What's Up With the VHLM Finals, and Why You Should Care

[Gustav 6,469]

VHLM! It's lit!

 

You've seen that, you've heard that, but do you believe it? Could you tell me without looking that both teams competing for the Founder's Cup were decided today in a Game 7? Could you tell me that the finals will be between the VHLM's top 2 regular-season teams? If you don't play in the VHLM, could you name me a player on either team? And would you have guessed that both GMs will be going for their first-ever championships as GM? Heck, I haven't even gotten to that last part myself, so you should know that's an achievement. 

 

I truly have no bias for one team or another here, and I think all of those things make the finals an appealing matchup for anyone who wants to tune into our community for some good, old-fashioned simulation hockey. Who's ready for a breakdown?

 

 

 Mexico City Kings 

7 forwards | Avg. TPA: 159

4 defense | Avg. TPA: 110

2 goalers | Avg. TPA: 93; Starter TPA: 150

Capped Players: 3F

 

The Kings head into the finals after finishing on top of the regular-season standings with 105 points and presenting remarkable dominance over the stat sheet. With a league redesigned to be more competitive, both of these things are impressive in their own right and would have been less obvious predictions at the start of the season than in many others. And with GM @badcolethetitan being notoriously blamed for sim luck, stock prices, and Team USA getting absolutely whipped by Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic as I write this, I like to think that he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder as he aims to take home (I think) Mexico's first-ever Cup. Let's take a look at the roster!

 

Forwards: Ranked #2 and #3 in points in the VHLM this season are none other than Mexico's captain nugget (131) and Tim Riggins (127, including a league-leading 65 goals), while one needs not look much farther down the list to find Grizz Tazzo (in 6th with 116) to find that the Kings can make a full line of forwards out of the league's top 6 scorers. That's super impressive, and shows that TPE works--these are Mexico's three capped players, and the main thing that Ottawa will have to look out for.

 

Defense: Not all that far down the points list in the M is Colton Heffelfinger at #13, who's also second in points among defensemen and comes into this game with over 200 hits and 150 blocked shots. Arguably, the reason why this team is so hard to defend is that shutting down one part of the game will leave another more open to chances--and that could end up being the secret to success.

 

Goalers: Coming into his third season in the VHLM is Ross Glagau, a familiar name in some VHLM circles. While not capped, he's tied for first in wins and, as a recreate of a once-max-earning member, can open up some possibilities for the team in terms of locker room presence and experience. It will be interesting to see whether that extra 50 TPE might make a difference, but if regular-season performance is an indicator of success, the Kings should be fully confident in their starter.

 

 

 Ottawa Lynx 

7 forwards | Avg. TPA: 160

3 defense | Avg. TPA: 138

1 goaler | TPA: 200

Capped Players: 3F/1D/1G

 

Based on regular-season standings and presence of players among the statistical leaders of the league this season, it might seem fair to suggest that the Kings are more likely to take home a championship. That said, though, we shouldn't forget something else--Ottawa has just as much of a chance to succeed if we're just comparing rosters, and even has advantages in some spots. GM @Grape is a relatively experienced member (having joined the VHL the same season I did), but is mostly just starting off as a GM and so far has done a great job getting his team up to speed. The Lynx finished on top of the Eastern Conference with 101 points and should present a formidable opponent for the Kings, with a victory potentially signaling a turnaround from a recent GM firing and team restructuring.

 

Forwards: Just like the Kings, Ottawa has three capped forwards. And while this isn't the three-in-the-top-six that we just saw, a look at the points leaderboard shows us that we've got Gregger McKegger (5th; 124), Jagger Bomb (9th, 106), and recreate FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analyst (14th; 100). So, even though the Kings might end up stealing the show, there's still quite a bit to deal with on the other end and a good amount of players that could end up hanging with the headliners.

 

Defense: Here's the main disadvantage Ottawa has: they've got three players on defense, as compared to a full lineup for Mexico. That said, though, the players they do have are often enough. We've got to go down to #43 on the points list (Winston Dixon jr with 64) to find someone in this category, but TPE-wise, both almost-capped Dixon and capped Greg Hickman will end up making a difference. It's going to be interesting to see what happens with this team, and whether this is a hole that the Kings could exploit, but the surprising lack of regular-season production in this group is also a place where they could explode in the final series.

 

Goalers: If there's one thing that could make up the lack of a fourth player on defense, it's capped Matthew McCagg in net. Finishing the regular season second in SV% and first in GAA, with 7 shutouts, McCagg has done his share of stealing games for the team and could end up making that happen in this final series. We'll have to find out whether 50 extra TPE in net will make up for the difference in regular-season stats--especially when it comes down to a situation where the teams are arguably pretty well-matched on paper otherwise--and McCagg could very well end up being the key to winning it all.

 

 

So yes--follow the VHLM! Track our championship! You'll get to see the best of the league's next generation going up against each other, and you'll have fun with what's going to be an entertaining series. Here's to a lot of awesome moments over the next handful of days!

 

 

To the great players mentioned here: @xslapxshotsx @Captain nugget @Jayhawk @heffcolton @Zetterberg @Jaggerbomb @TheNeonShaman @STZ @Greg Hickman @Rjdixon01 @Jack kidd

 

 

1,073 words | 2 weeks

[Gustav 6,469]

Going to Week 2 this before I forget

[badcolethetitan 938]

It's going to be a good one for sure. I'm hoping this one can live up to the hype! Good article.

[Lemorse7 1,021]

Mexico Cancel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JCarson 744]

Article Review: Gustav as usual writes a great article. The level of depth, the informative structure all lend to the overall readability.  In the end did I care any more about the VHLM finals then I did before, not really but I did come out of it more informed.  Good luck to both teams, or potentially more realistically, good luck to both GM's.  I expect that whoever wins will be posting articles of their own on how well the team did.

 

8/10 - the only thing you couldn't do is make me care about the outcome.

[Nykonax 1,566]

13 hours ago, Gustav said:

he aims to take home (I think) Mexico's first-ever Cup

think hylands or adv won in the mid 70s?