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'] .flhe Siskins have gone through a few different management structures over the past decade to finally end a firstâ€"round playoff jinx. And this last offâ€"season was more of the same with new general manager Richard Busjoski and new head coach Kevin Bloch joining the organization that is quickly approaching threeâ€"quarters of a century in operation. So is this finally the year? Burâ€" joski would like to think so after making wholesale changes to the team that features only nine returning faces from a Siskin club that finished near the bottom of the standings in the Midwestern league last season. "If you look at the roster from last year it‘s substantially differâ€" ent," he said. They include key returnees like captain Brock Schultz, Garrett Rank, Blake Underwood, Eric Zilinskas, Kyle Goss and Brandon Witt. The team will also be solid in goal with the return of Calum McCullough who had a strong rookie campaign with the Siskins. "He‘s an important guy to build around," said Burjoski. "We‘re ara:Jlr:::I ,"l'us.z;'il:; Ul;:rl;l()f:: ““J\/‘:’;’l;‘é re"afiy“ l(;ohngin Ie:adt;ucs’;vee;r _ loo Wolves teams from last year _ includes players like Colin Behenâ€" Continued on page 27 © © 4 & Waterloo Warriors win an ugly one against York Lions win is a win no matter how you win, Abut that doesn‘t mean new Waterloo Warriors head coach Dennis McPhee was happy with his team‘s performance in Saturday‘s 18â€"15 victory over the York Lions. "It was ugly as heck," said McPhee. "But you can never begrudge two points. _ "We‘ve got to get better, and can‘t keep shooting ourselves in the foot. If we play like that against Windsor they‘ll eat us alive." It was the Warriors first home appearance of the season at University Stadium and while they said nerves weren‘t a factor, a total of seven turnavers almast cost them the game against York, who was trying to recover from a 59â€"0 drubbing at the hands of the University of Windsor the week before. Siskins hope to finally turn it around on the ice The Warriors were coming off an opening \ } «& # Proudly Made in Wateri00 \\ water| Qt/qt * ‘ Sleep well...Live well. f Factory Showroom % 283 NORTHFIELD DRIVE, (at Bridge St.) By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff _ By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff â€" happy to have him back Calum McCullough is expected to backstop the Siskins to the playoffs this season as they finally look to shake the firstâ€"round blues. The Siskins haven‘t won a firstâ€"round playoff series in the past decade. "And if you look at the guys I listed off, they‘re the guys we‘re really looking to lead this year." Warriors‘ quarterback Evan Martin makes a touchdownâ€"saving tackle against the York tions SPORTS Proudly Made in Waterloo The Siskins also added six gradâ€" uating midget and minor midget players from the successful Waterâ€" loo Wolves teams from last year 519.747.3729 that saw eight players drafted by the OHL The influx of young talent includes players like Colin Behenâ€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, September 12, 2007 * 25 QUALITY QUEEN SETS HLE PNOTO season 42â€"17 win over the University of Toronto and a breakout performance from sophomore quarterback Evan Martin, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. This was the easiest part of the schedule for the rebuilding Warriors, and there was some expectation that they would be 2â€"0 before they faced their first playoff team from last year as they travel to Windsor next week. But they trailed 8â€"6 at the half, and it wasâ€" n‘t until the fourth quarter that the Warriors took control of the game with an lan Nichol field goal, and a 39â€"yard touchdown pass from Martin to Ray Nattress. But it was Martin‘s tackling that was more on display in the final minutes of the contest as he saved a York touchdown after Warriors runningâ€"back Tanner Forsyth fumâ€" www.vwwaterioo.com | CONESTOGA MALL ! DAVENPORT RD 4950 na, Mike Halmo, Eric Lekun and Joe Anstett. They all had major offensive contributions to the Wolves program and are expected to do the same for the Siskins. Goaltender Colin Breen was also added from the midget proâ€" gram to backâ€"up McCullough. _ "I don‘t think it‘s asking a lot for them to contribute right away," said Burjoski, who was part of the Kitchener Dutchmen‘s braintrust a few years ago. "If you look at the midget loop it was pretty competiâ€" tive and they played right until the end. "I don‘t see them having any difficulty in making the transition at all. And from what we‘ve seen so far the tempo and the physical play don‘t bother them at all." The Siskins biggest deficiency last year was generating an offence at even strength or on the powerâ€" play. Burjoski said upwards of 25 per cent of the team‘s goal production has to come from the man advanâ€" tage, and specialty teams really hurt the Siskins last year. Starting at To address some of those goal scoring issues the club added big leftâ€"winger Bryce Crook, from the L.A. Junior Kings organization, BRIDGE ST. WATERLOO MATTRESS Yolkswagen New & Cortified Preâ€"owned Cors Volkswagen Waterloo Continued on page 28