NORSEMEN A PART OF HEAVY CANOSA CONF

[COPENHAGEN | DENMARK]

        With the 2015 CCHL Canosa Conference playing out like the NL Central Division in Major League Baseball did in 2015, the Minnesota Norsemen are preparing daily for what is expected to be a dog fight all season to come out on top of.

        "As teams were lining up in the offseason, it was obvious then that we were in a highly competitive conference," said Norsemen GM Blake Wendt. "As we've crossed that 10-game threshold, you're really starting to see how much parity there is in the Canosa. It's great to have the competition. Any victory is hard fought and well deserved. Makes every team that much tougher on each other and wield the sword when we get into inter-conference play."

        Currently sitting atop the Canosa Conference, the Norsemen are 9-2-1 (19 points). Only one point ahead of the Victoria Ronin and five points from the sixth-ranked Georgetown Millers in the conference.

        "The talent is immense," said Norsemen head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "We face it every game, so we have to come into every game dialed in and ready to go with a game plan. As a coaching staff we have to formulate a pre-plan that reflects the given opponent, adjust in-game and the players execute the plan. The team across from you is doing the same thing, so it's a constant battle. 'W' goes to the one who wants it more or gets the lucky bounces."

        Minnesota found early on what was working with their group and what was not. Special teams was a sore subject in the pre-season and leaked into the regular season. "We were not panicked by the lack of production on the power play and penalty kill," said Wendt. "But there just wasn't much clicking for the first few games with any of the coach Hartsburg's lineup selections. We hope that with the moves we have made recently, that we can iron that part out of our game and let these units be successful."

        The most recent move the Norsemen made specifically addressed the man advantage. Acquiring Clarke MacArthur from the Springfield Homers. MacArthur at the time was leading the league with four power play goals, and the Homers with ten points. Prior to the MacArthur deal, Wendt picked up penalty killers and defensive specialists in Jay McClement, Cedric Paquette and Rob Scuderi from the Portland Owls.

        "Clarke has a knack for success on the PP so far this season," said assistant coach Dean McAmmond who runs the teams power play. "The struggle will be fitting him into the everyday lineup with all the guys we have that play the left side. But he's a pretty good all-around player and teammate that we feel can adapt to whatever situation we put him in. He's got the right mentality for this group. On the PK side of things, the guys that just came in are a really good mix of talent that again gives us so many more options. McClement is good on draws and a polished penalty killer. Paquette is a young guy that has some sand paper to his game. Good hands and very good on the defensive side of the puck for his age. He should play a big role with this club for many many years. Scud is just a really good shutdown d-man. He has the ability to control his zone, and when paired a more puck moving guy, he can be apart of a nice third option in the pairings." Scuderi has so far played with Jonas Brodin since being acquired.

        Big test for the Norsemen comes again on Saturday in Copenhagen when they take on the defending back-to-back Kehler Cup champs. Minnesota beat the Crusaders 4-3 in their last meeting. But the champs are coming off a 3-3 tie against the winless Ice Cats.

        "We know they're going to come out swinging," said assistant coach Phil Housley. "I think it was a bit of a shock for everyone that seen Siberia play with them like they did. So we will have to be ready ourselves just from an adrenaline stand point right off the bat. They're at home, it's obviously a big game for both teams and we will have to weather the storm and play our game, dictate the tempo and try to quiet their house that will for sure be rocking.

SAILS ON THE HORIZON

[SAINT PAUL | MINNESOTA]
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For the second year in a row since moving south from Thunder Bay, the Minnesota Norsemen missed out on the CCHL playoffs.
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While in the thick of a rebuild, the pain of an early start to the offseason has been unbearable to a hockey mad fan base that deserves a winner and an ultra-competitive general manager that feels the time is now to turn the corner with his hockey club.
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"Without completely dismantling what we have built in regards to a young, strong base. We gauged where were in the league, what other teams would possibly be doing in the offseason, and how we move up another level," said Norsemen GM Blake Wendt. "We feel we have an opportunity to make some noise and punch some teams in the throat."
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The first swing came on April 4th, when both Daniel Sedin and Jakub Voracek were acquired.
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Sedin from Siberia with prospect defenseman Joe Faust for Nick Bonino and prospects Nic Kerdiles, Oskar Lindblom, Laurent Brossoit, Blake Coleman and Derek Forbort.
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Voracek and $2M from Calgary for Nino Niederreiter and prospect goalie, John Gibson
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A flurry of trades in the league also took place in the next few days, and the Norsemen were equal players in the continued transactions.
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April 6th, Minnesota sent Jakub Silfverberg, Zach Redmond and $1M to Calgary for the other half of the split Sedin egg, Daniel.
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April 13th, the twins weren't enough in the Twin Cities, and former Minnesota Gopher, Phil Kessel was acquired from Springfield for Valeri Nichushkin and prospects Ryan Dzingel and Myles Bell.
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Another significant player was acquired during this time as well. But that transaction cannot be announced until after the CCHL Entry Draft.
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The Norsemen then cut some fat off their roster and dealt Joffrey Lupul and his remaining contract, plus Justin Fontaine and $5M to Hamilton for $1. That dollar was then given to the Herb Brooks Olympia head Zamboni driver.
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Hoping to be big players in the annual UFA bidding wars, Wendt was not able to land the major pieces in the first round of bidding.
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"The prices are always high during this period," said Wendt. "But this year seemed to be extremely high. In a lot of cases, we were not even close when we threw a number in the hat that was already over payment in or eyes. There will be some teams will be hurting financially for a long time. But if you get a Cup out of that spending, then it's all worth it. We just weren't in a position to pay the prices that were ultimately paid."
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Minnesota did get depth value in the remaining rounds of bidding though. In the second round, center Patrik Berglund and goalie Mike Smith were picked up. Berglund likely a fourth line center and Smith backing up Roberto Luongo next season.
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Forward Viktor Stalberg and defenseman Luca Sbisa were added in the third and forth rounds. Stalberg likely to be an emergency call-up from Duluth and Sbisa possibly fighting for a third pairing job. But likely practice squad or in Duluth.
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All in all, this has so far been a very busy offseason in the State of Hockey. With only two late round picks in the upcoming Entry Draft, the summer is basically here for the hockey operations staff already.
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"It's a skeleton crew for sure in regards to the Draft," said Wendt. Unless something comes in that blows us away, I think we're set where we are in the Draft. Anything is possible with trades as well. But we like who we have in here right now, and it shouldn't look that much different when we break camp in September and get going in October. I think we've put together a group that can do some damage next season. For now though, it's time to hit the water and land some fish"

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