a tale of two Brothers // We are the Champions...

[Daniel Janser 1,983]

Graphic courtesy of Leandrofg

(Marcel's stats/Daniel's stats)

 

It is done! After 25 seasons of sweat, blood and tears, the Calgary Wranglers climbed Mount Olympus of Icehockey again. The series against Davos Dynamo was harder fought than the 4-1 (3-4 OTL, 5-2, 4-3, 3-2 and 2-1) score would lead you to believe. It speaks for the Wranglers' long term strategy, masterfully executed by GM Kris Rice, that most members of the cup winning team (Braun and Lindbergh being the exception) were drafted and developed by Calgary. The integration of young, promising players was rewarded as not one of the usual suspects Janser, Wolanin or Gonçalves scored the last (and cup winning) goal of the season, but rookie sensation Larry Abbas Jr.

The captain was probably the player who was sitting on hot coals the most in the dying minutes of the match. For him, more than the Continental Cup was at stake. Leonard S. Kinnard told him in the second intermission, that Bonnie was brought to the hospital as her labour began and he left it up to the center whether he would finish the match. Dan knew that Bonnie would never forgive him if he missed hoisting the cup and so he stayed. His wife would hold out. He did not like Davos' late equalizer one bit, no sir. But he was relieved when winger Abbas scored the decisive marker on a feed of Wolanin and... Janser. From that moment on, every Wrangler and their mothers protected the net even more than they already did.

Alberta has suffered long enough and Dan has an appointment with his wife and son. The team bobbed and weaved and killed the clock. The sold out Saddle Dome counted down the last twenty seconds, when Booberry has already vacated Davos' net in order to give his team the extra attacker. They tried their all to score the tying goal again. Alas, it was not to be and Calgary won the cup. The release, the joy, the noise, the deed is done. The Swiss center could not wait, until he was able to hoist the cup.

Once done, he immediately handed it down to Lindbergh, the goaltender who was considering retirement prior this season. He was directly flown to the hospital with the Wrangler-Copter as the streets were a riot with people celebrating in the street and performing imprompt car corso's. It did not help that it was St. Patrick's Day as well. He just arrived in the nick of time, still wearing his uniform to welcome his first born Callum Gareth Yannick Janser to this world. It is hard to tell which achievement moved the Captain more and it is a safe bet that he allowed himself a Guiness or two (and maybe even the odd uisge-beatha).

Alas, with great success comes big paychecks and with big paychecks come cap issues. The Wranglers' upper brass have their work cut out for them and it is safe to assume that we will not see the S87 Wranglers in the same constellation again. It is a bitter sweet melody of success. However, we heard from the management that Dan extended his contract with a NTC, which means that he will retire in the Red, White and Black for which he gave and will give his all. Here once more the heroes who won it all and which we may never see again in this composition (except for a tribute game):

 

GM Kris Ricer / AGM Leonard S. Kinnard

 

LW Vincent Laroche-Gagnier

LW Landon Wolanin (A)

LW Larry Abbas Jr

C Leandro Gonçalves (A)

C Sax Justice

D Phil Strasmore

D AirRig GoodBrandSun

D Lloyd Braun

G Karl Pedersen

G Oskar Lindbergh

D Marcel Janser

C Daniel Janser (C)

 

Normally, we would display the Jansers' stats at this moment, but we think it would not be appropriate in this instance as this cup was won by a team that gave their all for their next men and their fans. Who changed their game from an offensive Juggernaut to a defensive Behemoth. It does not matter who contributed how many goals or points. They stood as one and won the prize as one. Everyone was essential in this cup run for the ages between two of the original Eight franchises.

 

We will be back with news as soon as same are available.

 

https://vhlforum.com/topic/133747-a-tale-of-two-brothers-here-we-go-again/

https://vhlforum.com/topic/133764-a-tale-of-two-brothers-sweepstakes/

https://vhlforum.com/topic/133877-a-tale-of-two-brothers-a-talk-with-the-captain/

https://vhlforum.com/topic/133955-a-tale-of-two-brothers-slaying-bears/

 

Spoiler

@Ricer13 @Toast @Doomsday @RileyL @jacobcarson877 @leandrofg  @CowboyinAmerica @vincentlg2007 @Eso @Phil @Rhynex Entertainment @Toast @JeffD @Morcar80 @Tetricide

 

[Ricer13 2,594]

It was a wild ride. Thank you for sticking it out all these seasons and having faith in me as your GM.