73MPL4R

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This was our revenge game from the finals

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1. A cup win. We were so close last time, now we need to bring it home. 2. I've already been drafted to Malmo, so probably there. 3. I want to be a playmaker just like I am down here. 4. I'd say great passer/puck mover but not very physical and sometimes takes dumb penalties. 5. I would have to say Alyksander Hunter. He's been here just as long as I have but he has the stats to back it up. 6. Definitely biased here, but I'd love to see a team in my home state of North Carolina.

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While some of his teammates were indulging in golf and parties or celebrating the draft with their new teams, Yukon Rush centerman and Malmo Nighthawks prospect Nate Wright has been hard at work both in the gym and the practice ice. The young skater has already seen one Founder's Cup slip through his fingers and is determined not to allow that to happen again. "Yeah, I did good last season, but good isn't good enough. We're not gonna have Buster's star power in net anymore, so it's time I learn to make some [expletive] happen instead of relying too much on the goalie." Wright is entering his third season as a member of the Rush, having been traded there from Mexico City. During that time he had been drafted 41st overall the S68 VHL draft by the Nighthawks before being chosen 23rd overall by the Rush in the VHLM draft. Although he has enjoyed his time in Yukon, Wright is ready to make the next step. "I want to get Malmo's attention. I'm gonna keep grinding as hard as I can this season and hopefully by the end they'll see enough potential in me to call me up." Wright declined to comment any further, giving a small salute before skating onto the practice ice once more. (216 words)

1. I had a great season, but at this time I think it would be in the best interest of all parties involved if I stay in Yukon for more conditioning 2. I don't want to go into too much detail about that. All I'm gonna say is that it's a dumb, dumb thing that could've been easily avoided 3. Yeah, I think I played a lot better than I did last season. Scoring the lone goal to eliminate the Hounds was a pretty good confidence builder [laughs] 4. I always think I can perform better. That's the thing about this sport. "Good enough" isn't good enough anymore. I want to be great 5. The dude's tough to score on. We were lucky that Buster is equally difficult to score on or else we would've been in big trouble 6. I want to work on my discipline. I can be a bit careless and a bit of a hothead at times. You'd think I'd keep a sleeping bag in the box at this point. I want to avoid that going into next season 7. I don't live there yet since I'm still playing in Yukon but I go there for camp and it's a really nice place 8. Northern Europe, right between Norway and Finland. I've taken enough geography classes in school to know that. 9. I haven't really spent time in Malmo's locker room yet so I can't fairly answer that. 10. This season it'd have to be Buster. Dude's a brick wall with a heart of gold.

Wright is now taking questions in the offseason following his team's finals loss

As others have said, it would've been far better to take it to DMs rather than flooding a game thread with useless crap. Just shut up and move on.

This is just stupid

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VHL.com has caught up with rookie centerman Nate Wright who was drafted 41st overall to the Malmo Nighthawks on Sunday and 23rd overall to the Yukon Rush on Monday. Do you have any comments on your draft position or the team that picked you? "I'm honestly surprised I even got picked in the VHL draft. I felt like my performance last season was lackluster, but nonetheless I'm eternally grateful to the Nighthawks for giving me a chance. They will not regret this, and I will make sure of that." How do you feel about remaining with Yukon next season for more conditioning? "I'm glad that Josh saw enough potential in me to want to keep me around. I've been busting my [expletive] in the gym to make sure I'm the best I can be. Our playoff run was, to be frank, embarrassing, but we're going to make up for that this year. Mark my words. How have you been spending your time during the offseason? "Other than waiting for the draft, I've been grinding day in and day out to make sure I'm still in good shape for next season. My focus has mainly been on my faceoffs and playmaking skills. If I'm not creating chances for my wingers and defensemen, then what good am I as a center?"

+10 Nate Wright

How do you predict the series going against Halifax? No mercy will be shown, no quarter given. What players from each team do you think will have the biggest rivalry in the series? I don't know enough about Halifax to answer that A Red Guy vs Gunnarsson, who has the better performance? Is that a question? Red Guy, obviously. Prediction for the winners of first round and why? I would say us (of course), Ottawa, Philly, and Houston. All four of those teams have been dominant throughout the season and I don't expect that to change. Who is your prediction for MVP of the playoffs? I'm gonna say Eller. Dude has had a phenomenal season and I know he can continue that in the playoffs Any takeaways from the season before we hit the playoffs? We're going to hit hard and fast, just like we've been doing.

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How have you dealt with the pressure to keep up this recent strong run of results? Take it one game at a time. I know that sounds cliche, but people wouldn't be saying it if it wasn't true. Which unit on the team do you think would be the reason the team wins the cup, and why? Everyone gives it their all every single night. It would be unfair to pick out one unit as the sole reason we win the cup.Who has stepped up as a real leader in the locker room down the stretch for Yukon? Eller 100%. I feel like I've learned a thing or two from him myself, and I'm sure most of my teammates have too.If you could add any player currently on another VHLM roster to the Rush, who would it be and why? Vladimir Pol, my former teammate when I was in Mexico City. He and I worked magic on that ice and I'd love to recreate that.How important is the team's impending 4-game stretch against Philadelphia and Ottawa to our playoff momentum? It's vital. Philly and Ottawa are the biggest threats to us getting a good seed, so we need to stay focused and get them out of our way.Which team would you want to face in the Cup Finals the most and why? Again, probably sounds cliche, but I'd love to face my old team, Mexico City. Whether or not that will happen, I don't know, but it would be fun.

Gold - Canada Silver - Europe Bronze - USA MVP - Ambrose Stark

1) Does your player have a pre-game ritual? What is it? Usually chugging a Monster or two and reading the stats for our opponent 2) What is your favorite goal song? Nothing beats Brass Bonanza, but if I had to pick one for myself it'd be Imagine Dragons' Natural 3) What kind of mascot would you like to see for the Rush? I think some form of dog or wolf would make the most sense given the location 4) Who is your favorite player in the VHL? I'm still relatively new to the scene, so I don't have one at this moment 5) What number do you wear and why? 14. It's been my favorite/lucky number since middle school. 6) We're a couple weeks in, who would you vote for the C and A's? (1C, 2A) I'm gonna echo my teammates here and say Eller for C, Flowers and Draven for A

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

Wright is now available for questions after his recent trade to the Yukon Rush

Nate Wright +4

At least we got a point. Not too much to complain about.

We're getting along very well. They were quik to welcome me into the fold and I'm happy to be playing alongside them. Of course I am. The draft is always exciting for everyone. The players, the teams, the fans, everyone is always on the edge of their seats waiting to see who will get picked, and I'm super excited that I get to be a part of that next year. It would have to be in my home state of North Carolina, probably either Charlotte or Raleigh. I would say my speed and my faceoff skill. Both of those are extremely important to a center and they're the skills that I've been working hardest on. I think so. It's normal for an expansion team to have some growing pains for a couple of seasons. I'm fully confident that we can pull ourselves together and be a real threat on the ice. I would have to say my linemates Vladimir Pol and Ryan Dingle. I think we make a great trio out there and with a little more training we can accomplish a lot.

1. what made you to sign with the Kings? Simple. I believed in this team and they believed in me. I've worked my rear end off to get here and I know we won't let each other down. The promise of 1st line minutes was enough to really seal the deal. 2. are you happy being a 1C on the team? Of course. I'm extremely grateful to the Kings for being able able to give me the ice time that I feel I'm worth and allow me to do what I do best. 3. do you think the team needs more active players? It wouldn't hurt for us to get some more help out there. Don't get me wrong; Vladimir, Dingle, Eeli, everybody contributes the best that we can every single day, but I will always welcome more bodies on the ice 4. 3 points in 8 games. is this good enough for you? There's no such thing as "good enough" in this sport. You always strive to do better. You always want more points and more wins. So to answer the question, no, it isn't good enough for me. 5. is there any hope to make the playoffs? We've had a shaky start to the season, but there's no reason for me to believe that we can't make a comeback 6. your first impressions on VHL? I'm very excited to be part of this league. I like what's being done here and the community is always supportive. I hope to have a long career in the VHL no matter where I end up from here on out.