fyrefly

Nearly immediately after the playoffs ended and trades were deemed okay again, there was a new trade almost every hour for the next two days. Swapping draft picks, making room for prospects, selling for picks, it was a whirlwind of exchanges. One of those exchanges involved one Sheldon Juniper. 
 
        The Vancouver Wolves, Juniper's draft team, had a plethora of forwards and needed to offload a couple. At the same time, the Calgary Wranglers found their forward core aging, so they wanted some new blood in the system. So a deal was worked out: the Wranglers would receive Juniper, fellow young forward Riley Couture, and a S77 third round pick in exchange for a S76 first round pick and a S77 second round pick. And with RJ Jubis moving to defense to shore up that position, Juniper and Couture will be getting second line minutes. 
 
          But right now, Juniper is focused on his play in the World Juniors, where he is a winger for Team Canada. The Canadians have had a rough tournament so far, and they're looking to turn the ship around today with the commencement of the medal round. To my understanding, they will be playing Asia in an elimination game. The winner of that game will play Team World, who has only one loss in the tournament, in the semis. 
 
 
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Nearly immediately after the playoffs ended and trades were deemed okay again, there was a new trade almost every hour for the next two days. Swapping draft picks, making room for prospects, selling for picks, it was a whirlwind of exchanges. One of those exchanges involved one Sheldon Juniper. 
 
        The Vancouver Wolves, Juniper's draft team, had a plethora of forwards and needed to offload a couple. At the same time, the Calgary Wranglers found their forward core aging, so they wanted some new blood in the system. So a deal was worked out: the Wranglers would receive Juniper, fellow young forward Riley Couture, and a S77 third round pick in exchange for a S76 first round pick and a S77 second round pick. And with RJ Jubis moving to defense to shore up that position, Juniper and Couture will be getting second line minutes. 
 
          But right now, Juniper is focused on his play in the World Juniors, where he is a winger for Team Canada. The Canadians have had a rough tournament so far, and they're looking to turn the ship around today with the commencement of the medal round. To my understanding, they will be playing Asia in an elimination game. The winner of that game will play Team World, who has only one loss in the tournament, in the semis. 
 
 
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I’d just join the Rush at this point

As some of you know, I am an aspiring writer. Tonight, I released a collection of short stories and poems titled Nightmares and Dreamscrapes. I am very excited to present this to the general public and hope that the reviews are positive. Cheers!
 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMJBXAA

Hey there, hope you've recovered from the hectic, potentially record-breaking* day of trades to start the off-season. Take a breath, settle down, as we have a juicy Hall of Fame induction for you today.
 
*not a verified fact
 
 
C - Hunter Hearst Helmsley, S66-S73 
 RS: 576 GP, 265 G, 362 A, 627 P, +96, 747 PIM, 1,567 HIT, 234 SB, 45 GW
PO: 56 GP, 18 G, 24 A, 42 P, +3, 84 PIM, 147 HIT, 30 SB, 4 GW
 
S71 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S71 Scott Boulet Trophy (Top Two-Way Forward)
3x All-VHL First Team (S69, S71, S73)
1x All-VHL Second Team (S70)
 
He's done it! Beaviss is in the Hall of Fame! Hunter Hearst Helmsley, aka HHH, was one of the most hyped consensus first overall picks in recent memory, racking up pre-draft TPE to such an extent he was almost guaranteed to hit the ground running in the VHL. He didn't quite do that, but set up a nice foundation for his HOF bid for when he did break out. In his final 5 seasons, HHH became a bonafide star and one of the premier and most feared forwards in the league. A center who could do anything, he finished his career with a frankly ridiculous 1,828 TPE, good for 2nd all time. HHH didn't manage to win a championship or even make it to the finals, which probably more than anything held him back from a first ballot induction. But in the regular season he was at the pinnacle for a forward in the VHL's dead puck era and is a very well deserved entry into the Hall of Fame. @Beaviss
 
 
 
G - Rayz Funk, S67-S74  
 RS: 522 GP, 294 W, 179 L, 40 OTL, 2.56 GAA, .917 SV%, 36 SO
PO: 85 GP, 55 W, 20 L, 10 OTL, 2.09 GAA, .930 SV%, 7 SO
 
S67 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy (Top Rookie)
S68 Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP)
S69 Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP)
S71 Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP)
S73 Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP)
1x All-VHL Second Team (S68)
Four Continental Cups (S68, S69, S71, S73)
 
Let's face it, Funk was just an above average goaltender in the regular season. In complete contrast to HHH, if we were judging players solely by their regular season work, Funk wouldn't even make the HOF ballot. But this is Rayz Funk, therefore the regular season is irrelevant, much like it was for the legendary Seattle team he backstopped. In the future, when people think of the team that won 4 cups in 6 seasons, they'll think of Funk, the man who was MVP for all 4 of them. The playoff MVP trophy may continue being named after Daisuke Kanou, but there is no longer debate about who the greatest playoff goaltender in VHL history is - it's Rayz Funk. Greatest playoff performer regardless of position? That's a debate for another day but the fact it exists is exactly why Funk is a first ballot Hall of Famer, regular season be damned. @Rayzor_7
 
 
It was a very close vote, here's how the votes tallied up:
 
Hunter Hearst Helmsley - 8/11
Rayz Funk - 7/11
---
Lincoln Tate - 6/11
Hulk Hogan - 0/11
 
 
But we are not done here for we have a Builder induction too. Now there's an unwritten rule that you wait for someone, especially a commissioner, to step down from their main role before inducting them as a Builder. But firstly, we've broken that rule loads anyway and more importantly, is @Beaviss ever going to stop? The man is a machine.
 
I remember coming back from hiatus in S59 or S60 and the GM of Quebec was a guy I didn't know, who also was the VHLM commish and on a mission to revamp the VHL's barely functioning recruitment team. He's still the GM of Quebec (Vancouver now) - that tenure would be worthy of Builder consideration on its own and will be just a footnote here - but has come up the ranks to become VHL commish in no time. More importantly, and I don't throw this around lightly, I'm not sure we'd be here celebrating a 75th season if Beav hadn't joined the league in those dark months in the 50s.
 
Keaton Louth may have failed to make the HOF as a player (although maybe, just maybe, hold that thought), but he is a slam dunk induction as a Builder, with a capital B.
 
 
Congratulations Beav, Ray, and Beav again!

Best of luck @Riley_Couture and @fyrefly

Ha! I got it right!
 
Claim 2/4

This is awesome! Glad to be a Wrangler!

1. I mean, I called it in my media spot
 
2. Great for him, glad some new blood is in the GM pool
 
3. Use em. Team looks empty right now
 
4. Canada. Made the team and I'm a proud Canadian myself
 
5. Yeah, I just got traded to Calgary, so that should be fun
 
6. Decent. As Ledge said, online school does suck
 
 
 

@fyreflyand @Riley_Couture 

After S75 has ended, crowning the Philadelphia Reapers the champions, I thought I would look back on the magical S74 run of the Waiver Warrior Miami Marauders. I'm going to look at what part Juniper played in the story.
 
      It all started around the middle of the S74 season, after Juniper ended his OHL season early to try to join a VHLM team. A bunch of offers came in, but he decided to sign with the Miami Marauders, who had picked up a lot of waiver signings, so Juniper was not alone on the team. When he initially joined, he was pushed down to the bottom of the roster to develop while emerging stars Cabe McJake, Addison McLaren, and Hulk Hogan Jr. took the spotlight. While the Marauders slowly inched their way up the standings, Juniper kept working and earning and getting better in the shadows. Finally, as the regular season was coming to a close, he Marauders were in a battle with the Philadelphia Reapers for the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. It was around here that Juniper was moved up to the second line, and began to produce and make a name for himself. In the final games of the season, the Marauders pulled off some crucial wins, and secured the 4th seed. Juniper finished the season with 13 points in 37 games. After securing that seed, the Marauders went on to pull off a massive first round upset of the top seeded Halifax 21st, which sent the hockey world reeling. They then beat the second seeded Las Vegas Aces in the semis with Juniper scoring the game seven game winning goal to clinch the Marauders' spot, then swept the Mississauga Hounds in the finals. Their unusual amount of waiver signings earned them the nickname 'Waiver Warriors'. Sheldon Juniper finished the playoffs with 10 goals and 16 points in 18 games, including 3 game winners.
 
 
318 words
 
 

Quick ramble about the potential offseason plans for every VHL team.
 
Calgary - trying to find a team for couple of goalies (Olson/Carson/Askarov). Just wondering if it's possible though. Some teams could use a backup so maybe? Also, using all the first picks for drafting as they're entering the retool process very soon.
 
Chicago - nothing much. Slowly replacing older second liners with the prospects (Tate/Eso/Marimoto). Other than that, should be a quiet offseason for them.
 
DC - trying to compete at least once more. Desperately searching for the defenceman and likely finding him. May even have to deal their 6th overall pick for that.
 
Davos - same stuff. Trying to find an adequate replacement for Nolan. Lucikly for them, the trade block is full of good forwards. Their defence though...
 
Helsinki - similar to Chicago. Fairchild and Dan Dan are gonna be a good backup scoring option for them. Also, I could see them getting Couture in exchange of like...Kate Upton.
 
London - I have a feeling they will sell Magnum and Schwarz to DC. Other than that, no big deals from them.
 
LA - slowly building a proper contender before Pines is hitting a regression. I'd say their defence and a goalie could be a big deal in the future.
 
Malmo - searching for everything besides a goalie. Losing Condor is gonna hurt them and if MJF indeed goes to D, they'll have to get more good forwards on top of second liners Walkers and Sterk. Again, the trade block is making a life easier.
 
Moscow - soon to retool territory, but before that they will go big. Could bring another star forward for higher picks.
 
NY - similar to LA, building a team rather than buying anything. They seem more balanced team than LA also, though with a younger goalie.
 
Prague - drafting Acyd, welcoming Gobeil/Bouchard and LeFriend and that's all what she wrote. Like almost every other Prague offseason.
 
Riga - no rush, trying to sell couple of younger guys who won't have a spot on our roster next season.
 
Seattle - trying to change things since later seasons brought a disappointment for them. Also, trying to not enter into the retool/rebuild phase.
 
Toronto - no big deals like Peace always does. Using their draft picks for likely forwards and wait until their players (outside of Merrick) will be grown up enough.
 
Vancouver - selling one or two forwards to not clog up their roster. Trying to find a D prospect or two.
 
Warsaw - nothing much. Welcoming Wu/Endrizzi and calling it a day.
 
So I would predict some trades like DC taking couple of forwards from London and finding a good defenceman from whatever team. Seattle makes some big deals with Davos or Moscow. Vancouver sells Couture to Helsinki for Upton and some picks. Riga manages to find a new home for a couple of their draftees for a cheapo, likely to another rebuilding teams. Malmo brings a lower TPE forward, probably Seattle once again plays a part in this. Or even Moscow. Calgary indeed manages to find teams with no backups and throws them their goalies prospect pool for 4th round pick or something.
 
So there it is, a short blabbing about teams etc. There's nothing much to read about since I'm not in mood to write a long article, but maybe next week?
 
That's it and I'm out.

1. They were a better team and they wanted it more.
 
2. Thought you guys did great, I'm sad to leave next season
 
3. Draft some solid players.
 
4. A good chunk of frickin VHLM players are Riga Reign prospects
 
5. Fingers crossed
 
6. Yeah, the Marlins had a great team this season, and he did a good job getting that team off the ground at the start.

This year team Canada is looking unstoppable. Even though Europe may be the favorite on paper (which would never happen in real life 💀) we will smoke the competition. Our power house in Scotty Kaberle could be a big difference maker. At 374 TPE he may not be the highest TPE carrier in the tourney but with the well rounded team beside him I think that will really get his stats up. Our depth in the forwards is going to lead to the Canadians success, and lots of chemistry already built with players sharing ice time in the VHL together. It’s a very exciting team compared to some other years and well put together by @fromtheinside
 
Let’s get into me, Connor Sim,  he does not have the highest TPE on the team but his scoring stats are excellent and is a big presence on the ice. He could use some work on the defensive end going -1 at the end of last season but still outing up 55 points and 30 goals. He did a pretty good job at staying out of the box with 32PIM. Had a big slump at the end of the season though so we will see how he preforms in the playoffs. If he shows up it could be really good for Team Canada!

Team Canada World Junior Roster Selection Announcement

 
 
It’s that time of year again as the hockey world prepares for it’s annual celebration of youth hockey as the World Juniors is scheduled to kick off soon. Every year this tournament is watched and enjoyed by millions of Canadians around our country, and this year the hype has been building to enormous levels in anticipation for the announcement of the Team Canada roster. Well the wait is officially over! Today myself and Canada’s Assistant General Manager @tcookie are excited to unveil our roster for the Season 75 World Juniors! As always, they were a ton of great options to choose from, being that Canada is one of the main hotbeds for grassroots hockey and hockey development. Without further ado, let us unveil our choices for YOUR Team Canada S75 squad!
 
 
FORWARDS

 
 
Up front the Canadians boast a ton of firepower. We tried to pick a team that was highly skilled but also had some built-in chemistry ahead of the tournament. You will notice quite a few pairs of teammates from VHLM clubs this past season. Leading the pack are Philadelphia Reapers forward Robert Bouchard and Isau DaMoose. Connor Sim and Sheldon Juniper share ice time together in Las Vegas, Ryan Ryker and Nathan Perry were linemates in Miami, and finally Steve Eso and Vivek Weiner teamed up together in Saskatoon. We are hoping some of these connections carry over to the tournament. We also feel we have a great dynamic that features both playmakers, scorers and even a good amount of grit to boot. Canada has always been known for its high end firepower up front, and this year will be no exception!
DEFENSE 

 
As the old saying goes, the best offense is a defense, and this team will be a prime example of that. Canada currently has a bevy of young developing defensive prospects to choose from. This year we are excited to bring back returnee Zachariah Kisslinger for his 2nd stint with Team Canada. Alongside Zach will be the dynamic duo from the San Diego Marlins, Cowboy Prout and Scotty Kaberle who absolutely tore up the VHLM this past season. Rounding out the D core will be promising young rookie Hulk Hogan Jr who will be looking to impress scouts from the pros who will surely be keeping an eye on his performance heading into the VHL Entry Draft!
 
GOALTENDING

 
Between the pipes will be two very familiar faces to Canadian hockey fans as both our goalies are returnees from last year’s tournament. Jacob Carson and Kloxified both rejoin the team and will battle for the top spot in net for the tournament. Both these guys are elite goaltending prospects and we know between the two of them we are good hands in the crease. Both these players will look to have a solid tournament before heading off to their respective VHL pro teams next season!
 
Overall we are thrilled to have all of you don the Maple Leaf for us in this tournament. We feel we have a fantastic mix of raw lalent, skill, grit and most importantly, passion! We know these young men will represent our country proudly and play their absolute best in the coming week or so. Now that our roster has been chosen, let's drop the puck and get things started!!
 
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Congrats to everyone who was selected. Below is the link to the WJC Discord and there I will assign all the members of Team Canada their proper role so they can join the LR and we can get things officially started as a team! 
@fyrefly @domg5 @Gaikoku-hito
@Eynhallow @Jayrad28 @tinafrombobsburgers
@coochiman @Eso @SimmerDown99

@fromtheinside @Kisslinger
@Prout @Beaviss

@Kloxified @jacobcarson877
 
Here is the Discord fellas, looking forward to seeing us all in there together for the tourney!
https://discord.gg/RpANREfyq5

 

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks. 
 

Sorry for the delay, in the middle of moving right now but got the internet hooked up finally so..
 
Congratulations to our VHLM Fantasy Zone winners!
 
Series 1 winner
 (40/47 correct answers)
 
Series 2 winner
 (40/47 correct answers)
 
Series 3 winner
 (35/47 correct answers)
 
Series 4 winner
 (14/47 correct answers)
 
Games
 wins in 7 games (1/47 correct answers)
 
Looks like everybody is getting TPE this week!! Whoohoo 🥳
 
-
 
3 uncapped TPE (1)
@fyrefly
 
-
 
2 uncapped TPE (33)
@Tate  @Acydburn   @Gally  @Sixersfan549  @Sljppers  @MSO94  @linsangeles  @Juice  @Retuperkele  @BOOM  @RomanesEuntDomus  @HatrickRoy  @Eynhallow  @Greg_Di  @Eso  @Phil  @Hoopydog  @Ledge_and_Dairy  @domg5  @fromtheinside   @MMFLEX  @DragonFire420  @Mr_Hatter @OrbitingDeath   @TenZi  @Jolline @Gaikoku-hito  @Suzuki14 @Domino Draws  @HatrickRoy @Prout @youloser1337 @NotSoGood88
 
-
 
1 uncapped TPE (13)
@RedSus  @animal74  @Toast  @Frank  @MGreenie  @GreenGato  @weekz  @tinafrombobsburgers @chikn  @HoneyBadger25  @CptSquall
@Leafsfan328 @Kloxified
 
Think this is the last FZ so thanks to everybody who got involved and answered the questionnaire, see you next season VHLMers 😃

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks. 
 

After the end to the Houston Bulls season, Napoleon knew they had lost. They lost the war. It was hard to take, sure they joined the team half way through the year, and sure they had their ups and downs with top players being traded. That does not mean they had any excuses to lose.....as far as Napoleon is concerned. Genghis would no doubt agree, guy never loses and would hate to be alive on the losing side. Alexander? Forget about it, probably drinking his face off in a rage right now. The leaning tower looms in a gloom in any room. Now it might seem irrational right? Team lost some defense to inactivity, had to trade a capped guy, brought in a backup goalie, dug up the dirt on another historical leader. All this just to miss out on the playoffs.

     Napoleon went back to his home to do what he always does. mope. The often melancholy Emperor of France and now solid forward in the sport of hockey moped like a 12 year old. I mean when the world goes against you, sometimes depression is hard to fight. It does not take much either. To give it your all and have it not be enough? Do you accept the defeat? What would you do?

Nappy headed his way on out, where to none know.....maybe not even he yet. Pulling up in his town car to a row of unmarked brick buildings and stepping out. Great coat engulfing him as he comes to one of those unmarked cellar doors. A peaky slider opens, Napoleon Glares into it from the top of the stairs, before walking down them, the door unlocking once he does.
"Very funny Tower, could make ze short jokes about anybody else" The 5'6" Frenchman (Italian Corsican in reality) walked right passed the smoke room which held the poker, foosball, and billiards tables and headed straight toward the large room at the far side.  A small side room swallows him up, soon he returns in a tank top and powerlifter shorts? 

So then, dressed as a modern powerlifter, Nappy gets to work. First he stretches, then he runs some cardio on the treadmill. Before long he is working the weights. Arm curls, bench presses, hell you name it, he is doing it. Guy is going hard and not even bothering to stop for food. Day in, day out, training, working, running, pull ups, weights, laps in the pool in the clubhouse. EVERYTHING! Out on the ice? speed bag while skating so he has the strength to FLY around the ice. He comes back to the clubhouse? Time to work out. Once done, nothing but quick, easy food thrown together in order to quickly bulk up. Chicken Parms, roast chicken, BBQed salmon, steaks quickly grilled. You name it, he is eating, working, and going nuts. Too bad he is still 5'6" 😄 All the working out cannot fix being short compared to other athletes. 

What will Napoleon Bonaparte do? Find out next week on Napoleon's offseason

Word Count is 507

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks. 
 

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks. 
 

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks. 
 

VHLM Playoffs: First Round Recap
 

By fyrefly
 
 
It's playoff time in the VHLM! The top eight teams of the regular season faced off for the first round of the VHLM playoffs. The playoffs in the M are a time for capped players to give their last hurrah in the minors before heading up to the big leagues, and for freshly signed potential draftees to show off their skills before the draft. Either way, it's an exciting time. And with the Founders' Cup on the line, tensions are high and players are willing to give whatever it takes!
 
 
       In this recap, I'll be summarizing each series that has been played. Watch for the spotlight on star players and predictions for the next few rounds. 
 
 
Series 1: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Halifax 21st(8th seed)
Notable Performances: Dolant Fertitta(HFX), Javad Kamkar(HFX), Justin Lose(MEX), King Kruul(MEX)
This was one series that was expected to go by fast. The Kings blitzed the M in the regular season, capturing the top record with an astonishing 54 wins. But surprisingly, the 21st put up a fight. Nothing too much, only enough to stretch the series to 5 games. But enough to let everybody else in the league know that the Kings aren't invincible. But they sure are close. Justin Lose @youloser1337 was an absolute force for the Kings, putting up 4 goals and 8 points in those 5 games. Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa also contributed offensively, notching 5 assists and 7 points. From the back end, King Kruul @LefLop kept his fruitful career fruitful with 6 assists and 7 points, enough to tie for first among defenceman scoring. And then there's goaltender Markus Emerson Jr. @Xflexz, who's a rock of a goalie in between the pipes with a .872 save percentage and a 3.2 goals against average.
The 21st were a tyrant of a team last season, but experienced a crazy insane upset by the hands of the eventual champs Miami Marauders. This year, they had a much weaker team, but they managed to take a game in this series. They were largely riding the performance of superstar and shoo-in for MVP Dolant Fertitta @Dolant, who lead the playoffs in points somehow. Javad Kamker @Parriyah9374 was also a massive contributor from the blueline with five assist and six points. Poor Mike Sterling @SilverMike, who has to face the loaded Mexico offense with such a lackluster defense. He has a depressing 5.2 goals against average. Halifax also doesn't look to have the strongest team next year, as they don't have a first round pick.
Series score: 4-1 Mexico
 
 
Series 2: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. Yukon Rush(7th seed)
Notable Performances: Jivere Zolnek(PHI), Jacob Carson(PHI), Tom Eagles(PHI), The great(YUK)
This was another series involving a top regular season team and a team that barely made the playoffs that was supposed to go by very fast. And unlike the prior mentioned series, it did. The Reapers executed a perfect 4-0 sweep, eliminating the Rush. A couple of top VHL draft prospects did extremely well in this series, namely Jivere Zolnek @Sixersfan549 and Tom Eagles @Greg_Di. Zolnek, after an underwhelming regular season of only 13 points, exploded against the Rush for 3 goals and 7 points in only 4 games. Eagles, on the other hand, continued what he had gotten done in the regular season. He translated his amazing 64 points into 6 points in the first round. Also worth mentioning is goaltender Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877, who had an incredible .946 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average. Pekko Viitanen @Xdjk93 also stunned the Rush with 5 assists in the series.
The Yukon Rush, in a sense, played as was expected of a team who sold at the deadline and squeaked into the playoffs. They had no real stars to rely on for points, as they traded them all away for futures. But they managed to keep the Reapers close in all but 2 of the games they played. The only really performances worth mentioning are The great @Jake Sumner, who scored 2 goals and has an astonishing 40% shooting percentage. Other than that, no one really made a difference as the Reapers changed the Rush's championship chances to 0.
Series Score: 4-0 Philadelphia
 
 
Series 3: San Diego Marlins(3rd seed) vs. Miami Marauders(6th seed)
Notable Performances: Gunnar Odinsson(SDM), Michael Olson(SDM), Nero Endrizzi(SDM), Ryan Ryker(MIA)
Since the seeds were closer for this series, it was more than expected to be close. Miami was a decent team heading into this playoffs. But the Marlins sure proved they were the stronger team. They went all out at the deadline, and reaped necessary rewards for a long playoff run. They picked up a bunch of waiver players to fill their depth spots, and still had room for stars to fill the top spots. Some of their guys who particularly shone during this series were top VHL draft prospect Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM, who had to have raised his stock with his 6 assists and 7 points from the back end. Goaltender Michael Olson @MSO94 also made a massive difference, with a .934 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA, effectively shutting down the Miami offense. Nero Endrizzi @TurnDaddy, a player the Marlins picked up in the dispersal draft last season, also put his skills on display with 2 goals and 6 points in the series. A lot of Marlins will be heading up next season, and the Marlins used a lot of their futures acquiring all that talent, so we can expect a basement finish next season.
As I said before, the Marauders had a promising squad heading into the postseason, grabbing the 6th seed in the playoffs and securing a slightly weaker matchup in the first round. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. Nevertheless, they had some decent performances from some of their players. Ryan Ryker @Jayrad28 was a beast throughout the series, picking up 3 assists, 10 hits, and 3 blocked shots. Phoenix Dawson @Toastalso impressed, with 2 goals and a 33.3% shooting percentage. He will also be among the top VHL prospects. Finally, there's my old friend Cabe McJake @RedSus, who, with a goal and an assist, couldn't manage to carry the Marauders to victory. Either way, a successful season for Miami. Unfortunately, they spent a lot of their picks at the deadline, so they should sink into mediocrity for next season.
Series Score: 4-0 San Diego
 
 
Series 4: Saskatoon Wild(4th seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
Notable Performances: Lenny Sanderson(SSK), Battre Sandstrom(SSK), Jordan Tate(LVA), Linus Zetterstrom(LVA)
Well, this one had a wild finish, didn't it? Game seven OT. That doesn't happen often. And what a series. The Aces take the 3-1 lead, but the Wild come roaring back and force the final game. But the Aces came up big. Linus Zetterstrom @Ledge_and_Dairy was the man with the winner, and he notched 7 assists and 9 points in those 7 games. Also incredible was the performance of Jordan Tate @Aye my name jeff, who got 11 points and leads the playoffs in scoring right now. He and fellow deadline pickup Sheldon Juniper @fyrefly along with linemate Connor Sim @SimmerDown99 combined for 28 points in the series. Matt thunder @Matt thunder also got a point per game in the series. Overall, the Aces' deadline acquisitions made the difference for them this series. They have a bunch of clutch players that should really help in their next round series against Mexico. 
The Saksatoon Wild are a playoff team, and probably a second round caliber team. But they couldn't manage to complete the comeback and knock off the Aces one last time. But they played a hell of a good series. Notably, rookie and top draft prospect Lenny Sanderson @Gally, who must have raised his draft stock with his 5 goals and 10 points. Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn , who is projected to go second overall in the VHL draft, also shone as an offensive defenceman, with 6 assists and 9 points. Other that, Vivek Weiner @coochiman got an assist per game plus a goal for 8 points. Although the Wild don't look to be strong next season, they had a really good team this season and should be proud. 
 
 
 
This concludes the series for round one of the VHLM playoffs. For the next segment, I'll give you the next round of series plus predictions for who will win. 
 
 
Series 5: Mexico City Kings(1st seed) vs. Las Vegas Aces(5th seed)
The Aces are now the underdog as they take on the potentially unstoppable Kings. The Kings will try to ride their firepower and depth that got them the best regular season record, while the Aces hope their deadline pickups and waiver players, as well as the game seven clutch that got them past the Wild, will get them over top of the Kings and onto the finals. The Kings were eliminated in the first round last season, so they're looking for a much deeper playoff run this year. The Aces were one of the top teams last season, but they were beat out in the semis by the waiver warrior Miami Marauders. For this matchup, even with my biased opinion, I feel the Kings have a team that is nearly invincible this year. I think the Aces will take them to six games, and give them a run for their money. But the talent and depth of the Kings is hard to match.
Prediction: 4-2 Mexico
 
 
Series 6: Philadelphia Reapers(2nd seed) vs. San Diego Marlins(3rd seed)
This one I'm sure I cannot accurately predict. These two squads are so evenly matched it'd be hard to put one ahead of the other. The Reapers were a borderline playoff team last year, but were nudged out by the eventual champions Marauders in the final games of the regular season. The Marlins, on the other hand, were a basement team last season, losing out only to the lowly Minnesota Storm for bottom of the standings. They were, however, able to pick up the top two picks of the draft and select two very good players. Both teams acquired a truckload of talented players through the draft and trades, and it will be a long, tough series. But I think the sheer amount of capped players of the Reapers wil ultimately push them over the top. But not without a fight.
Prediction: 4-3 Philadelphia
 
 
 
 
El Finale: Mexico City Kings vs. Philadelphia Reapers
These two teams were in the exact same situation as each other last year. They are in the exact same situation as each other this year, too. The Founders' Cup Finals. Against each other. It will be a battle of two teams of roughly the same skill, roughly the same depth. It will be a nail-biter, I'll guarantee you that. But looking at their rosters, and their success in these playoffs so far, I have chosen a winner. And if I can figure out how to hide a result, it'll appear down there ⬇️
 
 
That concludes my recap and predictions for the S75 VHLM Founders' Cup playoffs. For the sake of honesty, I fully expect the Philadelphia Reapers to fulfil my prophecy and win the cup. This has been fun, and I wish all contestants hope, but especially the Aces. I hope we can break my prediction and bring the Cup back to it's rightful home, Sin City! Good luck to all, and we'll see you in another month or so because this media spot is so damn long I can claim it for that long! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this. Excuse me for making this final paragraph kind of awkward, but this is how I'm filling the gap to get to 2,000 words. 
 
I need five more words. 
 
 
 
2,000 words on the dot. Claiming this for four weeks.