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fonziGG

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    fonziGG reacted to LucyXpher in Lightspeed: Lucy Leitner   
    As our flight touched down in Stockholm, I couldn’t help but be reminded that I was a long way from home. Having spent most of my life and professional career as a writer in Houston, the prospect of crossing the pond and living in a new country for any extended period of time was admittedly quite mystifying.  Opportunity calls-- or at least that's what I told myself as I disembarked the aircraft and began making my way through the terminal.  After a nearly 12-hour flight, my destination was still an hour's train ride away-- Vasteras, one of northern Europe's oldest cities, approximately 100km west of Stockholm.  Stepping outside, I found myself instinctively buttoning up my coat and folding my arms.  In contrast to the humid heat of Houston, even in the month of March, the air here in Sweden tasted fresh, brisk even, if not a little chilly.  It's a change, no doubt about that, though not an entirely unwelcome one.   
     
    Last season, writing for VHL.com, I covered the story of the Houston Bulls, chronicling their rise from an early season underdog to a playoff favorite.  Having privileged access to the locker room, the players, and staff, I grew quite fond of the team, experiencing the excitement of their first-round playoff victory, as well as the pain of their semi-final defeat.  The loss was made to sting all the more as I knew that I would be moving on from coverage of the Bulls at the conclusion of the playoffs, not unlike the players who would be moving on to new teams for S93.  Only yesterday, my next assignment was confirmed-- the Vasteras Iron Eagles of the VHLE.  I had known I'd likely be heading to Europe to cover the E, but the city I'd be calling home for the duration of this next season remained a mystery until what seemed like the final hour.  When I finally got the call on Monday evening, my bags were already half packed and I scrambled to put the rest of my life together in short order—coat, scarves, boots, hat... I don't live in the real world and my life is chaos, though I suppose that's half the fun.   
     
    And while I could go on about my hectic travel schedule, my lack of sleep, or prepping for a feature interview while on an intercontinental flight, this piece isn't about me so I'll spare you my melodrama.  Suffice it to say, the whirlwind that was my weekend surely cannot compare to the experience of recent VHL and VHLE draftee, Lucy Leitner.   
     
    I had the opportunity to follow Leitner's first professional hockey season in Houston and was impressed with her level of play and commitment to development on and off the ice.  She got off to a flying start, quickly dispelling any doubts that her success at the junior level wouldn't translate to the minor pro ranks.  Finishing the season with 76 points in 72 games, collecting 60 assists in the process, Leitner impressed scouts enough for Riga to select her 3rd overall in the VHL draft.  In the VHLE draft, it was Vasteras that collected the smooth skating defender with the 2nd overall pick.  Notably, in both drafts over the weekend, it was Leitner's Houston teammate, Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, who was selected 1st overall, completing a trifecta of 1st overall selections in the VHLM, VHLE, and VHL.   
     

    Vasteras, Sweden
      
    I slept through the hour-long train ride from Stockholm to Vasteras and, groggy-eyed, I caught a cab from the train station to the hotel and turned in early (it was only 4pm local time).  The next morning, I met Lucy in the hotel lobby at 9:00.  She was in a chipper mood, almost glowing as she crossed the lobby and greeted me warmly.  She had arrived in Vasteras the same day as I had for a short visit and already had plans to leave in less than 24 hours to fly back to the US—to Salt Lake City, for the World Junior Championships.  Today, she had the morning free to explore the city and I was more than happy to tag along.  
     
    Unlike Houston, Vasteras is a walkable city. In Houston, if you don’t have a vehicle, you’re not going to get far. If you want to get anywhere, you’ll need to put on your game face, grit your teeth, hit the freeway, and hope to hell you don’t encounter the infamous Houston driver. Sure, there are bike paths down by the bayou and the city has got some nice parks, but it’s hot, horrendously humid, and sweatier than hyperhidrosis if it isn’t one of those precious few temperate weeks in the middle of February. Sound like your cup of tea? At least make sure it’s iced and unsweet, you psycho. By contrast, Vasteras has a beautiful historical district called Bondtorget. With quaint and colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, outdoor markets, a picturesque plaza, and bridges that cross the Svartån river, it doesn’t feel like life is coming at you a million miles a minute. In the chaos of the last 48 hours, taking in these relatively quiet streets with Lucy was a breath of fresh air—and I mean that literally. Back in Houston, it’s muggier than a stein of bulldog-branded root beer... Look, I’m tired and I’m trying, do with that odd analogy what you will. 
     
    Walking through the narrow streets, we stumbled upon a small bridge over the Svartån with hundreds of locks hooked on the railings. I had seen bridges like this before in Europe and in North America, but Lucy seemingly had not.  
     
    “Why are all these locks here?” she asked, curiously. 
     
    “They’re called love locks,” I replied, “Look, you can see the initials inscribed on them. Couples leave them as a sign of their unbreakable love.” 
     
    Leaning in closer to examine the locks, Lucy had an air of fascination about her, like a kid in a candy shop, a youthful curiosity. I had to remind myself, she was still only 18 and this was the furthest she’d ever been outside of the US. For all of her maturity and composure on the ice and in the locker room, this was all still new to her. Europe was a new world. Moving on from the lock encumbered bridge, we continued picking our way through the winding streets and found ourselves a quiet coffee shop where we could sit and chat. And while I fought back yawns and gulped my coffee down, fiending for caffeine, Lucy apparently had all the energy in the world.  
     
    “Are you sure you only got here yesterday?” I asked, marveling at her excitement. “How are you not exhausted after all you’ve been through this past weekend? I mean, you were just drafted to the VHL and the VHLE, you’ve been playing in the Junior Showcase Tournament, you’ve flown across the Atlantic to a place you’ve never been, and you’re flying back to Salt Lake in less than a day to play against some of the best young players in the world—what's your secret? How are you not crashing?” 
     
    Lucy laughed, “I don’t know. I guess I never really thought about all that. I’m just taking it all as it comes and it’s all been so much fun!” 
     
    “Tell me about that experience, though-- the VHL draft was on Saturday and you were selected by Riga. Did you expect to get picked 3rd overall?” 
     
    “Not at all! If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t even know Riga was in Latvia until after I got off the phone with the GM when I was drafted. I was just like, ‘where on earth is Riga?’ I guess I had it in my head that it was in Switzerland or something.” 
     
    Amused, I asked, “Did you know Vasteras was in Sweden?” 
     
    “Yeah, I knew that because I had a couple of former junior teammates who had been here, actually, for a tournament.” 
     
    “So how do you feel about Riga? Is that where you would have hoped to get drafted?” 
     
    She shrugged, “Honestly, I didn't really have any expectations, I was just happy to get picked. The organization has been nothing but great to me so far. I mean, I kind of knew they were interested because they interviewed me before the draft, but so did a bunch of other teams so I was totally shocked when I heard my name at 3rd overall with all the other great players that were still on the board. I’m just super honored more than anything else.” 
     
    “No, that’s so great to hear,” I say, drinking in her luminous demeanor—and another slurp of my coffee, “And so you were picked 2nd overall by Vasteras in the VHLE draft on Monday, tell me about that experience.” 
     
    “Honestly, I was still on a high from the VHL draft and when they picked me at 2nd, I couldn’t believe it. It was just such a surreal moment realizing that I could kind of see my future, like, where I would be playing next season and for, hopefully, many seasons after that in Riga.” 
     
    “What does your family think about you moving to Europe? I’m sure there’s a bit of mixed emotion seeing you move so far away to play hockey.” 
     
    “Yeah, definitely a little bit, like you said, obviously they’re all super supportive, but, you know, obviously, there were some tears when they dropped me off at the airport. I’m sure I’ll be able to see them a fair bit if they travel here for games. They’re already planning on coming to my first game here in Vasteras so we’re all super excited for that.” 
     
    “What will that mean to you—your first game in the E with your family in attendance? I remember last offseason we spoke about you making the jump up to the M and I think you proved pretty quickly that you belonged in that league. Do you have any nervous energy going into this season?” 
     
    “It’ll mean the world to me to have my family there. They’ve been with me throughout the whole journey so having them there for the first one will be super special. Like, I guess I’m maybe a little bit nervous, but, like, nothing crazy. I mean, a little bit of nervousness is good, right? Like, it kind of gets you going and I think it really helps me focus. Like, if I’m not nervous, maybe I’m not taking it seriously enough. So, yeah...” 
     
    “Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself to perform at a high level?” 
     
    “I guess, yeah, I definitely have high expectations for myself, but I also just love to play, so I obviously want to be at my best and I expect to play well, but if things are kind of off, I guess I don’t beat myself up over it too much. At the end of the day, I’m just so lucky to be playing this game.” 
     
    “I think that’s a great mentality to have. Just take it as it comes and enjoy every moment.” 
     
    “Exactly!” Lucy smiled brightly. 
     
    “I wanted to ask you about your new teammates—particularly, an old teammate who will be playing with you in Vasteras. Ondrej Vencko @Mutti was also selected by the Iron Eagles, as well as a couple of rivals of yours from the Reapers, Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish and Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG. On top of that, another high VHL draft pick in Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor was also drafted by Vasteras. What do you think of being teammates with all of them now?” 
     
    “I can’t even tell you how happy I am, honestly! I’m so glad Ondra is here. He’s just such a funny and amazing personality and an incredible player, and to have Lovstrom too? Like, our goalies have to be the best in the E, right? I also heard that they’re kinda drinking buddies in the offseason when we’re supposed to be in ‘training camp’, so maybe now that we’re all teammates they’ll let me join them! Nabokov, I don’t know too well, but I’ve heard great things about him too, and he was obviously incredible last season so I’m super excited to have him on the team.  We were actually both drafted to Riga as well, so I’m sure I’ll get to know him pretty well in future. —And Del Rocco! I was honestly surprised Vasteras didn’t take him at 2nd overall, what a player!” 
     
    “It must be nice that you’ll have at least one other former Houston Bull on Vasteras with you after so many were picked in these drafts.” 
     
    “Absolutely! I was honestly hoping that there would be more, but of all the people it could have been, Ondra is the best—no offense to anyone else! I love them all!” 
     
    “What do you think of the team’s chances to compete for the VHLE championship this year?” 
     
    “I mean, with all the talent that Z @Zetterberg brought in with the draft, plus the players we already have on the roster, I really like our chances! It’s obviously a long season and a lot can happen, but right now I absolutely believe we have a chance, and talking with some of the others, we’re all really excited to get started!” 
     
    “Yeah, so with the season starting in less than a week, how are you preparing for the start of the VHLE season? I know you’ll be attending the World Juniors for Team USA, but do you think you’ll be prepared once the regular season starts?” 
     
    “Definitely, I’ve been training all offseason to get better, really working on my defensive game and trying to play bigger. I’m obviously not the biggest person on the ice, but I know the levels go up in the E, including physicality, so I’m just trying to do everything I can to be ready for that. But I’m feeling really confident that my game is in a much better place now than at the end of the playoffs. I’m just feeling ready.” 
     
    “And what about the World Juniors, how do you feel about your chances in that tournament? It must be an honor being able to wear your country’s colors, right?” 
     
    “Yes! Oh, I can’t wait. I’ve wanted to play for the national team my whole life, so this is like a dream for me. It’s gonna be so cool putting on those jerseys and skating out against Canada in game one—like, I just can’t wait. I think we have a good chance in the tournament too, like, we’ve got a solid lineup and it’ll be great to be on the same team as Abenduct again for this tournament. I think he and Gul Dukat are going to be a monster pair if the coach puts them together!” 
     
    We continued our chat for a while longer. I ordered a second coffee in the meantime, still trying to keep up with Lucy’s energy, though it seemed no amount of magic bean juice was going to get me to that level. Just before we concluded, I asked her, “Now that you’ve finished your first full season of professional hockey, have your goals changed at all? When we spoke in the last offseason, you were focused on helping the Bulls win. I know it was a disappointing end to that run, but do you feel you accomplished what you set out to do? And what is your goal for this season?” 
     
    Lucy seemed to think for a few moments before answering, “Wow, yeah, I’m definitely still getting over that loss to Philly. It was heartbreaking, honestly. I mean, we didn’t get the Founder’s Cup like we all wanted—like I had hoped, I guess, but I don’t think the season was a failure. Just seeing how far we came is so incredible to look back on and I think it’s really kind of changed my perspective. I still want to win— I want to win this season, of course, but I kinda feel like how we came together as a team was even more important in the end. I’ve never had a season quite like that run with the Bulls and I really hope it’s not the last. It would have been so much sweeter if we had won, and I’m not satisfied with losing, but that’s the game, I guess. So, like, not much changes this season really, but I feel like maybe my first goal is bringing the same team energy that we had in Houston here to Vasteras. I really think if we have the whole team on the same page that way, the sky is the limit to what we can accomplish, and a championship will kind of take care of itself. I don’t know, it’s a good question.  
     
    “Last one, where do you see yourself in five years?” 
     
    “That’s easy,” Lucy smiled, “I’m having my day with the Continental Cup in Riga.” 
     

    Riga, Latvia
     
    For a player with only one season of pro experience, her goals are lofty, but her self-expectation is higher. Certainly, the road to a Continental Cup in five years will be a difficult one.  Still to play her first game with Vasteras, Leitner has a long road ahead of her just to get to that opening faceoff as she heads back to the US for the World Juniors this week. While she exudes the energy of someone who takes every minute as it comes, allowing the moment to shape her experience, her long-term goal is set in the stars. Whether or not she reaches it remains to be seen. 
     
    Saying our goodbyes, I caught myself exhaling tiredly. I think Lucy noticed it too as she flashed me a knowing grin, leaving the coffee shop for a waiting cab. 
     
    Light travels fast. 
     
     
     
    Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
    3/14/24 - 2938 words                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
  2. Cheers
    fonziGG reacted to horoscope in Riga Reign Press Conference   
    1. Are you ready for the season to start or want the offseason to go longer?
    I'm so ready. I'm excited for some league sims to see where I'm at. The offseason antics, such as the JST(despite being incomplete as of writing this), have proved successful in my eyes for user engagement. The JST was a lot of fun interacting with people, and seeing what people have to say on the forum.
    2. Did you pay attention to the draft? If so, any surprises for you?
    I wasn't available during the draft, but I was over-the-moon with my result. There were a handful of picks in the early rounds that I thought were upsets. 
    You never know with these things.
    3. Here's a good opportunity to welcome our new prospects @LucyXpher @horoscope and @fonziGG
    These 3 individuals are all familiar to me. After seeing their respective body's of work, as well as their point allocations, I can only conclude that these are 3 very solid additions to any roster.
    Hey, y'all. 👋
    4. Do you expect Riga to be busy in free agency?
    I don't think it should be too busy. There's a few shoes in the line up that will be hard to fill after losing some players to retirement. However, a lot of the roster is already signed from what I can tell.
    5. Are you paying attention to the VHL's World Cup of Hockey?
    It looks like Team USA is the team to beat, in my eyes. My former VHLM GM in Saskatoon, @Ricer13, is currently the GM for Team USA. Stacked lineup from top to bottom. They're currently in the quarter finals, and I don't think they plan on stopping.
    6. Now in the dog days of the NHL season, are you ready for playoffs to start?
    I have just one question in response: Are the Oilers for real this time?
    A question asked by many before, I'm afraid they might be. 
    With McDavid/Draisaitl still scoring at scary rates, GA is down from last season, and a solid 2nd line, they're ready for a run.
    Also, Calvin Pickard with an 0.919 SV% in 14 GP? Elite.
  3. Like
    fonziGG got a reaction from Thunder in Oslo Storm AGM Opening   
    I’ll apply
  4. Like
    fonziGG got a reaction from Gaikoku-hito in S92 World Cup of Hockey GMs Announcement!   
    Oh true how did I miss that one. Don’t even look at the bottom line. Tf is going on there
  5. Fire
    fonziGG reacted to rory in S92 World Cup of Hockey GMs Announcement!   
    You’re supposed to look at it 15 feet away while squinting 
  6. Like
    fonziGG got a reaction from Dadam30 in S93 VHLM GM Hirings   
    Congrats everyone!
  7. Like
    fonziGG got a reaction from dlamb in Oslo Storm AGM Opening   
    I’ll apply
  8. Fire
    fonziGG got a reaction from rory in S92 World Cup of Hockey GMs Announcement!   
    The World Cup if hockey
     
    nice
  9. Like
    fonziGG reacted to LucyXpher in S93 VHLM GM Hirings   
    Wow, that's awesome! I'm super excited for this opportunity and to be able to contribute to the league this way!  I can't wait to get started in Halifax and congrats to the others who were hired as well, all super deserving from what I've seen!
  10. Fire
    fonziGG got a reaction from AJW in Halifax and Mexico City VHLM GM Openings + More?   
    I’ll apply specifically to Halifax. Former Hali GM right here! (I’ll apply to all 3 but preference on Halifax)
  11. Like
    fonziGG reacted to Hogan in Pin ability   
    Yea just something that you'd want everyone to see like a favourite graphic or something
     
  12. Love
    fonziGG got a reaction from Tetricide in Halifax and Mexico City VHLM GM Openings + More?   
    I’ll apply specifically to Halifax. Former Hali GM right here! (I’ll apply to all 3 but preference on Halifax)
  13. Like
    fonziGG got a reaction from Viper in Halifax and Mexico City VHLM GM Openings + More?   
    I’ll apply specifically to Halifax. Former Hali GM right here! (I’ll apply to all 3 but preference on Halifax)
  14. Very Nice
    fonziGG got a reaction from Banackock in S92 Spirit of Competition Punishments   
    Public spanking on @Banackock hehe. Keep it private bois
  15. Fire
    fonziGG got a reaction from ROOKIE745 in Prague GM Position   
    I’ll apply
  16. Fire
  17. Like
    fonziGG reacted to Lemorse7 in It's Time!   
    Haters gonna hate let them talk 
  18. Like
    fonziGG got a reaction from Lemorse7 in It's Time!   
    Just wanna say GL and I love Annie Oaks as a player! Hopefully it’s a fun finals!!
     
    On a side note, everyone keeps saying Philly isn’t so great all season and we stormed in first place. That narrative continued until we made it to the finals. Maybe we’re better than just “luck”.
  19. Fire
    fonziGG got a reaction from Alex in Prague GM Position   
    I’ll apply
  20. Fire
    fonziGG reacted to Acydburn in Prague GM Position   
    So this may come as a surprise to some and not to others. After the many seasons as being the GM of Prague I am stepping down. Life has become too hectic for me to handle everything at once so I am giving up my position as the GM of Prague. I will still be a commissioner though so I'm not leaving leaving. I wanted to thank everyone who has been/is on Prague. We were able to finally win a cup for the franchise!
     
    So with that said we will be looking for someone to take over as the GM of Prague!
     
    If you are interested in the opening, please post in this thread. Please do not contact the Commissioners outside of this thread, we will reach out to the chosen candidate privately.
     
    ***Please refrain from making comments regarding any candidates and their "worthiness" of being hired for this job, positive or negative. Any comment that is not an application will be removed to maintain a clean list of actual candidates, and (I hate that this actually needs to be said, but...) any member bashing will not be tolerated.***
  21. Fire
    fonziGG reacted to dogwoodmaple in Philadelphia Reapers Press Conference   
    1. We turn off the AC at their team hotel so they get overheated and cannot play well.
    2. Pepperoni and (I'm not counting cheese since that's like a base layer) ground beef!   And slightly spicy!
    3. I think we should make them walk to and from the arena until they get going again. No car, no train, no rides.
    4. Absolutely. Only a matter of time!
    5. Need our offense to stay efficient
    6. Probably MAPLE DOGWOOD!  We made the playoffs after I joined, didn't we?
  22. Like
    fonziGG reacted to LucyXpher in VHLM Playoffs Preview   
    Have you ever wondered where the word "playoff" comes from?  No? Just me? Okay then...
     
    Well, I'm going to tell you what I learned anyway.  The term, playoff, is a combination of two English words, "play" and "off" (duh). What is interesting is that the two words have somewhat contrasting definitions.  "Off" is a word commonly used as a preposition to describe the position or place of something, usually a non-primary or negative location.  It has also been traditionally used to describe something being sent away or ended, an antonym of "on".  It's why we might say a deal is off, or we turn off lights. "Play", on the other hand, is a term that commonly refers to the beginning or engagement in an activity, usually a game.  While off is typically a term of negation, play is a positive term referring to the start and continuation of some action.  At the beginning of the season, you might hear the phrase, "play on", signaling the commencement of the game.  "Play off", on the other hand, suggests the beginning of the end, a call to wrap up action and determine a winner.
     
    The first known use of the term was in the 1607 play, “Lests to Make You Merie” by Thomas Dekker and George Wilkins.  Eventually, the term would be used with more and more frequency in the sporting world.  While the literal meaning, to begin to end, is retained in the contemporary definition, the term gained a more specific attachment to the particular set of post-season games leading up to the awarding of a championship.  Those games became known as playoffs-- games played with the sole purpose of concluding a season by determining a winner.
     
    And so, as the VHLM regular season comes to a close, so commences the playoffs, the beginning of the end of Season 92.  Though the regular season has already concluded, the season is far from decided with the most important games yet to be played.  Two teams (Halifax and Mississauga) have already been eliminated from contention, but the remaining 8 teams will matchup to determine who will raise the Founder's Cup as VHLM champions this season. With the linguistic lesson out of the way, let's look at the four first round playoff series that will kick off the endgame of Season 92.
     
    (1) Philadelphia Reapers vs. (8) Saskatoon Wild
     
    Coming off of a dominant regular season which saw them win 54 of 72 games, amassing 112 points, the Philadelphia Reapers are the favorite in this series.  There is, however, a lot of intrigue around this series as it sees this season's top regular season team against the Season 91 Champions, albeit with a very different roster from the team that actually won the Founder's Cup.  Saskatoon enters the playoffs with 68 points, just over half as many as Philadelphia, and only 28 wins in 72 games.  Despite the extreme disparity in regular season record, this series may prove to be a lot closer.  On paper, many analysts have been critical of this Reapers roster which boasts only 1 bona fide all star skater in Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG.  With that said, the Reapers are full of players punching above their weight, providing offense and defense well above their projected value.  Players like Enn Jinn @jhatty8, Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson, and beaubeau primetime @Bobo are making the most of their ice time and are contributing greater value than their attributes might predict.  Behind all of this is probably their most important player, goaltender Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who has made a strong case to be considered the top goalie in the VHLM this season with a .918%, 2.34 GAA, 3 shutouts, and 48 wins in 62 starts.  With his importance to the Philadelphia roster, it is this writer's opinion that he should also be in consideration for MVP honors.  It's difficult to imagine where the Reapers would be without Lovstrom's stellar play and he may well be the difference between winning the Founder's Cup or a disappointing first round exit.  
     
    Lining up against the Reapers, Saskatoon actually compares favorably on paper-- in fact, if Saskatoon had retained Annie Oaks, Forum Content, and UghSike at the trade deadline, they would probably line up as the favorite in terms of team composition.  Even with the departure of these players, Saskatoon still boasts a forward group that compares to Philadelphia's collection, and I'd be tempted to give Saskatoon the edge on defense with Carson Tripp @Cartripp14 leading the way from the back end. Where Saskatoon falls behind is at the goaltending position.  Austin Goulet III @Tuchy is a fine goalie prospect, but he frankly does not hold a candle to the aforementioned Lovstrom, and if Saskatoon is going to win, Goulet III is going to have to find another level.  
     
    Prediction: Philadelphia comes into the playoffs riding the high of regular season dominance, the impact of this run of form is high player chemistry and team morale and I don't think that evaporates overnight.  Look for Philadelphia to continue their strong play into the postseason, but don't be surprised if the Wild make things interesting.  I predict the  Reapers take the series in 6 games (4-2) and move on to the semifinals.  
     
    (2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (7) Ottawa Lynx
     
    After the stunning acquisition of phenom, Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer, from the Saskatoon Wild at the trade deadline, Las Vegas enters the playoffs with one of the most potent top-6 forward groups in the VHLM.  Oaks, along with Caeser Monterrey @CaptainGatsby, Piston Maicupp @MandyManiac, Elle Aura Ashe @Lynersify, and Stinky @taylorherd are among the most dynamic forwards in the league and are the stuff of nightmare for opposing defenses.  On the back end, Vegas also boasts the league's top scoring defenseman in Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead91.  Vegas also has solid depth throughout the rest of their forward and defense corps and should matchup favorably against almost any opponent in this year's playoffs.  Goaltender Hugo Boss @Dil is a solid option between the pipes, but will need to be on his "A" game (pun very much intended) if the Aces are to make good on their championship aspirations.  Vegas GM, @McLovin, possessed a solid hand in a competitive team this season and decided to play it aggressively, going all-in at the trade deadline to strengthen his forward group and give his team every chance for success. Time will tell if this gamble pays off.
     
    On the other side, Ottawa is lead by the two-headed monster that is Wayne Shotzky @Kenamatic and Ivan Ivanov @KmaddFPS.  The two of them are tied for the league lead in points with 111 in 72 games, with Ivanov scoring a stunning 50 goals and Shotzky not far behind with 48.  To say that the Lynx's success hinges on these two players is a bit of an understatement.  Beyond their big two, Ottawa has Steve French @Seabass and The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan on offense, as well as WWumbo @Fire Tortorella on the back end as their top option.  After these players, Ottawa's depth falls off fairly quickly and their goaltender, Alexander oviechkin jr @penguinb19 leaves something to be desired in goal.  With another season of development, the rest of this roster will likely round into contending form, but at the moment it is difficult to see how Ottawa wins this series if Ivanov and Shotzky are kept at bay.  
     
    Prediction: Vegas' scoring depth proves to be too much for Ottawa's defense and goaltending and Vegas powers their way to a decisive series victory in 5 games (4-1). 
     
    (3) Mexico City Kings vs. (6) Miami Marauders
     
    The series between Mexico City and Miami may well be one of the most intriguing in the first round because of how well these two teams compare with one another entering the post-season.  Though Mexico City managed a better record through the regular season, it wasn't by much with 87 points compared to Miami's 81.  The two teams split the season series with an even 4-4 record against one another.  The parity goes deeper as each team scored exactly 23 goals and allowed 23 against, with Miami holding a slight edge in the shots department with 244 to Mexico City's 221.  By all accounts, this is going to be very close series between two evenly matched teams.  
     
    Mexico City has a well balanced group of skaters with notable names such as Trey Daniels @Tdan04, Loona Buckzo @WildfireMicro, and French Fries @solyom leading the way up front, and Free Gorlab @eaglesfan036 and Chuck E Cheese @a_Ferk their head honchos on defense.  In goal, Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu is among the top goalies in the VHLM and should give Mexico a shot to win every night.  It is hard to find holes in the Mexico roster, but if one had to be named it would be their depth outside of their top three forwards and top two defensemen.  They'll be relying on big performances from players deeper in the roster if they hope to make a long run in these playoffs.  Their regular season record shows that they are capable of such performances, but consistency will be the key to their playoff success.
     
    Miami, not unlike Mexico City, also boasts a well balanced roster.  They do seem to have an advantage in the forward department with deadline acquisitions Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike bolstering an already strong corps featuring Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2, Joe Shmo @matt sovick, and Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn.  On paper, their defense also seems to matchup favorably against Mexico City with Pierre Ennis @DeciBell4 and Gul Dukat @MSouthworth being their big two, while Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter has had a strong showing this season as well.  The one possible area of weakness for Miami might be in goal with Shaunca @shaun1979 having an inconsistent season at best.  If he can find his game and peak at the right time, the Marauders have the tools to beat Mexico City, but it's a lot of pressure to put on a young goalie and the jury is still out on whether he has what it takes to lead the way.  
     
    Prediction: There is so little between these two teams so it's difficult to see how this series doesn't go the distance.  I'm going to hedge my bets with Shaunca and Miami's depth and say that the Marauders edge the series in 7 (4-3).  
     
     
    (4) San Diego Marlins vs. (5) Houston Bulls
     
    In a first round full of intrigue, this series between the Marlins and the Bulls might have the most eyes on it.  San Diego features one of the strongest forward groups in the league while Houston owns the distinction of being the leagues most improved team, growing from a group of green rookies into a legitimate championship level team over the course of the 72 games season.  The Marlins owned the Bulls in the season series, winning 6 out of 8 games between the two sides, but it should be mentioned that a good number of these games were played earlier in the season and the Houston roster has changed quite a bit since then.  The Bulls have bounced back with wins later in the season, proving that they can beat San Diego and adding to the intrigue surrounding this series.
     
    The Marlins, like Las Vegas, ice a lethal top-6 forward group.  Dietrich Reingaard @JigglyGumballs, Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor, Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450, Wayne Gretzky @MubbleFubbles, and Dwight schcrute @Jamomayo (a former Houston Bull) make up the Marlins top five players, and could all be top line players on any team in the VHLM.  Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg is also a strong player who provides excellent depth for San Diego, however there is a fairly steep drop-off beyond him.  If you asked the Marlins, they'd probably tell you that they are as deep as they need to be, allowing their top players to play more minutes instead of having lower roster players eat up time, but it remains to be seen whether this strategy will hold up over a 7 game series.  On defense, San Diego is strong and actually boasts decent quality through all 6 of their defensemen.  Dustin Moore @Maxx leads the way as their top defender, but Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 is a strong up-and-comer that the Marlins will also be leaning on in these playoffs.  Finally, at goaltending, Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub has had a stellar season with a .904%, 2.91 GAA, and 35 wins in 64 starts.  Some scouts would argue that he's probably been the beneficiary of a good team defense in front of him, but he certainly has shown the capacity to deliver the quality performances when called upon.  
     
    The Houston Bulls are probably the deepest team in the VHLM.  GM @AJW (who is expected to be a GM of the year candidate) has done an exceptional job of scouting new talent and building an environment in which these young players can grow and ultimately flourish.  The team he has built is strong all the way through the lineup with 4 lines, 3 defensive pairings, and 2 quality goaltenders that can be rolled out at any time.  In the forward group, captain Trimiskez Artav @jake led the way this season with 43 goals and 45 assists for 88 points.  Joining him at the top of the depth chart are trade deadline acquisition, Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23, Barry McOckiner @LanerDUST, Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8, and Tyler Lawson @Nyx.  Quality depth options Murray Connolly @Blakemac22, Filip Zinek @FiZi, and Jack Dickens @Mystery_boy98 complete the top 3 lines for the Bulls.  The Bulls' 4th line is home to one of the leagues most infectious leaders, Miner VHLer @Rhynex Entertainment, affectionately known in the Houston Locker-room as "SuperBot".  Micah Cederbaum @MicahC and Dylan Boland @shadowbloxgame round out the forward corps, both having solid campaigns for the Bulls in minor roles.  The Bulls are among the league's strongest on defense with Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee at the top of the chart with 81 points in 68 games. Frequent defense partner, Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher, has also had a strong showing this season for the Bulls, as well as one of the league's most physical players in Cody Toland @ctoland102.  Bufert T Smustice @Crummer77, Toby Cook @KRZY, and Charles Losfeld @losfail round out the defense. The Bulls also boast what is possibly the best backup goaltender in the VHLM in Herald Benson @Benson. Starting goalie, Ondra Vencko @Mutti, should see the majority of starts in the playoffs, but should he falter, Benson is more than capable of shoring up the net.  I've spoken to scouts about Vencko and I've learned that he's made some adjustments in his game recently that have really unlocked some of his potential.  His recent starts have reflected this and, lately, he's been well above his season average of .892%.  He could be a bit of a sleeper, I'm told, when it comes to playoff MVP candidates, provided the Bulls go far.  
     
    Prediction: Those who have followed my writing throughout the season should know that I cover the Bulls regularily.  Despite that, I want to give San Diego some love.  I believe their top-6 forwards certainly have what it takes push Houston to the limit, but they'll be up against strong competition on the Bulls' blueline.  It's a close series in every respect and I'd be shocked to see one team or the other run away with it.  I'm still going with the Bulls, but I think it's going to take 7 games (4-3) with an overtime winner to decide it. 
     
    ---
     
    And so it begins: The playoffs kick off tonight and I, for one, cannot wait to see how the VHLM shakes out.  I'll be following these story lines through each round and updating you on the series so stay tuned for more! If you have any comments or disagree with one of my predictions, feel free to tell me! 
     
     
    Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
    Claim for 11/25/24 (2651 words)
  23. Woah
    fonziGG got a reaction from leandrofg in Don't Draft Nabakov in the first round   
    The only reason I say this is primarily, I will eventually go inactive. Likely due to IRL reasons. I've been there where I drafted a guy first overall and then he went IA on my ass in like 20 mins (@Zetterberg) however I forgive thee. Point is, I don't want to be that guy. I don't want the pressure of a top pick to loom on me. I don't want to be the main guy on the roster. I just wanna chill and have fun and update when I want and when I can. Between having a child and tending to my wife, I really won't care about the VHL nor should I. Draft me, plan my player out and use him to win if you can if not, use him to tank I suppose? Point is, I don't really give a shit. Just don't waste a high pick on this guy cause I'm warning you now, he's gonna be a shitty earning player
     
    And if you're the GM who drafts me in the first round, I'm sorry lmao. You're a dumbass. Read this shit, I warned you fam. I'm going to be a disappointment. The rest of my build is probably going to be 99 Leadership if it was up to me.
  24. Very Nice
    fonziGG reacted to Daniel Janser in Vhle teams that need a new or another goalie   
    Jonny is the only S87 netminder who made it into the big show...
  25. Like
    fonziGG reacted to Jonny in Vhle teams that need a new or another goalie   
    How far I've come is crazy
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