Wann Kerr: Career Reflection, Part 2

[VattghernCZ 985]

Why part 2? Well, a) my eagerness to earn TPE lead to me writing the Career Task immediately when I was eligible to, which means it only covered the first half of Kerr's career, and 2) it's easy to write and I want TPE. And now, when Kerr unofficially announced his retirement after the current season, is a good time to look what he's done in the second half of his 8-season career.

Of course, a major change between the first and second half of Kerr's career is the team he's played for. After 3 seasons with Vancouver, he was awarded an A on his chest, which sealed his fate as a Wolf (as it usually does) and he was traded to London a year later after his then-best year, with 2 years left on his contract, as 120% accurately described by @Gaikoku-hito, the Wolves AGM (https://vhlforum.com/topic/141862-the-curse-is-real/)

S91 – New Career Year

 

In London, Kerr's task was simple – but far from easy – to replace Igor Molotov as the United's top center. And he immediately clicked with Leonard Triller and Molly the Cat, as both Triller and the Cat have recorded over 100 points for the first time in their career, with 24 goals, 103 points and a Beketov Trophy for Triller, and 52 goals and 107 points for Molly the Cat. While Kerr was just slightly lacking in the production department with „only“ 44 goals and 52 assists for 96 points (all three stats were his new career high), but was winning faceoffs and puck battles with a respectable rate, and complimented his wingers' dynamic offensive abilities with physicality and two-way game, as he lead the team with 197 hits and lead the forward core with 37 shots blocked. The top heavy London (46 points gap between 3^rd and 4^th highest scorers) finished 4^th overall after the regular season, but the lack of depth proved fatal in the Euro finals, where Helsinki dispatched of them easily in 5 games.

S92 – A slight step back...in the regular season

Individually, S92 was Kerr's worst season since his sophomore year, with only 37 goals and 43 assists for 80 points. The top end scoring really took a dip in the S92 London, as no United hit 100 points or 40 goals. But unlike the previous season, this year's squad had depth. The 4^th highest scorer on the S91 United was Lloyd Braun with 50 points. This Year, 6 London players scored more than that. In the postseason, unreal goaltending by Jesse Teno (ultimately the Kanou winner), elite top end scoring along with the depth carried the United all the way to game 7 in the finals, where they came short. Kerr struggled to score goals, with only 8% shooting percentage, and recorded just 8 goals and 26 points in 22 games, but at least still brought his signature physicality with 50 hits.

S93 – one for the ages

No idea what happened with Kerr. Maybe he switched from Bernard lager to Svijany lager. Or maybe the pressure of needing to step up because of Molly the Cat retiring brought out the best of him, but he had a good season. Like...really good. New career highs across the board. (Kevin Brooks Trophy winning) 58 goals and nice 69 assists for (Mike Szatkowski co-winning) 127 points to go with 247 hits, but only 29 shots blocked. I guess you can't block shots when you always are in the offensive zone doing hockey magic with Triller. And the dominance carried on into the postseason, where the United fought their way into the finals...again. But lost...again. This time, it was to the Bears, Kerr's former rivals from his Vancouver days. Kerr scored 12 goals and 27 points in 16 playoff games and was a Kanou nominee – ultimately it was his teammate Lloyd Braun (7 goals and 23 points as a defender) who won it.

S94 – will Kerr get his cup?

A very strong start by the United, and a decent start by Kerr. Still scoring goals (2^nd on the team with 22) and hitting people (2^nd on the team with 113 hits). The team looks great with 4 players over a point per game, and with Merom Dilson in the net stepping up after Jesse Teno called it a career. Kerr has been in the VHL finals 3 times already, but with no Cup to show for it. Will he make it 4 finals appearances in 8 seasons (with a final appearance in both VHLM and VHLE)? Will he break what seems to be a curse and end his career with a Cup celebration? We'll see.