang violence on Torland's west coast, the Kurohara Killers were also facing issues from multiple sectors. The arena contract in Kurohara at the Ormedra Dome expires after the 1995 season and the arena is in need of major upgrades. Owner Edward Zook, who has become increasingly antagonistic toward media and the city, hasn't done himself any favors with his actions, seeing several high profile players leave town as a result and his favor with the city tank into oblivion. There has been a call from many in the area for Zook to step down and bring in a new owner.

In Alko, the word is that Dick Valentine has made progress with the city on a new arena in East Alko with construction having started but there is still no timetable for completion, leaving the Barbarians stuck at the Brimson Center for now. The Falcons have been trying to access their viability for renovating the Yertas Arena in Yubay and while initial pushback from the city was difficult, partnering with local college Fulcher A&M has yielded good results in sponsoring a bill that would bring city funding if they will be co-tenants. Fulcher's current rink at Konruff Arena is small and they've been looking to upgrade. The Falcons would prefer their own barn but it may be the only path forward.

The 1993 Draft Lottery included the four worst finishers in the Cardinals, Heralds, Dragons and Pioneers. Cobantle was considered the mostly likely to land the #1 overall pick but it was the Portarra Pioneers who got lucky and moved from fourth to first while the Cards slid back to fourth. Waterdee scored the second pick while Chasonne will pick third.

1993 Hall of Fame Class

Three players were inducted into the Torland Hockey Hall of Fame in the Class of 1993. Included are two of the 1979 Cup-winning Rockets team in Korycki and Ossola along with star goalie Sagendorf, himself a two-gime Cup winner with the Glaciers and Electrics.



Notable Retirements

While no big-name players announced their retirements, some fan favorites decided to hang up the skates. Defenseman John Schmoldt finished an 18-year career with the Chasonne Heralds. He won a Blue Collar in 1976 and was considered a great defender and leader, having served as team captain since 1983, just the fourth captain in Chasonne's history. Another pair of coveted career guys in defenseman Josh Beckes and center Andy Fausett also completed 18-year careers with their original teams. Beckes was a lunchpail type of player for the Pioneers, while Fausett was a former #3 pick by the Neptunes where he won a pair of Marcotte Cups for Narva as part of those Kotulak-led teams in the 70s.

Legendary coach Harley Sweeney, 71, born in Kurohara, Tamokeva, decided it was time for him to retire from coaching. He served as the only head coach in the Electrics' existence, holding the role since 1972 when the Kavs became an expansion team. Sweeney logged 16 playoff appearances over 21 seasons and won the Marcotte Cup in 1985, along with four other Cup appearances.

Coaching Carousel

After the wildly successful Torland National Team at the winter Olympics, teams were keen to hire the coaches responsible in Phil Hubbard, head coach at Tamokeva State, and Jack Cotton, head coach at Robinette. It was the Pioneers who landed both coaches after the team decided to not renew the contract of interim coach Bert Wentz, while longtime assistant coach Carter Toledo decided to retire. GM Scott Hauser immediately made his pitch to keep them together and join the Pioneers who also had the #1 pick and therefore could choose any of the valuable prospects from the National Team who were draft eligible. It was an enticing offer and Hubbard and Cotton signed some of the richest coaching contracts in league history.

Meanwhile the Electrics had a vacancy with Harley Sweeney's retirement and decided to promote from within, elevating assistant coach Marlin Parr to the lead position. Parr has been the AC in Kavalos since 1973 when he retired as a player and immediately joined the bench. Owner Sandy Goetz also decided to go in a different direction in the front office, mutually parting ways with aging GM Cleo Osteen and hiring former Crusaders AC Rick Heckman. The Kavs also added newly minted Hall of Famer Tim Sagendorf to the bench to serve as the new assistant coach.


Up next: '93 Amateur Draft, Free Agency, HotM Uniforms, etc

1992 Amateur Player Draft

1 – PTP – C Toby Von Otto
Von Otto was a revelation for the Olympics squad and his considerable talent took a major leap forward to propel him to the number one pick. The centerman is strong on every level and possesses an extra gear of speed and creativity that could make him a rare player in the THL.

2 – WAT – RW Alex Pasternak
The younger son of Hall of Famer Geno Pasternak, Alex is a right winger with a killer shot. Perhaps a stronger skater than his dad or brother, Alex has immediate top line potential in the league.

3 – CHA – D Rex Ruzich
The Heralds are in desperate need of blue line talent and Ruzich played well in the Olympics even as a junior. He has a high ceiling and is fundamentally sound.

4 – COB – G Harry Hokkanen
Another big riser from the Olympics, Hokkanen pushed to become a regular starter as a junior over future #5 pick Jeff Seybolt. Hokkanen gives the Cardinals an instant cornerstone in the net.

5 – PRE – RW Arvid Tkachenko
The Ukrainian-born winger and former Russian Juniors player Tkachenko is a speedy winger with a sniper style of play. He needs to get stronger physically but he figures to be a consistent Top-6 winger with high goal scoring potential.

6 – TRO – D Allan Adamsen
Adamsen helped the Torland National team on the blue line with his strong defense and excellent shot choices. He's not flashy but definitely the type of well-rounded defenseman that every team craves and he should be a top pair in Trowburgh.

7 – KUR – LW Danny York
York showed a sneaky ability to fly down the wings and make plays even without the puck, with strong forechecking and special teams ability. His versatility and promising shot made the Killers use their pick on him where he projects as a top-six forward.

8 – ABR – C Eric Dupree
While other players got the big attention, it was Dupree who was a dependable two-way centerman with crisp passing and decision-making ability. He projects best as a middle unit center but as a distributor there's no reason he can't run one of the top-two lines in Abrieden in the future.

9 – KAV – C Zeke Johansen
The Kavs wanted to get stronger down the middle and did so with Johansen, a beefy bully in the dot and promising skills in passing. His future is a middle-six distributor with strong defense.

10 – PA – LW Sammy LaCerda
The speedy LaCerda has a wicked wrister, and has shown an affinity to being able to create on his own. His defense needs work but the Anchors are intrigued by his offensive upside.

11 – NAR – C Damion Fortt
The Neptunes keep their #11 pick from last season's trade, as the Bucks chose to defer until a future season, and pick Fortt who is rising center prospect with a multitude of skills

12 – FTB – D Jimmie Schwartz
The Rockets ran their card up to the podium to take Schwartz, a late-blooming defender with an arsenal of offensive potential if he can be fully developed.

13 – ALK – LW Cleveland Rizzo
The knock against Rizzo is that he's not strong enough but otherwise he can score from anywhere and his hockey IQ is off the charts, something on which the Wizards were willing to bet.

14 – YUB – G Nate Pflanz
Pflanz is an underalded goalie prospect but a couple wow-moments in a junior championship shutout put him on the radar and led the Falcons to bring him in with the hope of development.

15 – KIR – C Harrison Peltier
Peltier is a solid defensive center with limited offensive upside but is excellent at faceoffs.

16 – YBG – RW Kevin Proce
The Glaciers were looking for a do-it-all winger to improve their forecheck and special teams and Proce has all the tools to be a solid middle-six player.

17 – VEN – RW Irwin Picard
He's limited in his skating ability but his shot is undeniable, something the Swans were willing to take a gamble on with Picard.

18 – QUE – G Ben Dupont
Dupont is an undersized prospect but he's shown remarkable vision and has a fantastic work ethic.

19 – POR – RW Zane Werline
The Whales have a barren pipeline and Werline is their highest rated remaining prospect, with some work to do in sharpening his skating conditioning.

20 – DC – RW Donovan Morrissey
The Snappers like Morrissey's shot-making from the wing, possessing a powerful long shot despite limited skills elsewhere.

21 – AKB – G Frank Herrig
Herrig has the size and athletisim of a top goalie prospect but he's young to the position and has had knee injuries but the Barbs like his upside.

22 – SIN – RW Chris Galloway
A big-bodied power forward, Galloway is a raw product but with the right development could be a solid middle-six winger.

23 – BAN – CW Dane Couch
The Kings need bodies in the pipeline and Couch shows an ability to be adaptable to any position.

24 – KRK – F Aidan MacDermond
Versatility is the name of MacDermond's game, something the Captains need in their prospect pool.



Free Agency, Trades & Signings

The Pioneers signed former Bucks forward Ismo Takala to a 5-year deal along with a 3-year deal with former Rockets defenseman Gregory Pollard.

Ric Rundstrom decided to return to Abrieden on a 3-year deal. Star 33-year-old defenseman Jan Mikulec signed a 3-year deal with the Serpents. Longtime Rockets winger Fletcher Phelan signed a 3-year deal with the Barbarians. Former Blazers forward Eddie Rockwell, 32, signed a 3-year deal with the Whales. The speedy Rockwell gives Bill Bronkowski a nice change of pace on the wing on the top line.

The Glaciers made a big splash by signing former Electrics winger Leo Stendahl to a 3-year deal. Former Anchors winger JoJo Gorka signed a 4-year deal with the Neptunes.

Team Identity Changes

No teams made any changes with every team having changed over to the new Prime template by EliteVision the year before. However, the 1993 Hockey on the Mount matchup was announced as the Heralds and Captains will square off at the Icebox in special winter uniforms.



The Heralds harken back to their original uniforms with the jersey numbers while using a scaled down version of their new logo and focusing on their secondary gold color paired with navy pants. It will be a color vs color matchup with Kirkenport using their light blue. The Captains will feature their original logo with everything trimmed in midnight, including the pants. Some are concerned with the lack of contrast between the two uniform colors, especially in outdoor lighting which historically has been poor at the Icebox, especially on television. It remains to be seen how it will go on the Mount.

Up next: 1993 THL Season