Oost

1) We're one week into the season, and Riga is 6-1-1, good for #1 in the league. What about the standings has surprised you so far?
I knew Riga would be solid this year, they have a ton of talent. Moscow being so far behind is kind of a shock to me. But it's still early.
 
2) Anthony Matthews, Gucci Garrop, and Randoms are averaging about 1 point/20 minutes. How does that work?
They're just feeling it right now. That top line has a lot of cohesion and Matthews is making the most of the minutes he's getting.
 
3) Is a 3-line-deep roster the way of the future?
It certainly seems to be helping this year. Fresh lines are just coming at you wave after wave. Maybe some other teams will take notice and adjust.
 
4) Apollo Hackett's spent 28 minutes in the penalty box, tied for first in the league. What's wrong with him?
He's just trying to make his presence known out there. Maybe hasn't caught up with the speed of the big leagues yet. He'll get used to it.
 
5) Which team is the biggest threat to Riga this season?
From a talent standpoint I think Helsinki or Davos is the biggest threat. They've got the players to match up well with Riga but you never know when you get to the playoffs.
 
? Malmo defenseman Jerry Garcia  @GustavMattias has been leaving pints of ice cream in coolers in the team locker room. Is this a come-on or an attempt at intimidation, and has it been successful?
I don't think it's either of those. I think he just has too much and simply forgets to take it with him when he leaves.
 

Shots
Houston: 13
Rocky LaGarza: 12

Shots
Houston: 13
Rocky LaGarza: 12

I'm getting really hyped the for the 1st game of Sask vs Philly. Let the rivalry start already!

1) The draft just finished an hour ago or so. What do you think of the team's (four) first round picks? What about the 2nd and after?
 
Great GMing to stockpile all of those first round picks including the first overall. If all of those players continue improving they could contribute quickly.
 
4) The team has enough players -- especially centers -- for more than two lines. How should Riga deal with this?
 
I'm sure the coaching staff and front office have though ahead on this one and are looking at all options. Some hard decisions will have to be made in order to best keep the team competitive. 
 
5) With the sheer number of players drafted this season, does the VHL need a cap increase? How much should it increase, if so?
 
I think more players will lead to the cap increasing, but hopefully not by a lot at any one time. 
 
7) Rookies: When are you moving, and what's one important/sentimental thing you're bringing with you to Latvia?
 
I'm still spending another year in Saskatoon but I'm looking forward to getting out there as soon as I'm needed. For now I'm just focused on competing this year in the VHLM
 
9) I heard there's a Switch set up in the training facility, 8 controllers. Who's your main in Smash?
 
I play a lot with Daisy and Mario. I'm not great but I get very competitive.
 
10) Is there anyone - pets, significant others, family - that you're bringing with you to Latvia?
 
No probably not. I'm going to fly solo and depend on my teammates and social skills to get by.

Review:
 
 
Love this, fleshes out your rookie so much
 
 

 
 
Jokes aside, having a nickname that was earned from your players' strength is a nice little piece, well done here.
 
Maybe add a summary, but aside from that you really went above and beyond here, great job!

Saskatoon, SK - The Wild held a get-together for the VHL Entry Draft last night, with team alums and draftees alike. It was a beacon of excitement following a few weeks' worth of off-season limbo. Possibly more importantly, many of the Saskatoon players already knew where they were spending next season: mostly-intact in Saskatoon, this time for a run at a title. But a couple of members - among them star forward Shawnomir Jagr and new-ish defenseman Apollo Hackett - had made the irreversible leap in declaring for the VHL. The locker room was alight with chatter: what draftees had done in their previous lives, a handful of wisdom from GM Peace on rookie contracts, how @Jus and @Oost are thicc bois, and so on.
 
The picks started early in the second round, and almost didn't stop: first, Jagr at #14 to the Vancouver Wolves. A natural choice - and the Saskatoon player most likely to go first. Then, with the very next pick, Bert Meyers - a close associate of the Wild GM - to the S65 finalist Helsinki Titans. Immediately after that, Hackett with the 16th pick to the Riga Reign, and with basically no hesitation, the brand-new Nighthawks took fellow D-man and new assistant captain Rusty Shackleford. Just a round later came captain Nethi Dissanayake to the Calgary Wranglers, Edgar Tannahill to the Moscow Menace, and Anthony Amberback, who once again shares a locker room with Hackett in Latvia. GM Advantage must have had his ear to the ground in Saskatoon, as a couple of rounds later he selected goalie Juan Jaundice, who will be joining Shackleford and Wild alum/expansion pick Brian Strong in Sweden. After that, most of the Wild were content, with smiles lighting up a team formerly hamstrung by narrowly-dashed playoff hopes. Finally, there was some closure to this hectic season in Saskatoon.
 
From the back of the locker room, ecstatic new Nighthawk Rusty Shackleford could be heard: "Juan, you are my goalie for life!"
 
Tagged: @K1NG LINUS @Peace @nethi99 @TheLastOlympian07 @RunnerBert11 (gregreg but he doesn't like being tagged)
 

2-What was your worst job?
I've been super lucky that I've never had to get a "real job." Hopefully I can keep improving and make a career out of hockey so I can keep it that way. I saw how hard my parents worked to make it possible for me to get better, so it's my turn to work hard at hockey and make it last.
 
5-How do you treat people who annoy you for no reason?
Step one is just try not to get annoyed. I'm pretty laid back so I let people be who they are if I can. If I find someone annoying I just ignore them for the most part. I don't have time to mess around with people who get on my nerves so I leave the room or put on headphones or something.
 
7-If you could jump into a pool full of something, what would it be?
Have you ever seen the cartoon Duck Tales? There's a scene where Scrooge McDuck full-on swan dives into a pool of gold coins. That seems nice in animation but if I tried it I'd break my skull and spine. So probably water or chocolate pudding or something. 
 
8-How do you relax after a hard day of work?
I'm a fan of naps. I might watch some TV. I try to play video games with my friends from home in Indiana when I can. 
 
9-What’s your favorite Disney movie?
I'd have to go with Aladdin. It's got great story, great animation, great characters and casting. I love the growth Aladdin has to go through in the movie.
 
10-If you could keep any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
I'm not an animal person. I don't like when dogs jump up on you and dig their snouts on you and stuff, and I don't want to live in a house with a cat and litterbox stinking up my place.  Maybe I think about these questions too hard. I guess if I had to pick I'd go with a fish tank with some cool exotic fish. It's basically a living art piece more than it is an animal in my head. Now I'm gonna get PETA on me or something haha. Is this live? Maybe we can cut that question before it hits air.
 
 

S66 Draft Gems 
With many focusing on the proven players that are sure to be chosen early in the draft, not much focus is being given to players that have a chance to be worth much more than their place in the draft may indicate. In this report, we will highlight some of the young players that could end up being major steals in the season 66 draft.  
 
Blake Laughton  @Grape
A massive young man at 6’3” and 229 lbs, Laughton, while not the flashiest player in the draft, still has a lot of potential, and could be a great mid to late round pick up for any team. While Laughton has not been receiving as much TPE as he could, he has been very consistent, and could definitely prove to be much more valuable if he starts to pick up the pace. Blake Laughton was most noticeably very adept at both skating and his shot, and also showed a flair for his ability to get the puck in difficult situations. Laughton did not have very flashy stats which is to be expected given the poor season that his team had, but what stands out is the timing of his few goals. Out of the 7 goals he scored in the regular season, five were on the powerplay, and two were game winning goals. If Laughton keeps up the consistent improvement, he may prove to be a very important clutch player that is able to get things done for his team when they need him most.  
 
Anthony Amberback  @Oost
Amberback is another very consistent player, and is actually even bigger than Laughton at 6’4” and 235 lbs. Amberback embodies a true two-way defenseman, amassing 37 points, 180 hits, and 83 shots blocked. He also maintained a –3, despite being on the defensively struggling Saskatoon Wild. Amberback’s checking, puck handling, and defensive abilities stand out the most, and if he keeps up his pace of consistent improvement, he may be a pretty decent steal. While many mock drafts have him going in the 4th or 5th round, he could definitely be a much more valuable pick than many of the players that will likely be less reliable.  
 
Edgar Tannahill @gregreg
Tannahill has an impressive pedigree despite joining Saskatoon late in the season. Between his late start and at times less than desirable playing time, Tannahill still managed to put up some very respectable numbers. Like the others, he is expected to be drafted in one of the later rounds, but many think that he has the resolve and tenacity to make a name for himself unbecoming of such a low pick. His impressive skating and scoring abilities helped him to net a shocking 35 points despite his playing time. Tannahill was also only briefly on Saskatoon’s powerplay, but he was able to get 5 powerplay goals in that limited time. Like Laughton, his ability to execute in clutch situations proves that this young skater has tremendous poise, and will likely be a great addition to any locker room come draft time.  
 
These three skaters have all stood out as players that could perform far better than surface-level scouting would suggest, and perhaps a good reason for GMs to hold on to some later round draft picks, and also for those watching the live draft to potentially see these players picked higher than the initial scouting reports have predicted.  
 
Media Spot for Week of 04/21/2019, Word Count: 567 

2) The Wild narrowly missed making the playoffs this season, with results being decided by the very last day of games. What happened?
We gave away too many games early and couldn't dig ourselves out of the hole at the end. I went through a big slump in the middle of the season as well. No one is blameless. 
 
3b) (If you haven't been part of the VHLM draft yet) Suppose you can't return to Saskatoon. Where do you think you'd fit in best?
It's hard to say before the draft with so much up in the air. I'd like to think my style of play will fit in anywhere and I'll do my best to be a benefit of the ice as well.
 
4) Which one of our forwards is most likely to have success in the majors? What about our defensemen?
I think Jagr has a jump start on the rest of them and is going to have a really successful career. And I think Hackett is going to prove very potent on the back end at the next level, along with Rusty.
 
7) Since moving to Saskatoon, what have you done to make your house/apartment feel like home?
Not too much. I hooked up my PlayStation but I haven't even played it that much. Just talked to some buddies back home every once in a while. I want sure how long my stay would be here so I haven't had a chance to settle in fully.
 
9) We found a Hello Kitty keychain on the locker room floor. Who does it belong to, and how can you tell?
I think one of the boys got it for Shackleford as a joke and just put it on his keys during practice. He's such a straight-shooter I think they thought it'd be funny but he took it in stride. It's been passed around a bit now so I'm not sure who had it last. 
 
10) Which of the eight VHL-supported brands are you most a fan of?
I'd say haterade. It's probably the one I use the most often. I'm a big fan of the blue one. It's my favorite. 

2) The Wild narrowly missed making the playoffs this season, with results being decided by the very last day of games. What happened?
We gave away too many games early and couldn't dig ourselves out of the hole at the end. I went through a big slump in the middle of the season as well. No one is blameless. 
 
3b) (If you haven't been part of the VHLM draft yet) Suppose you can't return to Saskatoon. Where do you think you'd fit in best?
It's hard to say before the draft with so much up in the air. I'd like to think my style of play will fit in anywhere and I'll do my best to be a benefit of the ice as well.
 
4) Which one of our forwards is most likely to have success in the majors? What about our defensemen?
I think Jagr has a jump start on the rest of them and is going to have a really successful career. And I think Hackett is going to prove very potent on the back end at the next level, along with Rusty.
 
7) Since moving to Saskatoon, what have you done to make your house/apartment feel like home?
Not too much. I hooked up my PlayStation but I haven't even played it that much. Just talked to some buddies back home every once in a while. I want sure how long my stay would be here so I haven't had a chance to settle in fully.
 
9) We found a Hello Kitty keychain on the locker room floor. Who does it belong to, and how can you tell?
I think one of the boys got it for Shackleford as a joke and just put it on his keys during practice. He's such a straight-shooter I think they thought it'd be funny but he took it in stride. It's been passed around a bit now so I'm not sure who had it last. 
 
10) Which of the eight VHL-supported brands are you most a fan of?
I'd say haterade. It's probably the one I use the most often. I'm a big fan of the blue one. It's my favorite. 

Thanks for the season, Saskatoon!

Name: Anthony Amberback
Position: Defenseman (Left-Handed)
Current Team: Saskatoon Wild
Age: 17
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 235 lbs.
Birthplace: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Preferred Number: 16
Nickname: Anaconda
 
Notes From Scouts
“Amberback is a force out there. A little reckless, but he knows how to throw his weight around and the other team has to know where he is at all times.”
“The big blonde kid has what it takes to make it to the next level. Just has to sharpen up his skills a bit.”
“I wasn’t expecting him to move like that when I saw him walking in the back, you know--big-ass kid and all--but once he hits the ice he glides.”
“Surprisingly good little passer out there. Shots a little wild but he moves the puck well.”
“This kid better learn to fight. The guys at the next level are going to be closer to his size and won’t let him get away with all those bullshit hits.”
“Oh Amberback? Sorry I’m not sure, I was watching Helmsley.”
 
Pros
Checking: The Anaconda got his nickname because he’s long, and he’s strong, and he’s down to get the friction on. He’s not afraid to push his weight around. He gets to his spots, and when he connects the puck is coming out. Forwards alter the way they enter the offensive zone when he is in. You can see moods change on the other team when his shift starts.
 
Defense: He’s a large, physical, defense-first defenseman. He uses his large frame and deceptive quickness to stay in front of forwards and force the action where he wants it to go. He prioritizes getting back and staying in position over getting involved in the offense. He prefers playing offense from the blue line, and tries to not let anything get behind him.
 
Passing: Amberback is a puck mover. He doesn’t like to hang on to the puck for too long, and is still developing control on his shot. With that being said, he’s a great playmaker from the point and led his team in assists this past season.
 
Shot Blocking: He's not afraid to get down and dirty. Amberback is surprisingly effective in 2-on-1 situations due to his size and timing. He gets down into passing lanes and in front of shots to break up breakaways and stifle numbers advantages.
 
Cons
Scoring: Most of his goals are in power-play situations with great screens. The bulk of his scoring off shots comes from rebounds and deflections. He’ll get the assist but not the goal. His shots often don’t count on his stat sheet because they never make it on net. He’s been working with a shooting coach this offseason to try and gain a little better control. He tries to crush the puck every time. He has the ability as shown through his finesse in the passing game, but the mentality has to get better.
 
Discipline: He did lead his team in assists last season, but also in PIMs. He is eager to make his presence felt, and sometimes that means stepping over the line into illegal hits. He has decent speed, but his stopping skills aren’t grade-A yet, so he sometimes can’t pull up in time if an opposing player moves the puck before he gets there. He just takes way too many penalties.
 
Fighting: He’s a big, strong kid, and a good kid off the ice. But on the ice, he’s a bully, and bullies don’t like getting punched in the face. Someone’s going to make him pay for his lack of experience in the fight game, especially with how he plays.
 
Maturity: He comes from an area that isn't a traditional hockey hotbed. This has led to him getting a little reputation for having an ego. Maybe getting into a locker room with players at or above his skill level and size will help foster a better attitude going forward.
 

+/- is a non-factor in hockey for shorthanded/power-play situations

Player Information
Username: Oost
Player Name: Anthony Amberback
Recruited From: Reddit
Age: 17
Position: D
Height: 76 in.
Weight: 235 lbs.
Birthplace: United States of America

Player Page
@VHLM GM