SlapshotLegion

CALGARY - The Wranglers quickly learned that the Toronto Legion would be their opponents. Soon the two teams played and came out of the first four games 1-3. Raimo Tuominen was certainly less than pleased with his play coming from those four games. No goals, only three assists, and now -4 in the playoffs, Raimo is frustrated with the start and wants to start contributing. “I’m a young player, I’m a center, I’m supposed to be a guy who is out there helping the team. I have no excuses for the way I’m playing right now. Very limited on offense but also struggling on defense. As a second line center? I’ve been given a role and I haven’t played it. I am very happy our team was able to pull out the win in the second but it’s definitely been a wake up call. Sucks that I even have to have a wake up call. We have games left in the series. I have to be better than how I started. Forget the regular season. I need to start getting results. It’s the playoffs for goodness sake. This is where every game REALLY matters. This is where the losses hurt that much more.”

1. This team's strength lies in its depth. We also have arguably the best tandem in the league right now. The mix of veterans and dedicated young players that make up the ranks in the skaters have created a shot-hungry and hardworking team. I love it. 2. I don't want to jinx our chances, being as superstitious as I am. However, I believe that as we take it one series at a time, success will come. I'm feeling good. 3. Well, the standings have already been finalized but I have always believed in this squad placing high. But wow, to tie first in the NA Conference with the LA Stars after their hot streaks was not something I saw coming. I am very proud of this group. 4. Malmo is gonna be hot going into the playoffs. Congrats to them because what a season they have had and congrats to them for getting first place overall. They have such a strong squad. 5. Win the cup. Straight up. Forget my individual stats, forget what goals I want to do. My goal is to win the cup with this squad and make sure Raimo helps the rest of the team with the push. 6. Merome Dilson. My goodness. What a goaltender. I think Dilson has been insane. We also have Jonny as a backup too. Like I said earlier, we have the best tandem in the league with Dilson spearheading it.

CALGARY - Raimo came into this season looking to improve. He wanted to be a more offensively present player than he was in his first season in the VHL. He did improve quite a bit, going from a paltry 8 goals to 17 goals. His point total went from 33 to 55. It was great to see improvement from the young center. However, even he felt underwhelmed. “I came into this year trying to establish myself as a force on the team. My offense is still very limited and I am still looking for that consistency. I had a really hot start to the season and I couldn’t carry it or bring it back. So, definitely high points, definitely low points, overall I still have a long way to go before I can say that I’m confident with my play.” Being a part of a stacked Wranglers team has had its perks, including learning everything he could from the veterans. Plus, playing a depth role, Raimo does not have to worry about his lack of production severely hurting the team. Besides, he has meshed well with his linemates and the entire roster as a whole has been one of the better in the VHL. “Now it’s the playoffs and it’s basically a whole new season. Nothing from the regular season matters. We have to start again and fight.”

1. I would put my money on the Boston Bruins... though I do think the Vancouver Canucks will make the finals too. We could use a 2011 rematch and hey, VanCity can redeem itself and win this time. But I'd still put my money on the Boston Bruins just bc of playoff experience... it would be a close matchup though if the Bruins win. 2. I would build my dream home in a lot somewhere close to Calgary so that I'm still somewhat close to the city so I can get what I need but I can also build and see what else I could add to the plot. It would be awesome. 3. Merome Dilson because he's an aboslute stud of a goaltender.... and Ronald Johnson MacWallace III because the first two were excellent and three is the perfect number. -- 1. If you could choose an existing VHL city to have two VHL teams, which city would it be and what would the second team be called? 2. What do you think is the best rivalry between two teams in the VHL? (Can be right now or all time or one in the past.) 3. What is your players go-to shootout move?

CALGARY - Being from Finland, Raimo Tuominen is no stranger to the cold. He was somewhat pleasantly surprised when he saw how long the snow lasted here in Calgary. It was an interesting reaction from the young Finn. “Yeah, I heard my fair share of stories about the weather here and how inconsistent it is. I mean I had my expectations but I was still surprised by how true it was. We had below -40 temperatures earlier in the season and then we had a few weeks of sun and temperatures that weren’t absolutely frigid. I mean we definitely haven’t gotten back to that point now but the snow’s returned.” It’s not a bad thing according to Raimo. In fact, he’s quite the fan of the snow. Winter, as predictable as this next part may seem, is his favourite season. “It’s nice in Calgary. Many outdoor rinks that are managed by volunteers in the community, you have the olympic plaza one, outside hockey can be found everywhere; heck, I am considering making and putting up a public outdoor rink of my own for people of all ages to enjoy hockey outside… or even just skating for that matter. Snow also means you can ski, it makes saunas that much more enjoyable…” “...only thing that sucks about the snow is everything else. I need to start investing in a pickup truck or I’ll never make it through these snow covered roads… thank goodness we have people who remove the snow from the streets.

1. Okay, I'm very biased. Currently, it'd be the Wranglers followed by the Prague Phantoms. Wranglers because I have a lot of memories with that logo and I just think the horseshoe and horse arrangement is so cool. But my goodness do I think the Phantoms have such a clean logo. The team colours look excellent with it. It's got some EDGE and I love that. Of all time? I really miss the Reign's old logo. I loved that logo. The new one is really good too. It's cool that the Reign probably have two of the cleanest logos in VHL history (imo) 2. Oh jeez, I just realized that I have like no hobbies. I'd probably say playing the piano, drums, and just hashing out music in general is probably my next favourite pasttime. It's really fun, especially with others. 3. Seeing that Raimo is in Calgary, they are NOT going to the stampede... instead, Raimo and his date are going to The Living Room Restaurant. For Raimo, his ideal date would probably be somebody who else who is interested in sports. 1. If the VHL were to bring back the all-star game, should it be done by draft or conference? 2. Who do you think you would say your player's biggest rival is? (Can also do former players if that helps) 3. They just released a VHL video game! What did EA get wrong about your player? Which ranking did they screw up the most?

CALGARY - Raimo Tuominen has slotted quite comfortably into the second C role behind Randy Bobandy. Raimo holds Randy in especially high regard considering that he has been a mentor for Raimo personally both in and outside of hockey as well as a leader for the team as a whole. “We have a really strong leadership core. The veterans have all been very vocal and have helped all of us improve our games exponentially. It’s a really neat experience playing on the same ice as these grizzled vets. They tell us all the little things we can do in order to succeed more. They also give us tips and don’t get enough credit for how good their hockey IQ is. Randy has been a great mentor. Helped me settle into Calgary and also just helped me settle into my role. It’s kinda funny. One second he’s sorta like an older brother and the next, he’s sorta like an on-ice father or something.” One moment in particular stood out for Raimo and also stood out for fans watching the game. “So I got into it with Mason Rice. I remember our time together in Calgary. He’s always been feisty. But I’m not exactly liking the cut of his jib. So he used that cut to sock me in the face. Then we get into it more and fight; I lose miserably. Randy comes in later and basically asks Ricer for round two, this time with him. Randy definitely wins that one. I still owe him a good Albertan steak dinner for that. He cares. He’s fun and he acts pretty weird sometimes. But he cares. He’s a smart player, he’s a heart player, he’s a skill player, he’s a leader. What more could you ask for?” @AJW

1. It's not entirely impossible. With 100 billion or so galaxies in a universe and then eventually coming down to tiny little us, it is definitely possible that there are others out there. Maybe they are 100 billion galaxies away or maybe closer but I believe there's a chance we aren't. 2. The secret ingredient to a successful VHL sim is a cunning GM, well formed lines, a balanced team, and then throw those first things out of the window and replace it with having a good relationship with Simon T. (i.e., if two even-strength teams face off, it can be a matter of luck.) 3. Without a second thought it would be Randy Bobandy... but Toby Kadachi would be close second if he wasn't a BEAR. Randy is a top tier center. Love playing under him. ------ 1. If you could create a new award for the Victory Hockey League, what would it be for and what would you call it? 2. Between which two leagues would you think a "relegation/promotion" system would be the most interesting? (VHL and VHLE, or VHLM and VHLE. Disregard the TPE limits for purposes of this hypothetical.) 3. Your player has their own personal goal song! If you are a goalie, your player has their own theme song! What is the song that your player is choosing?

CALGARY - Raimo Tuominen has already beaten his career high of goals in a season with 11. He has been slowing down as of late, so he has gotten back to analyzing his game and working hard to improve. However, he is very happy to see the Wranglers playing well and being a part of that. It has been an excellent start for this Wranglers squad and Raimo attributes it to the work and commitment of this roster. “Not that we weren’t committed last year. We absolutely were. It was different though because we understood that there were a lot of rough patches we needed to clean up. We did so and now we’ve been really clicking. At the beginning of our training camp, it was clear that we all wanted to compete hard and claim this season for ourselves. It’s been exciting and it’s going to continue to be exciting as the season goes on.” “Naturally, after last season’s showing, I made it a point to become more consistent. I have tapered off as of late but I am still pushing to end that as soon as I can. Rip and Sadie have been excellent mentors and I’ve been learning so much from them. They play such an up-tempo game and it’s rubbing off on me. Excellent mentors and excellent players.”

1. I mean the drop off from the HC Davos Dynamo from leading the conference to literally being the last. I'm not sure if there was a hard rebuild or what is going on but I was pretty shocked. That GD is also pretty shocking. 2. I mean I'm happy with how it is going now but I won't be able to be comfortable with Raimo until I see that he can do it the WHOLE season. 3. Molly the Cat was my pick and I picked first overall in a VHL Fantasy Hockey Draft. Very good player and I personally thing Molly is a really solid pick. ----- 1. If the VHL teams had VHLE affiliates, which current VHL and VHLE team do you think would make the best pairing? 2. Which city do you think should host the VHL all star and why? 3. Which team's logo would look the best on a baseball cap.

CALGARY - Raimo Tuominen made it a point to work on his shot. As of writing this, he has found himself on the scoresheet more consistently this season compared to last season. Now that he has grown more confident in his shooting, Raimo has also been a lot more willing to rip more shots than he has in previous seasons in the VHL systems. One of the things that might be helping? A new tape job and a new stick flex. After using a 100 flex stick he decided to switch over to an 80 flex stick figuring that the reduced stiffness would help his shot. “It’s been an adjustment but the Pro-Am definitely helped me get used to it. It was a bit awkward at first and I was worried that it was too flexy for me but I didn’t end up snapping any sticks. It was helpful having a lower flex because I was able to load my shot faster and get my shot off quicker than I usually do. I had a really difficult time trying to score last season so I was willing to try anything. It worked.” I mentioned that he had a new tape job. “Yup. Instead of going from heel to toe, I tape toe to heel.” Yup. That’s it.

1. I expect a better season from Raimo in terms of offensive production. I'm aiming for 50-60 points with 20+ goals next season so Raimo can be an offensive option. 2. I expect this team to rebound and start of running! That's Wrangler's hockey for you. 3. a pound of lead because lead is heavier than feathers. "they're both a pound"? yeah right. 1. What has been the biggest positive for your player from last season? 2. Does your player tape their blade from toe to heel or do it the wrong way? 3. What is your player's favourite locker room prank?

CALGARY - When he was drafted, Raimo Tuominen was visibly excited to be chosen by a VHL franchise. Walking onto the stage, he received his Wranglers jersey. He remembers holding it and staring at the logo that he was looking forward to wearing. After one season in the VHLE, he finally got his chance to wear the jersey he once held at the draft. He is looking to continue to have a great career in that jersey. So when Raimo was offered a 5 year extension taking him to the end of Season 97, he said yes immediately. It was not a question for him. He would love nothing more than to stay in the city and play for the franchise that took a chance on him. “I want to spend my entire career in this jersey if possible. I don’t know what my future holds but I want to push hard and play the best I can so that I can remain a part of this awesome organization and team for as long as possible.” The 5 season extension will begin after this upcoming season. Raimo has a chance to prove himself before the contract kicks in.

1. I believe they can! They have that winning pedigree so I believe they can do it in the VHLE. Let's see it happen! 2. If I had make a guess, I think it'd actually be more than this season. This season I'm pretty sure it was 10. My guess for this upcoming season is 14. 3. Going with Molly the Cat on this one. I absolutely think that it can happen with Molly. 1. IF you had to make up a new advanced stat for hockey, what can it be? Serious and joke answers are both appreciated. 2. Out of all the teams in the VHL, VHLM, VHLE, which do you think would be the most likely to do a jersey where the city name or team name is spelt out on their jersey diagonally? 3. What is your player's personal goal song?

CALGARY - Sometimes the offseason can prove to be a long wait for some players. One of those eager players is young Wranglers center Raimo Tuominen. Coming off of his rookie season- one which he was a bit underwhelming- he has been eager to ply his trade again in a second season. However, since it’s the offseason, he instead decided to join the Pro-Am once again. Raimo has been learning from his time in the VHL Pro-Am and has been getting tips from older forwards, including Wranglers legend Daniel Janser. “That was cool. I mean, sure, I got to meet him across the ice and I may have lined up some hits against him as an opponent. But I got to meet a franchise icon, play WITH him, and witness his play firsthand as a teammate. I don’t know about the others but I was a bit star struck seeing him there.” Raimo has worked on his offensive game and has looked solid so far, producing at a steady rate. He’s been looking to build some consistency, which still needs some work, but he is trying his hardest to improve himself. It is just Pro-Am but he wants to take this opportunity to develop into a player that can contribute to his team. Go Santa's Naughty Elves!

1. I got a pretty neat Calgary Flames long sleeved athletic shirt which I think looks awesome! I also feel great about my gift for my dad. 2. Raimo was a first name I wanted to use because I thought it was beautiful and I found an equally beautiful Finnish last name, Tuominen. 3. The Calgary Wranglers. I believe in the team and I want to work hard to get us there. - 1. Out of anybody on your team's roster, who would be the most likely to win Survivor? 2. What stick flex does your player use and why? 3. Your player has a VHL funko pop made of them! What are their thoughts?

GM 23 - Cologne Express vs. Vasteras Iron Eagles This is Game 5 of the Renaissance Cup. Cologne looks for a chance to clinch a championship to cap off a three-peat while Vasteras looks to stay alive in the battle for the cup. Both teams gave their all. It was a back and forth match with only one instance in which a single team scored twice consecutively. There was a difference of 2 in the shots of goal with Vasteras slightly getting the lead 31-29. The Vasteras Iron Eagles would be the first to score with Ellis Woolfenden getting the marker. That would be the only goal in the frame. Vasteras would battle hard to keep that one goal. With less than two minutes to go in the second, however, Phillip Rave would tie it up for Cologne. The Express were smelling a cup victory, all they needed was to break the tie. Three minutes into the third, a goal would come but it wasn't the Express getting the marker. The Iron Eagles got a marker from Gustav Mattias to regain the lead. The Express needed to push hard. They did. Al Land would tie it up yet again. That would be the last goal in regulation, bringing it down to a dramatic overtime. An early penalty gave the Express a chance to win it. They did. Joshua Schwarzer scored the cup winning goal for the Express.