Claimed:VHLM Euro Finals: A Primer

[Hybrid1486 577]

Bern Royals (63-8-1) vs. Turku Outlaws (48-20-4)

 

 

Offense

 

Unlike a great deal of VHLM squads, the Bern team features a significant veteran presence, led by center Eliana Ben-Lev, a rare eight-year yeteran who is playing a major role for a top VHLM contender.  Ben-Lev finished second among centers with 109 points and led the entire VHLM with a plus/minus rating of +103.  While not a significant presence in practice or the locker room, his veteran leadership has helped other up-and-coming Royal forwards like Steve Tremblay and Aaron Hartley develop their careers.  Left wing Earl Parker was also a significant presence on the ice, topping 50 goals and finishing third on the team with 120 points.

 

Turku, on the other hand, features the standard younger roster, especially up front.  Most of their forwards have been around the VHL for less than a full season, excluding a couple of fringe veterans.  However, their young group lacks the firepower that Bern's experience brings, as their highest-scoring forward, Travis Boychuk, only managed 79 points on the season.  The group did show a rather strong level of consistency for their age, with seven of the forwards topping forty points.  Unfortunately for them, that won't be enough to compare to Bern's rocket launchers up the middle.

 

Advantage: Bern

 

 

Defense

 

Both teams are led both offensively and defensively by a blueliner.  Bern's advantage is that their guy has a one-year head start on Turku's.  Ron World Peace had a remarkably well-rounded season, finishing in the top three league-wide in both goals (79) and assists (106).  He has a blistering shot that is hard to snag even from the back of the zone, and if he's off one of his veteran forwards can usually tip the puck right on into the net.  Not to be outdone, however, was Matt Rielly, another Royal veteran who also finished in the top ten in the VHLM for assists.  The group is rounded out by Nas Price and Mikko Leskonnen, who have been noteworthy presences on the defensive end.

 

For Turku, Vojczek Svoboda has had a monster rookie season, but lacks the seasoning of World Peace or the other Bern defenders.  Svoboda, likely the first overall pick in the upcoming VHL Entry Draft, did not dominate quite at the level of Bern's defenders, but he was the only member of the 48-win Outlaws to top 100 points.  That should count for something.  Joining Svoboda on Turku's back-end are two other possible first-round draft picks, the similarly offensively-inclined Diomenthis Vlasis and Jake Wylde, an intriguing two-way prospect (he led the team with 41 goals) with a penchant for finding the penalty box.  It's a solid group, and the depth could help the Outlaws later on in games.

 

Advantage: Push

 

 

Goaltending

 

The common thread between the top two teams in the VHLM this season has been in net.  Both 60-win squads feature a first-round pick from the previous VHL Entry Draft who will likely be facing off in that league next season.  For the Royals, that man is Blaine Olynick.  A jack-of-all-trades, Olynick was a moderately-close second in most of the goaltending statistical races.  While he was not the best goaltender in the VHLM, he is definitely not a liability.  His efforts in net against the young Turku forwards will likely define this series.

 

When Olynick and Kimmo Salo move on to the VHL next season, the title of top goaltender in the VHLM will likely fall to Turku's netminder, Brock Waldron.  Waldron is a strong contender for the first overall pick in the next VHLM Dispersal Draft and could be a first-rounder in the VHL Entry Draft, but he still has significant holes in his game.  He's shown flashes of dominance since taking over for Fernando Pergher early in the season, but finished a distant third in most statistical categories and has struggled mightily at times.  Next year will be his year.

 

Advantage: Bern

 

Prediction

 

Turku could steal a home game, but it's likely going to be Bern in four.

[AwfulHomesick 148]

Very happy to see another goalie will be around for next season.

[Guest Svoboda_3]

We will shock Bern.

[stevo 795]

I've heard that World Peace seeks revenge after being excluded from those prospect games after the regular season.

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

We will shock Bern.

hopefully i keep up my hot streak 

[Guest Svoboda_3]

Content: 3/3

667 words. I thoroughly enjoyed the outlook of this match-up. Although you didn't give Turku a chance in hell, I thought the writing was excellent and the analysis was strong as well. You might be correct and you might be wrong, but you gave your view on the situation and did a good job of it.

Grammar: 2/2

Just these three.

 

yeteran = veteran

his = her (when referring to Eliana)

Diomenthis = Dimothenis

Appearance: 1/1

I liked everything from the subtle color usage to the font. However, there are two different fonts here that kind of take away from everything.

Overall: 6/6

[Guest]

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