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1) Philadelphia missed the playoffs by 1 point. Describe your feelings about this. Saddened by the result but proud to be part of this team. 2) How do you feel about your personal performance this season? Optimistic. I could have been better but I I also feel like I've made progress. 3) Are you rooting for a specific team in the VHLM playoffs? What about the VHL? No, it's just too tough to watch when you miss the playoffs yourself. 4) Now with the off-season beginning, focus turns to next season. If you haven’t been drafted yet, is there a team you hope you’re drafted by? If you already have been drafted, what are your expectations for next season? My expectations are to focus more on my discipline. Too many PIMs cost the team. 5) Do you plan on travelling anywhere this off-season? Where and why? Singapore. I hear that it's lovely and very tidy. 6) You’re allowed to keep 1 item from the Reaper arena, The Crematorium, wha 1) Philadelphia missed the playoffs by 1 point. Describe your feelings about this. Saddened by the result but proud to be part of this team. 2) How do you feel about your personal performance this season? Optimistic. I could have been better but I I also feel like I've made progress. 3) Are you rooting for a specific team in the VHLM playoffs? What about the VHL? No, it's just too tough to watch when you miss the playoffs yourself. 4) Now with the off-season beginning, focus turns to next season. If you haven’t been drafted yet, is there a team you hope you’re drafted by? If you already have been drafted, what are your expectations for next season? My expectations are to focus more on my discipline. Too many PIMs cost the team. 5) Do you plan on travelling anywhere this off-season? Where and why? Singapore. I hear that it's lovely and very tidy. 6) You’re allowed to keep 1 item from the Reaper arena, The Crematorium, what are you taking? Zamboni - who else can say that they own one!

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1) Philly currently sits in the final playoff spot, 8th place. Some fans are starting to become anxious about the team missing the playoffs. What do you say to them? We've had some close games where we have lost. Regression to the mean - we will start getting more points. 2) There’s a rumor being spread around that the Reaper’s ice crew takes blood from the opposing team’s players and uses it to make the ice. Do you believe that? Any additional thoughts? That blood is there from our brutal hits. 3) We’re almost to the halfway point in the season. Are you healthy? If not, what injuries are bothering you? Juts the usual niggling injuries which everybody has this time of year. 4) The team’s point leader is C Hiroshi Okada with over 1.4 points per game. That’s on pace for over 100 points this season. Do you think he’ll get more than 100 points? Yes, he's only getting better with each week. 5) We have a small homestand with 3 of the next 4 game being at home. How are you planning on using the extra time at home? Juts relaxing and catching up on rest. 6) If you had to assume a fake identity. What would your fake name and fake occupation be? How come? Tom Griffiths, lawyer. Well paid job but boring enough for people not to pay attention to you.

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Riga 3-2

1) Focusing more on my defensive attributes. Its boring, but defence wins championships. 2) Halifax 21st for beating us recently. 3) Yes, regroup and look towards the future. 4) Don't panic. Stick with it and slowly improve your all-round ability. 5) His skating - is takes good wheels to get into the shooting danger zones. 6) Put sock tape on the bottom of their blades.

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+ 10 Ben McGirr

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Favorite NHL team and why? San Jose Sharks - during the lockout one of their players, Rob Davidson, played for our local team. What is your favorite sport to watch and why? Ice Hockey, the pure speed and unpredictability. The WJC is coming up! Who do you think wins it all this year? Canada What is your favorite summer drink? Any blonde beer Who is the most underrated player on the Aces this season? Raphael Nazarians was a good pick-up How do you feel your player has performed this year? He's getting much better!

1. If you're new to the league, are you enjoying it? What do you like and what don't you like? Yes. I enjoy seeing the team scoring each week as my player slowly creeps up in their points total. It's good that you have to work for your TPE. 2. Tell us one thing about your team that other players may not know. Our forwards prioritize scoring over defense. 3. Tell us one thing about your player that other players may not know. He played the last 2 weeks with a broken toe. 4. Take a look at some other teams' rosters--does your team have a shot to win it all? Not at all. 5. If you were being traded to any other VHLM team, but you were able to pick which one, where would you go? Ottawa Lynx 6. If you could be drafted by any VHL team next season, where would you go? Riga Rein

Age: 28 Height: 179cm Weight: 80KG Hometown: Cardiff, Wales Handiness: Right Position: LW To an outsider, it was surprising to see Ben McGirr gain a spot on the Las Vegas Aces (of the VHLM) roster. This is not because he lacks promise, but rather that, coming from the UK, it was feared that he would have minimal exposure to training equipment and coaching. Whilst far from complete, McGirr continues to make progression demonstrating an ability to meet his potential. Pros 1. Work Ethic McGirr turns up early to practice every day, even on optional training days. Before going on the ice he can be found stretching or practising on his coordination playing table tennis. McGirr is always one of the last players off the ice and the first into the gym. It is rumoured that next off-season he will training with one of the leading fitness gurus to add to his lean frame. His work ethic, on and off the ice, shows an early understanding of what it takes to compete in this league. 2. 200ft Player McGirr clearly grew up under a defence first system. For a forward, it is rare to see a player who is this young in their career have defensive stats not far behind their offensive ones. To those who only pay attention to game statistics you may query how his defensive game is a ‘Pro’ – you must remember that this is a player only 1/4 into his first season playing on the top line of a lower ranked team. It is expected that McGirr’s number of shots blocked rise at around the same pace as his points total as his career progresses. This is a player who know how to get his stick into passing lanes and drive the opposition’s play towards the boards. 3. Hockey IQ The fact that McGirr was given first line duties in his first season speaks volumes about his hockey IQ. Whilst there is still vast room for improvement, the building blocks are already in place. Expect McGirr to take on even more responsibility against top opponents within the next season or two. Cons 1. Slower than anticipated progression We are still trying to determine what McGirr’s true ceiling is. He appears to have high upside, but it was thought that he would be a more complete player at this point. We want to be clear here -we are not saying that he lacks skills or has not progressed at all – we are merely stating that his rate of progression has been slower than anticipated for a player of this projected calibre. It is also worth noting that McGirr has been making slow, but consistent, progress over the last few weeks so maybe there is already a change of course. 2. Shooting Percentage As stated within our ‘Pros’ section, McGirr is a player who plays an all-round game balancing offence and defence. Although we are not labelling his as a sniper, we would still expect to see a higher shooting percentage from him. As it is only his first season then this is not a major worry at this moment – maybe McGirr is ultimately destined to be a top 9 guy who scores when he can be is more relied upon to shut down opponents? I’d like to revisit this area after he has had three full seasons and established a good shooting percentage. 3. Hockey Personality Some people just don’t like the limelight, and McGirr is one of them. This is not to say that he is a boring person, but that McGirr really is not one to display any personality as a hockey player – be that through press conferences, goal celebrations or interacting with fans. Perhaps he is just overwhelmed with everything as this is his first season. Perhaps he will be more comfortable in future.

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Toronto 3-1

1. Who do you think is going to win the Founders Cup this year? Ottawa Lynx 2. What is your favorite type of steak? Fillet, Medium Rare 3. Will you be going to Area 51? If you aren't, which members on the VHL do you think would actually go? Yes! Come on lets go. 4. Having shorter seasons was brought up recently. What do you think about this? I prefer longer as it give us time to build up players more. 5. Do you think Vegas needs to be re-branded, and what kind of logo would you like over our current one? No, I quite like the logo. It's fitting with the city. 6. If you had to compare yourself to an NHL player, who would it be? Sean Couturier - we are both underpaid

1) Since it's not been too long since you've joined the league, what are thoughts on the league so far as a whole? Lots of friendly and devoted people. 2) Are there any areas in the league that you would like to see a change/improvement? Can't think of any yet. 3) The VHLM Newsletter launched earlier this week, did you read it and was it helpful to you? I did and yes, parts were helpful 4) What are your aims this season in the VHLM? To build my player up into a top postion. 5) With the teams starting to take shape, who do you consider to be the favourite for the VHLM Founders Cup? Philadelphia Reapers. 6b) What do you think of your current VHLM team? We are re-builders so it'll be a long season.