Sticks and Skates [Wayhaught]

There's a (New) Sheriff in Town

PURGATORY GAZETTE

SPORTS: BLUE DEVILS MAKE MOVE FROM VANCOUVER TO PURGATORY

Story By Jeremy Chetri

After years of struggle, the Vancouver Blue Devils of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) have moved to Purgatory. The deal was officially finalized just over eight months ago, when local millionaire Bunny Loblaw purchased the club when its previous ownership cut ties with the franchise. Loblaw has tabbed Xavier Dolls as the team's GM. Dolls will also serve as Director of Hockey Operations for the team, which will play at the town's oldest arena, The Wyatt Earp Memorial Coliseum.

Despite the team's past struggles, new head coach, Purgatory hockey legend Randy Nedley has high hopes. "It's an opportunity for a complete turnaround," says Nedley, "a fresh start for the girls." Coach Nedley, better known by his nickname "The Sheriff", says he expects a lot from his team, but knows that success is earned in this league, not given. With the team finishing at the bottom of the league table for each of the last six seasons, it appears that the team can only go up from here.

The Devils' most prominent player is Shae Pressman, who finished second in the league in scoring a season ago, with 42 goals and 31 assists, for 73 points. The right winger accounted for nearly eighty percent of the team's point production a season ago. This year's draft class looks promising according to Nedley, who notes the franchise's focus on playmakers and scorers. Among these newcomers is this year's number one overall pick, Jenna Boardman, the star left winger who played last year for the Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA).

Purgatory will get its first look at women's professional hockey when the Blue Devils play their first game outside of Vancouver against the Victoria Tigers in three weeks. Tickets are available now and the first game will be broadcast on GRTV, Tuesday, October 8 at 7:00 pm.

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"Whatcha readin' there babygirl?" Wynonna asked, grabbing the newspaper from her sister's hands.

"Hey!" Waverly grumbled at the loss of her reading material. "I was reading Jeremy's article."

Furrowing her brow and reading the paper, Wynonna scoffed.

"This new team has been such a pain in the ass. As if we needed more to do around this shithole."

"Would you quit your whining? This is your job, and a professional team has got to be better than cleaning up after snot-nosed kids at public skate." Waverly chastised playfully.

"Yeah, but we still have to do that on top of running the rink for the team." Wynonna rolled her eyes sitting on the counter in front of the ticket window. "And, you forgot wrangling the demons after Wednesday night beer league."

"Well, I for one, think that the pro team will be fun. And just what this town needs." Waverly wasn't fazed as Wynonna scoffed skeptically, and she continued, "New publicity, more revenue for the town, all the local businesses will benefit..."

"More drunk hockey fans ransacking the town, taking over the motel and overcrowding Shorty's. No thank you."

Waverly rolled her eyes at her sister and mouthed her a so grumpy as Wynonna left to find some way to shirk her rink responsibilities, no doubt.

Today was the first day in town for the new club, so the public skate that would normally be going now was cancelled, and the Blue Devils were scheduled to practice shortly. Waverly knew that Wynonna had been in charge of stocking the locker room with towels and making sure water bottles were filled for the team today. Waverly hadn't been assigned to anything team related today, but was currently in charge of making sure all the rental skates had been cleaned, disinfected, and properly organized in their cubbies. After practice, she'd empty the bins around the rink and then be in charge of supervising the public skate later on tonight.