S69 Philadelphia Reapers: A Team of Unsung Heroes

[DMaximus 1,046]

Years from now, season 69 of the VHLM is likely to be remembered for one thing, Saskatoon. The lasting story will be Saskatoon’s dominance and eventual championship or demise. I hope the annals of time do not forget the S69 Philadelphia Reapers, a team of unsung heroes. Philadelphia had 9 players score 48 or more points this season, yet none of the players cracked the top 20 in total points in the league. The lack of superstars is now a point of pride for the Reapers. The team plays best when the focus is on the team. Players are supporting each other, not looking out for individual accolades. That team-first attitude has led to a strong season for the Reapers. They finished the regular season with a 47-21-4 record good for 98 points and 4^th place. They scored the 4^th most goals for, with 251.

 

I’m going to highlight some of the unsung heroes on the team:

 

-          Bud Knight - @Dilly Dilly – Maybe the least unsung of the heroes on the team. But that’s only because he’s a national TV star. Knight has been a staple on the Reapers for the last couple of seasons. He really stepped up this year to lead the team in most statistical categories. On top of that, he’s a great guy that has fought through tough times to be a true leader.

 

-          Ben McGirr - @cartoes – Due to some paperwork error. McGirr has never been drafted by a VHLM team. He was happy to sign with the Reapers as a free agent for the past 2 seasons. His consistent, hard-working practice routine has paid dividends this year as he scored more than 30 points more than last season.

-          Kyle Andersen - @Cusemode – 1 of only 3 active players drafted in the S69 3^rd round or later. Andersen has had a monster rookie season in the VHLM. His 65 points and +33 rating have to put him in the conversation for steal of the draft. He shows up to work hard every day and it shows, night in and night out on the ice.

 

-          Derek Eriksson - @DirtyDerek – Derek appeared shortly after the S69 draft and signed with the Reapers because he knew Kyle Andersen from their days in juniors.  What a gem of a player this guy is. 55 points without even playing in the first 10 games. He’s worked hard on his game this year and is primed for a fantastic S70 on whatever team is lucky enough to draft him.

 

-          Griff Manzer - @Garsh – A stalwart on the Reaper blue line. Griff has shown he believes in the Reaper way of life right from the get go. He plays fast, hard, and nasty. This season he really showed he puts the team first by amassing 55 assists! His true unsung hero value is in the locker room. Griff is always working behind the scenes to help players new to the team. He rarely gets the credit he deserves. His effort is greatly appreciated.

 

-          Richard Fitzwell - @Tomato Soup – Fitzwell and Manzer are perfect blue line partners because they are cut from the same cloth. Dick’s shown he bleeds Reaper blood from day one. He led the team in hits and was 2^nd in blocked shots. Those are the stats of an unsung hero.

 

-          Jack Feriancek - @Jackie4967 – Another great waiver signing this season, while Jack may not have the stats of some of the other players in this list. He’s shown he’s a passionate player who has his best seasons ahead of him. His curiosity and excitement about the league are a huge asset which will propel him to greatness.

 

 

Being the GM of players like these is a true joy and I can’t thank the people listed here and all the other Reaper players enough for being such great people.