Claimed: Michael Angelo

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

Michael Angelo was drafted by the Riga Reign in the Season 18 VHL Entry Draft, 15th overall. The Reign though traded him during his first season after his draft year to the Helsinki Titans in a straight one for one trade for Jonathan Slade.

 

Season 18 - Kolari Panthers

MIchael Angelo started his career in the VHLM with the Kolari Panthers in Season 18. Kolari wasn't a strong team by any means in Season 18 but they were still good enough to fight for the top spot in the European Conference. Their run though came up short finishing with 71 points compared to the 73 points Gothenburg had. However, Angelo started his season with Gothenburg but ended up in Kolari due to the trade. His full season totals ended up being 16 goals and 49 assists for 65 points. A decent season for the defenseman.

 

In the playoffs, the Panthers would play the Eagles in the semi's with the winner going to the final. In a easy 5 game series, the Panthers fell to the Eagles. Angelo only had 2 assists for 2 points in the 5 game series as the Panthers bowed out relatively easy.

 

Season 19 - Kolari Panthers

Michael Angelo was deemed not ready to play in the VHL so he was sent back down for a second season in the VHLM. The Panthers were a good team this season as they finished with 92 points which was still 2nd in the Euro but the team was 3rd overall out of 8 teams. Michael Angelo enjoyed a great season with 44 goals and 64 assists for 108 points. Angelo and Ignatius Feltersnatch formed a formidable duo. 

 

In the playoffs, the Panthers upset the 1st seeded Vasteras J-20 team in 6 games to move onto the finals. In the finals though, a powerhouse Minot team proved too much as the Gladiators won the Founders Cup in just 5 games. Michael Angelo had a masterful playoff showing with 6 goals and 19 assists for 25 points in just 11 games. I think he is ready for the VHL now.

 

Season 20 - Helsinki Titans

After a great Season 19 in the VHLM, Michael Angelo was ready to jump to the VHL and he did just that in Season 20. The Titans though were a team on the way up after a few seasons of rebuilding so now they were a tweener team this season, too good for a top end draft pick but not good enough to make it to the playoffs. The Titans were stuck in 3rd with 79 points which was respectable but not good enough for the top two spots held by the Dynamo and the Reign who had 115 and 113 respectively.

 

Michael Angelo had a great rookie season with 21 goals and 98 assists for 119 points. It was a wonderful season despite the fact the Titans didn't make the playoffs for Angelo. He won the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy for Top Rookie and was named a VHL All-Star. 

 

Season 21 - Helsinki Titans

The Titans continued to improve and now were ready to challenge for a playoff spot in Season 21. With 86 points the Titans were tied with the Dynamo for the final playoff spot but since the Dynamo had a few extra regulation wins the Dynamo claimed the spot while the Titans were sent packing. Angelo didn't have as great a season as Season 20 but he still had a decent one with 12 goals and 70 assists for 82 points. Pretty decent but not like the 119 points he had as a rookie. 

 

Season 22 - Helsinki Titans

The Titans as a team broke out in a huge way for Season 22 as they finished 1st in the European Conference with 99 points. This actually tied them with the Dynamo for 1st but since Helsinki had 1 more regulation win than the Dynamo, they took top spot. Michael Angelo and his free fall kept happening in Season 22 with 14 goals and 52 assists for 66 points. Still respectable but not 119 or 82 points we've seen from him.

 

The Titans would go to war with Davos in the semi's and after 7 hard fought games, the Titans would move onto the finals after a period of dominance by the Riga Reign and the HC Davos Dynamo. In the finals, the Titans would play the Toronto Legion who greatly benefited from the Season 18 Draft with multiple all-star picks and a few hall of famers. However, this was not meant to be for them as the upstart Titans won the Continental Cup in 6 games. Angelo had a great playoff showing with 1 goal and 11 assists for 12 points in 13 games. It was a wonderful time for the Finnish city for Helsinki.

 

Season 23 - Helsinki Titans

Helsinki began their defense with a pretty strong showing in Season 23 with 107 points. However, this was 4 points behind the HC Davos Dynamo who were not happy with a 1st round defeat in the playoffs from last season. Helsinki still was the 2nd best team in the VHL but unfortunately the 1st ranked team was in their Conference and the Titans would have to go through them to get to the finals. Michael Angelo improved to 13 goals and 71 assists for 84 points. It was a nice improvement from 66 points from the prior season.

 

In a match-up that could very well have been the finals, Titans would move on in 6 games in a sort of mini upset because the Dynamo had more points in the Regular Season. In the finals, the Titans would play the Calgary Wranglers who were 1st in the NA Conference but had less points than the Titans. However after 7 games, the Wranglers were victorious in another mini upset. Michael Angelo didn't have a good playoff with just 3 goals and 3 assits for 6 points.

 

Season 24 - Helsinki Titans

The Titans continued to be one of the top teams in the VHL after finished with 101 points. However, this was good enough for 2nd in the Euro behind the Dynamo and 3rd overall in the VHL as Toronto had a very fine season. Michael Angelo though fell to his lowest output yet with just 7 goals and 52 assists for 59 points.

 

The Titans and Dynamo would due battle in the 1st round for the 3rd straight season. Davos had a bone to pick with Helsinki as the Titans were 2-0 in the two playoff matchups. However, this one was different as Davos just straight up walked through the Titans in 5 games to move onto the finals. The Titans as a whole couldn't solve Daisuke Kanou because the leading scorer just had 3 points. Angelo had 2 assists for 2 points in the playoffs.

 

Season 25 - Helsinki Titans

After 3 seasons of (at least) 99 point seasons with 2 over 100, 2 finals appearances and 1 Continental Cup the Titans missed the playoffs in Season 25 with just 77 points which was almost 30 points behind the HC Davos Dynamo and the Vasteras Iron Eagles respectively. Michael Angelo finished with 8 goals and 51 assists for 59 points in his last season. Michael Angelo had all the potential in the world but it didn't work out in the latter stages of his career which is a shame after his wonderful rookie season.

 

Career

Career Regular Season
S18 - VHLM - GOT/KOL - 70 GP | 16 G | 49 A | 65 P | +18 | 52 PIM | 97 H | 138 SH | 92 SB
S19 - VHLM - KOL - 72 GP | 44 G | 64 A | 108 P | +38 | 122 PIM | 240 H | 282 SH | 98 SB
S20 - VHL - HEL - 72 GP | 21 G | 98 A | 119 P | +18 | 210 PIM | 288 H | 266 SH | 137 SB
S21 - VHL - HEL - 72 GP | 12 G | 70 A | 82 P | +13 | 102 PIM | 154 H | 225 SH | 131 SB
S22 - VHL - HEL - 72 GP | 14 G | 52 A | 66 P | +59 | 80 PIM | 110 H | 200 SH | 118 SB
S23 - VHL - HEL - 72 GP | 13 G | 71 A | 84 P | +43 | 83 PIM | 102 H | 148 SH | 104 SB
S24 - VHL - HEL - 72 GP | 7 G | 52 A | 59 P | +21 | 89 PIM | 92 H | 155 SH | 102 SB
S25 - VHL - HEL - 72 GP | 8 G | 51 A | 59 P | -12 | 98 PIM | 129 H | 154 SH | 129 SB

TOTAL VHLM: 142 GP | 60 G | 113 A | 173 P | +56 | 174 PIM | 337 H | 420 SH | 190 SB
TOTAL VHL: 432 GP | 75 G | 394 A | 469 P | +142 | 662 PIM | 875 H | 1148 SH | 721 SB

Career Playoffs:
S18 - VHLM - KOL - 5 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 P | -1 | 0 PIM | 5 H | 6 SH | 14 SB
S19 - VHLM - KOL - 11 GP | 6 G | 19 A | 25 P | -2 | 30 PIM | 33 H | 41 SH | 24 SB
S22 - VHL - HEL - 13 GP | 1 G | 11 A | 12 P | +5 | 17 PIM | 21 H | 26 SH | 25 SB
S23 - VHL - HEL - 13 GP | 3 G | 3 A | 6 P | -2 | 30 PIM | 27 H | 22 SH | 25 SB
S24 - VHL - HEL - 5 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 P | -3 | 17 PIM | 13 H | 9 SH | 9 SB

TOTAL VHLM: 16 GP | 6 G | 21 A | 27 P | -3 | 30 PIM | 38 H | 47 SH | 38 SB
TOTAL VHL: 31 GP | 4 G | 16 A | 20 P | 0 | 64 PIM | 61 H | 57 SH | 59 SB

Michael Angelo had a solid career with 469 points in 432 games. He seemed a bit underwhelming in the playoffs with just 20 points in 31 games but he does have a Continental Cup to his name so he has that going for him. What could have been if he had been able to build off his wonderful rookie season though.

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

for gretz

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

Nice to read up on a player that I never had a chance to witness. Looks like he had a respectable career.

[Advantage 2,899]

Appreciate it.  To be fair, a lot of people had ridiculous seasons in Season 20 so any free fall was to be expected.  Still holds a league record though! (most assists by a rookie)