RunnerBert11

At the start of this season Bert Meyers was turning heads and racking up the points left and right, while getting solid ice time on the 2rd and 3rd line. Enough points to keep him in the "Top 5 Rookie" spotlight for about half of this season. These stats and effort level didn't go unnoticed by the coaches, management or the opposition and Bert Meyers started seeing some increases in ice time, making some appearances on both the power play and the penalty kill. He was maintaining a face off percentage a bit above 500 and was quite the factor on the ice. It only made sense to try him out on the top line as soon as Helsinki hit a rough patch on easy street as they were used to stringing together some impressive runs and really setting themselves apart from the rest of the league at the top of the standings. Now with Bert Meyers manning the face off circle for the 1st line his production has hit a rapid decline and he hasn't seen the likes of the "Top 5 Rookies" chart since. When asked his feelings on this move and the fall from "Rookie Grace" he replied, "this is where the team needs me right now and the top rookie spot doesn't hold a candle to the thoughts of helping lift this team to a Continental cup at the end of this terrific season. Personal success has always been of lesser importance to me than team success, after all we are here to win games and cups, not personal records and accolades." 266 Words

1) Be honest- Pepper or HSK G? Peppers, no doubt! 2) The end of the season is nigh, and playoffs are just around the corner. Are you more focused on the current games, or the ones to come in the postseason? Gotta stay in the moment, can't get caught day dreaming out there! 3) Right now, Borwinn leads the league in points (70) and Thompson leads the league in goals (35). What makes these guys so good at what they do? Work ethic, if you saw these two at practice and the amount of time and effort they put forth day in and day out, there would be no doubt it your mind why they're they best at what they do. 4) Lately, the team has suffered some pretty close games/losses to teams they should be beating. Are you worried? It happens to the best of teams at some point in the season, we just have to regroup and focus up here when it matters most. 5) Which is more important - offense or defense - and why? Defense, good defense will create more offensive opportunities! 6) Who've you got- Bruins or Blues? Don't like Boston but hate St. Louis, so LETS GO CHARA!

296 Toronto Legion 4-3

295 Helsinki Titans @ Malmo Nighthawks 296 Toronto Legion @ Calgary Wranglers 297 New York Americans @ Helsinki Titans 298 Riga Reign @ Moscow Menace

1) Six games, six wins in a row. How are the Titans keeping things so hot in Finland? Distributing the puck and playing as a team, the chemistry this team has on and off the ice is second to none. 2) The Finnish national team recently brought home an IIHF Gold Medal, is that a motivator for the VHL Titans? Oh hell yea, they got the nations attention and got them going now that's carrying over into our fan base and really getting our stadium rocking during game night. 3) What's been your strangest interaction with a fan? I've had some fans asking to be my Ernie, those wind up to be some crazy conversations about them wanting to pursue living arrangements and trying to buy me a pet pigeon Maurice.... 4) Up until now, what's been your favorite moment as a player in the VHL/VHLM? I think to date it would have to be my first VHLM hat trick, that really was the turning point for me in the VHLM and everything has been all systems go since. 5) If you could give the Titans a goal song, what would it be? Jerk It Out 0- Caesars 6) If the VHL were to hold a special outdoor game, who would you give it to and where? Why not give the VHL fans what they want, a #1 v #2 matchup, Helsinki v Riga. As far as location I think it would be fun to play at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium!

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Updated graphic below........

Helsink 5-2

235 Toronto Legion @ Helsinki Titans 236 Calgary Wranglers @ HC Davos Dynamo 237 Riga Reign @ Vancouver Wolves 238 Helsinki Titans @ New York Americans

1) Our defense has been unstoppable, but our offense has been hit or miss. What do you think is the key to success on the offensive side of the puck? It's been hit and miss, but we've still been bringing home the W's so we can't be too concerned. We've been toying with the lines trying to find that sweet spot and I think we'll find it here soon! 2) All-star votes will no doubt start showing up in a few weeks. Who's your early Helsinki favorite for the nod? Borwinn and Montgomery are in the mix with point totals and the way they've been playing so far this season and the impact they've been making on the ice should certainly get them some ballot love. Peppers is also a no brainer with his shutdown goal tending thus far. 3) What does your ideal Helsinki alternate jersey look like? It would have to be something mainly light blue, probably something similar to the Pittsburgh Penguins light blue jersey. 4) We've been able to maintain our spot at the top of the standings. How do you like our chances for the Victory Cup, for the best overall record in the league? I think our chances are great at this point, no one else seems to be gunning us down as of now, we've also been firing on all cylinders and playing well in both ends and in the crease, this season is looking all Helsinki still! 5) What is your player usually doing during their day off? Relaxing first and foremost, probably take a dip in the hot tub and play some video games. I usually like to follow that up with a light jog in the afternoon before dinner time. 6) Who have been some of your favorite line mates so far this year? It's been fun playing with our other rookie Ludvig, really like what I see from him and look forward to a long future of playing with him by my side! I have also love playing with Montgomery since he's been the type to bail me out a few times when I get over aggressive in the offensive zone, he keeps us in the game and lets our offense try to pressure more and generate some goal scoring.

Voted!

1.) USA 2.) Canada 3.) Europe 4.) Bert Meyers

I'll throw my name in. I am a US player, but if US is not an option I'd be willing to GM any team or AGM with a newer GM who may want some help.

Johnny Havenk Carison - G Shawn Glade - D @Phil Last pick, make it a good one!

1) Currently, the Titans are only a single point out of first place in the league. How does it feel to be at the top of the pack? It feels damn good and I'm not ready to come down from this anytime soon! 2) Do we have what it takes to surpass Riga and claim 1st for ourselves? The way Peppers and our veterans are playing I would certainly say so, and our rookies are also stepping up and contributing to help bring home some of those tough road W's. 3) Dan Montgomery currently sis in first for both assists and points as a defenseman. How crucial has he been to Helsinki's success so far? This guy is the glue that keeps the team together and his defense is second to none, I think Peppers could attest to this! 4) Who's your early favorite for the season MVP, given what we've seen? I'd say it's a little to early to say, but there is a decent sized group that has separated themselves from the masses. I think over the next week or two a few will start to separate themselves even further. 5) Now that everyone has had a few games to shake off the offseason rust, do you think we've settled into midseason form? Do we have more to show? I think our goaltending and defense is firing on all cylinders. Our offense has produced enough to keep us at the top, but I believe we have some more in the tank and it will start to show here any game. 6) Which team do you hate playing the most this season? No one in particular has really stood out to me or rubbed me the wrong way yet, but now that the season is starting to take shape and teams are finding their place in the standings I think some teams might find themselves on my shit-list.

As Helsinki and Davos took the ice after the 2nd intermission the scoreboard was reading 2-1 in favor of the Dynamo. You could see a fire burning inside the Titans as the 1st line took the ice for the start of the period. The players must've been listening to the coaches in the locker room because only 1:23 into the period Slade retrieved a loose puck and found Dan Montgomery, who skated it into the Davos zone and launched a rocket for the equalizer, 2-2! This rubbed the Dynamo the wrong way and Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen grabbed a blocked shot off of Kronos Bailey and found the upper corner over Peppers blocker for the go-ahead-goal, 3-2 Davos in the driver's seat again! For the next 13 minutes Davos did an impeccable job of keeping the Titan's at bay and away from Finn's crease. In one last move of desperation Helsinki pulled Pepper's with 2 minutes remaining. At this instance Davos sensed blood in the water and it was on. In the next 20 seconds Davos would record 3 hits on Helsinki players, each time causing them to lose possession. With 1:10 left in the period Bert Meyers retrieved a loose puck after Dan Montgomery was hit by Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen in the Davos zone. Meyers pulled the puck backhand as he skated through the middle of the Davos zone and slide the game-tying-goal just past Finn's skate to tie things at 3 a piece. Peppers returned to net and the stadium and players could sense the impending overtime period that was about to ensue. Fast-forward :25 seconds to Bert Meyers' next shift, with :41 left in regulation, he wins a Davos zone face off back to Dan Montgomery. From the point Dan survey's the ice and sees Bert open off the draw and slides one right into Meyers' wheelhouse for a one-time chance! GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL! Meyers goes right under the glove of Davison for the game-winning-goal and his second goal in :30 seconds to steal this one right from under the nose of the Davos Dynamo and an onslaught and flurry of obscenities polluted the air on both the Davos bench and their home stadium.

This is awesome, nice job!