Claimed:Team Mercenaries Attempt To Make History

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Team Mercenaries Play For Bronze Medal

 

For the second time in as many World Cups, Team Mercenaries will attempt to win their first World Cup medal. During round robin play, they finished second with a record of six wins with three regulation losses and an overtime loss, finishing with thirteen points, six back of first-place Europe. The Mercenaries' lost both games against Europe, albeit, one of those games went to overtime and also dropped one decision to the Americans and Canadians each. Through the ten games of the round robin, they scored 27 goals and allowed 23 against, doing this despite giving up the most shots per game and finishing the round robin at fourth in shots for. The powerplay clicked at only 14.29% which was good for the fourth best but the penalty-kill unit was astounding, killing 90.20% of powerplays against, nearly 4% better than the next best unit. Team Mercenaries were the most physical team during the round robin, delivering 18.80 hits per game but also were the most undisciplined, taking over eleven minutes in penalties per game. They were also not great in the face-off dot, winning just 47.99% of draws, good for the fourth rank in the tournament.

 

Individually, Brady Stropko was the team leader in goals with eight while Tyler Cote was the assists leader with ten and points with thirteen. Brady Stropko also lead Team Mercenaries in plus/minus with a +7 rating and Arcturus Mengsk lead the way in penalty minutes with 22. The leader in hits with 37 was...you guessed it, Brady Stropko yet again and Jamie Hill led the team with 21 shot blocks. Brady Stropko scored two game-winning goals to sit atop the team leaderboard in yet another category. In goal, Sandro Clegane played all but 44 minutes, when he was ejected in game against Canada for unsportsmanlike conduct. He posted a record of 6-2-1 and in 568 minutes of play, he seen 273 shots thrown his way. Clegane stopped 254 of those shots, posting a 0.930% save percentage and 2.01 goals against average with one shutout. So, basically, he stood on his head and stole the game for Team Mercenaries on most nights.

 

Team Mercenaries received a bye through the quarterfinals of the medal round to the semifinal game. Scandinavia would be their opponent in that semifinal game, a team that they were able to defeat twice during round robin play, although it did take overtime on both occasions. Scandinavia capitalized on a Jamie Hill turnover late in the first period, Max Molholt was denied by Clegane but on the second opportunity, Marquis Hyvarinen made no mistake and buried the rebound. Late in the second period, Scandinavia once again took full advantage of an opportunity as Jorma Ruutu fired one home directly off a Aleksi Koponen face-off win to give Scandinavia a 2-0 lead. Team Mercenaries pounded everything at Scandinavia goaltender, Bernie Gow in the third period, firing thirteen of their 29 shots at him but he was up to the task and stopped everything for a 29-save shutout. Sandro Clegane stopped 31 of 33 shots in the loss and Scandinavia will face Team Europe in the Gold Medal game. Team Mercenaries will play Team World in the Bronze Medal game in their attempt at a medal for the first time. Tune in tomorrow to the VHL Network to find out the outcomes.

[Tim 182]

Claimed