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***CampinKiller*** · 10-03-2023, 06:25 PM

The S69 Montreal Patriotes were a dominant team, finishing the season with a franchise record in points and wins, with a record of 50-15-1. They finished 5 points out of 1st in the league from Winnipeg, but finished atop the brutal Eastern Conference and Northeast Division. This is their story.

First Half
The Patriotes were dominant in the first half, finishing their first 33 games with a 24-9 record, which was good for first in the league at the time. The Montreal team was beginning to reach its peak after a long climb at the bottom and middling in the league, eager to improve on their run to the Eastern Conference Finals in S67. At the halfway point of the season, the Patriotes were led in scoring not by their younger top line, but by their veteran second line of Rock Strongo, Marco Barengrub, and Friedensreich Hundertwasser. These experienced SHL forwards provided a huge help to the Patriotes in the first half, as their first line studs were held at bay early on. Another huge story in the first half of the season was Valerian Sauveterre, who started the majority of his games before the halfway mark, combining for a season record of 11-0-1 as Brick Wall's backup. Sauveterre didn't lose a single one of his starts before the halfway mark, a big contribution out of the backup spot.

Second Half
The Patriotes continued to dominate in the second half of the season, winning 26 games and setting the pace for the rest of the league until they faltered a bit down the stretch, just narrowly losing out on the President's Trophy. The first line really woke up for the Patriotes in the second half of the season, while the second line slowed down. For their part, the Patriotes were very evenly spread out in the point department, with 5 players scoring over 70 points, the highest being Sconnie McHits with 37 goals and 50 assists for 87 points. Brick Wall had another fantastic year, and would go on to win his second McBride trophy as the best goaltender in the league, posting a 40-13-1 record with a .911 save percentage and 2.59 GAA. The team finished the year 3rd in goals forced, with 301, and 2nd in goals against, with 169. It was a very well-built, all around team, with a top 5 PK% at 83.1% and a good PP% at 26.3%.

The Playoffs
Montreal very quickly went down 2-0 to a rebuilding Hamilton team, in the start that had the makings of a shocking upset. Thankfully the team woke up away from home, and the Patriotes would win four straight to move on to face the runners up in the division - a young but strong New England Wolfpack. Montreal took a two game lead quickly in the series, behind strong play at home from Brick Wall. When the Patriotes went on the road, the Wolfpack were able to tie it back up as Wall looked out of sorts. Heading into Game 5 of that series, the Patriotes were confident a change in venue would turn things around, but they thought wrong, as the Wolfpack hung seven on the Patriotes at home to take a 3-2 lead back to New England. Unfortunately for the team, Olof Karsikko would shut them down in game 6 on the road, stopping 35 of 37 shots and sending the Patriotes home empty handed in an upset.

While this team looked to be one that would be a Cup favorite for seasons to come, they would unfortunately find themselves running into New England in the second round twice more over the next few seasons - and losing both times before their window came to a close.

*CptSquall* · 10-07-2023, 10:22 AM

Approved.

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