Week 1 of the VHLM

[der meister 3,197]

The Mississauga Hounds are an interesting team to examine, especially after recently acquiring center Otis Boudreaux, Jr, managed by @Ozzy Batty. At 6'2" and 205 pounds, Boudreaux has projectable size and a decently balanced skill set that should lend itself to his becoming a very good two-way center in the league. Unfortunately, Boudreaux is also the Hounds only center on the roster. Similarly, they have but a single defenseman, Connor McHuey, managed by @GREENHEROMAN. The 6'3" McHuey is sound defensively but at this point in time looks better suited for second pairing minutes. In net is German-born Otto Wolff, a 6'5" 245 pounder managed by @midnight.luck. Unfortunately for the Hounds, Wolff hasn't shown any real improvement since getting drafted 37th overall, and on a contending team would be a backup.

 

So what makes the Hounds so interesting? Well, the only position we haven't examined so far is the wings, where the team is arguably downright enviable. With two wingers in @Starchychaff's Anthony Simmons and my own Konstyantyn Shevchenko who, talent-wise, are amongst the league's strongest, the Hounds top line should be a force to be reckoned with. Simmons spent last season with Mexico, where he had 24 goals and 32 assists, and is the rare player who is actually taller than the 6'7" Shevchenko at 6'8". Add in 6'3" Clapbomb Bardownski the Third (@Eb14) as the likely 2nd line winger, and the Hounds top six is looking dangerous. Bardownski notched 21 goals and 50 points for the Hounds last season and should be looking to improve on all of his numbers, and will likely see favorable matchups, as well.

 

Unfortunately for the Hounds, they're still searching for chemistry. At the time of this article, they have a 1-3 record, scoring an impressive 15 goals, just 2 shy of the league leaders in the Miami Marauders and Halifax 21st, but have given up a league-worst 18 goals. For a team that's trying to outscore their deficiencies, finding effective chemistry as soon as possible will determine their fate this season.

 

Miami is currently the league's only undefeated team with a 4-0 record, with one win coming in extra time. And for Mississauga, despite the poor start, they are in lockstep with both the Ottawa Lynx and Philadelphia Reapers in the Eastern Conference, with each team tallying a single victory so far this young season. Only the Las Vegas Aces have yet to notch a point, not only falling to an 0-4 record early this season, but scoring a paltry 4 goals in those games while giving up 17. 

 

A look at practice in Las Vegas explains it all

 

On an individual level, Miami's Tim Robinson has 10 points in 4 games to lead the VHLM and, coupled with Elf Shoes (smh, really?), who leads the VHLM with 6 goals, are clearly driving the Marauders' offense. Robinson also has the league's only hat trick so far. San Diego's first overall selection in Ahsoka Tano is leading all defensive scoring with 7 points in 5 games.

 

This has been this week's Mississauga / VHLM recap. Join us next week for what will either be story time, or more stat diving; who can say?

Edited May 31 by der meister

[Starchychaff 51]

i spent half the season with Mexico the other half with Mississaugua