WCS46 - Week One Preview

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GAME ONE 

TEAM CANADA VS. TEAM USA

 

The Story

There isn't really a better way to kick off the Season 46 World Cup than have the two closest rivals go at it! Outside of the geographical rivalry, what makes this an interesting match-up is that it pits a Canadian team that has failed to reach the Bronze Medal game in the last two World Cups against Team USA who made the two previous World Cup finals. 

 

What To Watch

This game will see an interesting battle at the goalie position as the most experienced starting goalie in the tournament will face off against the only goalie in the tournament without VHL experience. While it hasn't yet been made clear who is going to start in goal for Team USA out of Callum Sinclair and Blake Campbell, Team Canada will have Atticus Von Braxton IV making his first professional start, and what better a test of how ready he is for the VHL than being up against one of the most dominant centers in VHL history, Thomas O'Malley!

 

 

GAME TWO

TEAM WESTERN EUROPE VS TEAM SCANDINAVIA

 

The Story

Team Western Europe start off their quest for a repeat World Cup Gold Medal against a Team Scandinavia side that quite a few people are predicting to pose the biggest test for Team Western Europe. There's also some recent history between the two teams, as a favoured Team Western Europe were eliminated in the Season 40 World Cup Semi-Finals by Team Scandinavia

 

What To Watch

This match-up will be the most reminiscent of the Season 46 Continental Cup series, as four Helsinki Titans players will suit up for Team Western Europe while three Calgary Wranglers will be playing for Team Scandinavia, with Helsinki Titans center Aleksi Koponen evening the odds. 

 

 

GAME THREE

TEAM WORLD VS TEAM MERCENARIES

 

The Story

The two newest teams to the World Cup face off to kick off their Season 46 World Cup Campaigns. This will be a repeat of the Season 43 World Cup Bronze Medal Game which saw Team World take home their first ever medal at the World Cup

 

What to Watch

While both teams have solid goalies and good depth up front, it's fair to say that all eyes will on the star forwards for each team. Team World will have three of the top six forwards in TPA in Jody 3 Moons, Lord Karnage and Edwin Reencarnacion, while Team Mercenaries have two former Playoff MVPs at their disposal in Tyler Cote and Brady Stropko

 

 

GAME FOUR

TEAM WESTERN EUROPE VS TEAM CANADA

 

The Story

A rematch of the Season 37 World Cup Gold Medal Game. That time Team Canada took the gold, but since then they haven't even had an opportunity to meet in the playoffs, as Team Canada have been knocked out of the last two tournaments at the Quarter Final stage whereas Team Western Europe have joined both of the last two tournaments at the Semi-Finals.

 

What to Watch

Two key members of the Season 44 Continental Cup winning Calgary Wranglers going head to head as team captain Marcus Hurley will try to score past the man Calgary dubbed "The WinGod" Hans Wingate. 

 

GAME FIVE

TEAM USA VS TEAM MERCENARIES

 

The Story

While there isn't much of a history between these two teams, Team Mercenaries were able to take pride in the fact that they were one of only two teams that beat the Gold Medal winning Team USA at the Season 40 World Cup.

 

What to Watch

If the Kobe Bryant farewell tour has inspired you to go out and say farewell to some hockey greats, then this would be the game to attend. Six members from each team are participating in their final World Cup, with a further three players potentially to join them as the Season 42 players will have just played their eighth VHL season by that point 

 

 

GAME SIX

TEAM SCANDINAVIA VS TEAM WORLD

 

The Story

These two teams have faced off twice in the playoffs in the last three tournaments. The Season 37 World Cup saw Team Scandinavia beat Team World in the Bronze Medal Game while Season 43 saw Team World annihilate Team Scandinavia 5-0 in the Quarter Finals on their way to a Bronze Medal

 

What To Watch

Team Scandinavia have been forced to enter the tournament with two defensemen who were playing VHLM hockey last season, which is in stark contrast to Team World who had eight VHL players to choose from at that position. It will be interesting to see that matchup between experience and youth on defense.

Edited December 31, 2015 by XaviYEAH! Woods

[eaglesfan036 4,603]

Good stuff! Team Scandinavia best team

[Ahma 1,428]

@XaviYEAH! Woods puts some insane amount of effort in to World Cup!