OffSides (The Official Magazine of the WHL)

Editor’s Note

There are ten teams still battling for the Cyber Cup but the fourteen
other WHL franchises have shifted their focus to the offseason, and
especially the draft.  OffSides Magazine would like to compile an
extensive draft preview this year but the editorial staff needs some help.
If anyone is interested in putting together prospect lists or team
outlooks, please drop me a line and we can get started.  I can’t do this
by myself so if the WHL GM’s want to see an extensive draft preview, I
need a couple of volunteers.

Team News

Tampere Tapparra

Tampere (AP) - The Tappara ended off the regular season on a high note
winning their last four games. Now to some spectators this doesn't mean
much, but to the new ownership in Tampere this four game winning streak
helped show that with this new found chemistry that this team will be
contending next year. This four game winning streak also made a big mark on
the standings which saw the Tappara move up from second last to fifth last.
Big deal you might say, right?...well to the Tampere organization it is,
because this now means that the Tappara's 1st round draft pick traded
earlier in the season can not be the #1 overall pick. These last few games
were must wins and the team came together. Management was never to sure
about whether or not they should have let their first round pick go, but
now that they finished fifth last they can breath a sigh of relief. 
        On another note, Tampere has named centre Daymond Langkow their regular
season MVP. Although he only played in 71 games Daymond tallied 37 goals
and 30 assists to lead the team with 70 points. Congratulations on a great
year Daymond.
        Also it is being reported that once the play-offs have ended that the
Tappara will announce where they will be relocating the team to. So you 
Can expect some big news from the Tappara soon in regards to the
speculation
that the team will be moving to North America.
        With the regular season finally finished the real fun will soon begin. It
will be interesting to watch the playoff matches to see if there will be
any upsets. The Tampere Tappara would like to wish all those playing for
the Cup the best of luck and to play as hard as you can.

Reporting for the soon to be relocated Tappara, I'm Michael Landsberg.

Southampton Seagulls

The Seagulls have  come from the worst team in the league to being the 5th
seeded team in the Wales Conference.  This is tremondous improvement for the
team and many fans  are clamouring to see the team play playoff hockey when
last year by the mid point it was obvious the team was going nowhere.

However all is not rosey many fans are still bitter about the rule changes
int he mid season that have hurt the Seagulls and forced them to trade away
some of their key players in order to remaing competitive in the future.
This anger is directed squarely at the league comissioner and owner of the
Sparrows.  Reports are that the Sparrows must will sleep in a motel in
Sarnia more than hour away from Southampton arena since all closer motels
have refused the Sparrows lodgings since loyal Seagulls fans have threatened
to burn down any motel that lets the Sparrows in.

The first round series between the Segulls and the Sparrows is going to be
a WAR!

Around the League

At press time the Vikings are hanging on for dear life in their first
round series with the Chi-Town Krushers.  Krushers RW’er Andrei Bashkirov
has proven to be almost unstoppable, and coach Ken Hitchcock explains why.
"It is awful tough to put together a scouting report on someone you have
never even heard of.  Has his own mother even heard of this guy?"

Awards ballots will be available to the league’s General Managers at the
conclusion of the first round of the playoffs.  GM’s are expected to have
their votes in by the end of the second round.

There are whispers that Venom GM Jeff Tetz has been consulting with
another WHL team and helping them with coaching strategies in their first
round playoff series.

Trade rumors continue to swirl around Seattle where the Saints are facing
a logjam at centre next season.  Expect one of Scott Gomez, Steve Rucchin,
Jason Allison and Jozef Stumpel to be moved by the draft.

Look for a clubhouse revolt in Vancouver if the Voodoo fail to win their
second round playoff series.  Several prominent Voodoo players have
whispered that GM Darren Kinnaird has been pandering too much to
youngsters Henrik and Daniel Sedin while ignoring the needs of other key
Voodoo personnel.

Thanks for reading and remember to send any articles/submissions to
leemcewen@yahoo.com


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