Elmebeck

After 5 W 3 L 2 OTL in their last ten games, Houston Bulls have mathematically secured a playoff spot. The impetus now is to increase in standings, and perhaps position to match a higher level team that can be beaten in the first round, or even to be the top dog for the first round matchup. @Dalton Wilcox scores the game winner against San Diego Marlins in OT. The team is currently fifth in both power play and penalty killing, and a better yield there could certainly help them, experts say. "Several of their OTL games and some of their losses are certainly to blame on the mediocre power play," a CBS analyst and talking head had to say in an analysis, "just one or two PP chances would have turned those games into their favor. Their PK is also not top notch, but the PP I think would pay bigger dividends." Recent additions to the Bulls have been defenceman @frescoelmo and left-winger @Viperxhawks19 who have nicely evened out the squad, for this and next season. Meanwhile @Dalton Wilcox has been on a hot streak since mid-season, currently tied for goals in the league with 42 and fourth on points with 80 in 56 games. GM @FrostBeard in a recent press conference offered, "I am very happy with where we are now, and we can focus on getting to the right place for a deep playoff run." Houston Bulls also have three players in the upcoming WJC tournament, with @Sixersfan549 playing for Team Europe, @trevmi picked for Team USA and @Dalton Wilcox on the roster for Team World.

Calgary 3-2

291 Calgary Wranglers 292 Toronto Legion 293 Malmo Nighthawks 294 Helsinki Titans

Two in a row is a bit rich, play nice and share!

Houston/Austin/Dallas or something with a more fun name in Texas, like Waco, Lubbock or Amarillo f.i.

1. Gold: Canada 2. Silver: Europe 3. Bronze: USA 4. MVP @Infernal Don Draper

+4

Why are no games simulated for two days in a row?

Philadelphia Creepers.... I am mostly commenting because no simulations have been done in two days. But hey, there is your nickname.

The PP goal does not give +/- and you were probably on the ice for the Saskatoon goal.

231 Moscow Menace @ Seattle Bears 232 HC Davos Dynamo @ Riga Reign 233 Calgary Wranglers @ New York Americans 234 Toronto Legion @ Helsinki Titans

Toronto 3-2

Please find Caps Lock and a dictionary. I too read it though... very regretful now, mild cancer even. (You're good, just jesting)

118 represent

Sorry for the waste of time, I did stumble on that as I have on many things leading up to this point,

I'm a self-important Swede who used to work for DICE who thinks the rules around here are kind of shit regarding capped TPE (and you still kept pay to win! I think EA would agree with that decision (this is in jest)).

+4

+10 Fredrik Elmebeck

INTERVIEWER: So Fred, can I call you Fred or do you prefer Fredrik? How did you start in hockey and how did you get to VHLM? FREDRIK ELMEBECK: Shall we begin like David Copperfield? I was born, I grew up... Or shall we begin when I was born to becoming Ymer... as I call it. INT: Ymer? One of the ice giants in Norse mythology? [incredulous] That was your goal? FE: All children, except one, grow up. I knew the first time I saw the Scandinavian National Team playing I wanted to be there, and I wanted to be just as good, or better than players there. I kind of hung on to that ice giant tale to remind me what I aimed for. Perhaps childish, but it has helped me along the way. INT: Let's start where you grew up and how you got into hockey. FE: Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the north-western-eastern southern Sweden, where a small unregarded little town called Motala lies. And I started in an even smaller place south east of there, population 23. My family had a farm and how I first got on skates was my father watering a ten by ten meter area on a nearby field in the winter, me and my brother stumbling around on it in way too big skates. INT: And you started playing with a local team when? FE: Probably only by 9. We had to sell the farm and move in to the town, but that also gave us access to the local rink. And during winters we even had ice for PE at school. But yeah, I may have joined Motala Galloping Donkeys by 11, but started skating regularly by 9-ish. INT: And those years from, say 12 to 16, before you joined a national league team as a youth, tell me a bit about those years. FE: It was both the best of times, and it was the worst of times. When I first got there my skating was so bad they had me as replacement goalie during practices, just for the team to train slap shots on. So I quickly realized I need to learn to skate a bit better, show I could handle the puck better, just not to be in that position. I am a bit weird, but I am not goalie crazy. [laughs] INT: And you started your first season as a left wing? FE: Yes, once I got the trust from coach to actually play it was as a winger, and left mainly because I shot right-handed. As the season progressed I think, maybe because I was not yet very confident, that I was always covering backwards. We probably had 3 D's on the line at times. [laughs] Sometimes perhaps to the detriment of our offensive. So I would say about a third into the season he moved me to left D. INT: You had an interesting save with a backwards pass that was about to score in you junior season finals that year, a puck jumped by your defensive partner with the goalie out of the net and you saved it basically on the goal line. How did you handle the local fame from that after your team won the championship, basically from that? FE: The people to defend from is anybody who's going to score, no matter which side he is on. The fame has never been my aim, only the result. I know I have been getting a reputation for running my mouth lately, but it's not for the fame, it's for fun and maybe also hoping whomever I target will be a bit off when I meet him next. All I care about is for the team winning, not points or personal accolades - though I do want to be respected for what I do on the ice. But those are not the same, the ephitets and prizes and what you actually do, there are lots of people who never put in the effort or time or will, who still win. And that is fine. But to me the total effort, every second of every game, is where it is for me. INT: Is there anything you're proud of this rookie season? FE: We're only one third into it, but I do like my +/-, blocking shots stats. They tell me I am doing a good job for the team while on the ice. So I do pride myself of having done my best while on the ice, and I am very happy with the amount of time I have been afforded and trusted. And to me it hearken back to how I have always played and been raised: you take damn good care of your own responsibility while at the same time not letting everything go to shit because someone else doesn't. INT: And your move to Houston, how has that upset your life? FE: The weather is weird, we had sleet on day and a warm sunny day the next. I do love the food here though, and I was surprised they even have crayfish here. I am guessing that is an eastern/Louisiana thing, but we do eat them in Sweden too, so that was a nice surprise. A bit high rent here. INT: And team mates, organization? FE: I couldn't praise the organization more, they have been so accommodating. And with actively supporting team mates like @Dalton Wilcox, @Strooper99, @banko, @DenisLever, @Edustava, @fin_daddy it's been so easy to fit in here. And of course @Sonnet, @Tate and @FrostBeard. I have probably forgotten a lot of people. INT: So there's nothing you miss from Sweden? FE: Proper dress code, less blocky streets, smaller cars perhaps. But no, not much at all. And I love the crowds here, up north in USA/Canada you sometimes get crowds who boo for booing's sake, but here I feel everyone just enjoys the game, win or lose. It's a nice vibe here in Texas. INT: What are your long term goal playing? FE: You don't have to play forever, you just have to play. I guess that ties into what I said before about putting the effort in. INT: ... FE: ...and I want to add, not just for myself - the fans have earned my best effort every night too, GM @FrostBeard, my team mates. I owe them all, and myself every time I step on the ice. INT: So now you're looking for Houston to do well, perhaps a good playoff run, and I am guessing you are also looking forward to the draft? FE: Excellently observed, but let us take care of our Bull ice garden first. INT: Any parting words? FE: Houston, we have lift off!

Fair response. https://vhlportal.com/gameview/67/VHLM67-136.html?VHLM=True

Seattle 2-5 Calgary

Moscow Toronto Calgary Helsinki

Rookie card I really wish I still had Photoshop, I just don't want to battle with GIMP and Paint... so this is it for now.

Fredrik Elmebeck, D 183 cm/6'0", 79 kg/174 lbs, age 18 Hometown: Ask, Östergötland, Sweden Elmebeck is probably the best up and coming D prospect in VHLM entering S67 so far. The vocal youth has perhaps not impressed in points with only 11 points in 21 games, but has been second on Houston Bulls in both +/- and shots blocked, with "an eye for how to position himself" according to GM @FrostBeard. As a Swedish product Elmebeck is extremely creative and with good skating for his age, but what stands out is his positioning defensively. Skating: Fredrik's skating has improved a lot with the coaches in Houston, especially forward top speed and being more agile when skating backwards. "I really want to get better too," he says, "watching players like @Elhandon and how he can move over the ice is so impressive and a goal of mine." Creativity: "Growing up and playing in Sweden I think I got a lot from playing on a larger ice, you can really build up your eye for the ice. Sure, it's faster in North America, but I feel like what I learned on a bigger ice is even more applicable." Elmebeck currently has most of his points, 9 out of 11, in assists and has increased almost 50% according to coaches, with more to follow. Defensive: Great positioning is clear from having the best +/- record and most shots blocked by all Houston Bull defensivemen, trailing @banko and @fin_daddy in hits. @Dalton Wilcox reminices, "I made a really bad play, I could see @StaticShocked ahead of me and knew I had made a huge mistake with losing the puck. But as I looked behind me Elmebeck was there and saved the play. His positioning is second to none!"" Elmebeck has gotten a lot of flack for being a bit vocal, attacking teammates and opposition alike. Fighting: "I never saw @BarzalGoat fight, so I don't know why that is levied at Fredrik", @Sixersfan549 said in an impromptu interview. And as hockey has lost a lot of the fighting element in recent years it's certainly true that Elmebeck would not be a a great leverage to put some energy into the team by fighting. @Peace went as far as calling the Swede "Coward." Checking: Elmebeck is following the European mold of not being very physical, rather working with his feet and head. "We've been trying to work up his physique though," GM @FrostBeard offered, "I think he has to grow a bit more and be able to hit harder in order to play well here." Puckhandling: While not bad the puckhandling, it does need work, and VHL teams looking to draft Elmebeck should probably keep an eye on his development there. Elmebeck is one of the more impressive new players for S67, especially as a relatively balanced defensive player with a great drive to improve. "He's a darling when he's not irritating you, and with such a massive talent that I am sure will just explode," @SweetMike666 added. Fredrik Elmebeck is playing second line defence for Houston Bulls, 11 points in 21 games.