MD9

Nice one

Best memory is probably the playoffs last season. We didn't win, but it was fun for a first go with some nice guys on the team.

Jake Scheel Forward Face Offs Won Points

Ottawa Overtakes Saskatoon VHL.com // VHLM Subsidiary The VHLM is not known for its parity, to say the least. Last season, the league was all but dominated by the Las Vegas Aces, while the Saskatoon Wild emerged as the best hope to dethrone the presumptive (and eventual) championship winners. This year, the Oslo Storm was the team that jumped to an early and commanding lead. Early on, Saskatoon looked primed to repeat last season's success (so to speak) as the 'favourite' underdog, as much of an oxymoron as that is. However, the Ottawa Lynx have recently overtaken the Wild to claim the second place spot in the lead, proving that they're worthy of being viewed as a contender to upset the Storm this coming post-season. Although fans in Saskatoon may worry now as their team has struggled on more than one occasion to claim wins against theoretically weaker opponents, and as a consequence have dipped in the standings -- granted, still holding a rather unsettling lead over the bottom two teams -- this does seem to suggest something positive for the league. There's more than two contenders this year. Certainly, anything can happen in the playoffs, but almost anyone could have predicted that the finals was going to be Saskatoon against Las Vegas, given how well the Wild played after they made a few moves early in the season. This year, barring a stunning upset, it appears that the league may see an actual legitimate question-mark in the battle between Ottawa and Saskatoon. Something they can at least market on. To put it bluntly, the VHLM is not doing well right now. Even with two moderately strong teams (and one powerhouse), there remains two teams that haven't even cracked a .350 winning percentage. The fact that the third place Wild have over double the amount of wins than the team one slot below them speaks to how little parity really exists. But, seeings as how there's at least come controversy to build off of, the VHLM can rest assured that its playoff attendance and television ratings might not face as steep a decline as they might be suspected to, after the predictable finish of last year. In fact, the potential of an Ottawa-Saskatoon rivalry is an enticing one, as it pits a team relying upon depth and role-players to succeed, against one relying more upon star-power. Where Ottawa lacks a single point-per-game player, Saskatoon has three -- yet still, the Lynx have proved to be a tenacious team. Rather than viewing the possible series as a duel between McAllister, Ron or Scheel against another highly touted prospect, it can be seen as a clash of styles. Predicting such a battle is difficult, if not entirely infeasible -- while the impressive offense of a player like McAllister could help lift the Wild to a victory, a game or two where the Wild's top stars almost always spells a lost. For example, not long ago Daring Do managed to record a hat-trick -- but without any of the other team's major names really showing up to play, it wasn't enough to grant the team a victory. So, in conclusion -- Ottawa and Saskatoon battling it out in the standings is something of a silver lining in a league which, as it stands, needs all the help it can get to drum up interest. Three competitive teams and two so far out of the picture they barely seem worth mentioning barring some serious line changes is hardly the league most would like to see. But it's better than just having one or two teams, isn't it?

Storm Storm Wild Like this

Wild 6-4

VHLM Strategies At a Glance VHL.com // J.S. Augusta At t his very moment, there are five teams in the VHLM. A glance at these five teams reveals that three rely upon the same basic strategy. That being the '1-1-2' spread between offense, defense, and physicality across all lines in equal fashion. The two teams which have shirked this strategy are the Las Vegas Aces, who play a high offensive style modified by line to better suit the players playing, as well as the Saskatoon Wild, who play a more two-way style with little physical play on their top offensive and defensive pairings. This is similar to the basic strategy -- the 'default' strategy, so to speak -- but differs as it too is focused on the individual players on the team. With Oslo the most dominant team this year, it's apparent that the same general strategy that most teams use does indeed work. Trying to create a system for the team itself could perhaps yield an even more dominant showing by Oslo, but at the same time, you can't question chemistry. What is more surprising than Oslo sticking with the strategy that got their team to the top -- as a well balanced strategy inevitably pairs well with a stacked team -- is that the teams at the bottom, failing to make any gains in the standings, have not adjusted their style of play to attempt to turn around their fortunes. It's difficult to say why coaching in the VHLM seems to follow such a predictable mould, but it is interesting to note -- whether it's simply due to the past success of the 1-1-2 system or due to coaches not wanting to disadvantage certain players who might be forced to leave their comfort zones. This does appear to happen to a lesser extent in the VHL, with two teams following this system, but that's still a minority of teams -- as some have opted for either different, yet still conventional strategies, or outright bizarre strategies such as the Express.

As someone that's still new here, the only thing that strikes me as odd about the VHLM is that there are a bunch of VHL rosters that have very few players, so hypothetically if you just put the VHLM players in the VHL you might actually see more rosters that are able to field more full lines without repeating players on multiple lines as the norm rather than the exception.

Scheel Failing to Elevate Game Jake Scheel can be viewed as a somewhat divisive player. Not due to off-ice drama or locker room troubles, but rather due to his up and down scouting reports and debates between managers and fans alike as to whether he can really capture his potential. Near the end of last season, his draft stock diminished largely due to the emergence of players who appeared to be safer bets than him. Over the course of this season, his value seems to have diminished even further. He's continued to develop at more or less the same pace he began with, putting in work at practice and sticking around the gym after hours -- but his on-ice performance simply hasn't risen to the point that some expected it to. After being one of Saskatoon's great surprises last season, his performance has... been just about the same. That's really it. He's been consistent ever since his first game in the VHLM. He puts up around a point per game, sets up plays, and performs reliably in his own zone. As a player who made his name off of his two-way, risk-free play, going a point per game might seem 'good enough'. But after being selected in the first round, this year was supposed to be different for Scheel. Even those who doubted his ability to succeed at the VHL level expected him to factor in to the team's offense in a more notable way -- joining the VHLM's many players who far exceed a point per game and showcase the kind of flashy offense that the VHL and its affiliates are known for. In any other league, 49 points in 46 games would be superb. But for a sophomore VHLM forward, it's really nothing to write home about. Perhaps this is a sign of what's to come for Scheel -- perhaps he really is destined to be a 'good', but not 'great' player, bound to float in and out of Calgary's top six once he eventually makes the jump. Anything can happen, and at this early stage of his career it's too early to write off his potential to emerge as one of Calgary's franchise players -- but there's simply been an air of disappointment around him. When compared to a player like Gabriel McAllister on his own team, whose draft year is coming up this season, he simply falls short. Perhaps a few more seasons of conditioning will help turn him into a more complete player, but as it stands, there is little reason to believe Scheel can hold up as anything close to a point per game player in the VHL. If this season is really the best he can do when he's got a year on most of his competition, there isn't much reason to be optimistic about when he faces down players who have numerous years on him. Perhaps what Scheel is really missing is that 'star quality' that some other players have. The ability to step up in a big game and elevate his team to a win. That would explain not just his failure to rise to the top of the VHLM in the first half of this season, but his struggles throughout the playoffs last year. The question really becomes -- is that quality something that a player can gain through hard work, or is this a matter of born talent alone?

Key Perought (OTT) for Slashing (Minor) at 8:59 Ron Hextall much

Solid play, holding the other team at bay throughout.

I feel like someone threw a wrench in the shot totals for every team this season...

Bit of redemption for us there. From outshot to outshooting.

VHLM's Most Physical Players VHL.com // J.S. Augusta When you're talking about statistics to keep an eye on in juniors, hits aren't usually the one to come to anyone's mind. With so many young, smooth skating players, the attention is inevitably placed on skill -- skilled offense in particular. That being said, the VHLM is no stranger to physical play, even if it isn't what the league is known for. The most physical player this year has been Augustus Gloop, clocking 127 hits on the season. The hard-hitting displays from Gloop have been a bit of a highlight in an otherwise dismal Yukon season. Rask Rowe sits at number two for Las Vegas, playing the valuable role of power forward for the team, adding a mix of offense and physicality that will prove useful to the team as it attempts to repeat its championship success, despite a weaker line-up than last season. Jon Snow sits at number three with 103 hits, playing as one of Ottawa's better stay-at-home defenders. Playing the lowest minutes per game of any player in the top five for hits, Snow could definitely be higher up if he was given a bit more icetime. At number four is Daring Do, who has managed to mediate an otherwise slow season by being a physical force on Saskatoon's top line: complimenting Scheel's defensive playmaking and McAllister's offensive brilliance with much-needed grit. At number five is Nicomedus Raven, who is having an oustanding season overall with 52 points. At 99 hits, along with 39 shots blocked and a staggering +38 rating, there's no doubt that Raven has been a key for Oslo's extreme success this season. Although her physical play is more of a cherry on top of extremely solid two-way hockey, it's one more element that separates her from the pack of VHLM defenders. Even if the league itself focuses on skilled play, these types of gritty players can be invaluable to a team's success. In fact, the skilled nature of the league almost guarantees the value of checking players, as they're able to throw a wrench into the otherwise fluid play of top offensive players. You can't dangle around a defender if you're knocked flat on your back, and if a winger comes down and smashes you into the boards -- you might be just a little more prone to let the other team control the boards around your own net.

Klopfenstein and Scheel: Calgary's Prospective Centres This season, the Calgary Wranglers had a fairly successful draft - at least looking at it without the benefit of hindsight. They were able to select far and away the most touted player in the draft in Felix Savard, who has already started to have a significant impact on the main roster. With 35 points, the rookie defender is second in points for his team, third overall for all defencemen, as well as third overall for rookies. Having selected such a clear, franchise player, it would be easy to say the Wranglers were among the top winners of the draft without even going down the board. However, they had two more selections in the first two rounds, and picked up two of the VHLM's young centers: Jake Scheel at the #5 slot, and Corey Klopfenstein at #13. While Savard was developed enough to make the jump to the VHL immediately, Scheel and Klopfenstein were generally viewed as more longterm projects, neither having rounded out their game enough to join the league immediately. That being said, both players hold enough promise that Calgary fans can stand to be at least a little optimistic about their future. Both players have made their name in the VHLM off of being playmakers first. and scorers second -- but on an Ottawa Lynx team that needs the scoring, Klopfenstein has proven himself to be a much more versatile player than some suspected at that point in the draft, as he's begun to showcase a knack for the net that came almost out of nowhere, sitting with 16 goals, making him the top goal-scorer for the Lynx (as well as their leader in points overall). Some concerns had been raised over Klopfenstein's ceiling, which led to his dip in the draft, but as he's continued to develop as a very steady pace, there seems little doubt that he will be able to make the transition into the VHL as an extremely solid, well-rounded centre. Perhaps what sets Scheel apart from Klopfenstein in terms of style is simply that Scheel identifies more as playing a two-way, bordering on defense style of play. Although he can still put up points, as evidenced by his 30 assists for Saskatoon, placing him first in assists for the team (and second in points), he comes off at some points as somewhat reserved. He prefers to make safe passes, always ready to retreat on the defensive if the puck gets turned over. Although he is fully willing to get more creative when the team needs a goal, his modus operandi is to make the game easier for his wingers -- putting them in position to score, and covering them on defense. Scheel dropped a bit down the boards similar to Klopfenstein, albeit still making the top five. After being pegged for number two through four most season, some scouts became concerned with Scheel's ceiling as well. However, it appears that like Klopfenstein, he is bound for the VHL sooner rather than later. Certainly, history has yet to be written: looking back, one or both of these players could turn out to be a bust. They could burn out, slow down, or simply fail to develop properly as players. However, the potential is there for the Wranglers to walk away from this draft with both the top prospect in Felix Savard, and two highly capable roster players in Scheel and Klopfenstein, acquired with a mid-1st and early-2nd respectively. Given that's when things start to get a little more uncertain for draft picks, seeing the Wranglers offense either supported or led by these two centers would make Calgary's scouts look quite good for their head office. @crutchfield

48-17 for team face-offs. Kind of a clinic in why they're important.

clutch tripping minor i mean shootout goal

VHLM shots have been weird all season tbh

Storm Wild Storm

5-2 Wild

0 shots in the first, 5 in the second, 1 in the third and then 0 in overtime. What an odd game.

Where's the Chemistry? VHL.com // Saskatoon With the season well underway, plenty of stories can be written about the solid play of the Saskatoon Wild -- whether it's the scoring of Gabriel McAllister, the solid two-way play of Charles Murphy, or even the surprising physicality of Daring Do. However, one question is lingering in the minds of some fans -- what happened to the chemistry between Jake Scheel and Daring Do? Last season, the tandem made for a rather devastating duo when paired alongside each-other, acting as desperately needed depth for a Saskatoon team led by Bo Boeser. Now, with more playing time on the top line of the team, that touch seems to have largely vanished. Certainly, the tandem aren't playing terribly, as their line has been one of the best for Saskatoon (largely thanks to McAllister), but they certainly aren't on pace to match their production per game last season. Scheel sits just a single point over a point per game, while Do has seven goals and seven assists, slipping a fair few points back. Although she's tied for third in the team, she isn't showcasing the sniping prowess that she certainly possesses. Likewise, Scheel hasn't showed the improvements in play-making many thought he would. The season is still young -- this might have to do with team strategies, different directions, locker room troubles, or even a simple case of sophomores slumping in the teamwork department. Sitting at second in the league, the Wild aren't exactly struggling as a whole, so the slight dip in scoring from two individuals isn't enough to sound alarm bells -- but for Scheel and Do, some extra work is needed to help remind the league just what they're capable of.

3 goals on 13 shots tho

Wild Look to Topple the Giant Last year, the Saskatoon Wild came closer than anyone could have predicted to defeating the Las Vegas Aces, winning two games against them in the VHLM finals. This season, the Aces have had a rather average start to the year, and look to have lost what set them apart last season. While nobody should count the Aces out, it is the Oslo Storm that has taken up the spot they previously held, appearing as a nearly unbeatable super-team, with all of the media attention and discussion to match. With an 18-2-1 start, they sit in first place by a very healthy margin, trailed by the Wild 13 points down with a 11-6-2 record. Things aren't quite as drastic as they were last season when the Aces were still in the midst of a record winning streak, but the league isn't exactly what you could call balanced. While last season the five teams below Las Vegas were all fairly even, this season the Yukon Rush are suffering with a 2-16-1 record, and the third place team is still 8 points down from Saskatoon (21 points from from Oslo). This could mean a couple things. First and foremost, the league desperately needs its current crop of players to outgrow it so that some sense of parity can be restored. However, with distance being made between the number two and number three slots in the standings, the Saskatoon Wild may well have distinguished themselves as a more powerful team than they had last year, breaking away from the pack (a pack that, in itself, is far less equal than before). Where last season they failed to defeat the dominant Aces, the greater skill, experience, and depth of their line-up may well mean that this season, the Wild really can play the role of giant-slayer. Without a solid starting goaltender, the battle will be an uphill one, but the Wild do boast the kind of players that can get it done. While Oslo has had more all-star performances by the likes of Quill, Laflamme, Forsberg and Raven, the Wild possess the league's leading goal-scorer, and the playoff MVP (on a losing team!) in Gabriel McAllister, along with a healthy supporting cast including Charles Murphy, Ay Ay Ron, Jake Scheel, Daring Do, and Emil Martinov to name a few. That being said, the Oslo Storm have been crushing them in the season series, with the Wild holding just a single win over the other team. But during the playoffs, that sort of thing can change dramatically. Nobody in Saskatoon is deluded enough to think that making it to the finals again will be easy -- to even have a shot and claiming an underdog win over Oslo, the team has to contend with other highly capable teams, all of which have something to prove themselves and could easily look to Saskatoon as a perfect opportunity to show why they deserve to be looked at as the league's best chance to defeat this year's super-team. Making it to Oslo will be the first challenge: after that, the Wild have to actually show that they can make good where they failed last season, and really bear down come the playoffs to exploit the few weaknesses that Oslo has. It won't be easy, and the playoffs are a long way away -- perhaps the first step Saskatoon needs to take is to shore up its own weaknesses, namely by acquiring a goaltender if any become available, and aim to play hard in the regular season to close the gap between themselves and Oslo.

These sims make me feel good.