How we snub not only one player but a whole class (theme week)

[Daniel Janser 2,213]

The unsung heroes of the VHL

 

It is theme week again and this season it is all about being 'FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY'. Instead of picking a specific player, I will go with a whole branch of invaluable players in any given team. The depth defencemen. They hardly ever win any individual hardware, as there is always the one token star defender, orchestrating the powerplay and making fancy end-to-end transitions. While the stay at home defender anchors the defence and shoulders the heavy burden to make their own ice an interdiction zone. Checking, shutting down plays, checking, blocking shots, checking and digging out pucks in the corner is their bread and butter. They generally play hurt, are underpaid and overworked, yet they never complain as they are happy to be a part of the big show, realizing that they are, due to their limited talent, replacable.

 

 

But are they? As @JCarson mentioned in one of his many read-worthy articles (link below), the defensive defencemen are the working horses of any championship team. They may go below the radar of most of the broad public, as their offensive stats are in general nothing to write home about. Alas the coaching staff know exactly, that a good offense wins the league, but a solid defence wins you cups. I will of course use the example of my younger brother for convenience's sake, but feel free to enter the name of a stay at home defender of your personal preference.

 

 

(Thanks to @Ricer13 for this amazing sig)

 

Marcel managed to backstop two franchises to a Continental Cups in a relatively short five year VHL stint. One was with a franchise, who was bound for glory as they were dominant in the NA conference for a while. But the second one, he took a team on his broad shoulders, who never won a playoff series before and carried them right through the goal line. One could argue that the second cup was even more impressive than the first one.

 

He never had a negative +/- at the end of a season and was around half a point per game. He was a little above one hit per game but where his bodywork really showed was in the shots blocked. Almost twice per match he got hit by a fast travelling hard rubber disc. And yet he would never get an individual award nor likely get to be introduced in to the Holy Hall of Fame.

 

And this is the fate of many hard working, yet offensively limited backs, who can be relied on on holding down the fort, when everyone else in the line has momentarily forgotten how 'back checking' is spelled. They are the ones helping the netminder out, when there is a 3-1 break away, when people change lines in the most inopportune time, or generally the shit hits the fan. They get the blame if despite their best (and sometimes heroic) efforts, the other team is successfull. Behind closed doors, their names are given, if forwards are asked, who they do not like to play against. It is the number five and six defenders, who hound the forwards down, constantly breathing down the neck of the opposing star players as soon as they enter their territory. They make the stay in the defensive end as nightmarish as they can get away with it (and sometimes beyond). And aspiring goal scorer better keep their heads up when they get into the danger zone. Because these hard men and women take no prisoners and there is nothing these fearless warriors like more than to show a stuck-up poster boy or girl, who's boss.

 

Spoiler

https://vhlforum.com/topic/138869-do-we-value-defensive-players/

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by Daniel Janser

[jacobcarson877 2,559]

United Legend!

[jacobcarson877 2,559]

Also you better be recreating at the deadline @Morcar80!!!

[Daniel Janser 2,213]

1 minute ago, jacobcarson877 said:

Also you better be recreating at the deadline @Morcar80!!!

We had lunch the other day and he said he won't for the time being as he is very busy in his job.