dogwoodmaple

🥲

After being eliminated from the VHL postseason, Vancouver Wolves forward Dogwood Maple was unsure of how to spend the rest of his time this offseason.
 
"Obviously my first reaction was just being downright mad. We made such a fantastic comeback not just in the regular season, but in this series as well.  When it was 0-2, I know a lot of people gave us up for dead, but not anyone in this locker room.  We knew what kind of squad we had and that we were just too good to be swept.  So it wasn't a surprise at all to us that we were able to square the series up at 2-2.  Social media and the networks were going crazy, but we weren't the least bit in awe or shocked.  But we also knew that deciding games would always be coin flips so all we could do was give it our best shot.  When we came up short, it was devastating and we all definitely needed time to heal from that.  After a few days, I finally decided how I'd spend the rest of the postseason," Maple explained.
 
Dogwood wouldn't be going on vacation or relaxing by a pool somewhere.  He'd be running.
 
"People were surprised at first, which I totally understand.  I told them I wanted to run all the way from Vancouver to my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia to take my mind off of hockey.  I'd poured so much of myself into the sport this season that I just had to take a break," Maple said.
 
Many of his teammates thought he was out of his mind and his coaching staff tried to put a stop to it.  They were worried that he would be injured or just run himself out of shape for the coming season.  They even resorted to calling him Forrest Gump, who famously went for a run one day and didn't stop for months.
 
"I laughed when I first heard the Forrest Gump jokes. It's a great movie and I'm a huge Tom Hanks fan.  But this was all about me just trying to clear my mind.  I couldn't have just sat around my house or the team facility and watch the rest of the playoffs on television. It would've been too painful for me, so I have to do everything in my power to do literally anything to take my mind off it."
 
Maple's journey took him all the way down the California coast, across Arizona and New Mexico, into Texas and finally into the American South.  When Maple finally crossed the state line to bring himself into Georgia, there was a huge parade waiting for him by people who had been following his run for months.
 
"It really was awesome to get that kind of support in my home state.  To know that there were people out there who were supporting me from across the country was just incredible.  I honestly don't think I could've finished the run without all of those folks."
 
When Maple finally made it to Atlanta, there was an enormous crowd waiting for him at City Hall which quickly turned into a massive block party.  And fortunately for Maple, Delta Air Lines was one of the companies represented in that celebration and they graciously offered to fly him back to Vancouver, first class.
 
"I'm glad they offered," Maple said, "I couldn't have run all the way back."
 
569 words

This was a bittersweet season, there's no doubt about it.
 
For the first third of the year or so, we were absolutely lost.  We couldn't score, we couldn't defend, and we just could not scrape together any points.  But then, something clicked and we turned into a completely different squad.  We strung together wins, we were playing with unity and pace, and we finished the regular season in absolutely spectacular fashion.  Never once did we give up hope, which was especially important as we fell behind 2-0 in the Seattle series.  We managed to win back-to-back games, which forced a pivotal game 5, but victory lay just outside our grasp.
 
Am I upset that we lost to Seattle? Of course.  But am I proud as hell of our turnaround?  You bet.  A lot of other franchises would've folded at the first sign of trouble, but not Vancouver.  We stuck together, rallied the proverbial troops, and finished with a season that all Wolves' fans could be proud of.
 
We won't always win, but we will never give up and we will never run from a fight.  
 
All that's left to do is to come back stronger next season and give it another run!
 
(202 words)

This was a bittersweet season, there's no doubt about it.
 
For the first third of the year or so, we were absolutely lost.  We couldn't score, we couldn't defend, and we just could not scrape together any points.  But then, something clicked and we turned into a completely different squad.  We strung together wins, we were playing with unity and pace, and we finished the regular season in absolutely spectacular fashion.  Never once did we give up hope, which was especially important as we fell behind 2-0 in the Seattle series.  We managed to win back-to-back games, which forced a pivotal game 5, but victory lay just outside our grasp.
 
Am I upset that we lost to Seattle? Of course.  But am I proud as hell of our turnaround?  You bet.  A lot of other franchises would've folded at the first sign of trouble, but not Vancouver.  We stuck together, rallied the proverbial troops, and finished with a season that all Wolves' fans could be proud of.
 
We won't always win, but we will never give up and we will never run from a fight.  
 
All that's left to do is to come back stronger next season and give it another run!
 
(202 words)

Game 69:
 Calgary Wranglers vs. Seattle Bears 
 
In this much-anticipated matchup, it didn't take long for one team to grab the entire momentum in this series.  In the first period, Calgary scored not one, not two, but three goals to race out to a 3-0 lead. The trio of goals were from three different players: GoodBrandSun, Gonclaves, and Wolanin, which just shows how deep this Wranglers team is.  The Bears managed to claw one back and enter the second period trailing 3-1, somewhat stopping the bleeding. In the second period, however, it was more of the same for Calgary.  Lloyd Braun found the back of the net, giving Calgary a 4-1 lead and salting this game away. The two teams traded a goal each in the final period, but the damage was already done.  Calgary takes this one by a score of 5-2.

Game 71:
 Calgary Wranglers vs. Seattle Bears 
 
Just as Calgary got out to an incredibly fast start in the opening game, Seattle answered the call and did the same here in game two. Tavish DeGroot got the scoring started just 28 seconds into the game and was followed by Chip Stone who found the back of the net just a few minutes later. That was all the scoring in the opening period as Seattle took full control of the game.  Both teams' defenses came to play in the second period, as neither was able to score, leading to a 2-0 lead for Seattle as play began in the third.  Calgary showed some life, halving the lead with an early goal in the third period, but they could never find the equalizer as Seattle took this game 2-1.

After being eliminated from the VHL postseason, Vancouver Wolves forward Dogwood Maple was unsure of how to spend the rest of his time this offseason.
 
"Obviously my first reaction was just being downright mad. We made such a fantastic comeback not just in the regular season, but in this series as well.  When it was 0-2, I know a lot of people gave us up for dead, but not anyone in this locker room.  We knew what kind of squad we had and that we were just too good to be swept.  So it wasn't a surprise at all to us that we were able to square the series up at 2-2.  Social media and the networks were going crazy, but we weren't the least bit in awe or shocked.  But we also knew that deciding games would always be coin flips so all we could do was give it our best shot.  When we came up short, it was devastating and we all definitely needed time to heal from that.  After a few days, I finally decided how I'd spend the rest of the postseason," Maple explained.
 
Dogwood wouldn't be going on vacation or relaxing by a pool somewhere.  He'd be running.
 
"People were surprised at first, which I totally understand.  I told them I wanted to run all the way from Vancouver to my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia to take my mind off of hockey.  I'd poured so much of myself into the sport this season that I just had to take a break," Maple said.
 
Many of his teammates thought he was out of his mind and his coaching staff tried to put a stop to it.  They were worried that he would be injured or just run himself out of shape for the coming season.  They even resorted to calling him Forrest Gump, who famously went for a run one day and didn't stop for months.
 
"I laughed when I first heard the Forrest Gump jokes. It's a great movie and I'm a huge Tom Hanks fan.  But this was all about me just trying to clear my mind.  I couldn't have just sat around my house or the team facility and watch the rest of the playoffs on television. It would've been too painful for me, so I have to do everything in my power to do literally anything to take my mind off it."
 
Maple's journey took him all the way down the California coast, across Arizona and New Mexico, into Texas and finally into the American South.  When Maple finally crossed the state line to bring himself into Georgia, there was a huge parade waiting for him by people who had been following his run for months.
 
"It really was awesome to get that kind of support in my home state.  To know that there were people out there who were supporting me from across the country was just incredible.  I honestly don't think I could've finished the run without all of those folks."
 
When Maple finally made it to Atlanta, there was an enormous crowd waiting for him at City Hall which quickly turned into a massive block party.  And fortunately for Maple, Delta Air Lines was one of the companies represented in that celebration and they graciously offered to fly him back to Vancouver, first class.
 
"I'm glad they offered," Maple said, "I couldn't have run all the way back."
 
569 words

This was a bittersweet season, there's no doubt about it.
 
For the first third of the year or so, we were absolutely lost.  We couldn't score, we couldn't defend, and we just could not scrape together any points.  But then, something clicked and we turned into a completely different squad.  We strung together wins, we were playing with unity and pace, and we finished the regular season in absolutely spectacular fashion.  Never once did we give up hope, which was especially important as we fell behind 2-0 in the Seattle series.  We managed to win back-to-back games, which forced a pivotal game 5, but victory lay just outside our grasp.
 
Am I upset that we lost to Seattle? Of course.  But am I proud as hell of our turnaround?  You bet.  A lot of other franchises would've folded at the first sign of trouble, but not Vancouver.  We stuck together, rallied the proverbial troops, and finished with a season that all Wolves' fans could be proud of.
 
We won't always win, but we will never give up and we will never run from a fight.  
 
All that's left to do is to come back stronger next season and give it another run!
 
(202 words)

This postseason, Dogwood has taken to selling vegetables to raise money for local charities.  It began with tomatoes and turnip greens and expanded to cucumbers, peppers, and carrots.
 
"I've always been a big gardener and I wanted to combine that hobby with something else close to my heart - the Vancouver Children's Hospital.  We've been able to raise more than $500,000 selling vegetables and our operation has expanded tremendously.  It started out with just me selling what I could row and has now turned into a major farming operation with more than a dozen other players involved," Dogwood said.
 
Maple's overall goal was to break the seven-figure mark and it appears to be well on his way to cross that line and then some.  
 
"Those kids are going through more than we can ever imagine and anything we can do to help with funding to help in any way, shape, or form is just tremendous.  Next season, we're hoping to expand this to half the teams in the league to really get the donations rolling in.  First stop, one million.  Next stop, one billion?"

1. Lets roll with Henry Eagles for this one. 42 goals and on an absolute tear!
2. Bob Vladovechsenkchushkin!  Does a little bit of everything for us and is the straw that stirs the drink.
3. TIE!  I just cannot pick one...the development our front office has helped achieve with them has been fantastic this year.
4. Perhaps skip it this season?  I don't think there'll be much harm in it...
5. I'll miss all of them, without a shadow of a doubt.
6. WINNING THE CUP

After the Vancouver Wolves torrid finish to the season, they clinched a spot in the postseason and faced off with the Los Angeles Stars in the wildcard round.  This series was expected to be a back and forth affair and it has certainly lived up to its billing so far.
 
Game One got off to a slow start with neither team scoring a goal in the first period. This was despite three separate penalties, with each team's powerplay lines unable to take advantage of the opportunity.  In the second goal, Los Angeles began to assert itself with goal first form Nezuko and then a following goal less than a minute later from Scoish Velociraptor Maloish.  This 2-0 lead didn't immediately seem insurmountable for Vancouver, but quickly became such with a Sunglasses Joyo goal 36 seconds into the third period to give the Stars 3-0.  Los Angeles wasn't satisfied to simply run out the clock, though, as they continued to pour it on the overmatched Wolves.  In total, the Stars scored four goals in the final period to take the opening game by a blowout score of 6-1.  
 
Game Two felt like a must-win for Vancouver after the poor showing in the opening game, but unfortunately for Wolves' fans it was more of the same. Todd Cooke kept the offense flowing for Los Angeles and scored a first period goal.  Vancouver's defense rose up to the occasion and prevented any further goals in the rest of the first period and second period.  This led to a razor-thin game entering the third period with Los Angeles up 1-0.  The game was fully in balance until Todd Cooke added his second goal of the game which gave the Stars a 2-0 lead.  Despite Vancouver throwing everything towards their offense as a last ditch effort to score, they were unsuccessful and even gave up another goal in the process.  With that, Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead and Vancouver's hopes were all but dashed.
 
Game Three got started exactly how Vancouver needed with a Henry Eagles goal just one minute into the first period.  This jolt of energy gave the Wolves all the confidence in the world and most certainly impacted their on-ice play.  They began skating faster, executing more precise passes, and ratched up the defense. That heightened play led to another first period goal to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead, thanks to Wann Kerr.  This lead remained throughout the rest of the period and through the second, although Los Angeles did claw one back to make it 2-1 entering the final period. Los Angeles tied the game at 2-2, but Vancouver found another gear and retook the lead for good thanks to Bob Vladovechsenkchushkin and his game-winning goal. Vancouver stays alive and notched the 3-2 victory.
 
Game Four was yet another elimination game for Vancouver and it appears their success in the previous game continued to spill over to this matchup. After the two teams traded a goal each in the first period, the Wolves began to dominate the final two-thirds of the game. A pair of goals each in the second and third periods pushed the Wolves' lead to 5-2 allowing them to yet again stave off elimination.  This brings up a crucial Game Five where the winner will advance and the loser must pack their bags.  Who will take it?
 
(560 words)

After the Vancouver Wolves torrid finish to the season, they clinched a spot in the postseason and faced off with the Los Angeles Stars in the wildcard round.  This series was expected to be a back and forth affair and it has certainly lived up to its billing so far.
 
Game One got off to a slow start with neither team scoring a goal in the first period. This was despite three separate penalties, with each team's powerplay lines unable to take advantage of the opportunity.  In the second goal, Los Angeles began to assert itself with goal first form Nezuko and then a following goal less than a minute later from Scoish Velociraptor Maloish.  This 2-0 lead didn't immediately seem insurmountable for Vancouver, but quickly became such with a Sunglasses Joyo goal 36 seconds into the third period to give the Stars 3-0.  Los Angeles wasn't satisfied to simply run out the clock, though, as they continued to pour it on the overmatched Wolves.  In total, the Stars scored four goals in the final period to take the opening game by a blowout score of 6-1.  
 
Game Two felt like a must-win for Vancouver after the poor showing in the opening game, but unfortunately for Wolves' fans it was more of the same. Todd Cooke kept the offense flowing for Los Angeles and scored a first period goal.  Vancouver's defense rose up to the occasion and prevented any further goals in the rest of the first period and second period.  This led to a razor-thin game entering the third period with Los Angeles up 1-0.  The game was fully in balance until Todd Cooke added his second goal of the game which gave the Stars a 2-0 lead.  Despite Vancouver throwing everything towards their offense as a last ditch effort to score, they were unsuccessful and even gave up another goal in the process.  With that, Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead and Vancouver's hopes were all but dashed.
 
Game Three got started exactly how Vancouver needed with a Henry Eagles goal just one minute into the first period.  This jolt of energy gave the Wolves all the confidence in the world and most certainly impacted their on-ice play.  They began skating faster, executing more precise passes, and ratched up the defense. That heightened play led to another first period goal to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead, thanks to Wann Kerr.  This lead remained throughout the rest of the period and through the second, although Los Angeles did claw one back to make it 2-1 entering the final period. Los Angeles tied the game at 2-2, but Vancouver found another gear and retook the lead for good thanks to Bob Vladovechsenkchushkin and his game-winning goal. Vancouver stays alive and notched the 3-2 victory.
 
Game Four was yet another elimination game for Vancouver and it appears their success in the previous game continued to spill over to this matchup. After the two teams traded a goal each in the first period, the Wolves began to dominate the final two-thirds of the game. A pair of goals each in the second and third periods pushed the Wolves' lead to 5-2 allowing them to yet again stave off elimination.  This brings up a crucial Game Five where the winner will advance and the loser must pack their bags.  Who will take it?
 
(560 words)

Game 32:
 London United vs. Riga Reign 
 
London got off to a fantastic start in a potential series-clinching game thanks to a first period goal from Igor Molotov.  Riga, feeling the pressure of elimination, responded magnificently with a pair of second period goals to take a 2-1 lead. But just as the Reign were feeling good about their prospects, London struck back with a pair of goals of their own, retaking the lead at 3-2.  Just as they had before, Riga answered the call and tied the game with a third period goal from Sergey Preobrazhensky.  However, just as they had before, London rose to the occasion and overcame the Reign's run and scored the game-winner to clinch the series and advance to the next round.

After the Vancouver Wolves torrid finish to the season, they clinched a spot in the postseason and faced off with the Los Angeles Stars in the wildcard round.  This series was expected to be a back and forth affair and it has certainly lived up to its billing so far.
 
Game One got off to a slow start with neither team scoring a goal in the first period. This was despite three separate penalties, with each team's powerplay lines unable to take advantage of the opportunity.  In the second goal, Los Angeles began to assert itself with goal first form Nezuko and then a following goal less than a minute later from Scoish Velociraptor Maloish.  This 2-0 lead didn't immediately seem insurmountable for Vancouver, but quickly became such with a Sunglasses Joyo goal 36 seconds into the third period to give the Stars 3-0.  Los Angeles wasn't satisfied to simply run out the clock, though, as they continued to pour it on the overmatched Wolves.  In total, the Stars scored four goals in the final period to take the opening game by a blowout score of 6-1.  
 
Game Two felt like a must-win for Vancouver after the poor showing in the opening game, but unfortunately for Wolves' fans it was more of the same. Todd Cooke kept the offense flowing for Los Angeles and scored a first period goal.  Vancouver's defense rose up to the occasion and prevented any further goals in the rest of the first period and second period.  This led to a razor-thin game entering the third period with Los Angeles up 1-0.  The game was fully in balance until Todd Cooke added his second goal of the game which gave the Stars a 2-0 lead.  Despite Vancouver throwing everything towards their offense as a last ditch effort to score, they were unsuccessful and even gave up another goal in the process.  With that, Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead and Vancouver's hopes were all but dashed.
 
Game Three got started exactly how Vancouver needed with a Henry Eagles goal just one minute into the first period.  This jolt of energy gave the Wolves all the confidence in the world and most certainly impacted their on-ice play.  They began skating faster, executing more precise passes, and ratched up the defense. That heightened play led to another first period goal to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead, thanks to Wann Kerr.  This lead remained throughout the rest of the period and through the second, although Los Angeles did claw one back to make it 2-1 entering the final period. Los Angeles tied the game at 2-2, but Vancouver found another gear and retook the lead for good thanks to Bob Vladovechsenkchushkin and his game-winning goal. Vancouver stays alive and notched the 3-2 victory.
 
Game Four was yet another elimination game for Vancouver and it appears their success in the previous game continued to spill over to this matchup. After the two teams traded a goal each in the first period, the Wolves began to dominate the final two-thirds of the game. A pair of goals each in the second and third periods pushed the Wolves' lead to 5-2 allowing them to yet again stave off elimination.  This brings up a crucial Game Five where the winner will advance and the loser must pack their bags.  Who will take it?
 
(560 words)

Never count out the Vancouver Wolves!
 
We heard the constant boos from our home fans.  We heard all of the talking heads constantly bemoan our performances.  We read all the criticism and hot takes plastered all over social media.   And I'll be honest, I think it was deserved.  We started out the season cold as ice and things were not going well.  Our defense couldn't stop anything, our offense could not find the back of the net, and our entire mojo was off.  Things were just continuing to spiral out of control, but that's when we took a long hard look in the mirror and really decided that we needed to make a change.  We took all of that negative energy from the media, from the fans, and even from inside our own locker room and decided to funnel it into a complete and total turnaround.  
 
As it stands, we're currently in one of the wildcard spots with a week to go in the regular season, thanks to an incredibly hot run that we've been on. In our first 22 games, we were 6-12-4 and occupied the gutter of the league, but not any longer.  We've gone 25-13-4 since then and have established ourselves as one of the hottest teams in the entire league.  Our offense has gelled like no other and we've really been able to predict each other's movements on the ice.  It's led to goal after goal after goal and helped up leapfrog other teams as far as goals scored are concerned.
 
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our front office in all of this. It would have been very easy to them to give up on the season and start giving away players for a rebuild off into the distant future. But they stuck with us, kept us motivated, and put us in the best position possible to make a deep playoff run.  And who knows what can happen if we do clinch our spot in the postseason.  Last year, we entered the playoffs as one of the best teams in the entire league and we all know how that panned out.  So maybe we have a little reverse jinx, opposite vibes type deal that could launch us towards the cup.  And it's also helped to reset our expectations as we enter the final stages of the regular season.  Last year, losing in the first round was a devastating blow that took forever to get over.  Now?  Just making the postseason would be a huge accomplishment considering how we started the season.  And while a chunk of this season was all sorts of bad, this year has gone down as one of my favorites that I've ever spent in Vancouver.  The teamwork, camaraderie, and closeness of the entire squad is something I'll never forget and that'll still be the case even if we falter next week.  Before this season, I hoped to be a Vancouver Wolf for life and that's only been further strengthened after going through this season with my teammates.  I understand that the team has to come first and I may end up playing for other franchises in my career, I will always consider myself a Wolf, first and foremost.  No matter what.
 
542 words

Never count out the Vancouver Wolves!
 
We heard the constant boos from our home fans.  We heard all of the talking heads constantly bemoan our performances.  We read all the criticism and hot takes plastered all over social media.   And I'll be honest, I think it was deserved.  We started out the season cold as ice and things were not going well.  Our defense couldn't stop anything, our offense could not find the back of the net, and our entire mojo was off.  Things were just continuing to spiral out of control, but that's when we took a long hard look in the mirror and really decided that we needed to make a change.  We took all of that negative energy from the media, from the fans, and even from inside our own locker room and decided to funnel it into a complete and total turnaround.  
 
As it stands, we're currently in one of the wildcard spots with a week to go in the regular season, thanks to an incredibly hot run that we've been on. In our first 22 games, we were 6-12-4 and occupied the gutter of the league, but not any longer.  We've gone 25-13-4 since then and have established ourselves as one of the hottest teams in the entire league.  Our offense has gelled like no other and we've really been able to predict each other's movements on the ice.  It's led to goal after goal after goal and helped up leapfrog other teams as far as goals scored are concerned.
 
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our front office in all of this. It would have been very easy to them to give up on the season and start giving away players for a rebuild off into the distant future. But they stuck with us, kept us motivated, and put us in the best position possible to make a deep playoff run.  And who knows what can happen if we do clinch our spot in the postseason.  Last year, we entered the playoffs as one of the best teams in the entire league and we all know how that panned out.  So maybe we have a little reverse jinx, opposite vibes type deal that could launch us towards the cup.  And it's also helped to reset our expectations as we enter the final stages of the regular season.  Last year, losing in the first round was a devastating blow that took forever to get over.  Now?  Just making the postseason would be a huge accomplishment considering how we started the season.  And while a chunk of this season was all sorts of bad, this year has gone down as one of my favorites that I've ever spent in Vancouver.  The teamwork, camaraderie, and closeness of the entire squad is something I'll never forget and that'll still be the case even if we falter next week.  Before this season, I hoped to be a Vancouver Wolf for life and that's only been further strengthened after going through this season with my teammates.  I understand that the team has to come first and I may end up playing for other franchises in my career, I will always consider myself a Wolf, first and foremost.  No matter what.
 
542 words

Never count out the Vancouver Wolves!
 
We heard the constant boos from our home fans.  We heard all of the talking heads constantly bemoan our performances.  We read all the criticism and hot takes plastered all over social media.   And I'll be honest, I think it was deserved.  We started out the season cold as ice and things were not going well.  Our defense couldn't stop anything, our offense could not find the back of the net, and our entire mojo was off.  Things were just continuing to spiral out of control, but that's when we took a long hard look in the mirror and really decided that we needed to make a change.  We took all of that negative energy from the media, from the fans, and even from inside our own locker room and decided to funnel it into a complete and total turnaround.  
 
As it stands, we're currently in one of the wildcard spots with a week to go in the regular season, thanks to an incredibly hot run that we've been on. In our first 22 games, we were 6-12-4 and occupied the gutter of the league, but not any longer.  We've gone 25-13-4 since then and have established ourselves as one of the hottest teams in the entire league.  Our offense has gelled like no other and we've really been able to predict each other's movements on the ice.  It's led to goal after goal after goal and helped up leapfrog other teams as far as goals scored are concerned.
 
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our front office in all of this. It would have been very easy to them to give up on the season and start giving away players for a rebuild off into the distant future. But they stuck with us, kept us motivated, and put us in the best position possible to make a deep playoff run.  And who knows what can happen if we do clinch our spot in the postseason.  Last year, we entered the playoffs as one of the best teams in the entire league and we all know how that panned out.  So maybe we have a little reverse jinx, opposite vibes type deal that could launch us towards the cup.  And it's also helped to reset our expectations as we enter the final stages of the regular season.  Last year, losing in the first round was a devastating blow that took forever to get over.  Now?  Just making the postseason would be a huge accomplishment considering how we started the season.  And while a chunk of this season was all sorts of bad, this year has gone down as one of my favorites that I've ever spent in Vancouver.  The teamwork, camaraderie, and closeness of the entire squad is something I'll never forget and that'll still be the case even if we falter next week.  Before this season, I hoped to be a Vancouver Wolf for life and that's only been further strengthened after going through this season with my teammates.  I understand that the team has to come first and I may end up playing for other franchises in my career, I will always consider myself a Wolf, first and foremost.  No matter what.
 
542 words

1. Our MVP has been our overall team camaraderie.  We've held firm through the hard times!
2. Probably our defense as a whole.  They got us out of more than a few jams this season.
3. Oreo I guess?  Close and there are no bad choices here.
4. Yes!  One of the rookies for sure. They deserve it.
5. I'll miss all of them equally.  Huge for the Wolves and we'll need to work hard to replace them.
6. I'd love to eclipse my points record from last season

Boomer.
Geezer.
Old Man.
Flip Phone.
 
Those are just some of the names my teammates call me on a regular basis.  Not because I'm old, but because I pride myself on the "good old days" of hockey and playing the game the right way.  I'm a firm believer that the height of hockey was what we'd call the retro days which is how I model my game.  Growing up, I idolized the stars of that era and was immediately taken in by their skill, speed, and raucous fights that always lit up the highlights.  
 
I'm also a firm believer in putting team play ahead of individual accolades, which is also somewhat of a retro ideal.  So many people nowadays are focused 100% on what they're doing, how their stat line looks, and some would even trade team accomplishments for individual accolades.  Not me, though.  The purest form of hockey is five players acting as one, seamlessly flowing across the ice to help set up a goal.  In my mind, it doesn't really matter who scores the goal as long as it gets scored.  Whether I score a hat trick or put up a goose egg on the box score, the only thing that truly matters is getting the win and helping to propel the team forward.  The bottom line is that in the good old days of hockey, even if you weren't credited with an assist, you were a crucial component of the play.  Now, it's all about me me me, which I firmly reject.  I would do anything to bring home another cup to Vancouver, even if that meant never scoring another goal all season.
 
I'm also a fighter, which is something that has been frowned upon in recent years.  If you have a beef with someone on the ice, the best way to handle it isn't with a witty tweet or a dig on Instagram. It's to put them on their backside during the game and let them know exactly what you think of them. Not to mention the unwritten rule that if you hit our guy, we're going to hit your guy.  Tit for tat, so to speak.  I'm not a dirty player by any stretch, but there are just some things in hockey that are part of the way the game should be played.  I do all my talking on the ice with my play and my fists, if need be.  I won't back down under any circumstances.
 
The last reason my teammates keep digging me about being in love with the retro old days is my affinity for the old jersey combinations.  Nowadays, so many uniforms are bland, basic, and all too similar to one another.  They're over-corporatized and really bring nothing new and fun to the franchise.  In the old days, however, there were bright uniforms with unique logos and fun designs.  It really gave the team a true identity and made it that much more fun for the fans to get engaged with the franchise.  There's just something about those goofy logos and bright colors of yesteryear that call to me as a player and as a fan.  

1. I think this will help us get over the hump and get into the playoffs, no doubt.
2. Is 1,000 an option? 
3. I get nervous because I'm scared as heck y'all are gonna trade me!
4. I like our chances to make the playoffs, but we need to get hot at the right time.
5. That's a good question and one that I don't have a great answer for. I do know that our GMs haven't led us astray yet!
6. Wildcard!

Game 277:
 Calgary Wranglers vs. Los Angeles Stars 
 
In this matchup, Calgary raced out to an early first period lead over Los Angeles and never looked back. Just five minutes into the game, AirRig GoodBrandSun lit the siren which gave the Wranglers a 1-0 lead.  The two teams sparred back and forth for much of the rest of the opening period, but AirRig GoodBrandSun again found the back of the net with just a few minutes left in the first to push Calgary's lead to 2-0. As if two wasn't enough, AirRig GoodBrandSun made it a hatty with a goal in the second period, which gave Calgary a 3-0 lead and caused all the Los Angeles fans to start heading towards the exits.  The Stars scored one garbage time goal late in the third, but this was never really in doubt. Calgary wins 3-1.

Game 273:
 Malmo Nighthawks vs. Warsaw Predators 
 
Warsaw and Malmo faced off today in what began as a defensive battle. In the first period, there was only one goal scored thanks to Warsaw's Zach Kisslinger II.  Warsaw held that 1-0 lead, but was soon able to break through the tough Malmo defenses and put on a fireworks show in the second period.  In the second, Warsaw scored three unanswered goals to push their lead to 4-0 and all but salt this game away.  Malmo managed to score one late goal in the second and find the net again in the third, but the onslaught from Warsaw was too much.  The Predators win this one 4-2.

1. We are absolutely going to make it at least as a wildcard.  We're going to get things rolling ASAP
2. That, I don't know.  I just hope we catch one of them!
3. A little bit, but I think they were good moves overall
4. I think the rebuilt defense will be what gets us to the promised land
5. Hopefully not me!!!
6. Frozen?