When Worlds Collide - Saskatoon vs. Mexico City: The Struggle for VHLM Dominance

[animal74 1,605]

When Worlds Collide - Saskatoon vs. Mexico City: 
The Struggle for VHLM Dominance

 

 

 

Going into Season 69, executives and fans knew that there were certain teams that were gunning for a championship and teams that were rebuilding. Some were even saying there were “haves” and “have-nots”. Two of these teams have risen to the top to confirm they are currently the cream of the VHLM: the Saskatoon Wild and Mexico City Kings.

 

Even though these two clubs are over 4000 kilometers apart, their records are almost as identical as much as their cities’ climate differ. 15% of the way through this season* and the Wild and the Kings have only lost one game so far - to each other. A deep dive into the stats so far show how dominating these two clubs have been.

 

The Kings have played one less game at this point but their Goal For per game are leading the league with 4.55. Their dynamic offense is being led by an unstoppable power play that boasts a 42.5% success rate and veteran right winger, Jaxon Walker @hewasajazzman, who leads the VHLM with 28 points and tied for the lead with 17 assists. The Kings also have three players in the top 9 goal scorers (Walker, Daldo @Harpskii , Odin Omdahl @zepheter) while no other team has more than one. Defenseman Omdahl leads the league with 5 power play goals and all defensemen with 10 goals.

 

Odin Omdahl

 

Meanwhile, to the north, the Saskatoon Wild have staked their claim to the top record in the VHLM largely with a stifling defense along with a potent offence. No team in the league can come close to the top-3 “D” that GM @Peace has assembled with Danny DeYeeto @Cran , David O’Quinn @JohnOQuinn , and Edwin THE Encarnacion @Taggerforming an unmatched core backstopped by rookie goaltender Jacques Lafontaine @SlapshotDragon. Lafontaine currently leads all goalies who have played most of their team’s games with a 2.04 GAA and 11 wins. The deepest forward group in the league is led by Finnish winger Jesse Nyman @Jesse Nyman who paces the Wild with 12 goals and 23 points. Nine players are averaging over a point-per-game. The top five leaders in plus-minus are from the Wild. The team’s scoring leader from last year, Ondrej Ohradka @animal74, is playing second line minutes and yet leads the team and is top-5 in the league in shots and hits. The amount of talent on Saskatoon’s roster is dizzying. 

 

Jacques Lafontaine

 

Special teams have been a boon to both teams as well. Mexico City is far and away the most productive VHLM team on the power play as it’s humming along at an insane 42.5% efficiency. Saskatoon’s team defense anchors a league-best penalty-kill that has stopped 93.2% of opponents’ man-advantages.

 

To no surprise, the season series is deadlocked at one win each. In Game 13, Mexico City jumped to the lead and hung on for a 4-2 win on the strength of defenseman Alex Armstrong’s @dylanjj37 first two goals of the season. The next matchup in Game 41 saw Saskatoon get revenge with a 6-2 victory. DeYeeto led the way with a goal and two assists for the Wild.

 

Whether both teams remain indestructible remains to be seen. Both management teams (@Peace @Elmebeck @Nykonax) have been working the phone lines and making deals to bolster their already impressive rosters. Perhaps the next preview of the Founder’s Cup finals will be Game 136 when they meet again. 

 

Good luck to both teams the rest of the way!

 

*All stats include games from November 19th.
 

[zepheter 584]

I've been around in seasons where there are a few contenders, but never two giants like this. Go Mezicans!

[Peace 1,518]

As of Nov. 20th sims this article is outdated.

GO WILD GO! 

[animal74 1,605]

2 minutes ago, Peace said:

As of Nov. 20th sims this article is outdated.

GO WILD GO! 

 

Yeah, yeah, I know.  I was trying to post it yesterday. Darn early morning sims.

 

Hence the caveat at the bottom:

 

*All stats include games from November 19th.

Edited November 20, 2019 by animal74

[Peace 1,518]

17 minutes ago, animal74 said:

 

Yeah, yeah, I know.  I was trying to post it yesterday. Darn early morning sims.

 

Hence the caveat at the bottom:

 

*All stats include games from November 19th.

I know, I was teasing you. 

SSK pulled ahead of MEX now, so we numba one! 

Can't be disputed by tie breaker. 

[Nykonax 1,550]

43 minutes ago, animal74 said:

Both management teams (@Peace @Elmebeck @Nykonax)

I dont work here boss, its @Motzaburgerand @Cxsquared

[animal74 1,605]

28 minutes ago, Nykonax said:

I dont work here boss, its @Motzaburgerand @Cxsquared

Oh, whoops! You're still listed in the forum as GM: https://vhlforum.com/forum/480-mexico-city-kings/

Thanks for tagging the others.

[Rayzor_7 741]

12 minutes ago, animal74 said:

Oh, whoops! You're still listed in the forum as GM: https://vhlforum.com/forum/480-mexico-city-kings/

Thanks for tagging the others.

https://vhlportal.com/teams/

 

Click VHLM and it will show you the most up to date ones