The Talents Behind the Trophies: the Alexander Beketov Trophy

[Doomsday 4,130]

This graphic belongs in @Motzaburger's trophy case. 

 

Hello and welcome to Season Three 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, Season 72 is shaping up to be a big year for VSN! With four writers added to the staff and another graphic artist, the quality content you've come to know and expect from VSN will continue! @Matt_O is back in the driver's seat with Deep Rewind, VHLM Commissioner @diamond_ace will be bringing more coverage of the M your way, and @Patrik Tallinder is heading a brand new VSN Scouting Department! Stay tuned for these additions to make VSN even better in the next couple days!

 

On the last edition of the Talents Behind the Trophies, we covered a fairly new award, the Alexander Valiq Trophy. This time, however, we're dialling it back with one of the oldies: the Alexander Beketov Trophy. Originally named the Mikita Trophy, the award has been given annually to the player, or players, that led the VHL in assists. It was renamed in honour of VHL Hall of Famer Alexander Beketov, one of only three players to have led the league in assists twice at the time of his retirement. Conner Low became the first player not only to win the award in back-to-back seasons in Season 39 and 40, but the latter also marked a VHL-first third Alexander Beketov Trophy. Ay Ay Ron dominated the VHL during Season 59-61, leading the league in assists for three straight seasons. To date, no player in VHL history has led the league in assists more than three times. 

 

Last season, we saw both Erik Summers and Hulk Hogan share the Alexander Beketov Trophy with 63 assists, a feat that hasn't occurred since Season 30. In an observation that surely must make Mr. Summers feel like I'm picking on him, 63 assists also broke the old mark of 64 set by Rauno Palo in Season 67 for the fewest assists to lead the league in history. The highest total, on the other hand, happened back in Season 20 when Patrick Bergqvist of the HC Davos Dynamo recorded an absurd 114 assists. This season, we have two players currently averaging more than an assist a game at the time of press: Malmo Nighthawks defenseman Condor Adrienne, who is absolutely tearing up the VHL this season, and Jerry Garcia of Davos, a former teammate of Adrienne playing at left wing this season. With 19 and 15 assists, respectively, it figures to be a tight race for the league lead in assists in Season 72.

 

The Alexander Beketov Trophy, awarded to the player(s) who lead the VHL in assists.

 

Now hold on, you're probably saying. This article is supposed to be about Alexander Beketov, and you've hardly mentioned him! He enjoyed a great reputation in the early days of the VHL as a premier playmaker, but his career ironically began much differently. Playing with the now-defunct Jonkoping Warriors of the VHLM in Season 5, Beketov's career began in grand style. With a staggering 108 goals and 64 assists for 172 points, Beketov led the league in goals and points, winning him the Hull and Dionne Trophies. His dominance was also recognized with the Sakic Trophy as the VHLM's most valuable player. The fun, however, ended there for Beketov, as Jonkoping was swept in the opening round of the playoffs by the Toledo Scorpions, who would then defeat the Ottawa Ice Dogs to win the Founder's Cup. However, after being drafted fourth overall by the Hamilton Canucks in the Season Six VHL Entry Draft, Beketov was in for a rough year. General Manager Robbie Zimmers had his sights set on tanking, it was a difficult season for all involved. Beketov scored 23 goals and recorded 20 assists, but the Canucks only won four games the entire season, 27 points behind the second-to-last place Toronto Legion. 

 

Before Season Seven, the franchise relocated to New York, becoming the Americans. With the infamous Short Bus era beginning, Alexander Beketov wanted absolutely no part in it, and requested a trade. 17 games into the season, he was traded to Vasteras, where his career took off. Paired with another future VHL Hall of Famer in Mike Szatkowski, Beketov nearly broke 100 points in his sophomore campaign, and likely would have had he been there all season. Scoring 47 goals and 50 assists, the Iron Knights reached the playoffs but were quickly swept by the Avangard Havoc. Beketov came back even better for Season Eight, with a league-leading 97 assists, winning his first Mikita Trophy. He also scored 58 goals, giving him 155 points on the season. Vasteras entered the postseason as a favourite to win the Cup, but the Riga Reign instead found themselves playing for the VHL's top prize after taking down the Iron Knights in seven games. It was the end of the road for Vasteras, who entered a rebuild and shipped Beketov to the Seattle Bears. 

 

As one of the premiere playmakers of the VHL's early days, Alexander Beketov looked to finally house a Continental Cup in Seattle.

 

Although Seattle has been a historically successful franchise, the Bears were a young team looking to take the next step in Season Nine. Many pundits believed that acquiring an elite player like Alexander Beketov would be the thing to give them that extra push to make the playoffs, but it was not to be in Season Nine. Although the Bears did compete, they ultimately fell short of the post-season. Beketov's numbers declined from Season Eight, scoring 35 goals and 57 assists for 92 points, good for second on the team, but Seattle was looking ready for bigger things in the future. The Bears did break through in Season 10, reaching the playoffs behind a big year from Beketov. With 45 goals and 83 assists, his return to form was a major boost for the Bears, but playoff success continued to elude Beketov. Seattle proved to still be no match for the Toronto Legion, who handily defeated the Bears in five games. 

 

However, Seattle and Beketov weren't satisfied with simply reaching the playoffs any longer. The time to win was now, and Beketov displayed that urgency with another great performance in Season 11. For the first time in his VHL career, he led his team in scoring, with 42 goals and 88 assists for 130 points. Season 11 also marked the second time he led the league in assists, becoming just the third player in league history to do so, earning his second Mikita Trophy in the process. For the first time in his career, Beketov reached the Continental Cup Finals as the Bears rolled on, but it would be Benoit Devereux and the HC Davos Dynamo that would lift the Cup, defeating Seattle in six games. Season 12 would be Beketov's final year, and he was determined to end his career in style. With 41 goals and 66 assists, he recorded yet another 100 point season as the Bears rolled to the playoffs. The momentum carried on, as they quickly disposed of Grimm Jonsson and the New York Americans in five games. Facing off against the Riga Reign, who had thwarted him in Vasteras, Beketov was determined to go out on top. With Layken Heidt, a legendary Riga mainstay, retiring following the season, the Reign were determined to send him into retirement a winner as well. In 12 playoff games, Beketov registered 14 points, and although the Continental Cup Finals went to seven games, and then to overtime, it was Seattle's time. Josh Vestiquan scored the Cup-winning goal, and the Seattle Bears were finally champions! In his final VHL appearance, Alexander Beketov went for a skate with the prize that had eluded him until the final moments of his career: the Continental Cup. 

 

Layken Heidt, one of Riga's first of many legendary players, played against Beketov in the Season 12 Continental Cup Finals, and would enter the Hall of Fame with him in Season 13.

 

Immortality soon came for Beketov, inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame in Season 13 with Layken Heidt, who had played for Riga and against Beketov in the Season 12 Continental Cup Finals. Twenty seasons after his skate with the Cup, the Mikita Trophy was renamed to honour Beketov, widely considered one of the game's greatest playmakers. His influence still resonates over the VHL to this day, fifty seasons after his retirement. With the Alexander Beketov Trophy awarded annually to the player that leads the league in assists, it is a legacy that will continue to endure. 

 

Player Mentions: @Beketov, @Smarch, @boubabi, @Erik Summers, @Hulk Hogan, @jRuutu, @Squinty, @OrbitingDeath, @GustavMattias, @BluObieZ, @Mike, @Cowboy, @sterling

[Doomsday 4,130]

Reserved for claiming Week of 6/1/20 - 6/7/20

[Beketov 9,033]

God that Season 12 final was amazing. Hard to beat an OT game 7 win in your final season.

 

I do always find it ironic that my award is for assists when Beketov was built to be a sniper. I didn’t add to passing until my third season I think when I realized STHS had different plans for me.

 

Also the only other guys to get 2 assist awards at the time we renamed everything were Scotty and Slobo so pretty good company.

[Mike 708]

I preferred season 11.

[animal74 1,822]

My first player Gunnar-Rune Rorvik has a long history with Beketov. Their careers were linked the whole way as Rorvik's Scorpions beat Beketov's Warriors and would go on to win the Founder's Cup. And then they would win the Continental Cup together in both of their final seasons with the Bears in S12. Beketov obviously had the better career numbers and the HOF induction and trophies. Fantastic career! Great write-up!

Edited May 30, 2020 by animal74