After swinging a deal with Berlin, Boston was able to acquire Berlin's Y9 1st and draft a player they had really coveted, goaltender Tomas Jansen. While there have been rumors of Jansen's potential bad attitude, the organization loves the way he plays and feels that as he matures, some of these personality issues will fade into the background and he can focus on the game of hockey. Jansen is fundamentally sound and the Pats can afford to be patient with him. With newly acquired Cedric Francouer holding down the fort as backup for a few seasons, Jansen can develop his skills in the juniors for another season or two before coming up to the big time. 

In other news, the Patriots used their 4th round selection to draft unheralded prospect goaltender Jose "BA" Baracus. While not a touted prosepct, Baracus has what it takes to one day move up from the organization's B-Team and become a member of the A-Team. While BA would undoubtedly love the chance to make big-league money, his fear of flying could cause him some trouble. While other players jet from city to city in the minor league circuits, BA drives his 1982 GMC Custom Van with his goalie gear in the back. When asked how he is able to make the drive so quickly, Baracus only commented "My van is fast! It's helluva fast, foo!" before storming off to the local youth center to play road hockey with disadvantaged children.   

Boston Y8 Awards
MVP: Dave Tucker
Top Scorer: Markus Karlsson
Best Defenseman: Oleg Lomakin
Most Exciting: Markus Karlsson
Unsung Hero: Bill Aggio

Congrats to all our winners! Also, great work by Dave Tucker and Markus Karlsson on two fabulous seasons, you boys really cemented a place in the league's elite with your play.

The Boston Patriots once again failed to answer their critics who say they just can't get it done in the playoffs. The Patriots very nearly bowed out to a 1st round sweep at the hands of the Moscow Bears, the team with the worst record of all GHL playoff teams. The Patriots swaggered out and promptly lost 3 straight games before the team captains, coach Little and GM Poeschek unleashed a verbal tirade strong enough to get them playing to potential. The Patriots went on to an unprecedented comeback, coming all the way back from 0-3 to win the series. 

Thinking the worst was over, the Patriots played host to the defending champs, the Stockholm Vikings. Once again, the Patriots got off to an abysmal start, losing their first 3 games. However, unlike in the Moscow series, there was no miracle and the Vikings sent them home. After the series, GM Poeschek was furious. 

"I just don't think that we played up to our full potential," he sighed, adding, "A successful hockey club has to leave it all on the table and we did not do that. Too many games, I thought we could have hustled more, worked harder, hit more, all sorts of things. We just didn't do any of it though. I was so proud of the effort we showed to come back in the Moscow series, that effort seemed to be lacking in the Stockholm series. I thought we looked beaten before the series even started. I think that our boys had too much respect for Campbell and Bengtsson and didn't play their game."

Patriots clinch Conference Title and Divisional Title! Another successful season in Beantown as the Patriots have rolled along to the tune of a 13-game unbeaten streak down the stretch. Over that same stretch, their rivals in Stockholm are only a few games over .500, enabling the Pats to jump out to a big lead in the conference standings. While this is a team with a good deal of offensive talent, defense and goaltending has been getting the job done for Boston. The Patriots could set a new GHL record for fewest goals against with some good performances in their last 3 games. However, facing the Vancouver Storm for 2 of those games could put a kink in those plans. Regardless, this has been a breakout year for goalie Dave Tucker as he should win his first Ken Dryden Award. Also, Boston's young defensemen like Kachowski, Tumenov, Schamehorn and Dube have really been coming into their own. On forward, the addition of Paul Langdon has largely coincided with Boston's long unbeaten streak and I do not think it's a coincidence. He's adapted very well to the shift to the center ice position and has been an offensive force. He and Markus Karlsson have found some excellent chemistry together and Tim Roberts has become the mucker on that line, fishing pucks out of the corner for those two speedsters. Top to botton, this Patriots team looks like it finally has the talent to go all the way. With the addition of Langdon and Plekhanov, the Patriots have added some experienced forwards, but will it be enough experience to compete with the veteran-laden teams in Canada and in Stockholm? With the second season scheduled to start in less than a week, our questions will soon be answered.

Dave Tucker: Goalie of the Year? Call me a homer if you want, but I think a great case can be made to award Dave Tucker this year. It's a two horse race right now between Alex Seguin and Tucker, but so far, I like Dave's season. Tucker has played more games and his numbers are comparable. Tucker has faced more shots as Seguin plays for a team that allows the fewest shots against in the entire GHL. Tucker has long been a talented goalie but has always struggled with his consistency. This year, thanks in part to the partnership he has formed with Jeff D'Alessandro, Tucker has been very solid night in and night out as his .907 SV% and 23-9-2 record would attest to. Tucker is in the midst of a real breakout season and looks like he is emerging this season as one of the league's elite goalies. Can Tucker join former teammate Kiyo Hoshino in the Ken Dryden Award Club? If Tucker maintains his current form, it would be robbery if he doesn't win the trophy.

Commentary
December 28, 2003

Barring any more moves, this will likely be the Patriots team that I go into the playoffs with. Is this team good enough? Let's take a look in depth at the roster.

At the forward positions, the Patriots are extremely deep. Too deep, in fact, with players like Hardy and Murphy on the 3rd line and players like Steiteude on the farm! With the addition of Langdon, the Patriots finally have a guy who totally outmatches most opposing defensemen with his amazing speed and skills. However, when compared with some teams like Montreal, Stockholm and Quebec, the Patriots do not quite have the same level of star players yet. The difference being that Bostons 80 OV players are usually 23, where as most other teams 80 OVs are in their 30s.

On defense, I have to be a little biased as I don't think the Patriots defense has an equal in the entire GHL, with the exception of the Quebec City Qwest. Top to bottom, the Patriots defense boasts several great puck-movers, as well as some defensive monsters. The best part is that the average age of this defense is only 23.5 years!

In goal, the Patriots have the potential to be outmatched, but the tandem of Tucker and D'Alessandro have been two of the league's best goalies this season. Tucker may finally be ready to take his place as one of the league's top goalies after a few seasons in which he has struggled.

In all, the Patriots are not the league's best team in any one respect, but as a whole, I would not rather have another team in the league going into the playoffs. With a blend of youth, veterans and one of the league's deepest teams, the Patriots look like they finally have what it takes to advance to the Cup finals for the first time in franchise history. Whether or not they do? Stay tuned for the impending start of the playoffs!

The Boston Patriots are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Vancouver winger Paul Langdon! In exchange, the Patriots give up 3 1sts, Pat Decap and a 2nd. A steep price to be sure, but the Patriots franchise is thrilled that they did not have to give up a roster player to add a player of the caliber of Paul Langdon. 

Also making Langdon attractive was his age. Only 29 years old, Langdon will be a Patriot for the next 4 seasons at least, meaning we did not have to deal a lot for a player who could exercise free agency rights soon.

We hope that Langdon can join the team soon in order to help us out on the ice as we try and hold off the Vikings.

In another deal, the Patriots have acquired veteran winger and former Patriot Alexander Plekhanov from the Victoria Sovereigns. While it was a salary dump from the Victoria end, the Patriots are happy to add a savvy veteran for their playoff drive. Young winger Peros Mivec will be getting sent to Cleveland in order to gain more experience.