Bears defeat Titans; proceed to destroy them from within

[Victor 10,829]

The Seattle Bears won their 5th Continental Cup in 10 seasons to complete a S77 beyond their wildest dream. It was the 2nd cup in a row that they won by defeating the Helsinki Titans in the finals – Helsinki came into the S73 finals with the league lead in championships and now the Bears have overtaken them with 11 overall.

 

Not content with merely defeating the Titans and taking the cup record, the Bears went one further, taking one of Helsinki's top players, Venus Thightrap, in a sign and trade deal. Although the Titans got one good season of service from Thightrap as a free agent and will have few regrets, this is clearly a move that strengthens the champions, even with letting go captain and S77 top goalscorer Jim Bob, while weakening a key rival.

 

This wasn't it though. The Bears then signed one of Helsinki's best defencemen in free agency, with James Rose opting to take his talents to Seattle and play alongside Hex Rose. Before the emergency salary cap measures implemented by the league, this would not have been possible but now the Bears have improved in the one position they had taken a hit after the retirement of Odin Omdahl.

 

Finally, to put the cherry on the cake, Frank Funk, famous for bringing both Rayz and Frank Funk Jr. into the VHL – both champions with Seattle – was named Helsinki's new GM despite close ties to Seattle management. An unintended consequence of this was the abrupt retirement of Helsinki's other top defenceman, Emi Rune, leaving the Titans, on paper, far behind the Bears within a week of Game 5 of the finals.

[diacope 2 764]

[BOOM 8,647]

Tragic.