If you have seen this team play you can understand why this might be a reality. Chicago is truly talented and extremely aggressive. If you have seen any of the games or played Chicago you know they don’t back down and if you have the puck on the boards be ready to receive a hit. As this team continues to improve, and line chemistry is perfected only good things can happen.
Team scoring leaders include Nick Winkler, Chris Ancona and Brad Thomas, with strong support scoring and defensively from Aaron Hendrick and improving TC Adriano. Josh Arenson is as scrappy as it gets, and Zack Lane is a wall followed by strong goaltending from Jeff Osborn. Third liners perform as well every shift they get with PP goals from Matt Meeuween and Todd Lafferty.
Look at what Chicago has done in just a few short months. 1) a brand new Expansion team was created and is stable. 2) they competed out of the gate challenging one of the top teams in the gateway, however losing to the Cobra’s in their first two games, they did compete and had an overtime loss. It wasn’t until the second day that Chicago took its first two points against the Snipers, in an overtime win.
The following weekends games had Chicago heading back to St. Louis to play the Tornados at home, although you can see some “car legs” in the first game Chicago set the tone and split the games. The second day was similar with Chicago getting some more points.
The first home set featured Chicago and the cobra’s for 4 games although the cobra’s didn’t have a full team, it’s unfair to say that the minor team had it easy as many of the players that did show up were minor guys with a few pro’s mixed in. Also the Cobra’s pro goalie was in net for all the contests. Chicago went 3-1 that weekend and continued to move up the standings.
If all goes well the improving Chicago minor team has a chance to take many of the upcoming games as the Tornados meet this weekend with Chicago in Chicago, and have to adjust to the 5 + hour drive and skate. Chicago can take 4 points here.
Next Chicago has to play the Snipers and the Monkeys, a split at best with the snipers and a sweep of the monkey’s that weekend then another 4 games in Cincy will move Chicago to 2nd in the Gateway.
Chicago will have to play the River rats in St. Louis to finish off the season and by that point they should be fully ready for any team.
Heading into the Playoffs in 2nd place will warrant home court advantage and could prove to be the necessary environment to make it to the next round and eventually the championships.
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Originally Posted by CoachClipboard
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