Halifax Floor Hockey League
One interesting stipulation was that players that came "pre-packaged" with friends, would cost the team that picked them their subsequent selection in the draft. For example, LAN Hackers captain John Dulong decided to protect John Price who came packaged with rookie prospect Matt Monk. By protecting Price, Dulong also acquired Monk, but forfeited his first round draft choice.
The Sunnydale Slayers had first choice in the draft as a result of their tragic last place finish last season. Returning to captaincy for the Slayers was the team's founder Paul Chui. Chui quickly snapped up the ex-Hacker record-smasher Sean Currie with his first pick. Chui, inheriting a team that was last in scoring last season (less than 10 goals per game), was obviously looking to improve on scoring punch. "Currie brings a new dimension to the Slayers that we've never had before", began Chui, "he's scores goals...on the opposing team!"
Keane Chill captain Michael Griffiths took an alternative approach to the draft. Sensing that some goaltenders in the league were itching to take some games off during the season, Griffiths selected two of the top backup goaltenders in the league: ex-Slayer starter Peter Rankin and ex-Sabre starter Ryan MacDonald. MacDonald, once a league leading goalie in the 1999B season, has spent the last two season in the rival EDS floor hockey league. No word on whether he will be put between the pipes at some point during the season.
Griffiths backstop picks have left the Lite-Sabres, the Keane Fire and the Slayers without proven backups. One league insider reportedly overheard Griffiths refer to his draft strategy as "phase 1", and that "phase 2" would involve attempts to injure other goaltenders around the league.
The regular season begins Tuesday night at the Needham Center.