Tape-to-Tape

It happens to be Joey Boucher's final season in the VHL. The Helsinki Titans are set to start the season 70 season and this time Joey will play on defence. It is a little known fact that Joey started playing hockey as a defender and switched to forward and centre when he joined his high school team. Boucher may be small in stature at just 5 foot 6 inches but he has a low centre of gravity and a 200 pound frame that allows him to play a physical style. Joey has never been afraid to fight in the corners, block shots and patrol the blue line. The Titans have a flexible player in Joey Boucher and he is hoping to give the Titans the defensive depth that can lead to winning a championship. The season starts in a couple days and Boucher is ready to face his final season and finish with an exclamation mark.

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1- it seems we got a lot of good players. Jubo I think went in with a plan and he succeeded. 2- our draft looks exceptional and I think we should all be happy with the results 3- future talent that will join the team next season. I am sad to not be here when they are on the big club. 4- we look to be better than even last season. 5- helsinki is always my 2nd home. This team is ran very well and respectfully. 6- healthy eating and working out a lot. Cant wait to be back on the ice.

@Josh @Beketov thanks

new signature for my final season

1- based on the players that are retiring i don't think one position is targeted but they take best player available 2- on my couch at home. Hockey drafts get me excited as there is a lot of great talent available. 3- skating and puck handle 4- i think he gets to 305 5- someone that is welcoming. I look that they show that they are doing what they can to better the team 6- Seattle in 7 games

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Joey Boucher has been a forward for 6 seasons in the VHL as well as two seasons in the minor league. He was a winger for most of his career and also played centre when needed. Joey has always had a good defensive game and used to play D back when he was a kid. He always thought that before he retired from hockey that he would go back and try defence. He is going to leave his decision until later in the off season as the Titans roster becomes more set. He does not want to put his general manager or team mates in a position to have to make a trade to work around a position switch. Joey was brought back as a winger and he will stay winger if it is best for the team. His decision will eventually come and whatever happens he is just happy to be a member of the best league in hockey.

Part I - Pick em' (Pick the correct winners of all three games for 2 TPE) Game 3 - Seattle Bears @ Riga Reign Game 4 - Seattle Bears @ Riga Reign Game 5 - Riga Reign @ Seattle Bears Part II - Predict the Score (Predict the correct score and winner of this game for 3 TPE) Game 5 - Riga Reign 2 @ Seattle Bears 4 Part III - Player Predictions (Predict the correct player for each category, 1 TPE for each correct answer) Series leader in points: Palo Series leader in goals: Stark Series leader in assists: Hackett Who has the series PIM lead: Wilinsky Who scores the series winning goal: Burn

I will not lie as I have thought a couple times through my career about retiring early. Thinking about starting a new player again has a good sound to it. That being said I also always convinced myself to keep Joey Boucher going and continuing to chase another cup win. If it were not for Helsinki signing me back then it would be likely that retirement would have happened after season 68. It is tough deciding to retire after your player wins a championship and can maybe get a second one. I will state now that I will not be retiring this off season and will retire a Titan when season 70 is done. Joey Boucher will play out his full career and then we will go from there and maybe make a new player for the minors. Thank you to all the general managers I have had over the seasons and for keeping me going and remaining an active member of the VHL. See you back on the ice in season 70.

1- We have stronger star talent. They just have not got it going just yet. 2- Moscow has more depth scoring players 3- It is exciting to be a part of. I do not enjoy sweeps all too much. 4- New York has been riding a wave for a while and they have brought that into the first round. Seattle appears to be in a rut and may need a mix up in their lines. 5- Going to the beach. 6- Soup made from the leftover Turkey.

Good luck to Moscow in game 6. I am hoping we can force a 7th one.

The first round opponents of the Helsinki Titans are the Moscow Menace. They are a team that had 5 points less than the Titans but could have easily gone the other way. They acquired a goalie around the trade deadline. Finn Davison came into the team and gave Moscow the insurance they were missing during the season. Raymond Bernard is a fine goalie in his own right and will continue to improve and become their starter for many seasons. The remaining games of the series between Helsinki and Moscow could come down to goaltending as the difference maker. Pepper has the clear edge so far with much stronger numbers. Pepper owns a 1.87 goals against to Davison's surprising 3.02. The series sits at 2 to 2 despite this. If Finn can turn his game around Helsinki could find themselves out of the playoffs. If Pepper can keep his strong play going the Titans would be the likely winners. For now the series is too close to call.

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1- feeling good and hopeful we can make it deep into the playoffs 2- better and smarter passes. We cover for our defence when they make an offensive play. 3- i think there are a few names that can all get it. Borwinn, hhh and Krikters are the front runners for me. 4- he has been always steady on the blueline and will be missed next season 5- this has been one of my top favorite seasons. Happy to be back home and fighting for a cup. 6- home alone

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Enjoyed this read. Thank you for the mention.

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Joey Boucher spoke with the Titans media team this week and was asked who he thinks on the team is deserving of more attention. He spoke about backup goalie Virgil Ligriv who is performing very well and is setting up to take over for Alex Pepper who will play his last games next season. Virgil Ligriv has played to strong numbers and has won 7 of his 8 games this season. He has stopped 93.6 percent of his shots faced and allowed an average of 1.62 goals against in those games. His seasons best game was a shutout against HC Davos Dynamo where he was only required to make 10 stops. Helsinki is in a great position being second place in the European conference. They are hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs and maybe even surprise many and win it all. Without Virgils strong games they may not be in the position they are in now.

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