Yukon looking likely to miss the playoffs

[solas 1,951]

With expansion hitting the VHLM, the change in teams was matched by a change in playoff format.  The league would be divided into four divisions of three teams, with each division leader making the playoffs along with four wild-card spots to make up an eight-team field.  One particular team that has been affected by this change has been the Yukon Rush, a team that has struggled to put it together all season.  The team is mostly geared toward the future, which is particularly clear when looking at their stash of draft picks in Season 74 (three picks in each of the first four rounds).  But they’ve still found themselves above the cellar - 64 games in, they’ve currently got 40 points - which makes them closer to the last playoff team (the expansion Miami Marauders) than the next team below them, the San Diego Marlins.  Had playoff qualification been purely based on conference, the Rush would’ve been helped by geography as there are two Western Conference teams below them in the standings.  Instead, they’ll be sitting at home come playoff time barring a miracle.  

 

One player who’s been important for Yukon has been goaltender Jean-Pierre Camus, who currently leads the league in save percentage (.907) despite starting every single game and facing the second-most shots (2,509) of any goalie in the league.  “It’s been a difficult year,” says Camus of Season 72.  “I’ve enjoyed being on the Rush, but the losses have been difficult.  And I can’t lie, as much as I try to just focus on the games at hand, it’s hard not to think about my future.”  As Camus is declared for the S73 VHL Draft, which will be particularly interesting to watch with the four new expansion teams making their way into the league.  Scouts seem to be divided on the young French Canadian - will teams consider him developed enough to make a VHL roster next season?  And with the Rush continuing to rebuild, would he even be in Yukon should he stay in the minors?