Early Hitters

[Thunder 1,209]

Season 97 has finally started and we already have some new bad-asses stepping up in the league, along with the usual suspects.  Granted there has only been two days worth of games so the players have either four or five games under their belts so far and this is obviously not going to be the trend throughout the season, but since I need to come up with something to write about to get my TPE, this is it, based on the few statistics available.

 

Out of the top ten heavy hitters so far, there are only two players who have dropped the gloves.  And of all the fights thus far, there has only been one winner of a fight, and the rest were draws.  Obviously there has only been one loser as well!

 

The top VHL goons after two whole days are as follows:

 

 

Toby Kadachi - LW

Chicago Phoenix

6-06 236 lbs

 

This monster is in the 7th season and he has used his size and threatening physical play to dominate throughout his career.  Kadachi has 1740 so far in the VHL, 36 in season 97, through only 5 games.  He is on pace for an amazing 518 hits this season. Obviously that is going to change, but considering last season he smashed into 322 opponents, and that wasn’t even his best season.  To top it off, Kadachi has only been hit 9 times so far this season.

 

 

Tommy Sleeves - D

Helsinki Titans

6-08 250 lbs

 

Another dominating hitter and abuser of opponents in his 7th season, with 33 hits already to add to his amazing career including 1921 hits.  Sleeves has only been hit 3 times in the 4 games played in season 97.  He’s clearly a force to be reckoned with and the opponents fear this not so gentle giant.  To add to Sleeves’ physical play, he is the only player so far this season to win a fight, as he crushed James Ruutu.

 

 

Guntis Gavilrovs - D

Vancouver Wolves

6-08 250 lbs

 

This Vancouver star defender has been putting the hurt on opponents for only 4 seasons and going into his 5th season, he already has a career 957 hits, and he’s done this in less than 300 games.  He also gets the trophy for most career PIMS for the Vancouver Wolves.  Right now Gavilrovs has drummed up 23 hits and has only been hit 8 times.  Opponents are afraid of Gavilrovs all over the ice, and even though Guntis hasn’t dropped the gloves yet, he was the leading fighter for the Wolves last season.  Gavilrovs has tempered his mean streak thus far and doesn’t even lead the team in penalty minutes yet this season.  Don’t expect Gavilrovs to let up on hitting opponents though.

 

 

Riley Martin - RW

Vancouver Wolves

6-02 210 lbs

 

Riley Martin is tied with his teammate Gavilrovs, with 23 hits so far this season.  Martin, going into his 5th season still has an incredible future ahead of him.  Martin came out of his shell last season with a hell of a two-way forward stint scoring 99 points while getting 250 hits.  He’s started the season strong, picking up where he left off.  Martin is a target as well, as he has been hit 12 times in the first 5 games.  But fear not, Riley Martin is strong and resolute, and he will fair out better than any opponent trying to knock him down.

 

 

Catia Goncalves - RW

Moscow Menace

5-07 154 lbs

 

Another seasoned veteran, Catia Goncalves, is the heart and sole of the Moscow Menace.  Goncalves is an unlikely candidate for crushing opponents, given her small stature; however, she is turning heads in season 97 with 23 hits in just 5 games.  Being hit 8 times has not deterred the speedy little forward, and coming off a successful season, Goncalves is sure to show everyone that she is just as contentious as she was when she was a star rookie for Calgary.  Goncalves’ power is unassuming, even to the refs as she has only 6 PIMS in 5 games.

 

 

Logan Ninefingers - RW

Vancouver Wolves

6-05 235 lbs

 

My favorite player to write about is Logan Ninefingers.  As Goncalves is the heart and sole of Moscow, Ninefingers is the Vancouver rock.  When Ninefingers is playing good, the team is playing good.  The big power forward has 22 hits in the first 5 games of the season and has dropped the gloves already, demonstrating his true leadership.  The opposing teams know that Logan Ninefingers is the bread and butter of the Vancouver Wolves and they incessantly try to slow him down, considering he has been hit 22 times already this season.  Ninefingers is the least bit concerned about being able to continue to crush the other teams while being the main target of the foes.  Given that between Guntis Gavilrovs, Riley Martin and Logan Ninefingers, they have drummed up more hits than other teams have combined, you can expect that Ninefingers is the favorite for the Scotty Campbell Trophy.

 

 

Gringor Ironhide - LW

HC Davos

6-08 250 lbs

 

Gringor Ironhide is affectionately known as “The Davos Giant,” and he plays like a mean giant.  Ironhide has tagged opponents 22 times.  Ironhide is starting his 4th season with HC Davos, and he has led the team with his brute strength.  In the first 5 games, Gringor Ironhide has made a statement to the world; he is taking charge of the games and the results have shown that Ironhide is committed to winning games.  With a mean slapper, Ironhide has already blasted the puck into the net 6 times.  Ironhide has been hit only 9 times but he has yet to drop the gloves.  There aren’t too many players in this league willing to drop the gloves against Gringor Ironhide.

 

 

Harry Callahan - RW

Toronto Legion

6-02 210 lbs

 

Entering his 7th season with the Toronto Legion, Harry Callahan is a well known superstar for the Legion.  Callahan has scored over 100 points in 3 of the last 4 seasons, and added a new talent to his repertoire last season, that being a bone crusher.  He has picked up where he left off and has racked up 21 hits in just 4 games.  The other teams have taken notice and have unsuccessfully tried to slow him down by tapping him 21 times so far in the 4 games.  Callahan has yet to drop the gloves, but not by his own choosing.  He just has yet to find a worthy opponent.

 

 

Severus Targaryen - C

Riga Reign

6-04 213 lbs

 

 

Don’t let this tall, trim center fool you.  Severus Targaryen is coming off a dominating season and is a front runner for several individual trophies again this season.  Severus may not be a well-known Targaryen in Game of Thrones, but he is a very well known hockey player in the VHL.  Targaryen has over 1200 hits going into his 7th season, and this experienced player keeps getting better.  Targaryen is on pace to surpass 1500 career hits.  With 20 hits in the first 4 games, it makes one wonder what else Targaryen is capable of, but he’s already scored 7 points for Riga.  Oppenents are onto Targaryen’s talent and try to stop him but he’s too crafty and has only been hit 10 times thus far.  For all of you who selected Severus Targaryen for your VHFL team or your super coach team, he’s a sure pick and you did well.

 

 

Petit Hughie - D

Prague Phantoms

5-05 140

 

To round out the top 10 hitters after two days of games for season 97, there couldn’t be a better player to be on the list.  Petit Hughie is diminutive in stature but plays like he’s a definite scrapper for the Phantoms.  Through only 4 games, Hughie has already recorded 19 hits.  Hughie is an instigator and has been hit 9 times but has yet to get others to drop the gloves in season 97.  Petit Hughie has developed a powerful reputation and is sure to be involved in a few scraps during the season, sticking up for his teammates or just showing his strength, this player is one tough cookie!

 

That takes care of the heavy hitters after two days of playing, and by the time this goes into a media spot it will be outdated.  That’s the beauty of this league.  It goes fast!  Now let’s take a look at the fighters after just two days.

 

Brandon Petan Jr, DC Dragons, has two fights ending in draws.  Logan Ninefingers, Vancouver Wolves, has one tie.  Bric Sheithaus, Helsinki Titans, has one tie.  Diego Machado, Toronto Legion, Jacob Smith Jr, London United, Stefan Nikolaev, Warsaw Predators, Callum Gary Yanuck Janser, New York Americans, Dan Jr, Riga Reign, and Marek Nowaczyk, Seattle Bears, all have one tie.  James Ruutu, Moscow Menace, has the loss against Tommy Sleeves, Helsinki Titans.

 

This leaves the Calgary Wranglers, the Los Angeles Stars, and the Malmo Nighthawks to get tough and do some heavy hitting or dropping the gloves to spark the team and play some tough hockey.

 

1508 words

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