Victor

Most Valuable Backup

Jubo did the Helsinki legacy proud, the Titans definitely deserved more from his time there and were an absolute pain in the ass to compete against.

If anything Simon gives me cups out of pity these past few years. Plus it's either me or the evil genius that is Fong so clearly this is the greater good.

I've been updating the various stats and other spreadsheets around the league and surely there is enough content to get me to 500 words in all the fun little tidbits that I've picked up along the way. On the retiring S70 draftees There's been a few fine careers ending in S77 with a shout-out to Jaxx Hextall and his erstwhile teammate Chad Magnum (my old stats buddy Corco) especially, but there are two players I want to focus on – a future Hall of Famer and a guy who's just won his third Continental Cup. Mikko Lahtinen @Beketov The man who is the topic of this week's trivia question – the answer to which I will not reveal – but Lahtinen might well be the best player to never win a cup. Here's a few highlights: 99 playoff games – the fourth most of all-time 52 playoff goals – also the fourth most of all-time, although in 20 or so more games than the top 3 – Locke, Campbell, and Chershenko 94 playoff points – slotting in just behind Matt Thompson who's seventh, although in 34 fewer games 371 playoff hits – the most of all-time! Lahtinen edges out Theo Axelsson @solas, a dominant Boulet winner and Franchise Cornerstone's partner in crime in Helsinki during the 50s. However... 237 PIM in the playoffs – the most of all-time as well, two ahead of my own Matt Bentley who held the dubious record since S42. That might go some way to explaining Lahtinen's lack of team success, along with some intense anti-Russian bias from some of the referees... Axelsson by contrast only had 152 PIM so was clearly a cleaner hitter. Although Bentley won three cups of his own so nothing really makes any sense anyway. Although Lahtinen only has two trips to the finals to show for his playoff exploits, back on his entry-level deal in Calgary, he retires without a cup not for lack of trying, being on track to be crowned playoff MVP once and maybe even twice with Moscow, had we made the finals in his time there. Although it will make him the 19th out of 135 Hall of Famers without a championship ring, I don't think this will impact a likely first ballot induction this time next season. Odin Omdahl @zepheter By contrast Omdahl gave up Hall of Fame aspirations a while ago, but retires on a high and with arguably the more satisfying career of the two. Plus, there are a few individual highlights for him as well. Omdahl accounts for 75% of the S70 draft class' Continental Cups, having won three in his life as a Bear – S71, S73, and now S77. The only other cup won by a S70 draftee was by Aleelee Kiak @Grant, also with Seattle in S73. That is a potentially damning indictment of the class of S70. With 199 blocked shots in the playoffs, Omdahl set an all-time record of his own! All the more remarkably, the man he beat – Kerkko Hyvarinen @diamond_ace – is tied for the most playoff games at 102, meaning Omdahl got five more blocks in 17 fewer games. Omdahl also beats out his former teammates in Hogan and Sundqvist and a variety of Hall of Famers – Labatte, Incognito, Tate to name a few – earning his place in Seattle lore. That's all I wanted to say actually. Oh and Seattle vs Helsinki was actually a direct fight for the most Continental Cups in VHL history – both franchises came into the series tied for the lead with 11 cups apiece. The Bears have taken the outright lead, quite a comeback from the seven cups they had only 10 seasons ago. For the Titans, the hunt for a Continental Cup in the 70s continues to keep up their streak of at least one cup every decade – with three finals losses in the last five seasons, the clock is ticking.

Helsinki, you threw everything you had at us but DA BEARZ magic is too strong in these finals. What a run by Bana. Cup #14 with franchise #10 And after all this time, a cup with @gregreg great work Seattle!

@gorlab just had a seizure

The dreaded 3-1 lead...

I mean we all know there's only one former blue who had dumb ideas.

@Jericho maybe?

Absolutely wonderful work team, carry me to glory you beautiful Bears. Expecting more close games this series.

That hour and 5 minutes of Streeeeeeeeeeeeeeetlight >>>>>

I don't know what you're talking about...

Helsinki vs Seattle, good ol boomer final, none of this expansion nonsense

Wow reusing the same gag, that's just pandering at this point.

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1. The Seattle Bears have made the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season. How many franchises have achieved longer streaks before? Just twice before has a playoff streak gotten into double digits. New York's 11-season streak stood as the record from S34 to S73, when Riga beat it and extended it to 13. Now the Bears have the Reign in their sights and will be hoping to add to their 4 cups in this run. Full list here: https://vhlforum.com/topic/52282-an-all-encompassing-playoff-spreadsheet/ 2. Who was the first player to record 400 hits in a VHL season? (Credit and 1 uncapped TPE to @Doomsday) Hitting was one of the least developed VHL skills but the floodgates opened in S26 when the great Leeroy Jenkins put 414 hits in. His record was beaten by David Smalling and Tukka Reikkinen in quick succession, the latter's mark of 430 standing until Simon Valmount hit 441 in S49. Now the seemingly untouchable record is owned by Gabriel McAllister, who hit a whopping 461 times en route to carrying Davos to the cup in S61 - but the trailblazer in the 400 club was Jenkins. Full list here: https://vhlforum.com/topic/257-hits-in-one-regular-season/

Helsinki on the brinki

Look at that consistency, Scotty Campbell could never

7. Seattle Bears , Timothy Brown 6 (General Zod 10, Leo Strauss 6) at 0:34 8. Seattle Bears , Timothy Brown 7 (Odin Omdahl 6) at 7:50 9. Seattle Bears , Leo Strauss 7 (Frank Funk Jr 3, Timothy Brown 9) at 16:45 10. Seattle Bears , Timothy Brown 8 (General Zod 11, Odin Omdahl 7) at 18:21 M-V-P M-V-P

Rasputin good for 3 games, then Maronen comes in to bails him out. What a comeback boys! The Bears are back baby!

Each correct answer is worth 1 capped TPE at the end of the week. Don't reveal the answer in public, but if you're not sure, ask around, here, or in the special trivia Discord channel. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGBrfYEn__eyxW4bjt9Y-__x58xo122RVeWJumHuvwgsl-hA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Roque Davis: Heading for a top 10 TPE finish but at serious risk of becoming the highest TPE player outside the HOF apart from Ryan Kastelic. Two career seasons in Moscow put the former rookie of the year back in the conversation but needs a strong finish in LA and probably a cup. Erik Killinger: Very comparable statistically to Davis, so in a very similar boat despite being a forward in his rookie season. Could potentially match or exceed Davis' S76 awards haul at this season's ceremony but needs a strong finish and a big playoff run in S77 to really edge his long term rival. Thomas Landry II: Mr. Prague has consistently improved season to season and is now a premier two-way forward in the league. But that's not been reflected in the trophy case and the Phantoms have yet to win a playoff series outside of the wildcard round. Another case of big season needed. Jim Bob: Sadly probably a case of too little too late for the Bears captain who really only took off in S75. Could have a better awards ceremony in S77 than any of his draft rivals though. Stone Wolski: His incredible S75 – both reg season and playoffs – is also his franchise's best ever season. That's good for MVP considerations but the whole body of work for both Wolski and D.C. puts him more in the very good conversation next to recently retired stalwarts like Lafontaine and Hextall. Ola Vikingstad: A slowdown in activity has coincided with a slowdown in production. 3 finals (2 cups) in his first 4 seasons and a very good S75 and S76 were the foundation needed for a HOF push but it doesn't seem like it will come now, despite an above PPG pace. Uhtred: Vikingstad's erstwhile Seattle teammate has a very similar career – 3 points back in the regular season, 5 points in the playoffs. Like Vikingstad, he also made the finals the first season out of Seattle and is currently facing off his old teammate for a chance to get that 3rd cup. Despite a solid career, it probably won't be enough to make the ballot. Kyl Oferson: An interesting case as the highest scoring S71 draftee, who's been point per game or better since his sophomore year, as well as adding a cup in both Riga and Chicago. Like many on this list, the individual trophy case is barren, but might have an outside chance purely based on numbers.

I learned from the best in @jRuutu