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DollarAndADream

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  1. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from diamond_ace in GM 135: Calgary vs. Seattle   
    Wraaaang
  2. Like
    DollarAndADream reacted to boubabi in Edition 201   
    I'm here to raise the bar

  3. Like
  4. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from MapFreak in GM 10: Quebec vs. Calgary   
    KJA will have a breakout year this year for sure. Too many stars on his last team.
  5. Like
    DollarAndADream reacted to Doomsday in 7th Birthday Bash   
    Rigged
  6. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from diamond_ace in S38 All-Star Game Rosters   
    My first VHL All-Star selection in my first VHL season.
     
     
    Should be a great game.
     
    Congrats to all of the All-Stars!
  7. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Da Trifecta in S38 All-Star Game Rosters   
    You might as well throw Slaughter at center because his faceoff stat is better than mine.
     
    Although, if Janssen is at center like you have here I'll have no problem on the dot against him with his 40 rating.
  8. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from MapFreak in S38 VHL/VHLM Awards List   
    Congrats to all of the winners!
     
     
    Yay, top rookie!
  9. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Kendrick in Walser this Way S38 (Lunch Pail Time)   
    Walser starting to turn it around. Boychuk starting to perform.
     
    Am I the key to this team's success?
     
     

  10. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from diamond_ace in Claimed:Wranglers' Year Summarization   
    Wranglers' Year Review
     
    The Calgary Wranglers had an up and down season, and although that was not very surprising there were some positives to look at. With a respectable 28-39-5 record, this rebuilding squad is not far away from where they want to be. Calgary was never expected to make the playoffs at all, so there was some great progress done on development. If the Wranglers are ever going to make the post-season and go anywhere in them then player building will be a huge factor. The fan base here has a ton to look forward to in seasons to come.
     
    One of the strongest assets of this club is their goaltender, Martin Brookside. He has been going through some growing pains himself, but posted a pretty good 23-36-5 record this year. Not a bad season for a developing team. Within those games, he managed to achieve a .909% save percentage and a 3.59 goals against average. Calgary last year was a team that could have let in many more goals if not for Brookside. As a side note, he even had 6 assists which says something about his involvement in the team's offense. He can release a nifty breakout pass to his forwards. Heading forward, everyone will be hoping for the same consistency from Martin.
     
    --------------------
    Martin Brookside in action --------------------
     
    As far as anticipation goes, the fans had it all this year in rookie Travis Boychuk. Nobody really knew what to expect from the centerman stepping into the big leagues for the first time, but he sure did perform. Boychuk had 103 points in just 69 games becoming one of the top scorers in the VHL. His 35 goals were impressive as well. Travis was never an elite-level player in the VHLM but he stepped up to the plate 100% on the Calgary Wranglers. Building the team's offense around Boychuk will be a very interesting situation to watch for anyone.
     
    The Wranglers had a good amount of depth this year with forwards Travis Boychuk, Simon Tremblay, Marcus Figgarowta-Nahimal, Henrik Larsson, Lucas Smith, Zach Cuff and Milan El Shaarawy. Tremblay actually led the team in goals with 36 in 72 games beating out rookie sensation Travis Boychuk for the Wranglers lead. Figgarowta-Nahimal had 56 points on the season and Zach Cuff had a respectable 52 points. Not bad numbers for an up and coming squad, but they will need to get better if they want to get further.
     
    --------------------
    Koji Yamazaki on the Outlaws --------------------
     
    On the defensive side, things were much weaker. Although they were quarter-backed by veteran Godavari Yumalatopinto, this area was easily the biggest problem for the team. Yumalatopinto out-shined the rest of the defensive core for Calgary, coming not far behind Boychuk in team scoring with 94 points. 31 goals is also a nice feat for a defender in the VHL, but despite his efforts the rest of the back end just could not shut down the league's top players. If there comes a time when the Wranglers rise to the top, they will need to acquire top-tier defense. With GY likely departing this may become a bigger problem next season.
     
    In this off-season's draft, the GM looked to address the team's main issues through the re-build. The first pick for the Calgary had uprising defensive star Koji Yamazaki become a top prospect for the team at 2nd overall. Yamazaki had outstanding numbers on a deep Turku Outlaws VHLM club earning 128 points in 70 games. This kind of production is what Calgary has been looking for. The young stud in Koji is going to have some pressure on his shoulders once he steps into the VHL, just like Travis Boychuk did. The Calgary brass is confident in his abilities to develop and have them carry over to another level. They have also acquired defender Tony Stark to bolster the D squad while trading D prospect Jack Ryan.
     
    ----------------------------
    Travis Boychuk celebrates ----------------------------
     
    The Wranglers had another 1st Round pick at 9th overall, acquiring centermant Lukas Nykvist. This up and comer will look to balance out the offense in the future. Calgary did not stop there, picking up left winger Hudson Backenbauer and right winger Mike McGrattan in the 2nd Round. They also drafted another right wing in Dan Cooper in the 3rd Round. With all these promising forwards looking to find a place on Calgary in the future, things are looking bright in cow town. It is difficult to predict how all prospects will find their place, but Calgary's management, team, and fans alike are excited for what the future holds there.
  11. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from diamond_ace in S39 Thread   
    Great draft day for Calgary all in all.
     
    I'd like to welcome them all to the organization as well. You pick em good, GM!
  12. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Kendrick in Walser this Way S38 (Lunch Pail Time)   
    Goose on ice, that's where I'm at.
  13. Like
    DollarAndADream reacted to Kesler in Turku Outlaws S38 Discussion Thread   
    http://www.vhlsim.net/VHL38/VHL38-PLF-Farm-40.html
     
     
    HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH HOLY SHIT BOYS.
  14. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Kesler in Turku Outlaws S38 Discussion Thread   
    Here's to hoping the Outlaws do big things here. Close series so far. Besides that 11-3 game, lol.
  15. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from 8Ovechkin8 in S38 Thread   
    We had a great year, boys. Let's regroup and come back stronger in the next one.
  16. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from diamond_ace in S38 Thread   
    We had a great year, boys. Let's regroup and come back stronger in the next one.
  17. Like
    DollarAndADream reacted to 8Ovechkin8 in S38 Thread   
    1st in hits, shots blocked, powerplay goals, goals by dman, PIM. 2nd in PP points by dman and points by dman with less total minutes played by the two dmen with similar points.
  18. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Victor in GM 276: Seattle vs. Calgary   
    You would have lost anyways.
  19. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from MapFreak in Travis Boychuk Biography   
    Full Name: Travis Boychuk
    Position: C
    Age: 25
    Handedness: R
    Jersey Number: 23
    Height (inches): 6'0"
    Weight (lbs.): 190lbs
    Birthplace: Dvirkivschyna, Ukraine
     
    Background:
     
    Travis Boychuk was born and raised in Dvirkivschyna, Ukraine. Although not being from a particularly hockey orientated background, he was an instant fan as a child. Born to father and mother Victor and Maria Boychuk, Travis was raised in a loving home. His father was a factory worker, working for different companies in Ukraine for most of his life. He lived a well-paid lifestyle and could support Maria and Travis at home with ease. Travis' venture into hockey began as a child when his dad was watching a game on television. Throughout childhood, he had taken notice of fellow countryman Nikolaj Zherdev who played in the NHL at the time. Boychuk figured, if he can make it out of the country with hockey than so can I. He was instantly hooked and his father started bringing him to games in no time. Travis would practice at public rinks every day and eventually at the right age, he would join a minor league team in Kiev, Ukraine.
     
    At the minor league level, Boychuk was noticeably better than the rest of the players on the ice. Any coach or viewer would see right away that his game was on another level than everyone else. You see, Travis had a knack for hockey and would dipsey-doodle around his opponents like no tomorrow. On most days, you would find Travis Boychuk at the rink perfecting his game even at the minor level. He was as dedicated as anyone could ask for and much more. It did not take very long for him to be placed alongside players that were older than him, and he did not shy away from taking his game to that next level. At the appropriate age, Boychuk was sent to join the junior affiliate of Sokil Kyiv, a professional hockey league team based in Kiev; Ukraine's capital.
     
    At the junior level in Ukraine's capital, Boychuk would carry over the same game he brought to the minors. His skill was as apparent as one could imagine and scouts began to take notice. The assist record in this league would then be broken by Travis Boychuk, who proved to be a play maker to watch out for in the future. At this level, his shot was not quite there but he definitely made up for it in other categories. Hitting the net seemed to happen on a rare occasion in the juniors, but with a pile of points in the assist column it did not matter. Analysts knew this was something to work on, but he was still young and ready to be groomed into a different league. Being a Ukrainian, Travis Boychuk could not participate in the World Juniors due to a lack of talent to produce a full roster. What they could put together would not end up qualifying in the end.
     
    -------------------------------
    -------------------------------
     
    In his second season of junior, he would produce almost identical numbers to his previous season. It was not difficult to note that he was ready for the next step in his hockey career. After the duration of the season, Boychuk was given multiple awards in the league. He won awards for Point Leader, Most Exciting Player, Hardest Worker and Playoff MVP after winning with his team. Nobody knew where Travis would go after juniors, but he was noticed on a big stage when selected in the 2nd Round of the NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Travis Boychuk was kicking tires at the thought of going to the NHL as an idea, but felt stepping up right away was not the right thing to do. It was then that his agent found a new home for him in Ottawa, Canada where he would play for the Ottawa Lynx of the VHLM. As he was eligible for VHL Minor Hockey, Ottawa claimed him off waivers and he felt this would prepare him to enter the NHL or VHL later on.
     
    The VHLM Days:
     
    Ottawa Lynx:
     
    The VHLM was in Season 36 and well underway, so Travis Boychuk would join the team when things were moving. In Season 36, the Lynx were in no way a competitive team but Boychuk was excited to play a new level of hockey and work hard to get better. Some rising stars of today were also on the Lynx, being Konstantin Azshishchenkov and Dimothenis Vlasis. Playing alongside KJA, Boychuk would be a little bit over-shadowed by this powerful forward. All eyes were on KJA so Boychuk worked to make his game better, and with the spotlight taken off of him for a change he would make it an advantage. To no one's surprise but his own, it would take time for him to get some foothold in the VHLM. Boychuk had struggled to gain ground and score points for awhile before making a name for himself. The Ottawa Lynx would not make the playoffs that year, but there were many upsides to the season. For Travis Boychuk, he managed to post 14 Goals and 30 Assists for 44 Points in the 56 Games that he had played.
     
    As a surprise to Boychuk, he was selected to take part in the Season 36 Top Prospects Game, where he would play for the European Conference. The Euro Conference would go on to lose that game 9-8 in a thrilling OT Loss. Boychuk would score a late 3rd period tally bringing the game to OT, and with that Travis managed to post 1 Goal and 1 Assist while putting 5 shots on net, 4 hits and 1 blocked shot. Not quite Boychuk's style, he would get in a fight with Ron World Peace as well during this game, getting beat up in a one sided brawl. All in all, VHLM GMs would take notice of his talent before the Season 37 VHLM Dispersal Draft. During this draft, Boychuk was selected at 6th overall to the Turku Outlaws. This off-season was also the same one that drafted Travis Boychuk to the VHL's Calgary Wranglers at 8th Overall.
     
    Turku Outlaws:
     
    After the Dispersal Draft, Travis Boychuk would make his way back to Europe where he would land in Turku to take on a new task at hand. Although, Boychuk was not the only one heading to the Outlaws at this time as this was a draft full of Turku draftees. During Season 37, the Outlaws were a very strong club. Led by their extreme offensive output by defensemen Svoboda, Wylde and Vlasis it would not be too tough of a time to get some chemistry brewing. Travis Boychuk established himself as the number one center for the squad and they got off to somewhat of a rocky start. Travis' skill was made very clear on this team outscoring the rest of the forwards there and becoming the most reliable forward also. He would end the season as one of the year's best breakout players, earning 79 points in 72 games; 26 of those being goals. Boychuk would finish with a nice +27 and 58.61% in the face off circle. The Outlaws would go on to end the season on a 6 game winning streak heading into the playoffs, getting to 3rd in the league with 100 points.
    ----------------------
    ----------------------
    During the post-season, the Outlaws would face up against the Bratislava Watchmen in the 1st Round. The Watchmen were the defending Founder's Cup Champions and would be defeated by Turku in just 5 games. In the 2nd Round, Boychuk and the Outlaws would match up against the mighty Bern Royals. As an unfortunate event for Turku, they would be eliminated in 6 games by Bern and would not advanced. In the playoffs, Travis Boychuk had an alright showing with 10 points in 11 games. Boychuk would go on to state that he was disappointed in himself for only posting 1 goal during the run. Overall, Boychuk had a great showing in the VHLM, with many VHL GMs taking notice of him and quickly earning himself respect for his great play making and vision.
     
    International Play:
     
    During his junior career, Boychuk did not get the chance to represent his country at an international level due to his Ukrainian heritage. Sticking to Ukraine, he only ever had citizenship in the one country, making him ineligible for play at an international level. It would be after his season in Turku that he would be selected to partake in the VHL World Cup for Team Europe. Boychuk did not have any outstanding play at the tournament, but managed to gain respect at that stage and earn 1 Goal and 1 Assist for 2 Points in those 12 Games. Team Europe made it all the way to the Gold Medal Game, but fell just shy of winning the ultimate prize. Team Canada had won the Gold, so Europe had to settle for a Silver Medal. This is quite an accomplishment on it's own for such a young player.
     
    The VHL: Calgary Wranglers:
     
    After the VHLM Playoffs, Boychuk had a tough decision to make. He had to decide whether to go to the VHL or the NHL. After a ton of thought, Boychuk and his agent decided the VHL was the place to be. This is a level of hockey that he had been waiting for throughout his whole career, and loved the opportunity that Calgary was holding for him. The Wranglers had drafted him at 8th Overall, and with that found a star center to build their offense around for years to come.
     
    Many Wranglers fans were awaiting the stellar play of Travis Boychuk, and with training camp underway they were awarded with just that. Boychuk looked very in place with the Calgary squad, never a step behind. Analysts could tell he was ready for the big stage, and he himself was excited for the challenge ahead. We are now 27 games into the season, and Travis Boychuk has found himself in the center of attention in the VHL. Through these 27 games, Boychuk has put up 14 Goals and 32 Assists for 46 Points. These are amazing numbers for a rookie who is stepping into the league relatively unknown worldwide. He has always been out-shined by his teammates for the most part out of Ukraine, and now in Calgary he has lit his own spark. 46 points is good for 4th in scoring league-wide in the VHL; sick numbers indeed.
    ------------------------------
    ------------------------------
     
    Pros:
     
    Passing: This man possesses elite-level passing. Throughout his whole hockey career it has become too apparent for his opponents that he can dish the puck tape to tape with ease. With this kind of vision heading into the VHL as a rookie, he already has gained some ground on the competition. It will be on a rare occasion that Boychuk delivers a bad pass, since this kid has a knack for threading the needle.
     
    Skating: He has a relatively slender frame at 190lbs with 6'0" of height in the VHL. With this, Travis has a great stride in his skating. Although he paces himself, he can blow by defenders at times and never seems to get exhausted. He has a good amount of endurance, so minutes are no problem for him and he will not slow down. His pivots are on-par with the greats of the league, and can break out on command. One might take notice that this was a con earlier in his career, but he has seemed to perfect it with the VHLM training.
     
    Puck Handling: Travis Boychuk has a way with the puck that all coaches desire. When on the ice, it can look like he has the puck on a string and will dangle around defenders like no tomorrow. Even when faced up against much bigger men, he is tough with the puck and will be very hard to knock off of the puck. He brings in Pavel Datysuk-esque handling and can wow the viewers with his skill.
    ---------------------------------
    ---------------------------------
    Cons:
     
    Shooting: Throughout most of his career, Boychuk has not had a good time hitting the net. Although it has gotten a little better during his VHL stint, you usually can not catch him scoring many goals. On many occasion early in his career, you might have found him hitting the post or shooting it wide often. This is a con in his game to take note of, but it seems it is his main goal in the VHL to get better at it. It will be something to keep an eye on heading forward.
     
    Physicality: He can be great when holding the puck, but retrieving it is another story in itself. Simply put, Boychuk does not have the size and strength to take on the biggest of the VHL. He will bring the offense, but he finds it extremely difficult to bump a player off of the puck. Making big hits is not his forte, so nobody should look forward to that happening any time in the future. Boychuk will stand up for his teammates if he has to, but the tough guys are there for a reason and that is to stop him from doing just that. You will not be seeing him win a fight, that is for certain.
     
    Defense: Although he is relatively good at defending, you will not find him doing anything amazing. On one-on-one's, you will not often see him breaking it up. He might miss a pass block or two coming his way at this stage of his VHL career, but it is not something to worry too much about. He can get burned on occasion defending in the neutral zone by the more gifted players on the ice. At least not right now, he is not your typical two-way forward. There are things to be seen here though, as he continues to improve on his game.
  20. Like
    DollarAndADream reacted to Strummer in World Cup pick em   
    Always root for the Dutch, and never care about what happens.
  21. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from STZ in Edition 191   
    So we don't have to do anything to be in the Magazine Lottery? Just post that I want numbers?
     
    If so, then 2-5-9.
  22. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from MapFreak in Claimed:Claimed:Boychuk's First VHL Steps   
    The Regular Season Commences: A Questionnaire With Travis Boychuk
     
    The beginning of Season 38 has finally begun, and with the off-season over and done with there are plenty of questions to be asked. It remains to be seen which teams will find themselves at the top of the pack this season, but some teams know where they will wind up. One of these teams is the Calgary Wranglers. While being in the middle of a rebuild looking upwards, fans are excited to see their team progress throughout the season.
     
    Through the first 2 games, the Wranglers were defeated in a couple of 4-2 deficits to the Iron Eagles and the Americans. Starting 0-2 is not how any team would want to begin, but struggles are expected for this squad. Much of the team's high hopes rest on top prospect Travis Boychuk. He had a great couple of seasons in the minors and is ready to prove he can be in the VHL. The road to success in Calgary seems to revolve around the centerman.
    ---------------------------
    Rookie Travis Boychuk celebrates a goal ---------------------------
     
    With the season opener in the past, we had some questions to ask Boychuk going forward.
     
    Interviewer: So, the VHL jitters have finally been put to rest for your career has begun in the league. How does it feel?
    Travis Boychuk: It feels great! While I have been struggling a little to find my A game so far, I feel amazing. This has been my dream all of my life and I am ready to take my career to the next level. I am going to try and have fun with it.
     
    Interviewer: You currently have 2 points in the first 2 games, and with all of these high expectations where do you see yourself numbers-wise this season?
    Travis Boychuk: I cannot make any predictions for myself at the moment because I do not want to let anyone down. My main goal is to chip in offensively and maybe stay at a point-per-game pace. I can not make any promises though, sorry. We are only 2 games in, there is a learning curve involved.
     
    Interviewer: Looking on paper, you seem to be having some troubles in the face off circle. Any comments on that?
    Travis Boychuk: Yes, that has become apparent for me. Face offs are a skill I take pride in as a centerman so I will be working on that for sure. Everyone in this league is much stronger than in the minors, and although I expected it to be a big step I might have underestimated the skill a little bit.
    ----------------------------------
    Boychuk looks on from the bench ----------------------------------
     
    Interviewer: Where do you see the team this season, and what do you think the Wranglers are lacking?
    Travis Boychuk: I do not see us at the top this season. While I want to say any team can win it all, this league is truly competitive. I do not see this squad making the playoffs this year but we will all gain a ton of experience for the future. My team needs some true skill, and depth throughout the whole line up. I will bring as much as I can, and I hope that guys like Brookside, Yumalatopinto, Tremblay, Figgarowta-Nahimal, Smith and Cuff stick around because I see good things in the future. I trust in the core guys here.
     
    Interviewer: How do you see your own game right now, personally?
    Travis Boychuk: Obviously I would love to produce more. I have a couple of assists in these first 2 outings but I am working hard to get even better. I need to improve my strength out there as the VHL is much tougher than I imagined. It is difficult to find room out on the ice. My passing game is still my go-to, and I will always rely on that but I am looking to round out my game more.
     
    Well there you have it. This concludes our interview with rookie Travis Boychuk of the Calgary Wranglers. The future looks bright in Cow Town.
  23. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Higgins in Claimed:Claimed:Boychuk's First VHL Steps   
    The Regular Season Commences: A Questionnaire With Travis Boychuk
     
    The beginning of Season 38 has finally begun, and with the off-season over and done with there are plenty of questions to be asked. It remains to be seen which teams will find themselves at the top of the pack this season, but some teams know where they will wind up. One of these teams is the Calgary Wranglers. While being in the middle of a rebuild looking upwards, fans are excited to see their team progress throughout the season.
     
    Through the first 2 games, the Wranglers were defeated in a couple of 4-2 deficits to the Iron Eagles and the Americans. Starting 0-2 is not how any team would want to begin, but struggles are expected for this squad. Much of the team's high hopes rest on top prospect Travis Boychuk. He had a great couple of seasons in the minors and is ready to prove he can be in the VHL. The road to success in Calgary seems to revolve around the centerman.
    ---------------------------
    Rookie Travis Boychuk celebrates a goal ---------------------------
     
    With the season opener in the past, we had some questions to ask Boychuk going forward.
     
    Interviewer: So, the VHL jitters have finally been put to rest for your career has begun in the league. How does it feel?
    Travis Boychuk: It feels great! While I have been struggling a little to find my A game so far, I feel amazing. This has been my dream all of my life and I am ready to take my career to the next level. I am going to try and have fun with it.
     
    Interviewer: You currently have 2 points in the first 2 games, and with all of these high expectations where do you see yourself numbers-wise this season?
    Travis Boychuk: I cannot make any predictions for myself at the moment because I do not want to let anyone down. My main goal is to chip in offensively and maybe stay at a point-per-game pace. I can not make any promises though, sorry. We are only 2 games in, there is a learning curve involved.
     
    Interviewer: Looking on paper, you seem to be having some troubles in the face off circle. Any comments on that?
    Travis Boychuk: Yes, that has become apparent for me. Face offs are a skill I take pride in as a centerman so I will be working on that for sure. Everyone in this league is much stronger than in the minors, and although I expected it to be a big step I might have underestimated the skill a little bit.
    ----------------------------------
    Boychuk looks on from the bench ----------------------------------
     
    Interviewer: Where do you see the team this season, and what do you think the Wranglers are lacking?
    Travis Boychuk: I do not see us at the top this season. While I want to say any team can win it all, this league is truly competitive. I do not see this squad making the playoffs this year but we will all gain a ton of experience for the future. My team needs some true skill, and depth throughout the whole line up. I will bring as much as I can, and I hope that guys like Brookside, Yumalatopinto, Tremblay, Figgarowta-Nahimal, Smith and Cuff stick around because I see good things in the future. I trust in the core guys here.
     
    Interviewer: How do you see your own game right now, personally?
    Travis Boychuk: Obviously I would love to produce more. I have a couple of assists in these first 2 outings but I am working hard to get even better. I need to improve my strength out there as the VHL is much tougher than I imagined. It is difficult to find room out on the ice. My passing game is still my go-to, and I will always rely on that but I am looking to round out my game more.
     
    Well there you have it. This concludes our interview with rookie Travis Boychuk of the Calgary Wranglers. The future looks bright in Cow Town.
  24. Like
    DollarAndADream got a reaction from Tremblay in Turku Outlaws S38 Discussion Thread   
    Dexter with 4 goals and an assist against Yukon. Nice outing.
     
    Then 2 goals and 2 assists against Minot.
     
    Morgan with 6 goals and 9 points in 2 games.
     
     
    (Vlasis with 8 assists as well)
  25. Like
    DollarAndADream reacted to Fire Tortorella in Travis Boychuk   
    Good luck this year! Nice to see Ottawa alums go on to the VHL.
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