Claimed: Last Chance for Gold [1/2]

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

In this media spot we look at players who are in their last season of eligibility for the World Cup of Hockey.

*takes no account of those players who retire earlier than 8 seasons*

 

Canada

D Alexander Kachur II 107 TPE

 

As you can see Team Canada will be losing just one player by the time the next world cup due to age. He isn't even a big name player and shouldn't affect the team in the future. I don't think he's made the Canada squad ever and in fact might not have made the Mercenaries team.

 

United States of America

RW Diana Maxwell 

G Apollo Skye

 

Team United States will be losing two huge pieces by the time the next World Cup roles around. First would be Diana Maxwell who has played in the last 4 World Cup's for the US of A. In her first WC, she scored 3 goals and assisted on 2 goals for 5 points in the 10 round robin games. In the elimination round, Maxwell scored 1 goal and assisted on 3 goals for 4 points in just 2 games before the bowed out against Team World after beating Scandinavia in a crazy 7-4 game. United States did end up beating the surprise Team Mercenaries in a Bronze medal game. However, it took overtime for US to claim the Bronze. 

 

After being a second line player in S50, Maxwell was the best player on the USA team come Season 52. Maxwell has scored 6 goals and assisted on 7 goals for 13 points in 10 games for Season 52. This led to a 3rd place finish in the standings and a date with 6th ranked Scandinavia in the elimination round. USA had marched through Scandinavia 5-1 before a thrilling OT game in the semi's against Team World before falling in the finals in another OT game against Canada. In the three elimination games, Maxwell scored 2 goals and assisted on 2 goals for 4 points. In two world cups, Maxwell has a Silver and a Bronze Medal.

 

Season 54 was USA's best performance in recent memory finishing 8-2-0 in the tournament. Maxwell was again one of the leaders of the team scoring 8 goals and assisting on 8 goals for 16 points in just 10 games. USA got a bye into the semi's and would play Team Scandinavia. After a hard fought 1-0 win USA would move onto the finals once again against Team Canada. In the finals, it wasn't meant to be as Canada upset USA 3-2. Maxwell was held pointless in the two elimination games. 

 

Apollo Skye also got his start in Season 50 and was barely drafted into the VHLM by the time he was named to the USA roster. He went 5-4-1 in his first taste of international action. He also boasted a .923 save percentage and a 2.38 G.A.A. In the medal rounds, he wasn't as solid with a 1-1-0 record and a .882 save percentage and a 4.50 G.A.A. However in the Bronze Medal game, he did just enough by stopping 17 of 20 shots for a 4-3 OT win to win USA the Bronze.

 

Much like Maxwell, Skye really improved coming into the Season 52 World Cup. Skye went 5-3-1 with a .937 save percentage and a 1.87 G.A.A with 2 shutouts. He was almost instrumental in USA's 3rd place finish. Skye had a great medal round once again with 2-0-1 record and a .929 save percentage with a 2.47 G.A.A. Despite making 35 saves in the final, it wasn't enough to win Gold as Canada scored in OT.

 

Skye just keeps on getting better in the WC as he went 7-1-0 with a .935 save percentage and a 1.80 G.A.A. USA finished 1st in the Round Robin earning a place in the semi's. Despite his best efforts, Skye and USA lost in the finals and Skye had a record of 1-1-0 with a .949 save percentage and a 1.51 G.A.A with 1 shutout.

 

It will be the end of a era in USA Hockey with the retirements of these two players.

 

Scandinavia

LW Jack Kraken

RW Theo Axelsson

G Joanna Akerfeldt

 

Theo Axelsson made his debut in Season 50 along side Joanna Akerfeldt. Axelsson only managed 1 goal in 10 games while the rookie Akerfeldt was thrown into the fire and managed to put up a record of 5-4-1 with a .892 save percentage and a 2.74 G.A.A. Scandinavia was in tough against United States in the elimination round. In the end, the team lost 7-4 in an absolute barn burner. Axelsson scored 1 goal while Akerfeldt was pretty bad with 0-1-0 with a .767 save percentage and a 7.00 G.A.A. 

 

Akerfedlt was left at home for Season 52 but Axelsson was now one of the better players on Scandinavia. He would score 3 goals and assist on 3 goals for 6 points in 10 games. However, Scandinavia finished bottom of the standings because of goaltending problems, however it was hard to expect much from a couple of rookies. Scandinavia would once again play USA in the elimination round and this time they ended up losing 5-1. Axelsson had no points in the loss.

 

In Season 54, Jack Kraken made his WC debut while Axelsson as entering his 3rd. Akerfeldt was left at home once again. Axelsson led the team in scoring with 8 goals and 7 assists for 15 points. Kraken was only able to muster 1 assist in 10 games. Scandinavia was once again near the bottom in the standings finishing 5th in the standings. In the elimination round, the Scandinavians would play the Mercenaries and would beat them to move onto the semi's for the first time in a long time. However a 1-0 defeat to USA left Scandinavia battling for the Bronze Medal. In the end, Scandinavia proved to be too much for Team World and brought home a Bronze medal which seemed so unlikely after the 5th place finish. Axelsson scored 2 goals and assisted on 1 goal before scoring 2 goals in the Bronze Medal game as he willed Scandinavia to a medal. Jack Kraken was a bit part scoring 0 points in all three games.

 

Scandinavia will need someone to step up after Axelsson retires after this season. He has been a huge part of this team and he will be missed.

 

World

D Guntis Petenis

D Maxsym Barnyashev

D Misha Tobolsk

D Izidors Balders

D Robert Jelen

 

Guntis Petenis made his WC debut in Season 52 with Team World and they were pretty good. After finishing 1st in the standings with a 8-2-0 record and birth in the Semi's. Petenis scored 2 goals and assisted on 1 goal for 3 points in 10 games. It wasn't a mind blowing performance but he was great as a 4th defenseman. Maxsym Barnyashev wasn't picked for Team World but made his debut with Team Mercenaries. In 10 games, Barney scored 5 goals and assisted on 3 goals for 8 points. The Mercs finished 5th ahead of Scandinavia. The Mercs gave Canada all they can handle in the quarters but ended up falling 3-2. Barney had 1 assist in the game. Team World on the other hand lost to the very same Canada team 3-2. In the Bronze Medal game, Team World would take on Team Western Europe and after regulation, Team World won 3-2 to claim the Bronze Medal.

 

This time in Season 54, both Petenis and Barney made the World Roster after Barney played for Team Mercs. Barney kept up his offensive pace by scoring 2 goals and assisting on 7 goals for 9 points. Petenis was still solid on the back end with 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points. He was a strong defensive presence. Team World fell to 3rd in the standings meaning they had to play in the quarter final. Team World would play Team Western Europe who finished last in the standings. However, they gave Team World fits and almost won. Team World managed to pull it out in OT and move onto the semi's to face Team Canada. Canada walked through World though with a 5-2 scoreline. In the Bronze Medal game, Team World would play Team Scandinavia. Team World simply ran out of gas and lost 3-1. Barney scored 1 goal and assisted on 1 goal for 2 points in 3 games while Petenis scored 1 goal in the Bronze Medal game and had 1 assist as well for 2 points.

 

Guntis Petenis and Barney are two big holes to fill on the backend while Team World also loses 3 extra depth defenders so, Team World needs some defenders to step up by next tourney.

 

Western Europe

C Essian Ravenwing 

RW Max Von Hohenzollern

D Elijah Dotran

 

Essian Ravenwing was named to the West Europe team as a rookie in Season 50. As such he was just expected to provide nice depth and learn for future tournaments. He scored just 1 goal for 1 point in 10 games. Europe was the top dogs going into the elimination round with a 7-3-0 record. After winning their spot in the semi's the team won 2-0 over Team Mercs but lost in heart breaking fashion in the finals after a near perfect tourney. Team Europe lost to Team World 2-1 in the finals. Ravenwing has 0 points in both games.

 

In Season 52, all three of Ravenwing, MVH and Dotran made the team. Ravenwing had a somewhat disappointing round robin with just 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points. MVH had a nice showing with 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points. The biggest surprise of all though might be Eiljah Dotran who scored 3 goals and assisted on 4 goals for 7 points. Europe was once again one of the best teams with a 6-4-0 record which gained them a spot in the Semi's for the 2nd WC in a row. More heart break would ensue for Season 52 as Team Europe lost in OT 4-3 to USA. It didn't just stop there as in another OT game, Europe would lost to Team World once again. Ravenwing, MVH and Dotran all had 1 assist in the loss to USA. MVH had a goal in the bronze medal game while Dotran had 1 assist in the loss.

 

Ravenwing, MVH and Dotran would all return for S54, however, this was not the same team we saw in the previous two WC's. Europe finished last in the standings with just 2 wins and 8 losses. Ravenwing finally broke out though with 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points. Dotran continued to be great offensively with 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points in 10 games. MVH provided nice depth with 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. In the elimination round, Team Europe would play Team World and fall to them once again and again in OT. This time, Team World prevailed in double OT. The downfall to this team was lack of a goaltender as Key Perought was just a rookie with probably 100 or less TPE at the time.

 

I enjoyed doing this, so I can't wait until next WC to highlight those that will be leaving the World Cup. Interesting that in this batch of players that none of them managed to win a Gold Medal so, it literally is their last chance to win a gold medal. Also here are some Team needs for future references:

 

Canada:

In the future, I could see Canada needing some defenders but really that is a big maybe depending on who recreates next and what not. Canada needs more depth on LW maybe too? Other than that, I see a big future for Canadian hockey in the VHL as they have a lot of young studs.

 

USA:

USA will need a goaltender soon as Skye is gone after this WC and V2A isn't getting any younger. So a young goalie to groom would be in the cards if USA want to keep contending. Their defense core is young so they should be good there. They need a new winger to replace Diana Maxwell too as 4 of the 7 wingers are sub 450 TPE level.

 

Scandinavia:

Scandinavia needs a few more centers, some more wingers especially with the loss of Axelsson and more defense depth. The Jokinen brothers are getting old and will need replacing soon. Basically everything but goalies as Ike Arkander will be the future there.

 

World:

Team World needs some high quality winger because they do have some now but they are all sub 500 TPE, they could use some defenders to replace 4 that are retiring due to age after this WC. Maybe they could use a young goalie to groom because Jacob and Astrid Moon are getting a bit long in the tooth.

 

Western Europe:

Western Europe need everything because they only had enough to field a team this WC. With the Loss of Ravenwing, MVH and Dotran, that is 3 key pieces to replace. So yea Everything and Anything for Western Europe.

 

~2187 Words~

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

Claim for the weeks of:

October 9th

October 16th

October 23rd

October 30th

 

Edited October 29, 2017 by CowboyinAmerica

[STZ 5,360]

DeGrath's last chance for his 3rd gold..

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

10 minutes ago, STZ said:

DeGrath's last chance for his 3rd gold..

so you're retiring him? RIP

[STZ 5,360]

27 minutes ago, TheLastOlympian07 said:

so you're retiring him? RIP

 

He be replaced next time by the yung studz

[hedgehog337 3,483]

On 2017.10.11. at 6:41 AM, STZ said:

DeGrath's last chance for his 3rd gold..

 

Or...Davos makes magic things.

 

REVIEW:

 

Lol at these defs retiring from the Team World. They will miss Petenis tbh. I'm also crine at you puting the Latvia flag into Western Europe while Petenis and Krīgars were eligible only for he Merc's or World. That need to be changed by the next WC commish imo.

Btw, Perought retired, so perhaps no goalie for the Europe haha.

 

@TheLastOlympian07