elrune1988

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

291 Vancouver Wolves 3 @ Calgary Wranglers 1

1. Who wins Gold? Canada 2. Who wins Silver? USA 3. Who wins Bronze? Europe 4. What player will be named tournament MVP? Jerry Wang

"Can Someone be a good loser..." In a recent press conference – I was asked to reflect on my decision to join a losing team and if given the choice – would I do it again? What a complex question. Is there a mentality behind being a loser? Can someone be a good loser? How? Firstly, I believe there is absolutely a mentality behind what it means to be a loser and benefit from the experience. If we believe that FAIL – First Attempt In Learning – is a common notion. Then it must be generally accepted that one must first learn to lose before they can be truly comfortable with what it means to win. For what could we make of a positive experience – without the sting of a negative one. Right? As for being a good loser – I think its impossible. Anyone who loses goodly is accepting the idea that losing is acceptable. But I guess that means – to be a good loser is to hate losing? Just, not in a destructive way. Just the simple idea of losing – seethes through your core. Making you tense. I guess I contemplated losing a lot more when our team was advertised to be a guaranteed bottom feeder. But we have gutted out some big wins! While we strive for the promise land – let us not forget the bumps and bruises. For they provide us with the relatable feelings to revel in triumph!

1. The trade deadline is come and gone, and today we yeeted traded our top forward, Jaxon Walker, for a 2nd-round draft pick. Was this a good move? Would you consider our rebuild this season a success? Well, it certainly wont help us with the probability of winning games when we are so close! But you know, I think after we traded our last big name - we really came together and gutted out some big Ws. I am hopeful we can win and benefit from the deal. 2. In another move made today, we brought back a Hounds alum, @GlowyGoat, by sending a 4th-round pick to Vegas for his goalie, who figures to be a backup this season and have a spot on the roster for at least the next one. Was this a good move, or is it too contrary to our selling strategy to make sense? For sure - we need goalies! I hope that this move can help us sneak in some Ws when we rest our starter. 3. Having played for a team that isn't that great this season, would you do it all over again next season, or would you prefer to be on a winning team? I mean - any chance to get major ice time is key to keep the stats up. I like carving my own path and what better way than with a team that needs to build! 4. What are your expectations for the team and your player for the rest of the season? I want to keep being a steady presence and helping our team win games! I hope as a team we can still come together and try to make the playoffs! 5. Since we're the Hounds, what's your favorite breed of dog? << I lived in a basement apartment under 4 yippy dogs. I am a cat guy. Sorry dudes.' 6. What are your opinions on last season's Seattle draft class being disproportionately made up of Hounds players? Does @Banackock spend an unhealthy amount of time in our locker room? Will he be picking you in the coming draft? Haha - I never noticed. Sure - I am easy - is Seattle a winner?

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

234 Toronto Legion @ Helsinki Titans 3-5

Congrats! Need a C?

Momentum There was a theme around the Mississauga Hounds practice facility – the being the feeling that momentum was beginning to swing in favor of their squad. The team has added two young Centers to their core who have stepped in and provided solid contributions. “It felt good to get that first point a few nights ago – just one assist. Something to celebrate about. Where you think you yourself – ‘so, I can produce at this level.’ – and the hands tighten on your stick. You’re not cutting off blood flow anymore. Yah know.” Rooney told reporters before going out and having a fairly solid game overall – one of his best showings since his signing. With 5 shots and 4 hits – to go along with his first goal in the VHLM. “Obviously it feels great. You want to have success and you can’t really describe what its like to pump yourself up for something like your first goal. Then to get it in front of the home crowd – everyone was going nuts.” Rooney was all smiles when asked what it felt like to pot the first of his young career. “Indescribable. Unlike anything – you dream about that moment when you are growing up and to accomplish it. I let the passion out – for sure.” Rooney joked – in reference to a recent interview he had done. A couple of nights after scoring his first goal – Rooney played a part in a late-game goal that propelled the Hounds past the Las Vegas Aces. With a minute and twenty seconds remaining in the game - off a mad scramble after a lost face-off. The puck bounced around to Kris Tougher who potted it. “To be honest – I didn’t even know that I touched it. It was just one of those situations where you keep playing your man and good things happen. We worked hard for the two points.” Just as the Mississauga Hounds begin to gain momentum – as does Rooney. The youngster has been playing heavy minutes for the Hounds – and has been a very solid addition thus far. Now having a goal and 3 points in 6 games – in addition to 11 hits; 2 blocked shots and a +1 rating. “We have been watching the Hounds and he is a player who seems to be getting better with every game. Hopefully he can continue to grow as he would truly be making noise come draft time.” Said an anonymous scout. When asked about the possibility of being drafted high Rooney told reporters, “I am not even thinking about the draft – I just started playing games here. For me to remain motivated – I need to focus on the little things and satisfying the details. One step at a time.” It will be interesting to see where Rooney lands un upcoming Draft projection boards – the Hounds having two strong candidates to go relatively high in the draft this season in Kidd and Rooney. When asked about the possibility of playing on the same team after turning pro – Rooney welcomed the idea, “Sure – he is a talented guy and we are both dedicated. I think we could help solidify the middle of the ice for years to come.” Words: 529. Using for PT for Week ending on - August 11th, 2019

Big Apple on the game winner!

Statement game! lol

Getting The Monkey Off His Back You could see the relief when Rooney earned his first league point in a close game against the Saskatoon Wild. It was a garbage point on a mad scramble in front of the net - but you have to imagine Rooney will take it at this point. The young Center won the face-off back to his defenseman who got a quik shot off – generating a rebound. Jaxon Walker and Rooney both took whacks at the puck before Noah Hanley managed to pocket the rebound. It was quite the scramble, "Deffinatley not the prettiest point I have ever gotten. In three years it will be a little sauce from the half-boards for a one-timer top shelf. For now - ill take what I can get." Rooney told reporters after the game. “It was a great game and to be able to keep the score close like that and really show case what we can be as a team was excellent. I think we are certainly trending in a positive direction.” Said Rooney after the game. Ultimately the Hounds lost the game by a score of 3-2. With the Wild scoring only 3 minutes later and not looking back in the contest. The Hounds will look to gain back some lost momentum against the Rush and the Aces in upcoming competition. Further more, With the team trading away one of their top players this week – Rooney has been wearing the 2nd assistant “A” for the Hounds. “It is a great honor” Rooney told the media, “I am really excited to be able to be looked upon to be an example on the roster. I will do what I can to keep it up!” There were some that were critical of the move – mentioning the youngsters newness to the league. “We are talking about a kid who has played four games – four. FOUR!” One talk show host proclaimed on his late night show, “I just hope he doesn’t crumble under the pressure of discovering his game and trying to be a leader in the room.” Other perspectives have pointed to the youngsters consistent play. The biggest flaw so far being a poor showing in the face-off circle against the Marlins. The youngster went 7/25 in that game – which was surely abysmal. Some analysts chose to focus on the fact that in the grand scheme of things – if having a bad night in the face-off circle every now and again is the worst we see with the player – we should consider ourselves lucky as fans. In a short radio interview Rooney pondered success and what it would mean to be successful. Well – earning a letter and scoring your first point in the same week is a decent accomplishment. Is there anything that you are looking to improve after playing your first round of games? “Well – obviously as you can see offensively – I have a ton of room for improvement. Look at Kidd – he has been killing it offensively. I want to score!” He laughed, “But I am trying to be patient and soak it all in. Be there for my team.” We look forward to being able to report on the future successes of this young talent as he continues to set benchmarks for himself. The sky is the limit!

7/25 in the face-off circle?

A Star In The Making You always hear the old adages – where an individual shows he is destined for greatness through some courageous acts or humorous dramas which showcase a hate for losing throughout their child hood. But Liam Rooney – one of the newest members of the Mississauga Hounds is not one of those people. “I can remember probably being one of the biggest sucks….” Rooney told our reporters in an interview showcasing the youngsters life, “I am definitely the kid who cried when we had to stay at school after-hours during land slide warnings. I just wanted to be home with my family.” “Yeah - it was embarrassing…” It is these shows of emotion that Rooney points to as signs of his fierce passion for anything he does. “I try to tell everyone – I wasn’t crying. I was just letting the passion out.” Our reporters spent a good while speaking with Rooney about his life and aspects of the youngsters upbringing which may attribute to the player he is today. Sun-Kissed Unlike what you would expect from a top prospect – Rooney did not grow up around ice. “My dad was a pilot and he flew from the islands to Toronto every day. For years – and I got to grow up across the street from a beach. Like a true ice-hockey kid.” Fishing, boating, tanning, sand soccer….and finally, a love for inline hockey. “Yeah – you know, I am Canadian. You get the itch and I remember my grandparents getting me roller blades for Christmas and I joined a league. It was great. I would roller blade for an hour or two a day.” Asia-Bound “I really was hoping that when we moved – we would be going back to Canada. But nope, Dad wanted us to ‘see the world…’” A promotion saw Rooney’s father doing international flights out of Asia – “Which was interesting because – I really felt that I would never get to work on my hockey skills over there. Even on roller blades – I figured there weren’t many leagues.” Rooney would soon learn that his hockey options would be further opened. “There is actually some pretty good hockey over there. Ice Hockey. So I got to finally get out on the ice and see what that was like. That was a week long smile right there.” Rooney joined a league and helped his team to a number of strong showings over the five years that he played there. “The ice was Olympic sized – so you really have to be conscious of your positioning. It is a lot of skating. I prefer smaller ice.” Boarding School Through the summers Rooney would attend hockey camps back in Canada. It was here that Rooney was noticed by the Head Coach of a Mississauga-based boarding School’s team. “He was different – I think the first thing was he was just happier than a pig in shit out there every time he was on the ice. He could get around and he had good instincts.” Were comments that coach has made in regard to what made Rooney stand out. “It was hard leaving my family.” Rooney admits, “But I wanted a shot and I knew this was the best chance at it. I think living on my own and being independent has really helped me as a hockey player.” Other Interests Outside of hockey – Rooney lists building computers and playing video games as the two main activities he enjoys during his free time. “I play a lot of golf. It’s a good challenge and I can see improvements in my game from when I started – I just want to be good and find a way to break 80.” Rooney also loves to fish and enjoys going to his cottage once a year to just sit in a boat and catch big pike, “last year we caught a couple 3 footers. No one went swimming after that.” If He Doesn’t Make It In hockey “Erroneous!” Rooney proclaimed, “I am going to make it. After hockey – I am not sure. Maybe a coach – who knows. I love to play some hockey manager sims. But it is easy to say that now. I may not enjoy it when I try it. But I always want to try. I am a family guy – so maybe a stay at home dad. Get a sugar momma. Could be fun…” “I just love hockey. Everything about it.” Rooney said – for the 15th time and he would say it again many more times after that. Business Man Aside from playing hockey – Rooney credits an injury when he was 14 for the discovery of another passion. Photography and Filmmaking. “I was in a wheel chair for 6 months and I just wheeled around and took pictures of things and people. It was creepy – I thought. But people gave me money for the photos! So I make a little side money doing that now.” Nature vs Nurture A lot of Rooney’s old coaches and team-mates credit the youngsters demeanor to his up-bringing. “He doesn’t get phased by anything. Well, I mean – unless the kid goes home and cries himself to sleep silently every night. He always has the sense of been there – done that. So there is no panic.” Said an old coach, “You always remember the kids like that.” “Its fun to have lived in several places throughout my life. It is an interesting story. Not many of the guys I play with or who we play at the tournaments can say they didn’t get on-ice until they were 9 years old. But instead, grew up playing in an inline hockey league. With the games played on busted up old tennis court. Most of the injuries coming from hitting ruts in the court.” Rooney laughed and shook his head – “Its crazy to look back on it sometimes.” A Funny Story Roney shared a story with us of his playing days in Asia, “Its tough for kids to get the pronunciations of where they live correctly.” Hardly able to contain himself already, “So we had to put our addresses on the form and of course the address is whatever, whatever Chung Hum Kok. So, we hand in our forms and our coach comes out and takes us and my dad into the office – handing us a new form. Turns out my brother thought it was spelt ‘Chung Hum C-o-c-k’” *everyone laughing* “It’s the story that keeps on giving…” Rooney thanked us for the interview and shook our hands as he left. You could get the sense that he was proud of his past and that he had – “seen some shee.” As we will put it. If Rooney goes on to a productive career – you can be sure his up-bringing will be a huge part of that!

made up for the stinker I had the night before, haha

Liam Rooney opened up about his views on hockey in a recent radio show interview, "What is success? Is success subjective? Is success not what we choose success to be? Individually, in our thoughts? I just mean – I look at my first two games and I can say – “Hey, you did ok...I mean – you didn’t score. But you won a few face-offs. Played a responsible game. Good job.” But then you think, “The fans don’t want this…they want goal sirens. Tits and Dragons as Ian McShane would say.” The teen was clearly enjoying his time chatting with the radio host who had him do a number of fun tasks while on the air. "So – is success subjective? Is it possible for me to feel that someone is crap – while another sees them as the bees knees? What’s with that? Do you find it frustrating when you disagree with the popular opinion? Or is it freedom to feel this way?" The two shared a laugh after the monologue..."That was deep..." The radio host pronounced. Rooney was asked to play out a movie scene from a film recently viewed and he dropped an oldie.... “Oh, you’re still here? The show is over – go home.” Rooney will be hoping to twist and shout his way to greater successes in the coming games.

Liam Rooney Age: 16 6’0 - 220 lbs Burlington, Ontario Recruited Out Of: Mississauga Hockey League Its funny – the amount of times we see scouts look at this kids listed weight and laugh at how a fat kid could be generating this much interest. I too always used to laugh at the stories of Rod Brind’Amour when he was a Freshman at Michigan State. Legend goes that the coaching staff had to turn out the lights on him – when he kept working out in the pitch black – they padlocked the doors. This is Rooney…A man-child of sorts. “I don’t think we ever had to put any padlocks up for the kid.” Chuckled Rooney’s old coach, “He is just a kid who kind of acts older. He wants to work out. Eat right. Play responsible. He is a big kid – God forbid if he isn’t done growing *smiles and laughs*. I think I would bore you if I started talking about the things this kid has chosen to do at a young age. Its unique.” Rooney played his first two games with the Hounds and you could tell that his former coach really had a handle on the player Rooney is and the growth that will need to be seen in his game. The youngster went scoreless – but averaged in and around 50% in the faceoff circle and was a -1 in two 5-2 losses. He also had a couple of hits and blocked a shot or two. Not great numbers for a kid generating buzz. “We see it a lot with kids around his age – they hit a growth spurt and suddenly are 6’ and their skating suffers a little for it initially. They need to adapt. One of the things we saw with Rooney is that he grew and as a result he was a step behind in his skating.” Clearly Skating is going to be something that Rooney will have to work on in order to be successful. Despite these needed adjustments – the coach of Rooney’s junior team praised the prospects play, “He is a very responsible kid. He dedicates himself to doing the dirty work for his team. Always in position defensively. Works to drive possession by winning face-offs on a consistent basis. You can really play him in any situation.” Rooney's defensive game has been listed as the bread and butter of the prospects game. As well - face-offs are an area he has had a lot of success in his young career. The effect on a lost step for Rooney’s game? “Offensive numbers dipped a bit this season. The kid can pass and he is creative. We just felt that due to the adjustments needed to his skating. He struggled to generate offence as he was used to. It caused a lot of frustration for him. But I think he is ready to face those challenges at the next level.” Rooney will have to focus on developing the skills that will keep him relevant as he advances through his career. His offensive skills at the next level could be seen as under-developed. But scouts seem to feel he just needs time to put it all together. Shouldn’t we be concerned about these needed adjustments and a lack of scoring flair in an important developmental year? Rooney’s junior coach chuckled at the question, “You can be concerned….” Pointing around the room, “All you guys in the media and the experts can probably talk about concerns.” Confidently – he proclaimed, “As long as the desire and work ethic lasts. You are looking at a guy who has the potential to have the same impact as Uncle Rod had on the teams he played for. One of the best Two-way centers in the game.” Rooney has the desire and willingness to do what needs to be done to be successful as he progresses through his career. His work ethic is bound to push his success at every stage of his career. Rumor has it – on a press tour – Rod Brind’Amour agreed to stop by the junior teams dressing room. The burly center ran Rooney and his teammates through a grueling 60-minute practice. “Everyone was sick after..” Chuckled Rooney’s old coach, “After that practice – all the kids were on their phones. Looking up Rod’s highlights. All the kids were laughing – saying how much Rooney played like him. It was great - we will miss the kid.”

11

Any questions?

Done.

+4 Liam Rooney @elrune1988

What superstitions does your player have? I can;t say I am really superstitious. I don't like to talk during playoff games unless its on the ice trying to help my team. Have you spent much time around Mississauga, if so what do you think? I live in Mississauga - it is a beautiful City. What is the weirdest thing you have seen from our team off the ice? I have been around a day. We will see what happens as time goes on. What could be done to improve the locker room (ie. Discord or Forums)? I will report back. I think it would be wrong for a rookie to be too critical. Lets win- if we are winning. Who cares about the fluff. For new players it is the job of Gustav and myself to sell the team to get others to join, what would be your sales pitch? That we have a dedicated C for at least this season! Have you talked to anyone in the league outside of our team? A couple people. I look forward to more shit talk now that I am on a team!

Apologies, I cannot be too much of a help in this regard. Only having just joined the site this evening. But, I can tell you the Mississauga Hounds just got a lto more competitive. With two eager centers. Obviously it would be great to have the Great 8 on the team. Scoring goals is the name of the game and he is the best at it. Being a C - it would be awesome to be able to dish the puck off to an Ovechkin night-in-night-out. Not too much right now. I hope to learn a lot in practical game situations. Looking forward to seeing whats out there and who may draft me. Obviously - you want to be a winning team. But winning isn't always everything - I want to be sure that I get along with my team mates. Not even sure - Scott Stevens is one of my favorites. So maybe someone who can really bang out there. Defensive Dman. Or a two-way guy. Tough one - everyone loves the Islands. A team on a Bahamian island might be cool. Or somewhere in Asia. Bring it on!

Hey @TukTukTheGreat please quote this to confirm I recruited you!

Ryan plays in my EHM league and I followed him here!