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Halifax 21st Top 10 Players: Numbers 10-4 [1/2]


Thranduil

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The Halifax 21st are about to enter their third season in the VHLM after coming in as an expansion team in S62. The team has already had countless VHL alumni, many of whom are making names for themselves as reliable players for their new teams and some of whom are coming off glorious VHL rookie seasons. So far, in two seasons, Halifax has finished top 3 in the VHL in back to back seasons, a feat viewed nearly impossible by many. Their success is not limited to the regular season as the 21st have been respectively competitive in both post-seasons they've competed in. GM, ShawnGlade was to credit for the two strong years in a row, however he has recently moved on to the HC Davos Dynamo of the VHL. Former Ottawa Lynx AGM, McWolf has been left in charge.

In honour of this incredible franchise, I have decided to do a list of the top ten regular season performers as S64 kicks off.

-The rankings were decided by an algorithm I created that takes into account points, +/-, and position (Points scored by a defensemen are emphasized more than that of a forward). None of the rankings contain biases of any kind.

-Note, this list does not include goaltenders.

-Only regular season stats were included when deciding the ranking. I will do a top 10 playoff performers list in the future.

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

 

RW, Wlodzimierz Zajaczkowski

Regular Season: 72GP 37G 32A 69P -13

Playoffs: 7GP 7G 2A 9P +1

Wlodzimierz Zajaczkowski was aquired by Halifax as a mid-season addition to a struggling S63 squad. He made an immediate impact by being one of the toughest and most defensively responsible players, every night. He played on a weakened second line and fell just short of 40 goals and 70 points. One of the most impressive things about Zajaczkowski was his toughness and willingness to stick up for his teammates. He finished the season with a team-leading 273 hits and 135 PIM. On top of that, he managed 73 blocked shots and only had two giveaways all season. Zajaczkowki played his best hockey in the playoffs. In game one of the semi-finals series with Saskatoon, Halifax was losing 7-1 in the third period. Zajaczkowski scored three goals in a matter of about 6 minutes to  tie the game at seven. He then went on to score the overtime winner to complete the comeback and a four-goal game. His team was so inspired by his play that Halifax won 2 of the next 3 games against all odds. Even though they eventually lost the series, Zajaczkowski really proved his value as a team player and led the team with 7 goals in 7 games in the playoffs that year.

 

D, Evgeni Komarov

Regular Season: 72GP 10G 36A 46P +19

Playoffs: 7GP 0G 6A 6P -4

Komarov's performance with the 21st in S63 wasn't outstanding, but solid. The rather small enforcer of a defenseman was a big part of Halifax's success on defense as well as on offense. Although he is only 5'6, Komarov could easily beat up anyone who messed with the stars on his team, and that he did. He spent 135 minutes in the penalty box and delivered 242 crushing hits. Komarov was a huge presence on the powerplay as 5 of his 10 goals were with the man advantage. He also killed penalties as well as anyone and his defense was top notch. Komarov spent most of his year covering for his offensive wizard of a partner, Jesse Wilson, who was constantly taking risks by zipping into the zone with the puck. Komarov was the unsung hero. He anchored the team from the back and blocked 106 shots while doing it. The reliable d-man finished the season with a solid +19 rating, fifth among his teammates. Komarov brought his game up a few notches in the playoffs and managed 6 points in 7 games, before being eliminated by the Saskatoon Wild. This season, Komarov will be playing for the Ottawa Lynx of the VHLM.

 

SOLID PERFORMERS

 

10. LW, Ryuu Crimson

Regular Season: 72GP 33G 29A 62P +17

Playoffs: 8GP 2G 6A 8P +5

Ryuu Crimson was an important piece in Halifax's S62 cup-run team. He ran the second line, in charge of shutting down the opponents, along with center, Nathan MacKinnon. The two of them won many games for the 21st with their defensive play and Crimson was very versatile. He could kill penalties, man the powerplay, hit, shoot and pass. As a second year player in the VHLM, Crimson worked as a mentor to the younger and slower MacKinnon, teaching him everything he knew about the game and by the time Crimson left, MacKinnon's game very much resembled his. Early on, he built a inseparable friendship with teammate, Dylan Nguyen. Every time someone cheapshotted Nguyen, Crimson would make sure to get them back. Once Crimson completely found his game, he was one of the most effective players on Halifax and was always right in the swing of things, putting up 33 goals and 62 points, as well as a +17 rating during the regular season. His two-way style of play represented the way Halifax played as a team and Crimson was respected by all of his teammates for the effort he gave. Crimson was stellar in the playoffs, putting up 8 points in 8 games and bringing Halifax three wins away from winning it all.

 

9. C, Anthony Dabarno

Regular Season: 72GP 19G 45A 64P +12

Playoffs: 8GP 3G 4A 7P +5

In one season with Halifax, Dabarno had a solid 64 point performance and was a big part of the team that went to the finals in their inaugural season, playing as the first line center, as one third of Halifax's highly coveted production line. For the majority of the season, Dabarno played alongside with Karl von Moltke and Nikita Flipachyev and later Rylan Peace. Dabarno was von Moltke's trigger man, putting up 45 assists and posting a superb +12 rating. The young center improved in the playoffs, scoring 7 points in 8 games on Halifax's cup run. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and the 21st fell short, losing to the Ottawa Lynx in four games. Dabarno became a highly coveted forward in the league and was picked 2nd overall by the Saskatoon Wild in the S63 VHLM draft, with whom he won the Founder's Cup. This season, Dabarno will get his shot at the big leagues with VHL powerhouse, Riga Reign.

 

8. RW / LW, John Madden

Regular Season: 72GP 21G 42A 63P +44

Playoffs: 7GP 3G 3A 6P -1

John Madden was the most impactful addition to a Halifax forward core that looked very bland going into the S63 season. Before Madden arrived, the depth consisted of second year players, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Flipachyev as well as a bunch of players who were not really ready for the VHLM. The arrival of Madden completed the dominant first line who would go on to be one of the top VHLM lines of S63. Madden, a gifted winger, passed over in the draft, was keen to prove himself as a valuable member of the 21st. After a disappointing start to the season, Madden found himself with only 14 points at the halfway mark even though he was playing with, at the time, the league's two leading scorers. This is when he realized something had to change if he had any hope of being drafted in the first round of the VHL draft, so Madden worked on his defense for hours and hours hoping that if he got better at stealing the puck, he would be able to create more chances. He was right. In the second half of the season, Madden was much improved and starting playing at the same level as his linemates. He scored 49 points in his last 36 games of the season and finished with an astounding +44 rating. Madden was a clutch player, finishing second in team game winning goals with 6. At the end of the season, Madden became the first player in 21st history to score exactly 21 goals in a season. Madden played well in the playoffs as well, managing 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 games. He will be spending the upcoming season with his old line, all three of whom are in their last year with the team. On opening night of the VHLM season, Madden was named captain by Halifax GM, McWolf.

 

ELITE PERFORMERS

 

7. RW, Nikita Flipachyev

Regular Season: 144GP 78G 74A 152P +79

Playoffs: 15GP 6G 3A 9P +2

Nikita Flipachyev has been a top notch player for the Halifax 21st, two seasons in a row. In S62, he was drafted by ShawnGlade and made an impact immediately after joining. "Flip" played most of the season on the first line with Karl von Moltke and previously mentioned Anthony Dabarno. He was a big factor in the team's success, putting up 30 goals as a first year player. Flipachyev fell just shy of the 60 point mark, with 57 points. He finished with a team-leading +32 rating and banged in 7 game winning goals. As we've seen with all of the other members of this list, Flipachyev's performance went to another level in the post-season and he banged in 8 points in 8 games, perhaps a mere shadow of what was to come. In S63, Flipachyev laced up his skates and started the season on a line with S62 teammate, Nathan MacKinnon and new recruit, John Madden. Flipachyev's chemistry with MacKinnon exploded, especially in the first 40 games and GM, ShawnGlade regretted not putting them together sooner. John Madden took awhile to get chemistry with Flipachyev, in part because Madden, who was used to being a right winger, had to deal with someone else playing there and had to adjust to the left side. Madden got over this eventually and together, the three of them tore up the league, finishing 1, 2 and 3 in +/-. Flipachyev continued to be an incredible goal scorer, falling just short of 50 goals and 100 points. He finished with a +47 rating and was top 10 in league scoring. In the playoffs, however, Flipachyev completely fell off the wagon and only managed 1 goal in 7 games, causing many to believe he no longer longer takes the game seriously and is already washed up. It will be interesting to see how things shape up as the MMF line take to ice for one last horah in S64. Will Flipachyev and MacKinnon be able to keep up with the quickly developing, younger, Madden? Only time will tell.

 

6. D, Dylan Nguyen

Regular Season: 72GP 9G 63A 72P +27

Playoffs: 8GP 0G 9A 9P -2

Dylan Nguyen came to Halifax in a year when the team was filled with future VHL legends. Many players had a hard time standing out among the crowd and went partially unnoticed by fans and scouts. Nguyen was one of them. While not the most flashy player, especially next to defense partner, Shawn Glade, Nguyen was certainly a consistent one for the 21st in S62. Glade took a lot of risks up ice and Nguyen was always there to bail him out should anything go wrong. For this, the fans gave him the appreciation he deserved, but what makes Nguyen so underrated is the fact that when you take a look at his numbers, you can see that he was also very productive, and he compiled points, especially in the form of assists. Nguyen is perhaps one of the best playmakers to ever come through Halifax. He quietly tailed 63 assists with the team, good for second among his teammates and third in the league. Nguyen's +/- was also a lot more solid than people realize. By the end of the season, it was sitting at an astounding +27, much better than Glade's rating. Throughout the season, Nguyen managed to prove himself a valuable, if underappreciated d-man. In the playoffs, the team relied on him more than any other and he thrived in the quicker, rougher game-style. He tallied 9 assists in 8 playoff games and led his team in playoff points that season. Although Nguyen has never been as offensively gifted as his counterpart, Glade, he's still a hell of a player and is one of the most underrated around.

 

5. C, Nathan MacKinnon

Regular Season: 144GP 52G 100A 160P

Playoffs: 15GP 4G 4A 8P

Nathan MacKinnon is every coach's dream. He shoots, scores, passes, wins faceoffs, plays defense, hits and has a huge upside all while being a team player and an upstanding citizen. Though he is not necessarily the most skilled player that the team has seen, he may be the most valuable. He has a huge heart and gives it his best every day. "Mac" joined the 21st for the start of the S62 season and was put into the second line center role where he shut down the opponents' best lines, night in and night out. The only constant on MacKinnon's line in S62 was left winger, Ryuu Crimson. The right wing spot would fluctuate from time to time and no one really seemed to be good enough to complete Halifax's second line. MacKinnon and Crimson did most of the work and were a very effective duo, both defensively and offensively. Crimson worked as a sort of mentor as a second year player and MacKinnon as a student in his first season in VHLM. They provided solid support to the stellar first line and MacKinnon managed 46 points. Not as good as Flipachyev bur still pretty darn good. He was a +27, good for fifth on the team. The young man was bursting with energy and coaches could see the potential in him. All he needed was to find his confidence. MacKinnon added five points in the team's playoff run, en route to playing in the cup finals. In a second season with the team, MacKinnon absolutely caught on fire. He played well with Flipachyev and the two of them were miles ahead in the scoring race for at least half a season. Even in the second half, he maintained his pace and finished the year with an astounding 114 points, including 73 assists! This was good for second place in the league, behind only Ottawa Lynx forward, Elias Dahlberg. Equally amazing was MacKinnon's +/- which at the end of the year read +53! Numbers practically unheard-of in today's age. Mac's game slipped in the playoffs and he only managed 3 points in 7 games. This season will be his last with the 21st and the MMF line will be reunited one last time, a last chance at the cup.

 

4. D, Tzuyu

Regular Season: 72GP 32G 50A 82P +31

Playoffs: 8GP 3G 2A 5P -2 

Tzuyu was the first female player to ever play for Halifax. She proved that you don't necessarily have to be big to play in the VHLM. In one season with Halifax, Tzuyu put on quite the show, playing with Dylan Nguyen on the first pairing for the entirety of the season and easily meeting the large expectations placed on her from day one. Tzuyu wasn't as offensively gifted as teammate Shawn Glade, nor as defensively reliable as Dylan Nguyen, but rather a healthy mix. She could play in all scenarios, which made her tough to play against in both ends of the ice. One moment, she would be killing a penalty with Nguyen, the next she would be rushing up ice on a 3 on 1 with von Moltke and Dabarno. Tzuyu was one of the most valuable players on the team in S62, with a team second-placed +31 rating as well as 32 goals and 82 points. She finished third in team scoring and scored an astonishing 17 powerplay goals. Tyuzu complimented Nguyen well and they carried the team into a first place finish in its inaugural season. Tzuyu managed 5 points in the playoffs as her reign with the 21st came to a disappointing end. Tzuyu's time with Halifax did not only leave a mark because of the skills she displayed, but also because it paved the way for other female players to play in the VHLM and do well at it. Today she plays for the Toronto Legion of the VHL where she is continuing to establish herself as an elite force, not to be reckoned with.

 

2705 words

rankings 3-1 will be released later in the season.

Claiming as a PT for the following weeks:

Dec 31 - Jan 6
Jan 7 - Jan 13

Jan 14 - Jan 20
Jan 21 - Jan 27

Edited by Thranduil
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