Ottawa Lynx Weekly review 2

[Brrbisbrr 207]

 This Week In Lynx Hockey (July 20-24)

 

                       Welcome back to the second installment of this week in Lynx hockey.  I decided to cut the week a little short because it has been a huge, busy week for Ottawa.  Of course, we will have the recap of games from the week as well as an interview with Lynx player Micha Sage.  Sage is having a strong year but doesn’t get a lot of the accolades of the league.  You can’t have every forward in the top of the VHLM leaders, right?  

 

                        The biggest news of the week is Ottawa handing Minnesota their first loss of the year.  The Storm came into the game demolishing everyone and looking like the early season pick for champion.  That was until Ottawa.  The Lynx put up a rather convincing 4-2 win against the previous undefeated Storm.  The Lynx defense, which has been bolstered by recent acquisitions Anthony Amberback and Finnegan MacBurn, held Minnesota to 12 shots.  Amberback and MacBurn also contributed offensively, 2 points for MacBurn and an assist for Amberback.  Jacob Scott had 3 hits to lead the Lynx.  Ottawa also rattled Storm player  Hugh Chan, who registered a -4 for the game.  Goalie Raymond Bernard got the win to improve to 9-1 on the year, stopping 10 of 12 shots.  Anthony Hawk and Hunter Wagner both chipped in their 10th goals of the season.  Hawk is starting to get some accolades from VHL scouts and could be drafted very high in this years draft.  

                                                                                                                         

(Lynx players celebrating after a huge win against the Minnesota Storm)

 

 

                           Ottawa’s follow up effort against Halifax was not nearly as strong.  Maybe Lynx players took their foot off the gas. Maybe they took Halifax too lightly, who knows?  Halifax does have a good record against Ottawa and has played them 7 times so far this year.  Philadelphia handed Ottawa their worst loss of the year defeating them 6-2.  Ottawa then bounced back against Mexico City trouncing them by a score of 8-2.  Backup Goalie Samuel Ross got the win, his second this week.  Ross also has one shootout loss to who else but the Halifax 21st.  He is 4-1-1 on the year.  To round out the week Ottawa looks like they finally figured out Halifax and their goalie, trouncing them by a score of 6-2.  The Lynx also defeated Minnesota, their third loss this week, by a score of 4-1.

 

                        Earlier this week I had a chance to sit down with Lynx forward Micha Sage  and get his thoughts on his rookie season, what he calls success and where he thinks his career is headed.  Sage often gets overshadowed but is having a wonderful rookie campaign with 26 points (11 G 15 A), 4 game winning goals, and a +21.

 

What type of playstyle do you think defines your player? 

MS:  I would say a hybrid player; Somewhere between a sniper and playmaker, if that makes any sense. I wouldn't quite say he's a pure goal scorer just yet, and if it shifts into that style of play I will be pretty happy. 

 

Where do you see your player going (superstar, role player, etc.)? 

MS: I think role player fits a bit more versus superstar. I mean, I don't really know where he will be in a season or two, or how his play will be by that time, but, it depends on what your definition is of each category. I think Micha will score a handful of goals this season, as of this writing he's already at 20 points in 17 games played; 10 goals, 10 assists.  

 

If you had the choice of a successful career or a multi-cup winning career, which would you choose and why? 

MS: I think having a multi-cup winning career could fall under the successful career; I think the two go hand-in-hand, and one person's view of successful might differ from the next. I'd rather be utilitized to the best potential to win games, and win cups. I think that in itself would be a success. So to answer it in more layman’s terms: The separation between the two is a blurred line, they both intersect into each other in some way. I want to win cups, but also be successful in helping the team win those cups. I don't want to be a low scoring player, with minimal impact on a dominant team. 

 

What do you enjoy most about playing for the Lynx? 

MS:  We are such a well-rounded team when you look at it. I mean at the time of this writing, looking at the top 10 in the league for points, we have two players (Minti as #3 with 31 points, Hawk at #5 with 29 points). When you look at the Top 10 Forwards in the league, we have three members on the roster filling in that list, that's awesome. Everyone does their part, pulls their weight, and contributes in one way or another.

 

Is there a VHL team you're looking forward to playing with? 

MS:  Helsinki would be a fun club to play for, but I think no matter what team I end up on once going into the VHL I am going to have a blast. Of course, you want to be on a winning team, no one wants to be slapped onto a club that's on the downward skid. But, if I had to pick a team or two that I would want to play for, it would be Helsinki, Toronto, or Riga. 

 

Do you have any plans to take on a GM or AGM role? 

MS: Still way too early in my career here to think about doing something that daunting. Maybe once I get a few seasons under my belt, I will maybe think about stepping in as an AGM. That way I can get a feel for everything before taking on something like a GM. There is still a lot about the league I don't know, and am still learning everyday I log on. 

 

What part of your game would you like to improve?

MS: I think I am at that happy medium right now with my game. However, with that said, being even with 10 goals and 10 assists, I want to score more goals. I would like to evolve into a pure goal scorer, and even though I said earlier I don't think that I am there yet, I would like to have quite a few more goals than assists. 

 

When do you consider yourself "peaked"? 

MS: I think this will differ player by player. Being a rookie, I don't see myself hitting my peak anytime soon; it also depends on what league you are in. You could be a superstar in the VHLM and go into the VHL being middle of the pack. So I think finding what you consider your top of the mountain will help determine if you have peaked or not. I think for me, winning a cup in both the VHLM and VHL will be that top of the mountain. If I can go into the VHL and come close to competing with the top scorers, that's another mountain I want to summit.

This is 1187 words.  Both Brrbisbrr and acoustickazoo are claiming it for the media spot for the week.