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The dressing room is clean and silent, save for the pair of equipment managers quietly folding jerseys and stacking gear.
Only a few hours ago, the room was full of players, pulling on pads, lacing up skates, tugging on the Sea Dogs' iconic blue, white, and black jerseys. The sounds of the guys jeering at each other, the odd snippets of rap and heavy rock music blaring through earbuds, all echoing into silence as coach Dillan Garnett quietly says what everybody knows in their heart.
"This is it, boys! A new season, a new journey, a new chance! Let's go get 'er!"

Okay, so he's not the most eloquent, but it works. The Dogs cruised through to a 5-0 win against the Brewmasters, hopefully a harbinger of the rest of the season.

Team captain Ivan Maly is the only player to be found around the rink nearly two hours after the game. With 5 points in 3 games, Maly is in a three-way tie for the team lead in points and off to a great start this season.

I decided to ask Maly, one of the longest-tenured Sea Dog since the team's inception in season 8, how he felt about the team and the changes that had taken place over the off-season.

"Of course, every year you know (it's) going to be different. Even during the season, you alway have to be on your toes, not knowing when some new signee is going to take your spot in the lineup. It's just the way the league works. I like it, it keeps everyone motivated. I think we have a good group of guys here. Everyone knows what everybody else is going through, and we're like one big family."

When asked about specific newcomers, Maly replied:

"Alexandr (Malina) is a new guy that, to be honest, I really was a little apprehensive about. (Laughs) Well, he did come from my hometown! No, he's been good, and he's really taken off offensively these first couple games, really dominating. Franz is another guy who came in late last season and really took over our defense. He's a real leader, too, always paying attention to the team and making sure nobody's left out during team functions."

When asked about what his vision for the team this year was, the normally talkative Maly only said one thing:

"Win."

And that's just what the Sea Dogs are working towards doing.

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