The Dockheads couldn’t have scripted a better start to the Patrick Taylor era.

Down 2–0 after the first period, the Dockheads stormed back with four unanswered goals to beat the Voodoo 4–2 on opening night, handing Taylor his first professional win behind the bench.

Voodoo controlled the early going, outshooting the Dockheads 19–13 in the first and getting a pair from Leon Kwok. He opened the scoring at 1:04 of the first, then doubled the lead at 12:47 to send the Dockheads to the intermission in a two-goal hole. Goaltender Cooper Fornataro kept things from getting out of hand, turning aside a flurry of chances and multiple rebounds as Voodoo pushed the pace.

The game flipped in the second. The Dockheads tightened up defensively and started to tilt the ice the other way. At 9:35, Bronson Landrum fired a wrist shot that was deflected in front by Maitland Cable to finally break through and cut the deficit to 2–1. Less than ninety seconds later, Karl-Johan Schmidt jumped into the play and buried a rebound at 10:53 to tie the game 2–2, capping a dominant stretch of sustained pressure.

Physical play and emotion ramped up midway through the period, highlighted by a spirited bout between Eric Picklyk and Svyatoslav Mylnikov at 11:08. Despite the scrums and hits on both sides, the Dockheads stayed composed, killing off key penalties and grinding their way to the third period all square.

The winner came on a huge third-period moment. With the Dockheads pressing on an offensive-zone sequence at 10:36, Landrum ripped a shot that forced a rebound, then followed it up at 10:38 to beat Ruben Junnilainen and give the Dockheads their first lead of the night at 3–2. From there, the Dockheads managed the game smartly, blocking shots, finishing checks, and limiting Voodoo to just six shots in the final frame.

With the Voodoo net empty late, Bedrich Visek sealed it at 19:42 with an insurance marker to make it 4–2 and officially start the celebration on the Dockheads bench.

Between the pipes, Fornataro was quietly outstanding, battling through the rough first period and slamming the door the rest of the way as the Dockheads outscored Voodoo 4–0 over the final forty minutes.

For Taylor, it was a statement debut. His team showed resilience, structure, and belief after a tough opening twenty.

“You couldn’t ask for a better response from the guys,” Taylor said after the game. “We were down early, but nobody panicked. We stuck to our game, wore them down shift by shift, and found a way to finish. I’m proud of this group, and it’s special to get my first pro win with them on opening night.”

The Dockheads now carry momentum — and their head coach’s first pro victory — into the rest of the young season, having proven they can come from behind and close out a tight game when it matters most.

Before I get started, please note that anything listed below is not a knock on other GMs and their teams.  Could some of these scenarios happen?  Absolutely!  Nothing is a given.  But will they actually take place is the real question.  So let's all have some fun, and dive into some possible major storylines for Season 5.

1) The Portland Twisters will miss the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history.  I know I know.  The defending champions have made the finals in three of the first four seasons, but after all, these are bold predictions.  The Twisters have relied on their vets to get the job done, both up front and in nets, and they have produced.   Let's start with the offence.  Ristian Vuojarvi left in free agency, leaving a massive gap at the C position.  They have Maskim Rutenka who can more than hold his own, but after that it gets thin.  Newton Dee had a career year last year, but is he able to sustain that?  If not, it's a dark hole in a position that might arguably be the most important one in the sport.  On the wings, Blaize Bremer had a career worst year, Michal England is now 39, Daulton Millar is 35, Cruz Dupont is 33.  How much longer can these guys go before they start to decline?  While their defence is still in good shape, and Ash Galvin remains a viable option in nets, could this finally be the year that the Twisters fall off a cliff?  With no top forward prospects, or first round picks for the next two seasons, there doesn't appear to be any depth if these vets start to falter.

2) The Las Vegas Voltage will make the playoffs.  The franchise has made one playoff appearance in the first four seasons, clinching the last playoff spot in the conference back in season 1.  A team that's been trying to rebuild from the start, has a lot of pieces in place.  Young forwards include Glynn Forsyth, Antoni Petherbridge, Cliff Deruelle, Ivan Luks,  Denny Ashmann, and Mathys Nemeth, and don't forget their star centre Steve Banga, who is still only 29.  The defence on paper looks fantastic, highlighted by their combination of youth and veteran prescence.  Former first overall pick Aake Listenmaa has another season under his belt,  and produced very well in the farm last year.  If he makes the move to the pro, it could be another offensive weapon to add to the roster.  The big question mark for this team has always been goaltending.  While they have some good goalie prospects, nobody has really stepped up and made their mark yet.  So in the offseason, they went out and acquired Thatcher Goodyear from the Atlanta Royals.  If he can return to a .910+ sv%, expect this team to make the jump.  They will live and die based on how he performs in his first season in sin city.

3) Juho-Matti Nykvist becomes the North Stars number 1B in nets by season's end.  The North Stars have quite easily the best goalie depth in the league, and include 2 of the game's top prospects in that position, in Nykvist and Adrian Haslar.  Their current pro tandem is Pitt Kidwell and Emilio Istad.  Both of which will be 24 at the end of the season.  Why does that matter?  Well the expansion draft looms, and both of those goalies will be eligible to be claimed the either of the two expansion teams.  Either goalie would make a fantastic first goalie in either of the new team's history.  So which one gets exposed?  That would depend on the performance of all goalies in the organization.  I would expect both Kidwell and Istad to get plenty of starts to try and claim the 1A job.  But if Nykvist gets off to a hot start in the farm season, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets the call up to the pro so management can see what they have at this stage while considering the looming decisions.  Nyskivst won the goalie of the year award in his last NJHL season, and had a stellar farm regular season and playoffs last year.  If he gets the call up, expect him to keep producing and perhaps stay up as the 1B behind of of their starters.

4) The Massachusetts Milita will miss the playoffs.  The Militia have made the playoffs in three of the first four seasons, so this could be considered a bold take.  But what would cause them to miss the playoffs?  In a busy offseason, the goalie carousel behind Andrew Wiewel continued.  Trading Leon Campaner a couple of seasons ago, and now Stephane Wazasnik this past offseason, they were replacecd by Dillon Valenzuela as the backup for Wiewel.  We will take a bunch of the similar reasons as why the Twisters could miss the playoffs.  An aging forward core, with no top prospects coming up to challenge for a spot to potentiallly make an impactful difference.  How much longer can Ruddell, Presswood, and Milliner go before their old bodies give out?  Can Wiewel keep up his past pace?  Can Valenzuela put up another .920sv% season?  It's all on the vets to decide if they want to play anymore than the 80 regular season games.

5) Stephane Wazasnik finsihes the season as the league's top goaltender.  Wazasnik has consistently put up a .920sv%, which is normally in the upper tier of goalies.  Heading to Port City, he gets his first year there.  Management has always had a keen eye with identifying great goaltenders, and we expect this to be no different.  Moving to a team with this high caliber offence, that should make his job easier in nets.  Newly acquired Samuel Hammer, and free agent signing Oiva Lyttinen should help in their own zone and make life for Wazasnik easier.

6) The Beacon Cup winners are the.......... Tuscon Muertos!  Congratulations to the season 5 champions.  It's funny to think that Sundholm's .917sv% was considered a down year.   If he recaptures his previous magic in seasons past, he's the top goaltender in the league.  With a potent offence already, it only got better in the offseason by adding Marcel Kacmarik and Ristian Vuojarvi.  A centre core of Vuojarvi, Palmateer, and Van Der Male is extremely tough to try and navigate as a defence.  Though they had a disappointing season four by missing the playoffs for the first time, there's zero reason to think that they can't go back to the championship caliber team that they were a couple of seasons ago.  The core is young, proven, and has only gotten better depth surrounding them.  Though 23 other teams will be eyeing a championship, only 1 team can win it, and the Muertos are well-positioned to make a real run at it.

The Québec Harfang spent the off-season with a clear message: they’re not content to tread water. While the wins didn’t quite pile up last campaign, the front office moved decisively to change the narrative heading into the next season.

Trades & Roster Moves

As always, the Harfang were quite active during the draft. After winning the draft lottery, they were well-positioned for the entry draft.

Round 1 – Pick 1: Fredric Bjurling (RW)
 Bjurling has the profile of a right winger with offensive potential. The Harfang clearly believed in acquiring a potential difference-maker now. This is a tools-rich winger with an elite shot (SC 92), who also showcased his skills during the most recent World Junior Tournament.  He led the juniors in goals (54) and game-winning goals (13), and racked up a whopping 434 shots.

Round 2 – They selected Hansjurgen Thom (G), then Maksim Zadoyanny (LW) and Timotej Mahkovic (D)

After seeing Thom fall down the draft order, the Harfang first decided to move up the 2nd round with a pick swap with the Dynasty, but they didn’t feel confident that Thom would make it down to them. They then traded youngster goalie Hak with some late-round picks to the Chaos for a 2nd and a 3rd-round pick.

The move was motivated by Thom's stellar performance last season and his dominant play during the World Junior tournament. The team considers him the future starter of the franchise. They then selected Zadoyanny, a winger with complementary skill sets to Bjurling. They finished the round by choosing Mahkovic, a well-rounded defenceman who strengthens the blue line pipeline.

Round 3 – Havard Evenrud (LW) and Hans Knudsen (RW)

Before the start of the 3rd round, the Harfang were once again active, acquiring two 3rd round picks by sending Benedict to the Blues. They had their eye on Havard Evenrud, another offensive-minded winger with a shot at climbing the ranks, a value pick in this range. Finally, the team was very excited to draft Knudsen. Being stuck on the 3rd line last season, his per-20-minute stats were among the best in the league.

Round 4 – Kalle Winter (D) and Round 5 – Dalen Latour (D) and Fabian Schroer (C)
In the last two rounds, the team selected two defensive defensemen and Fabian Schroer, which should add depth for the future.

In total, the Harfang added 9 prospects to their pipeline without sacrificing key pieces or future draft. With 3 picks in the first 2 rounds of the S6 draft, they are poised to improve their prospect pool further.

During free agency, the team made several signings for the farm team, including undrafted free agent defenseman Misa Ylaja and veterans Frederic Maidens. Maidens bring experience and depth to an already solid roster.

Finally, before the season begins, they filled the gap left by Hak's departure by acquiring veteran Ingemar Sjöberg for a Year 6, Round 3 pick. Sjöberg will serve as a reliable backup to Campaner.

1. Balancing now vs later
By choosing both immediate‑impact drafts (Bjurling) and deeper system picks (Winter, Latour), the Harfang made several moves to improve both the immediate roster and the prospect pipeline.

2. Addressing key needs
The selection of a goalie early (Thom) and additional defensemen suggests that management identified net‑minding and defensive depth as areas needing reinforcement. On the forward front, Bjurling is expected to start the season in Québec.

3. Risk and reward
Of course, every draft is a gamble. Bjurling will need to develop, adapt to the pro pace, and live up to expectations. The younger picks (Evenrud, Latour, Winter)  will require time, and the team will be patient with their development.

4. Fan expectation & culture shift
For fans in Québec City, patience is required. The culture of the club seems to be shifting from “get it done now” to “build sustainably and win repeatedly.” The front office needs to manage expectations: the playoffs remain the goal, but sustained success is the vision.

Final Word

The Harfangs’ off‐season is a credible step forward. They didn’t just tinker around the edges; they drafted at the top, prioritized critical positions, and traded to lean toward flexibility rather than one big gamble. If Bjurling pans out, if Thom progresses, if the defence young cohort matures, then Québec could be setting the stage for a re-emergence rather than just a reset.

HALIFAX – The Halifax Chaos entered the offseason with a clear mandate: tighten up defensively and bring more balance to a roster that showed flashes of brilliance but too often found itself playing from behind. Management wasted no time addressing their most pressing need between the pipes, signing goaltenders Rylee Hak and Pierre-Anthony Back, two additions expected to bring stability and confidence to the crease.

Goaltending was a focal point after last season’s up-and-down campaign, and the Chaos believe the tandem of Hak and Back can provide the reliability the team needs to compete in the East Division. Hak, known for his calm demeanor and quick glove, brings poise under pressure, while Back offers the kind of athletic, acrobatic style that can steal games. Together, they give Halifax something it hasn’t had in recent years — depth and dependability in goal.

“We wanted to make sure our goalies could give us a chance to win every night,” said head coach Bendel. “Rylee and Pierre-Anthony both have the ability to do that. They complement each other perfectly.”

On the blue line, the Chaos have been just as deliberate. Defensemen Albert Guyrev and Grayden Currier each impressed in the minors last year, earning a well-deserved spot on the roster for 2025. Guyrev’s speed and puck-moving ability have stood out, giving the team a transition option that can ignite offense from the back end. Currier, meanwhile, has shown steady improvement and a reliable two-way game that has quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.

“Albert brings another gear to our defensive corps — his speed changes the way we break out,” noted GM Oliver. “Grayden’s consistency and decision-making make him a player you can count on in any situation.”

Up front, the Chaos are betting on growth and chemistry to take the offense to new heights. Right winger Uuno Pilli has emerged as one of the team’s most exciting developing players, showing flashes of dynamic playmaking that could make him a difference-maker this season. Fellow winger Yakov Kabanov will also be counted on to generate offense and use his creativity to open space for linemates.

On the left side, Steven Pinsonneault, Craig Bruton, and Roch Fingland headline a deep group of forwards who bring a mix of grit, scoring touch, and leadership. Each will be asked to contribute in key moments and help drive secondary scoring — crucial support for the team’s established offensive anchors, Dolnicek and Mynikov, who remain the heartbeat of Halifax’s attack.

“We like the balance we’re starting to see,” said GM Oliver. “Our veterans lead by example, and our young players are hungry. The energy in the room is different this year — more focused, more unified.”

With upgraded goaltending, a retooled blue line, and a forward group poised to evolve, the Halifax Chaos appear ready to take the next step. The pieces are in place for a more complete, confident team — one determined to prove that Chaos can be controlled when built on structure and belief.

The Minnesota Dockheads are proud to introduce Patrick Taylor as the new head coach of the organization, effective immediately.

Taylor arrives with one priority: win now.

Known for his direct, detail-driven approach behind the bench, Taylor made it clear from day one that the expectation in Minnesota is not to “rebuild,” but to raise a banner. He emphasized that he believes the Dockheads already have the core to do it.

“This is not a long-term science project,” Taylor said. “This is a locker room with leadership, depth, and pride. We’re not coming in here to take two or three years to get organized. We’re here to compete for a championship this season. That’s the standard.”

Taylor will inherit a group that has been through battles together and is built around toughness, accountability, and buy-in. Rather than clearing house, the message from the top is about sharpening identity, tightening habits, and demanding full professionalism on and off the ice.

General Manager Kieran Green echoed that urgency.

“We are done talking about ‘potential,’” Green said. “We believe in the group we have. We believe in their ability to defend, to play heavy, and to close games. Patrick is here because our window is open right now. The expectation in this room is not to be competitive — it’s to win the whole thing. Period.”

In conversations with players and staff, Taylor has put early focus on structure in the defensive zone, discipline with the puck late in games, and elevating the physical standard shift to shift. He’s been described as honest, prepared, and unapologetically demanding — the kind of voice that doesn’t bluff about what it takes to win in spring.
 

There will be adjustments. There will be accountability. But there will not be excuses.

“We’re not chasing respect,” Taylor said. “We’re chasing hardware.”

The Dockheads open this new chapter with one message to the league: Minnesota is not waiting.