Mistxh J

Name: Nicholas Mariani
Age: 18
Position: LW
Nationality: Canadian 
Birth Place: Montreal, Quebec
Height: 6'3
Weight: 215lbs
VHL Draft Projection: 59th Overall | VHLM Draft Projection: 41st Overall
VHL Draft Picked: 43rd Overall | VHLM Draft Picked: 32nd Overall
 
 
Overview:
After getting into the VHL at the right time, Nicholas was able to declare for the VHLM and the VHL pro draft. During the VHL draft the Prague Phantoms decided to draft Nicholas Mariani at #43 which was their one and only pick for the 77 season. With the VHLM draft just two days after, Nicholas wasted no time in the off-season to get to know some of the players on the Phantom's squad and learn a few tips and tricks. Even after the VHLM draft, selected #32 overall by San Diego Marlins, Nicholas decided to stay in Prague to undertake the first half of his training camp with the Phantoms and the second half with the Marlins. Both teams had taken risks selecting Nicholas as high as they did considering he was more underdeveloped than the other young talents in the draft and for that reason exactly is why he decided to split his training camp between both squads. During his camp time with the Phantoms he was able to develop his main skills as a sniping winger and managed to learn new things along the way such as: building line chemistry, how to adapt to new environments and gaining knowledge about how the league works. Once his time ended in Prague Nicholas ended the off-season camp with the Marlins, a place he would call home for the next year or two. He utilized some of the skills and knowledge he gained from Prague in his Marlin's camp. It was at this point when he become the most complete player he has been in his career. He created deep friendships with his teammates and was able to create good locker room chemistry with his new team... no family. With the first week of the VHLM season in the books, Nicholas' skills can now fully be assessed. In just 15 games played Nicholas has amassed 17 points, 8 goals and 9 assists, a +/- of 0,  shooting at a solid 17.4%, 3 total pp points and averaging almost 1 point per 20 minutes all while getting an average ice time of 23:45. All are very solid stats for a player who came into the draft very well underdeveloped, with his training camp help he has been able to be his teams point leader after one week of play. With one week down we were able to gain a better understanding of Nicholas as player and what his strengths and weaknesses are. So let's take a look:
 
 
Strengths
Goal Scoring:
Nicholas Mariani has developed his game to revolve around his ability to shoot the puck. While playing down in the QMJHL he has was considered as a force to be reckoned as he was capable of putting the puck in the back of the net anywhere on the ice. Although the talent around him in the VHLM is more advanced than Nicholas, he has still proven himself capable of being a dangerous sniper. Putting up 8 goals after just one week all while shooting at a 17.4% rate is very impressive considering all the progress he has yet to make. It is without a doubt that the kid will continue to be threat on the offensive and there is still a lot that has yet to be seen from him. 
 
Leadership Ability:
Nicholas has always shown the ability to be a great leader from the youngest of ages. Every team he has every played for he managed to become their captain. The reasoning behind it is his undeniable motivation, the type of motivation that spreads to everyone around him. He has the ability to command a room and bring players together, along with that he always puts the team above himself. Nicholas is capable of impacting everyone in the locker room all while being the most humbled as well, evidence follows as he is the alternate captain for the Marlins and one who many believe in. 
 
Consistency:
The pride Nicholas has in his game is second to none, his confidence is strong and highly believes in himself to perform day in and day out. So far he has proved that by averaging a little over a point a game, although he has encountered few games without collecting a point his ability to remain focused and calm has always gotten him out of a scoring slump with ease. Given enough time and the right team his skill to remain consistent on the ice will only get better. 
 
Weaknesses
Physicality: 
Being 6'3 and 215 lbs most would think that Nicholas would be a big and physical player. Unfortunately his size has only helped him with minor things on the ice, Nicholas is not one to go for big hits and drop the gloves, it is a side of his game that he must work on. He mostly used this weakness to create a strength as he is capable to holding the puck off from defenders without losing the puck battle. But there is no denying that his lack of physical presence has an effect on his game and could use a lot of work which also includes his skating ability. He has never been the fastest player but has always had good footwork to make up for his lack of speed. With time the young winger has more than enough potential to become the large and fast physical player the hockey world loves. 
 
Defense: 
Nicholas has always prided himself in his offensive game but always struggled to excel defensively. This can be a huge drawback for many teams but rest assured, Nicholas has already shown great improvements in his defensive game through the off-season and we continue to see him working on that side of his game more regularly. He utilizes his practices with well to focus on further developing the skills he is in strong in but is always makes enough time to improve his weaknesses. He even came out with a statement prior to the draft about his defensive game stating, "I am aware that my defense is very weak and i plan on changing that even though I am considered as a sniper, and want that to remain as so, I believe in balance and will be working on becoming the most complete player I can and minimize my weaknesses for my oppositions to exploit." 
 
Nicholas Mariani has the opportunity to become a great player in the league. Overall scouting report on him and his given standards right now would be anywhere from a C+ to a B. Even with a great first week to come and the potential to become one of the greats in the VHL, Nicholas is still a project to be monitored with a good risk/reward value to him. 
 
 

Day 7 Incoming

I honestly shouldn't be surprised at all. I work hard each and every day to ensure that my family is fed, my bills are paid, and the community that I know and love (the VHL) has an atmosphere of dignity and respect. I honestly shouldn't be surprised at all that @Juice just had to ruin it.
 
@LuluSalesAway and I had a delightful morning at church. After a great service we ventured down the road to grab some lunch and spent time together, out in the world. Upon my arrival home I grabbed the leash for our Bloodhound, Abraham, and I took him on a wonderful walk. It was calming, and perfect in every way.
 
When I got back home after our walk, and my phone reconnected to the WiFi, I was delighted to see an email that Juice had tagged me in something. "Oh, awesome. I wonder what kind and wonderful thing Juice said!" I happily opened my phone and went on to the forum site, and my heart sunk. A man that I would have happily called a friend, nay, a brother, openly and violently attacked not just my character, but the character of the entire San Diego Marlins organization. 
 
While I was out living life, Juice was taking on the role of a keyboard warrior, crying out to an audience that, frankly, is tired of hearing his complaints. In his article (or more appropriately a smear campaign), Juice went on complaining about how I am far better at recruiting new players than he is, how my team is already easily beating Yuck-on, and how he was secretly heartbroken that he was not selected as my AGM many moons ago. What I saw in this post was nothing more than the lamentable and miserable musings of a man who let his diary leak on the internet.
 
Up to this point, I have been nothing but kind to Juice. I've offered my assistance with both VHL related issues, and real life struggles. In fact, here is a more recent conversation we had in which I offered my advice after Juice again complained about me recruiting another defender...

 
Well, enough is enough @Juice. You have issued a challenge to me and my beloved San Diego Marlins. As it stands, per your challenge, whoever has the better record between our two teams at the end of S77 gets to watch as the losing GM uploads a video of themselves being pied in the face. While I find your challenge to be juvenile, I shall accept it, as we in San Diego never back away from a challenge, no matter how soft and delicate that challenge may be.
 
I could spend the next few paragraphs degrading your character like you've chosen to do to me, however, I shall be the bigger person in this situation. Simply I shall share to you, and the VHL community, the truth. Frankly, my friend, this is what the entire community thinks whenever you issue one of your "challenges"...
 

 
In this image you can see a poor child who is traumatized by Juice. This child, much like the VHL community, is disgusted by the toddler-like tantrums of the Yuck-on General Manager. It has gone on for far too long, and I'm determined to help him realize the error of his way.
 
In closing, I respect Juice for issuing this challenge in the most public forum possible, though it will prove to be at his own downfall. But, even if none of you take my word for it that San Diego will easily crush Yuck-on this season, I'll let Juice speak for himself...
 
 
 

 
I, @Eldredman, and the entire San Diego franchise accept your silly challenge. I hope you're ready for some pie.
 
---
623 Words, claiming week ending 4 April

Okay... Listen here, squashed grapes. Your article is poorly written - 1.5/10
 
Furthermore, you seem to think Yukon can beat us this season
and i find your lack of faith in the Marlins disturbing.
 

 
Dear Juice. I hate your sticking guts. You make me vomit! You're the scum between my toes. Love Craig.
 
With love from all of us here in San Diego,
We have faith that @Juice will not win this bet ❤️
 
 
Live Long and Prosper,
AGM of the San Diego Marlins

Game on?  I think so.
 
Might be more entertaining than Riga's meltdown...

if you guys tie, can you both get pied please?

I love this 😂

That's right, @thadthrasher, I'm calling you out. This is an official declaration of war for as long as we are General Managers in the VHLM.
 
You've been a thorn in my side for far too long, from stealing new players with your low-tier video creations to your Mar-lames winning and thinking you're all cool with your "haha get wrecked" attitude after your first win against the Rush. You think one win over our long season ahead is enough to trash talk? Enough to attempt to ruin my first year of being a GM?
 
If anyone is wondering what I'm referring to, please find this wonderful message Thad left in the game-thread for the sim where San Diego beat Yukon, as well as the discord messages where he sent his AGM @Eldredman to trash talk in our discord:
 


 
 
The disrespect is unimaginable, and you've completely changed from the time where you were the first person I applied for an AGM position to as I thought you were easily the top choice for me to work alongside, and now I count my blessings that you denied my hard worked on resume I built from scratch.
 
With that being said, I want to hold you accountable and put actions to words, as you seem to have a lot of those for me. And what's better than to make a good old fashioned wager?
 
So, if you think you're so tough, let's put a bet to it. Right here, right now.
 
Whoever has the better season between our two teams over the course of S77 is the winner, and the loser will have to have a video recorded of them getting pied in the face.
 
I'm not sure how often this has been done in the past in regards to if there are any sort of bets done between GMs, let alone announced in public. But I know that if I approached you in private, that you would never accept this. This, as well as that I want to show all of the VHL your face when you get absolutely demolished in both the VHLM regular season as well as over video when Nessie aka @LuluSalesAwayslams a good 'ol fashioned cream pie in your face.
 
And to all the San Diego players, whether or not your GM believes in you enough to put a bet on the line, I mean no disrespect to any of you as you are all strong competitors and amazing members of the VHL. This is just a personal vendetta that needs to be settled between myself and Thad.
 
And to all the players on the Yukon Rush, depending on if he accepts the bet, please help me not get pied in the face as I will never be able to live it down for as long as I'm apart of this community 😅
 
We've exchanged many of words over voice and over text, but I want to end this once and for all. Man to man, GM to GM, I want to hear your feedback on if this interests you as I'm very curious on if you're as tough as you act towards me.
 
If you want some, come get some. 😎
 
(531 words)

With the first week of the season almost in the books let's take a quick look at the Prague Phantoms prospect and San Diego Marlins first line winger, Nicholas Mariani. Coming into the league after being drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Marlins Nicholas Mariani was a pick that most would say was a risk and a reach, especially with all the talent that was still on the board. The week prior we saw Nicholas settling in to his new home in San Diego, getting comfortable with his new environment and teammates. In that last week of the off-season we also saw Nicholas put in a tremendous amount of work to get himself game ready for the Marlins and with all that hard work he put in we easily saw the return in the first week of the VHLM season. 
 
Nicholas has put 11 points in 11 games with 5 of those being goals and 6 as assists. Although it isn't as impressive as some of the young superstars in the league, averaging a point per game still proves to be a great feat and provides consistent production in that first line grouping. It seems as if he can only get better with time if he continues to put in this kind of effort and can hopefully lead to an great season for the young rookie. Soon enough we will get an idea if the kid is the real deal or not, but for now let us enjoy the show as Nicholas is proving all his doubters wrong. 

Milk Jugs arrives in the new home of his new team in San Diego as he will look to prove he's ready. after some nice welcoming by his wonderful teammates he's ready. Coach Thad will have to nothing but proud of his decision for taking a risk with a high reward to pay off. It may be still early into the season but the time has come and we will see what this next star can do once he laces up his skates and starts getting down to work and business. Milk Bags may not be the most biggest or fearful player when the opposing team looks across the ice but he's got the tools to becoming the best M rookie defense this season. Milk Jugs vision here in the Marlins is to strive for greatness. battle for glory. being the best team player he possibly can and get the job done. This type of defender is what modern day hockey has molded for team success and luckily for the Marlins organization they got one. now time will only tell what Jugs has in store here for all the fans. will he truly be the next big thing or the next big bust of this season? still too early to tell but we know one thing. Jugs will be in fact ready take on the big challenges this early in his career and to lead by the example. so when Jugs feet hit the ice. be prepared because the time has come and the hype train is only getting started. 

Day 6 going live shortly

Anyone else here again from the late ass discord bot

@Hank

With the first week of the season almost in the books let's take a quick look at the Prague Phantoms prospect and San Diego Marlins first line winger, Nicholas Mariani. Coming into the league after being drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Marlins Nicholas Mariani was a pick that most would say was a risk and a reach, especially with all the talent that was still on the board. The week prior we saw Nicholas settling in to his new home in San Diego, getting comfortable with his new environment and teammates. In that last week of the off-season we also saw Nicholas put in a tremendous amount of work to get himself game ready for the Marlins and with all that hard work he put in we easily saw the return in the first week of the VHLM season. 
 
Nicholas has put 11 points in 11 games with 5 of those being goals and 6 as assists. Although it isn't as impressive as some of the young superstars in the league, averaging a point per game still proves to be a great feat and provides consistent production in that first line grouping. It seems as if he can only get better with time if he continues to put in this kind of effort and can hopefully lead to an great season for the young rookie. Soon enough we will get an idea if the kid is the real deal or not, but for now let us enjoy the show as Nicholas is proving all his doubters wrong. 

Thats the goal.. gotta prove those who doubted that I mean business 💪🏻

Never was. This guy is going to the HOF

With the first week of the season almost in the books let's take a quick look at the Prague Phantoms prospect and San Diego Marlins first line winger, Nicholas Mariani. Coming into the league after being drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Marlins Nicholas Mariani was a pick that most would say was a risk and a reach, especially with all the talent that was still on the board. The week prior we saw Nicholas settling in to his new home in San Diego, getting comfortable with his new environment and teammates. In that last week of the off-season we also saw Nicholas put in a tremendous amount of work to get himself game ready for the Marlins and with all that hard work he put in we easily saw the return in the first week of the VHLM season. 
 
Nicholas has put 11 points in 11 games with 5 of those being goals and 6 as assists. Although it isn't as impressive as some of the young superstars in the league, averaging a point per game still proves to be a great feat and provides consistent production in that first line grouping. It seems as if he can only get better with time if he continues to put in this kind of effort and can hopefully lead to an great season for the young rookie. Soon enough we will get an idea if the kid is the real deal or not, but for now let us enjoy the show as Nicholas is proving all his doubters wrong. 

With the first week of the season almost in the books let's take a quick look at the Prague Phantoms prospect and San Diego Marlins first line winger, Nicholas Mariani. Coming into the league after being drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Marlins Nicholas Mariani was a pick that most would say was a risk and a reach, especially with all the talent that was still on the board. The week prior we saw Nicholas settling in to his new home in San Diego, getting comfortable with his new environment and teammates. In that last week of the off-season we also saw Nicholas put in a tremendous amount of work to get himself game ready for the Marlins and with all that hard work he put in we easily saw the return in the first week of the VHLM season. 
 
Nicholas has put 11 points in 11 games with 5 of those being goals and 6 as assists. Although it isn't as impressive as some of the young superstars in the league, averaging a point per game still proves to be a great feat and provides consistent production in that first line grouping. It seems as if he can only get better with time if he continues to put in this kind of effort and can hopefully lead to an great season for the young rookie. Soon enough we will get an idea if the kid is the real deal or not, but for now let us enjoy the show as Nicholas is proving all his doubters wrong. 

Okay so this one isn't about anyone specific, but more to do with the topic of mental health. We all follow hockey which has been one of the sports that talks a lot about mental health. Unfortunately we all saw a bit of the fall out that Bell Let's Talk had this year. Bell did their Let's Talk campaign this year to raise funds for mental health, then took money from the government and laid people off. I was always skeptical of Bell anyways because large Telecom companies are very greedy. That being said, this post is more about our community here. This past year has been tough on many, it has challenged us in ways we didn't know how to deal with at times; or in ways that limited us in some capacity. I genuinely do applaud every individual on here for whatever level they had to endure hardship in and come out no worse for wear. It's still going and there is some light at the end of the tunnel but it has tested us all. I won't sit here and say my mental health hasn't been effected, because it drastically has. There have been voices in my head saying it's not worth continuing because the world coming out of this isn't all that positive anyways. I don't know what I'm holding onto at this point, but whatever it is I hope it doesn't fracture. To applaud everyone here.

Doesn't look like much of a reach anymore 👀

With the first week of the season almost in the books let's take a quick look at the Prague Phantoms prospect and San Diego Marlins first line winger, Nicholas Mariani. Coming into the league after being drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Marlins Nicholas Mariani was a pick that most would say was a risk and a reach, especially with all the talent that was still on the board. The week prior we saw Nicholas settling in to his new home in San Diego, getting comfortable with his new environment and teammates. In that last week of the off-season we also saw Nicholas put in a tremendous amount of work to get himself game ready for the Marlins and with all that hard work he put in we easily saw the return in the first week of the VHLM season. 
 
Nicholas has put 11 points in 11 games with 5 of those being goals and 6 as assists. Although it isn't as impressive as some of the young superstars in the league, averaging a point per game still proves to be a great feat and provides consistent production in that first line grouping. It seems as if he can only get better with time if he continues to put in this kind of effort and can hopefully lead to an great season for the young rookie. Soon enough we will get an idea if the kid is the real deal or not, but for now let us enjoy the show as Nicholas is proving all his doubters wrong.