PenKnight

(416 Word Count) Mexico Magazine had a chance to catch up with Derek England this week and ask a few questions. Nothing formal and it wasn't your usual question and answer type of interview. We just sat down and had a beer and shot the breeze a bit. England plays Defense for the Mexico City Kings in their inaugural season in the VHLM. He basically told us that things are going well and that he suffered a slight injury two weeks ago that hampered his TPE earning abilities. We were curious why he wasn't over 100 TPE yet this season and that was the main culprit he explained. He missed out on 12 to 14 points in that one week because of a nagging lower body injury. Usually that is code for a groin injury but England would not confirm nor deny this. The next week he was back on track and trying to figure out how to get more points and get them faster. His agent, teammates and coaches let him down a bit as they didn't explain to him how to claim his contract money so he could buy extra TPE in the player store. This also has slowed his earning ability somewhat. However things are on track and he should be able to get boosted this week and in the near future. He expressed that it is very important because his team has no depth currently. Derek is averaging about 29 minutes of ice time per game and it is starting to take its toll on him. Not only on him, he explained but on many of the players on the team as they are also on the ice more than normal for most players in the league. The coaches have expressed that they know about the situation and are trying to remedy the problem as fast as they can. This hasn't hampered the team as much as one might think. Even though they are not getting many shots on net and they are over extended on energy they still have managed a winning record. Currently they have played 19 games and are at a 9-8-2 record. They are hoping the rookie players can bank some more TPE in the next two weeks. They also are banking on making a few more acquisitions to ease the burden on the players. All in all things could be worse and England, along with the Kings, believe they are only going to get stronger as the season moves forward.

Game 105 MCK vs SW (550 Word Count) We all know by now that the Mexico City Kings are defying the odds on a bi-nightly basis. The Kings hosted the Saskatoon Wild hoping to answer the call! The crowd was louder than ever for this game in the newly built arena in the heart of Mexico City. The party was rocking as usual outside of the facility as well. However, the silence started to creep in just under 10 minutes of the first period as the Wild got things rolling with back to back goals at 8:05 and 9:07 respectively in the first period. The fans tried to will their team to get back into this game but as the Kings could only muster up 3 shots on goal, it was not to be. The second period was a bit of a shock as the Kings came out determined to get back into the contest. Rookie Derek England passed the puck over to Rodriquez who got it to Rookie Henrik Zoiderberg who found the back of the net only 18 seconds into the period and the Fans had something to get Wild about finally! This was the second goal on the season for Zoiderberg and you could see the joy on his face. England picked up his 11th assist on the play and Roderiguez got his 8th. Less than one minute later the house was still up and cheering as the Kings scored on the power play at 1:03 to knot things up 2-2. Unfortunately the Wild pooped on the party at 3:39 scoring a power play of their own taking back the lead 3-2. No penalties in the first period and only 3 total in the second. One for Mexico and two for the Wild. The refs seemed to be letting the boys play. The main problem for the Kings in this game and for the season has been shots on goal and they only had 7 so far at the end of two periods. In the third period the Wild took back their two goal lead as Brian Strong beat Wrike Chyrnoble on the short side to go up 4-2. The Kings and their fans would have nothing doing as they tried to climb back into the contest getting a goal at 10:48 from a bang, bang play and Rodriguez managed his 12th on the year. Zoiderberg was a man on a mission getting his third of the year and second in the game on the power play at 15:49 that tied the game up 4-4!! The Kings were playing out of their minds in the last half of the third period and managed 16 shots on net. However, they were unable to convert and since the Wild didn't score they headed into overtime. It seemed the players were tired in the overtime period and having a hard time getting into each others zones. Both teams only managed 1 shot on goal and the game headed into a shootdown. The Wild took control and scored two goals in the shootout. The kings were unable to convert and the game ended 5 to 4, in favor of the Wild. The loss was hard to swallow for the Kings but they managed an important point in the standings.

1. Did you expect to be so dominate this early in the season with a 16-3-2 record? 2. Are you planning on any trades or acquisitions before the trade deadline? 3. Would you say the lines are set as of now or are you still tweaking them at times? 4. Is anyone in danger of a trade or being sent down to the minors? 5. How does it feel to actually have a winning team for a change in the city of Ottawa? 6. Do you think the Senators will move the team? 7. What do the coaches do to keep the team loose? 8. If you do not win the Cup this year would you consider the season a failure? 9. How much do the Fans really help this team when playing at home? 10. Are you impressed how well the Fan Base travels with your team on the road??

Yeah, I guess you're right. I was thinking that this came out after Derek England joined the VHLM draft and everyone knew he played defense as stated in prior media spots and such. I was focusing on his upbringing rather than hockey experiences. After reading your comment and re-reading England's Biography, I noticed I did not include that information that you pointed out. Just a poor execution on my part, using assumption, which is never good. Will work on it in the future and thanks! I think this was the only mention of what position England plays on the ice. It was buried deep in the middle of the story and could easily of been passed over. "The combination of Derek's hunger and relentless conditioning is what got him on the team and onto the second line playing defense." As you suggest a simple profile header at the top would of rounded this all out much better. Lesson Learned.

Whoever drafts me is going to get a gem of a player. On the surface it may not look so good but I have the time and dedication to earn massive TPA in the upcoming years!

1. How happy is Halifax with the 7-4-2 start to the season? 2. Are the coaches trying to make any changes to the lines to get an advantage? 3. Where do you think Halifax will finish in the standings this season? 4. Who would you say are your top 3 players for the time being? 5. Do you think anyone will get sent up to the VHL during the season or playoffs? 6. Is goaltending an issue? 7. What do the players like to do on an off day? 8. Does everyone show up when you give them the optional skate? 9. How hard was it to swallow the loss to the Mexico City Kings in game 65 in Overtime? 10. What do you do in Halifax during the offseason?

(334 Word Count) The Mexico City Kings have beaten all odds against them so far this season in the first 12 games. They have managed to post up a 6-5-1 record, even though statistically speaking, they have been beaten in most games. However, one thing it seems that these Kings have is heart. Not only have they won over the hearts of the country but they are starting to be a cash cow for the City of Mexico and the League. It seems that the madness of the crowds during the games almost wills this team to a victory. The latest game against the Halifax 21st is a prime example of how the Kings never seem to give up. Halifax outshot the Kings 36 to 17 which is better than a 2 to 1 ratio. The second period alone was enough for any team to throw in the towel being outshot 19-5 but the Kings refused to surrender and rode the back of their goaltender Wrike Chyrnoble heading into the third period all tied up. The third period was pretty dismal for both teams as neither could score the game winner and only the Kings had the lone penalty at the start. Forcing overtime isn't such a bad thing since it is a 50/50 proposition and the Kings ended it at 2:29 in the OT with a beauty from Rodriguez who was assisted by Scott and England. Scott and England are both in the Season 67 Rookie Class but Scott is by far the better player and almost has double the TPE than England. When questioned about the TPE problems, Derek told us that he is working on it and hopes to get rated higher in the near future. The crowd on hand was packed to the gills and most of them were standing on their feet for the whole Overtime Period. The noise was deafening just as much outside the building as well as in and the party lasted for hours after the game.

Thanks for tagging me.

(535 Word Count + Graphic) Although investors never had a doubt, nobody could foresee the future of ice hockey taking off in Mexico City the way that it has for the inaugural season of the Mexico City Kings! The team has played 12 games so far this season and are holding their own in 8th place with a 6-5-1 record. By all measures this team could easily be 0-12. They are playing with a skeleton crew of a squad and players are averaging 28 to 32 minutes of ice time per game. This is unusual but management hopes to add new additions to the team in the near future to ease the burden. Interestingly, the Kings are getting outshot 3 to 1 on average per game but still have managed a winning record! The interesting note isn't as much as the teams play or lack thereof but the real success seems to be the madness to get into the new arena to actually watch one of the games. The Kings have captured the heart of the people of Mexico City and the ones that don't get into the arena crowd the nearby street and lot outside the doors. One could say the outside party is just as exciting as being indoors. Perhaps even more when you compare the cost of tickets. The Kings have put up three areas around the arena where fans can watch on the big screen and if they brought folding chairs they are welcome to set up camp. Trash is becoming an issue and the Kings Organization does not want to close the outside areas so they have asked for volunteers to help with the problem. The good news is that they raffle off 40 tickets to the volunteers for the next home game so the volunteer work can pay off. The powers that be have made strict regulations that only the person who won their ticket can enter to that particular seat. This is so that teams will not try to resale the freebies on the secondary market. The Kings organization has stated that if the winner can not attend the game they won they can release the ticket back into the pool for someone else to enjoy. The Kings have a five year plan for the team to build up from the expansion draft and expect good things in the near future. With the fan support behind them the organization is doing everything in their power to be competitive. Hopefully the rookies can get their TPE up in the near future and some acquisitions can be made to help boost stats like shots. The shot differential is something that needs to change as well as player ice time. Coaches have said those are the two main problems right now. If it wasn't for Goaltender Wrike Chyrnoble the Kings would be up the river without a paddle so to speak. The scariest thought is if Wrike Chyrnoble gets injured as the Kings have no back up goalie for the time being. We here at this magazine can only hope and pray the Kings can fix these problems in the very near future as we are all enjoying this new found love to our city!

Well if any problems let me know... G- Tristan Iseult F- Julian Borwinn F- Edwin Preencarnacion D- Sidney Crosby @fonziGG @leafsman @GRZ @Saelven88 @okocha5

I was afk for days... I think I am disqualified? I will check back in a few hours to see the verdict.

Is it my turn... did I miss it? F- Rylan Peace D- Maxim Kovaluchuk @GRZ @okocha5

I don't understand but ok.

LOL... about 19 dollars to 1 peso so 350 million x 19

(349 Word Count) As you can see from the magazine cover above, Mexico City has decided to get into the world of Ice Hockey. The new expansion team for the VHLM was announced over a year ago. Outside investors have put over 350 million dollars into the project which translates to a heck of a lot of pesos! One has to question if Ice Hockey can turn a profit in a city and country that is in complete love with fútbol? Although speculation is all over the sports news in Mexico City, one can not question the speed that season tickets were sold at. It only took 11 days for ownership to get people to put 10 percent down on the gamble. As a matter of fact, these people put well over 20,000 pesos down pledging that they wanted ice hockey in Mexico City. With the deposit, an individual had no guarantee of a refund. Nevertheless, season ticket pledges sold like burritos and tacos on any street corner. We here at Mexico Magazine got in on the action as well and many of us in the sports world are excited to embrace this new show in town. The Mexico City Kings have done well in the recent draft and are getting the team put together for the upcoming season. Although everything is in a rush the Public Relation people have told us not to worry that everything will come together before the puck drops in two days from now. The city does seem to be in a fever as merchandise has been flying off the racks and for the moment you see many people wearing jerseys and hats supporting the new found team. The organization is hopeful to start seeing a return on their funds in about five years but if things go well they could see it sooner. Of course the flip side to all of this buzz is that the team and arena could fold in a year or two for lack of interest. Time will tell and either way it will make a great story for this news source!

(546 Words for April 29 to May 5) Usually, one does not think about Russians moving to Mexico. However, in this instance, that is exactly what has happened to the rookie Derek England of the VHLM for the Mexico City Kings. Not an easy transition from the icy city of Oryol to the warmer climate of the Mexico City but Derek England has told us that he is making due. He has stated that when he gets homesick or needs to get some relief he just heads out to the practice facility to work on drills and get that frozen feel of the ice that he loves. The language barrier hasn't been much of a problem since most of the players and management speak English and Derek is fluent enough to understand or get his point across. We asked him if he was having any issues and he has told us that he hasn't. He has, for the most part stayed relatively quiet with the mindset to work hard on his TPE and get in shape for the start of the new season. A strong believer in conditioning, Derek has been in the weight room or on the ice weaving around cones and going in circles. He has been seen doing as much forward skating as backwards as he has noted that playing on defense it is usually more important to be strong at skating backwards first. He was telling us about his regiment with diet and juicing and is a firm believer in eating certain types of food and drinking a half a gallon to a full gallon of juice per day. The most important equipment that he has is his two juicers and his high speed blender to make smoothies and such. He has been getting into making fresh soups and salads but puts an emphasis on soups stating that they are one of the best ways to get nutrition into his body. One thing that he has cheated with is the street vendors. He says that it is a wonderful thing to walk around the city and see and smell all the fresh food cooking right in front of him. At times it is a little bit too spicy for him but he says it is worth it in the end. Derek was talking to us about how being picked up on an expansion team is kinda strange and difficult. He hasn't met all of his teammates just yet and has been told the team is still in the process of being put together. Although the season starts in only two days from now Derek isn't too troubled about internal affairs. He has the mindset that those problems are for management and he has complete trust in their capabilities. First thing is first as he has told us is to worry about playing his position to the best of his ability and to be ready when he is called upon. His main focus is to make sure the other team that he is playing against does not get good chances to score goals. He has been working not only on the ice but in his mind to get his focus on intercepting passes and creating turnovers. This is the best way he believes will help his team in the long run.

(1113 Word Count) Pictured above is the home of Derek England. He endured harsh winters but never had a problem with his responsibilities. His father worked with the Oryol Public Transportation Department and always made sure his family had food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in. His mother took care of the house and takes odd jobs sewing for friends and family. She has always been the backbone and moral support system for father and son. Derek's father had a love of hockey and that love was contagious spreading to both his wife and later his son who was taught the game at a very early age. His mother was at every practice and every game, always pushing Derek to never give up. Derek learned how to skate on the above picture. This pond was near his backyard only a hop, skip and a jump away. He would spend hours upon hours of his free time out on the ice having fun and falling down many times. Skating wasn't enough as he got the hockey bug early in life from watching pick up games. When his father had free time he would teach Derek how to skate backwards and later on got him his first stick and puck to mess about with on the ice. England was getting involved in pick up games with the local neighborhood kids around the age of 7. As he got older they would go out to a larger area where hockey was more present and his Father got him involved in what is considered pee wee hockey at the age of 9. All the games were outdoors and it wasn't until a few years later that Derek would get involved in indoor rinks. Below is a picture of the larger pond that had more public traffic. Especially on the weekends. As time went on and Derek started to improve, it was apparent that he had a true love of hockey. It was clear to his parents, that this is what he was going to do as far as an extracurricular activity and they both approved and supported him in his endeavor. Hockey equipment was expensive but Derek made do with a second hand selection. He would do odd jobs around the neighborhood and for his father saving up every dime that he made. Eventually he was able to buy new equipment. His father thought he could make due with buying used but after losing a few fights with the wife he gave in. Derek's father kept buzzing in his ear that the equipment wasn't what really mattered. The true wealth was in the heart and in your desire to want to improve and succeed. Once you have your mind right the next step would be conditioning and after that they would work on the skill aspect. "Everyone has talent" he would say "but not everyone has character." At the age of 12, Derek got his first taste of competitive hockey in Junior High School and it was clear he was behind many of the other kids who had the money and official training. However, his father taught him some key fundamentals about the human will and mental toughness that the other kids didn't seem to have or understand just yet. The combination of Derek's hunger and relentless conditioning is what got him on the team and onto the second line playing defense. The Brunswick Junior High School Badgers had a good run with Derek on the team for three years and he started to really get a good grasp of how to play the game at this level. The team won the championship for their division in his middle year. In his High School years he continued to improve and got focused on eating healthy and constantly working out. He wasn't a great student but he kept up his grades enough to stay eligible, make his father and mother happy and continue on with learning hockey. He did his chores and helped around the house when he was asked. He also got a part time job cleaning up around the bus depot and it was his father who helped him land that position. From 10th grade through 12th Derek was on the first line for defense and became one of the best defensive players in his school district. Tragedy struck during a heated altercation with a rival on the ice and Derek was unable to finish his last season due to injury. He broke his wrist and it took months to recover. His team was unable to win any championship and it was something he had always regretted but it he felt that it was a learning experience. After the mayhem on the ice and the injury that he suffered Derek decided to change the style of his game. Although he wanted to play physical he felt that it might be better to play hockey and leave the emotions off the ice. He still struggles with it from time to time but he knows better. At 19 years old, he had to help the family out and money was an issue when it came to furthering his education. Derek still had a deep love for hockey and decided to play for a local league that one might consider a beer league. The Oryol Wranglers were a competitive league that was funded by the players mostly. They even traveled as far as Kiev in the Ukraine. During his second season at the age of 20 is when the locals really started to create a fuss about Derek. This is when Super Agent StamkosFan got wind of this player and traveled to Oryol to look over Derek. As noted in a prior publication, it didn't take long for Stammer to get a hold of the VHL/VHLM connections and invite Derek to a combine work out. Everything fell into place for England as he was picked up by an expansion team. To the surprise of almost everyone, including Derek, he was selected 31st in the 66th Season Dispersal Draft of the VHLM by the Mexico City Kings. As far as story book forest endings go, this is one that continues on for Derek. He has expressed his devotion to the VHLM and the Kings organization and one day hopes to move up through the ranks possibly getting into the VHL. It clearly is something that he never expected but takes very seriously now and has promised to put hockey first above all for the time being. He has stated that he wants to do what is right for the team and put selfish ambition on the back burner.

Thank you for taking the time to read and post your diagnosis!

Name: Derek England Age: 20 Height: 6'2 Weight: 215 lbs Position: Defense Birthplace: Oryol, Russia Pros: Fundamentally Minded: This is the main reason the VHL has decided to give this rookie a chance. The defensive minded player, England, has a passion for the fundamentals of the game and is constantly working towards not allowing goals while he is on the ice. It is an obsession with this player to stop any offensive production for the opposing team. He would rather his unit not score any goals than give up a goal while he is on the ice. Conditioning: A strong work ethic off the ice. England enjoys training and conditioning his body to the edge of the breaking point. He believes that he needs to be better conditioned than any other play on the ice so that he can be effective. He has said that it takes ten times the amount of conditioning or training compared to playing time. Team First: Derek is a "team first" kind of player willing to sacrifice any and all personal wants or desires for the good of the team. He feels that winning games or championships is more important than salary or personal trophies. He believes that hockey is a team sport compared to something like golf which relies on individual effort. Although each hockey player needs to be individually strong Derek understands that he is nothing without the team in this sport. Cons: Emotionally Unstable: At times England has been known to be what some might consider bi-polar. He can be warm and charming in one moment and cold as ice the next. His ambition is a driving force that causes emotional problems at times on and off the ice. He has been known to go silent for days at a time not saying many words. On the other hand he can be the life of the party as well and usually is a joy to be around. However, the roller coaster ride of emotions could be a problem in the difficult VHL & VHLM leagues. Checking: Although Derek England is a strong stick handler and poke checker he tends to have difficulty with checking his opponent against the boards. He tends to try to go after the puck first when he should be thinking body first. He has stated that he understands that he needs to work on this area in his game but he also notes that playing the puck first has made him a serious threat when on the ice. However, he has noted that this league is more advanced compared to what he is used to and understands the physical nature of the play in the pros and minor leagues of the VHL. Experience: Derek has played hockey since a young age but lacks experience at the VHL level. Experience is something that can not be taught and must be learned through trial and error. Even though England has little experience he has shown great promise and scouting has reported that experience will come with time. Neither England nor the Scouts have felt that lack of experience will be a major problem. Main Goals for Rookie Season Derek England has expressed that he needs to be focused on hockey and hockey alone. Although he wants to gel with the team and get to know Mexico City and the country his main focus is improving his ability on the ice. He wants to work on his conditioning in his free time and doesn't mind having to go through a proving period. He plans to work hard and prove that he is worthy of the ice time that he is given. His mindset is to bring a winning culture to the Kings organization.

1. Do you ever get tired of hearing the stuck in the elevator question? 2. Do you think the logo should be changed to what the Las Vegas Wranglers used to use? 3. How do you think the Calgary Wranglers can improve this season? 4. Do you ever go ice fishing? 5. What is your favorite place to go out to eat in Calgary? 6. What do you like to do in the off season that doesn't involve hockey? 7. Would you play for less money to stay in Calgary? 8. What do you focus on most when you are training? 9. Who is your favorite NHL player? 10. Have you ran into any problems with the organization so far?

It seems you got the stupid joke that I was making here with all the stamkosfan tags as I rarely do something like that. I was in an odd mood. Good catch @Renomitsu as that was an obvious copy/paste. Total plagiarization as I was up over 22 hours and missing the start of Islander/Hurricane game. I guess some people actually do read every word I post. Will make a point of not doing it again.

I got edited

(294 Word Count) Derek England was recently asked what team he was hoping to play for in the upcoming season as a rookie and this is what he had to say about it. It has always been his dream to play for the Las Vegas Aces once he learned that he was a prospect for the VHL or VHLM. He has some distant relatives that have been living in Vegas now for over 26 years and it makes the most sense for him in all directions to play with this team. Although he would be happy with any team and be professional about it he has told us that he wouldn't mind being traded to Vegas if possible. He basically told us that whatever they need to make it happen he would be happy to accommodate them with. Less pay and more work would be no problem for Derek. What can I tell you about this kid? A few things. He is the type of player who is first on and last off the ice. He is committed to learning how to play the game in a fundamental sense and his biggest goal is to not let the other team score. He said that he can not stand it when he is on the ice and makes some bonehead mistake that gives up a goal. Even though many analysts do not agree with the plus minus rating, Derek is a firm believer in it and wants to be on the ice when his team scores and prevents the other team from making goals or opportunities for goals. Even though he has the mindset of offense his true love is defense first. One of his favorite sayings is that Offense may sell tickets but Defense Wins Championships!

1. Are you jealous of all the attention that the Knights are getting? 2. I actually live in Vegas so don't you think this would be a perfect fit if you need another D-Man? 3. How does the ice hold up in the desert? 4. Do you want to add active members/players to your roster? 5. How many picks do you have in this upcoming draft? 6. Are the aces owned by a VHL team? 7. How long does it take for a player to progress to get to the top line of the defense with your organization? 8. Did you steal your name from the Alaska Aces after they had to fold and move to New England? 9. How much time does a player have to spend on this site per week? 10. Do you expect another run for the cup with the current team? 11. Can you make a trade for me since I already got drafted lol??

(First Article 521 Word Count) Super Agent @StamkosFan, slash Scout, slash Recruiter, finds another possible player for the league. In a never ending search, from all corners of the hockey world, @StamkosFan continues to deliver time and time again. This time with a Defensive Player from Russia near the war torn border of the Ukraine. @StamkosFan was snooping around Kiev and overheard some locals talking about a game between Kiev and Oryol, Russia and how this kid playing on defense for Oryol or some call it Orel was playing out of his mind not only making great defensive plays but offensive ones as well. Seemed that this player enjoyed getting assists over scoring. Of course with this kind of gossip, @StamkosFan immediately made the 300 mile or some say the 473km journey and began to track down this player. @StamkosFan, the Super Snoop or Agent or Scout or whatever you want to call it struck again and found Derek England at a local rink working on conditioning and drills. @StamkosFan didn't talk to anyone or say a word and just stood there observing for over an hour. After seeing enough @StamkosFan approached Derek England and the two of them had a chat. It didn't take long for the handshake deal to occur and England agreed to put himself up for the draft of the VHL if they had a spot for him or his style of play. Derek was made well aware that he might have show up for a combine or a work out for the rest of the scouts to take notice. Of course this was going to be a little trouble as all expenses and travel would have to come out of England's own pocket but the dream of being drafted for the VHL was high on the list and just the opportunity of being able to get drafted seem to outweigh the risk. @StamkosFan listened to England and the advice he gave about the city that he lived in. Oryol, or Orel, is a city in western Russia known for its literary heritage. The Ivan Turgenev Museum and Ivan Bunin Museum have manuscripts and artifacts from their respective writers. By the Oka River, there are carnival rides in the City Park of Culture and Rest. The Museum of Local Lore displays archaeological finds and folk costumes. The Military History Museum features dioramas depicting 20th-century conflicts. After hearing about the Museums, @StamkosFan could not resist and asked Derek if he could provide some help in tour guiding. Derek agreed and off they went into the Russian City of Oryol. They parted ways after the tour and England had to go home and beg the family for expenses. They had a bit of quarrel but in the end it was his mother who gave up her savings to help her son and he promised to make her proud and pay her back as soon as he could. The next day she made travel arrangements on the internet booking the room and flight. Derek packed up what he needed and off they went to the airport. They had their family moment and he waved goodbye.