Coming up short
It was a roller coaster of a year for Swan Valley, who, at times, punched above their weight, and others, far below what they were capable of. Things seemed to flip positively after the trade deadline when the Stamps moved out bodies and gave a bigger role to the young guns who were looking to carve out a footprint. To an extent, it worked.
Many of the young players who earned elevated roles fared well. They were fast, dedicated, and bought in to what Josh Tripp was selling. They pushed other teams and didn’t fold when times got tough.
Wins weren’t piling up, but there was a noticeable difference, at least from the outside, when it came to playing Swan Valley, and the hope is that it continues into this season.
Trusting in Tripp
When the Stamps hired Josh Tripp, it was expected that he would make an impact, and he surely has done that. The former MJHL star player turned coach has cut his teeth the hard way on the bench, learning from some long nights and not taking anything for granted. He’s worked well with rookies, and he gives his entire lineup a chance to catch a spark or earn more of an opportunity in a game.
As the Stamps continue to make a presence in the community and surrounding area, the hope will be to inspire young star players to stay close to home, suit up for Swan Valley, and be part of what made the Stamps so dangerous for years: dedicated, passionate, and local players.
2026-27 Outlook
Swan Valley wasn’t that far off last year when it came to pushing for the postseason, but they did eventually fall 8 points short and a full 8 regulation wins back of the team ahead of them. If they want to turn things around, a priority near the top of the list has to be winning on the road.
Last season, the Stamps were 6-21-2 away from their own barn, only slightly better than 2023-24, when they were 5-24. In fact, they haven’t had a winning road record since 2022-23, the year they won the West Division.
Heading into the new year, like all teams, it remains to be seen how the new players will fit in, how the returning players will respond, and how the league overall will shake out. But the good news for the Stamps is that they are closer to the playoffs than not, and the division looks open if they can get off to a strong start over the first six or eight weeks of the year.
