Success Starts Early for Richmond and the Chicago Phoenix

[badcolethetitan 921]

Success Starts Early for Richmond and the Chicago Phoenix

 

Richmond off to a hot start

 

George Richmond has started off his 4th season with the Menace at his best pace yet, with 35 points in 24 games played. Richmond is currently on pace to have 105 points this season, which would be a 25 point increase from the last season. Currently, Richmond finds himself playing on the first line, where the past three seasons, he was playing on the second line. He's been put in a much bigger role this season, being one of the most important players on the team and he's doing fairly well. Although not top 10 in scoring, Richmond is just outside the top 10 and possibly could move into there in the future. Richmond was asked about his role with the team and how he feels about the season moving forward, to which he said, "We've been the best team in the league through 24 games, and I don't think anyone would disagree. Everyone on this team has bought into what the coach has been saying and you can tell on the ice. EU this season isn't as strong compared to seasons past, so I think we've got a real good chance to go far in the playoffs. There's a couple teams that could give us trouble, but I feel like we're currently the favorite to make it to the finals. I think the whole team knows that. As for myself, this is the best I've played in my career, but I feel like I have a bit more to give. I believe that with my skill, I should be consistently a 100+ point player now and I want to prove that. Regardless, we've got a fantastic team and I can't wait to see what the future holds." The Moscow Menace are currently first in the league, with a 21-1-2 record and don't seem to be slowing down. They're the favorites currently and other teams will have to find a way to dethrone the king.

 

Chicago Phoenix on fire

 

The Chicago Phoenix are off to one of their best starts in a while, finding themselves at the top of the NA Conference with a record of 17-4-2. Their dynamic trio, of Schwarzer, Moon Moth, and Oven have been the shining spots for the team. On the flip side, the Phoenix are in for a difficult task though, as they've got juggernauts like Vancouver, Seattle, and Toronto who are sleeping giants and will wake up eventually. A hot start is going to be massive for this team though, as later on in the season they're going to be tested by a lot of these top teams. Chicago currently doesn't score the most goals, although, they're scoring at just around 4 goals per game. However, it's their defense and goaltending that has held them at the top, with one of the best defenses in NA. It will be interesting to see how long they can stay atop the NA conference, as the gap between first and second is only 2 points. Hopefully they can continue to win and find some playoff success, as Chicago has only won a single playoff series in a very long time.