VSN Presents: S94 VHLE Season Preview

[Baby Boomer 753]

Welcome everyone,

 

Another start to the season means another VSN Presents: VHLE season preview! When you look closely at all the rosters you can easily separate the team in two groups. The first one is composed of the three best teams in the league, that will without a doubt finish at the top of the standings, the Cologne Express, the Rome Gladiators and the Stockholm Vikings. The other one, is composed of three teams that are currently in a rebuilding stage, the Bratislava Watchmen, the Oslo Storm and the Vasteras Iron Eagles.

 

#1 Cologne Express 

Offense rank: 1^st

Defense rank: 3^rd

Goalie rank: 2^nd

 

Once again and with no real surprise, the Cologne Express are going to finish the season at the top of the standing. Cologne is a really good team all around and does not seem to have any real weakness. Indeed, the Express has a really good mix of veterans, composed of Alexandros Mograine @sliceruser, BjorkaBjorn BjornaBjorkson @JardyB10 and Joseph Dubois @Dubois, and of rookies, composed of Maverick Goncalves @leandrofg, Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple and the goalie Soju @Frank. The Cologne Express are going to be really dangerous this season.

 

#2 Rome Gladiators 

Offense rank: 2^nd

Defense rank: 2^nd

Goalie rank: 4^th

 

After two pretty tough season where Rome finished 4^th and 5^th in the league, the Italian team is now ready to compete and try to finish at the top of the standings. With forwards like Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8, Pombo @samx, Trey Daniels @Tdan04 and Vanuza Kolesinka @chikn, the Gladiators are going to be really dangerous offensively this season. The only weakness I can find on Rome’s roster is in the net, since they don’t currently have a real number 1 goaltender. However, I can see Roger Eagles @Greg_Di becoming that goalie if he continues to improve like he currently is. In addition, the Gladiators can count on defensemen like Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 and Erik Thorvaldsson @Tetricide to help their young goalie.

 

#3 Stockholm Vikings 

Offense rank: 3^rd

Defense rank: 1^st

Goalie rank: 3^rd

 

Even if I believe that the Stockholm Vikings are a little bit behind the Cologne Express and the Rome Gladiators, I can also see them causing a surprise and finish in the top 2. With the best defense in the league led by Felicia Hardy @JCarson and Lazlo Holmes @Gustav and their returning goalie Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen @Snussu, Stockholm is going to be tough to score against. However, their difficulty will probably be to score goals, so Dan jr @Danzo, Jacob Smith Jr @jacobaa19 and Wayne Shotzky @Kenamatic will have to step up and lead the forward core.

 

#4 Bratislava Watchmen 

Offense rank: 4^th

Defense rank: 4^th

Goalie rank: 6^th

 

After winning the Renaissance Cup in S92, the Bratislava Watchmen entered a rebuild the following season and are still in this process. This season is going to be another one of learning for the Watchmen, but I can still see them causing some surprises here and there. Indeed, Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito is definitely going to be an incredible player this season and Aeschylus Jigglejawns CXXXVII II @.sniffuM is another forward that will help the team offensively. Defensively, Bollos de Trueno @Thunder and Andrew Skilton @ace_five_ will have to be incredible at the blue line for Bratislava if they want to compete each match.

 

#5 Oslo Storm 

Offense rank: 5^th

Defense rank: 5^th

Goalie rank: 5^th

 

The Oslo Storm won the Renaissance Cup last season and lost a lot of players that got called up in the VHL, so just like the Bratislava Watchmen, this season is going to be one of learning for Oslo. Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23 and Ivan Ivanov @KmaddFPS are going to lead the offensive core this season in Oslo. At the blue line, kodie Curran @Battlepopcorn is going to be the general of the Norwegian team.

 

#6 Vasteras Iron Eagles 

Offense rank: 6^th

Defense rank: 6^th

Goalie rank: 1^st

 

Just like the Bratislava Watchmen and the Oslo Storm, Vasteras is now in a rebuilding stage after a couple of seasons of being good. The season is going to be tough in Vasteras, but there are still players like Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2 and Swinsola @Swinsola that can make a difference on the ice each night. In addition, the Iron Eagles have the best goalie tandem of the league, composed of Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish and Ondrej Vencko @Mutti, and we can count on them to steal some games this season.

 

That’s all for me, thanks everyone for reading, I wish you all a good regular season and see you in another VSN article!