A Crown of Thorns

[PenKnight 23]

 

 

(539 Word Count)

 

A Crown Of Thorns

 

General Management and Staff for the Mexico City Kings have been crunching the numbers and agree on trying to avoid a first round showdown with the Saskatoon Wild. Reports have been coming in that they would rather play this team in the later rounds in hopes of the Wild getting knocked out. I certainly, do not understand the strategy but statistics have proved that the Kings struggle against this team more than any other team in the league. It appears the Wild are in the heads of the organization of the Kings from the top to the bottom. All you hear on the streets of Mexico is how everyone doesn't want to play the Wild! I say hooey. Bring on the Wild as it is about time for the tables to turn and the Kings to get hot! This idea of jinx or bad luck is just that... a bad idea. Although these type of things run rampant in our league and with players from a very early age, it is proven that numbers never lie and the numbers have never backed up some sort of voodoo on any team in any sport.

 

Only one game is left in the season and it looks like the Kings have an outside chance of meeting the Saskatoon Wild in the first round. The Kings will be playing the lowly Houston Bulls, for their last game and it is near impossible to lose to the Houston Bulls this year. The Bulls could pull off the upset since they are on Home Ice but I highly doubt it. The Mexico City Kings are tied with the Mississauga Hounds, another expansion team, for 5th place. The two teams have identical records but the Hounds hold the tie breaker with a better goal differential. Mississauga plays the Minnesota Storm in their next contest and it will be the much more difficult game.  They also get to play Philly in their last contest as they have a game in hand compared to Mexico. Saskatoon is locked into the fourth seed so whoever gets fifth will play that team. The Hounds would have to lose their next two games and have Mexico win their last to have a change in the standings. The odds favor the Kings to play Halifax for the first round and in either case we will be looking forward to the Kings first ever playoff series that hopefully will end in a win!

 

Halifax appears to be the stronger team but as stated before the management of Mexico has their sights on trying not to go up against Saskatoon. All playoff games will be held indoors but it would be a nice change of pace if they could one day play in the outdoor rink pictured above. At this time of year that would be impossible but with the grueling schedule of the VHLM it isn't unthinkable in the winter months. The VHLM should be in season 67 or 68 when the conditions would be perfect. Although an interesting concept and idea it would most likely be unfeasible not to mention it might actually cost the Kings money compared to gaining. Either way, one thing is for sure, Hockey is here to stay!