kareykoala

For all the text, what you should do is add a duplicate text in white under each text and move them to the left a couple pixels to look like a drop shadow

Welcome! eQ guy is killin it!

eQ.!!! such a better username
 
Haven't said this yet but I'm glad you're back 

Germany over Spain : Euro 08 2.0
Brazil and Argentina round out final four.

Steal of the draft right here.

My buddy made this gallery. A bunch of us did this gallery together and to my knowledge it's one of the largest on the internet. Enjoy.
 
http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/GrahamAVM/library/Render%20Database?sort=3&page=1#/user/GrahamAVM/library/Render%20Database?sort=3&page=0&_suid=1397934893091015341242724317666

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Islanders

McGrattan heading to Ottawa
 
The VHLM has a new player from Germany. Mike McGrattan was drafted by the Ottawa Lynx in the second round of the VHLM Dispersal Draft with the 16th overall pick. General Manager Jim Gow claimed the young german player after he had selected Andrew Erikson and Andrej Hasek a few picks prior.
 

 
After the draft we talked to the young winger and asked him some questions:
 
Q: Mike, you were picked by a canadian team, how important was that for you?
 
A: I grew up in Munich as a great Calgary Flames Fan. Every Canadian market is a big hockey market and because of that I am very pleased to play in a big Canadian city like Ottawa. Now I am looking to get a good start and achieve a great load of icetime. I talked a little bit with my new general manager and liked what I heard. I think we can have a good relationship and build a great future here in Ottawa.
 
Q: What do you know about the city of Ottawa?
 
A: Well, I only know that Ottawa is a very big city in eastern Canada. Within the next day I will read a book about the history of this great city and visit some historical places.
 

 
Q: What can the Lynx get as a player from you?
 
A: I think the right wing is my home. I was a winger ever since I got my first pair of skates. I like to crash the net and shoot as much as I can. Whats the Gretzky Quote? "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don´t take!". Thats what I like to follow through my experiences. I will shot the puck towards the goal as often as I can and that is my philosophy.
 
Q: Are you a one-way or two-way player?
 
A: I think I am an offensive minded two-way player if I can describe it like that. My first target is to score goals, but I know that offense wins games and defense championships. Because of that I know how important blocking shots, hitting and checking is; I have to work hard on that. I think its very difficult to be a good two-way player. I will train hard every day to reach the goal that I want to accomplish.
 

 
Q: Do you know some of your teammates yet?
 
A: To be honest, No. I dont know any of them, but I hope we will have a lot of fun together. For myself, a good locker room is very important and a locker room without traffic is very boring. On the other hand a locker room with a lot of traffic is great motivation. I hope we can have a good relationship in our locker room.
 
Q: Whats your goal with the Lynx this year?
 
A: I want the cup! Every league and every sport is about winning championships. Thats the goal and I want to stay healthy and help the team as much as I can.
 
Q: Thank you for the interview!
 
A: You're welcome!

Andrew “Nikki” Erikson
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Age: 17
Position: LW
Number: 18
Team: UNDRAFTED
Player Type: Playmaker
 
PRE-DRAFT PROFILE
  Andrew Niklas Erikson has popped up on the radar very recently as he was a player thought to be not ready for the high pedigree skill of the VHLM, but through recent valiant efforts and playing a key role in Denmark’s recent entrance into the 2015 World Junior Championships, heads have been turning in his direction and eyes have been set on the young Dane. There is much to still scrutinize in his game and although his hockey IQ is quite high, his physical presence is far from daunting. 
  Andy “Nikki” Erikson, is expected to be taken in the later half of the draft as many scouts are still unsure of his ability to play on the small ice but with his brains and tenacity, if a team were to take a chance at him, he could very well become the centrepiece of that team and propel them into VHLM success for years to come.
  A natural leader on an off the ice, regardless of talent outcome, expect Andrew to have a bountiful future of hockey, either as a player, or working in the front office in someway. 
 
 
 
“It is not every day that a player with this unique set of qualities come around and it is going to be really fun tracking the career of the Danish wonder child.” - Nicholas Miller (former star centre of the New York Americans turned international scout)
 

NICHOLAS MILLER AT HIS PRESSER UPON RETIRING FROM THE NY AMERICANS. CHEIF SCOUT FOR DANISH HOCKEY
 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PLAY STYLE
  Andrew plays a game very similar to NHL star, Henrik Sedin. Both are quiet but strong leaders that require their intelligence and vision to make the play rather than size and speed. They both share an innate ability to find the open teammate and maintain control of the puck along the boards. The difference between Henrik and Andrew, is that Andrew can actually shoot the puck very well and could easily become a sniper in the VHL, but he chooses to pass because he believes it makes the team around him play better in the long run. Time will tell whether Erikson becomes a play maker or a sniper, really depending on the needs of his future team, but with his skill set, expect to see a tonne of helpers rack up on the score sheet.
 

HENRIK SEDIN (22) FIGHTING OFF ANDREW ERIKSON (6) IN AN EXHIBITION FRIENDLY BETWEEN SWEDEN AND DENMARK
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PROS
 
PASSING: An elite level vision of the ice is a must for any superstar player. Andrew, although being quite a young and raw player, has a spectacular awareness of the play as well as the softest of touches with the puck. Finding the open seam is one of the finer qualities to his game and stands as the major reason he has been making heads turn in the past few weeks leading up to the Dispersal Draft. Do not expect a dazzling breakaway or clapper from the point on his highlight reel, rather, expect a strong wrist shot interspersed between a barrage of creative no-look passes, saucer passes, and behind the back plays leading to quality scoring chances. 
 
 
LEADERSHIP: Cut him open and he will bleed out the colours of his team. Andrew Erikson exemplifies what a leader on the ice looks like. Although lacking in size, there is no lack of grit, courage, and mental toughness to his game and though is voice is soft, it is felt in that locker room. A “C” adoring the top-left space above the jersey’s crest has no better home than on Andrew’s sweater as he is the heart and soul of every team he plays for, he is the voice that speaks up when all others are hushed, he is the last one up when everybody falls as he ensures everybody gets up first. 
 
WORK ETHIC: Andrew possesses a never say die mentality when he approaches life and hockey. To merely give up or lose heart is so far out of his vernacular, that the concept is foreign to him. He is the first one on the ice and the last one off every day, his play along the boards or in front of the net show his inability to cower away from any opponent, and if the team is caught on an odd man rush defensively, he is giving it his all to make it back into the play. Give him 25 minutes a game or give him 3, regardless of his role, he will give it his all.
 
 
 
 
CONS 
 
CHECKING: Defensively, Andrew relies on his skating and body position to make the defensive play rather than playing a good checking game. Because of his stature and overall love of playing a puck game close to the body, Andrew’s stick is quite short in comparison to the average defensemen. With that, Andrew is often a liability if being asked to play a role relying on him having an active stick defensively as he can easily be caught out of position if attempting a poke-check.
 
SIZE: Height is not an issue for Erikson, it is the fact that he is lanky that is causing problems. Being around 6 ft, Erikson’s height matches well with many other players in the VHL, but with his underdeveloped framed, the displacement of weight Erikson possesses differs from his opponents substantially. Normally, a young player with foot speed like Andrew could capitalize on the lack of excess weight to benefit them offensively and blaze through the defense, but Andrew plays a board heavy game and is often cycling the puck in a puck control offence. The lack of size is an issue because he will easily be rubbed off the puck until he bulks up and resolves the problem.
 
EXPERIENCE: The Danish AAA ice is quite different than the smaller ice of North American leagues. With the lack of experience playing a high tempo, heavy hitting game, Andrew comes at a major disadvantage in comparison to other players entering the Dispersal Draft. Andrew only has become a Danish star in the past year and has only just begun to make some waves with international scouts, but even with the knocks against the young 17 year old, do not count him out as his potential resembles that of some of the most offensively potent superstars the VHL has seen in its storied past.

Andrew “Nikki” Erikson
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Age: 17
Position: LW
Number: 18
Team: UNDRAFTED
Player Type: Playmaker
 
PRE-DRAFT PROFILE
  Andrew Niklas Erikson has popped up on the radar very recently as he was a player thought to be not ready for the high pedigree skill of the VHLM, but through recent valiant efforts and playing a key role in Denmark’s recent entrance into the 2015 World Junior Championships, heads have been turning in his direction and eyes have been set on the young Dane. There is much to still scrutinize in his game and although his hockey IQ is quite high, his physical presence is far from daunting. 
  Andy “Nikki” Erikson, is expected to be taken in the later half of the draft as many scouts are still unsure of his ability to play on the small ice but with his brains and tenacity, if a team were to take a chance at him, he could very well become the centrepiece of that team and propel them into VHLM success for years to come.
  A natural leader on an off the ice, regardless of talent outcome, expect Andrew to have a bountiful future of hockey, either as a player, or working in the front office in someway. 
 
 
 
“It is not every day that a player with this unique set of qualities come around and it is going to be really fun tracking the career of the Danish wonder child.” - Nicholas Miller (former star centre of the New York Americans turned international scout)
 

NICHOLAS MILLER AT HIS PRESSER UPON RETIRING FROM THE NY AMERICANS. CHEIF SCOUT FOR DANISH HOCKEY
 
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PLAY STYLE
  Andrew plays a game very similar to NHL star, Henrik Sedin. Both are quiet but strong leaders that require their intelligence and vision to make the play rather than size and speed. They both share an innate ability to find the open teammate and maintain control of the puck along the boards. The difference between Henrik and Andrew, is that Andrew can actually shoot the puck very well and could easily become a sniper in the VHL, but he chooses to pass because he believes it makes the team around him play better in the long run. Time will tell whether Erikson becomes a play maker or a sniper, really depending on the needs of his future team, but with his skill set, expect to see a tonne of helpers rack up on the score sheet.
 

HENRIK SEDIN (22) FIGHTING OFF ANDREW ERIKSON (6) IN AN EXHIBITION FRIENDLY BETWEEN SWEDEN AND DENMARK
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PROS
 
PASSING: An elite level vision of the ice is a must for any superstar player. Andrew, although being quite a young and raw player, has a spectacular awareness of the play as well as the softest of touches with the puck. Finding the open seam is one of the finer qualities to his game and stands as the major reason he has been making heads turn in the past few weeks leading up to the Dispersal Draft. Do not expect a dazzling breakaway or clapper from the point on his highlight reel, rather, expect a strong wrist shot interspersed between a barrage of creative no-look passes, saucer passes, and behind the back plays leading to quality scoring chances. 
 
 
LEADERSHIP: Cut him open and he will bleed out the colours of his team. Andrew Erikson exemplifies what a leader on the ice looks like. Although lacking in size, there is no lack of grit, courage, and mental toughness to his game and though is voice is soft, it is felt in that locker room. A “C” adoring the top-left space above the jersey’s crest has no better home than on Andrew’s sweater as he is the heart and soul of every team he plays for, he is the voice that speaks up when all others are hushed, he is the last one up when everybody falls as he ensures everybody gets up first. 
 
WORK ETHIC: Andrew possesses a never say die mentality when he approaches life and hockey. To merely give up or lose heart is so far out of his vernacular, that the concept is foreign to him. He is the first one on the ice and the last one off every day, his play along the boards or in front of the net show his inability to cower away from any opponent, and if the team is caught on an odd man rush defensively, he is giving it his all to make it back into the play. Give him 25 minutes a game or give him 3, regardless of his role, he will give it his all.
 
 
 
 
CONS 
 
CHECKING: Defensively, Andrew relies on his skating and body position to make the defensive play rather than playing a good checking game. Because of his stature and overall love of playing a puck game close to the body, Andrew’s stick is quite short in comparison to the average defensemen. With that, Andrew is often a liability if being asked to play a role relying on him having an active stick defensively as he can easily be caught out of position if attempting a poke-check.
 
SIZE: Height is not an issue for Erikson, it is the fact that he is lanky that is causing problems. Being around 6 ft, Erikson’s height matches well with many other players in the VHL, but with his underdeveloped framed, the displacement of weight Erikson possesses differs from his opponents substantially. Normally, a young player with foot speed like Andrew could capitalize on the lack of excess weight to benefit them offensively and blaze through the defense, but Andrew plays a board heavy game and is often cycling the puck in a puck control offence. The lack of size is an issue because he will easily be rubbed off the puck until he bulks up and resolves the problem.
 
EXPERIENCE: The Danish AAA ice is quite different than the smaller ice of North American leagues. With the lack of experience playing a high tempo, heavy hitting game, Andrew comes at a major disadvantage in comparison to other players entering the Dispersal Draft. Andrew only has become a Danish star in the past year and has only just begun to make some waves with international scouts, but even with the knocks against the young 17 year old, do not count him out as his potential resembles that of some of the most offensively potent superstars the VHL has seen in its storied past.

Hello I am new here, I don't really know what I am doing. I like the NY Islanders and the Canucks and deep fried Tofu.

Hello I am new here, I don't really know what I am doing. I like the NY Islanders and the Canucks and deep fried Tofu.

Hello I am new here, I don't really know what I am doing. I like the NY Islanders and the Canucks and deep fried Tofu.