A Week in Review

[ConnorMcdavid 180]

A Week in Review
 

     It was the week everyone looks forward to at the beginning of the season. The playoffs had finally arrived! The blood, sweat, and tears of the regular season were behind us. While players on New York, Moscow, Prague, and D.C. headed home for an offseason of growth and training, the other eight teams were all preparing themselves for a playoff run. Only one team - Toronto - came this far unexpectedly while others like Vancouver and Calgary expected to come this far but were not sure how much further they would go. Seattle was a surprise contender that really established themselves throughout the year as legitimate contenders in a very weak North American conference. On the other side however, though Malmo took home the top seed, the four teams are interchangeable on talent and expectations with all of them having legitimate hopes of pulling through to the Finals.  

 

     As the first round started, the parity showed its face as each round began 1-1 eventually leading to two series going six games while the other two went the distant seven.  Twelve of the games were decided by one goal, while six more were decided by two goals. That’s an astonishing eighteen out of twenty-six games or nearly seventy percent!  Besides that, the largest series goal differential was four (Seattle and Malmo) with one series winner (Riga) even being outscored.

 

     Unfortunately, the second round came and went without much pushback from the losing teams. Seattle steamrolled Calgary for a clean sweep outscoring then an astonishing fifteen to two! The other series featured the leagues top two teams in Malmo and Riga and while this series was close and hard fought, with many close games, Malmo closed it out in a tidy five games setting up a showdown between the growing rivalry of Seattle and Malmo. 

 

Playoff Leaders:

 

Goals:

Tyler Barabash Jr (CGY) - 7

Matt Thompson (MAL) - 6

Ryan Sullivan Jr (MAL) - 6

 

Assists:

Jerry Garcia (MAL) - 10

Matt Thompson (MAL) - 9

Brandan LeBlanc (CAL) - 9

 

Points:

Matt Thompson (MAL) - 15

Ryan Sullivan Jr (MAL) - 14

Jerry Garcia (MAL) - 13

Kevin Low (SEA) - 13

 

Stat of the Week

Combined Record of Opponents Through Two Rounds

 

Seattle’s: 64-61-19

Malmo’s: 86-44-14

 

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Rookie Spot Light
 

(S67) LW Berocka Sundqvist (Seattle) @Berocka

6’3” 200lbs

23-34-57 +30 267 shots 245 hits 7GWG

 

     A young talent from across the globe, this young Australian is a talent to keep an eye on. Berocka was born in Australia and grew up playing other sports as hockey wasn’t so big in his hometown. Learning the game from his grandfather Hugo, Berocka quickly developed into an intriguing talent.  Though he was a natural athlete, Berocka didn’t get the chance to learn the hockey game as much as other youngsters did. This did not stop him from pursuing his dream and eventually scoring a scholarship from the Gothenburg University of Business in Sweden where he became known to scouts in pro leagues, such as the VHL.  In his career in college, Berocka excelled earning the still standing record for points for a rookie in that program.  Soon enough, with scouts knocking on his door, Berocka signed as an undrafted player with the Mississauga Hounds where his VHLM career began.

 

     Berocka Sundqvist was drafted first overall in the Season Sixty-Seven VHLM draft while also being selected seventeenth overall in the VHL draft the same season. Berocka spent two entire seasons in the VHLM where he tore the league up to the tune of 163 points in 144 games.   

 

      Entering this season, Berocka was playing for a young talented but inexperienced Seattle team and his expected output was unknown. He was able to exceed all expectations ending his rookie season with 23 goals and 57 points along with a punishing 245 hits! 

 

     Berocka’s Bears are still playing as they have steamrolled through the North American conference on route to a meeting with the Malmo Nighthawks in the VHL finals. Berocka and his teammates are attempting to put the finishing touches on the first season of this budding powerhouse as they look to remain atop the league for the foreseeable future. You can bet Berocka Sundqvist will be a huge part of that future wherever it goes.

[Berocka 2,263]

Thank you for the shout out, really appreciate it.