A new and exciting season awaits the fans in Praag!
After turning heads during the regular season, the playoffs ended in a thrilling but disappointing fashion for the Grizzlies. Nevertheless, the huge leap ahead achieved in Season 12 cannot be understated, and both fans and owners look with optimism to the future, expecting coach AutoAxpert and the Men in Green to establish themselves once again in the ever-challenging SHC North.
The rookies for the Praag side for season 13 are electric catcher Werner Jutzenbach, the elusive Royce Freeman, sturdy line-of-scrimmage anchor Carl Walther III and hard-hitting lineman Rasheem Green. Joining them is second-year Troy Fumagalli, who looks forward to find stability his third team since joining the league.
Going the other way upstream the river Lynsk are linemen Tony Benboom and Dandria Palmer. Benboom was picked up by the Grizzlies as a free agent in season 10 after going undrafted in year 9, and recorded 40 appearances, while Palmer was a walk-on last season. We are grateful to both players for their effort and contribution and wish them the best in Volksgrad.
Other familiar faces that won't be on this year's yearbook are blitzer
Peter Kalambayi, lineman
Kevin Thomson and fan-favourite
Suggs Malone, who retires due to the recent rules changes. Fourth round pick Bradley Bozeman also failed to make it through training camp. Good luck in their endeavors away from the Blood Bowl pitch!
This years captains mark continuity, with Kostantinos Laskaridis (throwers, 7 seasons), Onuchukwu Uchy (linemen, 3 seasons) and Alvin Kamara (blockers, 2 seasons) resuming their role. Alongside them is season 12 pro-bowler Chidobe Awuzie, who assumes captaincy of the catchers.
Finally, no team can look to the future without remembering its past. Joining the Grizzlies' greats of season past, the organization raised two banners commemorating the exceptional careers of former team captains
Hartmut Hass and
Jeff Rodenberger. The legendary catcher himself was present for the ceremony, and in a touching moment thanked the fans for their unwavering support through nine arduous seasons in Praag. The catcher holds multiple records for the franchise at 130 games played and 50 touchdowns for the Bear, while the late Hass was one of the premier killer blitzers in the league, with 35 career casualties inflicted.
With preseason expectations sky-high, it's now AutoAxpert's and the players' turn to convert their potential into success!
#FearTheBear