VinCal

Am I up?

1. Maybe mixing up lines?
2. It’s never to early in my house.
3. I wouldn’t mind being a Captain. I have no problems sticking up for my mates on the ice and in the locker room
4. Tough question.  I think so far I’ve stepped up my game
5. Dont have one
6. Groovy Dood

Everything is going suspiciously well.....
 
Great sim by @VinCal though!

MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW 

YES SIR

Ok, I made them up above. Sorry for holding thigs up

Kyl Oferson F and Erik Killinger D

Sorry about that
Do I still have 1 more pick?

yay youre here.
@VinCal you can select 2 more

1. Where it's important to stay in touch, player do have busy lives outside the game.
2. a Movie
3. Like going on a 5 mile run in the morning.
4. London Knights
5. Football
6.  Wow bro, your reaching 

Let's go get some w's!!
 
 

Well let's get this shit going lads!
 
I'm proud to announce this team of underdogs, rudely spited and tossed to the side by their home countries.
But use that as fuel, as you've been selected to an elite squad of players, one that hopes to prove our mettle on the ice and dominate these other shmucks.
 
I present to you - the S74 Team Mercenaries!
 
C - Lewis Dawson - @Kendrick
LW - Markus Nygren - @Devise
RW - Guy Lesieur - @KC15
C - Vin Calia - @VinCal
C - Nate Telker - @Telkster
C - Pengu - @Pengu
 
D - Guy Sasakamoose - @Cxsquared
D - Hugh Jass - @TheFlash
D - Latrell Mitchell - @dasboot
D - Seabass Perrin - @Seabass
 
G - Jacques Lafontaine - @SlapshotDragon
G - Jimmy Spyro - @DarkSpyro
 
Despite us coming into this tournament as strong underdogs, I commit my time and energy to you all - to take down those teams that passed on you, and to prove that the Mercs are the team that truly embody the spirit of the World Cup. We have at least 1 player eligible from another team, making this one of the most united World Cup teams ever (don't fact check me on that, I like making bold claims with no evidence to support me). Anyways, I'm very proud to have all of these players and users on Team Mercs, and I'm excited to see what damage we can do in this tournament!
 
Welcome to the team!
Discord invite: https://discord.gg/KdNjwAC9
(Expires after a day, so if it doesn't work, just PM me on Forums or on Discord)
 

1.Tough, real tough but we have no choice to lace them up and get back at it.
2.Everyone is devastated. We’ll be alright.
3.Silience.
4. Binge watch an old MeTV show from 70’s and 80’s
5. Calia ?
6. Wake up bro, we can do good things 

1. I fear nobody in this league.
2. we'll be fine. Clinching it early might have been a bad thing.
3.  Its Moscow cause they brought me in and gave me the opportunity
4. The same
5. QB1 
6. not much thought. I'm fairly a young player still.

With 2 wins on Sunday, the Moscow Menace have clinched the 2nd Victory Cup as VHL regular season champions in franchise history, since then earning their 100th point of the season. With 4 games to go, the Menace have the chance to eclipse their S70 record of 50 wins and 105 points (with 49 and 100, respectively, at present).
 
"I stood in this very room 10 seasons ago and said that I hoped that if I made it to 10 seasons as GM of this franchise, it would be with at least one Continental Cup to our name," GM Victor Alfredsson said in his post-game press conference. "The boys delivered that championship in our 6th season and the fact we are now the playoff favourites again is truly unimaginable. I think this season is another credit to everyone working in this fantastic organisation."
 
"Before the real slog begins, I thought I'd extend my thanks to the core players who have contributed to a wonderful S74. I don't know if we're as good as we were in S70, but I know this is just the beginning of the journey and also that we should celebrate now before the real business begins.
 
"Nate Telker @Telkster, Oskar Lagesson @fever95, Raymond Bernard @Mr_Hatter - as we celebrated our first championship I said this was just the beginning for you. There was a rough patch afterwards but you stuck through with it, believed in the team cause and are now true leaders of the Moscow Menace and will go down as team legends.
 
"The class of S72 - @VinCal @Spartan @Da Trifecta @GrittyIsKing09 @okifenoki @twists ? - you've been great. It is no exaggeration to say your enthusiasm since joining Moscow has kept me in the job, both based on results and also mentally. I thought my race was run in S71 but this injection of youth has been superb and who knows what heights we can still reach. And yes I know Vin Calia is a S71 draftee but you joined in S72 so you're part of the club.
 
"And finally Mikko. @Beketov That little bit of stardust to elevate a young and promising squad and turn us into genuine cup contenders. I look forward to seeing where the rest of our journey takes us."
 
MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW

This afternoon in Moscow, The Menace stayed hot by getting by the Legion in a shoot out, by a score of 4-3. The win is Moscow's 11th in 12 games staying the hottest team in the league.
              Menace took an early 1-0 lead when Mikko Lahtinen scored his team leading 53rd assisted by Remy Moreau and Vladimir Pavlov. Toronto pulled even with a goal by Kristopher McDagg his 18th. 40 seconds later Vin Calia put Moscow back on top with his 34th, assisted by Oskar Lagesson and Nate Telker. Again, Toronto pulled even to end the period 2-2 with a goal by John Merrick.
              In the second period, Toronto took their first lead when Fredrik Elmebeck scored at 3:46. Once again Moscow answered back, on the power play, with Calia scoring his 35th of the season, this time from Lahtinen and Lucas Brandt.
             With a scoreless 3rd period, the game went to OT where both teams were both held scoreless again. In the shootout Menace were the only team to find the net with a Gino DiGiannantonio goal to give Moscow the 4-3 win. Raymond Bernard was the winning goalie stopping 21 of the 24 shots he faced.

After Telker's past season and a half or so on the first line, he has now moved to his more comfortable role on the second line. Telker is on Pace to beat his personal best season in points. Moscow's scoring has been lights out with 7 players on pace for 60+ points. Lahtinen could snag over 120 points, while Pavlov is on pace for over 100 points. "I haven't seen us this motivated and determined for a while, but there's a lot of excitement in the locker room not only for this season but the future ones as well" Telker commented. This will be his last full season as he plans to retire around the TDL next year. Telker has already committed to finishing out his career in Moscow by signing a 2 million dollar extension. Calia will lead the second line closely behind Lahtinen in what will continue to be a packed center core. "Calia has all the skills now to be one of better centers in the league, just a little bit of work on faceoffs gradually before I leave, and he can be an above PPG player." Said Telker.  
 
Players Mentioned @VinCal @Beketov @Victor

1. I’m not saying Victor needs one but with everyday life, it might be a good idea.
2.Hoist the Cup this season.
3. I think they are fitting right in and part of our success.
4.Last week was theme week? Ugh, I missed out on 6 TPE. That sucks.
5. The will to win.
6. I like the confidence he has, If he puts up they shut up and he can talk all he wants.

DC Home

DC Road

Intro
The Menace have made a big push to finally get over the hump into a legit cup contention team. After a lackluster start to the season of 10-8, Moscow flipped the switch into a higher setting not seen since the Jet and Gritty era. 14-4 in the second quarter will grab the attention of the league, as their isn't one team you can really put your finger on and say 'those guys should win the cup this year'. Each conference seems to have a triple threat of teams that have their eyes set for the cup. In the EU its Moscow, Malmo, and Riga, who have also been historically on top in the last 5-10 years or so. In the NA you have Vancouver, D.C., and Seattle. Lets dive into the stats and see why the Menace got to where they are now.
Forwards
Lahtinen is the name they've been chanting most in Moscow, and its no wonder, he's on pace for 120 points, and indefinitely leads the charge up front. On the second line it seems like 2 very similar players at different stages of their career have found a spark together. Those players are Telker and Calia, who have combined for 82 points in 74 games played between the 2 of them. With multi point nights almost always looking like a possibility for them, it almost seems Gritty and Telker esc. "Calia's story is very similar to mine, but ramp that up even 10 fold. There's almost no doubt in my mind that he will be the number 1 center in Moscow one day." said Telker. Newhook and Angellini are off to promising rookie campaigns with both players on pace for around 40 points, they may be near the back of the depth chart for now, but the potential on both of these young forwards could mean they are the part of the future core in Moscow. 
Defense
Pavlov may be old, I mean, like hanging out with your grandpa's younger brother old. But turn's out he can still produce well over a PPG in the VHL. Pavlov's scoring is on pace for around 115 points, which would shatter his previous season high of 74 points. Letang is slowly turning into a stud in his sophomore season with 39 points in just 37 games, while last season, he finished with 53 points total. Lagesson is trudging along just fine with a near PPG pace as this is probably the first time he finds himself in the core of a team with big chances at the cup. Stansson may be the #4 D man on Moscow, but he's also the youngest and in his rookie season. To get to a 30+ point season pace on a stacked defense as a rookie, only shows great signs of a core that can last on the backend, and that's exactly what Stansson can do in the future. 
Goalies
Well if anyone were to pull a locker prank about 18 games ago on Bernard, he'd probably have your head cooked in the oven with an apple in your mouth. But now, Bernard is feeling much better about the team and his gameplay. His SV% sat below .900 at times, right around the 15-20 game mark. Now Bernard now sits at a comfortable .914. This means he would have had to be playing .930+ average hockey in the last 15 games or so, which is an incredible stretch of play to come back so big for. 
 
This was a fun one to write, and it looks like Moscow is back on the cup track! All players mentioned @GrittyIsKing09 @VinCal @Beketov @okifenoki @ahockeyguy @Spartan @fever95 @Victor @Mr_Hatter
 
MOSCOW MOSCOW MOSCOW!!!
 

1.Definitely. Lines are clicking now and we are ready for a run.
2.Broccoli?
3.26
4.I had confidence before we beat them
5.Thanks for the invite.
6.I think we’re ready!

In a Saturday matinee the  Menace skated by the visiting Titans by a score of 5-3. Moscow did most of their damage early on with a 3 goal first period and out shooting Helsinki 18-2 in those first 20 minutes. Vin Calia scored his 5th from Nate Telker and Gino  DiGiannantonio to take the 1-0 lead. 90 seconds later Cole Newhook banged home his 2nd of the season, assisted by Pietro Angellini and Alex Letang, on the power play. Calia scored his 2nd of the game and 6th of the season, 2 minutes later to put Moscow ahead 3-0. Telker assisted on that goal as well. Later in the period the Titans Eric Summers cut into the lead with his 5th goal.
                                Halfway through the 2nd period, Helsinki scored to get it to 3-2, before DiGiannantonio and Calia set up Nate Telker for his 7th goal to  put Menace up 4-2.
                                 Remy Moreau put this game out of reach with his first  of the season from Mikko Lahtinen and Lucas Brandt. Ten seconds later Erik Draven brought Helsinki to 5-3 but it wasn't enough as Moscow held on for the win. Raymond Bernard stopped 17 of the 20 shots he faced for the win.

In a Saturday matinee the  Menace skated by the visiting Titans by a score of 5-3. Moscow did most of their damage early on with a 3 goal first period and out shooting Helsinki 18-2 in those first 20 minutes. Vin Calia scored his 5th from Nate Telker and Gino  DiGiannantonio to take the 1-0 lead. 90 seconds later Cole Newhook banged home his 2nd of the season, assisted by Pietro Angellini and Alex Letang, on the power play. Calia scored his 2nd of the game and 6th of the season, 2 minutes later to put Moscow ahead 3-0. Telker assisted on that goal as well. Later in the period the Titans Eric Summers cut into the lead with his 5th goal.
                                Halfway through the 2nd period, Helsinki scored to get it to 3-2, before DiGiannantonio and Calia set up Nate Telker for his 7th goal to  put Menace up 4-2.
                                 Remy Moreau put this game out of reach with his first  of the season from Mikko Lahtinen and Lucas Brandt. Ten seconds later Erik Draven brought Helsinki to 5-3 but it wasn't enough as Moscow held on for the win. Raymond Bernard stopped 17 of the 20 shots he faced for the win.