Deee.Geee

1. What are your thoughts on the latest draft?
Looks like we were about to make some steals in the second round, should be a good season with them.
 
2. How do you think San Diego will do this season?
I would suspect that we go deep into the playoffs. It's hard to ignore our depth, I think that'll take us the extra mile to a championship.
 
3. What are you the most excited about?
Being a Marlin! I've seen the enthusiasm of this team both on and off the ice, and it's amazing to be a part of it. Going from sunny Miami to sunny San Diego is also a treat.
 
4. Is there anything you would like to see in the locker room this season?
Beer carts?
 
5. What does your player need to work on the most?
Overall defensive work can see a little boost, as can my strength but otherwise I just want to improve across the board, completely.
 
6. Does your player have any beef with anyone else in the league?
None that I know of!

1. We are the champions!!! What an accomplishment!? What was something that surprised you these playoffs?
That sweep in the last round - I had winning in our future, but not like that! Very amazing feeling.
 
2. if you could sum up this entire season in one word what would it be? 
Champions
 
3. Who is your playoff MVP? 
@Sportsboy57averaged above a point per game as a defenseman and was a special teams beast. My pick goes to him!
 
4. A lot of Marauders are graduating this off season! Are the players and fans okay with a little retool? 
No sense in getting depressed - we should instead be happy for their contributions and wish them well on their next stage of hockey!
 
5. What’s on thing you can’t live without?
My e-reader. I love having all books in one place
 
6. how are you spending your Mother’s Day?!
Pandemic has made it hard to see anybody, but I called all my loved ones

Although the celebrations are slowly coming to an end, the memories should be eternal. The Miami Marauder’s storybook finale to season 77 of the VHLM and their seizure of the championship has propelled them to enormous heights this year. Their rookie defenseman, Damien Salducci, made some time for an interview ahead of a busy schedule including preparation for the VHL draft, a new exercise regime through the off-season, and a trip home before the kick-off of Season 78.
 
Damien firstly we’d like to offer a huge congrats for the season; not every rookie gets a chance to drink from the cup in their first tilt in the VHLM. Take us through how you’re feeling.
It’s felt a dream, you know? When I am home after the celebrations and parties in the last few days and I just stop to think about it, I actually wonder if this even happened. We’re all super happy. Our bodies also appreciate the downtime! The guys warned me how playoffs were fierce and that you get knocked around a lot but the reality was much worse than what I expected. Still, no complaints!
 
Is there anything special you’re doing in preparation for the VHL Draft? Conversations with any teams?
There have been conversations, sure, but a lot of my Marauder teammates told me to simplify my life and focus on my off-season routines. The rest is really out of my hands. The Marauder coaching and training staff and I have put together a great workout and new diet plan so that I can grow my game through different exercises in the off-season.
 
We wanted to ask you what changes in this off-season preparation versus last years?
Last year I focused on speed and agility, I wanted the increase the speed of my first steps because I knew that what I lacked in size I could make up for in acceleration.
I am happy with the lower body gains – I had focused on legs and core last year, this year it’s more about gaining extra muscle and developing my upper body a bit more, hopefully not at the cost of speed.
 
For those who might be wondering, why add muscle to the top of your frame? How is your diet changing?
Yea it’s about making me a more competitive defenseman in battles along the boards or on the open ice. I got beat a bunch last year because my strength doesn’t match the older guys, and I need it if I want to compete in the VHL eventually. I mean it’s also a big benefit to keeping up in the VHLM too.
As for the diet, I am modifying the vegetable ratio to add more carbs – so more rice and pasta are on the menu! I am also trying to get bulkier proteins like pork and beef versus fish which I tend to eat a lot of.
 
When you’re not working out or celebrating the cup, what are you expecting to do in order to make the most this off-season?
I have no other commitments, and I realized a few days ago that there’s a small window of time to fly back home to Italy to spend a week or so with my family, see my friends, etc. I haven’t been back in months so I am overdue.
 
We wish you lots of luck at the VHL draft and beyond, congrats again Damien.
Thanks guys, have a great week.
 
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Hello everyone and welcome to yet another edition of VSN's Mock Draft.  I'm MattyIce and with fellow contributors of varying capacities, @RedSus, @Patrik Tallinder, @Zetterberg and @Spartan, we were able to assemble this article in very short time; and give you a glimpse at what this season's VHL Entry Draft might look like.
 
This draft has a great mix of high-quality member recreates, a bright batch of first-gens, and even a group of returning members from VHL's past.
It isn't in the higher-end tpe levels, but the membership here is very distinct and of quality.
 
Every season, some of the best VHL memories are made on draft night. Whether it is a first generation player hearing their name called on the draft stream for the first time or a recreate embracing a new home for their new on-ice identity, I don’t think it should come as a surprise to anyone that this is the most memorable night  for many players from their whole careers. This season is no exception, and things may be even more engaging than ever with some brand new upgrades to the draft stream’s presentation.
 
Don't miss the draft stream happening today, May 13th at 8pm est.  I'm sure it will be hosted by @Enorama and/or @Esso2264, so look out for their posts in the discord servers!
 
ON WITH THE RANKINGS!
 
 
 
 
1                                                                                         NILS TALLINDER   C TPE: 296                                         @Patrik Tallinder                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB After winning the lottery, Calgary will likely look to improve their forward depth in this draft. An obvious way to do this would be to select Nils Tallinder, brother of @Patrik Tallinder, who is the AGM of the Wranglers. Tallinder is a two-way center with good puck handling abilities and a nice scoring touch. His 29 goals placed him 2nd in that category on the Storm, who would make an early exit in the postseason after falling to the Halifax 21st. This is a player that will undoubtedly grow into a top line center for the Wranglers, and it is a pick that would make a lot of sense given Tallinder’s history with the team. 77 - Minnesota 72 29 33 62 17 210 31 63 22 77 - Minnesota (Playoffs) 6 1 2 3 0 17 4 2 2 76 - Miami 15 2 4 6 2 13 2 8 2 76 - Miami (Playoffs) 6 1 1 2 -1 13 0 2 0                                                   2                                                                                         HARD MARKINSON   D TPE: 334                                         @STZ                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB As the projected second overall pick in the upcoming draft, it's fair to say that Hard Markinson is a highly touted prospect. He began his career as a waiver pickup last season where he played 13 regular season games with the Mexico City Kings followed by 15 playoff games. This season in his draft year he's been able to prove why he is seen as the best option for first overall in the upcoming draft as he's exhibited an outstanding defensive game while also posting respectable offensive numbers. At 6'3 210lbs Markinson is known as a physical shutdown d-men a bit of a rarity in modern hockey which makes him all the more valuable. Along with being big and physical Markinson is very mobile allowing him to keep up with smaller players and contribute a little bit in the offense. 77 - Mississauga 72 23 40 63 45 194 120 198 42 77 - Mississauga (Playoffs) 15 3 12 15 -4 41 24 57 17 76 - Mexico City 13 0 4 4 9 2 10 23 6 76 - Mexico City (Playoffs) 15 1 1 2 3 8 32 41 8                                                   3                                                                                         THE SEABASSTARD   C TPE: 302                                         @Seabass                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB One of the most talented and hyped players in this draft class is Saskatoons star center The Seabasstard. Arguably Seabasstard is still in contention for the first overall pick although it's very likely Calgary will go with the younger brother of there former star. As far as numbers go The Seabasstard finished 5th in team scoring with over a point a game and over 30 goals. His steady earning of TPE has kept him at the top of this draft class for a while as he's been capped each week besides the first week he was in the league. At number 3 Moscow would certainly love to bolster there forward core behind Atreides and Idaho after adding to their defense core a pick earlier. 77 - Saskatoon 72 34 47 81 21 247 28 95 26 77 - Saskatoon (Playoffs) 5 3 2 5 5 12 8 10 2 76 - Saskatoon 14 2 8 10 2 11 13 15 0                                                             4                                                                                         LUC TESSIER   C TPE: 254                                         @KC15                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Luc Tessier rounds out a trio of centers that have made their way to the top ranks of this draft. The former San Diego Marlin has a very well put together build, and one that led him to an utterly dominant draft season. A 37 goal, 78 point regular season was topped by an even better playoff performance. His 4 goals and 11 points in 7 games made him an early standout in the S77 postseason, but unfortunately the Marlins were stopped dead in their tracks in round one by the eventual cup-winning Marauders. Tessier has seriously elite potential, capping out on nearly a weekly basis. His scoring ability and defensive aptitude are a deadly combination that will make an immediate impact in the big league, and he will only become more and more threatening as he grows and matures as well. A one-two punch of Tsujimoto and Tessier up the middle would be nearly unstoppable if Tessier lands in Davos. 77 - San Diego 72 37 41 78 14 233 18 30 21 77 - San Diego (Playoffs) 7 4 7 11 7 28 0 4 2                                         5                                                                                         SVEN REIKKINEN   D TPE: 271                                         @Devise                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Sven Reikkinen was immediately seen as one of the top names in this draft class, and for good reason. After an impressive debut stint with Saskatoon that included 8 assists in 14 games, he would go on to have an outstanding season in S77 that helped solidify his spot as the 2nd best defender in this draft. The young Finn put up 24 goals and 111 shot blocks with Las Vegas, which were a respective 10th and 5th in this entire draft class. In London’s short history to date, they have seen many great defensemen put on their jersey. Reikkinen will join this elite company, and could possibly even establish himself as the greatest among them if he stays long term. 77 - Las Vegas 72 24 46 70 -6 229 44 76 111 77 - Las Vegas (Playoffs) 9 2 7 9 -1 21 6 4 16 76 - Saskatoon 14 0 8 8 2 31 6 15 14                                                                       6                                                                                         TUI SOVA   D TPE: 240                                         @v.2                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB A returning member who witnessed the early years of the league, Tui Sova will be a welcome addition to any team who chooses to take him on draft night. Having made hall of fame players before Sova has proven that he is capable of reaching the highest level which is a good sign for GM's. Projected to go in the top 10 and possibly top 5 Sova produced at an astounding pace this season putting up 82 points in 72 games played making him one of the most productive defensemen in the league. Sova has also earned TPE consistently and at a high volume, once even producing 40 TPE in one week, he's capped in each week in his career so far and has gone for nearly all the uncapped opportunities he could. In the VHL Tui Sova projects to be a top pairing d-men in the big leagues as he's set to be a big piece for any team he lands on. 77 - Mexico City 72 29 53 82 -23 250 83 113 180                                                                                                     7                                                                                         ANZE MIKLAVZ   RW TPE: 233                                         @McKelvie                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Like Tui Sova, Anze Miklavz has been around since the early days of the league having created successful players before. Having reacclimated to the league there's no reason why you can't say he'll do it again. Miklavz enjoyed himself a very successful rookie campaign scoring 87 points in 72 games played on a below average Mexico City team. Having made a considerable amount of TPE in his short time in the league there's no reason why his VHLM success won't translate to the VHL. In the S78 draft, Anze could fall anywhere between 6 and 16 as he is a high reward player who doesn't necessarily have as much risk as a regular first gen. In the VHL he projects to be a top 6 forward, whether he plays on the first or second line will depend on the depth of his team. 77 - Mexico City 72 42 45 87 -44 324 41 118 43                                                                                                               8                                                                                         ALEX JOHNSTON   RW TPE: 217                                         @Alex_J32                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Another intriguing first gen player, Alex Johnston has been lights out for the Yukon Rush in the time he's been in the league. As a point per game player his stats have been extremely impressive in the short time he's been in the league. Johnston is an acute scoring winger with great size and ability, he is projected to go around the middle of the first round but don't be surprised if a GM takes a chance on him a little higher. Alex joined the Yukon Rush just before the halfway point of the season playing more than 50 games before the season ended. As far earing goes Johnston has been capping nearly every week while claiming many uncapped opportunities along the way, along with this he was hired as the GM of Asia in the WJC after only being in the league for about a month which show how committed he is. 77 - Yukon 52 24 26 50 -24 172 44 83 26                                                                                                                                   9                                                                                         NATHAN POWERS   D TPE: 188                                         @JB123                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Similar to Damien Salducci, Nathan Powers is a late blooming first gen defensemen with a bunch of potential. Starting of his career with the Yukon Rush as an off season signing, Powers played all 72 games this season, playing a critical role in Yukon's back end. As a rookie, he finished second on his team in points by a defensemen posting an impressive 62 points in 72 games played. However, the similarities with Salducci are with his earning. Powers, like his fellow S78 draftee, started with just welfare and practice facility and gradually improved his earning to where he's capping out every week. This creates a similar situation in that Powers TPE doesn't reflect his big potential. Therefore, Powers could be another late first round steal for any lucky team to snatch up. 77 - Yukon 72 9 53 62 -17 99 112 202 112                                                                                                               10                                                                                         MILK JUGS   D TPE: 205                                         @NerdyCowz                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Arguably the highest rated first-gen behind Alex Johnston, Milk Jugs has had a fairly impressive first season with the San Diego Marlins. Jugs joined the Marlins as an early season waiver signing, playing more than half the season with the team. With 39 points in 61 games played, Milk Jugs put up respectable numbers for a defenseman while being defensively sound with an 18 plus/minus. Being a 5'5 defensemen, Milk Jugs makes up for the lack of size though strong skating and strong positioning. Jugs also possesses a strong shot which she can utilize on the powerplay and on the rush as a trailer. In the VHL Jugs could project into a top pairing defenseman if her earning stays consistent which would attract the interest of many GMs picking from 6 to 12. 77 - San Diego 61 16 23 39 18 133 50 66 56 77 - San Diego (Playoffs) 7 1 3 4 6 19 4 6 12                                                                                           11                                                                                         DAVID TAVAU   D TPE: 210                                         @Ahma                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB David Tavau had arguably the most impressive seasons of any S78 draft eligible player, with 88 points in 72 games playing on the Saskatoon Wild. Tavau finished second in scoring among defensemen in the VHLM as well as second in the assists column as well. His earning is impressive as well as he's managed to stay in the top 16 of TPE in his draft class making him a likely first rounder. With Ahma having made good players before it would be safe to say David Tavau will likely go on to have a great career making him a good low risk for any GM's not interested in taking there chances on first gens. 77 - Saskatoon 72 5 83 88 38 52 22 59 119 77 - Saskatoon (Playoffs) 5 0 2 2 0 3 8 3 6 76 - San Diego 9 1 3 4 -6 8 10 23 5                                                                       12                                                                                         AIKE VAN GIERSBERGEN   G TPE: 233                                         @enigmatic                                                 TEAM GP W L OTL SV% GAA SO GA MP One of two goalies included in this draft class is Dutch goaltender Aike Van Giersbergen. At 6'8" 220lbs Giersbergen relies on his tall frame and good positioning to keep pucks out of the net. Along with this, Giersbergen possesses good technique and rebound control to minimize scoring opportunities. Through an almost full season in the VHLM, Giersbergen impressed, finishing in the top 10 in Goals against average and save percentage with a 891 SV% and 3.01 GAA. After a weak showing of goaltenders in last seasons draft, teams will be eager to find their goaltenders of the future in this draft. This should bode well for Giersbergen as he's rated 6th amongst the draft class in TPE meaning any team in need of a goalie could step in and take him. 77 - Houston 71 36 30 4 0.891 3.01 3 216 4298 77 - Houston (Playoffs) 5 1 4 0 0.896 4.2 0 21 300 76 - Philadelphia 11 6 4 1 0.889 2.8 2 28 599 76 - Philadelphia (Playoffs) 5 1 4 0 0.862 5.58 0 18 193                                                   13                                                                                         HENRI LE MASSIF   LW TPE: 211                                         @Garsh                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Henri le Massif is one of those players that is very much a known entity. I mean this in the sense that he will be a reliable TPE earner and a positive influence on a locker room, and these are skills that GMs value greatly. Le Massif is a physically punishing winger that can rack up hits with no hesitation from night to night. His 145 hits in S77 were the 5th most in the draft class and also 1st among forwards. The French winger will look to translate that physical dominance to the VHL, where LA is the hypothetical beneficiary. Henri le Massif has potential to be a consistent contributor throughout his career, and he would be a terrific addition to the Stars’ roster for seasons to come. 77 - Minnesota 72 15 11 26 4 107 68 145 9 77 - Minnesota (Playoffs) 6 0 0 0 -1 11 6 6 20 76 - Mexico City 13 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 76 - Mexico City (Playoffs) 15 0 0 0 -2 1 2 0 0                                                   14                                                                                         BASTIAN GREISS   G TPE: 185                                         @ThatsGreissy                                                 TEAM GP W L OTL SV% GAA SO GA MP The first experience for Bastian Griess as a pro was baptism by fire, he joined the Mexico City Kings (who were far and away the worst team in the VHLM) as a waiver pickup and proceeded to start every game for them until the season was over. Even with a below average team in front of him, Greiss still managed to put up fairly impressive numbers as he was 4th in save percentage among goalies who played over 20 games. His earning points to massive potential as he's capped out each week he's been in the league while completing many uncapped opportunities as well. Having only been in the league for less than a month, Greiss is already considered a first round pick as a first gen which shows his passion for the league. Nobody should be sleeping on Bastian in the upcoming draft as he could be a massive steal for any team looking for a goaltender. 77 - Mexico City 39 13 21 5 0.892 3.55 2 139 2348                                                                                                                                   15                                                                                         DAMIEN SALDUCCI   D TPE: 193                                         @Deee.Geee                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB Damian Salducci is an intriguing first gen member who's been steadily improving ever since joining the league. Joining the Miami Marauders as an off season signing, Salducci managed to get a full season under his belt. While his stats don't jump out at you at first, it's worth noting Salducci played on a very deep and competitive Miami team that eventually went on to win the Founders Cup. This meant it was very difficult for him to earn minutes. Despite this, there is big potential in this player due to his earning. Salducci has gone from a player who earned only welfare and practice facilty's to a player that can cap out every week. This could potentially make him a big steal for any team who takes the chance of drafting him since he has more potential than his TPE shows. 77 - Miami 72 1 17 18 16 20 30 33 28 77 - Miami (Playoffs) 15 2 4 6 1 12 4 19 20                                                                                           16                                                                                         TYNAN SYLVESTER   D TPE: 176                                         @diamond_ace                                                 TEAM GP G A PTS (+/-) SHOT PIM HIT SB The player belonging to the commissioner of the VHLM had a ironically disappointing season leading up to this draft. After only posting three points in 15 games in his first season with Mississauga, Tynan Sylvester looked to improve in his draft year with the same team. Unfortunately for him the season didn't go as planned as he only put up 13 points in 72 games played. Nevertheless, this likely won't scare away GM's since his game still may translate into the VHL. Being the commissioner of the VHLM you know he will be active so drafting Sylvester should be a fairly safe pick and while his earning isn't fairly high he is consistent with job pay. With this in mind Tynan Sylvester should be a safe pick for any team looking for a depth defensemen in the upcoming draft. 77 - Mississauga 72 2 11 13 14 25 20 32 50 77 - Mississauga (Playoffs) 15 0 3 3 0 10 8 11 7                                          
RedSus, Talli and myself claim 2 weeks

I've become a big fan of reading season awards threads, and this one has pretty much made it to the top. It was nice to read about the accomplishments of other VHLM players (Marlins in this case), and the writing was professional and well edited. It was great to see a GM engage and congratulate their players this way. Great job! 9/10

1. The thing that surprised me the most was that we went into a game 7 in the first round!
2. For me, it would be wild. Mostly because of the shift from a bottom team to a chip contender. (The trade from Philly ofc)
3. For me, it is Alexander the Great. I haven’t payed to much attention, but almost every game I see him on the 3 stars.
4. I am good with a retool as a fan, because I too am graduating!  Keep going, and you will get that next Founders Cup win!
5. Mine would be electricity, so much of everyone’s life now.
6. I’m spending my Mother’s Day going to a baseball practice, and then spending time with family.
P.S: Guys, it was a wild ride, but I’m glad I got to spend most of my final season with this S77 Marauder team! I look forward to seeing you all in the VHL. Farewell guys!

MIAMI, May 8 (Miami Herald), Adam Carlson - At the midway point of the season, the VHLM’s Miami Marauders were on the outside of the playoff race looking in. Optimism within the team was low, and it looked like a team that appeared to have all it needed on paper to mount a title challenge would, in the end, flatter to deceive.
 
However, a remarkable run of form that saw the team lose a handful of their remaining 25 games in the regular season left the Marauders in second place in the minor league’s Eastern Conference.
 
In the first round of the playoffs, the Marauders faced off against the San Diego Marlins, in what turned out to be a dramatically close contest. Both teams traded wins over the first four games of the series, before the Marauders took a 6-4 victory in Game 5 to put them within one win of a place in the Semi-Finals.
 
The California club roared back with an impressive 4-2 victory in Game 6 to set up a do-or-die Game 7. In the series decider, @Sportsboy57 put in a performance to remember on the backend, racking up three assists, as Noah Mashford @Mashy netted the series clinching goal to send the Marauders into the next round.
 
“The Marlins gave us a really tough series. They came to play every night, and they created a whole load of problems for us. I think Mashy had eight goals in that series alone, and he was amazing for us throughout all seven games. It felt really good to get that win in the final game and it gave us a lot of confidence going forward,” Jan Hlozek, defenseman for the Marauders, said in a interview with the Czech hockey portal Hockey.cz.
 
The Marauders were expecting to play the Saskatoon Wild in the Semi-Finals, although the Saskatoon-based club shockingly bowed out of the playoffs at the first stage. As a result, the Marauders had a date with the Las Vegas Aces to decide who would get to play for the Founder’s Cup.
 
After struggling to put together a string of consistent performances against the Marlins, few could have expected what happened next.
 
Miami opened the series on home ice with a 4-3 victory in Game 1. In the next game, Mashford racked up four points as the Marauders stormed to a 5-1 win.
 
The series headed to the desert with the Marauders needing just two more wins to book their place in the final. The Aces outshot the Marauders in Game 3, but @ClapbombsRus stood tall. Delving Mackey @Jurell Yurki, who burst into form late in the season, eventually scored the overtime winner in a 3-2 victory.
 
Game 4 of the Semi-Finals would also go to overtime after the Aces tied up a back-and-forth game midway through the final period. However, Alexander The Great @Shiny netted on the powerplay early in the extra frame to send the South Beach club to the Finals on the back of a historic sweep.
 
“The Aces are a great franchise and all the games, apart from Game 2, were super close. I mean, the final two games went to overtime, and the games could have gone either way. I think we got some good bounces in this series, but that doesn’t mean that we didn’t deserve to make the Finals. We knew we were playing well, and the guys were truly dialled in,” Hlozek said.
 
The Mississauga Hounds were a force to be reckoned with throughout the VHLM regular season. Boasting a 62-10-0 record, many bookmakers had stopped taking bets on who would lift the Founder’s Cup given the strength of the Ontarian team’s roster, and few thought that the Marauders stood a chance.
 
“We struggled against Mississauga all season, that’s definitely true. They had such a strong, deep roster, that they really posed us a lot of problems. Thankfully, management @InstantRockstar @tinafrombobsburgers put in a lot of work with us, showing us video, giving us a blueprint that they thought could beat the Hounds,” Hlozek remarked.
 
It took the Marauders all of 97 seconds to find the back of the net in Game 1, with Napoleon Bonaparte scoring the first goal of the S77 Founder’s Cup Finals.
 
The Hounds ended up taking the lead midway through the second period, but a pair of goals from Jah Coon @denns and Delving Mackey gave the Marauders a one-goal lead going into the final frame, before Declan Wolf @MrShark buried the insurance marker early in the third to give the Marauders a 1-0 series lead.
 
Game 2 was a much tighter affair, in part thanks to a 38-save performance by Marauders goaltender ClapbombsRUs. In the end, a pair of goals from Alexander The Great and Trevor Wallace @LilHCorny less than 90 seconds apart in the second period were enough to give the Miami club a 2-1 victory, putting them in the drivers’ seat as the series headed to Florida.
 
“Everyone played their hearts out in Mississauga. I can’t say enough about how good Clapper was in net for us, especially in Game 2. He stole us that game. Despite how confident we were, I don’t think we could have imagined that we would be going back to Miami with a 2-0 series lead. It was simply incredible,” Hlozek stated.
 
On home ice, the Marauders took the game to the Hounds in Game 3, outshooting them 38-24. Despite going behind early, Declan Wolf and Alexander The Great scored in the first frame to put the Marauders ahead after 20. Jan Hlozek added another marker in the second as the Marauders won 3-2, putting them within one victory of the title.
 
The Founder’s Cup was in the building as the Marauders took to the ice against the Hounds in Game 4. Once again, the Hounds took an early lead only to be pegged back. Trevor Wallace netted on a shorthanded break late in the second period to give the Marauders a 2-1 lead going into the third, and potentially final, period of the VHLM season.
 
“The dressing room was calm in that period break. I think the guys knew that we just had to stick to what we had done throughout the series and the playoffs to date. If we did that, we knew that the Hounds were getting frustrated, that they were nervous. Our coaching staff didn’t say much, nor did the guys in the room, although Napoleon Bonaparte @CptSquall, as he always does, really got us going. We had all the motivation we needed,” Hlozek said.
 
The third period of Game 4 was littered with penalties, and despite some heroic defending from both sides, something had to give. It looked like the Hounds had found some life late in the third period as Gaspar Zakrevsky eventually scored with just three minutes left on the clock to tie the game at 2 apiece.
 
Ill-discipline would eventually cost Mississauga though, as Joakim Lund went to the box for a hooking minor with just two minutes left in the third period, and the Marauders once again made the Hounds pay on the powerplay.
 
As the pressure built, both Damien Salducci @Deee.Geee and Declan Wolf missed the net on a pair of grade A opportunities, but Alexander The Great lived up to his name, as the Marauders forward corralled the puck and beat Luke Spinelli in the Mississauga net to send the Marauders players, coaches, and fans into raptures.
 
As the final seconds of Game 4 wound down, some players pointed to the sky to remember loved ones no longer with us, while others hugged each other on the bench.
 
Gloves, sticks and helmets went flying as the timer hit zero and the buzzer sounded, as the Marauders players rushed onto the ice to mob ClampbombsRUs who put in another stellar performance in net to lead the South Beach club to a historic Founder’s Cup victory.
 
“Moments like that are why you play hockey. We play to win. We play for glory. To be able to share that moment with guys that you grow to love throughout the season is something special. You always have to be thankful for these moments because some guys go through their whole career without winning anything. The celebrations were truly amazing,” Hlozek said.
 
Hlozek has now completed two full VHLM seasons after he was drafted by the Riga Reign in the S77 VHL Entry Draft. After two full campaigns in North America honing his trade, the Czech blueliner is set to move back to Europe to take his place in the topflight with the Latvian club.
 
“Maybe I didn’t have the season that I wanted from a personal point of view, but I think this year was really important to teach me about adversity, about never giving up, and keeping faith with the program. I had my concerns, as all players did, but I think this season showed what you can achieve if you buy in,” Hlozek said.
 
The Topolna native said that he would spend a couple of days back home with his family celebrating the title win before getting into a committed offseason practice regimen to get himself mentally and physically ready for playing hockey at the highest level.
 
“I’ve still got a long way to go. I need to improve my skating, and I definitely need to get bigger. However, I’ll remember this season for the rest of my life, and I’m truly grateful,” Hlozek concluded.
 
 

We had the most winningest record in the second half of the season, and while San Diego gave us a run for our money, we went 8-0 after the 1st round. I don't think it's a fluke, we just had a very shitty start to the season. I truly believe we would've been ahead of Mississauga had we started the way we finished the season. 
 
Stats matter

Welcome to the final VSN Draft Update! It has been fun covering the developing storylines of the draft and tracking the process of countless high level prospects. Hopefully you enjoy this final installment before VSN Scouting transitions into some more in-depth content ahead of the S78 Draft.
 

                                                                      POINTS             Player Name POS GP P     - David Tavau D 72 88     1 Anze Miklavz RW 72 87     1 Tui Sova D 72 82     -2 The Seabasstard C 72 81     4 Luc Tessier C 72 78     -1 Watson Stonebridge LW 72 74     -1 Zarek Kaczka D 72 74     -1 Sven Reikkinen D 72 70     1 Gregory Bates LW 72 69     New Hard Markinson D 72 63    
Our final update sees Anze Miklavz get so close to catching David Tavau, but to no avail. Luc Tessier also moved up quite a bit in the leaderboard, ending the season at 5th in the draft class. Overall, this was an impressive showing from the S78 class. Tessier seems to also be the playoff standout so far, sitting in the top 10 in points leaguewide.
 

    GOALS             Player Name POS GP G     - Anze Miklavz RW 72 42     2 Luc Tessier C 72 37     2 Gregory Bates LW 72 37     -2 The Seabasstard C 72 34     -2 Watson Stonebridge LW 72 33     1 Zarek Kaczka D 72 31     1 Tui Sova D 72 29     -2 Nils Tallinder C 72 29     New Alexander Rivers RW 72 26     -1 Sven Reikkinen D 72 24    
Anze Miklavz turns out to be the sole player to reach 40 goals as a S78 prospect, doing so with Mexico City. Tessier and Bates move up to 2nd and 3rd, each slotting in at 37 goals on the season. Zarek Kaczka also put up a remarkable 31 goals on the blueline in Las Vegas, despite getting the lowest minutes per game among everyone on this list. That is truly spectacular stuff from the young defender, and he could be a possible first round talent come draft time.
 

    HITS             Player Name POS GP HIT     - Nathan Powers D 72 202     - Hard Markinson D 72 198     - Mr Duk D 72 191     - Zarek Kaczka D 72 151     - Henri le Massif LW 72 145     1 Watson Stonebridge LW 72 134     -1 Mitchell Osborne D 69 130     New Drakon Zabastovka D 72 123     New Jannik Nylen D 72 120     -1 Anze Miklavz RW 72 118    
To finish the season off, Nathan Powers maintains his position at the top, crossing the 200 hit mark. Hard Markinson and Mr Duk trail him closely, each posting 190+ hits. Drakon Zabastovka also rounds out his defensive game, becoming a new entry on the hits list after being a staple in the leaderboard for shots blocked. Henri le Massif, Watson Stonebridge, and Anze Miklavz managed to make the list as the only forwards, proving to be relentless forecheckers for their respective teams.
 

    SHOTS BLOCKED             Player Name POS GP SB     - Tui Sova D 72 180     - Drakon Zabastovka D 72 141     - David Tavau D 72 119     - Nathan Powers D 72 112     - Sven Reikkinen D 72 111     - Mitchell Osborne D 69 107     - Arvid Johansson D 72 91     - David Micheal Berlinguette D 72 84     - Brodie Landry ll D 72 80     - Zarek Kaczka D 72 70    
Well it is no secret that I have been a big fan of what Kings defender Tui Sova has managed to accomplish in this statistic this season. I think it would be overkill if I spent another paragraph talking about it, so I will give a shoutout to some of the less recognized shot blockers of the S77 season. 
 
Drakon Zabastovka was an absolute horse this season, logging over 30 minutes a game and putting up 141 shots blocked on the season. Mitchell Osborne joined a few games late, but quickly acclimated to the pace of the VHLM. He solidified his position on this list and never let go of it, landing at 6th when it was all said and done. Given the 3 games that he missed, he could have possibly jumped up to 4th on this list. Interestingly enough, there was also no movement on this list from the last update, which shows model consistency from each of the names on this list.
 

    SAVE PERCENTAGE             Goalie Name GP W PCT     1 Bastian Greiss 39 13 0.892     -1 Aike van Giersbergen 71 36 0.891     - Jacob Rask 21 6 0.877     - Anime Protagonist 72 37 0.873     - Leroy Johnson 33 11 0.872    
It took some time to build up some competition in the crease, but it has finally arrived. We have multiple solid options in net for this draft, led by Aike van Giersbergen and Bastian Greiss. The other 3 on this list, as well as Tobias Reinhart, round out the goalie crop with some really nice depth. It will be interesting to see where the goaltenders land this season, considering the rather barren cupboards of the S77 Draft.
 

                                            TRAINING POINTS EARNED LAST WEEK           Name 4/25           Hard Markinson 22           Bastian Greiss 21           Milk Jugs 20           Alex Johnston 20           Leroy Johnson 20           Nathan Powers 19           Shane Lazeski 18           Nils Tallinder 17           Tui Sova 16           The Seabasstard 15           Anze Miklavz 14           Damien Salducci 13           Mikey Markov 13           Sven Reikkinen 12           Luc Tessier 12           Brock Hampton 12           Jaromir Lemiuex 12           Jannik Nylen 12           Aike van Giersbergen 10           Mr Duk 10        
This was a bit of a slower week for the S78 class in terms of TPE earning, but that is not to say that there were no standout performances. Alex Johnston had a huge week, earning 20 TPE and being named AGM of the Philadelphia Reapers. Congratulations to him, and best of luck in Philly! Hard Markinson led the way with his VHL fantasy win and VHFL results combining for 8 TPE, adding on to his base of 14. A couple of goalies got in the mix as well, with Johnson and Greiss each earning 20+ on the week. This draft certainly is showing much more promise in the crease than the last draft, and this is the proof. 
 

    CAPPED TRAINING POINTS EARNED LAST WEEK         Name Last Capped         Hard Markinson 12         Nils Tallinder 12         Tui Sova 12         Anze Miklavz 12         Milk Jugs 12         Alex Johnston 12         Nathan Powers 12         Bastian Greiss 12         The Seabasstard 10         Sven Reikkinen 10         Luc Tessier 10         Brock Hampton 10         Jaromir Lemiuex 10         Jannik Nylen 10         Aike van Giersbergen 8         Mr Duk 8         Leroy Johnson 8         Alexander Rivers 8         Otto Numminen 8         Zen Raider 8      
8 players capped out last week, nearly halving the total of the week prior. Despite being a bit of a poorer week for the S78 bunch, a positive sign was some first gens really stealing the show. Alex Johnston and Nathan Powers were both named VHLM AGMs recently, which should contribute very favourably to their already-rising draft stocks. They both joined Milk Jugs and Bastian Greiss as first gens who hit the maximum of 12 capped TPE last week.
 
Hard Markinson, Nils Tallinder, Tui Sova, Anze Miklavz, Milk Jugs and Bastian Greiss are the only players to have earned every capped TPE available to them up to this point.
 

          The presentation of the VHL Draft may be receiving some upgrades this season. Leading the movement is @Sonnet, who we sat down with for a quick interview in this installment of Scouting Spotlight.         You've been through the draft process as a VHLM GM and as a player as well. For you, what is the best part about the two VHL drafts?         Sonnet: I think personally, my favorite part is the sense of mystery knowing that any of the picks could end up being me. There's that tension right before the announcement is made, and you're weighing up your value against anything you've heard from the GM- maybe a few of them have expressed interest, but you're not quite sure if they're going to pull the trigger just yet. I remember that being a huge theme when I drafted Gustav into Houston, we actually hadn't spoken before that moment. I think that's why I tend to avoid or even ignore scouting questionnaires at times- I don't really want to know where I'm going. I like the suspense and subsequent surprise when my player finally gets the call.         Do you have a favourite memory from any of your drafts as a player or GM?         Sonnet: Of course I'm going to immediately contradict my last answer, but in true cliche'd fashion, I think my first VHL entry draft as a player is definitely my favorite draft memory. The league at the time only had one or two teams that needed a starting goaltender, and Helsinki (Quik) was the only person who really approached me with intent to put the franchise's fate in my hands. That s63 draft ended up defining the Titans- Borwinn, Crosby, and I were all taken and ended up staying with the team for our entire careers. I imagine it wasn't an easy decision to give a central role within a rebuilding franchise to an unproved first gen goalie, but getting that chance was something I'll always remember fondly when it comes to the draft each year.         Now, I've heard you have some stuff in the works to spice up the draft this season. Can we expect these ideas to come to fruition on the forums, on discord, or on the draft stream itself?         Sonnet: Everything I've been working on is related to the production and presentation of the streams, so be ready for something a bit more eye-popping when the s78 streams go live!        
Thank you to everyone for the support on this series! It has been fun to cover the production of the S78 class, and I can't wait to see how the draft unfolds. Keep an eye out for the S78 VSN Scouting Combine coming up soon; You will not want to miss it.
 
Players Mentioned: @McKelvie @Ahma @KC15 @Tyler @Hank @JB123 @STZ @Lefty_S @DarkSpyro @Garsh @duckberg32 @v.2 @OzNasty @enigmatic @ThatsGreissy @Spaz @Alex_J32 @Vkobe-v @NerdyCowz
 

1. After the sweeping the Aces in the semi finals, Miami is Final bound!!! Do we take home the title??
100% yes. We have to accept nothing else!
 
2. Who do you want to play in the finals and why? (Hounds or 21st) 
Totally open-minded. Both are going to bring tense, tough battles.
 
3. In 11 games @Mashyleads the Marauders with 10 goals and 17 points!! Has he been the teams mvp so far? 
These are superhuman stats. I would say MVP for sure!
 
4. What can you take from this years Marauders experience for your player and as a user in this league?! 
That a slow start means nothing. Teams that win are teams and players that apply themselves and grow, that's how you win in the VHL.
 
5. what is one tv show you find overrated?
Big Bang Theory. Never laughed while watching it, can't understand how it was on TV for so long.
 
6. Go to Fast food restaurant? 
Shake Shake. Love it so, so much. Best fast food burgers, in my opinion.

I've become a big fan of reading season awards threads, and this one has pretty much made it to the top. It was nice to read about the accomplishments of other VHLM players (Marlins in this case), and the writing was professional and well edited. It was great to see a GM engage and congratulate their players this way. Great job! 9/10

Sign up Damien Salducci!
 
Thanks

This was a neat surprise - rarely ever see a GM-oriented media graphic. Hope this is a trend! I like that it's kept in grayscale with different textures and focuses. Great job adding some shadowing on the left-hand side of the guy! 9/10

1. Playoff time baby! How many games do you think our first round match up against the Marlins go? 
One word: victory! Feeling very good about our chances.
 
2. Is this playoff run truly cup or bust? 
If you see it as a bust then you're already losing in my opinion
 
3. can our top line continue their dominance in playoff style hockey?! 
Now's the time to show what we're made of. I am 100% confident of our boys.
 
4. Which Marlins player is the biggest threat to us and who we must try to neutralize? 
Nicholas Mariani for sure. Number one for points on their team, have to play a shut-down game against him.
 
5. Do you like olives? 
Very much so! Pitted or not, sliced or not. Delicious.
 
6. would you go sky diving? 
Maybe. But it's not on my bucket list...

1. 9 games left in the season!! Sitting in 2nd in our conference, what do you want to see from our team in the final stretch?!
Keeping all 9 games above .500 at the very least
 
2. Besides the Hounds who is our biggest threat? 
Definitely Saskatoon
 
3. Who has been the biggest addition to Miami this year? And if you’re a new player on the team which player do you really enjoy playing with? 
Jan Hlozek by a country mile. Killer on both ends of the ice. Look at the point production.
 
4. who do you think wins the title up in the VHL this season?
Really have to get the odds to Warsaw, they that have a complete game.
 
5. Favourite Summer sport to play?
Soccer for sure
 
6. least favourite NHL player for whatever reason? Name the reason if you’d like!
Ulf Samuelsson - basically ended Cam Neely's career, 100% goon

The Miami Marauders already look to have their place in the VHLM playoffs secured, as the Florida-based club look to have a firm grip on second place in the Eastern Conference, but a recent blip in form showed that the South Beach side might not still have it all together.
 
After a remarkable run of form that see the side lose just once in regulation in 20 games, the Marauders fell back to Earth with a bump on Wednesday, with losses to the Philadelphia Reapers and Mexico City Kings in back-to-back games.
 
The Marauders avenged their loss against the Kings on Thursday, before picking up a 4-1 victory against the Houston Bulls, but some players, notably defenseman Jan Hlozek, have expressed dissatisfaction with their personal performance.
 
"Something is still not right with my game if I'm honest. We've tightened up defensively and our goaltending has been much better over recent weeks, but I'm still not at the level where I want to be and need to be for the team," Hlozek told reporters on Thursday.
 
The smooth-skating defenseman burst onto the scene with the Saskatoon Wild last season, scoring 59 points in his debut campaign.
 
Hlozek was projected to be one of the stars of the VHLM this time around, but the Czech blueliner has only managed 47 points in 56 games, and it remains unclear if he will manage to overcome last season's point total.

1. Miami is the hottest team in the league right now! Why do you think the team has had this continued success?
We always had the pieces to be winners, guess it just took the season to roll out for the chemistry and everything to click!
 
2. Which one of your fellow teammates has surprised you this season good or bad? 
Trevor Wallace is having a fantastic year. Big jump stats-wise.
 
3. Can we defeat the Hounds in a 7 game series? 
Not can, but when? 4, 5, 6, 7 games?
 
4. What from our locker-room will you take with you once you are in the VHL? 
It's been a team effort to get this far. There's been lots of secondary scoring to keep up in the standings, and that comes from the respect and teamwork of everyone. I hope to see that mutual respect when I get to the VHL.
 
5. do you like reality tv shows? If so what’s your fav?
I watch some of those ghost haunting ones, more to laugh at how fake it seems than anything is.
 
6. biggest fear?
Sharks. Hate them, won't go into open water because of that fear.

1. Miami has been on an absolute tear lately! Is this current play sustainable? 
Absolutely. This is the fruit of our hard work, I don't see a reason for us to lose our pace.
 
2. Considering where we are in the standings right now. How far do you expect as to go? 
Top 3 in the Eastern conference, no doubt.
 
3. Favourite part about being a marauder? 
Living in Miami! I've fallen in love with Cuban food.
 
4. Do you believe we should add a piece before the deadline to help us contend this year? 
A LW would help fill out our forward lines more, I think
 
5. Would you rather go 4x4ing and have a fire or go lay out on a beach and swim? 
4x4!
 
6. Favourite Vegetable? 
Definitely carrots, otherwise we wouldn't have carrot cake.
 

We'll pick off Zarek's story here in the VHL right where we left it at. He had just joined the Miami Marauders under GM @Ricer13. The team was getting suited up for their first playoff series, of that season, against the Yukon Rush. Through the first two games, Kaczka didn't really do much, only getting a few hits here and there. Then, in the third game, the Marauders got absolutely obliterated, 6-1. Based off team performance, and the limited minutes he was getting, Zarek didn't really expect much out of the coming games individually for him. But, in game 4 of the series, it somehow happened. He scored his first goal in the VHLM! Despite Miami losing 3-2, he was ecstatic about scoring that goal. Miami ended up losing the series 4-2, with an OT loss in game six. This did not really affect Zarek's morale, because he had scored. He had done it, already with limited minutes. This just motivated him to do better. Then, the VHLM playoffs finished up, and the offseason started.
 
Zarek was going to be entering the VHLM dispersal draft, where other teams would have a chance to draft him. Miami told him that they would try and draft him back, and it was a higher probability chance that he would end up back there. This is why he didn't really think much of it when three other teams contacted him, the Rush, Bulls and Marlins respectfully. That's why, on draft night, it came a huge surprise to Kaczka that he had been drafted by the Las Vegas Aces. Heck, he didn't even know that team existed. (Yes this is actually true.)  He hadn't even received a questionnaire from the team asking about him. Obviously, he was skeptical at first, but once he joined the locker room, he almost immediately warmed up to the team. It had a fun atmosphere, and all the players were nice and helpful. The GM, @JigglyGumballs was also a helpful person and really got Zarek involved with the team. Here is also an excerpt from an interview held with Zarek a few days after the dispersal draft:
 
Reporter: So Zarek, what are your thoughts about getting drafted to the Las Vegas Aces?
Zarek: So far, I am really liking it. The locker room and GM are great, and the team has been very welcoming of me.
 
Reporter: How well do you think you will do as an individual in Las Vegas?
Zarek: I think that I can fit in here and succeed. I am seeing it as a great opportunity to build my legacy in the VHLM as an individual.
 
Reporter: How well do you think the team will do, and how do you see yourself helping the team?
Zarek: We currently have a younger squad, but I believe we have the means to become a good team and have a shot in the playoffs. I see myself helping the most on defense. I can make sure the opponents don't get the ball into our net, and I can also score if they need me to.
 
Reporter: One last thing before we go, do you think this will help VHL GMs to notice you and put you on their scouting list?
Zarek: I think it may get me a little bit more noticed than if I was on a different team, I really it into the lineup here and have a good spot on the team.
 
 After the offseason finished up, Zarek was eager to hop into the action. The first week of games quickly came, and the Aces were lined up to play the Rush, Bulls, and the Marlins. Zarek was going to be getting second line minutes, which would offer him good amounts of playing time to get more of a feel for playing in the VHLM. He then went to have an INSANE  first game for the Aces, getting a goal, three assists, two hits, and two shots blocked. It was an all around great performance on both offense and defense. The Aces also won against the Rush that game. Zarek didn't do anything too good in the overtime loss against the Bulls, he just had an assist, three hits, and a shot blocked. The next game though against the Marlins, Kaczka scored a goal, had a hit, and had two blocked shots. Not a bad performance in that 4-2 win over the Marlins.
 

Kaczka (left) celebrates with a teammate after scoring his first goal with the Aces.
 
Now, going in to the second week, Zarek was very excited about how he was performing, and how the Aces were performing as a whole. They were now lined up to play the Marlins, Rush, and Bulls for a second time through. Against the shootout loss to the Marlins, Zarek had his first bad game. He put up zeroes in everything, and had a -1 while on the ice. This was probably a good humbling experience for him, because he was getting too big of an ego at that point. This motivated him to have a bounce back game in the win against the Rush, getting a goal, assist, and a shot blocked. The next game, a loss to the Bulls, he scored another goal, had a hit, and two shots blocked. After these first two weeks, Zarek was seeming to be becoming a great player. 
 
As the season, went on, Zarek was mostly just doing more of the same. Having some good and average game, and then a few bad ones here and there. Some notable ones were against the Bulls in week twelve, where Kaczka scored two goals, had two assists, and a shot blocked. This game is where he also earned his first one star. Then, in the same week against the Reapers, he had another two goal in which he also had two hits. This helped the Aces win both of those games. His current stats are thirteen goals and eighteen assists, which adds up to thirty-one total points tying him for third place for total points among rookies. He also has fifty-five hits and thirty-three shots blocked. He is definitely not having a bad rookie season by any means. As a team the Aces are also doing quite well. They are third place in the Western Conference, with seventeen wins, nine losses, and three overtime losses. The team is also on a five win streak, the longest in the VHLM at the moment. (Not counting overtime wins, shootout wins, and normal wins all combined together.) The season is looking good so far for the Aces as a team and Zarek as an indvidual.
 

The Aces leaving the ice after winning a game.
 
Back to Zarek's own personal life, after week thirteen of the VHLM, he decided to take a two day trip back home to his parents to visit them. It was a fulfilling time for him, he hadn't seen them for many months, and he was extremely happy just to be able to have the opportunity to go visit them, which he was very grateful to @JigglyGumballs for. His parents were one of his main motivators to keep going, because he knew he made them proud, and they were the reason he was even on Earth and had the opportunity to play hockey. Mostly while he was there, he just visited and talked with them. They had a little barbeque party with a few of Zarek's childhood friends and some cousins. It was overall a great time for Zarek, who was worn out and tired, to get some much needed rest and motivation to keep pushing to be better in the VHL. He also had future plans to buy them a better house once he could get into the VHL and start making lots more money. 
 
The two days seemed to be up all too soon, and early morning on the last day, Zarek boarded the long plane ride back to Las Vegas. He really thought on the plane, just about how hockey mattered to him, and how his parents mattered to him, and he really thought about how much more he needed to practice, just to get even close to the level of some of the other VHL players. This made him determined, much more determined than he already was, and as the plane touched down, he knew this coming practice is where he would start. And there he worked his ass off, waiting for week fourteen, where he would hopefully become a new version of himself, becoming an even better hockey player. He knew even if he didn't do good these coming games, he would keep going. Work harder and harder, until he could go down in VHL history. That was his ultimate goal he thought, and now he set out to achieve it, with a burning intensity in his eyes. When he laced up for the first game that week, it all started fueling through him, pushing him to give it three hundred percent effort, give it all for himself, and his team. These games were only a miniscule step in his biggest goal, the whole season, not even that big, but he needed something to build off of, and this is where he would start. This season, right here, right now, is where he begins the first steps of achieving his goal.
 
1,540 Words
Will be claimed the weeks of:
3/4  3/11  3/18

What if we took the VHLM and PUSHED IT somewhere else?
 

Hello to all, and welcome to another update for the upcoming S78 VHL Entry Draft. Here we will cover the S78 prospects’ stats and TPE earning, as well as getting a little more in-depth with “Scouting Spotlight!”
 

POINTS
 
  Player Name
POS
GP
P
-
David Tavau
D
20
31
5
Gregory Bates
LW
20
24
3
The Seabasstard
C
20
23
-2
Sven Reikkinen
D
20
21
New
Jaromir Lemiuex
RW
20
21
-2
Zarek Kaczka
D
20
20
-2
Anze Miklavz
RW
20
19
New
Nathan Powers
D
20
19
New
Arvid Johansson
D
19
17
-7
Watson Stonebridge
LW
20
17
 
Tavau stays on his throne at the top of the points standings for the S78 draft class with 31 points in 20 games to start the season. Jumping up a respective 5 and 3 spots, Gregory Bates and The Seabasstard are quickly solidifying themselves among the top scorers as well. Most notably entering the equation is Yukon winger Jaromir Lemiuex, who now sits at 5th place.
 
GOALS
    Player Name
POS
GP
G
1
Anze Miklavz
RW
20
10
7
Gregory Bates
LW
20
9
5
The Seabasstard
C
20
9
-3
Sven Reikkinen
D
20
9
New
Arvid Johansson
D
19
8
New
Watson Stonebridge
LW
20
7
-1
Luc Tessier
C
19
7
-1
Nils Tallinder
C
19
7
New
Jaromir Lemiuex
RW
20
6
-6
Zarek Kaczka
D
20
6
 
Just as they climbed in the points list, Bates and The Seabasstard climb a combined 12 spots since last week on the goals list. Watson Stonebridge took a bit of a step back in the points standings, but now makes a big jump into 6th in goals. Defenseman Arvid Johansson also makes his presence known this week, making his way onto both offensive lists as a new entry.
 
HITS
    Player Name
POS
GP
HIT
-
Hard Markinson
D
19
59
-
Charlie fraser
LW
20
48
3
Mr Duk
D
19
45
1
Zarek Kaczka
D
20
42
-1
Gregory Bates
LW
20
37
-3
Sven Reikkinen
D
20
36
2
Jaromir Lemiuex
RW
20
34
New
Jannik Nylen
D
20
32
-2
Julia Waffles
D
19
31
New
Mitchell Osborne
D
17
31
 
The top 2 of Hard Markinson and Charlie fraser has remained intact, but Mr Duk and Zarek Kaczka are swiftly approaching from below. Markinson has continued to be an absolute wrecking ball on the ice, with his 59 hits being 9th in the league and first on this list by a difference of 11. Mitchell Osborne is a name to keep an eye on, considering that he has found a way onto this list with at 2 or 3 less games played than everyone else.
 
SHOTS BLOCKED
    Player Name
GP
SB
-
Tui Sova
20
41
-
Drakon Zabastovka
20
38
3
Sven Reikkinen
20
36
-1
David Tavau
20
30
-
Arvid Johansson
19
30
-2
Zarek Kaczka
20
26
-
Nathan Powers
20
22
New
Mitchell Osborne
17
19
-1
Brodie Landry ll
20
16
-
Hard Markinson
19
15
 
Tui Sova has been a shot blocking monster this season, and he remains 1st on the list with the 3rd least time on ice per game among everyone. He sits at 3rd in the entire league in this category. It bears repeating that Osborne has managed to make another list in just 17 games, and also with the least time on ice per game on the whole list. Truly outstanding work by the young player, and hopefully we will see more success coming his way in the future.
 
SAVE PERCENTAGE
    Goalie Name
GP
PCT
-
Aike van Giersbergen
20
0.905
-
Anime Protagonist
19
0.868
-
Leroy Johnson
12
0.863
 
Not much changes here; van Giersbergen continues to dominate in the net, leading Houston to 13 wins so far in S77. Stay tuned, and you will hear more about this exceptional young netminder from the Netherlands.
 

TRAINING POINTS EARNED LAST WEEK
Name
3/28
Tui Sova
40
Caleb Gaudette
28
The Seabasstard
25
Cody Lachance
25
Anze Miklavz
25
Jaromir Lemieux
25
Nils Tallinder
19
Milk Jugs
19
Damien Salducci
18
Nathan Powers
17
Hard Markinson
16
Kevin Hard
15
Sven Reikkinen
14
Luc Tessier
14
Tynan Sylvester
14
Aike van Giersbergen
12
Jannik Nylen
12
Gregory Bates
12
Masami Iwasawa
12
David Tavau
11
 
Last week was unmistakably an amazing one for Kings defender Tui Sova, who claimed a baffling 40 TPE. This was actually also Milk Jugs’ debut week, and he posted an impressive 19 TPE to kick off what is hopefully a great career.
 
CAPPED TRAINING POINTS EARNED LAST WEEK
Name
Last Capped
Hard Markinson
12
The Seabasstard
12
Nils Tallinder
12
Sven Reikkinen
12
Luc Tessier
12
Tui Sova
12
Tynan Sylvester
12
Anze Miklavz
12
Milk Jugs
12
Aike van Giersbergen
10
Caleb Gaudette
10
Jannik Nylen
10
Damien Salducci
10
Masami Iwasawa
10
Brock Hampton
10
Jaromir Lemieux
10
Nathan Powers
10
Cody Lachance
8
Kevin Hard
8
Alexander Rivers
8
 
9 players capped out last week, one of which was the aforementioned Milk Jugs in his debut week. He joins Hard Markinson, Nils Tallinder, Luc Tessier, Tui Sova and Anze Miklavz as the only players to have not missed any capped TPE yet in their career.
 

Welcome to Scouting Spotlight, where we talk to some of tomorrow’s VHL stars. The first interview we have done is with Aike van Giersbergen of the Houston Bulls, who is currently ranked as the top goalie in the S78 Draft. We had the chance to catch up with user @enigmatic regarding her thoughts and aspirations with this new player, and here is what we found!
 
Q: With no goalies going in the first round for the past two seasons, a goalie of your caliber may be in higher demand in S78. Do you pay much attention to your draft stock, or do you simply focus on consistently improving your player?
 
While it's fun to be drafted early, I understand teams focusing on skaters first. So many people want to be a goaltender versus the spots available so you can afford to wait on them. Passing on a great skater because you drafted a goalie you might not have needed that early could seriously hurt some teams. I don't take draft position personally and would rather go to a team that has a plan and has a real need for me. Being the best I can be for whichever team wants to take a chance on me, no matter at which position in the draft, is my main goal.
 
Q: Why did you decide to make a goaltender?
 
Simply put, it's a position I always wanted to try. I wanted to wait for goalies to be needed before doing it and always ended up creating skaters on all hockey leagues I have been a part of. This time I decided to try it anyway and hope for the best.
 
Q: What are your career goals?
 
My only goal is to win championships. I have given up on the idea to win individual awards or make hall of fame with any of my players. If I can be just good enough to help my team win cups, that's enough for me.
 
Q: How has your VHLM season gone so far?
 
It started off really well for us and considering our very small roster it was surprising even to us. We hit a rough patch lately but I'm sure we can go back to our early season form. On a more personal note, I'm happy with how I have performed so far and I improve every week so I hope to do even better to help my team be in a good position for the playoffs.
 
Q: What can a team expect when they draft Aike van Giersbergen?
 
I am a good earner and while I will honestly miss some things, I'll do my best to get as many points as possible. I am also familiar with STHS so I kind of know what I'm doing with my build. As a person, I'm here to have fun so I won't be someone to cause problems in the locker room or on the forum itself.
That’s all, folks! Hopefully you enjoyed this quick roundup — make sure to keep your eye out for more like this coming in the future. There are plenty of exciting prospects to look out for, so hopefully this series will serve as a way to highlight this season’s up-and-comers.
 
Players mentioned: @Ahma @Tyler @Seabass @hockeyis66 @duckberg32 @Gwdjohnson @STZ @Charlie @Lefty_S @Hank @OzNasty @v.2 @NerdyCowz @KC15 @McKelvie

kendall jenner must have showed up with a pepsi

The Miami Marauders went into S77 with hopes high that they could be in the running for the Founder’s Cup, but 15 games into the season, the Florida-based club sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and may just find themselves soon on the outside looking in.
 
The South Beach club started the season at the top of the VHLM rankings, but a 7-7-1 start to S77 has led to rumours of discontent and possible trades down the line. In the last run of games, the Marauders lost 3-1 to Halifax, before dropping a 2-1 overtime contest to the runaway VHLM leaders, the Mississauga Hounds.
 
Speaking after Sunday’s defeat, Czech defenseman Jan Hlozek, who was predicted to be a frontrunner for the defenseman of the season award, couldn’t hide his frustrations.
 
“We should be in a much better position than we are right now. We’re trying to find a way to get some consistency to our game, but every time we seem to take one step forward, we end up taking two steps back,” Hlozek told reporters.
 
The Topolna native, who scored 59 points in 72 games last season, has only managed to find the net once through the first 15 games of the season, underlining the difficulties he has had in replicating his S76 form.
 
“I mean, I’m shooting the puck, it’s just not going in. I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s very difficult at the present moment,” he concluded.
 
The Marauders currently sit just two points ahead of the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference: the Philadelphia Reapers and the Minnesota Storm.

Word Count: 1505
Believe it or not, we are already a week in to the 77th season! That means 13 or 14 games played per club (as I am writing this). I have decided to do some power rankings, based on this past week. A number of variables will be taken into account, including: record (of course), streaks (winning or losing), and goal differential. I will also take a look at top performers for each team. Without further ado, here’s what I came up with: 
 
12. Mexico City Kings 
Record: 2-12-0 
Streak: L12
Goal Differential: -34 
 
The Kings are currently last in the league. They won their first two games before losing the next 12. Their goal differential is by far the worst in the league. Key players for Mexico City this season have been right wing Anze Miklavz, with 15 points in 14 games, left wing Watson Stonebridge, scoring at a point per game pace, including 10 assists, and defenseman Big Mortie with 13 points in 14 games and 24 shots blocked. 

11. Halifax 21st
Record: 5-7-1 
Streak: L1
Goal Differential: -10 
 
At the moment Halifax sits in 5th place in the East. You may be asking why I put them here instead of someone like Yukon or Philly, etc. The reasoning is that Halifax is on a losing streak (even if it is one game), they have the third worst goal differential in the league, the second least goals scored, and the fourth most goals against. However, I am not here to insult any team, so I will point out some of the positives. Goalie Jonathan Bustard has been on fire as of late, going 1-1 with a shutout, a stellar .941 save percentage, and 1.50 GAA. Right wing Kyle Glass has also been playing quite well, with 18 points in 13 games played. Left wing Baldur Poulsen has been unbelievable, scoring 9 goals and 16 points, WITH A +9 RATING. 

10. Yukon Rush 
Record: 5-9-0 
Streak: W1 
Goal Differential: -5 
 
Next up we have the Rush. Currently second last in the league, the Rush have won three of their last 4 games. Although they are trending upwards, they still have given up the second most goals (which is partly my own fault). That being said, the scoring has been there for the Rush. Currently tied for second in the league in terms of scoring, the offense has picked up a lot of the slack for Yukon. As it stands, the Rush have two of the top three scorers in the league. Key performers for the Rush this season have been: left wing Gaspar Zakrevsky, with a league leading 33 points in 14 games played, and center Lorgo Pompronkimishkonov, with 26 points, tied for second league-wide. The dynamic duo are one and two in goals, respectively, with 18 and 13. 
 
9. Philadelphia Reapers 
Record: 5-8-1
Streak: W2 
Goal Differential: -12 
 
Although towards the bottom of the standings, Philly is on the rise with a win in each of their past two contests. They do still have the second worst goal differential in the league, though, and the third most goals given up (56). Their scoring is middle of the pack, with 44 goals scored this season. The Reapers are lucky to have the second best player in terms of points, center Kjell Nilsson, with 26. Left winger Genghis Khan has also been excellent, with 13 goals and 24 points. Further, the club has defenseman Zeljko Ranogajec, the league leader in assists, with 19. Ranogajec is a Nighthawks prospect. Not only is Ranogajec’s offensive game superb, his defense is arguably even better. So far this season, he has 39 hits and has blocked 20 shots. Forgot to mention: he is 49 and is adamantly defying Father Time. 
 
8. San Diego Marlins 
Record: 6-5-2 
Streak: L3 
Goal Differential: +2
 
On to the Marlins. They enjoyed a pretty good start (6-2-2), but have yet to regain their form. They are right around the middle in both goals scored and goals given up. Defenseman Arvid Johansson has been incredible, scoring at a point per game pace, while adding 22 shot blocks and a +5 rating. Just ahead of Johansson with a +6 is The Loch Ness Monster, also a defenseman. The LNM has 19 shot blocks and 35 hits, and 13 assists in 13 games. 
 
7. Minnesota Storm 
 Record: 5-7-1 
Streak: W1 
Goal Differential: -8 
 
The Storm have not been great, but they did earn a boost with a win in their last game. The first thing to mention here is without a doubt, defenseman Barron Kruulenstien. Blocking an INSANE 37 shots, Kruulenstien has added 7 assists. Right wing Grapes has been great too, with 11 goals and 19 points. 
 
6. Ottawa Lynx 
Record: 7-6-0 
Streak: L1 
Goal Differential: -7 

The Lynx are an interesting story. On the one hand, they have a winning record and are in a playoff position. On the other, they score the least goals in the league (36). Their defense and goaltending has managed to save them most of the time. They have some hard-hitters on the back end, with three players combining for 67 hits. Defenseman Kirby Pandora in particular has been playing good, with 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points in 13 games, while adding 16 blocked shots and a game-winning goal. 
 
5. Las Vegas Aces 
Record: 7-4-3 
Streak: L1 
Goal Differential: +4 
 
What’s happening in Vegas right now is mostly staying in Vegas, and that is winning. The Aces are a solid all-around team. Left wing Darryl McDagg leads the team in points with 23. Defenseman New Player has blocked 27 shots and has 22 hits. On offense, New Player has 18 points. Fellow D-man Sven Reikkinen has 30 hits and 20 blocked shots. 

4. Miami Marauders 
Record: 7-6-0 
Streak: W1 
Goal Differential: +10 
 
Miami has scored 50 goals thus far this season, good for fourth in the league. They have allowed only 40 goals, also fourth in the league. Center Alexander The Great has  17 assists and 25 points in 13 games. Right wing Trevor Wallace has 10 goals and 18 points. Center Napoleon Bonaparte has provided a great physical presence on offense, with 30 hits. 
 
3. Houston Bulls 
Record: 10-3-1 
Streak: W1 
Goal Differential: +9 
 
The Bulls have played extremely well this season. Currently second in the league and first in the West, Houston has given up the second least amount of goals (34). The first shoutout goes to goaltender Aike van Giersbergen, who has been their MVP. Van Giersbergen is 10-3-1 with a .912 save percentage and 2.33 GAA and a shutout. The defense isn’t too shabby, either. Defenseman Germano Henchoz has 16 points in 14 games, 38 hits, 32 blocked shots, and 3 game-winning goals. All the makings of an elite, franchise defenseman. It doesn’t stop there though. Defenseman Drakon Zabastovka has 11 assists and 13 points, and 19 hits along with 26 shots blocked. It’s also hard to ignore center Bradley Senjo, who has 18 assists and 25 points, with 33 hits. 
 
2. Saskatoon Wild 
Record: 10-4-0 
Streak: L1
Goal Differential: +20 
 
I was tempted to put the Bulls here, but the Wild’s goal differential was too much to overlook. Saskatoon leads the league in goals with 59. They have given up the third-least amount of goals (39). They are a complete team. Center Griff Mackenzie has been terrific, scoring 11 goals and dishing 13 apples for 24 points. Just like Mackenzie, left wing Duncan Montana has 24 points. Defenseman Tanky plays a very physical game, handing out 66 hits. Offensive-minded defenseman David Tavau has 18 assists and 20 points. 
 
1. Mississauga Hounds 
Record: 12-1-0 
Streak: W1 
Goal Differential: +31 
 
I’m sure for most of you this comes as no surprise. The Hounds have been the powerhouse of Season 77 so far, and rightly so. They are tied for second in goals with the Rush (56) and have only surrendered 25 to their opponents. Goalie Luke Spinelli has been DOMINANT, posting the same great record of Mississauga, a .910 save percentage, and a 1.92 GAA. Center Guy Lambert has 21 points, left wing Angel Wachiure has 10 goals and is shooting at a prolific 25% rate, and defenseman Hard Markinson has 6 goals, a +11 rating, and 43 hits. 
 
I hope you all enjoyed my first article of this length! I certainly had fun analyzing all the VHLM teams and top players. Some of you are insanely good! Many, many good players were not mentioned, just keep in mind there are more great players than could be mentioned. Don’t take it personal if your team was ranked low (because so was mine!). I hope to keep this up in the future and want to try to cover some different topics too. Let me know if you have any suggestions, comments, etc. and feel free to review honestly. Best of luck to everyone in the league the rest of the way! There are a lot of contenders for the cup and it’ll be interesting for sure.