Renomitsu

The Season 45 VHLM Dispersal Draft – Who’s Who? With all of the excitement surrounding the major league draft – particularly with stars like Phil Hamilton (D), Greg Clegane (G), and Biggu Kyanon (D), the top three draftees in the most recent scouting center rankings – it’s easy to overlook the incoming crop of minor leaguers. And who would blame most of the fans? This most recent draft has a surprisingly deep pool of defenders and goalies, and a distinct scarcity of excellent forwards (Nezhmetdinov notwithstanding). With a whole host of players, lots of practice, and a full season to go in the minor leagues, let’s figure out who might be hearing their name called in the first round for the VHLM Draft. Premium Players There are only a few players that can really even have the potential to reach the first line in the VHL – but isn’t that the way it always has been? Here, we’ve got the cream of the S46 VHL crop in just three players – Zach Parechkin, Sean Blacker, and World B. Free. Zach Parechkin, LW S44 VHLM Team: Brampton Blades Current TPE: 95 First on the list is none other than Zach Parechkin, an exceptionally young forward from Burnaby, BC. A solidly-built player, he stands a few inches taller than six feet, and weighs in at two-hundred and some change. He’s been working up a storm, showing off his skating and sniping abilities in the Brampton practice facility. More importantly, however, he helped lead a surprisingly potent-but-outmatched Brampton team to two wins against the heavily-favored Yukon in the first round of the playoffs. He managed 40 shots, a couple of points, and 14 hits in six games against the Yukon Rush – a team with a tremendous amount of TPE under their belts. While those stats aren’t entirely flashy, consider that most critics wrote the team off as a simple 4-0 for the Rush, who outmatched the Blades in nearly every line. With a full additional season for development, Parechkin will look to make waves across the league and set up whatever team drafts him – keep tabs on this young Canadian. Sean Blacker, C S44 VHLM Team: Saskatoon Wild Current TPE: 64 From the reaches of frescoelmo comes Sean Blacker, a 22-year-old center that hails from the capital of Northern Ireland and is ostensibly built like a truck – 6’5” and 230 pounds. In a recent article, Blacker was quoted as “understanding their work ethic and what it takes to win” – clearly an individual with a degree of appreciation and understanding for the road ahead. He feels as though his “learning curve for [his] transition into the VHLM feels like it has been seriously accelerated,” and his stats show it. He earned about a half point per game, playing a bit out-of-position at left winger. Frescoelmo has a history of success across several seasons of the VHL, so you can expect Blacker to produce once he gets a season of the VHLM and VHL behind him. World B. Free, D S45 VHLM Team: Oslo Storm Current TPE: 51 Continuing his trend of selecting former basketball players with interesting names, stevo’s taken on Free as a client (this comes after taking on Ron World Peace). The coach/agent has taken on some tips and tricks from his former client, molding Free into an exceptionally well-rounded young player if nothing else. “He’s been showing solid checking, skating, and passing so far – and that’s on top of his unusual defending ability,” a scout was quoted as saying. Interestingly, stevo has kept things relatively quiet on a media front – with very little hype generated for his client. The question then becomes what his amateur and professional career will be like; with very few games played this season, he doesn’t even show up in the top 50 for points, a quality that has a few GMs scratching their heads. What the front office elects to do with Free is up to them – but he feels like something of a wild card, even with his skill on the ice. Players on the Edge Even if there are a few standouts, there are a few more of the remaining seventeen players that have a shot at productive careers in the VHL if they show additional promise in the minor leagues. Among them are Mathieu Baptiste, Shawn Muller, and Jordan Maverick; we’ve covered Baptiste in an earlier article, so we’ll be showing off Muller and Maverick instead. Shawn Muller, RW S44 VHLM Team: Bratislava Watchmen Current TPE: 39 The only promising right winger in a class generally full of weaker forwards, Muller has his work cut out for him. He’s put in the time – showing up to training camp on the day of his arrival – and has developed into a serviceable forward that has helped his team to the second round of the playoffs. He has no shortage of shots – sending 21 towards the goals of a few different teams – but has yet to connect on any of them. With so many shots on goal, some may question his scoring ability (certainly not those who have seen him in practice); and his practice vs. performance dichotomy is certainly a hit against him. However, with only part of the season played, Muller has time to put in the same level of dedication he’s shown so far – hence why he’s on the edge. Jordan Maverick, LW S44 VHLM Team: Bern Royals Current TPE: 29 Maverick, who joined the league only a few weeks ago, is a US native from Minnesota. Of the three border-line players, he’s certainly had the most experience in the regular season. With 31 games and 26.4 minutes per game to his name, Maverick had 21 points (9 g, 12 a) – an excellent mark, and one of the better +/- stats on a team filled with no-names (heh). In addition to his scoring and assists, he’s put up 90 hits and been tested with over a few dozen face-offs. While he’s by far the most experienced of an inexperienced crew, we’ll have to see him on a better team before we can make any judgments. Will the Royals take him back for next season?

i wanna be on munks team pls just get me in the s46 draft yay

This is my first Weekly Trivia. I should only have one point. I think.

N... no hits or shots blocked? ;-;

5-3 Vikings

Wranglers Vikings Wranglers Vikings

Hackett learned that he earned his first of the three stars in an August 6th against the Ottawa Lynx - to his bewilderment. "What's all this about stars, anyways?" he was reported saying to his teammates after the game. It seems as though Hackett's got a lot more to learn about than playing physical defense. The young Canadian defender managed a goal and an assist in the game, helping Brampton to a 4-3 win over the Lynx. An avid Brampton fan that was clearly too ready to explain brought pages' worth of printouts with statistics and predictions over to Hackett in something of an ambush, who was overwhelmed by the fan's fascination with numbers. "See, you've got HTT, OSB, OSM, GW, GT--" The fan was shooed away by a couple of Hackett's teammates before the defenseman stepped into the locker room. "I'll take time later today to figure out what all of these methods of analysis are," Hackett said, a big smile on his face, "but I'll focus on what actually happens on the ice for a bit before I wrap myself up with numbers. I'm glad to know there's somebody willing to teach me, at the very least."

The Brampton Blades: VHLM’s Boarding House? One only needs to take a single look at the recent waiver minor league waiver history to notice that Brampton Blades executive tfong has been on the move. In the few weeks alone, he’s laid free claim to six different greenhorn prospects – Mathieu Baptiste, Lars Siktanc, Daryn Petersenn, Saul Hackett, Jon Panik, and Maxime Deschamps – with hugely varying levels of experience and agent history. A few hecklers have made an effort to promote Brampton as something of an adoption home for young hockey players trying to make a name for themselves. What, if anything, can be expected from these players, and what impact have they already made on their newfound home? Is tfong crazed and going out on a limb in claiming these prospects? Is he a genius, claiming the best upcoming hockey players while the rest of the league is largely unaware? Mathieu Baptiste Agent: iRockstar Current TPE: 34 Baptiste, one of multiple Canadian prospects claimed by Brampton, is currently managed by iRockstar – an individual with some history in VHL. He’s managed players such as Zack Gagnon and Mikey Blade, but his most recent client other than Baptiste – Teuvo Ruutu – is a winger for the Wranglers, who has seen experience on a few teams, and even changed positions (from defenseman). If nothing else, Baptiste has an agent who’s seen quite a few players in his time – and with Ruutu listing a +46 plus-minus in his most recent season with the Stockholm Vikings and a new gig in Toronto, the outlook is most certainly positive for new center Baptiste. One of the most refreshing qualities scouts have seen in Baptiste is his resolve, and wisdom beyond his years – Mathieu is an individual who has experienced failure and success, and seems more in tune with himself than anyone could reasonably expect from a minor league player. It translates to his on-the-ice aptitude in the form of skating and versatility; he can skate circles around the competition, as shown in practice and against other minor leaguer. Even beyond that, he’s been able to adjust to his shot on the fly; this adaptability and sniping talent is something major league GMs will definitely look out for. Lars Siktanc Agent: Boragina Current TPE: 10 Something of an enigma, LW Lars Siktanc was claimed only a few days ago by the Blades; it’s for this reason that nothing can really be said of the Czech winger. He’s shown moments of brilliance for the Blades, showing an ability to score at a whim, but the young man’s commitment to the league must be made concrete before any scouts can begin generating hype. He’s a touch short at 5’9”, and although his game is acceptable from a VHLM perspective, Siktanc has to sharpen his skills to command a large contract. Daryn Petersenn Agent: Hockeyman9114 Current TPE: 0 While Siktanc and Baptiste show potential for tremendous upside, the same can’t be said of brand-new defenseman Daryn Petersenn. In fact, the young German has yet to show up to much of anything – the training facility, camps, team functions, media sessions – and nobody knows if he ever will. A decent physical specimen at 6’3” and 203 pounds, the claim on Petersenn may have been because of his dashing looks instead of his ability. Saul Hackett Agent: Renomitsu Current TPE: 30 The second of the recent Canadian prospects claimed by Brampton, Saul Hackett is an individual that doesn’t speak to the press very much – he seems to want his performance to do the talking for him. When interviewed, Hackett was willing to give some insight on his philosophy, conveying his intent on improving in a league where he and his agent are relatively unknown. He has spent almost all of his time coordinating with other defensemen, particularly line-mate Petersenn and the team’s goalkeepers, and wants to keep press and scouting combine results on the down-low. If he shows his commitment to the league, Hackett has a rare chance to go from total unknown to solid draftee. Jon Panik Agent: Kyle Current TPE: 0 Jon Panik’s such a recent addition to the league that not much can be written about him specifically – agent Kyle is a significantly more interesting talking point. We’ll hold our breath on Brampton’s third Canadian until he’s had a chance to catch his own; Brampton just barely finished signing the paperwork as of writing this article. Maxime Deschamps Agent: scotty Current TPE: 60 Our last prospect on today’s list is none other than Maxime Deschamps, a French Season 45 prospect that has been making the slow crawl up draft boards since his first game on the ice. Just a couple of weeks ago, Deschamps was ranked around the twentieth spot by scouts observing the VHL Scouting Combine. Although he has recently been used on the wing by the Blades, the center has been putting tremendous effort into facing off against fellow center Mathieu Baptiste, while also honing his physicality on the ice with a variety of defensemen and forwards. He appears to be a well-rounded forward with decent control over the ice due to his defensive aptitude, speed, and scoring capability – clearly intending on playing a supporting role on the ice instead of a pure goal scorer. Little needs to be said about Maxime’s agent, scotty – a manager that has taken on Scotty Campbell, Tomas Jenskovic, and RJ Stafford in past years. His pedigree reaches all the way back to the inception of VHL, and it’s for this reason that scouts may get excited over Deschamps. If the young center can continue his progress from the past couple of weeks – accumulating 26 TPE since the fifth VHLSC rankings – he could prove to be a solid pickup for the middle rounds of the draft. So, you decide – are the Blades tfong’s crazed way of giving new hockey players a new home, or is there method to his waiver claims?

Rush Blades Wild

Brampton 4-2

3-1 Express

Reign Wranglers Meute Wranglers

Brampton, ON - Recent reports regarding new defenseman Saul Hackett's arrival for the Brampton Blades have been positive, at least in the couple of days he has been with the team. Paired with defender Mikael Lagerkvist, Hackett is a generally reserved individual that plays with poise and deceptive strength - which seems to complement the Blades' other second-line defenseman just fine. Off the ice, he has been elusive, avoiding the press in most cases, but presenting himself as a composed individual when he elects to address them. Most of his off-time has been spent familiarizing himself with the game, particularly by watching game film; his passion for the game is evident in this manner, and it seems as though he's taken to the coaches of the Blades, indicating that he has "the utmost respect for the personnel up here in Brampton." He has been seen asking questions to the (if only slightly) more veteran defenders on the team - among them Daryn Petersenn and Jed Moseley - although we'll need to see his performance in the coming weeks to see how well he's getting along with his team.

With a handful of significant, established prospects receiving the majority of the press’s attention, it’s easy for less highly-touted prospects to have their name and skills publicized. Little-known Canadian defender Saul Hackett – an individual generally so reticent off the ice that even the most astute scouting personnel have difficulty ascertaining his personality – sat down for one of his first interviews. Q: First off, Saul – how are things going? SH: I’m doing well, thank you. Q: Great to hear! Now, for those of you who don’t know, Mr. Hackett was recently claimed by the Brampton Blades and comes in as a virtually unknown prospect. Why isn’t there any buzz around your arrival, Saul? SH: Well, I don’t really have a hockey pedigree to speak of. Look at some of the greats in history – recent inductees like McQueen and Tordahl, for example – and it’s as if people knew they were born to play on the ice before they themselves considered the VHLM, really. In all of the tape anyone’s taken of me, I don’t show off the same sort of franchise player, all-star kind of vibe, and I haven’t been playing hockey for my entire life like some of the prospects for the Season 45 draft. Q: There’s a lot said about “potential” for draft prospects; how do you rate yourself in this respect? SH: The sky’s the limit. What I show on the ice, especially in this first season, is going to be significant in terms of my career; it dictates any future chances I have with this franchise, and whether they feel it necessary to develop me further or send me on up to the VHL. My immediate performance, however, is secondary – my commitment and passion in practice is going to be worth about as much as my numbers on the ice. Q: How do you feel about your chances of making an impact on the Blades, or your drafting team in season 46? SH: One step at a time. I’m barely out of the amateur scene as-is, and I’m going to focus on demonstrating my value to this team first and foremost. Ask this question in a few months, and I’m sure I’ll have a more informed response for you. Q: It seems as though you’re very tentative about your skills or performance in the upcoming months. SH: I’ve set very high expectations for myself, internally. I’ll be honest in saying that my hockey-specific skills aren’t as honed as some of the incredible individuals coming up – just take a look at Nezhmetdinov! The guy’s eighteen – and seems to have a vision of the rink that’s a few steps ahead of some of the current pros. He skates powerfully and handles the puck like a veteran. But I digress – what I mean to say is that the upcoming season will shape a lot of my future. I’m what scouts call a very “raw” prospect – maybe the athleticism’s there, maybe I’ve got some semblance of game sense – but nobody’s going to know until they give me a shot. I’m incredibly grateful that the Blades have taken a chance on me, as short or long as my time with them may be. There you have it folks – his first interview in the books. Is he an entertaining, fiery personality? No – but Hackett comes off as an individual grounded in realism, with dedication and a passion for self-improvement. He conducts himself professionally, but it’s hard to say exactly where he’ll end up. One major question coming in: does he have the confidence in his own abilities to make it as a pro? As he’s said himself – maybe we’ll need to take it one step at a time.

Whoops, my bad - disregard my post :c

Saul Hackett Defenseman Points Hits

Express Meute Bears Dynamo

Riga 3-2

Saskatoon Bern Yukon

3-1 Yukon

Saul Hackett - No team

Ha, glad to hear things went well with the remainder of my player's career - but I hardly deserve the praise. I'm (very) slowly catching up to speed - one thing I'm not positive on is where we are in the season/optimal creation time. Should I create in the off/post-season, or just make a new player on Day 1 of S45?

Hey all, Played in Madden Madness, briefly played in the 15th-ish to the 20th-ish season of VHL. Nothing's set in stone yet, but I had fond memories of participating in sim leagues before college, and I feel as though it's time again to give it another shot. I've always had a player named Hiro Renomitsu, once as a CB and once as a defenseman. My time is still slightly tighter than it was back in my MM/VHL days, but I'm looking forward to making a positive impact on the community & league as a whole. Renomitsu