The Woodstock Slammers have been busy reloading their roster in hopes of getting another shot at the national title.
For nearly a month, the defending Kent Cup champions have been making several trades and acquisitions in effort to rebuild their squad for the upcoming season.
The 2011-12 campaign for the Slammers was a successful one. They remained undefeated for nearly twenty consecutive games, and clinched their third consecutive President's Cup trophy, finishing the regular season with a 45-6-0-1 overall record.
Woodstock won their third Kent Cup on April 20th, defeating the Yarmouth Mariners 4-3 in triple overtime in game seven of the Kent Cup Finals. The Slammers had swept the Campbellton Tigers and Summerside Western Capitals in four games, but faced more of a challenge against the Mariners. However, the Slammers maintained a 12-3-0 playoff record.
At the Fred Page Cup in Kanata, Ontario the following week, the Slammers remained undefeated in preliminary play, defeating the host Kanata Stallions, Princeville Titans and Nepean Raiders in the prelim round and earning a berth to the final game. They beat Nepean yet again, claiming the regional title.
At the RBC Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, the Slammers faced an unprecedented challenge. But with a 1-3-0 record, they advanced to the national final, only to fall short late in the third period and lose 4-3 to the Penticton Vees. Though they finished only second in the nation, the Slammers proved their true capabilities and put Woodstock on the map. The Slammers were also the first non-host squad to reach the national final in their first RBC appearance.
Slammers head coach Jason Tatarnic says that they have found out what the RBC Cup is like, and would like to make it that far again.
"After you experience the RBC Cup, you want to get back and that's our goal," Tatarnic stated in a press release on the team's website. "Its our goal every year to make it to the RBC Cup. Our goal is to become a national champion."
"I'm pretty sure we opened some eyes out west to the level of our program. We will be busy in the off season recruiting players to help us achieve our goals."
Tatarnic said prior to the MHL draft in Yarmouth that they had some prospects they were consulting with.
"We have a couple of players that we have been in discussion with and it looks like they are coming our way," Tatarnic stated.
At the MHL draft held in Yarmouth on June 16th, the Slammers selected thirteen players and made four trades.
Bradley MacDonald was acquired from the newly-renamed Metro Shipbuilders (formerly Metro Marauders) in exchange for future considerations. The 20-year-old MacDonald has posted 38 goals and 52 assists in 187 games with the Halifax-based squad.
"Bradley will add offense and experience to our team," Tatarnic stated in an online press release of MacDonald's acquisition. "I've watched Bradley over the years and had the pleasure of coaching him at the World Under 17 tournament, and we know what we are getting in Bradley."
Ian Lewis was also acquired from the Shipbuilders in return for a fifth round pick and future considerations. In 52 games, Lewis scored 20 goals and assisted 25.
"[Ian] Lewis is another player that adds offense to our lineup, and we're happy to have him in Woodstock," Tatarnic said.
Defenseman Brandon Leonardo was dealt to Metro, along with list player Anderson Snair, in exchange for the rights to forward Brandon Hynes and d-man Stephen Gillard.
"We want to thank Brandon Leonardo for his time in Woodstock and wish him all the best in Metro," Tatarnic said.
The eighteen-year-old Leonardo failed to score but managed one assist in 23 regular season games, and failed to score or assist in one playoff game in 2011-12.
The Slammers selected Thomas Leonard of Rothesay first overall in the first round of the 2012 draft. The sixteen-year-old d-man stands 5'10" and weighs 177 lbs. Leonard scored four goals and posted five assists in 24 games with the Saint John Vitos Midget AAA squad.
A complete list of the Slammers' deals and draft picks will be posted in an upcoming post on The Shiretown Blogger.
2011-12 Season Background
The 2011-12 campaign for the Slammers was a successful one. They remained undefeated for nearly twenty consecutive games, and clinched their third consecutive President's Cup trophy, finishing the regular season with a 45-6-0-1 overall record.
Woodstock won their third Kent Cup on April 20th, defeating the Yarmouth Mariners 4-3 in triple overtime in game seven of the Kent Cup Finals. The Slammers had swept the Campbellton Tigers and Summerside Western Capitals in four games, but faced more of a challenge against the Mariners. However, the Slammers maintained a 12-3-0 playoff record.
 |
| Woodstock Slammers - 2012 Kent Cup Champions |
At the Fred Page Cup in Kanata, Ontario the following week, the Slammers remained undefeated in preliminary play, defeating the host Kanata Stallions, Princeville Titans and Nepean Raiders in the prelim round and earning a berth to the final game. They beat Nepean yet again, claiming the regional title.
 |
| Woodstock Slammers - 2012 Fred Page Cup Champions |
At the RBC Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, the Slammers faced an unprecedented challenge. But with a 1-3-0 record, they advanced to the national final, only to fall short late in the third period and lose 4-3 to the Penticton Vees. Though they finished only second in the nation, the Slammers proved their true capabilities and put Woodstock on the map. The Slammers were also the first non-host squad to reach the national final in their first RBC appearance.
Slammers head coach Jason Tatarnic says that they have found out what the RBC Cup is like, and would like to make it that far again.
"After you experience the RBC Cup, you want to get back and that's our goal," Tatarnic stated in a press release on the team's website. "Its our goal every year to make it to the RBC Cup. Our goal is to become a national champion."
"I'm pretty sure we opened some eyes out west to the level of our program. We will be busy in the off season recruiting players to help us achieve our goals."
MHL Draft
Tatarnic said prior to the MHL draft in Yarmouth that they had some prospects they were consulting with.
"We have a couple of players that we have been in discussion with and it looks like they are coming our way," Tatarnic stated.
At the MHL draft held in Yarmouth on June 16th, the Slammers selected thirteen players and made four trades.
Bradley MacDonald was acquired from the newly-renamed Metro Shipbuilders (formerly Metro Marauders) in exchange for future considerations. The 20-year-old MacDonald has posted 38 goals and 52 assists in 187 games with the Halifax-based squad.
"Bradley will add offense and experience to our team," Tatarnic stated in an online press release of MacDonald's acquisition. "I've watched Bradley over the years and had the pleasure of coaching him at the World Under 17 tournament, and we know what we are getting in Bradley."
Ian Lewis was also acquired from the Shipbuilders in return for a fifth round pick and future considerations. In 52 games, Lewis scored 20 goals and assisted 25.
"[Ian] Lewis is another player that adds offense to our lineup, and we're happy to have him in Woodstock," Tatarnic said.
Defenseman Brandon Leonardo was dealt to Metro, along with list player Anderson Snair, in exchange for the rights to forward Brandon Hynes and d-man Stephen Gillard.
 |
| Leonardo |
The eighteen-year-old Leonardo failed to score but managed one assist in 23 regular season games, and failed to score or assist in one playoff game in 2011-12.
The Slammers selected Thomas Leonard of Rothesay first overall in the first round of the 2012 draft. The sixteen-year-old d-man stands 5'10" and weighs 177 lbs. Leonard scored four goals and posted five assists in 24 games with the Saint John Vitos Midget AAA squad.
A complete list of the Slammers' deals and draft picks will be posted in an upcoming post on The Shiretown Blogger.
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