A Victim of the Meta Era - Battre Sandstrom HOF Article

[jacobcarson877 2,540]

Battre Sandstrom - Class of S84

 

Position: Defense

Birthplace: Sweden

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 250 lbs

Drafted: 2nd Overall (Prague Phantoms)

User: @Acydburn

 

Career Awards

S75 - World Juniors Silver

S76 - World Juniors Gold

S80 - World Cup Silver

S82 – Alexander Valiq Trophy  

S82 – Alexander Beketov Trophy  

S83 – Sterling Labatte Trophy

 

Acydburn has cemented his legacy is this league as a leader in this community, but today we are here to commemorate the accomplishments of Battre Sandstrom, a leader on the ice and the life-blood of Prague and Riga for 8 dominant seasons.

 

S74 – San Diego Marlins (VHLM)

 

Regular Season

GP: 17    G: 7    A: 15    P: 22    +/-: -10    SHT: 64    PIM: 24    HIT: 44    SB: 38

 

Sandstrom joined the Marlins at the trade deadline, taking advantage of the dismal roster as an opportunity to showcase his talents early. Nowhere near playoff contention, but 22 points in a 17 game stretch gave us all a look as to what would be coming. But the purpose of this stint was to earn enough TPE to make a splash in S75 and that goal was reached.

 

S75 – Saskatoon Wild (VHLM)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 32    A: 43    P: 75    +/-: 32    SHT: 272    PIM: 70    HIT: 116    SB: 96

   
Playoffs

GP: 7    G: 3    A: 6    P: 9    +/-: -3    SHT: 26    PIM: 16    HIT: 8    SB: 15

 

Sandstrom joined a rather talented Saskatoon roster and proceeded to run the offense from the back end. Scoring a whopping 32 goals, good for 3^rd on his team, and tacking on a clean 43 assists, he proved that he could be a number one defenseman for a future VHL team. The playoffs ended quicker than Saskatoon wanted, after a hard fought 7-game series against the Aces.

S76 – Prague Phantoms (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 21    A: 20    P: 41    +/-: -12    SHT: 159    PIM: 97    HIT: 131    SB: 152

 
Playoffs

GP: 11   G: 3    A: 4    P: 7    +/-: 0    SHT: 25    PIM: 19    HIT: 26    SB: 38

 

 

Sandstrom joined a contending Prague as a second pairing defenseman, and helped bring them to 3^rd in the EU. His overall point total was to be expected from a VHL rookie, but scoring 21 goals as a defenseman, and a rookie is rather impressive in a small role. Prague made it out of the play-in round, before falling to Moscow in 7. The EU Conference was incredibly tight this season, but not even the Predators could handle Chicago out of the NA Conference. 

S77 – Prague Phantoms (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 14    A: 43    P: 57    +/-: 4    SHT: 243    PIM: 103    HIT: 139    SB: 190

 
Playoffs

GP: 8    G: 2    A: 1    P: 3    +/-: -3    SHT: 24    PIM: 18    HIT: 14    SB: 18

Sandstrom continued to get better this season, trading some goals in for more playmaking ability, despite shooting more often. Prague had rather deep offense, and one could attribute that to Sandstrom’s vision and playmaking ability on the ice. No sophomore slump for Sandstrom, although he did have trouble coming up with points in the playoffs. Surviving the play-in round once again then losing to another EU powerhouse in Warsaw. The EU fell short to Seattle in the finals, and Prague goes back to the drawing board once again.

 

S78 – Prague Phantoms (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 16    A: 42    P: 58    +/-: 17    SHT: 231    PIM: 40    HIT: 74    SB: 137

Playoffs

GP: 11    G: 1    A: 6    P: 7    +/-: 4    SHT: 34    PIM: 14    HIT: 8    SB: 23

 

Prague once again rode their forwards for offense, with Sandstrom feeding them the puck at every opportunity. The standings were tight, but for the first time yet, Prague escaped the play-in round. They took down London before falling to the eventual champions in Warsaw. Sandstrom showed up big this playoffs, and although taken down once again, Prague still looked ready to contend. I have a personal attachment to this season as my player was a member of this squad, and although I wasn’t particularly involved, it was inspiring to watch my team, and Battre Sandstrom compete at a high level.

 

S79 – Prague Phantoms (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 17    A: 62    P: 79    +/-: -3    SHT: 250    PIM: 98    HIT: 139    SB: 162

  Playoffs

GP: 4    G: 1    A: 1    P: 2    +/-: -6    SHT: 10   PIM: 11    HIT: 8    SB: 12

 

  Sandstrom hit a new gear exiting his entry-level contract , putting together a sturdy more than point-per-game campaign. Continuing to struggle to escape the play-in series in the ever-dominant EU Conference, Prague takes the last spot in the playoffs. Prague couldn’t handle the play-in round this time, falling to Davos. The stacked Malmo Nighthawks proceeded to win the Cup in dramatic fashion (no bias here for sure).

S80 – Prague Phantoms (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 16    A: 73    P: 89    +/-: 17    SHT: 232    PIM: 176    HIT: 262    SB: 140

Playoffs

GP: 9    G: 1    A: 6    P: 7    +/-: -3    SHT: 35    PIM: 22    HIT: 34   SB: 16

 

In what would end up being GM Jason Glasser’s final season at the helm of the Phantoms, Battre Sandstrom really did everything he could to finally win that Cup for his GM. With 1 point separating 3^rd and 5^th, Prague once again faces Davos in the play-in series. Narrowly edging out Davos this time around, Prague, despite Sandstrom’s best effort, couldn’t find a win against the other EU powerhouses. Glasser stepped down, leaving a vacancy that really only had one perfect candidate to fill. 

S81 – Prague Phantoms (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72    G: 24    A: 93   P: 117    +/-: 39    SHT: 308    PIM: 117    HIT: 198    SB: 143

Playoffs

GP: 5    G: 1    A: 4    P: 5    +/-: 2    SHT: 23    PIM: 14    HIT: 12    SB: 16

 

As Acydburn takes the reigns of the Phantoms, Sandstrom really starts to hum. He led his team in points, and dragged Prague to a 3^rd place finish in the EU, once again escaping the play-in. A lot of roster changed happened over the course of this season, and despite the uptick in performance, Prague once again fell to Moscow. The meta era in full swing, and no real chance to succeed in Prague, Acydburn had to make the tough decision to move on from his own team.

 

S82 – Riga Reign (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72   G: 25   A: 99   P: 124   +/-: 42   SHT: 382   PIM: 136   HIT: 229   SB: 167

 

Playoffs

GP: 12    G: 5    A: 15    P: 20    +/-: 4    SHT: 65    PIM: 28    HIT: 47    SB: 43

 

Taking a chance in Riga, Sandstrom absolute lit it up in the final season of the “Meta Era”. Timing the peak of his career perfectly with this era, taking advantage of a new environment and a team that needed an offensive push, he put together an award winning season, the obvious best defenseman and highest assist getter. Although Prague beat them in the regular season standings, Riga came back in full force, beating the Phantoms before tragically falling to the Moscow Menace, leaving yet another Moscow vs Vancouver Final.

 

  S83 – Riga Reign (VHL)

 

Regular Season

GP: 72   G: 28   A: 76   P: 104   +/-: 40   SHT: 335   PIM: 157   HIT: 256   SB: 129

 

Playoffs

GP: 11    G: 2    A: 5    P: 7    +/-: -2    SHT: 49    PIM: 24    HIT: 39    SB: 24

 

Ushering in the new “Hybrid Era” Battre Sandstrom maintained his position as one of the league’s premier offensive defensemen. Scoring overall seemed to have gone down, so a 100+ point season was a real milestone. Finding success in a brand new league era is a feat in itself. Riga, driven by its dominant top unit, pulled off a 50 win season, taking 2^nd in the EU Conference. They made it all the way to the semi-final, losing once again to Moscow. Thus ends a painful but individually successful career.

 

Looking back on Batter Sandstrom’s career, honestly I just feel bad. To watch a player on two separate teams dominate play as much as Sandstrom did, in as many situations as he did, to never make it to the finals and never see a Cup. There is something about the Hall of Famers that never won that really catch my attention. The dedication it takes to come season after season, week after week, day after day, looking for a chance to win and finally be rewarded for your actions, just to constantly be thwarted is commemorable. To work at the high level Acyburn did as well, to never be rewarded is even more depressingly impressive. The EU Conference was deadly, and well Vancouver was … something. It was a tough time to be anyone other than the top 3-4 teams, and the stars of that area outside of those teams are deserving of that recognition STHS would never give them. Sandstrom was consistently one of the best offensive defensemen of his era, something not many could say. I’m sure he could’ve won multiple more awards without anyone batting an eyelash. Always a bright spot on a decent team, driving offense in a way no one else could. Sandstrom never missed the playoffs in the VHL, and put in great efforts every time. No one can blame Sandstrom for his failure to win a Cup at the end of the day.

 

 

Now, Acyburn turns his focus to Matt Murdock, a star goaltender in the making, maintaining the work ethic that Sandstrom and Acydburn have put forward for years. Hopefully this time around, they will find more playoff success. As a former teammate, I had nothing but a great experience with Acydburn and I have a lot of respect for the work he has put into the Phantoms and the VHLE. Truly one of the best among us.

 

Career Stats

 

Regular Season

GP: 576    G: 161    A: 508    P: 669    +/-: 144    SHT: 2140    PIM: 924    HIT: 1428    SB: 1220    PPG: 1.16

 

Playoffs

GP: 71    G: 16    A: 42    P: 58    +/-: -4    SHT: 265    PIM: 150    HIT: 188    SB: 190    PPG: 0.82

   

Congratulations on a great career Acydburn and here’s to a daring a devilish revenge career!  

 

1700 words!

[Banackock 8,053]

More like a victim of PRG

[Acydburn 1,607]

13 hours ago, Banackock said:

More like a victim of PRG

SMH.. 

 

@jacobcarson877 thank you for the article!