LucyXpher

Thanks so much! Glad to be teammates again in this tournament!

I can’t wait to look silly! best of luck to the Warriors!

Ugh typo! Pinn was included in the roster section, missed him in the power ranking. Fixed it lol, apologies to Pinn Jinn! lol too many dang Jinns!

Thanks AJ, I really appreciate it!

Thanks Can't wait to be teammates in this tournament!

With the VHLM regular season in the rear view mirror and the second round of the playoffs getting underway, gazes begin to shift toward the Junior Showcase Tournament-- an opportunity for those players who are eligible for the Season 93 and 94 VHL and VHLE entry drafts to put their skills on display and show scouts and general managers what they can do. After last season's JST was canceled because of a lack of eligible players, the tournament is back this season and bursting with talent after an influx of new players who entered the VHLM in Season 92. While the VHLM is a league that allows players to cut their teeth, the JST is where players bare their fangs, sharpened and glistening white. After a full season of development, players will be eager to prove themselves against the top talents in their draft class. Some players will be coming off of a disappointing season or a difficult playoff loss and will be seeking a shot at redemption. Others will be out to prove that their regular season or playoff success was not accidental, but repeatable, even in a different environment with different teammates. Unlike an All-Star game where there is nothing on the line, the players in this tournament have their futures to play for. Playing a great tournament could see a player's draft stock rise, while a disappointing showing might plant seeds of doubt in the minds of scouts and general managers looking to build their team in the upcoming drafts. Whichever way you look at it, the JST is a fantastic opportunity for draft eligible players to stay active during the offseason as it gives players more motivation to continue training and developing their skills. The tournament is also an excellent opportunity for some up and coming GM prospects to gain invaluable experience building and managing a roster. It is a tournament of opportunity, but it will be up to those involved to make the most of it. Without further introduction, let's dive into the rosters of the five teams that will be taking part in the tournament. Here, I'll give you a preview on what to expect from each team, some storylines to follow, and who might be the early favorite to win the tournament. I'll also give you my shortlist of players who might have a little something extra to prove in this tournament. These will be players to keep an eye on as the games begin. *Note: Teams are ordered alphabetically and players are sorted by position and TPE. ⋆★⋆ Brigade: GM @samx, AGM @LucyXpher Forwards: LW - (S93) Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23 72GP - 29G - 42A - 69P LW - (S93) UghSike @UghSike --> 72GP - 28G - 32A - 60P LW - (S94) Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg 20GP -2G - 2A - 4P LW - (S94) Pombo @samx 20GP - 1G - 0A - 1P C - (S93) Tyler Lawson @Nyx 56GP - 20G - 36A - 56P C - (S94) Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito 18GP - 7G - 7A - 14P C - (S93) Micah Cederbaum @MicahC 48GP - 1G - 1A - 2P C - (S94) Tommy Shelby @Will RW - (S93) Armas Jortikka @Kavadar 44GP - 16G - 14A - 30P Defense: D - (S93) Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher 72 GP - 16G - 60A - 76P D - (S93) Wladyslaw Mintus @mintusaurus 60GP - 9G - 31A - 40P D - (S93) Masa Akimoto @Hokikeijot 48GP - 5G - 18A - 23P D - (S93) Connor Mclaughlin @Connor Mclaughling 62GP - 7G - 12A - 19P D - (S93) Landon Flatt @Lando10 72GP - 6G - 26A - 32P Goalie: G - (S93) Kendra Cavill @Firekiss 60GP - 22W - .893 SV% - 3.54 GAA - 2SO G - (S93) Da TypThond @Erik 11GP - 6W - .897 SV% - 3.18 GAA The current GM of the Helsinki Titans, @samx offered her services and expertise to manage the Brigade in this season's Junior Showcase Tournament when the team needed a last minute replacement. Up and comer, @LucyXpher, joined up as the AGM partway through the draft to fill out the team's front office. On paper, the team is a collection of solid players--though perhaps not flashy-- some of whom might have been undervalued in the JST draft. A good number of these players saw limited ice time in secondary or depth roles for their VHLM clubs this past season, but could be primed to take a leap forward with more opportunity. Up front, the Brigade will feature two strong left wingers in Chris Reynolds Jr. and UghSike, with further depth at the position in Maverick Goncalves and Pombo. One of these players will likely need to play on their off wing or at center, however, as it is not likely the team will ice four full forward lines-- at least not to begin the tournament. Tyler Lawson had an exceptional year in Houston in a secondary role and will look to shine in more minutes with the Brigade in this tournament. Pierre Marc Bouchard is also a coveted prospect who could see some serious development, even over the course of this tournament, making him a good value pickup with a rising ceiling. On defense, the Brigade selected Lucy Leitner with the 3rd overall pick and did well to add quality in Wladyslaw Mintus, Masa Akimoto, Connor Mclaughlin, and Landon Flatt. With increased ice time and greater responsibility, these defenders will be called upon to elevate their game from their VHLM level. There was a run on goalies early on in the JST draft that left the Brigade digging a little deeper for options. Ultimately, they would settle on Halifax's number one goalie, Kendra Cavill, who had a fairly strong season despite being on a weaker team. With control of the net and competitive teammates, Cavill will be a goalie to watch to see whether or not they can measure up to the likes of Lovstrom, Vencko, and Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen. On paper, goaltending may be a more obvious weakness for the Brigade, but there's a reason the games are played and Cavill will certainly have something to prove. If all else fails, the Brigade selected Da TypThond as their second goalie who had a respectable record, albeit in limited ice time this past season with Las Vegas. ⋆★⋆ Royals: GM @horoscope, AGM @Mysterious_Fish Forwards: LW - (S93) Forum Content @frescoelmo --> 72GP - 41G - 64A - 105P LW - (S94) Wally Lose @youloser1337 20GP - 3G - 7A - 10P LW - (S93) Kevin OConnor @Luke033 72GP - 15G - 38A - 53P C - (S93) Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica --> 72GP - 38G - 43A - 81P C - (S94) The Phantom of the VHL @Hogan 16GP - 4G - 3A - 7P RW - (S93) Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer --> 72GP - 41G - 54A - 95P RW - (S93) Steve French @Seabass 72GP - 43G - 46A - 89P RW - (S94) Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple 18GP - 7G - 7A - 14P Defense: D - (S94) Felicia Hardy @JCarson 20GP - 0G - 1A - 1P D - (S94) Toby Cook @KRZY 20GP - 5G - 6A - 11P D - (S93) Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson 72GP - 16G - 59A - 75P D - (S93) Enn Jinn @jhatty8 72GP - 21G - 68A - 89P D - (S93) Pinn Jinn @Eagle Eye 72GP - 13G - 37A - 50P D - (S94) kevin jonathen @meandyoc Goalie: G - (S93) Herald Benson @Benson 29GP - 13W - .892 SV% - 3.3 GAA - 1SO G - (S93) Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub 64GP - 35W - .904 SV% - 2.91 GAA - 2SO For the Royals, @horoscope is on his first tour of duty as a general manager and has brought along San Diego Marlins GM, @Mysterious_Fish, to be his AGM. On paper, it seems that the management duo has done well for themselves, securing top players at each position. The question with this team will be whether these players can reproduce their VHLM success in this tournament. With a potential top line of Forum Content - Antonia Bucatini - Annie Oaks, the Royals have ensured that they will not lack firepower. With Kevin OConnor and Steve French also added to the forward corps, they will undoubtedly be a frightening group to go up against. The Phantom of the VHL might also be a bit of a sleeper pick who can punch above his weight in terms of draft position and I would probably put Wally Lose in that same category. On defense, Magni Jinn, Enn Jinn, and Pinn Jinn might be the team's top defensemen in terms of scoring track record as they were among the VHLM's top defenders. There is some concern, however, that their numbers may have been slightly inflated playing on a Reapers team that was clicking all season long. Conversely, it should not be discounted that these three were also highly instrumental to their team's success and deserve credit for this as well. It remains to be seen how the defensive depth chart will shake out for the Royals. It is a real possibility that Felicia Hardy and Toby Cook may end up as the top pairing on this team, despite only having a combined 12 points in 40 games last season compared with the 214 in 216 by all three Jinns combined. In goal, the Royals, like the Brigade, missed the early run on goalies. That said, they were able to secure Herald Benson, one of the best backups in the VHLM last season, and he will surely be looking to prove he deserves a starting job going forward. Despite lacking the pedigree of Vencko in Houston, Benson actually held his own in the head to head battle for the crease for most of the season, and only fell behind the Czech down the stretch. The Royals also picked up another capable goaltender in Samuel Wazinski, who backstopped the San Diego Marlins to 35 wins in 64 games this season, recording 2 shutouts along the way. ⋆★⋆ Steel: GM @dstevensonjr, AGM @Pifferfish Forwards: LW - (S93) Filip Zinek @FiZi 72GP - 21G - 27A - 48P LW - (S93) Elf shoes @ELF_SH0ES 72GP - 11G - 18A - 29P C - (S93) Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn 72GP - 31G - 48A - 79P C - (S93) Taylor Swift @lilchrist 70GP - 34G - 51A - 85P C - (S93) Aiden Paige @Apaige131 56GP - 6G - 18A - 24P C - (S93) Jacob Longstreet @Dynamicmlb_42 26GP - 1G - 2A - 3P RW - (S93) Trimiskez Artav @jake 72GP - 43G - 45A - 88P RW - (S93) Jack Dickens @Mystery_boy98 64GP - 10G - 10A - 20P RW - (S93) Cole Stermer @Bazeus 38GP - 7G - 18A - 25P Defense: D - (S93) Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee 68GP - 23G - 58A - 81P D - (S93) Gul Dukat @MSouthworth 72GP - 18G - 47A - 65P D - (S93) Blaze Thunderstrike @eaglesfan036 44GP - 4G - 24A - 28P D - (S94) Lazlo Holmes @Gustav 14GP - 6G - 9A -15P D - (S94) Donald Carlson @AW13 18GP - 2G - 6A - 8P Goalie: G - (S93) Ondrej Vencko @Mutti 50GP - 27W - .892 SV% - 2.94 GAA - 1SO G - (S93) Austin Goulet III @Tuchy 42GP - 14W - .886 SV% - 3.46 GAA The Steel enlisted @dstevensonjr to take the helm as a first time general manager, along with @Pifferfish as his assistant. Despite this being his first kick at the proverbial can, the Steel GM demonstrated his overall preparation and shrewdness with the first overall pick, wasting little time taking the top rated defender, Benjamin Abenduct. Knowing that high-end defenders would be in short supply, the Steel made a smart move and got their guy. With a keen eye on the Houston Bulls talent pool, the Steel would go on to select Trimiskez Artav, a high scoring right winger, Filip Zinek, Jack Dickens, and goaltender Ondrej Vencko. These 5 Bulls fill important roles on this Steel roster and it will be interesting to see if their chemistry can carry over from the VHLM. Besides ZInek, Artav, and Dickens, the Steel took a top center in Vanuza Kolesinska and bolstered their center depth chart with Taylor Swift and Aiden Paige. These players should offer them a quality one-two-three punch down the middle of the ice and will be flanked by the aforementioned Bulls. The Steel also drafted another center, Jacob Longstreet, but it remains to be seen if he will be called upon to play as a winger or stay at his natural position. This will ultimately depend on how many lines the managers elect to send over the boards. On defense, Abenduct is paired with a friend of his in Gul Dukat, and it seems likely that the two will become a formidable top pair for the Steel. I have to think that the Steel knew this when drafting them and it may be an important piece of scouting that really pays off for them in this tournament. Blaze Thunderstrike is a good option on the second pair along with Lazlo Holmes who is off to a torrid start to his career. Donald Carlson has also impressed in limited VHLM games and may be an important contributor if given the chance on this Steel blueline. In goal, the Steel chose Ondrej Vencko. After Lovstrom, Vencko is considered by many to be either the second or third best goalie prospect in the VHLM and is currently leading his Houston Bulls into the second round of the playoffs. Vencko is more than capable of stealing games and is a stable presence in the net. Off the ice... well... stable is not exactly the first word that comes to mind. Let's just stick with presence... ⋆★⋆ Warriors: GM @Nathan_8, AGM @Alex Forwards: LW - (S93) Jean-Pierre Devote @eagle_3450 --> 72GP - 52G - 54A - 106P LW - (S93) Connor simard @Alex99 46GP - 15G - 22A - 37P LW - (S93) Owen two @do3bo1 40GP - 3G - 9A - 12P C - (S93) French Fries @solyom 72GP - 16G - 35A - 51P C - (S93) Murray Connolly @Blakemac22 56GP - 2G - 16A - 18P C - (S93) Isaak Robinson @isaak 72GP - 15G - 17A - 32P RW - (S93) Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG 72GP - 46G - 57A - 103P RW - (S93) Leon Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman --> 72GP - 26G - 44A - 70P RW - (S93) Ocean Codoller @FreshOceanCod 72GP - 21G - 36A - 57P RW - (S94) Donnis Orange Krupis @hedgehog337 Defense: D - (S94) Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 20GP - 3G - 9A - 12P D - (S93) Ray Stanton @horoscope --> 38GP - 10G - 22A - 32P D - (S93) Carson Tripp @Cartripp14 50GP - 12G - 36A - 48P D - (S93) Zeal-Emiritus Fleming @FabioF04 72GP - 9G - 34A - 43P Goalie: G - (S93) Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu 67GP - 39W - .905 SV% - 2.62 GAA - 1SO G - (S93) Alexander ovieckin jr @penguinb19 69GP - 27W - .868 SV% - 3.99 GAA - 1SO The Houston Bulls AGM, @Nathan_8, has taken the reins of this year's Warriors team with the experience of @Alex as his AGM. The Warriors took a swing for the fences with Jean-Pierre Devote at second overall and snagged Yermolai Nabokov with a subsequent pick. The combo of Devote and Nabokov on the wings with French Fries in the middle is a mouth watering prospect. With depth centers Murray Connolly and Isaak Robinson flanked by Leon Bruhmaninho and Ocean Codoller, this is a team that will be able to boast depth in addition to its high end firepower. On the defensive side, the Warriors nabbed one of the top S94 prospects in Jillian Woods and added great value in Ray Stanton, Carson Tripp, and Zeal-Emiritus Fleming. While most of these defenders have proven to some degree that they can play important minutes for their clubs, it remains to be seen if any of them can take command of a top 2 role and become a true top defender that catches the eye of scouts. At the goaltending position, the Warriors selected Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen as their starter. With this pick, they bought themselves some peace of mind between the pipes, banking on AKK's track record and high pedigree. While his VHLM numbers haven't necessarily measured up to where some expected him to be going into the season, I think it's also safe to say that the Mexico City Kings would not have achieved their 3rd place finish without his solid play in goal. This tournament will be a great opportunity for him to show his true quality and really make a push to move up the goalie rankings for the upcoming drafts. ⋆★⋆ Yukon Rush: GM @UnknownMinion Forwards: LW - (S93) Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor 72GP - 31G - 33A - 64P LW - (S93) Miner vHLer @Rhynex Entertainment 72GP - 5G - 7A - 12P C - (S93) Walter Jinn @Adrest245 72GP - 34G - 46A - 80P C - (S93) Caleb Nowell @PhoenixsPc 70GP - 13G - 37A - 50P C - (S93) Gavin Bebard @Gavin Bebard :mis: 60GP - 16P - 29A - 45P RW - (S93) Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8 :hou: 72GP - 25G - 23A - 48P RW - (S93) Oliver Loo @Peiffy :mia: 48GP - 6G - 4A - 10P RW - (S93) Anthony Simmons II @Starchychaff :mis: 38GP - 18G - 20A - 38P RW - (S93) Marek Nowaczyk @Chillybro :mis: 47GP - 15G - 12A - 27P Defense: D - (S93) WWumbo @Fire Tortorella :ott: 72GP - 14G - 50A - 64P D - (S93) Cody Toland @ctoland102 :hou: 72GP - 8G - 27A - 35P D - (S93) Billy Joel @The goat of hockey :sdm: 72GP - 6G - 14A - 20P D - (S93) Russell Sprout @betta57 :sdm:-->:ssk: 72GP - 9G - 37A - 46P D - (S93) Phil Taylor @Legacy :mis: 60GP - 13G - 27A - 40P Goalie: G - (S93) Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish :phi: 62GP - 48W - .918 SV% - 2.34 GAA - 3SO G - (S93) Connor Hellebuyck @HockeyFan4Life :mex: 6GP - 2W - .887 SV% - 3.43 GAA For the Yukon Rush, @UnknownMinion leads the way as a GM with some experience. He previously spent one season as the GM of Halifax in the VHLM, one season as GM of Geneva in the VHLE, and two seasons as GM of Bratislava in the VHLE. His resume also boasts a Gold Medal in the WJHC with Team World. In this season's JST, he has compiled an intriguing roster of players that includes the top goalie in the VHLM in Jorgen Lovstrom. Securing this pick early on in the draft gives the Rush a huge advantage in goal as Lovstrom has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the entirety of the VHLM regular season and into the playoffs. There are many who believe that much of the Philadelphia Reapers' success this season is owed to his calm command of the goal, giving his team the confidence to take risks and produce in front of him. His numbers are head and shoulders above the other goalies in the VHLM and he leads the league with 3 shutouts and an impressive 48 wins. At the forward positions, the Rush can ice a potential top line featuring one of the top prospects in the S93 draft class, Gianfranco Del Rocco. He could be joined by Reaper's standout, Walter Jinn, and Bulls scorer, Nathan Ecker. This trio, though perhaps not as explosive as some of the others we've previewed, is not to be underestimated. Ecker has quietly built himself up in a depth role for the Houston Bulls and a stint on the top line for the Rush could be all he needs to catapult himself up the draft board. With the balanced skills of Walter Jinn down the middle and the high-end scoring prowess of Del Rocco, this could be a sleeper pick for one of the most productive lines in the tournament when it's all said and done. At defense, the Rush selected WWumbo as their top player and added two of the VHLM's most physical players in Cody Toland and Billy Joel. If he stays out of the penalty box, his physical play can quickly become an advantage as he wears the opposition down. Billy Joel, Russel Sprout, and Phil Taylor are also great value pickups in the later parts of the draft that could prove to be steals. ⋆★⋆ Roster Power Rankings: With the rosters set, the tournament is only days away from puck drop. Based solely on the rosters available to us at the time of writing, I've put together an early power ranking of how these teams might stack up against each other. Please keep in mind that this is only my opinion based on the current rosters. These rosters are still subject to change as teams begin to sign free agents and play games. It's also worth noting that none of the teams have released any lineup information, so this is based purely on the apparent quality of the rosters you see above. Making this preliminary ranking was difficult because there is very little to choose between most of these rosters as they all seem to offer notable strengths and some weaknesses. This should make for a highly competitive tournament as the games get underway. 1. Royals The prospect of a Content-Bucatini-Oaks line is too tantalizing for me to rank this team any lower than first, especially considering they have OConnor, French, and the Jinns on defense. Herald Benson is probably the biggest question mark on this team for me, but I think he certainly has the potential to embrace this role and be a proper number 1 option. If Benson falters, Samuel Wazinski is also a very capable goalie, so I struggle to see how goaltending will be a serious issue for this team. 2. Steel If the Steel decide to play Kolesinska and Swift on the same line, I think they could probably boast the most complete starting lineup in this tournament with Artav joining those two up front and the partnership of Abenduct and Dukat locking down the back end. In goal, Ondrej Vencko is about as good as they come... if you don't have Lovstrom, that is. 3. Warriors The headline here is Devote and Nabokov with a side of French Fries. Actually, French Fries is the centerman. This line alone is worth the price of admission to see this team in action. Add AKK in goal and this team has the makings of a contender. I've got the Warriors ranked 3rd because I think the Steel have an edge on defense, especially with their top 2, but I could see this Warriors defense rounding into form very quickly. 4. Yukon Rush Turns out having one of the top draft eligible skaters and the surefire top goalie in the VHLM doesn't guarantee you top spot in the way-too-early power rankings, but I guess I just want to see this team in action before I give them their flowers. I think there are also some questions to be answered on the defensive end. 5. Brigade Last place or 5th overall? Either way, this is the team I am the least sure about in terms of day one performance, but it’s the one that I think may have the most sneaky potential to be better than we expected. With a number of S94 eligible selections who are developing rapidly, as well as top players like Reynolds Jr., UghSike, Lawson and Leitner, who will likely benefit from more ice time, it's difficult to predict what the ceiling is for this team. Goaltending may be the biggest question mark for the Brigade who are putting a lot of faith in Cavill with TypThond as a backup option. ⋆★⋆ 3 Players With Something to Prove: 1. Kendra Cavill - Brigade: Of all the goalies picked, Cavill is the least known quantity. Because Halifax struggled throughout much of the VHLM season, it's difficult to separate the team's performance from Cavill's stat line. Cavill has shown examples of quality and ability evidenced by 2 shutouts this season. Even on a significantly worse team, that's more than Benson, Vencko, and AKK who each recorded 1 shutout this season. Cavil's .893 SV% is also comparable to the .892% held by both Vencko and Benson. It's not a lot to go on, but there are signs of a quality goalie here and Cavill will need to be sharp from the start to prove the doubters wrong. 2. Miner vHLer - Yukon Rush: They say defense wins championships, but does leadership? Miner vHLer is known to be an exceptional locker room presence, though his actual hockey skills leave something to be desired. He's come this far on the back of his morale boosting abilities, but it remains to be seen whether he can lead a team to a championship. He still has the chance to do it with the Houston Bulls as an Assistant Captain, but if he could prove his effectiveness in the JST, it could see his draft stock rise. At the moment, GMs are still unsure about his true value and likely won't risk a high pick on leadership personified. 3. Enn Jinn - Royals: After an 89 point season as a defenseman in the VHLM, you'd think that a player would have precious little left to prove. This isn't exactly the case with Enn Jinn whose true ability has been in question for much of Season 92. Is this remarkable run of form repeatable with new teammates? On this Royals squad, Jinn will have the familiarity of fellow Reapers teammates Magni Jinn, Pinn Jinn, and Maple Dogwood to lean on, but will need to find chemistry with new linemates quickly if he is to prove his detractors wrong. ⋆★⋆ Well, that about does it for this JST preview. The tournament this season promises to be full of intrigue and opportunity for players to really set themselves apart, all that's left to do now is play the games! ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ LucyXpher for VSN

He would never stoop so low! ...way to go vencko!

What a season and what a weapon to have on the defense! Awesome graphic too, well done!

You’re a good player, definitely need to be mentioned! Should be a fun series between y’all! And thanks for the kind review!

The first round of the VHLM playoffs is over and there weren't any major upsets, despite the fact that the top seeded team only won two out of the four series. Philadelphia and Vegas, the number 1 and 2 seeds, knocked out Saskatoon and Ottawa respectively in 6 games. The 5th seeded Houston Bulls took care of business against the San Diego Marlins in game 6 as well and punched their ticket to round 2. And finally, the 6th seed Miami Marauders defeated the 3rd overall Mexico City Kings in a thrilling game 7 between two very evenly matched squads. And so, while the Marlins, Kings, Wild, and Lynx pack their bags and call their caddies, Philadelphia prepares for a second round battle against Houston, and Las Vegas gets set for a matchup with Miami. Both of these series promise to be highly competitive with very little advantage for one side or the other, despite what the seeding might say. (1) Philadelphia Reapers vs. (5) Houston Bulls This is a series I've been wanting to see for a while now and that's because it's the battle of the league champions and the paper champions. Allow me to explain. The Philadelphia Reapers won the regular season in convincing fashion, proving that they were the class of Season 92. The Houston Bulls, on the other hand, finished in only 5th place overall, despite rostering possibly the deepest team in the VHLM. There are a lot of pundits who believe that the Houston Bulls are currently the best team in the league on paper, and have rushed to declare them as Founder's Cup favorites, but we all know that paper doesn't matter once the puck is dropped. Only one team can move on to the finals and we will find out whether paper triumphs over practice. To be fair to the Bulls, the team has been in a constant state of growth since the beginning of the season and is peaking at the right time. Secondary scorers like Lawson @Nyx and Ecker @Nathan_8 have really come into their own and could very easily be top players on lesser teams. Add to that the dominance of their top line featuring Artav @jake, Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, and Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23, their forward group is as strong at the top as any. The Bulls also boast one of the strongest defensive corps in the VHLM, led by Abenduct @Schnee on the top pairing alongside the physical menace, Cody Toland @ctoland102. In goal, Vencko @Muttihas developed into a true number one goalie and compares favorably with anyone in the league. Suffice it to say, it is probably true that the Bulls regular season record does not adequately capture the current state of the roster which has grown tremendously over 72 games. The Reapers on the other hand have surprised critics all season by extracting extraordinary performances out of unsuspecting players. Players like Enn Jinn @jhatty8, Walter Jinn @Adrest245, Pinn Jinn @Eagle Eye, and Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson have punched well above their weight all season long. The success of these players has baffled many critics of the team, but it's difficult to argue with results and consistency. We'd also be remiss to neglect to mention the dominance of Nabokov @fonziGG, the Reapers' top scorer, and their goaltender, Lovstrom @Pifferfish, who has been a brick wall all season long. Philly will hope to keep this collective run of form going as we enter round two and they face the Bulls at the height of their development. Prediction: While the Reapers have impressed all season long, it's difficult to imagine how they might overcome the advantage that the Bulls have on paper. Maybe the Reapers conjure up some STHS black magic and continue to make us all look silly for doubting them, but I'm picking the Bulls to upset the in-season champions in 6 games (4-2). (2) Las Vegas Aces vs. (6) Miami Marauders This series, on paper, may be the closest we've seen yet. Miami and Las Vegas have very similarly constructed rosters and both teams boast high octane offense that is at least two lines deep. Vegas has their ace on the back end in Bric Sheithaus @Oldhead91 and the Marauders have the duo of Dukat @MSouthworth and Ennis @DeciBell4 who pitch in from the defense with regularity. Both teams were also involved in high-profile trade deadline moves that saw them acquire even more offensive talent. Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer joined the Aces, giving them one more lethal weapon on the wing, while Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike joined the Marauders. Both teams also have goaltenders who have showed positive signs of taking a step to the next level, but have yet to do so with consistency. Hugo Boss @Dil for the Aces has been solid for his team, but has not proved that he can consistently be among the league's best. 200 feet away, Shaunca @shaun1979 will line up for Miami, coming off of a strong game 7 performance, but an inconsistent season. Both goalies will be looking to find consistency and a higher level of play as their teams move deeper into the playoffs. Prediction: I genuinely like both of these teams and admire the moves they made at the trade deadline to challenge for a championship this season. Unfortunately, one of these teams will have to go home. While I'd hate to see the Aces sent packing before the final, I think that Miami is going to find another level in this second round series. The incredible talent of their forward group will be just enough to overcome the impressive group Vegas has assembled to take the win in 7 games (4-3). --- Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to let me know why I'm wrong, though I'll have you know that I've predicted the winner correctly in every series so far these playoffs. Look at me hyping myself up... I'm so cringe. Stay tuned for more coverage of these VHLM playoffs! Lauren Lambert for VHL.com 02/21/24

lol this is fantastic and hilarious! As usual, Ben Icio has got his finger on the pulse and is reporting the news that really matters! So good!

Great article, I love these player spotlights! Vencko is a wild ride and an absolute legend in the locker room!

Great article! Can't wait to see what we do in round 2, the Reapers will be a fun test! As for staying out of the box, I swear, I'm trying my best! We've just been a goon squad all season lol

Congrats on an incredible series win! Ngl, I was rooting for Malmo, but what you guys did was seriously impressive!

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words! It should be an exciting game tonight, good luck!

Thanks! You’ve gotta back your team and your player, I respect that. Best of luck tonight!

I think I'll wait til the draft actually, that's a good idea! I'll check in with you again then!

This is way too good Can I get in line with a request? lol

Another great PiffCast! Super fun having someone who has done their homework talk about the different series and players, so thanks for doing that!

The closest series in the first round of the VHLM playoffs gets a thrilling Game 7 and it goes down tomorrow night! For the first time all season, we will finally be able to name a winner between these two teams, and let me explain. As I detailed in a previous article, Mexico City and Miami played a dead even season series against each other with each team winning 4 contests. The two teams finished the season only separated in the standings by 6 points. If we combine both their regular season and playoff records, we get the full picture of how close this matchup has been from the drop of the puck in Season 92. Tied at 7 wins and 7 losses each, Mexico has the marginal scoring edge with 40 goals to Miami's 39. The shots on goal category also remains remarkably close with 395 shots for the Kings and 410 shots for the Marauders. Frankly, it would have been a travesty if this thrilling first round series didn't get a winner-takes-all Game 7 and the hockey gods have smiled upon us tonight as the Marauders claimed Game 6 with a 6-4 win. The goaltending duel all year has been full of intrigue, and in these playoffs, there is very little to choose between Miami's Shaunca @shaun1979 and Mexico's Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu. Shaunca comes into game 7 with a .906% and a 2.74 GAA while AKK holds a slightly lower .904% but a better GAA at 2.62. On paper, as I've said before, I think Mexico has the better goalie, but as he's proved in this series, Shaunca cannot be counted out and is more than capable of stealing a game. I'll get to my full prediction at the end of this article, but I will say that I don't believe Game 7 will be decided by one goalie or the other standing on his head. Make no mistake, in a rivalry of fine margins, they will be called upon to play their part and will need to be razor sharp to give their team even the smallest edge. For the Marauders, it has been Pierre Ennis @DeciBell4 who has led the way in scoring throughout this series with 8 points in the 6 games. Left winger Joe Shmo @matt sovick has also proven that he's no Joe Blo and has also pitched in on offense with 5 points after scoring 54 in the regular season. Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter remains the top shutdown option for the Marauders and has an inspiring 17 shot blocks so far these playoffs. Crucially, the Marauders will need their top guns in Forum Content @frescoelmo, Vanuza Kolesinska @chikn, Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2, and UghSike @UghSike to bring their A+ game if they are going to claim to be the victors of this head-to-head. They have all the offensive firepower, talent, and potential necessary to make life a living hell for the Kings defenders and I would be shocked if they were all kept off the scoreboard in this crucial game. For Mexico City, as I've written about before, the pool of forwards is a little weaker than Miami's, but Loona Buckzo @WildfireMicro has been firing on all cylinders with 9 points in the series. And while Mexico may not have the forward depth to match Miami, their top two defenders, Free Gorlab @eaglesfan036 and Chuck E Cheese @a_Ferk are shutdown monsters who have proven they are willing to bring the fight to the high flying Miami offense. For Mexico to win this final deciding game, they are going to need these three players at their very best and playing for keeps. It's a tall order, but not one that is beyond their capabilities and that is precisely why this matchup has been so enthralling all season long. Prediction: Okay, so this is what we all want to know-- who will finally be able to claim superiority between the Kings and the Marauders? Let me first say, I would not bet a cent on this series because it's almost guaranteed to be a cent lost. But you're here for a prediction so here it is: Miami ekes this one out with a 4-3 win in overtime. Yes, overtime, how else should this series end? And for bonus points, I'm picking UghSike to score the series winner. --- And there it is, for whatever it's worth. I can't wait to see what actually happens tomorrow night. What we can say with certainty is that the winner of this series will be in tough with a second round matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, but more on that later... Lauren Lambert for VHL.com 02/19/24

Omg, this is the lore I needed XD

I would like to apply (for Team USA if possible )

What is with goalies and drinking in this league? I thought it was just a Czech thing...

There are no coincidences, only the illusion of coincidence. It makes us feel better about not being in control. I try not to let it eat me alive...

In the VHLM playoffs, every series has gone to 6 games. Whether or not any of them go beyond 6 will be decided tonight. In this short article, I'll be making predictions for game 6 in each series and then we can find out how wrong I was tomorrow, deal? Perfect, let's go. Philadelphia Reapers vs. Saskatoon Wild: Game 6 When I wrote my VHLM playoff preview, I predicted this series would be decided in six games and I'm sticking with that prediction here. So far, deadline acquisition, Leon Bruhmaninho @BigBruhmanhas been instrumental in keeping his team in this series after losing the first two games. On the flip side, the regular season's top goalie, Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish has not replicated his regular season dominance to this point in the series. He hasn't been bad, but I'm sure he'd be the first to demand more of himself. Ultimately, I can't bring myself to bet against Lovstrom and the top ranked Philadelphia. Prediction: Reapers win by score of 4-1. Las Vegas Aces vs. Ottawa Lynx: Game 6 I initially predicted that this series would only go to game 5 so I've already been wrong once. Fundamentally, however, my prediction does not change. I still think that Vegas is just too much for Ottawa and will find a way to wrap this series up tonight. Interestingly, in the games Ottawa has won, it hasn't necessarily been their big two of Ivan Ivanov @KmaddFPS and Wayne Shotzky @Kenamatic carrying them to victory. Depth player, Kevin OConnor @Luke033 currently leads the team with 4 points through 5 games and the Lynx have had contributions from a number of players throughout their lineup. While the fact that their depth is getting on the scoresheet should give them some hope, they'll also be looking to get their big two going as well against a well built Vegas team. Elle Aura Ashe @Lynersify leads Vegas with 8 points through the first 5 games and their offense has looked predictably dominant so far. As much as I'd like to see Ottawa push Vegas to the brink, I don't think this upset is in the cards. But I've already been wrong about this series once... Prediction: Aces win by score of 6-2 San Diego Marlins vs. Houston Bulls: Game 6 Houston jumped out to a 3-1 lead in this series, but San Diego clawed back a win with a gutsy performance last night to avoid an early end to their playoff run. My initial prediction was that this series would go to 7 games, but after the way this series has started and the Bulls dominant performances on home ice-- punctuated by a 4-0 shutout by Ondra Vencko @Mutti, I think they will take advantage of home ice once again and put the Marlins away in 6 games. With that said, the San Diego defense was excellent last game and helped their goaltender Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub to a strong performance in game 5. If the Marlins can replicate their team performance from that game, they might yet have a chance to force a game 7. Prediction: Bulls win by score of 5-3 Mexico City Kings vs. Miami Marauders: Game 6 I had this series going to 7 games and I'm sticking to that. This series has proved that there is very little margin between these teams and it's played out that way on the ice. Miami currently holds a 3-2 series lead on the back of an impressive .921% by Shaunca @shaun1979, who has struggled with some inconsistency this season. I do wonder if that's a demon that rears its head once again for the young netminder with the opportunity to end Mexico's season. For Kings goalie, Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu, one solid performance can send his team home for a game 7 and a chance to move on to round 2. With so little between these teams, I strongly believe it will be the goalies who decide this series. Both have been good, but I think AKK has another level that he can hit and tonight seems as good a night as any. Prediction: Kings win 3-0 --- Fans of the Lynx, Wild, Marlins, and Marauders will probably be annoyed with my predictions and I am more than happy to be wrong! If you've got another opinion or prediction, feel free to let me know and we can compare notes tomorrow. Lauren Lambert for VHL.com Claim for 02/25/24