PotatoKing

Jeff Tates Name: Jeff Tates Age: 18 Position: Right Wing Height: 6’0" Weight: 165 lbs Handiness: Left Birthplace: Trois-Rivières, Canada Junior Team: Sherbrooke Phoenix Jeff Tates is a young winger with drive and a high Hockey IQ. He relies on his puckhandling skills and hand-eye coordination to worm his way into the offensize zone and generally looks to make the perfect pass. He signed as a free agent with the Saskatoon Wild at 17 and is on the verge of being drafted (Currently ranking approximately #35 overall in the S68 draft central scouting report) after his first season in the VHLM. What scouts say about him: "He's a small forward with depth and maturity, and poses a challenge for his opposition everytime he's on the ice." "It's fantastic to see a young player so focused on making his teammates better. It seems like his game improves every day." VHL Comparables: Mikko Aaltonen, Joey Boucher, Teagan Glover. NHL Comparables: Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Vladislav Namestnikov. Strengths: Hands: Tates is a natural playmaker-type player. His swift hands grant him access to the deeper portions of the offensive-side ice and most of his highlights include dekeing past defensemen to create a rush opportunity. His puckhandling wonders are the bread and butter of his presence on ice, and you will be hard-pressed to find anyone who says otherwise. Passing: Great passes are simply part of Tates' game. He is naturally prone to leading the puck to his teammate's tape, and this has generally resulted in him being a prized first-liner in both his junior and minor teams. In short, the kid will generate offense more often than otherwise. Wrist Shots: On top of the playmaking talents, Tates also puts to use his good hand-eye coordination with a precise wrist shot that results in scoring opportunities. His speed and accuracy will catch many goaltenders off-guard, especially when they expect him to go for an easy pass. Although he may favor passing, his mature style of play also leverages his passing scoring abilities when appropriate. Weaknesses: Physicality: Tates is, simply speaking, not a gritty player. He has not shown much physical play to his game, keeping the hits to a minimum and staying out of fights. His overall discipline plays into him trying to steal the puck from the opposition rather than going for a big hit. In the long, this weakness is something he will have to work on if he wants to make it big time in the VHL. Size: Because of his frame, with his weight on the lighter side, Tates can show a lack of strength and ability to hold onto the puck when faced with a larger defenseman. Though he relies on outspeeding them, his ability to withstand a hit can be a bit of a question mark in his future. Which means so far he has relied on larger teammates for their physical play. Leadership: Though his great attitude and propensity to highlight his teammates should have granted him high praises, Tates has not yet shown the leadership required to wear the "C" on his jersey. He lacks a certain level of leadership that would be greatly appreciated on top of his outstanding level of play, perhaps due to a more reserved nature outside of the ice. Some scouts have pointed out this as a potential area for improvement. Overall, Tates is a great asset to any team looking to bolster its offensive lineup with a creative playmaker in-the-making. His development should naturally align him for a bright career.

1. Are you satisfied with the overall performance of the Minnesota Storm (Currently 3rd in the league) so far? Does it align with your expectations from the start of the season? 2. After being drafted by the Storm last year and playing a full season, what is your impression of your team? Do you like the other players? 3. You are currently standing at 13 points in 66 games player (with 4 game-winning goals). How would you rate your performance this season, considering your ice time? 4. Do you have hopes of being moved up from the 2nd to the 1st line next year? 5. What are your expectations for the playoffs? 6. After spending some time in the VHLM, do you have a rival player in particular? If not, a rival team? 7. Two players on your team are currently at 92 points (Kefka Palazzo and Berocka Sundqvist). Do you see any of them crossing the 100 points threshold soon? If yes to both, who will get there first? 8. Is there a player (or manager) who inspires you to improve your game? 9. What was the best moment of the season for you? Any memorable moments you'd like to share? 10. What are your thoughts on the announced expansion? Any location/team you would like to see in particular?

Tates Shares his views on the Upcoming VHL Expansion and Draft Jeff Tates, the young winger currently on the Wild spoke to journalists after Game 360, where he was asked his thoughts about the announcement that two expansion teams were underway in the VHL. What follows is an extract of the post-game interview with the up-and-coming Canadian player: BC: How was the game for you? JT: It was harsh. We were out-shot badly in second and third period, and we weren't able to come back. I'm happy I got a goal and an assist, but it never feels good to lose a game when you're so close to the playoffs. BC: We're almost at the end of the regular season. Do you have high hopes for the draft? JT: There's some really good talents at the top of the rookie class, I don't quite compare yet personally. But I'm hoping someone will see what I can offer to their team; right now I'm mostly focused on the VHLM and my personal growth as an offensive player. BC: Are you following the news of the two announced expansion teams? JT: Of course, everybody is curious to see what will happen. I don't have a "horse" in the VHL so to speak, so I'm glad to see the league expanding. It's a great opportunity for players and general managers to make something special happen, and it may be a bit of a puzzle for the existing teams but puzzles are good right? [Laughter] BC: Is there any location in particular you would like to see? JT: Well, I would like my home province, Québec, to see some VHL action again. It would be great if that was in the plans but I'm not tossing my hat in with speculations. At the end of the day, I'll root for the team I have on my jersey. BC: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jeff. JT: Thank you.

+10 Jeff Tates

Moscow 3-2

331 Vancouver Wolves 332 Riga Reign 333 Moscow Menace 334 Calgary Wranglers

An idea of mine so good they stole it! Pre-emptively.

An Analysis of Possible Expansion Locations As the effervescence and enthusiasm for fans of the VHL rages on ever since the announcement of two expansion teams being added to the fold (officially holding up the number of major league teams from ten to a historic total of twelve), rumors are bound to start propagating as to which lucky cities will see Hockey brought to their front door next year. With all the excitement this thrilling sport can bring, it may be an endearing prospect to find the league expand its horizon within your local area, but be warned, it may yet not be time for your dream city to host a VHL team at its gates. There are, after all, only so many locations that be covered with a middling twelve dots on a world map. This media spot will cover an analysis of which cities are likely to be among the chosen few for the purposes of this upcoming expansion. Please keep in mind none of these predictions are official in any capacity, and are only made in the good spirit of statistical likelihood. North America Region Firstly, let's have a look at our current lineup in North America. Self-appointed as the nominal mainstay of Hockey in the eyes of many fans, it will surprise next to no one that the region invariably holds half the teams in the VHL (as shown in red below), as well as the entirety of the teams in the VHLM (in blue) : Montréal While it may be too early for fans to see another team like the Québec Meute of the past, it is undeniable that every expansion team discussions behooves still starry-eyed eastern Canadian province of Québec fans the possibility to raise the question of the VHL opening its doors to the french-speaking region once more. It is possible the best way to preemptively discard controversy while keeping the Hockey-adoring province happy would be to locate an expansion team elsewhere than its very capital city. That being said, the Montreal island seems like the logical choice for an Eastern Canada expansion. Reason being that it holds the majority of the province's population and serves as both an accessible and potent Hockey market, as evidenced by the non-negligible amount of players hailing from Québec both past and present. Will the future be kind to the fleur-de-lys hearted sports fanatics? Chicago Perhaps the largest gap revealed by the graphic above is that a particular area is especially deprived of our beloved sport, that area in question being the Midwest region of the United-States. We'll eventually cover this region, however, it generally seems sensible to tug the proverbial reach of the major league towards that geographical segment of the red, white and blue country. With that in mind, a likely candidate could involve Chicago as a possible location, being that the city is both a departure from the already-established team localities all the while fitting the overall "picture" of current locations within a reasonable reach; not to mention the sizeable fanbase awaiting a potential opening to the world of the VHL. There is yet hope to be had for the Illinois state. Anchorage Though this may surprise many, there is a request that has persisted in the whispers of the hopeful expansion team recipients speculators: and that persistence holds its roots in Alaska. The far North state may be hampered in its possibility to compete Hockey-wise due to a lower population, but Hockey is ripe within the heart of Alaskans far and wide. Not only due to its proximity with Canadian ground (and therefore cable TV) but also because of the general weather making ice-skating sports more favorable. The biggest city therein is the inescapable prime choice for a VHL home ice, with the added bonus that the obvious polar bear logo to be assigned to a possible Anchorage team still being free of any current claims. Denver Sweet sweet Colorado. The landscape-ridden beauty home of the rockies is front and center for the aforementioned American Midwest gap highlighted above, and therefore poses another likely candidate for a team expansion. As if that wasn't enough in terms of strategical proportions, the snow-tipped state also holds a sizeable fanbase that has a potential worth tapping into without hesitation from league officials. Denver could hail as a Hockey lighthouse for a large segment of the United-States, attracting not only local fans but fans of the general area that have been more or less left out throughout the years (Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, the list goes on.). In short, a Colorado team is a safe investment of ongoing interest from future GMs and players and is, in sum, a commendable choice for a VHL team location. Florida Last but not least, the south-eastern state of Florida acts as our wildcard selection for a hypothetical expansion team. This may strike some readers as an odd selection of sorts, with its not-so-sizeable local fanbase, but Florida may indeed find itself becoming a central hub for Hockey. Why? Well, this comes down to location once more, and if one were to look closely at the map, it becomes clearer why the state makes sense business-wise. A proximity is established between several eastern US states, all the while connecting an area with some yet untapped Hockey potential: Central America. Yes, yes, some people are already clamoring for South American teams, but realistically, it hardly seems like an open possibility in the relative near future. However, where would these seemingly isolated fans turn to, were the VHL to make a step their way? The answer may surprise more than one. Europe Region Secondly, as the league seems rather evenly split between Europe and North America (with the below red markers indicating current VHL teams), it seems worth a passing mention that one of these two projected expansion teams will hold one within the old continent: Berlin Ice Hockey may not be the favorite spectator sport in Germany (Only second to soccer/football), but the fact remains the country holds a presence that can hardly be dismissed in terms of possible expansion locations. First, the emplacement fits within the mold of the current European teams with ease. Second, the viewer market to be tapped into must be said to be large and passionate as evidenced by its viewership of the sport that already dwarfs some of the other already-established VHL teams. Subsequently, it would not come off as a surprise to many, were one of the expansion teams turn out to include the German capital. Oslo For all the reasons any Scandinavian market generally opens itself to hosting more ice rinks as time passes, Norway would strike any observant bystander as the logical conclusion of having teams in both Sweden and Finland. Thus, the VHL would solidify its grip on the Northern hemisphere with a triumvirat of principal Hockey worlds within the same region. It is also worth mentioning that the same can be said of a potential Denmark team; onlooking fans should gleefully look forward to a team settling within the area, that much is certain. The only question remains whether this will happen now or further down the line. Prague Another oftentimes mentioned sweet spot for new VHL flagships is the Hockey-loving Czech Republic. In terms of location, this certainly makes sense, as it situates the VHL heart and center of a relatively large market (somewhat similar to Berlin) with a strengthened foothold into Central Europe. The argument here makes itself. The only thing giving reservation to the idea that Prague could see itself as an expansion team (hence its delayed mention) is the possible unwanted ripple effect on the Riga team viewership. It is safe to assume, after all, that the VHL would certainly look to extend its current reach rather than hamper its existing franchises. Iceland Don't let the isolated island and small population fool you: Iceland has Hockey fevor, and a craving that demands for action. Though the logistics complicate this possibility greatly, it is a possibility nonetheless, and one would do well not to disregard the hunger for a VHL arena from the few but passionate viewers. An unlikely scenario? To be continued... Rome Similar to the last American selection, this one is more of a wildcard with a low probability of seeing realization. On the off-chance that the league would wish to extend its reach to an increasingly "woldly" market, it makes sense that a team could be hosted at an unlikely location. Not to rebuff many enthusiastic suggestions of an East Asian, Middle-Eastern or even African expansion, but logic dictates such departures would prove too drastic a change and, perhaps, too inconvenient a coordination problem with team schedules. In any case, whether that is true or not, it seems likelier that an Italiant, Bulgarian or Romanian team would see the day before these wilder propositions. These were but a handful of possibilities explored above, and quantifiably more analysis is being made in that area by other dedicated fans; therefore we invite readers to let everyone know your thoughts on the subject. Do these suggestions appear as likely candidates? Were you surprised? Thank you for reading and we look forward to your input on the topic! (1563 words) (Using PT for weeks ending at 8-18, 8-25 & 9-1)

+4

Calgary 3-2

291 Vancouver Wolves @ Calgary Wranglers 292 Riga Reign @ Toronto Legion 293 Malmo Nighthawks @ HC Davos Dynamo 294 Helsinki Titans @ Moscow Menace

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

Saskatoon Wild Struggling to bank Points for the Season The Wild are currently battling for their standing position throughout a difficult week 3 of season 67. As they move on with a 13 loss streak and a goal differential of -81, the second worst in the VHLM, the team is hoping to come back with a win to put things behind. However, it's not all lost for the Canadian-based team as they still have a chance to come back up in the ranking before the end of the season, coupled with some exciting talents in their ranks. Here is a brief highlight of some players to look for: Fylo Gibbles The veteran defenseman is at his 4th season in the VHLM with 136 TPA to show for it. He is also currently leading the league in shots blocked for this season and has an impressive 8 powerplay goals at the moment. If his statistics keep up with the current trend, he will register his most hits in a season this year with currently 115 hits in 45 games. Jeff Tates The up-and-coming winger just crossed the 25 games played mark and has consistently been at under a point per game so far (23 points in 26 games played). With 86 TPA, he ranks third best in points in the Saskatoon team despite his late start for the season. Tates is currently predicted to be a 4th round S68 draft pick. Ondrej Ohradka The recent acquisition from the Wild is the left winger Ohdraka who was traded from the Minnesota Storm last month has been doing well for himself. This is his second season in the VHLM after having been drafted 68th overall in S67, currently leading the team in goal-scoring with a total of 16 goals, with 85 TPA and climbing.

+4

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

Toronto 4-2

Harsh game, 3 goals out of 4 were powerplays.

Calgary 4-2

141 Moscow 142 Toronto 143 Calgary 145 Helsinki

We'll get them next time! ?

Jeff Tates just recorded his first game in the VHLM, collecting his first goal and being named first star overall to bring his team a win on the road. The young Saskatoon winger is now open for questions.

Woot!