Day 14 - The Mississauga Tigers
General Manager: Edwin Mok
Established: 2008-09 as the de Sauga Tigers
Years Active: 3 (2008-09 to 2010-11)
Lifetime Record: 148-138-29 (.516) 325pts
14th overall in points, 7th overall in winning pct.
Best Finish: 1st (2009-10 as the de Sauga Tigers)
Worst Finish: 10th (2008-09 as the de Sauga Tigers)
Cups: 1 (2009-10 as the de Sauga Tigers)
2009-2010 Results: 1st - 82-57-15 (.581) 179pts as the de Sauga Tigers
League Records: None
Alternate Logos:
Alternate 1
Alternate 2
Throwback (de Sauga Tigers 2008-2010)
There isn't really much to say about the Mississauaga Tigers who joined the league just two seasons ago as the de Sauga Tigers, which still to this date, no one knows what the hell "de Sauga" means. Thankfully GM Mok came to his senses and named his franchise after a real city this year. Mok was originally invited in to the league to manage the Malton Muggers for owner Donnie Jaikissoon, however he was eventually granted his own franchise just prior to the draft for the 2008-09 season. GM Mok and his Tigers were not expected to do well in this league.... GM's such as GM Grover of the Colts, and GM Chudzik of the Firecats were excited to Welcome Mok to the RHL as it would ensure them better odds of not finishing last. The Tigers came out strong in 2008-09, losing only one game out of their first six to the Chinatown Jets. Chalk it up to beginners luck, because after the sixth week, every team in the league had a shot at a guaranteed win when they met the Tigers as Mok's team would lose their next five in a row and only capture 3 total wins the rest of the season. From week seven to the end of the year, the Tigers only posted 3 wins in 17 weeks ...... notably two of those wins came against the Burlington Firecats. The de Sauga Tigers finished in 10th place with a 66-81-14 record and 146 points (.453)
2009-10 was a strange year and no one could have seem this coming. drafting second ensured the Tigers would lock up Sidney Crosby, however, no one knows how Mok was able to also include Patrick Marleau and Niklas Backstrom? His team would storm into first place anchored by the best goal tending duo in the league of Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller, but the infamous and controversial trade at the deadline would ultimately seal the fate of the RHL Cup and its eventual home with the Tigers. GM Mok dealt Rich Peverly, Thomas Kaberle, and Mikko Koivu to the Alliston 93 Leafs for Marion Hossa and Pavel Datsyuk ..... The Tigers were about to enter the playoffs seeded first with the best offence in the RHL, they were soon to be found out to be unstoppable. The Alliston 93 Leafs were on there way to being a last place team and had no hopes of making the playoffs, how could such a one-sided trade be allowed to happen? With all of the controversy caused by the "Black Friday" trade that was vetoed just a few seasons earlier, perhaps the league GM's were hesitant to cause a protest. I am absolutely certain that the Tigers would not have one the cup without this trade as the two new forwards would combine for 18 points in the last two rounds of the playoffs. The Tigers first destroyed the Muggers 5-2 in the semis and then defeated the Firecats 6-0 in the finals. They boast a single season, which is also their lifetime playoff record, of 11-2 (.846)
Somehow this season, the Cup champions were granted the first overall pick and chose Alexander Ovechkin, however the rest of the team in no way compares to last years dynamo. I consider last years cup victory to be a combination of luck, unintentional accidents, and collusion to be the recipe for their success and do not expect them to repeat. Alex Ovechkin is not enough to keep the Mississauga Tigers, the defending Cup champions, out of last place.
INTERESTING FACT: No one knows what "de Sauga" means.
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