After a long and hard off-season, the boys in blue will be returning to the ice in about a month's time. The team showed some glimpses of greatness during their playoff run in their inaugural season last year, and they will be back for more come October. WWGRD is saying goodbye to some old faces from last year, but they will also be welcoming some new ones to the squad.
Leaving are shut-down defenceman Ryan Wilson, speedster Dylan Schentag and the rarely seen Dean Silvaggi. The team has added a fucking stud on defence in Joshua Covelli, and an all-heart grinder that would make Gary himself proud, Matthew McNaughton. The team has also officially signed a call-up from last season, Brandon Pancerny, who has migrated to the UWIHL from the SCCIHL (St. Clair College Intramural Hockey League).
These new players will look to bring their talents to what already exists on this sexy roster, much like team USA added the ringers to Gordon Bombay’s Ducks, a tactic that eventually won the team the Junior Goodwill Games. Here's the first look at this year's roster:
Number: 3
Height/Weight: 5'11" 185lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: The smile in the pic says it all. A fantastic kid to have in the room, and he packs a slap shot that can take off your head if you’re in the wrong spot. Experts are predicting a breakout season for this scrappy St. Anne's grad.
Number: 6
Height/Weight: 6'0" 164lbs
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Woodslee, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Douggie is commonly known for his smooth skating, ability to move the puck from the back end and his big mouth, all of which have helped him be looked at as the "White PK Subban."
Number: 7
Height/Weight: 6'0" 190lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Woodslee, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Only one person would be able to wear #7 on this team, and Sheldon Tracey has shown he deserved to be the one to get it. From scoring the nicest goal of the year last season to bleeding on the ice for the boys, Sheldon has shown everyone exactly what Gary Roberts would do.
Number: 9
Height/Weight: 5'8" 135 lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Pancerny impressed WWGRD so much last season that they decided to sign him once his contract expired with his SCCIHL team. If you make the mistake of taking a second to look at this speedster’s size, he'll be blowing past you and flashing his filthy hands that gave inline hockey goalies nightmares all summer long.
Number: 10
Height/Weight: 5'8" 160lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Boutette's versatility is immensely valuable to WWGRD. He has shown the ability to play both forward and defence and has always been willing to play whatever the team needed him to. More of the same can be expected from Boutette this season; offensive skills but also more than willing to mix it up and drop the mitts if he has too. "Line Change"
Number: 11
Height/Weight: 5'7" 162lbs
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: The elder Micelli, who was WWGRD's lone representative in last year's UWIHL All-Star game, is known as someone you love to have on your team but hate to play against. He's willing to do all the dirty work to get under people's skin, and will do whatever it takes to get the result for the boys.
Number: 12
Height/Weight: 6'0" 210lbs
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Branov exemplifies what the WWGRD style of play is all about. He works hard in the corners, back checks hard, isn't afraid to get chippy when called upon, and is a great locker room guy. He has the ability to shut down productive forwards from the other team, but can also put the puck in the net when called upon.
Number: 13
Height/Weight: 5'11" 170lbs
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Looked at as one of the most physical members on WWGRD. Not afraid to bump and grind against the boards. If you don't think he's intimidating consider this: he's not wearing shoulder pads in that pic...
Number: 19
Height/Weight: 6'3" 190lbs
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Fans know their A-cap and the younger Micelli as someone with a pass-first, shoot-second mentality. But don't let this fool you, as the only thing silkier than this kid's hands is his flow.
Number: 21
Height/Weight: 5'9" 155lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Somewhere in Macedonia
What to Expect this Year: Last season was all about what coulda been for Alex "All-Swedish, No Finnish" Djordjevski. He's a player that always puts himself in the right areas and has a nose for the net. Given his skill set and his hockey brain, he has the potential to put a big number up on the score sheet any night.
Number: 28
Height/Weight: 5'6" 153lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Little is known of but a lot is expected of this stud defenseman joining WWGRD this season. Teammates like Eric Bauer are already expressing their excitement to be playing with the talented Italian. If he moves the puck half as well as he moves the watermelon display at Sobeys, we're in for some special things from this kid this season.
Number: 44
Height/Weight: 6'2" 175lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Tecumseh, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: Perhaps one of the most anticipated moments of the season amongst players in the dressing room is seeing McNasty lace 'em up for the first time. His heart and determination will have him fitting right in with this squad, and the early Vegas odds have him finishing ahead of All-Swedish Djordjevski in goal scoring by the time the season's done.
Number: 61
Height/Weight: 6’0” 225lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Belle River, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: A player that has made a career of going to the dirty areas and scoring goals in close, WWGRD’s captain isn’t the flashy type. He keeps a mindset that “they all the look the same on the score sheet.” He isn’t afraid of playing some defence, and will lay out to block shots, take the body, whatever it takes to get the W.
Number: 73
Height/Weight: 6'1" 195lbs
Glove: Left
Hometown: Woodslee, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: The Woodslee-Wall had a stellar season last year, and talk around the league is it was not a fluke. JT kept WWGRD in every game they played last year, making big saves when they needed them, and even flashed his ability to play the puck while his helmet wasn't even on.
Number: 93
Height/Weight: 6'1" 235lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: You can't place enough value on a big-bodied, shut down defenceman that can move the puck, and that's what WWGRD has in Eric Bauer. He's a physical presence on the back end and he has shown in the past that he's not afraid to Superman punch you if you get in his face.
Number: 94
Height/Weight: 5'9" 163lbs
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Belle River, Ontario
What to Expect this Year: An all-around forward that can do it all. Has the defensive awareness to make plays in the defensive zone, but also has a wide variety of offensive skills. He's a good skater than can move the puck to his teammates and also put the puck in the back of the net when given the chance. WWGRD avoided a huge blow as rumours were swirling that he may be leaving for the SCCIHL.
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