scotty

deux

Wranglers cap improbable comeback CALGARY, Alta. – A most improbable series comeback has vaulted the Calgary Wranglers into the VHL’s North American Conference final. After a 72-game slate where the Wranglers scored a league-high 298 goals for, none of that seemed to matter to their rivals from Toronto as the Legion held the high flying Wranglers in check en route to a surprising 3-1 series lead. As sports always tells us, no lead is safe. With the Wranglers facing elimination at home in Game 5, it would wind up being the Legion who dominated the offensive play, outshooting Calgary 37-22. As star goaltending Alexander Labatte kept them in the game, Michal Wozniak finally ended it in the first overtime frame and sent the series back to Toronto. Game 6 would be one of the ages, a thrilling affair that needed almost three full overtime periods to determine a winner. With the final shots giving a 77-60 edge to Toronto, the Wranglers once again would emerge the victor on another overtime goal by Wozniak – his sixth of the series. With the series heading back to Calgary, the momentum had undoubtedly switched sides and Calgary cruised to a 3-1 victory in the decisive seventh game to cap what will go down as one of the best playoff series’ in VHL history.

S35 VHL Entry Draft flashback The S35 VHL Draft class was widely considered to be one of the better classes of VHL prospects in recent history. The draft created no shortage of buzz a season ago, but how did these players fare in their first season of post-draft hockey? We’ll take a look at how the draft’s top 10 picks finished the season. 1st Overall – G Lennox Moher (HC Davos) Moher dominated the VHLM a season ago and walked into a starting role with the upstart HC Davos Dynamo, playing a key role in the team’s clinching of a European Conference playoff spot. Moher posted a respectable 2.65 GAA and .906 SV% but with scant offensive production league-wide, Moher finished near the bottom of VHL goaltenders in both categories. Don’t expect that to be a trend, however, as Moher has shown he will be capable of being a top-tier VHL goaltender as early as next season. 2nd Overall – C Naomi Young (Helsinki) The talented playmaking centre had some hiccups in her first season of VHL action as Young managed only 33 points on a stat line that included five goals and 28 assists. Young’s lack of strength proved to be a major factor in her struggles this season but despite the rocky transition, the team is confident that Young still has the tools to be a high-end centre in the VHL. Young should see even heavier minutes next season so it will be interesting to see how she does after an off-season of training. 3rd Overall – C Leon Leitner (Vasteras) Leitner made the transition to centre this season and like Young, there were some speed-bumps along the way. Leitner finished the season with only eight goals and 30 points but the team was happy with his progression throughout the course of the year as a centre. With improved faceoff ability and positional play checked off, Leitner will now be poised to re-kindle his offensive game as a sophomore in S36. Davos goaltender Lennox Moher saw no shortage of action in his rookie season. 4th Overall – RW Tony Stark (HC Davos) Stark was considered to be the top ‘VHL ready’ forward in the draft and he lived up to the billing with an immediate impact this year. Stark finished the season with 28 goals and 63 points and proved to be a two-way force all season long. While Stark’s season was a successful one, the team is concerned about his upside moving forward as his development has shown signs of flatlining. 5th Overall – D Edwin Encarnacion (Seattle) Encarnacion was a wildcard on and off the ice last season before being selected fifth overall by Riga. His stint in Latvia did not last long, however, as Encarnacion was dealt to the Bears midway through the season where he continued a solid rookie season. Encarnacion finished with an impressive 39 points but more importantly showcased why his physicality and tenacity will solidify him as a defensive menace for years to come. 6th Overall – D Conner Low (Ottawa VHLM) Low was the first player selected who returned to the VHLM for an additional year of development; a move that looks to have paid off for the New York Americans. While his parent club toiled with a dismal season, Low has developed nicely in the VHLM and will be ready to jump into the VHL next year as a capable two-way defenseman from day one. 7th Overall – RW Brennan McQueen (Ottawa VHLM) McQueen was drafted by the Seattle Bears who also opted to let their first round pick spend an extra season in the VHLM with the Ottawa Lynx. McQueen had a productive season with 48 goals and 82 points and the sniper appears poised to step into the VHL next year as he closes in on 250 practice hours this off-season. 8th Overall – C Frederik Ernst (Ottawa VHLM) Cologne has the unfortunate pleasure of taking the first ‘whiff’ on a pick in the S35 VHL Entry Draft. Ernst scored 91 points this season with Ottawa but has shown no signs of improvement which is a major red flag for a first round prospect. At this point, it would be hard to envision a scenario where Ernst develops into anything more than a fringe depth player. 9th Overall – LW Earl Parker (Bern VHLM) Parker had a big season in Bern with 57 goals and 109 points – good enough for the team lead in both categories – but his overall development hasn’t been there for the Dynamo. Like Ernst, Parker seems destined to be a quality VHLM player at this point with little more to offer a VHL team. 10th Overall – D Tyler Owens (Saskatoon VHLM) Owens was another VHLM player who turned in an impressive 99 point season from the back-end with the Saskatoon Wilde. Unfortunately the good news comes to an abrupt conclusion there as Owens really has not progressed to the point where he will be in the plans of Helsinki anytime soon.

VASTERAS, Swe. – The Iron Eagles have completed yet another season without a playoff berth to their name. Despite showing signs of optimism, especially early, Vasteras sagged to a 26-40-6 record which was only good enough for eighth place in the 10-team VHL. S35 was a learning experience for rookie centre Leon Leitner as the 19-year-old struggled with the transition to the league throughout the course of the season. Inserted into a new position, Leitner wound up with a respectable 30 points at season’s end but there is no doubt that the Austrian forward has areas of improvement. Leitner says he’s looking forward to the off-season where he has a number of areas of his game he wants to focus on. “This year it was really all about making some in-season adjustments in learning a new position. I think by the end of the year I made some nice strides as a centre, but now I need to focus elsewhere,” Leitner said. “Strength is a big thing I want to improve, and also just polishing some technical skills. I felt like I was so focused on the defensive aspect of the position this year that I really didn’t have a chance to bear down on my role as an offensive player.”

The race for the Stolzy With the end of the S35 fast approaching, only a few games remain for the rookie class of S35 to stake their claim to the Christian Stolzschweiger trophy which is awarded annually to the VHL’s best rookie. The trophy, commonly referred to as the ‘Stolzy’, has seen no shortage of competition this season with a trio of rookies leading the way as frontrunners at this late juncture in the season. Cologne forward Davey Jones currently leads the rookie race in goals (31) and is tied for the lead in points (65). On pace to score over the point-per-game threshold, Jones has been instrumental in the Express’ success this season as the team is almost a sure bet to clinch the number two seed in the European Conference. Jones’ story is well articulated as the 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward forged an interesting path to professional hockey growing up in Miami, Fla. Jones’ high-end speed and excellent scoring ability have aided him with a smooth transition to the VHL in S35 and has given him a very formidable chance of walking away with the Stolzy at season’s end. Of course, that’s not to say there aren’t others in the mix. Davos forward Matteo Gallo comes from the same S35 draft class and has also equaled the offensive output of Jones this season with 65 points of his own. On the surface, it may be hard to say conclusively who the better player is; but Gallo’s case for the Stolzy will be bolstered by the fact that he is leading Davos in both goals and points. Matteo Gallo is the likely favourite for the S35 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy Gallo has been instrumental in the Dyanmo’s resurgence and while the team will likely be resigned to the third seed in the European Conference, there is no doubt that Gallo’s contributions to the rebuilding team will not go unnoticed. The forward heavy class also sees the inclusion of Calgary’s Simon Tremblay, who has 26 goals and 55 points thus far in a secondary scoring role. The left winger has mostly seen limited ice-time on the team’s second line but has been quietly productive for a team that has no shortage of offensive firepower. Although the season has been an impressive debut for Tremblay, it’s hard to see much support in his corner when it’s compared against the seasons of Gallo and Jones. Defenseman Dan Tremblay is the rookie class’ top scoring defenseman with 55 points in 60 games, but as a S33 prospect, age will likely work against Tremblay in the eyes of voters as the Legion defenseman is theoretically more advanced in development than any of his peers. In net, Davos’ Lennox Moher has had a very respectable freshman season with a 2.63 GAA and .903 SV%, but he won’t figure in as a serious contender for the Stolzy as his save percentage is last amongst qualified goaltenders and his GAA is 6th. The S35 class of rookies haven’t exactly taken the league by storm, but in an increasingly competitive VHL, the era of the dominant rookie is most certainly over. In a season that’s contained many ups and downs for the rookies, you’d be wise to put your money as Matteo Gallo and Davey Jones being the clear-cut front-runners at this late stage. Comparing apples to apples, there’s not much to distinguish either player’s season thus far. The goals, points, and overall offensive impact are comparable on the surface, but the second level of research overwhelmingly support Gallo’s resume. As Davos’ leading goal scorer and point scorer, Gallo’s importance to his team undoubtedly outweighs what Jones has done to his team, and while the rookie award does not necessarily go to the ‘most valuable player’, the notion certainly applies in this case.

Initially I was going to put together a 150-word masterpiece articulating my thoughts on a couple of recent VHL trades, however I have shifted from that position to issue GM's a new message. Or just make a random point. Or probably both. Why is it that every time a VHL trade is made, the GM feels the need to 'rationalize' their move in the thread? Obviously the deletion of our previous trade threads gives us limited history to reference, but I can assure you this is not a new trend. So to reiterate; GM's, when you make a trade do not worry about rationalizing the move. We know why you pulled the trigger and history will ultimately judge you. But in all seriousness, you can just ignore this request. Keep making trades and keep making things spicy and I can assure you that we'll all remain captivated.

Lynx loaded with S36 talent OTTAWA, Ont. – The perpetual fluctuation of the VHLM balance of power is once again on display in S35. After limping into the playoffs with a meager 58 point season a year ago, the Ottawa Lynx have been nothing short of being the class of the loop this year. With 38 wins to their name through only 46 games, the Lynx have already shattered last season’s point mark with 79 this season. Like any great VHLM team in recent memory, the Lynx’ resurgence has been largely propelled by an exceptional group of young talent – several of whom are poised to go onto VHL stardom in the near future. Leading the way offensively is draft eligible Robin Gow, who has already amassed 87 points in only 46 games played. The 6-foot-2, 205 pound centre is an offensive dynamo who has taken the league by storm in his first full season in the league. Leading the team with 64 assists, Gow has emerged as one of the league’s top playmakers and has found excellent chemistry with the team’s leading scorer, Jeevan Samuelsson – who has 56 goals to his name. Gow is pegged as a consensus first round pick, and for good reason, says one VHL talent evaluator. Mike Szatkowski has Riga fans excited about their future in net. “He’s a big kid and with his skillset offensively, you don’t find guys like that every day,” the scout said. “I’d like to see him find a more competitive side to his game as he doesn’t really use his size the way he should from a physical standpoint, but you have to like this guy’s potential as a top line VHL forward down the road.” Gow isn’t the only Gow in town, as Robert Gow III is another prospect that has raised some eyebrows in VHL scouting circles. The 5-foot-9, 183 pound winger lacks ideal size, especially in comparison to Robin, but he does have an intriguing offensive skillset and has shown flashes of his ceiling this season despite a modest 7 goals and 11 points on the scoresheet. “Robert has some ability that makes you think this guy can be a player, there’s no doubt about that,” the talent evaluator said. “We just haven’t seen the consistency from him yet. He’s got a good shot and above average playmaking skills, but he just hasn’t put it all together just yet. The size is a concern, but I think he skates well enough where he can eventually develop into a solid offensive contributor in our league.” With the focus on forwards out of the way, it would be unwise to forget about goaltender Mike Szatkowski Jr., who Riga fans have high hopes for as the future face of their franchise for years to come. Unlike the Gow’s, Szatkowski’s will not be eligible for the S36 Entry Draft as his rights are already held by the Riga Reign through the VHL’s tender procedure. The 6-foot-3 netminder is an intimidating presence in net and it’s shown in the VHLM this year as he has a sparkling 2.36GAA and .901 SV%. Szatkowski’s strengths lie with his technical skill as he has an excellent glove and blocker and is effective with his rebound control as well. There are some concerns about his lateral movement in net, however, as our scouting source says he does labour with his movements at times. “There’s a lot to like about him, but he’s still pretty raw overall,” the scout said. “Moving around the net, his lateral skating isn’t at a VHL level and that’s going to need to improve for him to make the jump. Based on where he is in his development, I think he’s going to need another year in the VHLM before he’s ready to come up but he does have some intriguing upside when you’re projecting his game 2 or 3 years down the road.” As always, hindsight will tell whether or not this trio goes onto fulfill their high expectations, but for now, Lynx fans can enjoy the show.

Leitner sees improvements in the circle VASTERAS, Swe. -- Since our last coverage on Leon Leitner's faceoff struggles, the 19-year-old rookie was winning draws at a futile 34.2% clip. There has been a glimmer of hope, however, as Leitner's season-long focus on his work in the circle has seen his percentage rise up to a respectable 40.24% - albeit one that is still far below the league average. Leitner says he's happy with the improvements but knows there's still a long ways to go just yet. "It's definitely nice to see the percentage rising, I've been putting a lot of work into that area of the game and you obviously hope it's going to pay off," Leitner said. "I think as I continue to get stronger and get used to the league, I'll get there soon. My goal is to be a 50% guy in this league. I know it's probably not going to happen this year, but that's my goal moving into next year. I need to get better in the circle."

Leitner encounters early struggles VASTERAS, SWE. – Being a rookie in the VHL can be a grind. Playing a position you’ve never played before only compounds that grind as Vasteras forward Leon Leitner is finding out first hand. After being scooped up with the third overall pick in the S35 VHL Entry Draft, the career winger was about to embark on a change that extended beyond a new league. In his initial discussions with the team, the idea of Leitner converting to the centre ice position was mulled over by player and team alike. With limited depth down the middle, the successful conversion of Leitner would provide the Iron Eagles with a long-term solution at centre and a key piece of what they hoped to build with their top line. The position change would also allow Leitner an opportunity to utilize his skating by providing him with freer rein instead of playing on the wing. At 5-foot-11, it was also felt that Leitner would be eased off of some of the physical punishment he may receive as a winger. The decision was made, and Leitner went about focusing his off-season training efforts on learning the nuances of a new position. And of course, preparing for the jump to a whole new level of competition in the VHL. Things have not been smooth sailing for Leon Leitner in his rookie season. “It was a tough off-season for sure. Lots of time was spent watching video and going through situational drills on the ice,” Leitner said. “Centre is a very important position, you have a lot more responsibility and you really can’t cheat your defensive responsibilities or you’ll get burned.” Through 35 games, there’s no doubting the fact that there has been some growing pains for the 19-year-old. Leitner has managed to find the back of the net a measly 2 times, while his 13 points rank last on the team in scoring. Based on the results, it’s easy to forgive Leitner for any frustration, but the Austrian says he’s not worried about the struggles. “I feel like I’m improving every day; getting more comfortable with the league and building chemistry with my teammates,” Leitner said. “Obviously I’ve had some struggles in the faceoff circle but I’ve been working hard on it. It’s going to come and I’m just learning what it takes to be a centre at this level. This is definitely a learning experience for me but I feel like I’m taking a lot away from the experience that is going to help me be a better player in the long-run.” General Manager Thomas Corcoran has also been preaching patience with the team’s youngest player. “He’s just a kid, and he’s learning a new position. I think sometimes it gets lost on people how difficult it is to play in this league as a rookie, yet alone a teenager,” Corcoran said. “We see the progress in his game and it’s (the breakthrough) is going to come sooner than later. He’s a big part of the team right now but he’s got all the tools to be a big-time player in this league and we really think he’ll be that player one day.” Of course on a team that is looking on the outside-in at a playoff spot, there have been calls for Leitner to see a reduction in ice-time as disappointment mounts surrounding his performance. Some fans, however, do see the bigger picture and aren’t worried about Leitner’s struggles. Given the team’s lengthy history of rebuilds, fans in Vasteras are well acquainted with the patient approach to developing players. Regardless of opinion, the team has made it clear that Leitner will not only be part of this team for the second half, he will continue to be put in opportunities to contribute and develop as a player. Corcoran says that the team is gunning hard for a playoff spot, but the long-term development of the team’s younger players is critical this season as well. “There’s a bigger picture to consider here. Let’s not let that get lost in translation. Leon will be fine.”

Titans are the class of Europe HELSINKI, FINLAND -- With the looming passing of the VHL season's midway point, the picture in the European Conference has become starkly clear - the Helsinki Titans are for real. Having conceded only 67 goals through the team's first 35 games, the Titans have stifled their opposition en route to a league-best 26-7-2 record. Like so many great teams of the past, the Titans are built from the net out and led by netminder Tuomas Tukio who has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the league. Tukio's 1.84 GAA and .925SV% rank second and third respectively among goaltending leaders; giving the Titans precisely what they need to have an opportunity to win every night. While the team might not pack the offensive punch some might expect from a bona fide Continental Cup contender, the Titans play an excellent team game and personify the style of play it takes to win a championship in this league. With just over half the season left on the schedule, there is no reason to think that the Titans won't maintain their perch atop the European Conference, but don't be surprised to see the team actively considering options that might put them over the top come playoff time with no shortage of contenders in the North American conference.

Stark turning heads in Davos DAVOS, SWI. – Being a rookie is being part of the norm with this year’s edition of the HC Davos Dynamo. The storied franchise is in the midst of a rebuild and with five rookies cracking the team’s roster, there are high hopes for what’s in store down the road. Despite the youthful roster, the team has been a pleasant surprise this season; currently sitting in sole position of second place in the VHL’s European Conference. One of the rookies leading the way is Dusseldorf native Tony Stark, a 6-foot-1, 203 pound winger who is an impressive looking offensive minded forward. Big things were expected from Stark this season after the Dynamo scooped the German up with the fourth overall pick in the S35 VHL Entry Draft. After bursting onto the scene with the Yukon Rush a season ago, Stark quickly went from prospect unknown to blue-chip prospect as he torched the VHLM for 42 goals and 95 points. Stark had already firmly solidified his spot in round one by the end of the VHLM’s regular season, but there was more in store en route to the Rush’s Founder’s Cup Championship last season. Stark went on to lead the team with 13 goals and 17 points in only 11 games played while firing a ridiculous 109 shots on goal during that stretch. Stark has already been an offensive contributor for the Dynamo this season. A player who had once been looked at as an average skating winger had all of the sudden materialized into a can’t miss prospect. And it hasn’t stopped there. After getting his feet wet early, Stark is already contributing with Davos as one of the team’s top six forwards. While his 16 points in 23 games aren’t earth shattering, the team has seen more and more consistency from Stark over the team’s past several games. Davos GM Victor Alfredsson said he’s quite pleased with the development of the team’s fourth overall pick thus far, and expects the progression to continue this season. “We’ve got a lot of young guys up front and we feel they can all contribute this season and help make this team a playoff contender,” Alfredsson said. “Stark is right there with any rookie in this league. You really don’t get an appreciation of how good he is until you have a chance to see him on a daily basis. The little things he does, his vision, we really feel this guy is going to be a star in this league sooner than later.” It’s a glowing report for the 19-year-old Stark, and it’s adding to a growing reputation around the league; one that his teammates see as well. “The kid is working really hard to get better, every day he’s here early and one of the last guys out, he really wants to be an impact player here,” forward Thomas Landry said. “It’s been nice to have some of these fresh faces here, they’ve really raised the intensity level and their passion for the game is refreshing. It’s really helped our team take the next step this year.” Despite all the praise, Stark says he’s still focused on doing the little things and isn’t about to get wound up buying into all of the talk. “I learned a long time ago that talk is cheap. Its cliché, but it’s true,” Stark said. “In this game, it’s about what you do on the ice. I like where my game is going, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done yet. I’m going to continue to work hard and hopefully keep showing coach that I can be a guy he can rely on in all situations.” Nearly a third of the way into the season, Stark’s story is similar to many other VHL rookies this season, and like his fellow peers, VHL fans can expect to see many of these players make considerable impacts as the season progresses.

Power outage in Vasteras VASTERAS, SWE. – It didn’t take a prophet to foresee that the Vasteras Iron Eagles were going to have issues scoring goals this season, but the team’s most recent four-game power outage has been extreme even by those standards. Currently mired in a four game losing streak, the Iron Eagles have managed to score a measly two goals over that span, a number that simply will not get it done in the VHL. The team salvaged a lone point against the Cologne Express in a 1-0 shootout loss that featured exceptional goaltending by Eggly Bagelface, who has largely been left out to dry. Defenseman Mattis Trumbauer was critical of the team’s recent stretch and says the team needs to start playing a more simple game. “This has been a tough stretch, you can see it on everyone’s faces. Not a lot is clicking for us right now,” Trumbauer said. “We really need to get back to the basics and get pucks on net. We’re not generating enough shots right now, yet alone scoring chances, so we have to start small and just focus on making the opposition goalie work.” The Iron Eagles will be back in action at home against the New York Americans in their next contest.

VHL rookies making early impacts It’s no secrecy that the VHL is becoming a tough place for rookies. With 34 seasons of history in the book, the league has evolved to the point where even with 10 teams, making any type of tangible impact as a rookie can prove to be extremely difficult. The early returns from this year’s rookie class have been favourable, with several VHL frosh already separating themselves from the pack as key contributors with their squads. With a number of S34 draftees making their VHL debuts after an extra season of development in the minors, as well as a highly publicized group of incoming S35 rookies, perhaps it’s no surprise to see some rookies overcoming the odds as impact players. One of the players leading the way thus far is Toronto’s Dan Tremblay, a S34 draft pick who has already tabulated 15 points in only 13 games played. The 6-foot-2 defenseman wasn’t known for his offensive game when he was selected by the Legion but the smooth skater seems to have found an offensive game with the team this season. Tremblay figures to see ample playing time with the Legion this season and on his current pace, could figure in as a darkhorse in the Rookie of the Year race. Davos goaltender Lennox Moher has had some hiccups early in his first VHL season. Another defenseman, Riga’s Edwin Encarnacion, has also been turning heads with the Reign as his solid defensive play has also translated at the other end of the ice where he’s already picked up 11 points through his first 13 games played. Encarnacion is one of the most outspoken players in the league, but it hasn’t taken him long to back up the talk. Playing on a team that is devoid of talent, the rookie defenseman is leading the Reign in scoring while leading the league in Penalty Minutes and sitting second in hits. He may not wind up getting the hardware, but Encarnacion is clearly on the path to VHL stardom. The top scoring rookie forward thus far is Davos’ Matteo Gallo, who has already found the back of the net six times in his first 13 VHL games. The prototypical sniper already has a team-high 76 shots this season and as he continues to get his feet wet, it’s only a matter of time before he starts converting on a higher percentage of those shots. Many had Gallo pegged for 30+ goals this season and at this point, there’s nothing that would create any doubt on him attaining that goal. Cologne’s Davey Jones has also been no stranger to the red light district as his seven goals currently lead all rookies. Jones is coming off a dominant season in the VHLM and has quickly shown that he has all the tools to be a front line contributor at the VHL level. The 6-foot-1, 203 pound Miami, Fla. Native has an exceptional release and should challenge Gallo all season long in the race to become the top scoring rookie. In goal, many expected S35 first overall pick Lennox Moher to be an immediate force in goal but it’s been a bit of a rocky start for the Dynamo netminder. Moher comes to the league on the heels of a VHLM Championship last year, but he’s quickly seen that the VHL shooters aren’t putting a lot of stock in the accolades. Through 11 games, Moher’s 3.65GAA and .870SV% are last in both categories amongst VHL starters, but the Dynamo aren’t concerned. GM Victor Alfredsson says it will take some time for Moher to find his comfort level behind a youthful defense and forward corps. “It’s been tough for him at times but there’s no doubt that his game will grow as our team continues to develop,” Alfredsson said. “We’ve got a lot of youth here in Davos, a lot of inexperience, it’s going to take some time for everything to come together and click but there’s no doubt in our minds that Lennox has all the tools to be a premier goaltender in this league. He’s got all the talent in the world.” Countless other rookies have also forged their path early in S35 and it will certainly be exciting to monitor the progress of the next wave of VHL stars as they begin their careers this season.

Iron eagles making early strides VASTERAS, SWE. -- Sitting in fourth position may not be optimal for most franchises, but for the Vasteras Iron Eagles, they'll take it. The rebuilding franchise came into the season with low expectations but through 13 games, they're only sitting two points out of what has turned out to be a surprisingly competitive European Conference. The upstart Iron Eagles have been propelled by the offensive contributions from veteran forward Guido Schwarz and defenseman Mattis Trumbauer. With 20 points in only 13 games, Schwarz has been one of the most productive forwards in the VHL. His team leading 11 goals are also tied for 5th in the league. "It's been a really great start for me on a personal level thus far," Schwarz said. "Being one of the vets here, there's a lot on my shoulders in terms of a need to produce and I've been fortunate to find some success here in the early going." While the start has been encouraging, there are still 59 more games that will determine the fate of the Iron Eagles in S35.

centering the pic didn't work for me, I had to manually 'tab' it over and that's as close as I can get to center, unfortunately.

VASTERAS

trollin'

i'll add some pics after, I have to run !

Youth leads the way in Vasteras Vasteras, Swe. (AP) – The Vasteras Iron Eagles organization has been no stranger to adversity, turmoil, and genuinely depressing periods of time throughout the 34-season history of the VHL. The organization has hoisted the Continental Cup on only two occasions in its history but has become one of the league’s most symbolic franchises through its rises from ashes. It’s an ongoing story that the Iron Eagles once again hope to replicate as the team’s fortunes have soured greatly in recent years. After a complete rebuild during the early 20’s, the Iron Eagles eventually found their way back to championship status under former GM Tyler Owens. It was a short-lived reign, however, as the Iron Eagles have once again made friends with the VHL’s cellar and will look to replicate that success under GM Thomas Corcorran. The team’s roster has a solid mix of youth and veterans but its three young players that the organization will pin its rebuilding hopes on moving forward. Vasteras is hopeful that young forwards Janssen and Leitner can strike some early chemistry. Many teams have bought into the age-old philosophy of building your team from the net out. From a VHL standpoint, look no further than pretty much any great team in league history and you’ll find one common denominator: great goaltending. Yes, life can be oh so difficult in the VHL if you don’t have a top keeper, as even the most talented rosters can rarely overcome a weakness in goal. Vasteras hopes they have their man in S34 goaltender Eggly Bagelface. The sophomore goaltender has excellent size at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, and is widely regarded as the league’s top young goaltender. Bagelface is a supremely talented goaltender who has a strong net presence and excellent technical skills. Many have him pegged as a future VHL great which bodes well for the Iron Eagles who can count on the 20-year-old as a core pillar of the rebuild moving forward. Up front, Vasteras has two of the top young forwards in the league who they are banking on for both the present, and the future. Leading the way is sophomore Willem Janssen, a 6-foot-3, 225 pound, power forward who is an intimidating presence on the wing. The Dutch forward has an impressive offensive arsenal with a wicked shot and adept playmaking ability. Skating well for such a big player, Janssen will be looking to build off a 50+ point rookie season this year and truly take the next step in a career that could see him wind up being one of the league’s premier forwards in a few short years. Janssen is complimented by incoming rookie centre Leon Leitner, who was the team’s first round pick in the most recent edition of the VHL Entry Draft. Leitner, an Austrian-born forward, will making making the transition to centre after playing on the wing for most of the past two seasons. The team is high on their latest first round pick and feels he can be another key piece of the rebuild moving forward – eventually being a contributor on what they hope will be a championship contender. Leitner’s speed and skill are the two aspects of his game which jump out the most. The 19-year-old fresh faced rookie is a dynamic talent who oozes offensive potential. How much of that potential he can unlock this season remains to be seen, but the team is hopeful that he can form some immediate chemistry with Janssen as the season progresses. Corcorran says the team is excited to see what the pair can do and that they’ll receive every opportunity to contribute right away. “This is a rebuilding year for us and our coaching staff knows that. We need to give our young players every opportunity to develop and that’s what we intend to do,” Corcorran said. “Leon and Willem are two huge pieces moving forward for us and we’re really excited to see how they do this year.”

Vasteras, Swe. (AP) -- You know you've made it in the VHL when people are writing articles about how awesome you are not just in games, but in practice as well. While Allan Iverson never seemed to agree with the purpose of practices, VHL teams do put some serious emphasis on them and today Vasteras rookie Leon Leitner reached a practice milestone - 200 total hours. What does it mean? Well, not a lot. Leitner is still one of the lowest players on the VHL totem pole so the 19-year-old Austrian will have his work cut out for him. Centering the top line of a rebuilding team will not be an easy task, but this milestone lends credence to the fact that Leitner is on the right path. "It's been a long road to get to where I am, but this is still just the beginning," Leitner said. "I have to go out there this year and work even harder if I want to be the type of player who can be an impact player in this league."

VASTERAS, SWE. -- Vasteras rookie forward Leon Leitner had to wait to make his first on-ice impression. There were no immigration visa issues or injuries to deal with, no, Leitner's luggage was lost as the 19-year-old Austrian made his maiden voyage to his new VHL home. Travelling from Vienna, Leitner's luggage somehow made its way onto an incorrect flight and by the time the missing luggage was reported, it was finally tracked down three days later in Brisbane, Australia. A KLM spokesperson declined to comment, stating only company policy. "KLM regrets any event where a passenger loses luggage. Unfortunately given the high volume of passengers, these things are prone to happen and we have assets in place for tracking and recovering any luggage that may be lost." Leitner eventually took to the ice using borrowed gear but the rookie said that nothing will replicate his old skates which he hopes to have back soon. "I'm just glad this all happened before the season, that's for sure," Leitner said.

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