SlapshotWrangler

ROME - It was heartbreaking. The looks on the players' faces said it all. The Gladiators were so close. They had so many chances of closing it out. However, the Express fought back and took it all in Game 7 to win the championship. Rome would be without the Renaissance Cup. The Gladiators stayed to shake the hands of the victors and then quickly left. After leaving the ice, there was nothing but silence in the locker room until the head coach said a few words. Then all of the players packed up and left as Cologne celebrated their new VHLE champions. 
 
“That one hurt. We were so close and had multiple chances to close it out but we couldn’t. This… this is gonna sit with me for a good while. We had a great squad and we had all we needed but we couldn’t make it over the hump. Now we’re packing and going home.”
 
A mid-season acquisition by Rome, Raimo looked to help the Gladiators push their path. They had a great run but came one win short. Raimo only had 4 points in 14 games and definitely took note of his own lack of performance.
 
“It is disappointing. For the team, absolutely. But also in a smaller sense for me.”
 
Now, Raimo will be making his way to Calgary to set up for the season there. There is excitement in the air for him and he is excited to get going in the VHL.
 
However, he’ll be training, this great disappointment in his mind.

We've posted your graphic on our VHL IG and Threads accounts 🔥
 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx7I8WFusbm/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==
 

Sweet graphic, we've featured it on our VHL IG and Threads accounts today! 🍻
 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxpI_R9OYyO/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==

Review: Hey buddy I really like the way this graphic turned out. I think you did a really good job with the player edit as it looks super slick and well done. I Really like the background as it really adds flair to you graphic rather than having a crazy background that would take away from the rest of the graphic. I think the way you edited the logo into the background works really well as where the mountain peeks are in the logo as it add a small little snowing area in the full on purple graphic. Overall this is a really well done graphic keep up the good work! 
 
Rating: 9.1/10 

Purped out!  I am loving the saturation of color in this one!  The player cutout is very well done and the jersey color swap is clean.  Like the small detail of purple tape on the stick shaft.  The logo swap could use a slight bit more integration.  Maybe a bit of shadow over the bottom right might help it blend in more.  The background has a lot going on but works with a less detailed player render.  The logo overlay is nice and creates a good amount of contrast while the brightness of the text makes it clear who is representing!  I have enjoyed this! 8/10!

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."

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.

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.

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.

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)