Mason

1. As the regular season wraps up, what are your hopes for LVA come playoff time? The only thing to hope for is winning it all. We're not the favorites but with a young team that's been working hard all season to develop, no one can rule us out. I think we've got a real shot at making some waves. 2. Who do you think will win the VHL playoffs this year? I'll be honest, I really haven't been following the VHL this season. I'm totally focused on the VHLM, but I think by the time my call up to the VHL comes I'll be following the league a lot more closely. 3. Have you ever been to a casino IRL? If not do not let this question sway you into going. I went to the casino nearest to my school a few times last year with a big group, enjoyed it but not a place I want to make a habit of going to. 4. Be honest with me, since joining LVA have you turned into a gambling addict? Well I wasn't far off anyway so it's maybe accelerated the process a little bit? 5. Most likely our first round in the playoffs will be against MIN, do you have any trash talk for them you'd like to share? I don't really need to trash talk the players there, they already live in Minnesota so shit's tough enough for them as it is. 6. Who wears the pants in the relationship, @Spartan or @fishy? Definitely Fishy, not even worth asking as a question.

After joining the team mid season, Gabriel Akerstrom has worked hard this season to establish himself as a player of value for the Las Vegas Aces. It hasn't been the easiest run the whole time, but with little time left in the season he's proud of what he's been able to achieve. Racking up 5 goals and 47 assists in the 60 games that he's played this season, he's been an important part of an Aces offense that has surprised many people with the level of success that it's been able to obtain. In addition to the offensive contribution that he's been able to make, Gabriel has been incredibly solid in his own zone, currently leading the team in shots blocked and +/-. For a defenseman who places a large focus on his offensive prowess, these are both huge achievements and ones that he's certainly very proud of. Gabriel's personality however does not allow for anything besides success when it comes to competing, so if all of this success comes to mean little in the long run, he's going to be incredibly disappointed. The playoffs are where champions are made, and that's precisely were Gabriel's focus is right now, and he's planning on making an even bigger contribution there than he did during the regular season. (215 words)

Western Conference Focus: San Diego Marlins Last week I wrote a media spot in which I set out to take a bit of an individual look at some of the teams that make up the western conference of the VHLM and the way in which they've performed this season. With this in mind, I thought it even more interesting given how close we are to the start of the postseason. This time around, the focus will be on the team that stands closest in the standings to the league leading Houston Bulls with an impressive 102 points. The Marlins will certainly not be ruling out their ability to challenge Houston in the playoffs and make a run at the Founders Cup, so lets take a look at what it is that they've been able to do this season to get themselves into such a strong position at the end of the regular season. It's fair to say that a lot of San Diego's success can be traced back to one player; star forward Pietro Angellini. The third season player is having his first run with the Marlins this season, but has put up some astounding numbers and really helped push his team forward to a higher level of success. Currently sitting with 121 points and 45 goals accumulated in the 70 games that he's played. The fact that Angellini currently has almost 16 points more than the next best scorer on his team really speaks to the value that he's added to the team and the level of individual success that he's been able to achieve. A lot of the team's hopes and expectations going into the playoffs will rest on his shoulders, and it'll be interesting to see the way in which he's able to deal with that level of expectation when it all comes down to it and everything is on the line. The Marlins have also had a very strong showing this season from the man in net. Doug Dimmadome currently sports a 50-18-2 record with a 0.896% save percentage (good for third in the league), 2.27 GAA and 9 shutouts. This easily ranks him among the top 3 goaltenders in the league and has certainly been a big factor in the level of success that the team has been able to achieve. Dimmadome will need to keep this momentum going into the postseason as there will be some big games for the Marlins to come, and I'm sure they'll be looking to their goaltender to help lead them through their opponents. Finally, the Marlins have also been able to rely on some strong secondary scoring from some of their other big names. John Merrick has also broken the 100 point mark this season and has given a very good account of himself, and additionally, their star defenseman Lucifer Olivier Leveque has been an offensive dynamo and has really helped elevate the team to the level that we've seen them perform at. I'm personally very interested to see the way that their playoff series play out. They may not be the top team in the standings, but I believe that there'll be a lot of expectation on them to beat out Houston and make it to the cup finals; I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the way that this one plays out! (549 words)

1. What has been your favorite memory from your player or in the LVA locker room this season so far? Favorite memory is probably just the good vibes when we win games, it's been good to share some success as a group and it's really helped to bring the team closer together. 2. Sorry I haven't been around as much the last couple weeks, work has been hectic. Do you have anything you'd like to ask me, or is there anything I can help you with? Nah man, it's all good. Things are ticking over fine with the team and my player I think, nothing to worry about at my end. 3. As a bad ass VHLMer how's your game with the ladies or men? It's like my game on the ice, always improving and always needing work. Can never get too comfortable or start taking things too easy. 4. The team has been struggling a little as of late. What's your crazy idea that could help us move up in the standings? Man, I don't know. It's tough to say, there's been a lot going right this season too so a bad stretch was always going to happen at some point. Maybe mixing up the lines, but idk, we're still in a good spot so no need to panic. 5. Ketchup or poutine on fries? Poutine is goated, anyone choosing ketchup is silly. 6. What's your favorite video game to play in your spare time? I'm always a big 2K player, but I've just started playing Red Dead Redemption 2 again which is a lot of fun also.

Western Conference Focus: Houston Bulls With not much time remaining in the VHLM regular season, it's inevitable that the attention of the league in general turns to what lies ahead in this season's playoffs. Both conferences are looking strong, but it's probably fair to say that the west currently has more intriguing matchups to offer, with there being 4 teams sporting good records as we move toward the 60 game mark. Houston, San Diego, Las Vegas and Saskatoon have all been able to give good accounts of themselves so far, and I for one am quite interested to look at the threat that each of these teams could potentially pose when we move onto the postseason. But currently, one team stands above them all, and the Houston Bulls look scary for all opponents at this stage. With that in mind, I'm going to give a run down of the team that is sat at the top of the Western Conference, give my opinion on what the stats say they've done well and how far I think they could go when it's all on the line. The Bulls are the clear leaders in the west, sporting a 42-10-1 record at the time of writing, and having a clear hold on the top seed in the conference. They've been lead by some strong performances from a wide range of players, including defenseman Riley Knight Gee who has put up an incredible 112 points to lead the entire team in scoring. This heroic contribution has definitely been a big factor in why the Bulls have done so well, with Gee currently scoring more than 26 points more than the team's most successful forward. I'm personally not sure how long this pace can last, and it'll be interesting to see the level of performance that Gee is able to deliver in the playoffs, but even so, the supporting cast around them certainly suggests that they have the depth to win with, even if Riley ends up being slightly off their game. Gee's MVP level season has certainly been important, but 8 players at a point per game pace is certainly nothing to sniff at. I'm also interested to see whether the play of goaltender Drew Minott is able to be enough during the postseason. Minott has been what you'd call "good enough" during the regular season, racking up a ton of wins but lacking behind when it comes to save percentage, sitting at 10th in the league, and with a goals against average that really isn't that impressive considering the level of support he has around him. I'm a firm believer that you go as far in the playoffs as your goalie lets you, so seeing what Minott is able to do for his team will be really interesting. The Bulls are a team primed for success this season, and they have a very strong chance of going all the way. It's going to be interesting seeing what they're able to do once the regular season wraps up, and how far that high level of talent is able to take them. (517 words)

Mentally Ready For a young hockey player like Gabriel Akerstrom, there's a lot that needs to be done in order to build up the mental fortitude required to be a success in the playoffs. Currently, Gabriel and his team, the Las Vegas Aces face a tough grind to get through the postseason and make their way toward a Founders Cup, as they enter as the third seeded team in the Western Conference. Gabriel has already spent a lot of time preparing himself for the challenge ahead, taking a great deal of time to focus on the opponents that he's going to face, meticulously watching game tape and learning everything about them that he can, and working on coming up with counter strategies to the moves that he's likely to see from them if the Aces are matched up against them. A lot of his attention has also been devoted to techniques including visualisation and meditation to boost his mental wellbeing and enable him to use his mental strength as a weapon when faced with tough situations. There's a long road ahead for Gabriel, but being able to get himself off to the best start possible by becoming a clutch performer in his first trip to the playoffs will be a huge moral victory for him and should set him up well going forward. (221 words)

Vegas Standing Strong The Las Vegas Aces have been one of the stories of the season for the VHLM as we move past the mid point of S73. The team currently sits in 4th place in the league, holding a 27-8-4 record. Providing them with 58 points, which is good enough to tie the San Diego Marlins, but the team's superior goal differential is good enough to put them higher. Perhaps the most important reason that Vegas has seen the level of success that they have this season has been their ability to acquire high level free agent talent to supplement their roster. They've been able to enhance the roster far beyond what they had to work with at the start of the season, which has meant that they've been able to see the kind of improvement week after week that's put them into the top spots in the league. The Aces entered the season as a team that not many people would have expected much of, but they could well go on to be a real threat by the time the playoffs come around. If their young core continues to develop in the way that they have so far, then it's going to be a very fun second half of the season in Vegas. (215 words)

I'll take Kallis Kriketers if that's cool?

Gabriel Akerstrom: Prospect Scouting Report Now that we've had the chance to watch Gabriel Akerstrom play in the VHLM for a couple of weeks, we're in a place where we can start forming some opinions on what it is about his game that stand out, and what he could potentially develop into at the VHL level in seasons to come. Gabriel signed with the Las Vegas Aces midseason, and since then he's certainly been able to turn some heads. A defenseman who can really quarterback a powerplay, Gabriel has shown a strong ability when it comes to moving the puck, finding open teammates and creating goalscoring opportunities. He's been able to tally 15 assists in the 14 games that he's played so far in the season, creating a lot of opportunities and really helping his team to get goals. His ability to drive offense and create chances will certainly be a big attraction for VHL GMs down the line. Add to that the fact that he's a very strong skater; Gabriel's ability to move with the puck and get past opponents is something that needs to be appreciated. He possesses good foot speed, and the way that he's able to move past those around him will certainly be something that scouts will like the look of. It's a skill that aids both his offensive and defensive game, and so expect to see this as one of the main attractions for Gabriel when it comes to evaluating how his game will translate to the VHL level. He is also stronger than you may think given the fact he's not actually that well built, and the ability to play the game in the gritty areas is something that has shone through so far this season. This isn't to say that there aren't areas in which the improvement that needs to be made is clear. Gabriel's physical play so far has not been at the level that you'd like to see, and teams would really like for him to be more of a checking presence than we've seen so far. He will also need to learn to rack up the shot blocks a little more than he has to date, although it should be stressed that there's time to work on all of this. The play that we've seen from Akerstrom during his time with the Aces so far has given glimpses into what his future may hold, and there's certainly a lot to be excited about. He clearly has the potential to develop into an effective player at the VHL level, and if he can deliver on this then he could prove to be a thorn in the side of the teams that aren't able to acquire him. (451 words)

1. Spartan surprised us with a bunch of new recruits for this season via free agency. How do you think this will benefit our team? Personal bias aside as one of the players, I'm hoping that the free agent pick ups can be big adds for the team. There's a lot of potential for us as a group to really help the team and I hope that is the case. 2. Would you rather give @fonziGG more hits or let Vegas win more games? (this is a tough one I know) Why not both? The more hits he can get, the better chance we have of winning some games right? If I had to choose one, it'd be tough but I'd probably go with the wins. 3. What is your favorite activity to do outside of hockey? Good question. The answer was a lot more varied pre-Covid, but these days I enjoy gaming and hanging out with friends at a socially responsible distance. 4. Do you think we should be higher or lower in the standings, or are we just right? Being a late addition to the team, I haven't looked too much at how we're doing in the standings relative to our TPE or level of play. Now that we've made some additions to the squad, I think our current standing is probably a little bit low given what our team is capable of. 5. Do you know what a pierogi is, and if not why have you never eaten this delicious polish delicacy? I love pierogi, anyone who hasn't tried them is missing out 6. The Aces are tied in the 3rd period with 30 seconds on the clock. You managed to get a breakaway, what is your go-to dangle to win the game? Can't go wrong with the old fashioned toe drag for me

When a new player arrives on a team, there's always some curiosity on exactly what they'll be able to achieve in their inaugural outing. This is no different for Gabriel Akerstrom, the latest acquisition by the VHLM's Las Vegas Aces. Gabriel has been brought in to shore up the Aces' defensive core, and although will likely not be a top pairing player, especially straight out of the gate, it's likely that he'll have a good amount of responsibility and expectation on his shoulders when it comes to what he's able to do this season. Predicting his numbers proves a little difficult, as we haven't really had the opportunity to watch him play out on the ice yet, but based on what we know about him and his current TPE level, I don't think it would be extreme to predict him achieving somewhere around 30 points through the rest of the season. I also think the biggest bonus an addition like him will bring is the ability to solidify the Aces' chances at making the playoffs. There's a lot that he is able to bring to a team environment, and there's a good chance his ability to help make those around him better could be good enough to help them to sneak through. For now, who knows what we'll see in terms of this season, but it's set to be a first run out for Gabriel in the VHLM. (238 words)

Out West: Akerström Joins Las Vegas On the day that Gabriel Akerström declared for the S74 VHL Entry Draft last week, there was immediately a surge of interest from teams interested in acquiring him and adding him to their VHLM rosters. It lead to a lot of discussion between Gabriel and his family, as they needed to sit back and evaluate a number of factors, the biggest of which was the opportunity the team would give him to develop and grow as a player in the season to come. Gabriel took a lot of factors into consideration, including the playing time that the teams would be able to offer him this season, the coaching staff and management group of each team, and perhaps most importantly, each team's culture and attitude toward winning. Gabriel sees a great deal of value in playing for a team that is focused on winning and developing great players to play at the VHL level, and that was perhaps the most important factor he considered in making his decision regarding which VHLM team to sign with for the upcoming season. With that in mind, the clear winner out of the teams that he received an offer from was the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces made a great impression on Gabriel, being able to outline exactly what it was they could offer him this season in terms of role on the team and guidance through the league setup. The Aces had a spot on their second defensive pairing which Gabriel would be able to step into, and although there had been offers from other teams that would have allowed for him to play on their first pairing, the other aspects of the offer were what sealed the deal for Gabriel, primarily, the opportunity to play as part of a more competitive squad, and the team being one that was not far removed from enjoying recent success. As someone with ambitions to win in the VHL, it meant a great deal for Gabriel to be able to go to a team with a winning culture, and he's excited to be able to take the time to learn from those around the team who've enjoyed some level of success in recent years. With not much turnaround between him signing his contract with the team and him playing his first games for them, Gabriel has a lot of learning and adjusting to do in a short space of time. He's hopeful that he is capable of adapting to the learning curve quickly, and we'll hopefully see some solid play from the youngster in his first couple of games with the team. There has been some talk that a big factor was being able to play in the city of Las Vegas. For a kid who's spent all of his life so far living in a small town in Sweden, the bright lights of the City of Sin will surely be an alluring prospect, but he'll need to remind himself that the reason he's making his way to Vegas is to play hockey, not to gamble. It's going to be an interesting first season in the league for Gabriel, and he's excited to get started with his new team and make an impact on the ice. (545 words)

1. This week marks the start of the VHLM season, who would you like to be your linemates? I’m not really familiar enough with the guys on the team yet to say who I’d like to share a line with. At this point, happy to play alongside whoever the team wants me to. 2. On a weirdness scale where would you rate your GM @Spartan from 1 to 10? I’m giving him a 1. He seems like a normal guy and I’ve got no reason to think he’s at all weird (yet). 3. How have you adjusted to life now living in Las Vegas? Having just moved here I’ve not got to check much out yet. I’m looking forward to hitting the strip and wasting some of my contract money soon tho. 4. What is your definition of "winning" when it comes to hockey and the VHLM? I think winning’s just all about getting the cup here. There’s obviously a lot of development opportunities in the minor league to be a part of a team that plays as a cohesive unit and has a good team environment which is important too. 5. What is your hot take for this VHLM season? My hot take for the season is that Las Vegas wins it all. You’ll see us in the finals series getting it done, check it out. 6. There's 2 minutes left in a hockey game and you're the top line center. You know you're probably going to have to play about 1:30 of that 2 minutes, but you have to take a dump really really bad. What's the move? Shitting comes before everything man. I’m leaving the ice there and then, no chance I’m shitting my pants in front of an arena full of people

Thanks to everyone else who sent an offer, but think I'm going to go with Vegas on this one. down to get lucky!

I remember being 13 and stealing a 6 pack of beers from my brother to share out between me and two friends. Think I got through one of them before I started violently spewing, great memories

Gabriel Akerström - Junior Review A new recruit to the VHLM, defenseman Gabriel Akerström's journey in the hockey world began back in the town of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. Gabriel was the son of a hockey obsessed father, who worked as an assistant coach at the famous Modo Hockey program, which had produced some of the greatest hockey players to ever come from Sweden. Gabriel's father would make sure that his son was on the ice every day from the minute that he became old enough to skate, and it wasn't long before Gabriel became as in love with the sport as his father was. He would spend the years up until his tenth birthday, when he would finally be able to enter the Modo junior program living and breathing hockey, finishing school and heading straight to the rink to play with his dad or his friends, and watching hockey games on TV in the evenings. On the day he turned ten, Gabriel's father arranged for him to have a try out with the Modo junior coaches. This was an exciting opportunity, as Modo had brought some of the finest talents in all of the game to where they are today, and it was terribly exciting for Gabriel to potentially be a part of the organisation his father loved and worked for. Unfortunately, the try out didn't go well. The pressure got to young Gabriel, and he was not offered a place. This was heartbreaking for the youngster, and he felt like his dream had been snatched away from him. With his father's help however, he refused to give up just yet. His father called in a favour and got him a trial with Örnsköldsviks HF. A less prestigious team, they still had a good junior program and would enable Gabriel to develop well. This try out fortunately turned out a lot better, and he was able to get through and earn a spot on his age group team. Gabriel spent the next couple of years learning and developing, keeping up his rigorous work ethic and making sure his game was always improving. By the time he turned 13 he had really started to stand out as one of the best young players in the country, and was offered another try out for Modo Hockey. This one turned out a little better, and he was able to earn his spot on the program. Three years of developing under the best coaches in the country, and here he is; ready to take on the VHLM and all it has to offer. (424 words)

$15 donated. Transaction ID is 4FY41142AE331062C Claiming Free Week (12 TPE Capped) 5 TPE Uncapped Doubles Week

Hello everyone, and thanks for taking a look at my journal. I'm going to use this platform each week to note my thoughts about my time in the league and try and let you all into the experience that I'm having in the league. The first edition will focus on my initial thoughts about joining the league. "Signing my entry form into the VHLM and looking at the list of available teams was a scary moment. For someone my age to make their mind up to move all the way from Sweden to play sport in North America like this was not a move to take lightly, but it has made me very excited for what the future holds. The sense of excitement as I looked at the name of the team with which my journey into the VHL would begin was an amazing feel, and the sense of anticipation of what's to come was very real. I'd like to thank my friends and family for helping me to get to the position where this is a possibility; without you I wouldn't be able to have any opportunities like this, and when I make my way to the VHLM, I'm determined not to let you down. Each game I play is for you and I can't wait to share this journey together!" (222 words)

A young Swedish defenseman has made his way to the VHLM, determined to achieve a dream that he's had since he was a young child of playing professional hockey. Gabriel Akerström has been a student of the game for a long time, playing alongside some of the best young talent in Sweden since a young age and hoping to learn everything he can. He isn't the biggest player on the ice, but his style of play is very suited to make the most out of what he has. A mobile player who likes skating with the puck and who has a good eye for setting up his teammates, Akerström's puck handling skills are good enough to get the job done and make some offense happen from the point. But with this in mind, what is it that brings Akerström to the VHL out of all the hockey leagues out there? Well for him, it's the global element of the league that makes it so attractive. While some leagues such as the NHL are bigger and more successful, the ability to play in a league that spans the globe and features teams in so many different countries holds a lot of appeal for a player who wasn't born and raised in North America. The focus the VHL allows for a more European style of a play that is what Gabriel has been used to so far would mean that there's less of a transition and change required to what he knows, and that will allow him to spend his time more on developing his abilities. The first question that will need to be answered is where Gabriel will begin his career, playing in the VHLM. When it comes to the VHLM, there is no preference of team for Gabriel. He has never been to North America before and so has no affiliation for any of the teams or places in the league. He's totally open to playing for whichever team decides that they would like to add him to their roster for the season to come. He would be extremely grateful for any opportunity that he's offered, and he's looking forward to potentially getting the opportunity to find a new place in the world to explore and play the sport he loves in. Gabriel will need to spend a lot of time working on his game to get to where he wants to go, but he's hopeful that he has the potential to achieve his goals and make a successful career in the VHL. He's hoping to become a contributing member of a team unit, both on and off the ice. If any teams in the VHLM are looking for a defenseman to bolster their roster for this season and many more to come, then they could definitely do a lot worse than adding an eager young player like Gabriel to their ranks. It's going to be interesting to follow over the next few days how the story develops and to see where we eventually see Gabriel end up! (508 words)

Player Information Username: Mason3000 Player Name: Gabriel Akerstrom Recruited From: Reddit Age: 17 Position: D Height: 71 in. Weight: 201 lbs. Birthplace: Sweden Player Page @VHLM GM