Hoopydog

With the new VHLM season officially underway we have managed to get an exclusive interview one of its up-and-coming prospects, Fraser Wallace. He is currently a member of the San Diego Marlins and was drafted by them 14th overall in the most recent VHLM draft. This season is a showcase season for Wallace as he will be eligible for both of the next VHLE and VHL drafts. Without further ado, here is our interview with Fraser Wallace. Reporter: “Good afternoon, Fraser and thank you very much for doing this interview with us. How are you doing?” Wallace: “Hey thanks for having me. Yeah, I’m doing good, with the season just around in the corner I’m making the final adjustments to my game but I’m feeling good and the team is feeling good too.” Reporter: “That’s good to hear. We’ve got a few things to talk about but let’s start with draft day. You’ll obviously remember it well but you were drafted 14th overall by Frank and the San Diego Marlins. Talk us through the run up to the draft and the actual day itself.” Wallace: “My VHL career has been kinda nuts honestly even though it’s been a short one so far. I came in late last season and was playing over in Vegas so I was thrown straight into the thick of it. Unfortunately, that didn’t go the way we wanted it to but we gave it our all and we were proud of our efforts. Once the playoffs were over, I went back home to Glasgow and spent some time with my family. I was worried about the draft honestly.” Reporter: “Really? What were you worried about?” Wallace: “Yeah, I was quite nervous because I only had one chat with a GM before the draft and that was Shindigs. He was just doing some preliminary scouting on the Vegas guys who were eligible but apart from that I spoke to no one so I didn’t know where I was going to end up.” Reporter: “You ended up going 14th overall to the San Diego Marlins. How did it feel to see your name go on the draft board at 14th?” Wallace: “I was really happy to go to San Diego. They were on of the teams that I was hoping I was going to go to so I was happy they decided to pick me. As you’re watching the picks being made and you’re touted as a top prospect in the draft, the further down the order it goes the more and more you get edgy so it was nice to get taken off the board quickly for sure” Reporter: “Yeah, I get how that can be nail biting just waiting for your name to get called out and see where you’re heading. How are you finding things in San Diego?” Wallace: “I’ve enjoyed being here a lot so far, the GM Frank was keen to get me over here as soon as I could so I sort of quickly packed up the rest of my things and headed on over here. We’ve got a tight knit group here which has helped me settle in which is nice. Lots of use are in the same boat as we were all pretty much drafted and are new to the city so that’s nice.” Reporter: “And what sort of goals do you have for the upcoming season? Either personal or team goals?” Wallace: “I try not to worry too much about setting goals or specific targets for the season. My main aim is to just play the best hockey that I can and support my team the best I can. There’s a good vibe in amongst the team right now. We know what we are capable and were a good team. Don’t see why we can’t go all the way and be the last team standing at the end of the season.” Reporter: “Obviously before you were drafted, you were back in Scotland seeing family and what not. I assuming you were doing some off ice work just making sure you’ll be fit for the season. What sort of training did you do and what improvements have you made to your game?” Wallace: “Yeah, I’ve been doing a fair bit just to get myself in best a shape as I can. You don’t want to show up to training camp unfit and not ready you know. I was mostly doing just sprints and weights making sure I’m as strong, fast and fit as I possibly can be. Artair McCloud also reached out to me and offered to come down to the rink and help me improve my game which has been a real help and you’ll see a big difference when I next take to the ice” Reporter: “We asked our audience for some questions that they wanted to ask so we’ve got some here. First one is what is your go to pre-game meal?” Wallace: “My go to meal is usually some kind of cheesy pasta bake. Either a really good mac n cheese or a carbonara style one. Maybe not the best thing to eat right before a game but it helps me settle right down and get in the zone.” Reporter: “Next question here, what, if any, pre-game rituals do you do before a game?” Wallace: “I’ve got a few, everyone does. You’ll never meet a hockey player that doesn’t have a specific thing they do before a game. I always like to juggle the puck on my stick before I leave warmups, I dunno sort of helps me get a better feel for the puck. The other one I have but it’s not really a ritual just more of my way of doing things is that I always tape my stick last so it the last thing I do before I head onto the ice.” Reporter: “Well I’m afraid that’s all we have time for, Fraser thank you very much for joining us and we wish you the best of luck for the season.” Wallace: “No problem, I’ll speak to you again so” So that was our interview with Fraser Wallace, he will definitely be one to watch this season. 1034 Words Claiming for weeks ending 24/04 & 1/05

F - Zeedayno Chara D - Asher Reinhart @DMaximus

1. I'm gonna be optimistic and say Me but I 'm not to bothered with who scores the first goal, as long as we score and win games. 2. I'm not really a big fan of seafood, more of a beef and chicken guy 3. I think the pre-season will be good especially with the new attributes and builds. It'll give GMs a good chance to mess about with their lines 4. I think Christmas is my favourite followed by Easter. The ones that result in me ending up with chocolate lmao 5. Ice Skating. Being a big hockey fan and wanting to be out on the ice but not being able to skate is rough. I just don't have the balance for it. 6. Maybe Tom Holland for the younger version of me but then Mathew McConaughey for the older veteran version.

After being drafted by the San Diego Marlins in the S83 VHLM draft, we managed to catch a quick word with Fraser Wallace about what he’s doing to prepare for the upcoming season. Reporter: “Hello Fraser, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We know you are very busy preparing for the season. I just wanted to ask you about what you’re doing to prepare for the upcoming season” Wallace: “No problem, I always happy to chat with you guys. I’ve just been trying to focus on my game and getting myself fit for pre-season. It’s hard to just focus on 1 specific thing, especially when the league is going through a big change in terms of the game is played. So, I’ve been working on my physical side of the game and my face-off ability to make sure I can be a big a help to my team as I can” Reporter: “Thanks very much for answering that and I’m sure we’ll get a proper chat with you soon.” Wallace: “No problem, speak to you soon”

Nice job on this media spot! You do a good job of keeping each section of the piece brief but still managing to hit all the key points in a nice level of detail. I like they way the article flows from talking about the season to the awards and then to the little interview segment at the end. Next time, you could add some headings to help break up each section to make it a little easier to follow. Overall, really good job! 9/10

I'll pick F - Duncan Idaho Sorry for missing my pick

1. I'm most excited to see how all the new builds get on this season as it's really hard to create a decent gap of between scoring and passing at this level. 2. We managed to get Bryngelson at 28th which was a good pick since he was the top TPE center in the draft. 3. I want to be one of the best forwards in the league. I know that's a big goal but I think I can achieve it with the marlins this season. 4. Just a chance to shine on the team and enough ice-time to do so. 5. I'm not that big a fan of defensive coverage to be honest. Or poise, always a terrible attribute. 6. My fav team is my local team the Glasgow Clan but my fav NHL team is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sign me up!

Great job on this media spot! I like interview style articles as they can give your player a bit more life. I like that you've included both answers from your player, the players agent and a VHLM GM as it gives a broader opinion on Burns' choice to go straight to the VHLE. Next time, you could maybe include some headings from the different interviews or make each one stand out, just to make it easier to read and follow. Overall, really good job! 9.5/10

Nice job on this media spot! I like how you've broken the roster down into the different sections and it makes it really easy to read and understand. You go into a nice but brief amount of depth about the players on the roster and it's also nice to include a small section on the GM. Next time, I would maybe make your section headings bold or underline them just to make them stand out more. All in all, good job! 9/10

1. I'll try watch a few rounds of the VHL and VHLE draft and I'll definitely be watching the VHLM draft to see where I end up. 2. I don't really have a steal as such but there are quite a few Dmen in and around the 260 TPE mark so they could be a steal if some of them fall down the draft a bit. 3. I would go with Scotty Sundin because I think they will have a better chance at getting a top goalie in S84 draft than getting a top center but either choice will be huge. 4. I think it will be Jake Thunder, I think he will be picked at 10th by Calgary and they could really use a good prospect in the back end. 5. The locker room can be a bit mental but don't think too much about it and just vibe. It's a really great place to be 6. I'm alright with it to be honest. Have a captain who is determined and head strong can be good for a team so I think he'll make a great captain.

Claiming week 4/4 for week ending 10/04

With the VHLM now being scheduled to take place on the 10th of April, we wanted to have a quick chat with Fraser Wallace and get to know his thoughts ahead of the upcoming draft. Reporter: Hi Fraser, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Wallace: No problem, thank you for having me. Reporter: So, the VHLM draft is just a week away now, how are you feeling about it? Wallace: Yeah, I’m feeling good. Obviously, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to show people what I’m made of but I’ve been working hard to improve my game and hopefully a team takes a chance on me. Reporter: The early pre-draft reports have you going somewhere between the mid-2nd to early 3rd rounds. What are your thoughts on that? Wallace: I try not to pay attention to the draft rankings much to be honest. I’m not too concerned with when or where I go in the draft. All I care about is doing the best for the team that drafts me Reporter: I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got time for, thank you very much for going me Fraser. Wallace: Cheers for having me on thank you.

Nice job on the media spot! I didn't know that Stockholm and Vasteras had previous VHL and VHLM teams but now I do. You give a good analysis of both the teams but especially so in your paragraph about Vasteras. Next time, you could include some headings to help make it really clear and give it a clear structure. Also, try catch some of the spelling mistakes next time. Overall, good job. 9/10

Nah man the clan are the only real team in Scotland. I don't think the bcc is still a thing.

1. I wasn't on the team very for long whilst he was the GM but he brought me back to Vegas and gave me a place on the team which was amazing. 2. I want to win the Cup and I also want to try get my build right. With the new hybrid attributes, it'll be tough to try find something that's effective. 3. I think it'll be especially tough for centers because we have to invest double the amount of point we would normally do into face-offs which means we can put as much into other attributes and it could really hamper our playing ability. 4. There are a lot of good players in the upcoming draft and I think anyone that comes in will be a huge boost to the team. 5. I'm not involved in those drafts but I am excited for my time to enter those drafts. I want to be as high a pick as I possibly can 6. I hope it all gets resolved he can be convinced not to hang up his skates.

Claiming week 3/4 for week ending 03/04

Decent job on this media spot. I think you make a good point about how no one is talking about the season some of the rookies have had and the fact that no one is talking very much about it. It's a little hard to read and follow what's going so maybe next time you could add some headings to help break it up and give it a solid structure or you turn it into an interview style to keep more like a conversation but still give it structure. Overall, decent job 8/10

Introduction With Fraser Wallace being in the upcoming VHLM draft, we have decided to take a look at both his strengths and weaknesses to try and figure out what kind of player he is. Let’s start with his strengths. Strengths His best asset right now is probably his ability to play a 200ft game. Being both an offensive threat but also a defensive stalwart makes him a very versatile player. As a centerman, it is likely that he would be apart of both the powerplay and penalty kill so this 200ft ability is crucial. His offensive talent wasn’t able to shine through in his brief stint with the Las Vegas Aces this past season but he is definitely proving his worth in the Junior Showcase tournament as a member of the Boston Brigade as he has put up 15 points in 13 games. His second most valuable asset is his face-off ability. It is vital for a centerman to be able to out match his counterparts in the face-off circle and Wallace most certainly can. This couples well with his special team versatility so whether you need to manufacture one more chance or send the puck down the ice to win the game, Wallace is going to be able to clutch up and win the draw so you can do just that. His last strength that we have identified is skating and puck handling ability. The way he is able to move both on and off the puck makes him a nightmare for other teams deal with. He can break out of his on zone and breeze past defensemen but also bust a gut to back-check and thwart opposition attacks. These further aids his 200ft game and gives him a very good skill set. Weaknesses His main weakness is that he isn’t the most physical player. He lacks the upper body strength to be strong on the puck so he relies heavily on his skating and puck handling when trying to generate chances. This also contributes to him not laying very many checks on the opposition which can be problematic at times because sometimes the only option you have is to lay a hit and that’s not something the Wallace can do very well. Despite not being a physical player, Wallace has a bit of a temper and likes to start fights and takes a lot of penalty minutes meaning that spends a lot of time on the penalty box rather than being out on the ice helping his team. He needs to learn to calm down and keep his head in the game so he doesn’t start to hinder his team. Conclusion So that conclude our scouting report on Fraser Wallace. Overall, we think he has the potential to go far in this league as long as he is able to sort those weakness. The question is which team is gonna be brave enough to take a chance on him.

This is a really good media spot you've written. You do a good job of giving an explanation to why both of these teams could be potentially used as a expansion team and also how that could give us new rivalries or more heated games. The map graphic and the information/reasoning about conference re-alignment is really cool and also helpful for someone like me who isn't very good at North American geography. I like the the headings being bold and underlined as it give the article a good solid structure. Next time you could make the paragraph text a little bigger, to make it a but easier to read. Overall, very well done! 9.5/10

1. We made the comeback and won the Renaissance Cup!!!!!1 How do you feel? A - I am absolutely ecstatic that we managed to turn the series around and win the cup, it was an amazing performance by the team! 2. Are you happy with how the team reversed sweep the Express? A - It shows the strength of character within our locker room. It takes a lot of will power to come back when your down and even more so against a top team 3. What is your post-game ritual? A - I usually just jam out to music and have a tunnocks teacake (Scottish delicacy). That helps me relax after a game 4. How do you feel about Rockstar leaving us for LA? A - I'm happy for him, sad to see him leave the team but at the same time he's earned the opportunity to GM in the VHL and I'm sure he'll do a good job 5. Who do you want to be the next GM of Rome? Why? A - I'm not sure who I want to be the next GM but whoever it is will have a job to do 6. With who do you think you will play for next season? Why? A - This was my last season with McCloud but my new player will be in the VHLM draft so who knows where I'll end up

Claiming week 2/4 for week ending 27/03

Absolutely love this piece that you've written. You do a good job of making the hybrid attributes funny by referring to your little anecdotes but also make some good suggestions of which stats are good and which ones you should avoid. You'd made good use of headings and space it all quite well which makes this really easy to read. Good job! 9/10

Nice job on this media spot! You do a really good job of breaking up the text and spacing it out which makes it a lot easier to read. Having the all the different graphics for the different awards is a really cool touch and they work we as secondary headings. I would maybe make the main paragraph text a little bit bigger to make that but more easy to read. All in all, great job! 9/10

Claiming 1/4 for week ending 20/03