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Marauders In Crucial Stretch For Playoff Push At season's halfway point, time for moral victories has passed The Miami Marauders are currently sitting 11 points back of the Philadelphia Reapers for the final playoff spot in the VHLM Eastern Conference, a significant gap to make up as we cross the halfway point of the season, but the team feels it has been playing better lately and is hoping their play starts to translate into wins soon. They've played a few close, one-goal games against top VHLM teams in Saskatoon and Mississauga as of late, but have not quite been able to seal the deal. Currently in the midst of a 14-game stretch where they manage to avoid the top half of the VHLM, it's now or never for the Marauders if they are going to make a playoff push. The team has recently seen an influx of new talent, having added Addison McLaren, Sheldon Juniper, Wooshi Cat, Cabe McJake, and Mie Dickinson in the last week. "It's definitely a good group of new players and so far we are excited about the direction of the team, about making a playoff push and putting into the work to improve. I've enjoyed the locker room atmosphere so far and the other new guys coming in are making an impression too, so I think we're going in the right direction," says McLaren. For his part, McLaren has 2 goals and 5 points so far, to go along with 16 PIM through 10 games. His trademark physicality has come with him too, as he's dished out 37 hits. "There's a bit of a transition period any time you get into a new league, for sure, and I would say my offense hasn't quite been where I want it to be, but I think I've been able to contribute to the team in other ways and hopefully the offense will come."

1. It's been crazy how many new players have signed up for the VHL are are looking for a VHLM team. Cabe McJake has been putting in some good work and we've seen a few other new players around the locker room which is great to see! I think we've got some good new players that can definitely help the playoff push here. 2. I plan to do everything I can. I'll be at practice every week and putting in the maximum amount of work I can to earn TPE (hit the 12 cap every week). I'm looking for other opportunities to earn TPE where I can too. 3. It's going to be tough but we're in a good spot in our schedule right now, we have some good new additions, and I'm committed to putting in the work and doing what I can to get us there. Hopefully we can go on a bit of a run. 4. I don't think we need to. We have a group where we can try to make a playoff push and it wouldn't make sense to sacrifice futures for an addition as competing with the elite VHLM teams is unrealistic this year, but I think keeping the group we have in place to give us a chance to fight for the playoff spot is good. 5. I'm a Jets fan. When the Jets left Winnipeg I became a Canucks fan because the Moose had sent so many players up there and they were doing really well, so I still have a bit of a soft spot for them when the Jets are out. 6. Chicago. I don't much like Toronto, Boston, LA, or Vegas either, but despise? The team I hate with an absolute passion is Chicago.

This seems like the kind of thing I'd enjoy doing, can I take Smitty?

McLaren Makes Decision, Signs With Marauders VHLM prospect joined new team late last night, expected to make debut today For the first time in his hockey career, Addison McLaren is leaving the state of Minnesota to play. The Minnesota Storm were one of several VHLM teams who expressed interest in signing the 19-year-old winger, and given McLaren stayed in-state to play high school hockey instead of going the USHL or USNTDP route earlier in his career, and then committed to play college hockey with the Golden Gophers, it was widely expected that they would be his landing spot. McLaren, however, has opted to spend the next season of his career in Florida, signing with the Miami Marauders. "It was not an easy decision for me - there was a lot of interest from VHLM teams and they all made good pitches and they all would've made great homes for the rest of S74, I think," says McLaren. "And it was especially tough for me to choose to leave Minnesota - this is my home." "This is a chance to spend a little more than half a season learning the ropes of the VHL system and to me that was the priority ahead of jumping into a situation where I'd get a lot of ice time or jumping onto a top team in the middle of a season. And I really appreciated the interest and helpfulness shown by Miami and also the experience in the organization." Spending four years at Eden Prairie High School, McLaren established himself as a notable prospect in the hockey world by compiling 71 goals and 40 assists for 111 points in 74 games, though he also picked up 199 penalty minutes. He missed significant time as a sophomore with an ACL injury suffered with the football team, before returning and dedicating himself exclusively to hockey. After returning, McLaren thrived in his junior and senior years to become one of the best high school hockey players in the country. But questions about his size, durability, and the fact that he hadn't played at any level above high school nagged scouts, preventing him from becoming a true marquee prospect. When he turned some heads late in his first season with the Golden Gophers, though, the VHL came calling. Although still a bit of an unknown in VHL circles, McLaren's work ethic early on has impressed teams - including the GM of his new squad. "What I like about McLaren so far is that he doesn't seem to be afraid of hard work," Marauders GM Ricer told media when discussing the signing. "Even before joining a VHLM team he had already been training to improve his player. Who wouldn't want someone like that on their roster?" 26 games into S74, the Marauders are 8-18-0 and sit ten points out of the playoffs. There is some hope, however, that they can battle up into a playoff spot as the year goes on lead by S74's 30th overall pick, defenseman Eoin Byrne, and potential top S75 prospects, goaltender Rara Rasputin and defenseman Chicken Wing (ranked 17th and 13th, respectively, in the most recently-published VHCS rankings). McLaren will join a forward group that has some potential, though perhaps not any standouts like those three - but if he can acclimatize quickly to the VHLM, he could provide a spark that helps the Marauders go on a bit of a run as the season goes on. "McLaren is going to fill a role on the wing here in Miami, a position we are lacking in depth. He's going to get every chance to succeed and I am hoping that the energy he puts into training will run off on some of his other teammates," says Ricer. McLaren is expected to make his debut with the Marauders later today. "I'm really looking forward to getting down to Florida and getting to work," said McLaren. "Playing professional hockey is my dream, to be one step closer now, it's amazing. I'm so excited to meet my teammates, to get into some games, and hopefully to help this team move up in the standings." 664 words, claiming this week only

1) I think there is a bit of a gap in the standings that we'll have to make up so making the playoffs will definitely be a challenge. But as a new player coming in I'm determined to do my best to provide a spark and hoping we can put together a solid rest of the season and sneak in! 2) In my short time here I think the GM is doing a great job. I was impressed with the team's pitch and helpfulness, which was a big factor in my decision to sign here. I think he's just got to keep doing what he's doing and the team has a bright future! 3) I love the Marauders' logo. I'm a fan of the Aces and Reapers as well, but I think ours is awesome. I don't really know why - just think it looks pretty cool. 4) Blob is a solid VHLM defenseman but it is obvious that Miami needs to focus on the future ahead of the current season, so it's definitely a move that makes sense for the team. 5) For me, nothing beats chicken parmesan on game day. 6) Little cliché but I have to go with Christmas here.

Thank you! 1) I've just signed with Miami so I haven't played yet, but I'm excited to play in my first games! Hopefully I can provide a spark to help them move up the standings a bit. 2) I'm a small but hyper-competitive player, love to score goals, not afraid of the dirty areas or to stand up for teammates. A fast, physical, goal scoring forward who won't back down. 3) I think I share a lot of strengths and weaknesses with a player like Evander Kane, as far as current NHLers go. I try to model my game after Theoren Fleury, who really blazed a trail for players around my size, so if we're going all time NHLers, that would be my comparison. 4) There's a lot to learn so I've been reading up a lot on how things work, reading some build guides, some stuff on what the ratings do, how to earn max TPE. Honestly, everything looks really good so far. The integration with the site is awesome, people seem eager to help, the amount of history available is really cool. I'm definitely looking forward to it. 5) I'm drawn to the history of some of the original teams, and if I had to say anything right now, maybe the Toronto Legion or Riga Reign. But truth be told, I'd be happy with wherever I'm drafted and will look forward to helping whatever team that may be become a winner.

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Thanks everyone for all the interest in signing my player. I did consider the offers from everyone here and looked into every team. Ultimately I narrowed it down to three... Mississauga, Minnesota, and Miami... and I have decided to sign with Miami. Looking forward to getting into my first games!

It was nothing more than a footnote in sports news yesterday night when 19-year-old Addison McLaren announced on his social media accounts an intention to leave the University of Minnesota and join a VHLM team in preparation for the VHL Entry Draft, but our scouts think this player could be a sneakily good addition and late riser in the S75 draft class. Born in Minneapolis, McLaren was a two-sport athlete until high school - an active, athletic kid that fell in love at an early age with both hockey and football. His natural talent and athleticism was apparent early on, but unfortunately, genetics were not on his side. McLaren was always very small - even today he's just 5'7, 155 - small for a hockey player, and even smaller for a football player. McLaren went to Eden Prairie High School to play both hockey and football, but didn't make the football team as a freshman. He enjoyed a third-line role on the hockey team and established a reputation as a good skater, talented goal-scorer, and hard-working feisty forward. He played much bigger than his size, but this occasionally lead to injury issues, and he also developed a reputation for nasty stickwork as he struggled to defend himself against much bigger competition. He played in 24 games, scoring 8 goals and 14 points, but also compiling 71 penalty minutes. As a sophomore, McLaren did make the Eden Prairie football team as a wide receiver. His dazzling speed and good hands made him a dangerous weapon on both offense and special teams. Four games into his high school football career, it looked like that may be his sport after all. McLaren had touchdowns of 40+ yards in each of his first four games; one receiving, one rushing, and two on kick returns. On the opening kickoff of his fifth game, McLaren was hit low on his way out of bounds after a 47-yard return and felt his knee pop. It was a catastrophic injury that kept him out the remainder of football season, and also the vast majority of the hockey season. Working hard to rehab his injury, McLaren managed to get back into game shape for the last two weeks of the hockey season, and he opted to end his football career there and focus on hockey for his final two years of high school. He got back in time to play in 4 games, scoring 3 goals. Finally, it was his turn to catch a break, and when Eden Prairie's senior left winger was injured early in the 2017-18 season, McLaren was bumped up to the top line, where he immediately exploded. In the season's final 14 games, he scored 21 goals and 30 points, ending the year with totals of 25 goals, 39 points, and 62 PIM in 21 games. Then, in his senior year, McLaren was a finalist for Minnesota High School Player of the Year, while earning attention from many high-ranking NCAA programs and leading Eden Prairie to a State Championship. He lead the state with 35 goals and finished with 55 points in 25 games. McLaren takes the puck to the net playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. McLaren committed to the University of Minnesota after graduating. After starting with a small role and producing 5 goals and 8 points in his first 20 games, McLaren worked his way into a second-line role late in the season and doubled his production, with 6 more goals and 8 more points, in the final 11. Poised to move into a full-time top-six role for the 2020-21 season, McLaren started hearing the whispers of interest from the Victory Hockey League. Shortly thereafter, he announced that it was his intention to pursue a VHL career. McLaren's strengths are obvious when you watch him play: he's athletically gifted and a good skater who possesses a lethal wrist shot and loves to use it. He's physical, feisty for his size and will not hesitate to stick up for his teammates. He's also a surprisingly good two-way player for his size. He has a high hockey IQ and knows how to get to scoring areas and find open space. On the downside, McLaren can sometimes get tunnel vision and not use his linemates as well as he should. He has a bit of a reputation for dirty stickwork and crossing the line with his physical play, and tends to rack up high penalty minute totals, and while he is more than willing to engage in the physical side of the game, he can be muscled off the puck easily by bigger, stronger defenders. He has battled nagging injuries during his career, though he hasn't had any serious ones since tearing his ACL playing football in high school. According to reports, McLaren has already been reached out to by several VHLM teams, and he plans to carefully consider his options and make a decision in the coming days.

Well, it seems player press conferences aren't super popular with how easy it is to answer 6 questions in the team threads and what not... but wanted to give people a chance to ask some questions to get to know Addison McLaren as a player/prospect. We'll see how this goes and I'll do the team one once I choose a team if I have to..

19-year-old left winger Addison McLaren, a promising sophomore for the University of Minnesota, announced today that he is opting to leave the team and turn professional, declaring for the VHL Entry Draft. He is now eligible to speak with VHLM teams to find a home for the remainder of S74 in preparation for the draft. McLaren had 11 goals and 16 points in 31 games in his rookie campaign, starting as a fourth liner but moving into the team's top-six as the season went on. Half of his production - 6 goals and 8 points - came in the team's final 11 games. He was expected to be a key player for the Golden Gophers this year before rumours of VHL interest picked up and encouraged him to consider turning pro. Despite being just 5'7" and 155 pounds, McLaren is known to be a feisty, physical winger with an above average shot and knack for scoring goals. "I feel like this is the right decision for my hockey career at this time," McLaren said in a statement on his social media accounts. "This is a big step and a new beginning, and I'm looking for a place to start my VHL career where I will have a strong support group to help get used to everything."

Player Information Username: tcookie25 Player Name: Addison McLaren Recruited From: Reddit Age: 19 Position: LW Height: 67 in. Weight: 155 lbs. Birthplace: United States of America Player Page @VHLM GM