Party in Vasteras

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The Finals Await

 

Vasteras, Sweden -- Entering the playoffs, most observers didn't have high hopes for the Vasteras Iron Eagles. The team was backing into the playoffs, losing four of their last five and finishing just one point ahead of the Cologne Express for the final playoff spot. Their opposition in the Stockholm Vikings, meanwhile, had run away from the VHLE field in the final weeks to earn the one seed.

 

Inside the locker room, though, there was always a belief that the Iron Eagles could move on. And tonight, they did exactly that, winning 4-3 against the Vikings to advance to the finals. While the Iron Eagles did win some blowouts in this series, one by 8-0 and another by 6-0, this one was a nailbiter that required three Vasteras goals in the third period. That, says goalie Xavier Booberry, shows the team's resilience.

 

"It's clear this was a team effort. Without everybody playing their part, there's no way we win one, let alone this crazy comeback," Booberry said. "With that at our back, we really feel like this team can do anything."

 

It won't be easy though, with a second-seeded Rome Gladiators team that swept the first round in their way. For his part, Booberry's looking forward to facing off against Rome's Tobias Reinhart, the likely VHLE Goalie of the Year.

 

"He got me in the regular season, but anything can happen in the playoffs," Booberry said. "It's time to show everybody what we're made of."