kirbithan

This is AWESOME!! Thank you Jason!

This was such a creative idea for a media spot and a super fun read! Thank you for the kind words— amazing work, Masu!

first gen with many more players to come in the future!

Thank you!

Thanks so much, Jason!!

Thank you, Aimkin!!

“What a splendid pie! Pizza, pizza pie. Every minute, every second, buy, buy, buy, buy, buy…” echoed throughout the locker room of the Stockholm Vikings’ arena in a singsong tone as Lachlan Summers was warming up for their game against the Cologne Express. At first, his teammates thought nothing of it, as they figured the goaltender was just in his own world. It certainly looked like it, at least— his earbuds were in as he bobbed to his head to the music, performing his pregame stretching ritual that could make a gymnast blush. Then came the lyrics that made the rest of the Vikings’ heads turn. “Pepperoni and green peppers, mushrooms, olives, chives… pepperoni and green peppers, mushrooms, olives, chives!” Sadie St-Louis’ (@sadie) brow furrowed, looking bemused before tapping Lachlan on the shoulder. His head swiftly turned to look at her, plucking out an earbud to hear what she had to say. “What are you listening to?” “My pregame playlist,” the Aussie answered plainly. “Yeah— but what song? Something from The Wiggles?” “Why would I be listening to a children’s band?” “The lyrics, Lachlan.” That was when Lachlan’s lip twitched with amusement, offering her an earbud so she could hear what exactly was playing. Immediately, Sadie laughed. “Oh. This really didn’t sound the way I expected.” “The beauty of alternative metal,” Lachlan hummed, and soon enough, all the Vikings resumed their usual activities in preparation for the game.

ABSOLUTELY WICKED. I love the little details you added! They make all the difference.

@vincentlg2007

@sadie

On a cloudy July morning in Brisbane, Australia, Lachlan Derek Summers was born to a proud mother: Marcie Summers. His father was never in the picture, as his parents were in the process of a divorce when his mother was pregnant with him. She would raise Lachlan and his older sister Taryn on her own, working tirelessly to support them. Lachlan and Taryn are spitting images of their mother, and while Lachlan didn’t necessarily loathe their father, he had no interest in reconnecting with him either. As a child and even now to an extent, Lachlan could be described as a ticking time bomb. He would appear stoic and expressionless to a fault like an android, as few dubbed him, until his emotions would boil up inside him and explode— an exact opposite of his extraverted, bubbly older sister. He had difficulties verbally expressing himself and barely spoke for the first few years of his life. A lack of an outlet was the culprit. His mother encouraged him to try out various sports and hobbies, but nothing seemed to stick until he stumbled across VHL Continental Cup highlights on the internet. Immediately, he was captivated by the sport of ice hockey, and pleaded with his mother to sign him up for a local youth team— the Brisbane Kings— even though it was one of the least popular sports in the country. — 11-year-old Lachlan during his time with the Brisbane Kings When people think of Australia, they don’t regard it as a country that produces hockey phenomena, but Lachlan was hellbent on changing that from a young age and his mom and sister knew they couldn’t sway him from his goals. At the time, he didn’t realize how much his family sacrificed for him— costly hockey equipment, long drives to the rink and back, and more— but as he grew up in a country with only twenty-one hockey rinks in its entirety, it was miraculous that he was able to stick with the sport. With the inspiration of a few Aussies who were able to make it to the VHL before him, Lachlan knew it was possible for him to emulate their success. Initially, he started out as a forward, but was mediocre at the position at best and wasn’t the strongest skater. When his team was short of a goalie, his coach asked for volunteers and Lachlan’s hand rose up into the air without hesitation. After taking a few shots, one hit him directly in the mask and he didn’t even flinch— hence, his coach knew that they had their goaltender. — The Summers Family What he enjoyed more than being on the ice was, of course, spending time with his mom and sister. Marcie and Taryn meant the world to him. They were the only ones who knew the inner workings of his mind, and were able to draw out more of his personality when Marcie insisted on baking desserts together as a form of family bonding. It eventually became a family tradition, and Lachlan found he had a knack for it, taking the reins during each baking session. They’d spend their Saturdays researching and creating delicious sweets to enjoy as a family, which the Summers siblings always looked forward to. After hockey, Lachlan could definitely have a baking career on his hands. At the age of 15, he received the opportunity to travel abroad to live in Québec for a summer in order to attend a hockey camp for aspiring young players. This would be the first time he’d leave home for an extended period. His host family was that of his eventual future husband, François “Frankie” Ducharme, a winger who was also attending that same camp. — Frankie Ducharme Even as a teenager, Lachlan couldn’t escape the “android” moniker. As most of the camp attendees had their own respective cliques already, it was more difficult for him to come out of his shell than usual. He felt like an outcast— a kid who didn’t deserve to be regarded at the same level as other “future prodigies” who grew up in conventional hockey countries. Then came a point where dealing with his own feelings and negative thoughts became unbearable, and the sport he fell in love with was starting to feel like a chore as a result. However, Frankie wasn’t deterred by this challenge. He had “a smile that could light up an entire room,” and wouldn’t hesitate to share his sunshine with Lachlan when he needed it most, relaying words of advice and reassurance. They’d spend nearly every day on the ice together practicing drills. Off the ice, they were inseparable, and Lachlan would open up to Frankie more than anyone else. At the conclusion of that summer, it was clear that wouldn’t be the last time they’d see each other, and they’d maintain a healthy long-distance relationship for many years to come. With a renewed sense of purpose and drive, Lachlan spent four years in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). Although international scouting was virtually nonexistent, he put on a stellar show during his tenure with the Sydney Bears, carrying the team to a championship in his last season after overcoming a devastating knee injury the year prior. His herculean efforts caught the attention of teams in the VHLM who were in need of a promising young goaltender, earning him a contract with the San Diego Marlins. The kid from Brisbane would make the most of this opportunity. “With the 12th pick in the VHL draft, HC Davos Dynamo are proud to select. . . goaltender Lachlan Summers!”

woo marlins woo jacob woo wranglers woo landon let’s gooo

To overcome the (awful) size limit, right click on your image on Imgur and then click ‘open in new tab,’ then copy and paste that link into the forum post and it’ll auto-embed. It’s a lifesaver!

lachlan summers

We are officially 29 games into the season and Lachlan Summers has started 28 of them for the Stockholm Vikings. He sports a 12-12-4 record with a .927SV% and 2.61 GAA. Unfortunately, he has yet to record a shutout which is slightly disappointing, but otherwise, his performance has been solid. He’s also been 1st star of the game three times and 2nd star seven times. Honestly, this Vikings team is better than our record lets on, and as our squad continues to grow and we learn what line combinations produce the best results, I think we’ll be in prime position for a playoff spot once the end of the season approaches. Right now, my goal is to get all of Lachlan’s main goalie attributes— HS (hand speed), RT (reaction time), SC (style control), and RB (rebound control)— up to 85 in that order. Currently, SC is at 83, so once those are all up to speed, I hope his numbers continue to improve and he can backstop the team to some more wins.

@Jason kranz

(technically i don’t play for the marlins anymore but) praise be to simon

This animation looks absolutely amazing, especially the eyes!! Unbelievable work like usual, Triller!

yes