A Look At The Season 6 Warbirds

A Look At The Season 6 Warbirds

PART III

As we continue our look at the Minnesota Warbirds, we now focus our attention on the left wingers. Overall, this group is one of the most experienced groups on the team. Kemppinen, Mahoney and Edmonds have been long-time Warbirds and positive influences in the locker room.

#09 – Scott Edmonds

Edmonds is easily the clown of the locker room. He is always around to keep the locker room light and lift the spirits of the team. Last season Edmonds produced respectable numbers in Minnesota, posting 3 goals and 8 assists (11 points) in 22 games.

This season, Edmonds will be paired with Kenneth Lehtinen and Ryan Sassman (last season’s leading scorer) and will look to be staple on the third line. Edmonds will have to learn some discipline however as he was 3^rd in the team in penalty minutes with 14.

Edmonds always provides the laugh in the locker room, but will he provide the spark the Warbirds need? To be successful, Minnesota will need to roll out 4 lines of consistent hockey, is Edmonds up to the task? Some may question his skill but they can’t question is heart, this long time Bird won’t stray from the flock.

#73 – Miika Kemppinen

If you looked up Warbird in the dictionary, you would see a face of Miika Kemppinen next to the definition. Miika has been the only captain in Minnesota and will continue to be until his contract expires after Season 7 (should he not return). Miika is everything that Minnesota embodies: hard work, leadership, toughness, and scoring ability.

After an extraordinary S4 where Miika led the BHL in scoring (14 goals, 27 assists for 41 points) and was the driving force behind Minnesota’s Thundercup Finals run, Kemppinen didn’t disappoint in S5. Though his numbers may have dipped, Miika was the 2^nd leading scorer for the Warbirds, piling up 18 goals and 11 assists for 29 points.

This season, Miika has moved from center to left wing where many suspect he will be able to put the puck in the back of the net more. He is paired with Pat Albanese and Chris Coogan, a line which, on paper at least, should dominate other teams’ first lines.

Will this be the year where Kemppinen gets to raise a Thundercup above his head? Many would believe so and with Kemppinen’s drive and leadership, they may be right.

#89 – Matt Mahoney

Mahoney is in his second year as an alternate captain in Minnesota and last year proved that he deserves it. In S4, Mahoney was 5^th on the team, posting 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points. In S5, Matt’s totals flipped (13 goals, 8 assists for 21 points) but his penalty minutes went down and his +/- went up from a season ago.

Matt is another long time Warbird and isn’t afraid to speak his mind when something seems out of place. During a poor stretch last season for the team, Mahoney was the one preaching positivity and teamwork.

Matt will now have totally new linemates in Adam Stevens and Chris Bell. The big question here is how he will gel with his new pairing? Will he be able to produce along side a potent scorer like Stevens and a sophomore in Chris Bell?

#91 – Sawyer Withers

Sawyer, much like his line mate Priscilla Williams, is a relative unknown right now. Drafted in the 1^st round, there is some pressure on Withers to make an impact on the 4^th line.

Ezell is very high on Sawyer and is looking at him to stay with Minnesota for at least the duration of his contract. As mentioned earlier, he will be paired with Abrams and Williams and has a great group of left wingers to learn from.

Next we examine the deepest and strongest position for the Warbirds, the defense.