The Southern Hockey League doesn’t have much of an off-season anymore.

Sure, the paint is dry on the Grand Lake Thrashers winning the SHL regular season title, its playoff crown and a Hockey New Brunswick flag for good measure, but there’s a lot of work to be done to shore up the program for 2008-09.

“It used to be leagues would determine a champion in March and then you wouldn’t talk about hockey until September,” said SHL president Sheldon Currie, who will return for his third year at the helm. “Now, we have to stay on top of league matters throughout the spring and summer leading into fall. Every year at the senior A level brings change, new ideas and how to improve what we believe is an outstanding league. We’re not sitting back.”

In fact, the SHL has already met with team management to explore options for next season.

For the first time in the league’s eight-year history, it has developed a working committee to explore a number of league aspects.

John Hyslop, the general manager of the St. Stephen Seahawks, will chair that committee.

“It’s not about Mr. Hyslop sitting down with some of his fellow general managers because we consider that to be a little repetitive,” said Currie. “Instead we’re going to have an interesting mix on the steering committee. We’ll have individuals from the SHL, but also bring in other hockey personalities, officials and players within the province.”

Some of the key areas under the microscope will be player safety and the present SHL constitution. Constitutional changes can only be motioned and altered at the league’s annual general meeting which will be tentatively held June 14.

“We’re going to go over a number of scenarios which also includes our draft system,” said Currie. “Written submissions will be made to the chair for the present teams. The board of directors will ideally review a final report including recommendations prior to our AGM.”

The SHL is the only league in the province to host a player draft system. Teams select in reverse order of last season’s finish unless trades have altered that sequence. The draft system was initially introduced to the league in 2000-01 to ensure all teams were on relative equal footing after stocking rosters with 12 players at large. The draft system also initially had a high-end player designation.

Meanwhile, the SHL has also received one official inquiry about potential expansion.

That will also be discussed at the AGM.

Provincial Senior "A" Hockey Results

The Grand Lake Thrashers kept their undefeated post-season record in tact this afternoon after sweeping their league championships to get here! They had a close scare in the first game against Cap Pele taking double-overtime to settle the tilt but in the rematch today for the crown they picked it up another notch and defeated them 9-5.

Kyle Werner had 2 goals and 3 assists in the game and Jeff Wilson was named the tournament MVP. The Thrashers outshot Cap Pele 68-23 for the championship win.

Grand Lake Leaders:

• Kyle Werner: 6 goals & 7 assists = 13 points
• Adam Nelson: 7 goals & 4 assists = 11 points
• Jeff Wilson: 7 goals & 3 assists = 10 points
• Luc Cormier: 1 goals & 7 assists = 8 points
• Mike Vaughan: 2nd overall with a 4.49 gaa.

Thrashers Represent SHL in Provincial Senior A Hockey Showdown

The Grand Lake Thrashers were the best team in New Brunswick Senior A hockey circles a year ago.

The Southern Hockey League Thrashers cruised to their second straight SHL crown last week, sweeping the Black's Harbour Silverkings in the best-of-seven final. In fact, Grand Lake is 8-0 in the playoffs including a four game sweep of the River Valley Rock during semifinal action.

Now, Grand Lake takes its act up the river to compete in the Hockey New Brunswick senior championship unfolding Wednesday through Sunday at the River Valley Community Centre.

The Thrashers have added high scoring forwards Adam Bradley of the Fredericton Hilltop Budlights and Adam Nelson of the St. Stephen Seahawks. Senior hockey veteran Todd Baird has been added to bolster the goaltending team of Mike Vaughan and Chris Howes.

"Our focus at this point of the year turns to supporting our League Champions at the Provincial level said SHL President Sheldon Currie. Grand Lake has group who knows what it takes to win and it is always great to know other teams within the League support the tournament by letting their player join the League Champions at the provincials."