VSN Presents: VHL Season Update

[Alex 3,248]

@v.2

 

Hi Everyone and welcome to the first S83 VHL season update. Since the season preview a lot has changed, some teams have had great seasons so far and exceeded expectations while others have fallen way short of their potential. In this article we will take a look at each conference as a whole so far this season and if there are any standout performances on each team's roster. While you’re please check out other recent VSN articles.

 

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North American Conference

 

For the most part the North American Conference has gone as expected with Seattle completely taking the conference by storm. Toronto is sitting comfortably in 2nd, there’s a considerable battle between D.C. and Chicago for 3rd, while the final playoff spot seems to be between Vancouver and New York at this point but anything can happen.

 

 Seattle Bears 

Seattle has been the top team in the NA this season by a considerable margin backed by the stellar play of Em Em Flex @oilmandan who leads the league in wins (17) and GAA (1.97), Flex also currently has a very respectable 0.926 SV%. On the offensive side of the puck Zeedayno Chara’s @Jubis position change to forward seems to be paying off as they are currently 5th in the league with 33 points. Additionally, Vinny Detroit @dasboot sits 7th in goals with 15 and Hulk Hogan 2 @Hogan is 6th in assists with 21. Seattle appears to have found the recipe for success this season and only time will tell how far this team can go.

 

 Toronto Legion 

Sitting in second, just 7 points back of Seattle is Toronto who’s pre-existing roster and the offseason moves seem to be paying dividends as Paul Atreides @Mr_Hatter sits second in goals with 16 and 5th in points with 36. The solid play of Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday has been giving Toronto a chance to win every game with a 0.931 SV% and a 2.02 GAA. At this point it’s probably safe to assume that Toronto will finish second in the NA conference.

 

 D.C. Dragons 

D.C. is one of the most improved teams from last season with several major free agency signings and trades. Of note so far this season Taylor Mourning @scoop has racked up 25 points and 90 hits and should be in the running for the Boulet yet again. The D-pairing of Kitson @Nykonax and Peepants @JardyB10 has also been paying off as they have 20 points a piece at this point of the season. Rookie goaltender Bubbles Utonium @fishy has also been playing well and currently has a 0.921 SV%. Depending on how the rest of the season goes there is a chance that D.C. could push for 2nd but, given their current roster, 3rd is a safe bet for this team.

 

 Chicago Phoenix 

This season Chicago already has 5 more wins than they did last season with 11. Chicago’s rookies have been having a phenomenal season with The Board Game On Skates @MubbleFubbles and Bo Johansson @Shindigs sit 1st and 2nd in rookie scoring, Scotty Sundin @fromtheinside is also in the top 10 for rookie scoring with 16 points. Currently no one would have expected Chicago to be this good this quickly, however their rookies have elevated this team to a competitive level in the North American conference.

 

 Vancouver Wolves 

Brandt Fuhr @Tate has elevated this team to a point with a league leading 0.935 SV% and a solid 2.51 GAA both are very good for a rookie goaltender. The offensive play of Kakapo Bushtit @Esso2264 (5th in rookie scoring) and Henry Tucker @NSG have allowed Vancouver to push for a playoff spot early this season. We could be in for a close battle between them and New York as the season goes on for the final playoff spot, if Fuhr’s play keeps up there is no reason Vancouver will drop out of the 2nd wildcard spot.

 

 The Rest 

The rest of the North American Conference is still within range of the final playoff spot, New York is only 1 point back, while Calgary and Los Angeles are 4 and 5 points back respectively. Vasile Lamb @dlamb is having a breakout season and could certainly be in the running for the Boulet. For Calgary Saku Kotkakoivu @DollarAndADream appears to be the early favourite for the Funk Trophy. Meanwhile in Los Angeles DB III @wcats has been a positive story line and will likely be the face of the franchise for some time to come.

 

European Conference

 The European conference has been extremely close this season with the top 3 teams only being separated by 3 points, This one should be a nail-biter as we approach the mid-way point of the season.

 

 Riga Reign 

Riga has been dominant this season, and a big part of that is their big 3 of Anze Miklavz @kelvi, Alex Johnston @Alex, and Battre Sandstrom @Acydburn who between the 3 of them lead the league in every offensive stat. Miklavz leads the league in points (46) and assists (31), Johnston leads the league in goals (21), and Sandstrom leads the league in defensemen scoring with 39 points. Due to all of this the play of Tobias Reinhart @Spaz has gone kind of unnoticed as they have been racking up shutouts and are already up to 5 on the season. It will likely be a close season between Riga, Moscow, and London as all three of them are within 3 points of each other.

 

 Moscow Menace 

Moscow has been back to their ways of being one of the top teams in the league again this season in part due to the play of Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeath who is hoping to win his 4th straight Boulet come season’s end, and Papa Emeritus @Beketov who continues to be a very solid goalie for this team. Moscow is in the position to make yet another finals push this season and will likely be battling it out for the top spot with Riga and London until season’s end.

 

 London United 

London has quietly worked their way up the standings lately and in contrast to last season where it was the rookie forwards doing all the scoring this season it’s their top 3 defensmen in Tom Eagles @Greg_Di, Rolf Fizzlebeef Jr. @TacticalHammer, and Juice Box @Siddhus who are all above a point per game. Additionally, Cole Pearce’s @N0HBDY consistency is of note as they currently have a 2.41 GAA and a 0.928 SV%. The race to the top of the EU will be a close one.

 

 Prague Phantoms 

Prague continues to be a good team in the EU this season with Tessier @KC15 and Davis @Josh leading the charge. The addition of Reylynn Reinhart @Ricer13 appears to be paying off as they currently have scored 15 goals in 22 games played. Prague currently sits 4th in the conference, and 7 points back of the top 3. Given the current standing Prague looks to be set for a wildcard matchup with Warsaw.

 

 Warsaw Predators 

Warsaw GM @dlamb had a busy offseason and it appears to be paying off with 5 players on the roster being at or close to a point per game with the team in Bogdan Trunov @qripll, Omi Aberg @osens, Hari Singh Nalwa @Dil, Zach Kisslinger II @Kisslinger and early season acquisition Kristof Welch @Juice. At the start of the season it appeared as though Warsaw could be the odd one out as 6 teams in the EU made considerable moves to compete this season and with Malmo 2 points back and Helsinki having hit the breaks at 14 points it appears as though Warsaw may just squeak in.

 

 The Rest 

Hopeful competitors the Helsinki Titans have had a rough go of it so far this season as they have lost 8 straight and sit 5 points back of the final wildcard spot, could they still make it? Yes, but it will be an uphill battle. The other two teams appeared as though they were in a duel for 7th until Malmo took off, in part due to the play of Druss Deathwalker @animal74 and Mason Jones @Masu Chan who both are a point per game alongside Nathaniel Minion @Minion. Davos on the other hand is in for a long season, with that being said they do have their bright spots with rookie goaltender Boris Tsezar @comrade cat playing very well, David Tavau @Ahma providing a great veteran presence, and James Teekirque @Mongoose87 who has elevated their game recently since joining the top pair.

Edited April 30, 2022 by Alex