After two consecutive events finishing in 4th overall, the Prairie Pronghorns have decided to shake things up by dropping Jeff Elwood and adding Sunny Buttar.
Jeff Elwood's Departure
Elwood, who was selected 19th overall in 2023 and then 15th overall in the 2024 draft, saw his playing time slide with the emergence of Michael McCaffrey this season.
Jeff Elwood's Performance:
- 2023 season: 20-14 record in 17 matches, +0.9 average point margin
- 2024 season: 8-14 record in 11 matches, -1.5 average point margin
Sunny Buttar's Addition
The move should inject some life into the Pronghorns lineup that still includes one of the league's top mixed pairs in Kim Brent and Brad Chapman.
This is the second consecutive season where Sunny has been added after the draft to a roster needing an injection of skill.
Sunny Buttar's Track Record:
- 2023 with Vancouver Rush: 9-7 record in 7 matches
- 2023 Playoffs with Montreal Lions: 0-4 record in 2 matches
- 2024 Vernon Qualifier: 11-6 overall record, dominant 6-1 in mixed doubles
Sunny was the highest ranked player undrafted this season after his strong performance at the Vernon qualifier, making him an attractive addition for the Pronghorns.
Impact on the Team
With this strategic move, the Pronghorns are betting that Buttar's proven ability to perform under pressure and his strong mixed doubles record will help elevate their standing in the league.
The addition of a player with playoff experience and qualifier dominance could be exactly what the Pronghorns need to break out of their 4th-place pattern and make a deeper run in the standings.