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*Eggcracker* · 03-29-2023, 02:47 PM

“The longest night is over”, they say, the rebuild is done in Yukon. The team has turned a new page and is looking to climb the standings and become a contender. Some may have their doubts as S69 was by far the worst season in the young franchise’s history so far, with only 19 wins and 39 points to show for their effort.

However, with the most recent offseason and draft, there have been rumblings of big changes in store for the Malamutes; the culture, the locker room, the systems, and the roster itself. The team has shown it can compete with the best teams, but only if they are firing on all cylinders. Consistency has been something the young team has been struggling to find, and it showed on the score sheet last season, often times being shut out by the opposition and then scoring 5+ goals the next night.

Coming into season 70, the Yukon Malamutes have definitely improved on all fronts. Boasting the 2nd best defensive core in the SMJHL, and majority of them in their 1st or 2nd year only, so they will only get better. The offence is the area that the Malamutes management is looking to improve drastically this season, scoring depth, zone control, and finishing scoring chances will all play into how they tackle the consistency problem from last season.

If all goes to plan, the Yukon Malamutes should be a bubble team this season, making the playoffs and maybe fighting their way into the second round or deeper. Surely they as a group are looking to take a step forward after the disappointment of last season, only time will tell.

Here is the projected roster for the S70 Yukon Malamutes:
Note: TPE/stat rankings as of Mar. 19, 2023

[S68] Edvin Kalberg - 2nd line LD (Last SMJHL season)
Edvin Kalberg | SHL Index
6ft7in | 243 lbs
S69 - G:2 | A:15 | +/-:-19
GA:19 | TA:20 | BLK:131 | HIT:61
GR:58 | OGR:51 | DGR:64
TPE: 410
@Pythonic

Coming into season 70, Edvin Kalberg is the lone (active) veteran on the Malamutes. He has had a solid SMJHL career so far as a reliable defensive presence for Yukon. Entering into his last season in the J, Edvin Kalberg is hoping to bounce back from a slight dip in production in S69. The league was not kind to the Yukon Malamutes and Edvin Kalberg last season, seeing regressions in all statistical categories, except for face-offs won which is an unexpected surprise out from left field for a D-man. However, in the offseason Edvin has returned to the training facilities and unbanked from 219 to 410 TPE, nearing the cap for a veteran. This influx of training has vastly increased his performance and abilities on the ice, so the 2nd defensive unit should see a drastic improvement for this season.

Even with the drop in production last season, Kalberg still led the team in blocked shots with 131, as he did in S68 as well. You can expect that trend to continue this season as he is expected to set an example for the young D core still finding their stride in the league. Edvin Kalberg is primed for a career year and if he continues his growth, he will surely hit the cap and look to push for a spot in the SHL next season.

[S69] Happy Gilmore - 3rd line LW
Happy Gilmore | SHL Index
6ft3in | 225 lbs
S69 - G:11 | A:23 | +/-:-24
GA:29 | TA:53 | BLK:31 | HIT:85
GR:64 | OGR:59 | DGR:69
TPE: 252
@LucidDreams702

Happy Gilmore’s SMJHL career has not gone the way most had hoped so far. His development has stagnated the past 2 seasons and many wondered if this was it? Has he hit his ceiling? For S70, the Malamutes coaching and development staff tried a different approach with players, and it is seeing some progress. Gilmore is hitting the gym, attending team training, and seems to have found his spark again. After an impressive rookie campaign, followed up by a disappointing sophomore season, the team is looking for Happy Gilmore to turn his career around and provide some much needed scoring depth.

The locker room is excited to see the renewed effort from Happy Gilmore and hopefully this enthusiasm rubs off on the new rookies coming into the season. The Malamutes will need all hands on deck if they are to turn the corner on the rebuild and finally become a contending team.

[S69] Clint Clampton - 1st line RD
Clint Clampton | SHL Index
6ft1in | 190 lbs
S69 - G:14 | A:17 | +/-:-44
GA:17 | TA:76 | BLK:71 | HIT:113
GR:68 | OGR:65 | DGR:70
TPE: 510
@HanTheMan_

Another veteran returning for their 3rd season for Yukon, Clint Clampton has quietly had a successful S69 campaign. Clapton is the only player on the team that had not had a dip in production last season, he had improved in most statistics and looks to carry that improvement into season 70 as well. Clint Clampton will be taking full advantage of the TPE cap rising in his 3rd season, fully unloading and training hard during the offseason, he is expected to start the season as a strong anchor on the back end for the team.

With the forward group still developing, look for Clint to lead the strong D core and hopefully steal a few wins for the team when the scoring is lacking. He will be an important piece for the next 2 seasons if Yukon is looking to challenge for the championship.

[S69] Ray Alexander - 1st line RW
Ray Alexander | SHL Index
6ft4in | 183 lbs
S69 - G:18 | A:21 | +/-:-32
GA:66 | TA:37 | BLK:14 | HIT:127
GR:69 | OGR:67 | DGR:67
TPE: 467
@TheRoyalEmpoleon

The Assistant Captain, the team's son, Ray Alexander has become an integral part of the Malamutes roster, culture, and identity. He was 1st in goals and tied for 2nd in points on the team last season, and is currently 2nd in total points among active players on the roster. This consistency is exactly what the Malamutes are looking for. The team is looking for Alexander to continue to be a leader in the locker room, and on the ice.

Like his fellow draft classmates, Ray will be raising his TPE cap and he has already been hard at work training to enter the season at the top of his game. If he continues his upward trajectory, we can expect him to take the 1st spot in points among active players.

[S70] Sydney Shaw - 1st line LD
Sydney Shaw | SHL Index
6ft | 205 lbs
S69 - G:3 | A:10 | +/-:-35
GA:17 | TA:67 | BLK:95 | HIT:102
GR:61 | OGR:54 | DGR:69
TPE: 380
@BadWolf

The captain of the Yukon Malamutes is coming into her 2nd campaign with an eventful offseason in the rearview. After being one of the only players in recent memory drafted 1st Overall in both SMJHL and SHL drafts, she definitely has all eyes on her to see if she can live up to the hype. Sydney Shaw brings stability and reliability to the back end for Yukon, she is a stay at home defencewoman who makes a living creating havoc for the opposition. While the role she plays does not necessarily translate to highlight reel goals or flashy assists, it is what she brings to the locker room that is truly what makes her great.

Already capped out coming into her sophomore season, we can expect a defensive masterclass from Shaw, and maybe some added production as well. The team is in good hands and is headed in the right direction with Sydney Shaw in the captain’s seat.

[S70] Josh Latreille - 1st line C
Josh Latreille | SHL Index
5ft10in | 190 lbs
S69 - G:4 | A:11 | +/-:-37
GA:74 | TA:20 | BLK:32 | HIT:114
GR:66 | OGR:57 | DGR:63
TPE: 378
@Josh Latreille

Josh had really stepped into his role as resident tough guy during S69, to add to that, he has been hitting the gym hard in the offseason to prepare for his sophomore season. Training hard and filling out his 5’10 frame, although not the biggest in the league, he can definitely hang with the big boys. He has worked on both offensive and defensive sides of his game, giving him more depth in terms of the threat he brings night in and night out. With the tremendous growth in his game, the staff has promoted him to center the 1st line with Alexander and Wong on his wings.

He is spending the remainder of the offseason back in Ottawa with his brother and father, as the league is now officially a family affair with Andre Latreille joining brother Kyle at GFG in the most recent SMJHL draft. He will definitely have the YUM vs GFG game days circled on his calendar.

[S70] Alvin Wong - 1st line RW
Alvin Wong | SHL Index
6ft | 180 lbs
S69 - G:17 | A:22 | +/-:-24
GA:42 | TA:31 | BLK:32 | HIT:112
GR:75 | OGR:75 | DGR:71
TPE: 392
@Eggcracker9

Serving as an Assistant Captain for the Malamutes has been a tremendous experience for Wong in his first season in the SMJHL. He looks to continue his development on and off the ice this offseason. He was not happy with his results in S69 and wanted to contribute more production this season, and has been working closely with the coaching staff to develop his skills. Wong has sacrificed some defensive responsibilities along with playmaking to make the switch over as a sniper to complement fellow linemate and Assistant Captain Ray Alexander’s playmaking abilities.

While he led the team in overall game rating last season, we will probably see a drop there as he focuses on producing more offensively. With his growth in the locker room and on the ice, Wong is serious about bringing a cup to Yukon before his time in the SMJHL is up.

[S70] Sven Petterson - 2nd line RD
Sven Petterson | SHL Index
5ft9in | 180 lbs
S69 - G:4 | A:10 | +/-:-48
GA:21 | TA:38 | BLK:118 | HIT:83
GR:61 | OGR:57 | DGR:64
TPE: 284
@SledgehammerPete

Sven Petterson, or Petey as his teammates call him in the locker room, has steadily become one of the most reliable defensemen in the league. Petterson leads the team in blocked shots during preseason, and he will be given extra responsibilities this season as he is projected to move up to the 2nd line. With a stronger defensive presence, the team will look to keep pucks out of the net as the team was 4th worst last season, Petey will be an important part of that effort.

Although his development wasn’t at the same pace as his fellow draftmates, sometimes defensemen take a little longer to mature and develop to their full potential. The management team is optimistic as Sven Petterson is still active in training sessions and is a valuable voice in the locker room.

[S70] Don Aven - 3rd line C
Don Aven | SHL Index
6ft2in | 190 lbs
S69 - G:16 | A:33 | +/-:-10
GA:60 | TA:52 | BLK:48 | HIT:107
GR:69 | OGR:60 | DGR:77
TPE: 242
@Novanod

Don Aven is looking to follow up an amazing rookie season during S70. While leading the team in points and assists in his debut season, Don was a bright light during a dark season for the Yukon Malamutes. He played in all situations and was an impact at both ends of the ice, resulting in a team leading -10 rating.

The pressure of following up his rookie season may have gotten to Don Aven, as he has not been seen in training or the locker room since the offseason began. Aven has notified the team that there are some off ice issues he is currently dealing with at the moment, and his teammates, coaches, and staff all eagerly await his return.

[S70] Austin Doumakis - 2nd line C
Austin Doumakis | SHL Index
6ft | 190 lbs
S69 - G:10 | A:5 | +/-:-35
GA:47 | TA:41 | BLK:24 | HIT:63
TPE: 338
@Shmeeterson

Austin Doumakis has been a staple on the Malamute’s 2nd line since his rookie season. He looks to build upon his first season in the league by improving his production, which shouldn’t be too hard as he has been training very hard in the offseason and is expected to hit the TPE cap early in the regular season. Doumakisis is joined by newcomers Jordan Tanner and Theodore Svatos flanking him on the 2nd line, the new linemates may take a few games to find chemistry, but it has the makings of a great line.

[S70] Asher Gibbons - Starting G
Asher Gibbons | SHL Index
5ft9in | 185 lbs
W:5 | L:27 | OTL:1
GAA:4.1 | SV%:.880 | GR:67
TPE: 267
@c0ntraiL

After being signed as a free agent halfway through S69, Asher Gibbons has quickly established himself as Yukons #1 goaltender, winning the spot over both Joel Farfalle, and Ryan Burton. Joining midway through the season has its challenges, and Gibbons had some growing pains and lessons learned along the way. But with the chance to take advantage of a full offseason and preseason training this time around, Asher is expected to start the season strong and show the league why he is a top goalie prospect.

With a stronger defence and offence playing in front of him, there will be less nights where Gibbons needs to stand on his head to squeak out a win. We can expect Asher to continue his growth and development with less pressure on his shoulders to be the one to win games for the team.

[S71]Furious Chicken - 3rd line LD
Furious Chicken | SHL Index
1st Round - 13th Overall
6ft11in | 200lb
TPE: 237
@FuriousChicken

Furious Chicken has quickly become a fan favourite during the preseason, what’s there not to love? It is a 6 foot 11 inch, 200 pound chicken that plays hockey. On the ice, he has made an immediate impact during preseason sitting 3rd on the team in hits and defensive rating. If he shows he can continue this effort in the regular season, he will definitely be a homerun 1st round pick for the Malamutes.

Chicken is your prototypical shutdown defenseman, with the size and the strength to back it up. He is already leading his draft class in progress and improvement, if the trend continues he will be knocking on the door of the 2nd or even the 1st unit come the end of his rookie season.

[S71] Jordan Tanner - 2nd line LW
Jordan Tanner | SHL Index
3rd Round - 29th Overall
TPE: 212
@jtanner20

Already a frontrunner for the Howl Award (Loudest voice in LR), Jordan Tanner has been a breath of fresh air to the Malamutes franchise, he is charismatic and unfiltered and his teammates love him for it. Jordan had a chip on his shoulder coming into his rookie campaign, when the news hit him that he wasn’t drafted in the first round.

During the preseason, Tanner has picked up 2 goals (1 game winner) in 7 contests. Although lines and roles may be juggled come the regular season, Jordan has shown he can finish when given the opportunity. The coaching staff are eager to see if they have a draft steal in Jordan Tanner. In addition, Tanner likes to donate plasma on a regular basis, he claims it's for the "free money", but we all know he's a big softie at heart, no wonder he is best friends with Alvin Wong.

[S71] Donny Dangle - 3rd line RW
Donny Dangle | SHL Index
6ft2in | 192 lbs
4th Round - 44th Overall
TPE: 211
@JT2187

Donny Dangle has hit the ground running and has had a great impact on the team. Already picking up 6 points (2G, 4A) in 7 preseason games, if this is any indication of what’s to come for his SHL career, he may see his draft stock skyrocket come the end of the season. “You can take the boy out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy”, Dangle has traded in his cow and chicken farm for malamutes and elk, bringing his expertise and helping the team tend to the livestock, the locker room now looks forward to Elk burger day every Friday.

As a 4th round pick and going almost a point-per game pace in the preseason came as a surprise to everyone but the scouting department. If Donny Dangles continues his development the way the coaching staff predicts, he will have a long and successful career ahead of him.

[S71] Might-go IA - 3rd line RD
Might-go IA | SHL Index
6ft | 200 lbs
FA Signing
TPE: 155
@Dindog

As his name might suggest, it may take a little longer for Might-go IA to get ramped up to mid-season form. However, the team has been pleasantly surprised by his commitment as he has practised hard at weekly team trainings and has also enlisted the help of high performance coaches to take his game to the next level.

Being a late entry into the SMJHL S71 class may have been a blessing in disguise as Might-go IA has been a great fit in the Malamutes system so far. He has his work cut out for him as the all rookie duo of IA and Chicken anchor the 3rd pairing, it may be tough for them to find their groove at first, but once they do, watch out!

[S71] Theodore Svatos - 2nd line RW
Theodore Svatos | SHL Index
6ft1in | 195 lbs
Via Trade
2nd Round - 16th Overall (Detroit Falcons)
TPE: 227
@HabsFanFromOntario

Joining the Yukon Malamutes via trade from the Detroit Falcons, Theodor Svatos is a highly touted prospect that the team has been bidding for since his availability was announced. Traded for Dan Geer and a S71 1st round pick, Svatos is definitely worth the price of admission. He has fit into the line up and locker room seamlessly, providing some leadership and stability on the 2nd line. The team is looking forward to seeing what he can do on the ice.

Svatos comes from a long line of storied hockey players in his family, and following in their footsteps we will see if he ends up in Edmonton (SHL) when his time in the SMJHL is done. Hopefully before then, there will be a few Four Star Cups with his name on it.

The Yukon Malamutes have solidified their core, we will see how they progress this season, will they make a push past the first round, or is there more learning and growing in store for the team?

P.S. @Fluw for GMOTY

Site Word Count: 3327
Google Word Count: 3066

***Fluw*** · 03-29-2023, 03:09 PM

EBEBEB

***BadWolf*** · 03-29-2023, 03:37 PM

EBEBEB! Good stuff!

HabsFanFromOntario · 03-29-2023, 03:39 PM

Let's go YUK!

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