Stars next to the shiniest stars

[jRuutu 2,467]

The hardest part is often showing up. The players I am highlighting today have done remarkable things so far during the ongoing season and I think anyone who is watching should take note; only sky is the limit when you start to show up consistently. Anybody can show up once in a while, but to do it on a regular basis is something that requires discipline and hard work. I would go as far as saying these users and players are what we should all aim to be. They keep their heads down, they focus on being the best players they can be - within reason. They are humble and honest. These are the S92 Welfare All-Stars - so far.

 

LW - Jon Webber Jr
39 games: 14 goals, 28 assists, 42 points.
Jon Webber Jr is a career welfare-earner who is playing perhaps the best hockey of their career right now. They have relied on the welfare from the start and now they are here, sailing on over a point per game pace in a L.A team that is leading the league.

 

C  - Dank Turtle
39 games: 9 goals, 21 assists, 30 points.
Last year Turtle had 42 points in 72 games, this year is almost surely going to bring in more points and a career-high in points, which means Turtle is playing at an extremely high level at the moment. That is exactly what Chicago needs from Turtle as they are fighting for playoff hockey in the North-American division. Steady progress and a potential career-high season further show steady pace is key to reaching your peak in VHL.

 

RW - Kean Jeannot
39 games, 13 goals, 8 assists, 21 points
What I like about Jeannot is the fact they are not trying to be some kind of luxury welfare player, they do the honest 4+2 and peace out, week after week. Last year Jeannot had 70 points in 72 games for New York. The ongoing season is not going as well for Kean personally, but Jeannot has the goalscoring potential to reach a magical 25 goals this year and when the team is playing rather well - look out for Jeannot to have a strong end to the ongoing regular season.

 

D - Kronchy Kardashian
40 games, 8 goals, 33 assists, 41 points
Kardashian is a luxury-welfare player, they also do the smaller point tasks on top of collecting welfare, so it perhaps not fair to pick them here, but what they are doing works. Over point per game from the D position is elite-level production. Last year Kardashian had disgusting 31 goals for Helsinki. A similar total is not looking likely this year, but Kardashian is elite level D in VHL and a great example to anyone watching, just because you earn welfare does not mean you can not do more.

 

D - Jimmy MacElroy
40 games, 5 goals, 24 assists, 29 points
MacElroy is a different type of D, they like to move the puck, 277 assists in 472 games show you can be an effective player from the blueline as well. And just because you earn welfare does not mean you can not for example play on the powerplay and do damage, MacElroy is a key player for Toronto and for the powerplay of Legion, out of the 29 points - 10 has come on the powerplay.

 

G -  Evan Bihler
5 games, 1 win, 0.949 save %
One position above else appears to still deal with the negative stigma of welfare earning the most, it is the goalies. It hard to find an honest welfare-earning G, so many rely on extra points. As there are so few of the true welfarers out there, I want to show some love to one here. Bihler has the potential to stop pucks like it's nothing, for example, back in S90 they played 9 games and won 7 of those, but they have not managed to secure a starting position in VHL yet. Is it about time more faith is put in welfare goalies?

The players picked above have shown true strength. They show up to the practice every week and they do their best. Some of them might have not reached their full potential as players - yet at least, but they have still carved a nice career in VHL. They play important roles for their teams and more importantly, they play important roles for all the people watching. They show to the people that you don't have to dream big to make it. You can dream moderately and reach shiny stars. They might not be as shiny as the shiniest stars out there, but they are still shiny stars. If these players were not in VHL, I don't know where this league would be.