VHLE Outlook

[Noodle Enjoyer 201]

             A new step in the Journey
With another season about to begin we're taking a quick look at the VHLE and sizing up the league, who are the contenders and who are the pretenders. We're going to look at all 6 teams in the "E" and rank them from worst to best. If you disagree with this list feel free to tell me about it, I'll gladly ignore any and all gripes.

 

6. Bratislava Watchmen.
Your defending champs this year will be doing a lot of watching this year, watching their opponents fill their net with pucks that is. They won the Renaissance Cup this past season and now are paying the price of the all in push, with few selections and their first pick being in the 5th round at the VHLE draft their roster is looking quite thin. With only 3 forwards, 2 defensemen, and their one goaltender this season is looking bleak for them their top player is Luke Glendenning. This will be a tough season for Bratislava but they have their hardware to make it worth it.

 

5. The Stockholm Vikings
Although being 5th on this list looks bad Stockholm is in much better than Bratislava, with 6 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 1 goalie. Like Bratislava they didn't have many selections in the draft, they were able to pick up Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen, WWumbo, and Trimiskez Artav that are game ready this season. Unfortunately it seems as though Artav has just been phoning it in over the last while and doesn't seem to take training seriously. But I think Stockholm could surprise a lot of people this year they're looking like a real dark horse candidate to me this year and I'm not going to count them out.

 

4. The Rome Gladiators
At number 4 on my list we have the Rome Gladiators they made some great pick ups at the draft this year  with Gul Dukat, Nathan Ecker, Vanuza Kolesinka, and Steve French being ready to step into the VHLE this year. The roster makeup for Rome is as follows 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 1 goalie. This roster has lots of offensive talent and has a quality defense and goaltender, they have everything they need to compete this year however the rest of the teams on this list just have these things but better. That won't stop Rome from playing their hearts out and attempting to defeat those ahead of them on this list.

 

3. Oslo Storm
This is where it gets tough because the final three teams are very close but I am putting Oslo at the 3 spot here. Oslo had a great draft getting Antonia Bucatini, Benjamin Abenduct, UghSike, Chris Reynolds Jr, and Miner vHLer who will be ready for them this season. They have 8 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 1 goalie, this team is strong in every position and is poised to be a tough opponent for any team coming into their barn. I expect their team to have a great year where they can be a legit contender for the Renaissance Cup and will likely finish this year in at the lowest 3rd place overall.

 

2. Cologne Express
Just barely edging out Oslo to take number 2 in my eyes is Cologne. Their roster makeup is 10 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 1 goalie, A strong draft for them saw them add Annie Oaks, Forum Content, Jean-Pierre Devote who will be with the team this season. This team has the highest rated goaltender in the league and some great offensive pieces up front. I expect this team to score lots of goals and hope that their goalie can bail them out when they need him to. I expect Cologne to make it to the final once more as success seems to follow them around as of late, I only worry that their blueline might be the one thing that may let them down this season.

 

1. Vasteras Iron Eagles
My top pick for this season is Vasteras their roster is 11 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 2 goalies. the draft pickups joining the team this season are Lucy Leitner, Gianfranco Del Rocco, Yermolai Nabokov, Jorgen Lovstrom, and Ondrej Vencko. Vasteras has the most talented defense on this list in my opinion and lots of quality forwards who will make their offense one of the best this season. If they had a weakness it would be that they're running two rookie netminders this season, but they both proved they're quality goaltenders and will work hard to not be left behind more experienced tendies. If Vasteras isn't in the finals this year I would be shocked, but upsets happen and could very well happen to them.

 

And with that we have my list of worst to best, do you agree with it? Would you move one team with another, or change it completely. Feel free to tell me your thoughts, just know it won't change mine.

Jim Hotdog for VHL.com
 

[Victor 10,949]

16 minutes ago, Noodle Enjoyer said:

If Vasteras isn't in the finals this year I would be shocked, but upsets happen and could very well happen to them.

it is the history of the vasteras