Part 4 before and since: S64 & S65 Toronto Legion

[ROOKIE745 608]

Hello and welcome back to part four, this is really going on for a while huh? Don't worry we are nearing the end, I believe only two more parts after this one, covering the defensemen that were on one team or the other and finally the goalies. For now though let's finish up the forwards.

 

S65 Forwards:

The Charm

VHLM: Yukon Rush

Drafted second overall in season 58 by the Yukon Rush, The Charm would only spend one season in the minors but he made quite the impression while he was there. Playing all 72 games he scored 45 goals and 47 assists for 92 points. He had one game winner and 10 power play goals, 358 shots on net in total. Needless to say that was one hell of a season and he showed he was ready to move up to the big leagues. Before we forget though he did play seven games in the post season, scoring just three goals.

 

VHL: HC Davos Dynamo, Helsinki Titans, Toronto Legion

So Charm moved up to the VHL for season 59 but..... I was unable to find his draft position, he plays the full eight seasons so you think he'd be in the S59 draft but I couldn't find him. So let's move forward, Charm would end up in Davos and have a fairly decent rookie season. In S59 he scored 20 goals, 4 game winners, 3 on the power play from 233 shots on net. 18 assists for 38 totals points. No playoffs. Season 60 saw him hit exactly a point per game, 72 points, 37 assists, 35 goals, 9 game winners, 2 power play goals on 319 shots. In his first post season appearance he played 3 games and scored one goal which was on the power play. Next season would prove to be a big one, in season 61 he got 77 points, 41 assists, 36 goals, 9 game winners, 8 on the power play from 315 shots on net. In the playoffs the team went all the way to finals and won in 14 games, 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points, a point per game pace for the center and gets to take home his first cup. Season 62 would see Charm hit his second highest points total at 90, getting 47 assists, scoring 43 goals, 8 game winners and power play goals from 463 shots on net. In the post season Charm would score 12 points in just 7 games, 6 of each. Season 63 would season Davos drop off the map although not for Charm's point production, 43 goals again which is a career high which of course he reached last season, 39 assists for 82 points. 4 game winners and 13 power play goals on 489 shots on net which is a career high. One thing I found surprising this season is that he blocked 102 which isn't a lot compared to other defensive players but a lot for him. The next highest from him was 26, so he must have been asked to play a more defensive roll on the team. The team would miss the playoffs and Charm would find himself on the move.

 

Going to Helsinki for a season his production would remain above a point per game, 73, 44 assists and 29 goals, 4 game winners and 7 power play goals on 395 shots on goal. The team would go 11 games deep and he would score 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points. Despite a fine season Charm would be heading to Toronto, perhaps looking for that second cup as he was nearing the end of his career. Toronto of course just came off a cup win in season 64, and of course as I've said before so many players seemed to have their career year in S65 and it's impressive for Charm as it was his second last season in the league. Scoring 42 goals, 55 assists, for 97 points, career high in assists and points. 8 game winners and 6 on the power play with 327 shots on net. In the playoffs you know the story, 12 games and back to back cups for the Legion, and a second for Charm after winning his first 4 seasons ago. 11 points split between 7 assists and 4 goals, this would be his last time seeing the post season. In his final season in the league he would stay above 70 points, with 71 points, 40 assists, 31 goals, 2 game winners and 12 on the power play with 300 shots on net. Charm's career would end with 279 goals scored, 321 assists for exactly 600 points. 2841 shots on net, 48 game winners, and 59 power play goals. The Charm was just that, the charm on any team he played on, I would say he was pretty clutch as well with all those game winners and power play goals. I don't know if he's in the hall but I would put him in it.

 

Joey Boucher

VHLM: Las Vegas Aces, Oslo Storm

Joey Boucher, playing before his draft season, in season 62 he played all 72 games and netted 8 goals and 15 assists for 23 points for the Las Vegas Aces, they made the post season and in 5 games he scored no points. Going into the draft he would be picked 9th overall by the Oslo Storm in season 63, he would have a great season scoring 36 goals, 42 assists for 78 points. 357 shots on net and 2 game winners and 9 power play goals. Sadly the Storm failed to make the playoffs so we move onto the VHL.

 

VHL: Helsinki Titans, Toronto Legion, Malmo Nighthawks

Joey's VHL draft was the same season as his VHLM draft, that being season 63. Helsinki would draft him 25th overall, quite a difference from his M draft. He would make his first appearance next season in S64, his rookie season would see him get 16 points split evenly, in the playoffs the team would go 11 games far, Boucher netted 2 goals. I don't know if Helsinki wasn't happy with his development or something but he would be moved to Toronto. Boucher would see a massive jump in points, 63 which would be his second best season, 28 goals and 35 assists. in the playoffs we know the routine, 12 games, 4 goals, 7 assists for 11 points and a cup win. The following season his points would dip slightly, 59 points, 20 goals and 39 assists. Despite the back to back cup wins Toronto dropped pretty hard and would miss the season 66 playoffs. Season 67 would be a career year for Boucher, 30 goals, 42 assists for 72 points. Career highs in all categories and the Legion won the Victory Trophy. In the playoffs however the team only went 5 games deep and he scored 3 points, 1 goal.

 

While his time in Toronto was pretty successful he would move to the Malmo Nighthawks. His points took a huge hit as he only scored 26 points, 16 assists and 10 goals. Despite the poor personal season Malmo won the Victory Trophy meaning yes, Boucher won back to back Victory trophies with different teams. Malmo would go to the finals in S68 and in 16 games he only netted 4 assists. The Malmo trip didn't work out and he would find himself returning home, back to Helsinki. In his second last season his points would rebound to 42, 29 assists and 13 goals. In the post season he scored 3 goals in 6 games. In his final season he would get 30 helpers and 6 goals for 36 points. 7 games in the post season and he scored no goals and had just 3 assists. Boucher was a good player but he was never a star player, he had the one point per game season but that's it, an important depth player though for Toronto and his time in Toronto is the most noteworthy. As a side note in his final season in S70 he would change to defense, but he was a forward when in Toronto.

 

Mikhail Vega

VHLM: Ottawa Lynx, Yukon Rush

Drafted 22nd overall by the Ottawa Lynx in season 60, Vega's chance at making the big leagues was small but he would do it. Before being drafted though he played in Ottawa for 17 games, 7 goals and 9 assists for almost a point per game. In the playoffs he got 3 points in 6 games, 1 goal. After the draft he would play well but not match a point per game pace. 56 points from 22 goals and 34 assists. In the post season he would beat a point per game with 14 in 13, 9 assists and 5 goals. Vega would move teams and find himself in Yukon, for his last season in the M he scored 14 goals, 64 assists for 78 points. In the playoffs he got 6 points, 5 of them assists in 10 games. With all of that playoff experience and improving seasons he would move up to the big leagues. 

 

VHL: Toronto Legion

Vega's time in the VHL is interesting as you will soon see, he was drafted 9th overall in season 61 by the Toronto Legion. In his rookie season in S62 he scored 7 goals, 2 of them game winners and on the power play, 15 assists for 22 points, the goals and points would be career highs for him, no post season action for the Legion. Season 63 his points are pretty similar, 21 instead of 22, 17 assists which is a career high and 4 goals. In the playoffs he had no points in 2 games. So season 63 rolls around and Vega has no contract, he isn't retired but isn't signed by any team, of course this being season 64 we know he misses out on a chance at a cup. Toronto needing depth I imagine brings hin back for season 65 and his totals are even more rough, just 10 points with 7 assists and 3 goals. In his final playoffs he would score no points in 12 games, so in 14 total no points. Of course he gets to lift the cup at the end of it and that's more than what a lot of other players can say.

 

(word count 1734)

Edited September 26, 2021 by ROOKIE745

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for first time Setp 5th

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for second time Sept 12th

[Ledge 1,131]

Review: I find it difficult to commit to a piece, yet alone a series of articles, so I find this super impressive. Really in-depth, the research and time put into this is obvious, and nice use of bolding and italics. My one critique is to maybe break up the paragraphs a little to enhance the view.

9/10

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for third and last time sept 19th