So, where are we? A Rover mid-season evaluation

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

Nearing the end of our extended league hiatus, it's time to get back into RHL-mode again. Well, some of us haven't left, although some PR departments (this one included) had taken a break alongside the games. But with 29 games played and the mid-point of the year impending, it's a good time to look at where this team has been and where it is headed.

First the raw numbers. At 18-6-5, the Rovers sit third overall in the league with 41 points, two behind the conference-leading Funboys and three behind the league-leading Reapers. That can't be considered bad. In fact, given the nature of the Malone and the intense competition therein, it is a great success. Going inside the numbers is where the source of the Rovers discontent lies. Frankly, the team just isn't scoring. While Mason and Gerber have been stellar in leading the team to the best goals against in the league (the only team averaging less than two goals against per game), the offense sits a pedestrian 14th out of 26 teams scoring just 2.72 goals per game. That's a half goal less than the Sockeyes, three quarters of a goal less than the Funboys, and a goal and a half less than the explosive Reapers.

Looking for the big play element, the Rovers acquired Joe Thornton from South Calgary. While the move has been lauded by pundits across the league for its immediate impact, some have asked the question who will Joe be setting up to score? Sources say that the Rovers continue to talk to teams about adding a premier sniper to finish for their new #1 centre, but management will not want to dig too much deeper into the prospect cupboard to add more parts. Thornton has been with the team for all of three games; a pair of 3-2 decisions split with the Sockeyes and a 1-1 draw with the Funboys. After the teams next game against Saskatoon, their hellish run through the cream of the league will be finished for the time being (their last five games have only been against either REA, FUN, or SOC). Perhaps then the team will see where the new offense stands against the rest of the league.

And maybe the team simply should not be so hard on themselves. The results in the recent stretch (2-1-2 against the other three teams in the top four) shows that the team can play Martin Gerber and win (or at least have a chance to win every night) in their defensive posture (the other reason most cited as why the Rovers aren't scoring with the big boys). But mostly, the team is antsy to get the second half underway.. there's a title out there to grab, and Baffin is ready to step up again.