Playoffs or bust – a Spiders season preview
Oct. 24, 2015
The 2015–16 campaign marks the 9th season in the AHA for the B3 version of the Spiders and the 12th for the Spiders franchise. After a 6th-place finish and an 8–10–2–0 record last year, the Spiders enter the new season with plans to break a two-season absence from the playoffs.
Roster changes – The Times They Are a Changin’
Diehard fans of the Spiders will notice some significant changes for the upcoming season. Jim Maietta*, Geoff Kuppe, and Mario Mariani have re-formed the 1992 Hill-Murray varsity squad to play in the Wild league at Vadnais Sports Center, and Bob Maietta and Mike Townsend have joined them. Anyone else thinking of the Kurt Russell and Rick Moranis movie The Best of Times? These guys will certainly be missed as good teammates both on and off the ice and we wish them luck.
*Jim Maietta, being a founding member of the B3 Spiders, was unable to break his contract and will be skating with the Spiders on a part-time basis.
And the most notable change — Doug Thorson is hanging up his Spider sweater for good. Doug has been a big part of the Spiders franchise since 2005, playing 184 games and scoring 160 points. He tried to retire a couple other times but was convinced to keep playing. Doug will be fondly remembered for his selflessness, humility, and great attitude. Stay tuned for details of the retirement of Doug’s #45 jersey.
New to the Spiders are Joe Long, Brent Murray and Drew Snodgrass as full-time skaters and Joel Benson and Justin Stone as subs.
Joe is the younger brother of Hank Long, which would also make him Ryan Wilson’s cousin. Joe made his AHA debut in the summer league and the Spiders had to show up at his door at midnight on the dawn of free agency to beat out the Landsharks for his services. Brent Murray and Drew Snodgrass join the Spiders on the recommendations of Aaron Bedessem and Shawn Tromiczak, respectively.
Joel Benson is an AHA veteran, playing previously with the Bulls and Zephyrs (which we’re not holding against him as it was only one season). Justin Stone was recruited by Aaron Bedessem.
While this is a lot of turnover, there are many reasons to be optimistic. Most importantly, the Spiders are healthier than last season.
Goaltender Brian Dow played every game last season while recovering from an injury, but really came on late in the season. Sources within the Spiders organization report Dow is looking as strong as he has since the 2012–13 season in which he led the Spiders to the C1 championship game.
An upper-body injury sidelined veteran defenseman Tim Stalpes for the majority of last season. His return will solidify the blue line for the Spiders.
Multiple other Spiders missed games here and there due to minor injuries. The impact of the injuries multiplied as it forced players to play in unfamiliar positions. Have you ever seen Josh Cagle at forward? How about Jim Maietta patrolling the blue line? Not pretty?
Cody Buckalew, Shawn Tromiczak, and Hank Long also spent the season selflessly and capably shuffling positions for the good of the team but will benefit from more consistency.
Division assignments (2014–15 record)
| Team | Record |
|---|---|
| Spiders | 8–10–2–0 |
| Battle Cats | 10–9–1–0 (B2) |
| Chaos | 15–3–2–0 (C1 runner up) |
| Fighting Piranhas | 9–10–1–0 |
| Landsharks | 6–13–1–0 |
| Mutiny | 5–13–1–1 |
| Northern Horde | 14–3–3–0 (C1 champion) |
| Taz Devils | 11–7–1–1 |
| Wild | 8–8–3–1 |
| Yellow Jackets | 12–8–0–0 |
| Team | Record |
|---|---|
| Barons | 15–5–0–0 |
| Chiefs | 5–12–2–1 |
| Gators | 14–6–0–0 (B3 runner up) |
| Ice Hogs | 17–2–1–0 (B3 champion) |
| Minnesota Loons | 12–8–0–0 |
| Phantoms | 13–7–0–0 |
| Royals | 7–11–1–1 |
| Saints | 11–8–1–0 |
| Spitfires | 12–6–1–1 (C1) |
| Venom | 9–10–0–1 |
20 teams will play at the B3 level this season, up from 17 last season. The Mighty Northern have folded after a 1–19–0–0 season in which their only win was a forfeit, and moving down from B2 are the Battle Cats. The Battle Cats won the B3 championship in 2013–14 and moved up to B2 last season. After losing several of their best players, they will move back to B3. Moving up from C1 are the Northern Horde, Chaos and Spitfires.
One team that is surprisingly not on the move are the Ice Hogs. After going 17–2–1–0 in the regular season and winning the B3 championship (and outscoring their opponents 19–4 in the playoffs), they’re staying in B3. In fact, this team may be stronger than the championship team. Sub goalie Brian Cherney has been forced up to B2 but the Ice Hogs will welcome Amanda Plumm back in net. Plumm was on injured reserve last season but posted a 94.21 (!!!) save percentage in 2013–14.
The Spiders have been assigned to the West division. Familiar opponents from last season include the Mutiny, Wild, and Taz Devils. The Battle Cats won the B3 title in 2013–14, but the Spiders had their number, taking 6–2 and 6–3 victories over the champs in the regular season. The Spiders and Fighting Piranhas faced off in the epic C1 championship game in 2013, leading to both teams being promoted to B3. Other teams in the division include the Landsharks, Yellow Jackets, and two of the B3 rookies in the Chaos and Northern Horde.
The East division includes the defending-champion Ice Hogs as well as the runner-up Gators, although the Gators will be without scoring champion Tom Danielson. Also in the East are playoff teams in the Barons, Loons, and Phantoms. The Chiefs, Royals, Saints, Venom, and Spitfires round out the East.
