LOTS OF POTENTIAL FOR UPSTART DRAGONS

ROSTER:

Mike Berta, Matt Baronak, Phil Mace, Jeremy Johnson, Alex Waddell, DJ Smith, Alex Gelfand

2007 STATISTICAL LEADERS (SKATERS):

Ø Points: Matt Braonak (61)

Ø Goals: Matt Baronak (47)

Ø Assists: Matt Baronak (14)

Ø PIM: Jeremy Johnson (24)

OFFENSE:

When you put Matt Baronak and Phil Mace on a team, you are bound to score goals. And the Dragons should be able to keep up with anyone offensively, if they can mesh together. The problem might be chemistry, especially early in the season, as they learn each other’s tendancies.

Mace is back in the league, after spending portions of two seasons with the Hitmen and Colonials. A motivated Mace will spell doom for the rest of the league, as he proved he can carry a team in 2003 as a member of the Hitmen. His hiatus will cause a little rust, but don’t look for it to last.

Baronak is also coming back after a season with the Maniax. With the Maniax, he was a solid player on a solid team, which means he didn’t stand out as much as he might with the Dragons. He can put up huge numbers, as he proved in 2001 when he led the league with 112.

DEFENSE:

This is a team that will go as far as their defense and goaltending takes them. And any goaltender can only be as good as his defense allows.

With two best defenseman awards to his credit, Jeremy Johnson will be the stalwart on the blueline, when he’s not playing net that is. When he does play in net, the team will need to play a steady game, with a focus on team defense. The addition of Alex Waddell will help a lot. He is an underrated defensive forward, with a very long reach, and should be a steady presence for the Dragons this year.

GOALTENDING:

The Dragons plan to rotate Jeremy Johnson and Alex Gelfand in their cage this season. Johnson is expected to get most of the starts, after all, that was one of the primary reasons he left the Rogue in the off-season.

Johnson won two Cups as a netminder and was solid in his first couple of seasons before changing positions. He is looking to regain that form after taking several years off.

Gelfand on the other hand, got a lot of experience with the Legion last year, after only experimenting with the position the year before with the Vandals. He needs more experience, but has shown glimmers of potential. He just needs the consistency that all goaltenders covet.

OUTLOOK:

It isn’t often that a new team in the league is one of the favorites to make the playoffs in their first season. But the Dragons aren’t your typical rookie team either. Not with the experience and talent that they bring to the table.

Despite that, the Dragons are a tough team to predict. If they can mesh together, and use their talent effectively as a unit, they are a team that could bring home the Cup. But they are also a team that will have to outperform one of last year’s four playoff teams, as well as fend off some much improved teams from last year as well. They also have a difficult schedule; one in which they will play the Rogue and Colonials three times (both teams made the Finals last year).

They have a lot of questions, but they have a lot of potential too. Which will rule the day?