(MJHL) Addison Division preview......

Winnipeg Saints
48-11-0
1st in division

Last year, the Saints scored 381 goals. With the loss of MJHL leading scorer Dan Watt and supporting cast Rejean Carrier, Blair Macaulay, Jordan DePape and outstanding defenceman Scott Macaulay, the Saints will be hard pressed to repeat last year's offensive output.
"Losing good players is the nature of junior hockey," says Keith Cassidy, who steps behind the Saints bench after three years as head coach of Selkirk Steelers. "We had key losses, but other players will have the opportunity to step in and show what they can do."

Cassidy admits his philosophy has always been strong defensive play. "Not to take away from offensive attacks, but I've always wanted my teams to work hard defensively," he says.

Key battles to watch over the next couple of weeks will be in goal and along the blueline, says Cassidy.

New Faces

•Matt Glowa (forward)
•Keith Mitchell (defence)
•Tyler Wiwchar (forward)
•Dustin Bruyere (forward)
Veterans to Watch

•Craig Simchuk (forward)
•Cole Pruden (forward)
•Tim Hayduk (forward)
•Christian Peloquin (goal)
•Derek Whitehill (defence)

Selkirk Steelers
45-17-0
2nd in division

It would be an understatement to say the Steelers have some rebuilding to do. Lost to graduation are long-time players Adam Pleskach, Russ Payne and Blair Hawes. Last year's top MJHL goaltender Alan Armour has also moved on due to age.
The Steelers also lost another key member of their attack, forward Colan Jackson, who opted to miss his final junior season and enroll at University of Guelph, where he's hoping to catch on with their hockey team.

"We have our challenges, but we're focusing on the positives and the players who are at our camp," said head coach Ryan Smith, who enters his first season behind the Steelers bench.

Smith ended last season as head coach of Winnipeg South Blues.

"It's really not a big adjustment moving from one club to another," says Smith, an MJHL alumnus (St. James Canadians). "It's a situation of me getting to know the players and them getting to know me."

New Faces

•Joel Ridgeway (forward)
•Robin Thomson (defence)
•Craig Scott (forward)
Veterans to Watch

•Josh Schappert (forward)
•Wes Pawluk (forward)
•Lucas Alexiuk (defence)
•Joel Rewucki (goal)

Winkler Flyers
33-25-2
3rd in division

Despite having a wealth of veteran talent, head coach Mark Thiessen is cautiously optimistic about his club heading into the 2009-10 season.
"We knew we had a very special group of '89s," Thiessen says of his veteran lineup. "We're optimistic, but we're always very aware that potential on paper is much different than actually getting the job done."

"We'll remind out players how hard it is to win and how hard it is to win at a consistent pace in this league."

New Faces

•Brock Genyk (forward)
•Seth Ronsbert (forward)
•Shael Hechter (forward)
Veterans to Watch

•Nick Lazorko (forward)
•Jordan Peters (forward)
•Michael Wilgosh (forward)
•Scott Hellyer (goal)

Winnipeg South Blues
20-42-0
4th in division

Fact: the Blues missed the playoffs last year. Fact: the Blues have a solid, veteran group of players this season.
Combine those two facts and one arrives at the same conclusion: the Blues want to redeem themselves and make the playoffs this season.

The biggest move the Blues did during the off season was the hiring of GM/head coach Don MacGillivray, who is no stranger to the MJHL having last guided the Portage Terriers to the ANAVET cup.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead," said MacGillivray, who spent the last several seasons coaching University of Manitoba Bisons. "We've got a good group of players ... it will be a matter of getting them to buy into our systems and strategies."

New Faces

•Brendan O'Donnell (forward)
•Connor Cleverley (forward)
•Zach Franko (forward)
•Matt Vis (defence)
Veterans to Watch

•Troy Smukowich (forward)
•Evan Gravenor (forward)
•Adam Stoykewych (forward)
•Brent Poplawski (defence)
•Peter Stoykewich (defence)

Steinbach Pistons (relocated from Beausejour)
6-52-2
5th in division

Teaching. Patience. New start. These are the key words in the Pistons' camp this season.
"Our goal is battle hard every night," first-year Piston coach Rich Gosselin says of his team. "We're all looking at this as a new start. We're optimistic that this organization is making all the right moves to be competitive and exciting. We all know it's going to take time, but we believe we're off to the right start."

Gosselin brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Pistons after a successful playing/coaching career in Switzerland. He knows he'll have to be patient with a team still finding its identity.

New Faces

•Kyle Rous (defence)
•Connor Sisson (defence)
•Landon Hall (defence)
•Addison Herosian (goal)
•Eric Coulombe (forward)
•Mike Gemmill (forward)
•Kyle Czop (goal)
•TJ Pocock (goal)
Veterans to Watch

•Josh Eason (forward)
•Jordan Beardy (forward)
•Keith Grondin (forward)
•Josh Duyns (defence)
•Kyle Harty (forward)
•Robbie McCarthy (forward)

Information from: http://www.mjhlhockey.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=1515