WC S46 - Interview With A Record Holder

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While he doesn't look set to be playing a huge part with Greg Clegane in this World Cup tournament, the member that goes by the name of Victor has had a long history of performing well at the World Cup. Since winning a silver medal on his debut performance with Vase Trikamaki in Season 12, he's gone on to win a tournament best 11 World Cup medals and was the first member to win five World Cup gold medals. We were lucky enough to get a chance to speak with Victor about his World Cup success:

 

You were the first member in the VHL to win 5 World Cup Gold Medals and you were also the first to reach the current record of 11 total World Cup Medals. What would you say was the biggest reason for your success in World Cups?

I must confess I was not aware of this record that I am in possession of. I would have to assume that I accumulated most of these while part of Sweden/Scandinavia which was essentially a lucky decision of making a Finnish first-gen. Really that's all it is - you have to, unless you organise nationalities with other people who then inevitably go inactive, luck out and get into the right team during the right generation and then hopefully win gold.

 

The majority of your medals came with Lars Berger as a member of a Team Sweden/Scandinavia dynasty that won four World Cups in a row. You were a member of three of those four medal winning sides, which iteration of that team did you consider the most dominant?

I think they were all brilliant offensive teams but Season 20 was the most well-balanced, featuring the best defencemen of the time in Patrick Bergqvist, Voittu Jannula, and Frans Spelman. With a well-rounded attack and one of the Season 18 goalies in Jakob Kjeldsen, I'd say that was as high as the bar was set, though the successors were no slouches either.

 

The five medals you picked up with Lars Berger is currently impossible to match considering the World Cup has changed from every two years to every three years to implement the Super Cup, what did you think of that change at the time and do you believe it has been a successful one?

I was absolutely in favour because lots of people, including myself, felt that the biennial World Cup became too repetitive and losing interest. The Super Cup sounded like an excellent alternative in theory, though it's not been hugely successful - I'd say the World Cup is now much more popular in comparison. It is a shame that most records have become unattainable now but I wouldn't go back to a two-season cycle, though maybe there is a better alternative to the Super Cup.

 

You could have actually won your sixth gold medal as a member at the last tournament with Greg Clegane, however Team Western Europe's GM decided against taking a backup goalie. As the best backup goalie for the team at the time, were you disappointed not to be selected?

I believe I made a fuss about it in public but I am not too bothered as it stands. It's a shame it was due to negligence by the GM who couldn't find myself or Sandro Clegane in the draftees forum but included some draftee on the roster anyway, but it would have been a hollow victory.

 

Finally, current TPA suggests that you would still be behind Hans Wingate in the pecking order on Team Western Europe. With that being said, would you prefer a better shot at a medal with Team Western Europe despite the reduced role or a shot at starting for Team Mercenaries with the hopes of helping win that team it's first ever medal.

It turns out I've been quite successful medal-wise so maybe I should go help a less fortunate team, plus being a mercenary is certainly an image which suits Ser Greg.

 

Thanks to Victor for his time