A New GM on Long Island

Hopefully he's better than Garth Snow...

The New York Islanders recently announced Ian Thornton as their new GM.  Thornton brings 4 years of Sim hockey experience from the DCHL.  He has had success in that league making the playoffs all 4 years with 1 semi-final appearance, 1 finals appearance and winning the championship this past season. 

Originally from Ottawa, he is in the Canadian Armed Forces and was just posted to Esquimalt.  With his family remaining in Edmonton, he is in Victoria by himself and therefore should have plenty of time on his hands to put his mark on this franchise!  Wayne Merrick, from the Islanders championship teams in the 80’s, is his wife’s uncle so there is a personal connection to this team that will drive him to try to bring this team back to glory.

In looking over the Islanders roster though, it is safe to say it is a work in progress.  “We are fortunate to be strong on the back end with an experienced defence corps.  Our future is bright in goal with Sororkin as he is bound for stardom, but there is no denying we are lacking up front,” Thornton was quoted as saying at his initial press conference.  Without a true top 6, or possibly even any forwards that currently belong in a top 6, goals may be hard to come by. 

Thornton continued, “Trotz will get the best of the guys.  He will be employing his typical defensive style and we will have to aim to keep games close where hopefully, we come out on top of more games than perhaps we even deserve. But one thing is for sure, we have to do better than last year’s dismal 185 goals in 80 games.”  We will see if the Sim co-operates with this stated goal!

Thornton was excited to get started and has officially declared his phone lines open.