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Orangeville Americans ready for new season

September 3, 2014   ·   0 Comments

With less than a week to go before the start of the 2014 / 15 season, the Orangeville Junior A Americans are on track for another good season.

“We have five returning players. We sent seven off to school this year,” said Americans managing director Bill Fines.

The team’s plan is to keep the roster full right from the start to ensure a full bench for every game.

“We’re going with 25 this years,” Fines said of the new line-up. “We always have kids that are sick or injured or other issues. If you show up for a game with three lines they’re going to tire you out by the third period. It also makes them work harder in practice because they know they have to fight for a spot at game time.”

With all goalies from last season moving on, the teams has recruited four new goalies for 2014 / 15.

The club had a good performance last season finishing in the number eight spot in the 20 team Greater Metro Hockey League with a 25-17 record and 52 points.

Going into the playoffs the Americans bowed out in the first round.

After starting the pre-season practices, Fines said the team is shaping up well.

“After our first five or six practices, we’ve got a very strong offence this year, and our goaltending will be extremely solid. Our defence is a work in progress like every team.”

In the top spot on the bench, head coach Tyler Fines is returning and will be helped out by a couple of new assistants.

The GMHL has expanded this season include a total of 24 teams in the League – that’s up four from last season.

New teams include Niagara, Cambridge, Port Parry, and Tottenham.

The Bradford Bulls are the defending Leauge champions for 2014. The other Bradford team – the Rattlers won the championship the previous season.

The Rattlers have won the season three times in the League’s seven year history.

The GMHL season gets underway on September 5.

The Americans’ first game is, and home opener is on Wednesday, September 10, at the Alder Street arena in Orangeville.

The squad moved to the Alder Street arena in Orangeville at the star of last season. The Americans will host the Bradford Bulls for the home opener.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.

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