Sabres close but not there yet

The Skinny:
This season’s Fort Frances Jr. Sabres outfit made strides from their inaugural season a year ago, advancing to the second round of the playoffs along with a third-place finish during the regular season, but in the end weren’t able to will themselves to an upset win over the second-place Thunder Bay Bearcats.
They battled through plenty of adversity during the season, notably the losses of Gabe Capozzi, Dan Smith, and Chad Reynolds, who each left the team at varying points for personal reasons.
First-line super rookie Carson Dubchak also departed to the OHL in late October.
Full marks go to the tandem of Chris Sinclair and Brendan Baumgartner, who continued to produce despite the revolving door on their wing.
Smith, Capozzi, Dubchak, Colton Kennedy, and Kalib Thunderchief all were thrust into that top-line role due to injuries or otherwise at varying points, and yet both Sinclair and Baumgartner managed to finish among the league’s top five scorers.
Being out-bid for the services of Fort Frances native Tyler Miller at mid-season (and subsequently fellow former Muskie Brian White) could have derailed the team, but the Sabres still were able to string together a 30-17-3 regular-season record.
Ace in the hole:
Without question, goalie Ryan Faragher was the team’s MVP this season. The second-year man had the best overall numbers in the SIJHL with a 24-14-6 record, 2.44 goals against average, and solid .921 save percentage.
The success or failure of next year’s team will hinge largely on whether or not the 18-year-old will return for a third season with the black-and-red, otherwise Sabres’ head coach Wayne Strachan and his contacts will spend much of their summer looking for a capable replacement.
The only thing left to prove for Faragher in this league is whether he’s capable of carrying his team to a championship.
Future looks bright:
Up front, the Sabres lacked depth at varying points this season due, in large part, to some untimely injuries and player departures. On the bright side, 19 players (excluding Chris Sinclair and Colin Moberly) will be eligible to return next season, and even a 60-70 percent return rate likely would set the squad up for a deep playoff run.
The Sabres have strength down the middle with Colton Kennedy, Mitch Cain, and Graham Dyck, and all three will be counted on next season. The defensive six was strong all season, and keeping that blueline corps intact would be a huge coup.
Mike Boese, the 18-year-old Hermantown, Mn. native, has the potential to be a premiere puck-moving defenceman, and another summer to mature would bring him back prepared and ready to take that step.
If defenders Mario Boivin, Rod Bouchard, and Zach Morton return, they’ll no doubt provide grit and veteran savvy on the blueline while local kid Patrick Bobczynski was a very pleasant surprise with his solid play all season.
B.C. native Kenny Carpenter was a consistent offensive contributor from the back-end. It might be a lot to ask to expect him back here next winter all things considered, but the team certainly would benefit if he did.
Missing ingredient:
Above all, what the Sabres are missing is a top-flight point producer to provide offence and consistency heading into next season. Veteran Chris Sinclair provided that role and won’t be back, and the team never really replaced Dubchak’s scoring after he jumped to the OHL.
The offence dried up with only eight goals in five games against the Bearcats in the semi-finals, and the power play certainly didn’t help the cause.
Acquiring a winger who can play on the top line, and produce on the power play, should be targeted during the off-season—especially if Baumgartner doesn’t return to the fold.