Rovers Stringer voted GM of the Year

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

After the best regular season in franchise history, Rovers general manager Steve Stringer was voted the executive of the year for RHL16. As reported on SpartaScripts , Stringer edged Walt Pohribnij of the Capones and Chris Bourdeau of the Eagles in a tight race.  “It’s an honour to be judged by your peers as having done a good job”, Stringer said in accepting the award.  “I accept this award on behalf of our whole franchise, as there are many people throughout the organization without whose work this could not happen”.

Stringer made bold and calculated moves prior to and during the season.  Beginning in the offsesason, star defenseman Chris Pronger was dealt for Keith Carney, Chris Higgins – who appears poised to make the team in RHL17 – and a first round draft choice.  The during the season he dipped into the team’s depth of prospects to acquire impact players Joe Thornton, Gary Roberts, Wes Walz, and Rhett Warrener without cleaning the cupboards bare.  “I think he deserves it”, captain Olli Jokinen said from his home in Finland.  “He gave us the players we needed in the room to make a deep run, but we still have young guys in the system ready to come up.  Ultimately we came up short of our expectations this year, but that doesn’t diminish the job he did”.

After winning his second GM award (he also won during their championship RHL13 season), Stringer’s biggest challenge may lie ahead.  Many are wondering if RHL17 will be a transition year for the team with so many of their veteran forwards headed for free agency.  “That’s what makes the job fun, the fluid nature of player contracts and movement”, Stringer said when asked of this off-season.  “We will bring in whatever mix of returning and new players that we feel will help us achieve our goal, which is the Kings Cup.  That is the goal this organization shoots for every season, and we will continue to do so.  Our fans deserve the best, and every season we will try to deliver the best product to the best of our abilities”.