The Talents Behind the Trophies: the Alexander Valiq Trophy

[Doomsday 4,143]

This graphic belongs in @Motzaburger's trophy case. 

 

Hello and welcome to Season Two of The Talents Behind the Trophies. In this series, we delve deep into the history of the Victory Hockey League to learn more about the players that the various awards of the VHL and VHLM are named after. Many times, people covet a trophy, yet they don't know the story behind the player the award is named for. Personally, I feel that the stories of these players should be told. You see, these awards were initially named after NHL players, eventually taking the name of VHL players who personified the spirit of that award. Naturally, these are some of the best to ever grace the league, and The Talents Behind the Trophies will ensure their stories are known. 

 

But first, let's take a look at the content the VSN has in store for the league. With both the VHL and VHLM seasons coming to a close, check out the weekly reviews for both as the playoff picture starts to become clear. @Patrik Tallinder shows us the prospect pools for all six NA Conference teams as draft day approaches, and Deep Rewind takes a look at the interesting career of AK47. As the off-season draws nearer, keep an eye out for the return of the VSN Mock Draft and the Top 25 Players too!

 

The VHLM Review | VSN Weekly Review | VSN Radio | Future Watch | Deep Rewind

 

In terms of VHL awards, the Alexander Valiq Trophy is among the newest, having officially been in existence for less than a decade. Created in Season 63, it is retroactively credited to the players who won the Sterling Labatte Trophy from Season 59 to Season 62, which allowed the Sterling Labatte Trophy to return to its roots as the award for the top overall defenseman in the VHL. The Alexander Valiq Trophy has been awarded to the top offensive defenseman in the VHL, and it's difficult to think of a better player to name the award for. With 698 career points, Alexander Valiq is the only defenseman in the history of the VHL to score 300 goals, with the final goal of his career being #300 itself. Although he was a Hall of Famer, individual awards eluded him during his illustrious career, although had the award that bears his name existed in his time, it's safe to say that he would have won it multiple times. 

 

The Alexander Valiq Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to be the best offensive defenseman in the VHL.

 

As a member of the Bern Royals in Season 29, Alexander Valiq quickly established himself as the scoring threat that he would become in the VHL. Scoring 54 goals and tallying 69 (nice) assists, Valiq also blocked 148 shots, winning the Bourque Trophy (since renamed the Ryan Sullivan Trophy) despite having a -6 on the season. Although it wasn't known at the time, this would be the only individual award that Valiq ever won during his career. His successful season in the M worked wonders for his draft stock, being drafted by the Riga Reign third overall in the Season 30 VHL Entry Draft, with only the legendary Ethan Osborne and Sakic Trophy winner Yuri Grigorenko going ahead of Valiq. Despite the Reign missing the playoffs, Valiq's career in the VHL was off to a good start. His offensive abilities were evident, scoring 24 goals and topping 50 points in his rookie season. 

 

However, Valiq is not remembered for his time with the Reign, and for good reason. During the off-season leading up to Season 31, Valiq's agent, Pavel Koradek, was named as the general manager of the Quebec City Meute, one of two expansion teams joining the VHL. As a result, Valiq made the move to Quebec City with him. Although the Meute failed to make the playoffs in their inaugural season, Alexander Valiq exploded onto the scene in his sophomore season. With 59 goals and 51 assists, he broke 100 points for the first time in his career. Season 32 saw Valiq score a career-high 121 points, including 56 goals. Behind his career year, the Meute reached the playoffs for the first time, although they would be eliminated by the New York Americans in five games, going on to defeat the Riga Reign in a seven-game series to win the Continental Cup.

 

Despite being drafted by Riga, Alexander Valiq became the first face of the Quebec City Meute.

 

However, both Valiq and Quebec City suffered setbacks in Season 33, despite it being the first season that Alexander was joined by his brothers, Niklas and Tomas Valiq. After recording two straight 100 point seasons, Valiq recorded 46 goals and assists to finish with 92 points. The Meute additionally failed to reach the playoffs, although they were able to right the ship and return to the post-season in Season 34. After drafting Doug Clifford and acquiring fellow Season 30 draftee Yuri Grigorenko and elite goaltender Skylar Rift, Quebec City roared back to life and returned to form. Although Valiq's production continued to dip, scoring 39 goals and 84 points, he hit another gear in the playoffs. Although Quebec City would be defeated in seven games by the Calgary Wranglers, Valiq's 11 points in the series were a big reason that the Meute were able to push Calgary to the brink. Despite the loss, things were looking up for the Quebec City Meute, as they were on the cusp of becoming a serious contender. 

 

Season 35, however, was a bit of an anomaly for Valiq. While his brothers Niklas and Tomas, along with Wesley Kellinger, enjoyed career years and Yuri Grigorenko continued his dominance by leading the Meute with 113 points, Alexander Valiq finished with 29 goals and 69 (nice) points, his lowest totals since his rookie season. Despite that, Season 35 wound up being his most memorable season, for Quebec City had truly become a force. The Meute dominated during the regular season, winning the Victory Cup and securing a first-round bye. The Meute had a rematch with Calgary in the Conference Finals, this time defeating the Wranglers in another seven-game series. Facing off against the Helsinki Titans for the Continental Cup, Valiq and the Quebec City Meute came through by winning their first-ever championship in a hard-fought six-game series. 

 

Yuri Grigorenko led the Meute in scoring during their Cup-winning year in Season 35.

 

Although his point totals had been decreasing, Alexander Valiq put a stop to that in Season 36. Scoring 29 goals, he showed off added finesse to his passing abilities with a career-high 66 assists, finishing with 95 points. Mounting a determined defence of their title, the Meute returned to the playoffs, dispatching the Seattle Bears in a tough seven-game series. The Toronto Legion, who had finished first in the North American Conference, however, proved to be too much for Quebec City, defeating Valiq and the Meute in six games. Entering his final season, Alexander Valiq was facing a unique situation. With 282 goals, he was 18 goals shy of becoming the first defenseman to ever score 300 goals in the VHL. Although he wound up scoring his career-low amount of goals, it wound up being just enough, as Valiq finished his VHL career with exactly 300 goals. The Meute made one last push to send Valiq out on top, but after a Game Seven loss to the Seattle Bears, Alexander Valiq's VHL career had come to an end. 

 

  

The Valiq Brothers were a key part of the early days of the Quebec City Meute, but only Alexander would make the VHL Hall of Fame. 

 

Although individual accolades eluded Valiq during his career, there was no denying the elite offensive productions that he made from the blue line. As a result, in Season 42, Alexander Valiq was immortalized through his enshrinement in the VHL Hall of Fame, along with Mitch Higgins. When the time came in Season 63 for the creation of an award for the league's top defenseman, there was simply no other choice but to name it after Alexander Valiq, who remains the only defenseman in VHL history to reach 300 goals. In the brief history of the Alexander Valiq Trophy, two players have won the award twice: Ay Ay Ron (while it was being awarded as the Sterling Labatte Trophy) and Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen, who still has a shot to bring home a third Valiq Trophy before he retires. Helsinki's Erik Summers, last season's Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy winner, lead all defensemen in points with 73, although Hulk Hogan of the Seattle Bears is just behind him with 71 and Prague Phantoms defenseman Cinnamon Block is right on his tail with 69 points. With two young blueliners leading the way and HC Davos Dynamo rookie Roque Davis making a strong case for  not only the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy as the VHL's top rookie, but the Alexander Valiq Trophy itself with 25 goals and 69 points, it's safe to say that the next batch of electrifying defensemen has arrived in the VHL.

 

Player Mentions: @Koradek, @STZ, @Boragina, @Squinty, @Kyle, @Frank, @Devise, @boubabi, @flyersfan1453, @Erik Summers, @omgitshim, @Josh, @Hulk Hogan

Edited April 29, 2020 by Doomsday

[boubabi 4,725]

dem player cards are dope

[Boragina 89]

7 minutes ago, boubabi said:

dem player cards are dope

like 7 years later and i still didn't get one

[Nykonax 1,566]

what are you gonna do when you run out of trophies

[Hogan 1,425]

I see my name, but I do not get @'d for a mention. Its okay Doomsday just remember

 

 

#Hogan4Slobo

[Doomsday 4,143]

3 hours ago, Nykonax said:

what are you gonna do when you run out of trophies

 

tbh, I might start going over trades and analyzing them with the power of hindsight. Deep Rewind will be unaffected by trophies, though. 

[Victor 11,009]

Single season powerplay goals record too!

 

Davis definitely channelled the spirit of Valiq this season.

[Kyle 667]

@Boragina all-time underrated builder.