OffSides (The Official Magazine of the WHL) ------------------------------------------ Volume 3, Number 15 The Playoffs Edition Contents: 1- Playoffs Summary 2- WHL3 Team MVPs 4- Playoffs Rookie Report 5- PLATINUM 3 Stars Cup Leaders 6- 1st/2nd/3rd Stars Leaders 7- Hat Tricks Leaders 8- 5+ Shots Games Leaders 9- 10+ Shots Games Leaders 10- Roster Moves Report 11- WHL4 Rules Change Report 1- PLAYOFFS SUMMARY - Written by Larry Berteotti Round One ------------------- CORINTHIAN VS. WOLVES This series went much as people thought it would, with the Corinthians winning the series. I don't know if many thought they would be as over powering as they were. They managed to take out the Wolves in four straight and with little fanfare. The Wolves showed a dreadful inability to stop the powerplay, which was led by Mats Sundin who have 3 of the the Corinthians 5 pp markers. While being one of the 1st round playoff leader in first round the Corinthians were also the 3rd best penalty killers at 90.1%. That has a lot to do with the play of Blaine Lacher who had a 2.25 GAA and a .922 save pct. The Wolves scored a paltry 9 goals in the 4 game series not enough to beat a powerful Kingston team. GRUNTS vs. MONARCHS This series turned into a lopsided one very quickly. The Grunts had a tremendous season. Just when everyone was predicting the beginning the down swing of the Grunts as a team, they came on strong this season. That didn't change as they steamrolled the Monarchs in 4 games. It is all the more incredible when you figure out that this team has mediocre specialty teams, which were in the middle of the playoff pack, and lower rated then the Monarchs. The Grunts are obviously 5 on 5 specialist, with their scoring well dispersed. This quick series win can be credited almost solely to the excellent play of Grunt goalie and star, Chris Osgood. MALLRATS vs.STALLIONS What is it with the Mallrats team and the playoffs. This was a team who barely scraped into the playoffs just beating out the Steelcats by one win. Then come playoff time the turn into an unrecognizable beast of a team. The Mallrats had an average power play in the first round with a pretty solid penalty killing unit. Most of the damage done was by Robert Svehla and Mario Lemieux. Peter Ing was solid but not spectacular. All in all this was a surprise upset. It wasn't the last upset of the playoffs but it was definitely the first in round one as the Stallions were favourites to advance to the conference final if not the Cup final. The Stallions were too small and too mild to handle the rough going of the Mallrats. Who pushed the stallions around on the ice. Definitely look for the Stallions to try and bulk up and avoid a playoff disaster in the upcoming season. LUNATIC vs. SPARROWS This was the series with no possibility of being an upset as this was a too close to call series. Unfortunately for the Sparrows the Lunatics kicked it into high gear and eliminated them in 4 straight. The Lunatics are a solid team top to bottom, no weaknesses at all. The only reason why they weren't picked as a favourite was because of there late season collapse last season and subsequent dismal in the playoffs. This was a defensive battle of which there hasn't been one in the WHL of this scale. The Lunatics only let in 5 goals in the four games. They limited Pierre Turgeon which is really the only legitimate threat that the Sparrows have. The Sparrows were no slouches though allowing only 11 goals in the 4 games. The Loons had the best penalty killing in the first round at 95% which is what is necessary to stop Pierre Turgeon the leagues best powerplay sharp shooter. Thibault with his 1.25 GAA and .954 save pct was the Lunatics series MVP in my estimation. STRANGERS vs. CHIEFS And in the "you just got to believe", section is the Strangers. This is a team with no weaknesses and star power at every position. They had mentioned to this reporter many times that they were at least as good as the Voodoo and would be there to challenge them in the conference final. The Strangers can play the game both ways. But offensive is what they do best. The scored an amazing 21 goals in four games. 7 goals per game. They had the best power play and the second best penalty killing in the first round. In net Ed Belfour was more then adequate posting a 2.25 GAA good for second, and a .928 save pct. Offensively the team was led by Ron Francis with 12 points in the four game series. QUAKERS vs. FREEZE Doesn't it seem every year the Freeze are an afterthought in the WHL. This is a team who year after year does well. They weren't picked in this playoff to do well either and are given little respect as one of the elite WHL franchises. That being said, it was an up and down year for the Quakers with many fairly big trades going down. Alfredsson and Bertuzzi to name a couple. The Quakers just have that intimidating defence like some teams. And Vaclav Prospal exposed it for what it realy was and that is weak. The Quakers were dreadful on the penalty killing were they were a meagre 66.7 pct. With puck movers like Phil Housley and Gary Suter the Freeze went on to thrash the Quakers soundly. DOMINATORS vs. VENOM This was an intriguing series. This was our first chance to see the newly constructed Dominators in a playoff series. After losing Modano, McCabe and Konstantinov this was a much different team then the Champs of the year past. The Doms were old, slow, and didn't have the grit to win it all this season. But boy oh boy next season Thronton and Mara will be real contributors. The Venom like the Freeze are one of the WHL best kept secret. It seems every one in the Voodooos division is underrated and forgotten though. The Venom have and average power play and average penalty killing as well. This is a team who lives and breathes off of Stevie Y, and he didn't disappoint. He lead the Venom to the first round elimination of the Dominators. Though the length of the series took its toll on the Venom in upcoming rounds. VOODOO vs. ROSES Was there any series less thought of than this. I remember a lot of 4 straight predictions being bandied about. But then again who in there right minds would have thought it possible that the WHL titans, the Voodoo could fall to a mediocre Roses team who didn't even make the playoffs by very many points. But this was a Roses team that had pick up there game in the second half. And they had a plan going into the series and that planned played out just like they though. The Roses have neither a strong power play or penalty killing, what they do have is a good goalie in Mike Dunham and overall team toughness. They bounced the small Voodoo forwards around the ice like they were beach balls. And in the end the four game sweep by the Voodoo turned into a 6 game upset by the Roses. Who were lead by underrated Stu Barnes, Nelson Emerson, Steve Washburn and Owen Nolan. This took a team effort to win. This also opened up the Cyber Cup to any number of teams. Round Two ------------------- GRUNTS VS. MALLRATS The Grunts continued in the first round domination of there opponents. This time the with the specialty teams and not without. The were second in PP with 26.9 and a 92% pk. Chris Osgood maybe the most underrated goalie in the league maintained his 2.25 GAA and a 918 save pct. The Grunts don't have any over power offensive forwards, which is a testament to there balanced attack. But Mathieu Schneider did generate some offense from the point. The Mallrats however had the worst power play at a mere 8% and the second worst penalty killing at 73.1. You must be able to maintain your specialty teams from one round to the next. In the playoffs specialty team are often the difference, and so it proved to be here, where the Mallrats were eliminated in 5. Things could get even worse for them with the talk of possible retirement by Mario. CORINTHIANS vs. LUNATICS After defeating Mike Hebert's Sparrows the Lunatics went on to beat his brother Marc the owner operator of the Corinthians. But this was not the four game series of the first round. The Corinthians are a league powerhouse, and would not go quietly into the night. But again the strong goaltending of Jocelyn Thibault combined with the Corinthians inability to score on the powerplay and stop the Loons on the penalty killing sealed there fate. Koivu and Sundin were not enough to save them from the raging Lunatics. VENOM vs. STRANGERS In retrospect it was likely to much to ask of the Venom to beat the Strangers. The Strangers have three solid scoring lines and not one of them is defensively liable either. They are just a strong team. The Strangers again lead in power play in the second round 34.6 pct. And though they weren't the best penalty killer in the second round it didn't cost them. They gave up the most shorthanded situations but Ed Belfour was equal to the task. with his .912 save pct. This second series also saw Theo Fleury step up his play to the next level. ROSES vs. FREEZE Does the underdog roll suit the Roses or what. After dismissing the Voodoo in 6 games they drew the Freeze. They fell behind early in the series but rallied the team in time to pull off a 7 game winner. This was not a team however who should have been favoured. They have awful penalty killing to go along with a below average powerplay. It was team toughness that brought them as far as they got. That and Mike Dunham, who is easily the teams MVP. The Freeze like the Voodoo before them are a team of offensive players with little physical fortitude. The Roses knocked them around and in the end Prospal, Wesenberg et al, fold like a house of card. Conference Finals ------------------- GRUNTS vs. LUNATIC Really this was a battle of mirror image teams. Both have three solid lines and both have incredible goaltending. The Loons do have a bit better skilled players and the Grunts team toughness is not indispute. The Grunts lack of specialty teams hurt them in this series, you simply don't advance to the finals in the WHL without them. Grunts finished last in powerplay with a paltry 9.1 pct. and only two pp goals. They finished second last in penalty killing 77.8 pct. The Lunatic on the other hand had the second best power play and the best penalty killing. Chris Chelios let it be known that his season long slump was an aberration and that come playoff time he would still be there when it counts. Jocelyn Thibault also acquitted himself quite well, he led in all important statistical goaltending category. ROSES vs. STRANGERS The Roses 9 lives ran out. And pretty much in one game. The ride was awesome while it lasted but the Strangers were not suceptible to the physical pushing around that the Roses doled out in the past. Messier and Fleury thrive on the stuff. So the Roses were swept away in 4 straight happy with themselves in the that they beat the Voodoo. Without that the league Champion wouldn't have been the same as there wasn't a team in the league who could have taken the Voodoo out and changed destiny besides the Roses. Mike Dunham faltered in this series allowing a league record of 22 goals in one game. Ron Francis, Theo Fleury, Pavel Bure, Benoit Hogue and Mark Messier all hit their stride and did serious damage. The Roses Owen Nolan and Nelson Emerson just sat and watch their team self destruct. Finals ------------------- LUNATICS vs. STRANGERS The season had come down to this. Two teams who were not favoured to go to the finals, and yet here they were poised to take their place in WHL history. The winner forever remember and the loser forgotten. The Lunatics held up in the specialty teams department finishing ahead of the strangers in both powerplay and penalty killing. But the Lunatics couldn't hold back the wave after wave of offensive the strangers threw at them. Joining the ranks of Strangers in the scoring leaders was Chris Pronger and Larry Murphy. That was the difference in this series. Both are solid but the Strangers ability to generate offence from the point is what help them to there victory. All is not well however with the strangers roster being riff with old players they could lose three impact players in the retirement draft. The Lunatics look good to return to the Championship next season while in this reporters opinion the Strangers do not. 2- WHL3 TEAM MVPs Albany Mallrats: center Eric Lindros Boston Agents: goaltender Olaf Kolzig Chicoutimi Sparrows: center Pierre Turgeon, with mentions to goaltender Eric Fichaud and defenseman Bryan Berard Chi-Town Krushers: goaltender Chris Rogles, with mentions to left winger Sergei Samsonov and center Jeremy Roenick Des Moines Dominators: center Joe Nieuwendyk Edmonton Vikings: left winger Brendan Shanahan Fort Saskatchewan Fury: right winger Jarome Iginla Hamilton Steelcats: center Daniel Briere Kingston Corinthians: center Saku Koivu Minneapolis Monarchs: center Peter Forsberg Mississauga Vipers: goaltender Pat Jablonski Oakland Roses: goaltender Mike Dunham Penticton Venom: defenseman Scott Niedermayer, with a mention to center Steve Yzerman Philadelphia Freeze: defenseman Phil Housley Pittsburgh Quakers: right winger Jaromir Jagr, with mentions to center Alexei Yashin and goaltender Dominic Roussel Saskatoon Enforcers: defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky Seattle Saints: right winger Jere Lehtinen Spokane Chiefs: defenseman Raymond Bourque St. John's Grunts: goaltender Chris Osgood, with mentions to defensemen Calle Johansson and Jason Holland, and left winger Wendel Clark Surrey Strangers: center Mark Messier Toronto Stallions: center Joe Sakic Vancouver Voodoo: right winger Zigmund Palffy Waterloo Lunatics: goaltender Jocelyn Thibault Winnipeg Wolves: goaltender Andy Moog 3- PLAYOFFS ROOKIE REPORT - Provided thanks to Brian Howe Rookie Scoring Statistics ************************* Top 50 Point Earners P # Player GP G A PTS +/- PP SH GW GT S PIM PCT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- F 45 Vaclav Prospal 13 13 12 25 -1 4 0 1 0 59 9 22.0 F 39 Brian Wesenberg 13 5 13 18 4 2 0 1 0 51 4 9.8 F 18 Jim Campbell 12 4 12 16 9 2 0 0 0 44 6 9.1 F 97 Joe Thornton 7 2 6 8 8 0 0 1 0 19 28 10.5 F 15 Chris Simon 12 2 6 8 6 1 0 1 0 18 45 11.1 F 19 Alexander Kharlamov 17 4 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 19 11 21.1 D 3 David Wilkie 11 2 5 7 9 0 0 0 0 10 5 20.0 F 94 Ryan Smyth 12 4 2 6 -1 3 0 0 0 34 16 11.8 F 20 Daniel Goneau 7 3 3 6 4 0 0 0 0 15 13 20.0 F 89 Dainius Zubrus 6 2 4 6 1 1 0 0 0 18 15 11.1 D 10 Francois Groleau 17 2 4 6 -15 0 0 0 0 12 22 16.7 F 53 Jim Sandlak 12 4 1 5 -2 0 0 0 0 45 19 8.9 F 77 Anson Carter 12 4 1 5 7 0 0 0 0 27 7 14.8 F 62 Steve Webb 11 2 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 13 43 15.4 D 16 Ken Klee 12 2 3 5 7 0 0 0 0 9 21 22.2 F 39 Darryl Laplante 14 2 3 5 1 0 0 0 0 21 11 9.5 F 15 Brad Smyth 7 2 2 4 -3 0 0 0 0 16 25 12.5 D 5 Jason Holland 14 1 3 4 3 1 0 0 0 17 8 5.9 F 22 Gerard Gallant 6 2 1 3 -2 0 0 0 0 19 4 10.5 F 43 Vitali Yachmenev 6 1 2 3 -3 0 0 0 0 19 7 5.3 F 25 Mike Grier 6 2 0 2 -3 0 0 1 0 8 13 25.0 F 6 Andrei Lomakin 6 1 1 2 -1 0 1 0 0 17 6 5.9 F 4 Sami Kapanen 4 0 2 2 -1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 F 41 Eric Manlow 12 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 16 0.0 D 25 Jason McBain 13 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 15 0.0 F 11 Alex Hicks 4 1 0 1 -2 0 0 0 0 9 6 11.1 D 2 David Cooper 7 1 0 1 -2 0 0 0 0 7 5 14.3 D 4 Per Gustafsson 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.0 D 23 Dan McGillis 4 0 1 1 -4 0 0 0 0 6 4 0.0 F 16 Cory Stillman 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 7 0.0 F 21 Rene Corbet 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.0 D 22 Paul Mara 7 0 1 1 7 0 0 0 0 4 9 0.0 D 30 Miroslav Guren 12 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 14 15 0.0 F 31 Randy Gilhen 13 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 17 0.0 F 25 Sergei Berezin 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.0 D 3 Mattias Ohlund 4 0 0 0 -5 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.0 D 4 Mike Wilson 4 0 0 0 -5 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.0 D 56 Bob Wilkie 4 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 7 5 0.0 D 43 Al Iafrate 4 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 5 19 0.0 F 17 Jarrod Skalde 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 7 0.0 Top 20 Goal Scorers P # Player GP G A PTS +/- PP SH GW GT S PIM PCT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- F 45 Vaclav Prospal 13 13 12 25 -1 4 0 1 0 59 9 22.0 F 39 Brian Wesenberg 13 5 13 18 4 2 0 1 0 51 4 9.8 F 18 Jim Campbell 12 4 12 16 9 2 0 0 0 44 6 9.1 F 53 Jim Sandlak 12 4 1 5 -2 0 0 0 0 45 19 8.9 F 94 Ryan Smyth 12 4 2 6 -1 3 0 0 0 34 16 11.8 F 77 Anson Carter 12 4 1 5 7 0 0 0 0 27 7 14.8 F 19 Alexander Kharlamov 17 4 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 19 11 21.1 F 20 Daniel Goneau 7 3 3 6 4 0 0 0 0 15 13 20.0 F 22 Gerard Gallant 6 2 1 3 -2 0 0 0 0 19 4 10.5 F 89 Dainius Zubrus 6 2 4 6 1 1 0 0 0 18 15 11.1 F 25 Mike Grier 6 2 0 2 -3 0 0 1 0 8 13 25.0 F 97 Joe Thornton 7 2 6 8 8 0 0 1 0 19 28 10.5 F 15 Brad Smyth 7 2 2 4 -3 0 0 0 0 16 25 12.5 D 3 David Wilkie 11 2 5 7 9 0 0 0 0 10 5 20.0 F 62 Steve Webb 11 2 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 13 43 15.4 F 15 Chris Simon 12 2 6 8 6 1 0 1 0 18 45 11.1 D 16 Ken Klee 12 2 3 5 7 0 0 0 0 9 21 22.2 F 39 Darryl Laplante 14 2 3 5 1 0 0 0 0 21 11 9.5 D 10 Francois Groleau 17 2 4 6 -15 0 0 0 0 12 22 16.7 F 11 Alex Hicks 4 1 0 1 -2 0 0 0 0 9 6 11.1 Top 20 Shot Takers P # Player GP G A PTS +/- PP SH GW GT S PIM PCT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- F 45 Vaclav Prospal 13 13 12 25 -1 4 0 1 0 59 9 22.0 F 39 Brian Wesenberg 13 5 13 18 4 2 0 1 0 51 4 9.8 F 53 Jim Sandlak 12 4 1 5 -2 0 0 0 0 45 19 8.9 F 18 Jim Campbell 12 4 12 16 9 2 0 0 0 44 6 9.1 F 94 Ryan Smyth 12 4 2 6 -1 3 0 0 0 34 16 11.8 F 77 Anson Carter 12 4 1 5 7 0 0 0 0 27 7 14.8 F 39 Darryl Laplante 14 2 3 5 1 0 0 0 0 21 11 9.5 F 22 Gerard Gallant 6 2 1 3 -2 0 0 0 0 19 4 10.5 F 43 Vitali Yachmenev 6 1 2 3 -3 0 0 0 0 19 7 5.3 F 97 Joe Thornton 7 2 6 8 8 0 0 1 0 19 28 10.5 F 19 Alexander Kharlamov 17 4 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 19 11 21.1 F 89 Dainius Zubrus 6 2 4 6 1 1 0 0 0 18 15 11.1 F 15 Chris Simon 12 2 6 8 6 1 0 1 0 18 45 11.1 F 6 Andrei Lomakin 6 1 1 2 -1 0 1 0 0 17 6 5.9 D 5 Jason Holland 14 1 3 4 3 1 0 0 0 17 8 5.9 F 15 Brad Smyth 7 2 2 4 -3 0 0 0 0 16 25 12.5 F 20 Daniel Goneau 7 3 3 6 4 0 0 0 0 15 13 20.0 D 30 Miroslav Guren 12 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 14 15 0.0 F 62 Steve Webb 11 2 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 13 43 15.4 F 41 Eric Manlow 12 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 16 0.0 Top 20 G.A.A. GOALTENDER GP MIN AVG W L T EN SO GA SA PCT PIM AS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Manny Legace 8 480 3.25 4 4 0 0 0 26 238 .891 0 0 Dominic Roussel 5 300 5.40 2 3 0 0 0 27 222 .878 0 0 Top 20 Save Percentages GOALTENDER GP MIN AVG W L T EN SO GA SA PCT PIM AS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Manny Legace 8 480 3.25 4 4 0 0 0 26 238 .891 0 0 Dominic Roussel 5 300 5.40 2 3 0 0 0 27 222 .878 0 0 4- PLATINUM 3 STARS CUP LEADERS - Provided by Brian Howe Player Team 1st 2nd 3rd Total ----------------------------------------------------- Jocelyn Thibault LUNATICS 3 8 3 42 Ron Francis STRANGERS 4 6 1 39 Mike Dunham ROSES 5 3 1 35 Theoren Fleury STRANGERS 3 2 1 22 Saku Koivu CORINTHS 4 0 0 20 Pavel Bure STRANGERS 2 3 1 20 Steve Yzerman VENOM 2 3 0 19 Peter Ing MALLRATS 1 4 1 18 Mario Lemieux MALLRATS 3 0 1 16 Chris Osgood GRUNTS 1 3 2 16 Mats Sundin CORINTHS 2 1 2 15 Benoit Hogue STRANGERS 2 1 1 14 Nelson Emerson ROSES 1 2 2 13 Vaclav Prospal FREEZE 2 1 0 13 Blaine Lacher CORINTHS 2 0 2 12 ----------------------------------------------------- 5- 1ST/2ND/3RD STARS LEADERS - Provided by Brian Howe First Star Leaders Player Team 1st ------------------------------------ Mike Dunham ROSES 5 Ron Francis STRANGERS 4 Saku Koivu CORINTHS 4 Jocelyn Thibault LUNATICS 3 Mario Lemieux MALLRATS 3 Theoren Fleury STRANGERS 3 Vaclav Prospal FREEZE 2 Benoit Hogue STRANGERS 2 Steve Yzerman VENOM 2 Wendel Clark GRUNTS 2 ------------------------------------ Second Star Leaders Player Team 2nd ------------------------------------ Jocelyn Thibault LUNATICS 8 Ron Francis STRANGERS 6 Peter Ing MALLRATS 4 Steve Yzerman VENOM 3 Chris Osgood GRUNTS 3 Mike Dunham ROSES 3 Pavel Bure STRANGERS 3 Nelson Emerson ROSES 2 Joe Sakic STALLIONS 2 Sergei Gonchar CORINTHS 2 ------------------------------------ Third Star Leaders Player Team 3rd ------------------------------------ Jocelyn Thibault LUNATICS 3 Shayne Corson STRANGERS 3 Sergei Petrenko FREEZE 3 Darryl Laplante GRUNTS 2 Donald Audette LUNATICS 2 John Leclair LUNATICS 2 Nelson Emerson ROSES 2 Brian Wesenberg FREEZE 2 Ed Belfour STRANGERS 2 Chris Terreri VENOM 2 ------------------------------------ 6- HAT TRICKS LEADERS - Provided by Brian Howe Player Team HT ------------------------------------ Theoren Fleury STRANGERS 3 Pavel Bure STRANGERS 2 Owen Nolan ROSES 1 Vaclav Prospal FREEZE 1 Ron Francis STRANGERS 1 John MacLean VENOM 1 Joe Sacco DOMINATRS 1 Phil Bourque FREEZE 1 Jim Campbell VENOM 1 Daymond Langkow FREEZE 1 ------------------------------------ 7- 5+ POINT GAME LEADERS - Provided by Brian Howe Player Team 5+ ------------------------------------ Ron Francis STRANGERS 3 Vaclav Prospal FREEZE 2 Benoit Hogue STRANGERS 2 Steve Duchesne STRANGERS 1 John MacLean VENOM 1 Cam Neely GRUNTS 1 Stu Barnes ROSES 1 Pavel Bure STRANGERS 1 Theoren Fleury STRANGERS 1 Daymond Langkow FREEZE 1 ------------------------------------ 8- 10+ SHOT GAME LEADERS - Provided by Brian Howe Player Team 10+ ------------------------------------ Steve Yzerman VENOM 4 Theoren Fleury STRANGERS 3 Pavel Bure STRANGERS 2 Ronnie Stern STRANGERS 1 Ron Francis STRANGERS 1 Jim Sandlak VENOM 1 Sergei Fedorov WOLVES 1 Saku Koivu CORINTHS 1 Martin Gelinas VOODOO 1 Shayne Corson STRANGERS 1 ------------------------------------ 9- ROSTER MOVES REPORT - By Michael Hebert After S1G4 -Voodoo release defenseman Randy Ladouceur and call up goaltender Roberto Luongo After S1G5 -Freeze release defenseman Dennis Vaske and call up goaltender Tim Cheveldae After S3G3 -Strangers call up right winger Brad Dalgarno 10- WHL4 RULES CHANGE REPORT - By Michael Hebert With the new season coming, there are some issues that haven been discussed during the season which have to be addressed. The first of them is the streaks/slumps rule. The current rule in effect had the +2s and -2s get reset after 10 consecutive games. For the upcoming season, the following rule has been accepted by the BOD: -Any player who is +/- 1 for 10 consecutive games will have his streak/slump reset to 0 -Any player who is +/- 2 for 5 consecutive games will have his streak/slump reset to +/- 1 This will ensure that streaks and slumps do not have such a major effect on the overall team performance, but still force the GMs and Coaches to do some skillful management. Thanks to all those who contributed to this edition of WHL OffSides. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Hebert Web Hockey League Commissioner Occasional Editor of WHL OffSides