VSN Presents: Under 250 - Breaking Down the Rush-Marlins Rivalry

[Ledge 1,131]

 

 

Greetings, VHL, and welcome back to VSN Under 250, where we cover everything VHLM. Today, we'll be looking at and analyzing the current standings of the VHLM, and then taking an in-depth glance at the intense rivalry between the San Diego Marlins and the Yukon Rush. Make sure to check out some other awesome VSN content

 

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Standings Overview

 

Western Conference Standings

 

          The West has been a slaughterhouse so far. The Yukon Rush, Saskatoon Wild, San Diego Marlins, and Houston Bulls all entered the season with playoff-caliber rosters and have been solid as the season progressed, while the Las Vegas Aces and Mexico City Kings have been dreadful due to lack of assets pouring over from last season and picks at the draft. 

The Rush especially have shined to begin the season. Their core of stars Gaspar Zakrevsky, Jaromir Lemiuex, and Nathan Powers was bolstered at the draft by young hotshots Papa Emeritus and Tyler Reinhart, as well as second round pick Otto Numminen. They have also been extremely successful at waiver signings, picking up Jerome Reinhart, Aina Mortas, and Erlantz Jokinen. This star-studded roster has certainly proved their worth, having only one loss in regulation this season. 

The Saskatoon Wild have also been phenomenal, although largely due to veteran VHLMers who stayed with the team from last season. Griff Mackenzie and Duncan Montana are back on the scoring leaderboards, Jordan Heavens and Craig Martin have established themselves as scoring threats, and Raphael Sonier has stepped up to the task of number 1 D and flourished. Leroy Johnson has been solid in net, and they have a respectable record. It’s the recipe for a playoff contending team.

General manager Thadthrasher was tasked, two seasons ago, to essentially build a team from scratch with a barren cupboard of draft picks. After a dismal S76 where the Marlins lounged in the basement of the league, they roared back with a decently successful S77 and are back in playoff contention in S78, led by the likes of Aldwin Craig, Nicholas Mariani, Damien Salducci, and The Loch Ness Monster, and with Morgan Karlsson performing well in nets, they’re once again looking for a lengthy cup run.

The S78 Houston Bulls are not entirely unlike the 2021 Edmonton Oilers, aside from a superstar stopper in Aike van Giersbergen. Anze Miklavz, Ryan Li, and Cody Lachance drive the offense from the front, and there is a dearth of scoring anywhere else on the team, due to lots of younger players. Milk Jugs and Drakon Zabastovka headline their 3-player defense core, forming a bit of a ‘gang of misfits’ team to go up against the juggernaut Rush and Wild. Their record may not pop off the page, but it’s good enough to practically guarantee them a spot in the postseason.

The Mexico City Kings are in a difficult situation. Coming off two straight nail-biter cup runs, they have a roster depleted of assets and made up almost entirely of waiver signings. Poor Bastian Greiss is peppered with an average of 41 shots per game, and Darth Kaprizov is their only veteran skater of more than twenty games. This season will not be very royal for the Kings.

The Las Vegas Aces are in even worse condition. While the Kings roll with Matty Live as their sole defender, the Aces draw a blank on any at all! Anime Protagonist has to deal with an average of 42 shots per game! The Aces have a few sharpshooters up front in Slick Dasher, Giles Sweeney, Mats Zucarelllo, and Chicken Nugget, but can’t seem to muster up much offense at all. To keep the dad jokes rolling, the Aces ain’t down to get lucky this roll.

 

Eastern Conference Standings

 

          The East has had more and less parity than the West at the same time. While the Halifax 21st hold the league points leader, the Miami Marauders are far down in the dumps. And there is a six point difference between the 4th playoff team and 5th place, on contrary to a whopping sixteen in the East.

The Halifax 21st have stormed out of the gate of S78, mopping up the competition. While the Rush could catch up if they win both games the 21st have on them, Halifax currently sits in the throne. Their top trio of Baldur Poulsen, Tyler Steel, and Kikko Moskinen have been a three-man wrecking crew, maintaining 1-2-3 in league scoring, and defenceman Roger Jone is tied for the lead in scoring from the back end. Longtime VHLMer Jonathan Bustard has been a rock between the pipes, making the 21st a handful, to say the least, for opponents.

The Minnesota Storm recently welcomed new GM PatrikLaine, and he inherited a perennial contender that has dizzying highs and devastating lows in a span of five seasons or less. This season is definitely a high. While they don’t boast any bona fide superstars, Henri le Massif, Gary Tarantino ll, and Miks Sunish up front as well as Ron World Peace lll and Jocke Jockesson in the back, and Dexter Vaughn guarding the net, the Storm don’t really have any weaknesses. 

The Philadelphia Reapers have also been very good this season, having taken S77 as an off season. The Reapers are extremely deep at forward, and their defense has some serious firepower. Alex Johnston and Genghis Khan are the only true stars up front, but freshly acquired Vasiliy Grigorev and assist machine Zeljko Ranogajec bolster the back end. Luke Spinelli and Tobias Reinhart form a beastly duo in the crease. 

The Ottawa Lynx have a not very great record, far below .500, but still manage to hold onto a playoff spot. Dlamb is the new GM, and had an entirely clean slate to build his roster. Bogdan Trunov and Kirby Pandora are the main pickups, but Jlloyiod Blloyoiderson, Shane Lazeski, and Julia Waffles have also impressed on the young squad.

The Mississauga Hounds are likely still suffering from a heart breaking sweep in the Founder’s Cup finals last season, and it’s being reflected in the standings this time around. Angel Wachiure, Nathaniel Minion, Jakub Brozik, and Russell Dixon are decent scoring options but then they have no one above 80 TPE and zero depth or quality defensemen or goalies. 

The Miami Marauders were the team that hoisted the Founder’s Cup in S77, and are currently paying the price as they flounder at the bottom of the standings. They recently dealt away Grigorev to the Reapers, proving their rebuild. They have a plethora of picks next season, however, including three first rounders. But for now, Mikey Markov, Poopy Peepants, and company absorb loss after loss.

 

Feature Story

 

Breaking Down the Rush-Marlins Rivalry

vs

 

It all started with a seemingly innocent game of connect 4 between San Diego and Yukon general managers Thad and Juice. But with Juice coming out victorious, and comments between the two becoming heated in game threads, we soon had a RIVALRY. It was a war, and no one had ever seen anything like it. It was truly a sight to be seen in the VHLM, and it worked magnificently in that it engaged the players from both sides like never before, crafting the nicknames ‘yuck-on’ and ‘tuna fish’, both to be used not very sparingly. The battle waged throughout S77, until when the final sim was posted, Yukon was behind San Diego, and Juice would have to face his own consequences: a pie to the face.

It was a humiliating moment for the Rush fanbase and likely a champagne-filled one for the Marlins crowd. After a relatively quiet playoffs and offseason neither team contributed much to the league, Juice returned to action with a new challenge, which involved the loser having to sing the karaoke song of the winner’s choice. This season’s bet looks to be a lot more exciting and narrow, with both teams icing competitive teams unlike the past season. Overall, I can predict an electrifying contest with an even better karaoke finale. And I hate to pick sides, but I would like to see Mr Sales being the one fulfilling his side of the wager this time around.

 

 

 

That will be all, thank you for reading and stay tuned for more VSN coverage of everything VHL and VHLM.

 

 

Players mentioned:

Spoiler

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Edited May 31, 2021 by Ledge and Dairy
made an oopsie

[Juice 641]

6 minutes ago, Ledge and Dairy said:

we soon had a RIVALRY.

 

We will win. That's a promise. Helps that we are 2-0 right now this season so far 

 

Also @Ledge and Dairynice link to the same post on the post itself

[Ledge 1,131]

7 minutes ago, Juice said:

Also @Ledge and Dairynice link to the same post on the post itself

[Ledge 1,131]

second claim