Vancouver Wolves S95 Awards

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

 

Vancouver Wolves S95 Awards

 

 

After yet another unexpected result in the regular season that lead to a somewhat expected result in the playoffs; the winds of change are blowing all around the Vancouver Wolves this off season but that is not what we are here to discuss but rather to handout some hard earned hardware and say thanks but be better next season…. I mean We will be better next season!!

 

 

So without much fuse let’s get started…..

 

 

Best Defenseman:

Usually when I start writing or presenting these awards I know roughly who has won or should be consider the best for each award but this season I am entering this completely blind so let find out together who the best defender was for Vancouver this season. Mark Calaway entered his second season with the Wolves and would look to make a bigger impact with brusing (not traded) Guntis Gavilrovs entering his third full season with Rookie defender looking to get his feet wet without looking out of place; Bollos de Trueno. So in the end who ended up being the Vancouver Wolves Best Defenseman ………

 

Spoiler

Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts

21g – 41a – 70pts  239hits 171SB

There is a reason why Guntis will likely see his name mentioned for the league defensive awards this off season while Calaway won`t and that is all down to the defensive side of his game finish top 3 in hits this season, and top 10 in Shots Blocked. While I know in the past I have used total points to hand out this award; this season I couldn`t over look the fact that Guntis was out best defensive defenseman while also finishing second in defensive points only two points back of Calaway.

 

Little Wolf Award (Most Hits):

Am not sure if this is the correct naming for this award as usually this wolf stands tall at the backend as one of the last lines of defense and just loves to punish the offensive forwards or is it that quick skating checking forward that lives to roar of the crowd when he punish the defender in the corner turning the puck over and creating a scoring chance. Eitherway a well timed hit can change the outcome of a game and this season winner is ……..

 

Spoiler

Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts

239 Hits

Three season Guntis has won this award and it looks like it will be his for the foreseeable future as I cannot see anyone on the current roster knocking off the triple Little Wolf award winner. Surprising his hit count has dropped again for the third straight season as well so maybe he is getting bored of hitting everything that is moving ….. Yeah, unlikely!!

 

 

 

Unsung Hero:

I am really torn with this award this season as can your MVP also likely be your Unsung Hero? Usually I am not a huge fan of having the MVP also be your Unsung hero so I have changed my mind a few times on this award as I can make a case for a few different players but in the end there can only be one……

 

Spoiler

Mark Calaway @Beketov

19g – 53a – 72pts

Mark was the glue that held the back end together this season when you look at the overall minutes that not getting young man played this season. Maybe too many minutes was the situation most nights. It will be interesting to see how the Vancouver Wolves manage the minutes after losing this player this off season via a trade to Riga!! Yes, this trade actually took place; I think!!

 

 

 

Sniper Award (Shooting Percentage):

Okay, I know this award needs a new name since shooting percentage over the past few season hasn`t really related to this player being a sniper at all but rather a player that just doesn`t shoot enough, get enough playing time etc…. so maybe we change the name of this award to Tirez sur des culs plus stupides or maybe keep it more simple and just Tirez plus.  Eitherway this seasons winner is …….

 

Spoiler

Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito

10.29%

Is this case where the young man maybe should have played a bit more or shot the puck a bit more? I am guessing a case can be made both ways since he could have played more and he easily could have shot more. I guess watch for this Rookie to break out next season if he gets more playing time.

 

 

 

Most Energetic:

I am always happy to see the locker room active again after a few season of a rebuild had it feeling like echo and ghosts ….. Addition of Wheeler brought a ton excitement early days, the curse of the Trueno and the ghost of a panda; which still haunts the Locker room… So who was the Most Energetic……

 

Spoiler

Bollos de Trueno @Thunder

Always in a little heart good old ribbing fashion you can find the child like old man battering in the locker room or in the forums be it poking at his Rip Wheeler team mate or Mad Villain; a former team Vancouver Wolve and was a prospect in this season draft until he announced the Wolves got the better of him a few many times. While his early season joke caused a 8 game curse; it was all done in light hearted mannerism; which makes the Locker room fun to be around.

 

QB Award (PP Assists):

Another award that I am considering changing since I expected this to be more about a player really setting up the power play for success and driving the play towards the net. While it is an interesting award since I don`t know the outcome until I read the paper here on stage I think Power play points leader would make more sense for this award. This season QB award goes to ….

 

Spoiler

Logan Ninefingers @Scurvy

17 assist

Here I am about to write the same thing that I said last season as this once again surprised me as this usually goes to defender but without a true passing defender on the team; it makes sense that forward and Niners wins this for the second season in a row also with the same 17 assist as last season.

 

Most Valuable Player (MVP):

This season the MVP award actually was harder then normal to pick due to being part of the BOG and having outside influences so I have been back and forth a few times as to whom I thought was our MVP this season as I could make a case for two or three different players but in the end the outside influence won me over so this season MVP is ……

 

Spoiler

Dalkr Vidarsson @KaleebtheMighty

42-18-4    0.928%    2.46GA    5SO

While I am not sure that I would have picked Vidarsson as the Vancouver Wolves MVP a few weeks ago; I have warmed more and more to the actual fact that Vancouver actually had the strong finish to the season due to this player alone. He has improved his numbers the past three season and should take home a goaltending award or two this season just highlighting the fact that he was Vancouver MVP this season. Sadly, He has also been traded away to rival team as it means we now need to overcome one of the best if not the best goaltender in the league next season. It should be a fun challenge; right?

 

 

 

Tooth Fairy (PIM Award):

Fun little award named after a very interesting movie with everyone favorite actor Dywane Johnson; who is in way too many movies. So who is our goal scoring tough guy that had to learn to trust his own ability and have fun playing the game again……

 

Spoiler

Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts

235 PIM

His hits are down and so are his PIM this season but still not enough for anyone to get close enough to take this award away from the bulk defender. Just under 100PIM up this season as this award is getting closer!! Again, Mr Consistency as he had 7 fighting majors again this season; the same as last season.

 

 

 

Rookie of the Year/Top Prospect Award:

Three rookies joined the roster this past season and all were expected to play large roles with team except Soju since he clearly was going to be back-up this season so maybe we move Soju to next season as league does with goaltenders so they have to play more than half the games to be consider; which is why you see the surprise goaltender come out of nowhere to claim the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy; which by the way I think is bogus. Rookies should be first year in the league players that make an impact; not a second or third year player that has had time to develop as they would lose to a second year forward likely every time…. But I am off topic now sort of so who is this season ROY for the Vancouver Wolves….

 

Spoiler

Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito

28g – 30a – 58pts

It wasn`t the season that the Rookie was expecting as he really expected to make a bigger impact but overall, it wasn`t a bad rookie campaign from either Bouchard or Trueno; as I could also make a case for Trueno to win this award. Soju will look to have a strong sophomore season and will need too now that he will be the team start.

 

 

 

Always Responsible (Plus/Minus):

Spoiler

Mark Calaway

@Beketov

+ 42

A bit of a surprise but also redemption that I picked the Unsung hero likely correctly as Calaway played huge minutes this season and clearly had a positive impact when he was on the ice. Maybe the coach should have played him more!! I guess the coach was scared of getting Tomb stoned!!

 

 

 

It wasn`t me!! (Least PIM):

Spoiler

Pierre Marc Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito

13 PIM

Dancing around like a prima donna ballerina; not how I thought it was said btw; he danced his way out of the penalty box and out of most sticky situations. I also guess if you don`t play that much you also cannot take PIM but his one still surprised me a bit as the next closest was 50 PIM by Slater.

 

Oops Sorry Eh!! (Least Hits)

Spoiler

Pierre Marc Bouchard

@Gaikoku-hito

19 Hits

Nope, not surprised at all since he wasn`t built like a trunk and if the other statement is true, he does too much dancing to throw a hit. Oh, the grace or is it the disgrace!! LOL!

 

 

 

Shoot the lights out (Most Shots):

Spoiler

Liv Slater

  @Subject056

512 Shots

I won`t lie this one surprised me as I expected this to be either last season winner, Owen Lazaro or Logan Ninefingers so seeing Slater taking as many shots was a surprise but she did lead the team in points this season and goals so I guess it shouldn`t have been that big of a surprise!!

 

Work Horse Award (AMG):

Spoiler

Mark Calaway

@Beketov

31.33 AMG

Played a minute more per game this season then last season when he also won the award. Clearly Calaway must be going lame; which is why GM has traded him away after riding the poor defender into the ground for the past two seasons. LOL!!

 

C`mon Coach (Least Played):

Spoiler

Pierre Marc Bouchard

@Gaikoku-hito

24.04 AMG

Sort of seen this one coming when you look at the Rookie with a high shooting percentage, low PIM and lack of hits as it usually means they have wooden spliters from riding the pine most of the season. Similar situation for the young Finish rookie Bouchard.

 

Bruised and Battered Award (SB):

Spoiler

Guntis Gavilrovs

@Girts

171 SB

While I know that this award tends to go to defedners this season I expected to see Calaway take the trophy home again but he actually finished 4th on the list with SB as Guntis took over the defensive responsibilities this season with Rookie Trueno actually finishing a close-ist second with 153 SB. This should set up an interesting battle next season.

 

Three Stars Award:

And the usually break in the program as once again I haven`t collected the data so go find yourself a drink or two; no more and we will be right back with the Three Stars Award…..

Spoiler

Liv Slater

@Subject056

400 Pts

I knew Slater was a big part of our team last season and I was leaning towards her as our teams MVP but outside influences made me double guess myself but I guess it shows that I actually know this team better than the outsiders and my first choice for Unsung hero was also correct. In the end I guess it doesn`t really matter since these awards don`t really count for anything and we still fell short of our true goal this past season of lifting Cup.

	1ST Star	2nd Star	3rd star	Total	Points
Liv Slater	9	5	3	17	400
Dalkr Vidarsson	6	8	2	16	360
Rip Wheeler	4	8	2	14	300
Owen Lazaro	6	2	4	12	260
Riley Martin	5	3	5	13	260
Logan Ninefingers	5	2	5	12	240
Pierre Marc Bouchard	3	3	4	10	190
Mark Calaway	1	3	5	9	140
Guntis Gavilrovs	2	0	4	6	100
Bollos de Trueno	1	2	2	5	90
Mason Rice	0	1	3	4	50
Soju	1	0	1	2	40

 

 

 

Final Thoughts:

Winds of change are blowing in Vancouver with a bunch of trades, vetoed trade and general feeling that Vancouver Wolves need a change after two seasons of what should have been long runs in the playoffs came to a short and unexpected end. Vancouver will start the S96 with a new Goaltender after off season trades seen teams MVP Dalkr Vidarsson shipped off to Conference rivals Toronto Legion, Guntis Gavilrovs traded but not traded to Riga Reign; quickly followed by Mark Calaway sign and trade to Riga Reign, Last season Three Star Award winner Owen Lazaro traded to Davos Dynamo bring back young forward Matteo Stefano.  Now we wait to see what other moves are coming from the front office as the off season just started.

 

Vancouver Wolves still have a very strong core of players around the team and the team actually got younger with the addition of Stefano, bring to mind the phrase that when one door closed  another opens or is that when a door closes a window should be open? Either way Vancouver Wolves need to find the next level as they have continued to make steps towards the cup the past two season but now is the time in S96 to lift the cup.

 

Now is our time……..

Words: 2317    

Claim: Oct 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th

@Frank@Gaikoku-hito@Beketov@leafsman@Subject056@Scurvy@ScottyP@traphag@Smarch@Thunder@Girts@KaleebtheMighty

Edited October 2 by Gaikoku-hito

[Smarch 3,158]

Imagine having 1000 TPE and not being able

to win an award for your team, what a bum. Oh wait……

[Girts 1,057]

Congrats everyone, looking forward to next season!  

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

13th

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

Adding a "Full Doubles - Player Store" to this as well!!

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

20th

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

Last claim &  27th