VSN Presents: VHLM Power Rankings S70'S part 3

[ROOKIE745 607]

Greeting readers and welcome to part three of who the most successful M teams were during the S70's. We're into the top half, all of the teams in this part that made it to the finals at least twice and have a cup win in their name. It's also a very tightly knit bunch with only three points separating the three teams. Without further delay, let's dive in and talk about each of them!!

 

 

Yukon Rush

Record: 341-324-55

Rank: 6th with 932 points

                                                     Goals for: x3                    Conference finals: x2

                                                     Goals against: x3               Cup finals: x1

                                                    Goal differential: x3      Founders Cup: x1

                                                    Top Team: x1                    Points: 737+195

Our first team for today is one that has since moved, the team is now known as the Geneva Rush but back during the S70's they were one of the Canadian teams, located up in Yukon. The Rush were good at managing rebuilds, having three seasons above 50 wins and only one under 20. Rush entered the decade in a rebuild going 20-48-4, they'd more than double that next season with a record of 53-16-3, they were top three in goal categories and went to the cup finals, they beat the Wild 4-2 and did the same with the Marlins, the Lynx however swept them. The next two seasons would be focused on rebuilding, season 73 saw a record of 21-47-4 and the follow up was only worse, going 15-51-6. Season 74 saw them jump back up above 50 wins, 52-17-3, again top three in all goal categories but the playoffs proved tougher this time, beating the Lynx in a tough seven game series but falling to the Hounds in six.

 

Entering the second half the Rush went into a retool as their record wasn't awful, 32-29-11, they managed it well and in S76 they went 43-21-8, were top three in goals against and got out of the first round, beating out the Marauders in six before getting swept by the Bulls in round two. The retool might have hurt them in the long run and this time they went full rebuild mode, 25-42-5, a record that is pretty respectable for a rebuilding team. This would lead to their best record of the decade next season, 57-11-4, they were top three in goals for and differential, they finished as the top team in the regular season and in the playoffs they finally got their due, beating the Kings in five, the Marlins in six, and topping my S78 Minnesota Storm in six. Finally the Rush had their cup, and it would prove to be their final Founder's Cup as they would move to the VHLE a few seasons later. It would be business as usual for the final season of the S70's, going back to the drawing board the team finished with a record of 23-42-7. We miss you in the VHLM Yukon.

 

 

Mexico City Kings

Record: 339-334-47

Rank: 5th with 935 points

                                                     Goals for: x2                    Conference finals: x1

                                                     Goals against: x4               Cup finals: x2

                                                    Goal differential: x2      Founders Cup: x1             

                                                     Top Team: x1                    Points: 725+210

 

The Mexico City Kings are our next team up to bat, and ones that finished just three points ahead of the Rush. Unlike the Rush who were mostly up one season and down the next, the first half of the decade was mostly a struggle for the Kings while the second half brought them much more success. Starting off they went 32-36-4, they would fully embrace tearing it down next season with a record of 12-56-4. This would bear fruit for them the following season, with a record of 47-20-5, finishing top three in goals against and getting out of the first and second round, outing the Aces and Storm in six respectively before the Wild beat them in the same number of games. This run was fairly unexpected but a pleasant one. The following two seasons would be tough however, dropping down to a 16-51-5 record and jumping up to a 32-32-8 record next season, the team like I said was pretty mediocre the first half but come the second half they saw a huge bump up.

 

 

Season 75 the team jumped to a record of 54-13-5, the best the team achieved during the decade, they were top three in all goal categories, finished as the top team in the regular season went back to the finals, beating the 21st and Aces in five before the Reapers pushed them aside in six to win the Founders Cup. This wasn't the end though for this team as S76 their record didn't change much, 53-19-0, top three in all goal categories again though not the top team in terms of points. This was their post season however, they'd sweep the Aces and Storm in four before barely surviving against the Bulls in seven to win their first and only Founders Cup of the decade. What is it with the Kings and beating the first two rounds in the same number of games? The Kings would have to pay up for their two great seasons but seeing as they got the cup I imagine they'd do it again given the choice. S77 they had a 15-50-7 record followed by S78 which saw them double their wins, 30-40-2. In the final season of the decade the team went 48-17-7, were top three in goals against and got out of the first round one final time, sweeping the Reapers but losing in a close seven game series against the Hounds. With three trips to the final and one cup win, the Kings can feel pretty happy about the decade, they definitely weren't a push over in the playoffs.

 

 

Miami Marauders

Record: 302-243-31

Rank: 4th with 935 points

                                                     Goals for: x2                    Conference finals: x0

                                                     Goals against: x3              Cup finals: x1

                                                    Goal differential: x3      Founders Cup: x3             

                                                     Top Team: x1                   Points: 635+300

Our final team for part three is the Miami Marauders, a team that didn't exist at the beginning of the decade, instead they were an expansion team in season 72. You may have noticed they are tied with the Kings in terms of points, so why do I put them ahead or not have it say tied? There's two main reasons I will give here, one is because they managed to rack up the same amount of points in two less seasons but probably the bigger and more important one here is their three Founders Cup wins, that's why I deem them the more impressive team. Starting with their expansion, season 72, a record of 29-39-4, honestly for a first season it's not bad but it doesn't compare to their second season and how fast they turned it around. Going 56-14-2 they finished top three in goals against and differential and were the top team in the regular season. For their second time in the playoffs they would go very far, sweeping the Reapers and beating the Marlins in six, in the finals they would only manage to win one game against the Minnesota Storm.

 

 

Season 74 has one of the craziest underdog stories of the decade and maybe ever in the M, the team had a record of 32-38-2, just 66 points but it was enough to get them in the playoffs that season, they weren't the best in any of the goal categories but what they did in the playoffs was just unbelievable, they would beat the Halifax 21st in a nail biting seven game series, Halifax was the first overall team with almost double the amount of points. In the second round they faced the Las Vegas Aces, second overall from the regular season, again a hard fought seven game series. In the finals they faced the fourth place Hounds, a team that was tied with third place Yukon Rush, they swept them.... ya just brushed them aside. Titans slayers doesn't do them justice, they were god slayers in the playoffs, three teams all over 100 points in the regular season, the first, second and fourth overall teams couldn't stop them, what a playoffs that was.

 

 

Now with that crazy story out of the way we can continue, their record would get better next season, going up to a 40-29-3 but no such underdog run this time in the postseason. Season 76 was a small drop, 37-29-6 and again no progress in the playoffs. S77 saw the team return to dominate, going 48-19-5 and finishing top three in all goal categories, in the playoffs they beat the Marlins in seven, swept the Aces and did the same to the Hounds. It is worth noting that at this point they haven't missed the playoffs once and have gone to the finals three times in six seasons. S78 would be the first time they missed the postseason and their worst team record so far, 12-58-2. Seeing as S77 was such a success they did their best to mimic that season, going 48-17-7 and finishing top three in all goal categories. In the playoffs once again they wouldn't disappoint, surviving against the Aces in seven, Miami sure doesn't like to make the first round easy on themselves huh? beating the Wild in six and, you should already know whats coming next, beat the Hounds in five, again the Marauders were the Hounds kryptonite. I don't think I need to say that the Marauders were ran very well and winning three cups in eight seasons is very impressive, they came in two seasons late but won it more than any other team during the decade. Honestly if you want to make the argument that they were the best overall team of the S70's I can't stop you, but I have to follow my system here, had they played in those two seasons before had they could easily be second, even first if the seasons are good enough, but we don't live in that world so they will stay at fourth.

 

(word count 1657)

Edited December 30, 2022 by ROOKIE745

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Claiming for doubles

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claiming for second time Jan 8th