A Goalie Away

[Erik Summers 451]

A Goalie Away

 

The Las Vegas Aces are an offensive powerhouse. Forwards, Benny Graves and Jeff Tates lead the league in almost every offensive measure and combining for 6 hat tricks so far this season, and Defensewoman Cinnamon Block leads all defenders in assists and is top five in points. Vegas is also plenty talented when it comes to defense, with Bolonee, Velvet and van Stronk all pulling in impressive defensive stats. In addition, the team's largest defensive assets is certainly 2-way center, George Washington. However, while leading the league in goals and having some of the strongest defensive talent in the league, the Aces are somehow 4th in the league standings.

 

It might be easy to guess from here where their problems lie, the one position I haven't yet praised, the goaltender. Vegas hopes that recent addition, Boris Boris can develop and begin to fill the gaping hole in net, but it is going to take time for him to become a reliable option. For now, he isn't much more than a sieve. Vegas's only real hope with this recent signing is that he might be a serviceable option by that playoffs; and that the Aces will still be in the running when he is finally ready.

 

It is possible that a trade could bring some life to the Aces' goal, but goalies are still in short supply in the VHLM and they may have to simply give up too much to acquire a valuable option on the trading block.