VSN Presents: A Look Back - Heavenly Seven

[Alex 3,248]

@kirbithan

 

S85 in the VHLM was one to remember, a true battle of goalies occurred all season with 7 teams having capped goalies to start the season. This group of goalies, referred to as The Heavenly Seven have all developed differently. Today we’ll take a took back at these goalies careers to date and the different paths that they have taken.

 

 Lachlan Summers @kirbithan 

Record: 151-51-19

Save %: 0.931

GAA: 2.27

The 12^th overall pick in S86, Lachlan Summers has been a star goalie in the VHL since coming into the league and has picked up a lot of silverware in a short amount of time. After one season as a backup goalie behind Xavier Booberry, Summers had a ridiculous rookie season with a 39-18-7 record and a 0.932 SV%, these numbers would see them win the S88 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy. Following their rookie season Summers would take a slight step back with only a 0.925 SV% in S89, however they would still have a 43-15-6 record. Although in S89 Summers would find their stride in the playoffs as they would post a 0.937 SV% on route to a Continental Cup. Last season, Summers would have their best season yet with a 49-12-3 record and a league leading 0.938 SV% and a 2.06 GAA, these numbers would see them win all of the Clegane, Shaw, and Slobodzian trophies. So far in S91 Summers has been solid with a 0.925 SV% and a 2.65 GAA.

 

 Joel Castle @animal74 

Record: 109-127-35

Save %: 0.924

GAA: 2.66

Joel Castle was selected with the 13^th overall pick in S86 and has gone onto have a great career to date. Coming into the VHL in S87 Castle has immediately stepped into the starters spot and has not looked back. While they did not put up many wins that first season the numbers were respectable with a 0.915 SV%. Toronto really did not do well following that first season as their prospects were still developing and Castle’s record would reflect that going a combined 60-104-23 in their first 3 seasons, despite the poor record Castle was good with a 0.93 SV% in S89. In S90 Castle had their first winning record with a 38-14-12 season, during which they posted a 0.927 SV% and a 2.29 GAA. In the playoffs Castle was solid with a 0.918 SV% and a 7-7 record. So far in S91 Castle has a 11-9 record and a career-high 0.931 SV%.

 Fuukka Rask @Jubis 

Record: 99-125-27

Save %: 0.917

GAA: 3.01

Similarly, to Castle Rask came into the league and immediately stepped into the starters spot and did not make the playoffs until S90. Rask was selected with the 14^th overall pick in the S86 draft and has been very consistent to date. As with Castle, Rask stepped into the league in S87 and jumped into the starters spot and did not make the playoffs until S90, despite having a winning record in S88. In terms of SV% Rask has been consistent with a 0.911, 0.916, 0.915, and 0.918 SV% in their first 4 seasons, posting a 86-118-26 record over those 4 seasons. Rask made the playoffs for the first time in S90 where Helsinki faltered and were out in a hurry. With that being said Rask has come into S91 with a vengeance and has posted a 13-7-1 record and a career-high 0.933 SV% and a 2.35 GAA. With Rask finally coming into form, this could be a massive season for them.

 

 

 Alexander Minion @UnknownMinion 

Record: 72-55-13

Save %: 0.926

GAA: 2.60

The 36^th pick in the S85 draft, Minion is the only player other than Summers to have won a VHL award as they won the Clegane Trophy in S88. Minon only played 3 seasons in the VHL before retiring, of those only 2 were as a starter. Minon came into the VHL in S87 where they served as a backup in Los Angeles and posted a 4-4-0 record and a great 0.929 SV%. Minon would then go the free agency and sign with Chicago where they would make a massive impact with a 0.923 SV% and a league best 2.29 GAA on route to a 39-20-5 record. Minion’s final season came in S89 and they would continue their play from the prior season with a 0.927 SV% and a 2.85 GAA, however Chicago would fall just short of the playoffs prior to Minion retiring.

 

 

 Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro 

Record: 73-64-19

Save %: 0.923

GAA: 2.62

Ash Sparks was selected the earliest of all the goalies in this article as they were selected 6^th overall in S86 by the Seattle Bears. Similarly, to everyone else they would make the jump to the VHL in S87, Sparks would then serve as the backup goalie in Seattle for 2 seasons where they were solid with a 9-8-0 record and a 0.901 SV%. Following their stint in Seattle they would be traded to Malmo where they quickly found their stride posting a 0.931 SV% in their first season along with a 30-26-8 record. Last season Sparks again did well with a 0.921 SV% and a 2.48 GAA in addition to a 24-23-9 record which saw Malmo fall just short of the playoffs. So far this season Sparks has had their ups and downs and currently has a 10-7-2 record and a 0.911 SV% in 19 games.

 

 Jeremy Swayman @Agito 

Record: 6-2-1

Save %: 0.931

GAA: 2.37

The 29^th overall pick in S85, Swayman would only play 9 VHL games before retiring at the end of S87. In those 9 games Swayman posted a 6-2-1 record, a 0.931 SV%, and a 2.37 GAA.

 

 

 Bill Nye The Puck Stopping Guy @Big Newff 

Bill Nye was drafted with the 41^st pick in the S85 draft, however retired following the draft and never played a VHL game.

 

With only 4 of these goalies left in the VHL, only time will tell who comes out on top!

[animal74 1,855]

Great article, @Alex and sick graphic @kirbithan!

[N0HBDY 1,130]

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