SlapshotWrangler

ROME - Rome vs Cologne. The Victory Hockey League Europe final is happening soon. Raimo and the rest of the Gladiators prepare to be an unmovable force that will need to stop the unstoppable object that has been the Express as of late. As expected, Tuominen is just as dedicated to make sure that he is able to contribute the best he can to the success of the team. This is it. The chance for this team to write history. So they will need to unleash everything they’ve got. In the first game of the final, the Gladiators and Express had a tight game but it was Ben Dover who would break the tie for the Gladiators. However, nobody in Rome has grown complacent yet. They are all pumped up and ready to continue the battle. “It’s the final. We’ve won one game so far. Now we have to focus on winning the next. Ben was able to secure the win today. We now need to figure out how we’re going to secure the win in the next game. We know the Express won’t come out the same so we need to make sure we don’t rest on our win here.” This is what the final is about. Excitement. Drama. Entertainment. And more importantly, winning every battle. Only one team can lift the Renaissance Cup. Who will it be?

WHOOOOO LETS GO!!!!

1. After the playoffs (which we will hopefully be on top), the plan is to decide which aspects of Raimo's game he should train in (i.e, spend TPE on). 2. My expectations for Calgary is to be a rising team with young players. I definitely feel that we will have the personnel to make a statement. I think we are all hyped for what these next seasons have in store for us. 3. Gonna have to go with Vancouver here. They have had a real good team for a good while. 4. Myself; I'm excited to see how Raimo will fare in the big leagues. Another prospect I am excited to see is Shubham Anand! Hope we can play a lot of games together in these jerseys. 5. My toppings of choice (outside of meats) would be olives and green peppers! I think they're neat. 6. PINEAPPLES.... are fine by me. Hawaiian pizza is fine. But if anybody does what my middle school band did, I will riot. What did they do? They put chocolate ice cream on barbecue pizza. Ew.

ROME - After an early morning practice and an encouraging game one win, Raimo was interviewed by some local media. The young center was asked about how he felt playing in the VHLE playoffs. It wasn’t like Raimo hadn’t experienced this kind of pressure before, however, playing in the VHLE playoffs can be quite a jump from the VHLM playoffs. Especially in terms of pure physicality, speed, and overall team systems. “It’s a jump but one that I can make. This team is filled with excellent top talent and rising stars and also has some very experienced veterans. I just have to play my part and make sure I stay solid. Solid and consistent gameplay in my zone has proven to work, now I just need to make sure I can maintain that while doing my best offensively.” Raimo replied when asked about the aforementioned jump. Nervousness was also a concern of the media; Raimo quickly dismissed any rumours of nerves however. “Calling it nerves makes it seem like we’re cowering in our skates or like terrified. It’s more of a feeling of anticipation. We’re all jittery and itching to get out there so that we can fight for a win. We know we have the fight in us and we all feel energized; we’re just waiting for the moment we step on the ice so we can let it out. That’s not nervousness. That’s anticipation, waiting, and being ready. As some random dude in a De La Salle High School football game interview said, ‘if you’re not nervous, you’re not ready’! Just replace the word nervous with eager.”

1. My least favourite TPE tasks to complete are Media Spots which is why I sparingly do them. I may turn back to them once I can't make a graphic for certain weeks though. 2. The next theme week should be centered about mascots! I would love to see what people could come up with if the VHL had mascots. 3. Chilly wind, typical fall. However, being in Calgary, fall will last a month at most (if we're lucky) so I'm enjoying it while we still have. 1. What is your player's jersey number and why does your player wear it? 2. If you could design one more off-season tournament for the VHL to add, what would the tournament be? 3. If you are a forward, what is your player's "signature" or favourite move to do on a breakaway? If you are a goalie, what is the most embarrassing way to get scored on?

ROME - For the first time in his career, Raimo experienced what it was like to be traded. To be honest, it wasn’t unexpected. He figured that Oslo would try to gain some assets for the future considering the struggle of a season they were having. Yes, Raimo was sad to leave but he was also excited to join the Gladiators roster and do some damage. While Raimo has yet to have a real standout game, he continues to foster and develop an all-around play style as a center. “This is an awesome team to be a part of! I am really glad that they brought me in. This team is very strong and I have learned a lot while I’ve been here. Everybody is locked in and has bought into the mission of winning. It’s up to me to make the best of this opportunity and do what I can to contribute to this team. I have my roles to play and I want to work on playing them to perfection.” A new team brings a sense of newfound optimism in a player. Raimo is hoping that he can bring some optimism to the team by performing well in the roles he is given. “I mean, they wanted me. I have to make sure I can give them their money’s worth. If our managers can believe I can help this team reach the endgame in whatever way I can, then it’s up to me to do so.”

1. BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE! Positional need can always be addressed in 3rd round or through free agency. Plus, needs can change as time goes on. Case Study: Juolevi 2. Honestly, I feel like that is something that naturally happens. I can't really think of an effective way to boost activity but I feel like when some of us prospects come in we'll definitely make some noise. 3. Raimo shoots right. He is left handed when it comes to writing so it makes sense that his left hand would be his top hand. He used to use an Easton Synergy stick but he has recently switched to a CCM Ribcor Trigger 7 Pro. Funnily, playing junior hockey in Finland, he used a wooden Sherwood stick for the first half of the season. 4. I'd say go for the Calgary Food Bank. Monetary contributions are WAY more effective for them over canned food drives and the like. The amount of locally produced food that they can buy with straight cash easily is a bigger benefit than an equivalent cost of canned food. 5. I suck at hockey but now I have become a badminton god! I am the second coming of Lin Dan. 6. I have never done a Spartan Race or ran for cause but I am definitely going to look into it. If Terry Fox Runs count though, I have definitely participated in those and think that the fight against cancer is still very relevant and important.

OSLO - Life as a center has been an interesting transition for Raimo Tuominen. Spending most of his budding hockey career as a speedy winger who focused on scoring, it was really interesting when Raimo decided to make a switch for being a center. It was definitely a risk but according to Raimo, it was a calculated one he was willing and excited to take. Making the switch to a center from winger is definitely easier than transitioning from defense to a center but Raimo noted that he took notes on Ryan Kastelic and the adjustments he made in order to influence Raimo’s own choices. “It has definitely been a challenge but one that I am willing to step up to and that I enjoy. I have found myself having to be a lot more mindful in my own zone. Strength has definitely been a focus of mine; I think I have shifted from a speed-focused play style to one where I physically overwhelm others. Of course, speed is still a big part of how I play but I also need to be able to step it up against the toughest of opponents and be a tough customer myself. Learning faceoff strategies has also been amazing; I’ve been watching Bergeron clips and Dominic Moore clips to make sure that I can have an expansive faceoff arsenal. Of course, there is still a lot of work for me to do but I am making progress."

Looking forward to it!

I love that FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY automatically corrects to Fisted Anally By A Circus Monkey. Edit: Fell for it twice, DAMN IT! @ROOKIE745

Well, this is an interesting topic. Especially since I kind of played a role in this as a rival to this player. Jaxx Hextall is, in my completely objective and right opinion, the best goalie out of the S70 class. Hands down. I remember those days fondly. Me, Spyro, and Rookie (all overshadowed by Rayz Funk) had a great frenemy phrase where all of our backstoppers were going head to head. It all really started in S71 after Hextall joined the Toronto Legion as their backstopper. And my goodness was he amazing. Listen, Jacques Lafontaine also had solid stats but he had a stacked team in front of him. The reason I mention Lafontaine was because our locker rooms ended up having a mini-argument about whether Hextall or Lafontaine deserved Rookie of The Year. As much as I appreciate the support from my fellow Wranglers, looking back, it was a no-brainer. Lafontaine had 8 games already in his belt and had a 0.91 SV% while Hextall was fresh to the league with a 0.95 SV% on a relatively worse team (the Legion weren’t bad; they were just really solid). The case for Lafontaine was a better GAA and more wins… which can be attributed to the fact that the Wranglers were a really good team. So naturally, we were waiting for the VHL awards and I was waiting to congratulate Rookie745 on a great season and the ROTY. The Oscar- I mean, the Christian Stolzschweiger trophy goes to… Roque Davis. Seeing this result made me question whether people just ignore goalies for non-goalie/player specific awards. Surely that was the explanation! It was the VHL favouring forwards over goalies and the undervaluing of goaltenders. That HAS to be it. That’s right, I’m playing the “everybody hates goalies” card. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? I mean, cool, 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points is awesome for a rookie (and also just an awesome point total number). But Jaxx Hextall was putting up excellent numbers on a struggling team and was a major part in turning around the team. He had better stats on a 28-25-11 team than Lafontaine (for comparison) on a 40-22-2 team. Without any VHL experience. Jaxx Hextall would turn into an excellent goaltender and a longtime cornerstone of the Toronto Legion franchise. If anything, this rookie season was a sign of things to come. Hextall would drag the underperforming Legion into the playoffs three times. But that is all stuff in the future that they couldn’t have predicted back then. Still, Jaxx was an absolute stud in his rookie season (and the many more to follow) and definitely deserved Rookie of the Year. I was sitting there pondering why such a great season would be unrecognized. I mean, Jaxx was a true rookie wonder proving his worth. Roque Davis deserves all the credit for a good rookie season, don’t get me wrong. But in my heart, Jaxx Hextall is the season 71 rookie of the year winner as well as the best goalie throughout the season 70s.

1. It is what is to be expected and it will change. It's a part of the rebuilding cycle. As someone who is not a part of the roster just yet, I do feel success will come and that this is just a part of the process. 2. Well, I'm hoping to have a shot with the big club and seeing where Raimo can fit in. We have a great future ahead of us in this franchise. 3. Grimgor Ironhide would be a great choice to target. Also, if we have later first round picks I'd also go for Toby Kadachi because ROOKIE745 is a great earner. 4. I feel like Calgary should go for more futures if possible but I don't know the situation that well regardless and we have a lot of young promising players already. 5. Used to have a budgie named Sky; sadly passed away in March. Absolute beauty. 6. Winter has to be my favourite because I get to bundle up AND free outdoor rinks in Calgary.

OSLO - As someone who watches the game, I feel like as much fanfare as a big hit gets, it is still underrated. The art of the hit is a graceful yet destructive form that is as enthralling as it is disgusting (the latter really only applying to the most uninitiated of hockey watchers). A good hit is one where everybody in the arena feels it. The hitter feels the sensation of physically overcoming another skater. The one getting hit, or as I will call them, the ‘hittee’ feels the sheer power of the hitter taking them down. Meanwhile, the spectators which include other players, coaches, and the fans feel both the physical and mental aftershock of such powerful and willful destruction. Raimo Tuominen started off as a fast winger in Finland who could overwhelm opponents with speed and finesse. But now that he is in the VHLE, his style of play has adapted as he is going against similarly instinctive players. Taking a more physical path, especially now that he has committed to being a center for the Calgary Wranglers, he has become more appreciative of the beauty of a hit. “It takes a toll on your body but doing it in a way that benefits the team has definitely been a good asset. Of course, it can be very risky physically and tactically. The latter part is due to the positioning that may be lost. However, I have become more reliant on it and it has definitely been a growth point in my game.” The art of hitting. Raimo is looking to learn it.

1. I would probably go with "VHL mascots" as I think that'd be fun to discuss. 2. Raimo Tuominen would love to be a part of the Jurassic series. He'd enjoy seeing real life dinosaurs... until things go wrong. 3. I'm gonna have to go with @ROOKIE745, one of my favourite teammates and rivals. I hope to see his player in the big leagues soon, either on my team or as an opponent. 1. Speaking of VHL mascots, name a team and what mascot you'd give them (feel free to give the mascot a name!) 2. Name one of your favourite VHL memories to date. 3. On a scale of 1-10 how likely would your player miss an open net? (1 being not likely at all, 10 being Patrik Stefan)

DISCLAIMER: Most numbers and stats in the article have changed as of posting this. OSLO - One of Raimo’s goals this season was making sure he could put the puck in the net. Having 12 goals on the season (as of writing this article) in the first 22 games of the campaign, Raimo is definitely glad that he got off to a good start. This is an excellent way to kickstart the season, especially compared to his first few games in the VHLM in which he had dry spells. Obviously, some changes were made to his game in between seasons as Raimo tried to improve his goal scoring. “I mean, I think I’ve definitely strengthened my wrists and grown more selective with my shots. Instead of ripping tons of shots and hoping one happens to slide in, I am learning how to employ deception as well as learning when to wait and be patient before shooting. It’s been a great adjustment for the beginning of the season and I hope it works well,” the young winger said when interviewed after a practice. Unfortunately for Raimo and the rest of his teammates, the Oslo Storm are last place in the standings with only 4 wins. Coming off one of those wins (as of writing this), they are looking to turn it around in the next two-thirds of the season and realize that bigger adjustments need to be made. “I mean, you look at our stats and realize that something needs to change. Our goal differential is -23, we’re 16 points back of the next team, and we only have 4 wins. I may be getting goals but I feel like my defense could definitely be more solid. There are games where I have multiple points but I’m on the ice for more goals against. I know plus/minus isn’t exactly a beloved stat to many but it definitely helps illustrate that I need to work on my two-way game.” We’ll see how the rest of the season goes.

Game 77 - Mississauga Hounds vs. Ottawa Lynx The Victory Hockey League Minors' battle of Ontario happened a while ago. If you think about it, a hound and a lynx are like a cat and a dog, so this was simply a meant to be rivalry that hasn't actually become a rivalry. Anyways, the action started and Mississauga were quick to score 5 minutes and 23 seconds into the game. Longtime Hounds veteran B-MIS C3 scored their first goal of the season which was assisted by B-MIS C4 (no relation) and B-MIS D10 (also no relation), who each had their first assists of the season. That was all the action in the first period. Then the second period began and there was plenty of action to enjoy. The first half of the frame was quiet with neither team able to pot the puck. Then, just past the midway point James MacAvoy scored a goal for the Hounds, giving them a 2 goal lead. James wasn't satisfied with one goal and decided to score another one for good measure, this time past the 12 minute mark. Alonzo Fineski scored his third goal of the season for the Hounds to further add to the onslaught. The Lynx eventually got on the board courtey of Ivan Ivanov. Down 4-1, the Lynx looked for a way to comeback despite the score. Teams have come back from worse and they had an entire period to get back on track and make it happen. One of the first steps was to have a good start. They went into the third period and not only missed that first step but fell down the staircase for good measure. Joseph Dubois crushed any hopes of a comeback with an 18 second goal followed by an Erik Finck II power play go a minute and a half later.

1. Three ice buckets, two smelling salts, and a partridge in a pear tree. Even then it only has a 10% chance of really working. 2. I think it's be interesting to add a team from Australia. I know that the conferences are split into NA/EU but we could find room for them somehow. It'd be cool to have a team called the Sydney Wallabies. 3. I'd have to go with Jarome Iginla. One of the best power forwards of all time and just a guy who could do whatever his team asked of him. Scored goals, had big hits and fights, and most importantly just worked hard every shift. 1) In your eyes, what is the number of goals that separates the top goal scorers in hockey from good goal scorers? 2) Which do you think is better for a team to have? Good defensemen depth or good forward depth? 3) The VHL has decided to host their first winter classic! Where is it taking place?

OSLO - The Victory Hockey League Europe season is currently underway and Raimo Tuominen is taking it in. Taking the next step in his VHL journey, Raimo has joined the Oslo Storm and is competing against fellow prospects and veterans alike. He is also competing with some familiar faces, like Kyle Toms who had been on the S89 Houston Bulls team with the young Finn. He has also been playing alongside fellow S90 draftees Catia Goncalves and Aurora Skylight. “I’m definitely motivated to play hard this season. I have goals that I want to achieve and want to be more consistent than I have been in the past. This season, I want to help Oslo succeed in whatever way I can, as well as make myself a more complete player. That second part is even more important when you can consider that I am transitioning to a center now. I want to make the transition as efficiently as possible so that I can help the Oslo Storm as a center. I also want to make sure I am ready as a center when I am in the VHL” So far, Raimo has had a solid showing in the first few games. He has been slotted between the aforementioned Catia Goncalves and Kyle Toms. The three have been great and Raimo has thoroughly enjoyed playing beside them. “I mean, I already had a chance to play alongside Kyle and he is just such a good player. He has always been a really good player to play beside both in Houston and here in Oslo. As a winger, I looked up to Kyle because he did everything right. Now that I’m centering a line he’s on, I appreciate his play so much more. I’m also really excited to see Catia. I got a chance to play with her in both the World Juniors and the Junior Showcase Tournament. She can score goals and her playmaking ability is also great. Really excited for the rest of the season. We’ve got a lot of games left.”

It is the biggest stage. The Victory Hockey League. This is hockey at its finest where the sport’s top stars thrive. Many players from around the world look to make a name for themselves in the VHL ranks. Whether a red-faced rookie in the Victory Hockey League Minors or a noted prospect plying their trade in the Victory Hockey League Europe, everybody has hockey dreams. Even those at the top have dreams of lifting up the Continental Cup with their team, cementing them as the best hockey team at that very moment. The Victory Hockey League is a league that was fueled by the dreams of its founders and is now driven by the dreams of its inhabitants. Raimo Tuominen has always envisioned his hockey dreams in blue. The young winger turned center used to be a spunky kid who loved to score and outspeed everybody. His youth teams all wore blue. Growing up in Finland, he watched the likes of Granlund, Barkov, the Koivus, and most prominently, Teemu Selanne don blue jerseys for the national team. Wanting to be a proud Lion himself, Raimo made it a goal to represent his country. He got the chance to play internationally, though as a part of Team Asia. While he is focusing on making a VHL roster, he would still love to be a part of a Finnish national team someday. Then, there was the Tappara team in Tampere. Even though his dad played for TPS Turku, Raimo ended up being a Tappara fan. He always dreamed of wearing the blue sweater and scoring in the Finnish league. Eventually, he’d pull on the jersey of his dreams. Though, he’d do so with the Junior C and Junior B SM-sarja teams. Wearing blue proudly, he went out and eventually made the Liiga at the age of 16. Now, he was wearing what he felt was the best blue in Finnish hockey, second to the national team of course. “I’m finally bleeding blue.” He said once he made the Liiga. Here Raimo was, having achieved his goals in Finnish hockey, barring Tappara’s finals loss to HIFK that season. Raimo could continue on his path; carpeted in the blue that he was so familiar with. Still, there was uneasiness in Raimo. Something felt off. Yes, he had made it to the league that he watched endlessly as a kid. He went from a kid on the sidelines to a young boy beginning to thrive in the rink. However, part of Raimo was getting tired of the blue. He had been playing in it for so long and got accustomed to it. He wanted more. He wanted to face the best. After conquering his goals for Finnish hockey, he set his sights on the best leagues in the world. Sigard Petrenko suggested the VHLM. Raimo attended a combine and also contacted various GMs in the league letting them know he was interested in being drafted. After months of waiting, he got the call from the Houston Bulls. Then he pulled on his first red jersey. No longer was he wearing the blue of his youth. This was the time for a new Raimo to emerge. One with fiery passion and endless determination. Despite struggles, Raimo showed promise in the VHLM and was considered for both the VHLE and VHL draft. Now, the VHLE draft is before the VHL draft but we are going to ignore that and talk about his VHLE draft. Raimo was selected by the Oslo Storm, pulling on a second red jersey and hoping to redefine himself once again. In the VHL draft, Raimo was given a red jersey that he hopes to wear again outside of the draft. It’s time for Raimo to bleed red.

Continental Cup Final Game 1 - Vancouver Wolves vs HC Davos Dynamo A matchup of the best in the west and the beast in the east. The Dynamo and Wolves fought hard in this opening game. Before the game started, people predicted that both teams would have to claw for the win; this would be a matchup with one crucial goal being the difference. They were right. From the very get-go, both teams brought their best. When it is a cup final, you can't help but tense up a bit more. Your grip on your stick is tighter, you take every shot you can, and your intensity is the highest it'll ever be in your life. The teams had a shot attempt difference of 45-43 in favour of Vancouver. This is hockey at it's finest. After battling in the first half of the first frame, Wann Kerr opened the scoring for Vancouver on the power play. Of course, this is the final. One goal is not enough this early. Alexandre Leduc scored to tie it up for Davos. Then, in the closing minutes, B-VAN D1 took the lead for Vancouver again. Back and forth action. It continued into the second period with Jake Thunder (Davos) and Nico Pearce (Vancouver) trading goals. It was 3-2 Vancouver coming into the final period. Nico Pearce (Vancouver), who had just scored the game's most recent goal while on the power play, continued to show his special teams prowess and scored shorthanded. James Teekirque (Davos) came in on the powerplay to cut the lead to one. However, that shorthanded goal stung even more for Davos at it ended up being the game winner.