Kings Aim For Title With Roster Makeover
Nolan Vandenboorn of the Dresden Kings is one of a handful of additions that have the Kings poised for a playoff run – Photo by the Dresden Kings
Adding to a veteran core that already included the likes of Kevin Ritzer, Brendan Ritchie, Geoffry Vandenboorn, Cory Lucier, Brantley Kuipers, Will Tetzlaff, and Lucas Spence, among others, the Dresden Kings have undergone an in season facelift.
Most notably, Dresden has acquired Junior B veterans Brendan Johnston, who also has multiple OHL seasons on his resume, Nolan Vandenboorn, Brady Hogg, Jeff Williams, and Kenny Chisholm.
The first four players on that list, jump started the Kings’ rise toward the top of the Stobbs Division standings over recent months.
“The experience that these 4 – Brendan, Nolan, Brady and Jeff – have brought to the Kings, not only on the ice but off the ice, can’t be measured,” Dresden Kings general manager Jason Badder told CKSN. “Each one of them have been leaders on the ice with their play and work ethic, and in the dressing room.”
This past week, the Kings added to that depth, by adding skilled forward Kenny Chisholm, a 9th round pick of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, who has 49 points in 66 Junior B games over the past 3 seasons. At the time of his acquisition, Chisholm was playing with the Junior C Lucan Irish, where he had 18 points in 10 games.
“In acquiring Kenny Chisholm, Kenny is a skilled playmaker with Junior B experience, he will give us the depth we need at center and allow us to return some players to there natural positions,” explained Badder. “He has great character and works hard and he will fit in nicely in our room.”
Although Badder points directly to the impact and contribution of these new players, he believes the top to bottom depth, and the team’s younger players are just as much to credit for the team’s success.
“We have a younger club and with these players coming in, a lot of guys have upped their games and we’ve have had a lot of different players step up and contribute,” he said. “We are 4 lines deep.”
In terms of their ultimate goal, it’s obvious the Dresden Kings are ready for a serious push toward a Stobbs Division title, but Badder wasn’t willing to discount the competition they’ll face when the playoffs roll around.
“Our league is strong from top to bottom, and any team can win the Stobbs Division, it should make for some really exciting playoffs for all the fans of the PJHL Stobbs Division.”