Lions, Lobsters, and Dragons? Oh My!

The SPHL has been around since 2004, and they've done a fairly good job at making hockey in non-traditional southern US markets affordable while giving players a springboard into professional hockey. I don't know how long they'll last based on how hockey is going, but the league has announced that its team membership will grow from ten to thirteen teams by 2027 thanks to teams switching leagues and an expansion franchise. As we know, the profit margins on minor-professional hockey tams are small - and negative when if a team loses - so seeing the SPHL growing in their corner of the North American map is encouraging for those thirteen communities.

Before we get into who is joining, the SPHL is currently made up of nine teams in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Florida, and Virginia, so bus rides can be long for some road trips. The three new franchises will add teams in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, so the map gets a little bigger, but it also makes the map a little easier to naviagte for road trips as these three teams give better options for playing two teams in a weekend instead of just playing a baseball-like three-game series against one team.

Announced back on May 13, the SPHL welcomed the Athens Rock Lobsters into the fold as the former Federal Prospects Hockey League team will make the jump to the SPHL starting next season. The Rock Lobsters joined the FPHL in 2024 where, in two seasons, they compiled a record of 87-21-4 as one of the top teams in the FPHL in both seasons. They averaged 4486 fans per game last season, making them one of the more profitable FPHL teams, so it was clear their owners were looking for a greater challenge. Making the jump from the FPHL to the SPHL seemed like the logical choice, and the nearby Macon Mayhem will finally have a natural, in-state rival with the Rock Lobsters.

"This move simply makes sense from both a competitive and operational standpoint," Todd Mackin, President of Spire Holdings who owns the Rock Lobsters, said back on May 13. “Athens has proven in just two seasons that it is a tremendous hockey market. The fan support, the energy inside Akins Ford Arena, and the organization's commitment to innovation in game presentation have helped create one of the best experiences in minor professional hockey. We're excited to continue building on that momentum and delivering an incredible atmosphere for fans throughout Northeast Georgia."

Honestly, I have no qualms about the Rock Lobsters seeking out better competition as long they don't one-and-done this. I have full confidence they won't, so as long as the Spire Holdings group is willing to pay a little more for the SPHL's increased costs, I'm all for giving the Athens Rock Lobsters a shot at the SPHL level.

Joining the Rock Lobsters from the FPHL in the SPHL will be the Pee Dee IceCats, based in Florence, South Carolina. Announced on June 24, the IceCats had been conditionally accepted into the SPHL fold on May 30 before it was made official at the end of June. This won't be Florence's first time in the SPHL as the Pee Dee Cyclones played in the SPHL from 2005-07. Florence has hockey fans as 4763 fans came out to support the IceCats on average, and they're located just south of Fayetteville in North Carolina, giving the Marksman a natural rivalry between the two Carolina states. The reason for them leaving the FPHL for the SPHL seems a little more tenuous than Athens' reason for their jump.

While no one is saying anything out loud, it seems the owners of the Pee Dee IceCats were unhappy with the FPHL's expansion into the California cities of Fresno and Stockton (which will be covered on HBIC shortly). There are rumours of unprofessional behaviours between team and league executives at league meetings, accusations about improper ownership paperwork, and more, but it sounds like the owners of the IceCats looked at everything and decided to make their exit from the FPHL at this time, following Athens to the SPHL.

I'm not picking sides here, but Pee Dee's inclusion into the SPHL adds another strong minor-pro hockey maket. The IceCats set the FPHL single-game record for the 2025-26 season with 7837 fans showing up to see them beat the Athens Rock Lobsters 5-1 in January, they clearly have a solid rivalry with the Rock Lobsters after sweeping them out of the playoffs last season, and it appears their owners are committed to putting a winning product on the ice. That's the kind of commitment the SPHL needs from its franchises to remain strong.

While the league will push ahead with twelve teams next season, a thirteenth team is set to arrive in 2027 and it's a team that already had stakes in its community. The city of Mobile, Alabama will play home to the Mobile Mysticks hockey team as the expansion frachise gets itself setup for business over the next year. Owned by the Zawyer Group who has been moving minor-pro hockey teams into all sorts of communities in the southeast corner of the United States, the Mysticks will wear the logo seen to the left while sporting green, purple, and yellow in their colour scheme. Unveiled on June 16, the new SPHL franchise stated that the name was chosen with extensive community input including "a public naming process that generated more than 2,000 entries."

"I could not be more excited that Mobile's newest professional sports franchise will go by a familiar name - the Mysticks!" Mobile mayor Spiro Cheriogotis told Erica Thomas of 1819news.com, referencing the ECHL franchise that called the Alabama city home from 1995–2002. "This is incredible for our city, for the new Regions Arena and for local sports fans. I can't wait for the puck to drop. Go Mysticks!"

I've written about the Zawyer Group's growing hockey empire before, and it seems like their group of investors have no issues with dropping teams into cities if offered. The tough part about the ECHL Mysticks is that each year saw their attendance drop, a unpleasant trend for franchise owners. I suspect that if the SPHL Mysticks can find fun promotions and build a winning hockey team, the new Mysticks will likely be a part of Mobile's sports scene for a long time.

For a league that doesn't generate a ton of revenue, having three teams join in two seasons means that costs will go up for the other ten teams as there will be more bus trips to new destinations, more hotel stays, and more gameday meals on the road. It shouldb't be lost on anyone, though, that these teams have good arena sizes, their owners are motivated to succeed, and they have fanbases who are looking for better hockey. With tickets being less than $35 in all thirteen SPHL cities, it's fun, affordable hockey for everyone!

Five teams have won the SPHL championship since 2018, so increasing the number of teams will give more players a chance to play and, potentially, more teams a chance to win. I'm not saying that any of Athens, Pee Dee, or Mobile will win in their first seasons, but, assuming the Rock Lobsters and IceCats continue their efforts to put the best teams they can on the ice, the level of competition should rise in the SPHL. That's good for everyone in the SPHL, and that's how the SPHL can remain viable and profitable for years to come.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

This Is Why No One Likes You

I completely understand that there's a lack of news in the hockey world in the days immediately following the NHL Entry Draft and the beginning of free agency. Unless someone makes a big trade or does something dramatic with a contract offer, there really isn't anything newsworthy about which sports reporters can write. That includes the headline shown above that was posted on Sportsnet because who cares what number Gavin McKenna wears?

Everyone believes that McKenna will be a game-changer for the Maple Leafs next season, and I'm not here to debate that. He has a unique set of skills and talents that can make the players around him better as we've seen with Medicine Hat and with Penn State, and the Maple Leafs will need to maximize those skills in order for them to be successful. This seems obvious, but it doesn't make it any less true.

Does it matter what number he wears on his back if this happens?

I get that people have already bought Maple Leafs jerseys with McKenna and #72 on the back, and I don't fault those fans for being excited at the thought of Gavin McKenna leading their team to the promised land. Every season, though, there a number changes for players depending on their circumstances, and it pays to wait to see what numbers will be worn once the season starts. There a chance, albeit slimmer than a sheet of paper, that McKenna doesn't make the Maple Leafs out of camp, and that headline would be all for naught.

Again, though, this number change isn't news. It's a social media posting at the very best, and the fact that Sportsnet paid someone to write seven paragraphs and 175 words on the subject is why a lot of people dislike the Toronto-centric coverage we're force-fed in Canada. I didn't see an article about what number Kappo Kahkonen will wear in Montreal or what number Jamie Oleksiak will wear in Vancouver, so why are we dedicating a staff member to write about Gavin McKenna who has yet to take a shift or attend an NHL camp?

Don't think this about McKenna, either. I hope the kid has a big season because hockey is always more fun when Canadian teams do well, and I hope he thrives in his new #92 jersey. Frankly, he could wear any number he wants as long as he shows up to play the way everyone hopes he can, and that number change still won't have any impact on what he's doing to help the Maple Leafs win. If the kid wore a smiley face on the back of his jersey, it would not matter nor would it be news. Why this was given any coverage is baffling.

This is why people dislike Rogers Sportsnet. They have done irreparable damage to the game in Canada with their greed, they have not made the on-screen product better in any way, and their ownership of the Maple Leafs means we'll likely see more news stories posted on their website and covered on their networks that aren't newsworthy. There are ten provinces, three territories, and countless hockey teams across Canada with great stories that can be told, and Rogers Sportsnet inexplicably had someone write up and post a story on Gavin McKenna getting a new number.

This is why no one likes you, Rogers Sportsnet. Get used to it.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

TBC: Book Of Jerseys

If there's one thing that piques my interest in the hockey world, it's the fashion and design that goes into jerseys. Call them what you want - jerseys, sweaters, tarps, whatever - but the colours and designs used by teams become the identity of that franchise. Think of the Fisherman's legacy when it comes to the New York Islanders or how the bleu-blanc-et-rouge is synonymous with the Montreal Canadiens. It's those team identities that fans embrace when cheering for their favorite teams, so finding collections of amazing jerseys is always a treat. In saying that, Teebz's Book Club had a chance to review the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys, written by Steve Milton and published by Firefly Book, and their collection of jerseys might be unparalleled for the number of teams and leagues it covers!

From the 49thshelf.com website, "Steve Milton has over forty years' experience as a sportswriter and writes for the Hamilton Spectator. He has won numerous Ontario Newspaper Awards and has been both a Gemini and National Newspaper Award finalist. He is the author of more than twenty books and is a member of both the Skate Canada Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario." It should be noted that Milton retired from the Hamilton Spectator in 2023 after 38 years at the newspaper, and now spends his summers covering the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and FC Forge as a Multiplatform Columnist for Hamilton Sports Group, writing for both club's websites while lending his expertise to the Ticats Audio Network and the Forge Audio Network. He has also appeared on various programs for CTV and TSN in his career where he provided sports coverage, and he also wrote for The Sporting News.

I'll be honest when I say I did very little reading when I first went through the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys. The pictures of some of the jerseys are amazing in showing details like puck marks and holes when it comes to how beat up these integral pieces of the uniform get, but it was downright amazing to see jerseys that I had never seen before. Brian Leetch's jersey from the Cheshire High School Rams, Rod Langway's jersey from the Randolph High School Blue Devils, and Harry Howell's WHA jersey from the New York Golden Blades were all featured in the first section of legendary players, and I had never seen these jerseys in such vivid colour and resolution!

The international section of jerseys in the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys is a treasure trove of amazing images. Jörgen Jönsson's Färjestads BK jersey from the 1998 Spengler Cup is a gorgeous artifact, Constant Priondolo's jersey from Italy's Alleghe Sile Caldaie has an interesting story to it, and Cammi Granato's jersey from the NWHL's Vancouver Griffins is a sight to behold! Each jersey displayed in the book comes with a write-up about the player who wore the jersey, giving some insight on the career of the player whose jersey is part of the Hockey Hall of Fame. For some of the lesser-known players, it was very interesting to learn about their careers!

The section in the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys about all-star game jerseys has tidbits of information from the NHL All-Star Games that are featured, but it's the minor-league and junior all-star game jerseys where there are some gems. The "Champions" section is loaded with interesting jerseys, but it's the "Hockey Hodgepodge" section that captured my attention. There are many interesting sweaters in this section that probably could have had their own books such as the Edmonton Flyers, the Riverdale Skeeters, the Des Moines Oak Leafs, and the Preston Rivulettes! This book is filled with history!

One of the interesting bits of history came from the All-Star Game section where it seems that the NHL was helping other leagues by giving them their old jerseys! Milton wrote of the 1972 NHL All-Star Game jerseys and the Robbie Irons' 1973 IHL All-Star Game jersey,

"Irons' IHL All-Star sweater is of the same vintage and style as Ed Giacomin's NHL Eastern Conference All-Star sweater, a design that the NHL had used for several years, ending in 1972."

Could you imagine the NHL sending their old jerseys to the AHL or ECHL today when they changed designs? I completely understand the IHL not having piles of money to outfit their all-stars every year back in the early-1970s, but to wear another league's sweaters seems a little crazy. Of course, hockey at both levels was all sorts of crazy back in the 1970s so maybe I shouldn't be all that surprised that this sort of clothing swap happened. If I hadn't read the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys, I wouldn't have known about this fact!

Overall, the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys is a feast for the eyes when it comes to all the jerseys shown on its 192 pages. I would have liked to have seen more information about the jerseys and that part of their careers pertaining to those players who wore them, but there's enough information about a number of players that I didn't know to make the profiles worth it. Because of the great pictures, the chosen jerseys and the historical nature of those jerseys, and the info about the players, the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys certainly deserves the Teebz's Book Club Seal of Approval!

The Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys was released on August 30, 2012, so copies of the book should be available at libraries and local bookstores. The book is easy to read with no crass language and zero controversial stories, and the sections are filled with amazing images with each two-page set having a photo and a write-up, making the book easy to put down if one needs a break. In saying that, I read the Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys very quickly because of its easy-to-read nature, and it is absolutely recommended for all hockey fans, especially those who love hockey jerseys and hockey history!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Hockey Show - Episode 719

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, returns tonight with a studio full of guests! It's not a CBS soundstage with a live studio audience or anything, but tonight will see Survivor: NHL Playoffs wrapped up as Michaela, along with two guests, join us at the UMFM offices to collect prizes, talk hockey, and have a few laughs! It should be a good chat with 2026 Survivor champ Michaela and her guests as they'll spend the full hour with us talking hockey on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason welcome Michaela and her guests to the show where we'll award her the jersey of her choice and all the other associated prizes worthy of a Survivor: NHL Playoffs champion. We'll talk to her about cheering for the Hurricanes, who she may have been cheering for other than her chosen team, and whether or not beating her dad, Colin, has caused problems at home. Beyond that chat and laughter, the group will look at how the Winnipeg Jets did when it comes to free agency and the draft, whether or not Connor Hellebuyck starts the season in Winnipeg, the Vancouver Giants being on the move, European hockey news, and some rule changes in the WHL and SPHL that should be adopted by other leagues. It's going to be a fun show with Survivor champion Michaela and her guests, so make sure your listening to The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The UMFM website's streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason meet Michaela, shower her with prizes, talk hockey, have some laughs, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

PODCAST: July 2, 2026: Episode 719

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

2026 Stellar Recruits

If you're looking at the image to the left and thinking "that looks like an eye", you're looking at the Helix Nebula which is nicknamed the "Eye of God" or "Eye of Sauron" due to its shape! The nebula gets its eye-like shape from the glowing, gaseous remains of a dying star that has begun shedding its outer layers into space. Frankly, it looks awesome, but it's appropriate today because you're going to want to keep your eye on the following players listed below. Today, I present to you the 2026-27 recruits for each Canada West women's hockey team with my thoughts on the incoming class!

I spent a lot of time digging around social media and looking over websites as I collected names and information about the players joining Canada West's nine teams. It took a while, but here we are today. I'm not going to waste any further time, so here are all the known or announced players joining the nine Canada West teams!

Canada West Recruits

Alberta Pandas

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Cassia Severin	Edge	AB	F	4	14
Samantha Baker	Edge	AB	F	8	23
Saya Earl	Delta	BC	F	4	7
Hudson Bradley	Balmoral Hall	MB	D	8	14
Elise Miller	North Shore	BC	F	11	23
Sarah McNabb	Battleford	SK	F	10	13
Daniella Martorana	Merrimack (NCAA)	MA	F	0	0
Scarlett Jones	Toronto (OUA)	ON	F	1	1
Jaylah Bottle	Ottawa (OUA)	ON	D	0	0

The Alberta Pandas recruited a pile of players long before Howie Draper announced his retirement, so I assume that this class will be the last of his era running the Pandas. With interim head coach Leah Copeland taking over, I would expect a similar brand of tenacious hockey that she played when suiting up for the Pandas, but don't expect her to replicate Howie's style. She has some high-end talent coming in along with a few players who have suited up at the university level elsewhere. Alberta's in a bit of a rebuild, but I expect them to still be a solid team as everyone settles in. Once again, the Pandas should be a playoff team in their temporary home in Nisku.

Calgary Dinos

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Madison Batch	Delta	BC	D	3	25
Brooklyn Blomquist	RINK Kelowna	BC	F	4	9
Katelyn Marshall	Regina	SK	F	9	11

The Calgary Dinos are playing their cards close to their chests when it comes to recruiting. I know this can't be the entire class they're bringing in, but they haven't posted their recruit information anywhere that I could find or have seen. In saying this, the three recruits listed above are solid, and they will contribute for head coach Josh Gosling. Calgary's going to have to battle after some of their veterans graduated, but they'll be a handful for any opponent this season. The Dinos could still have a number of weapons they haven't announced, so we'll have to see who lands in Calgary.

MacEwan Griffins

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Olivia Stewart	Red Deer	AB	D	3	4
Sawyer McKay	Lloydminster	AB	F	5	8
Peyton Mages	North Shore	BC	D	10	16
Tristan Todosichuk	Weyburn	SK	F	10	10
Shannon MacLeod	Calgary	AB	F	1	2
Haley Braun	OHA Mavericks	ON	F	12	10
Vayda Rigaux	Eastman	MB	D	8	17
Delainey Rigaux	Eastman	MB	F	25	16
Mya Magowan	Calgary	AB	F	2	3
Paige Smith	Bemidji (NCAA)	MN	F	0	1

The MacEwan Griffins will get a fresh start after Chris Leeming was replaced by interim head coach Izzy Cropper, and this recruiting class should give them a little more firepower and a little more tenacity on the ice. Cropper served as an assistant coach for the last two years, so she's going to have to find ways to get this squad to push the puck up the ice without abandoning their netminders. I like the scoring and grittiness in these new recruits, so we'll see if they can be the spark for the new-look Griffins this year as they get back on track.

Manitoba Bisons

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Addilyn Nohlgren	Winnipeg Avros	MB	F	5	21
Braya Kapusta	Winnipeg Avros	MB	F	23	12
Kadence Fleece	Calgary	AB	D	1	2
Brynn Hannula	Lovell	MA	F	11	20
Oda Austefjord	Stavanger	NO	D	3	33
Jamie Hensch	Lloydminster	AB	D	1	6
Addison Greve	Mt. Academy	PE	F	4	8

The first recruiting class done by Jordan Colliton and her team have some high-end talent joining the Herd. I'm curious to see how Oda Austefjord jumps into the team because she was excellent in Norway, and Colliton has seen other Norwegian defenders thrive in Canada West. That being said, the Bisons get a number of solid additions to their forward group that should make the attack that much more lethal. If the Herd are looking to build on their showing at Nationals this year, this class of recruits should help them do that.

Mount Royal Cougars

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Castilla Rubin	North Shore	BC	F	8	9
Ayden Kehrig	Battleford	SK	D	2	11
Peyton Carter	OHA Edmonton	AB	F	8	13
Danelle Steffen	Saskatoon	SK	D	9	10
Skylar Heinrichs	Lloydminster	AB	F	11	5

If there's one thing that head coach Scott Rivett gets with his recruits, it's talent and work ethic. All of his recruits will continue that trend for the Cougars this season, and I suspect we'll see the Cougars pushing for the top of their division. I am surprised that there isn't a Manitoban in Scott's recruits this year as he always seems to have one, but these five players will continue to keep the Cougars as one of the best teams in Canada West and across Canada.

Regina Cougars

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Summer Grenier	Edmonton	AB	F	5	14
Ivy Perkin	Westman	MB	F	26	34
Isabelle Luttmerding	Calgary	AB	F	10	6
Darby Marshall	Regina	SK	D	7	6
Aliyah Teixeira	Winnipeg Ice	MB	D	5	13
Aldawna Evers	Edmonton	AB	G	1.70	.921
Raela Packet	Swift Current	SK	F	11	19
Jade Pelland	OHA Mavericks	ON	F	7	13
Amy Dvernichuk	St. Thomas	NS	F	3	9

Head coach Brandy West-McMaster did a superb recruiting job with her class this season, bringing in fantastic scoring and solid defenders who will look to push the Cougars to new heights. Recruiting a third goalie was needed, but I don't know what West-McMaster has in store for them when it comes to playing time. What I do know is her team will benefit from these players' talents as there are a lot of solid additions to the Regina lineup. The Cougars could be scary good.

Saskatchewan Huskies

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Reese Dyky	Saskatoon	SK	D	2	11
Anna Benoit	Regina	SK	F	10	9
Addison Tomes	Eastman	MB	G	0.81	.958
Cambree Legge	Saskatoon	SK	F	3	5
Reese Overton	N. Capitals	BC	F	4	12
Cedar Swan	Saskatoon	SK	F	7	8
Alexa Roberts	North Shore	BC	F	14	13
Charlie Shearer	Westman	MB	F	2	6
Makayla Christmann	MacEwan (CW)	AB	G	3.75	.895

Head coach Steve Kook has done another marvelous job in recruiting high-end talent for his team, and it starts from the crease out again as he has one of Manitoba's best young netminders, a solid two-way defender, and a pile of forwards who can score, but will be defensively responsible in ensuring that the Huskies are successful. Don't expect a lot of high-scoring games from the Huskies in any season, but this group builds on the momentum that the Huskies were building last season. I don't expect them to win the division next season, but I do expect them to cause a lot of headaches for opposition coaches and players during the 2026-27 season.

Trinity Western Spartans

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Mika Higgins	Edge	AB	D	6	5
Jamie Sanford	Central York	ON	G	1.78	.923
Ella Newton	Regina	SK	D	5	5
Dyllan Nelson	Fraser Valley	BC	F	14	16
Haley Waugh	Delta	BC	F	6	5
Avaya McCann	Edge	AB	F	12	8
Kamryn Reiber	SAHA	AB	F	7	24
Audrina Freeman	Okanagan	BC	F	11	16
Shae Laprade	Carleton (OUA)	ON	F	4	5
Tori Evans	Ottawa (OUA)	ON	D	1	2

The evolution of the Trinity Western Spartans continues under Peter Hay, and they seem to be finding more and more fantastic players to add to their roster. Having another solid netminder joining the team is good for everyone, and I like the additions up front. The Spartans needed a little more defence from their blue line, and the players they recruited should be solid two-way players in their times. This year's group may not put Trinity Western over the top, but they'll be very close if they aren't there. Could this be the season for TWU?

UBC Thunderbirds

Name	Current	Prv.	Pos	G/GAA	A/SV%
Tayah Wallace	Barrie	ON	F	14	16
Cassie Carvalho	Winnipeg Ice	MB	F	19	15
Payton Henwood	Balmoral Hall	MB	F	13	30
Kate Chuback	Balmoral Hall	MB	F	25	16
Maggie Rauckman	Battleford	SK	F	15	14
Sophie Brecht	Battleford	SK	F	6	10
Isabel Gollop	OHA Edmonton	AB	F	13	6
Alyssa Worsley	Shawnigan Lake	BC	D	3	18
Emma Kohl	Delta	BC	F	10	22
Ella Dunham-Fox	Edmonton	AB	G	1.03	.948
Anslei Thistle	St. Albert	AB	D	2	6
Anna Rose	ECDC Memmingen	DE	F	6	15
Leila Sinclair	Toronto Leaside	ON	D	4	22
Adriana Almeida	Winnipeg Avros	MB	G	2.04	.939
Hannah Dods	Lindenwood U.	MO	F	5	2

This is what a complete rebuild looks like after half of one's team graduates. Head coach Graham Thomas is bringing in all sorts of talent who can push for roster spots immediately, and we'll likely see the same growth over the next five years as his previous core group of players did in the previous five years. This group has scoring, it has tenacity, it has goaltending, it has speed, and they'll move the puck, but it still needs some maturity when running into disciplined teams. We'll have to see how this group settles, but UBC looks like they're building another dynasty with the talent they recruited this year.

Now you might be saying, "Teebz, this is barely any insight on these players coming into these teams," and you're correct. There's a reason for me not spending a lot of time in crunching numbers and looking at who may emerge with the best class of rookies, and it starts and ends with one organization's specific actions towards me:

Some will say that I've been pretty rough on Canada West over the years, and that's likely true. I have tried over and over and over and over again to work with Canada West to help elevate the status of their conference, its member teams, and all of the coaches, players, and staff that make up their league. Not once have they responded to any interaction I've tried to have with them, so I'm done trying. If they don't want the help, so be it. I have zero obligation to continue to support Canada West women's hockey in any way, shape, or form.

To everyone who enjoyed The Rundown on a weekly basis, it will make an appearance every now and again when needed, but it's painfully obvious that Canada West thinks it's doing a fine job with its efforts in promoting women's hockey and requires no help. For all of the stastical analyses I did and for all of the fun segments I added to The Rundown, no one at Canada West sees that as beneficial or helpful to sell their product, so I'm off the case as of right now.

Unless a bunch of athletes and coaches comment down below, the nine women's hockey programs are on their own when it comes to promotion and chatter about all the good the players and coaches do and all the interesting stats that make Canada West women's hockey so good. It's not like Canada West helps them in any way, so, as the old saying goes, "You never know what you have until it's gone."

Thanks for letting me have some fun, folks. Best of luck in the future.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!