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