McLaren goes back-to-back

[tcookie 897]

Two days ago, when the Philadelphia Reapers took a 3-1 series lead over the Mexico City Kings in the Founders Cup finals, a 3-point night form Addison McLaren prompted his former GM in Miami to comment, "Addison McLaren's built for championships!"

Today, the Reapers finished the job with a 2-1 OT win over Mexico. McLaren was held off the scoresheet in this one, but with 30 saves from Jacob Carson and the game-winner from Tom Eagles, they got it done, and made McLaren a back-to-back Founders Cup champion in the process.

"This team's been amazing, it's a great group and there are so many good, active players on this team, it's been a heck of a ride," says McLaren. "I can't take too much credit. Look at everyone here that put in the work, from the GM down, everyone I've played with on this team all year - it's just like last season and I'm just fortunate to have been put in a great situation twice in a row."

McLaren had been a little cold by his own (admittedly lofty) standards in the playoffs, but finally got something going in the finals. In games one and two, McLaren had 16 hits and a couple of points, then put up 5 more points in games 3 and 4 to help Philly take a stranglehold on the series. "I mean, it was about time I stepped up and did something, really," he says. "It was a bit of a rough finish to the season for me personally but like I said, this team's been amazing. I really owed it to these guys to deliver in this final round." He finishes the post-season with 15 points, tied for second on the Reapers while leading the team in playoff goals.

Jacob Carson's contributions to the Reapers' post-season success should not go unnoticed. With a 12-1-2 record, 0.921 SV%, and 2.41 GAA - plus the only 2 playoff shutouts - Carson put up post-season numbers we haven't seen in the from a VHLM goalie in 11 seasons - not since Joe Nixon of Las Vegas had an 0.922 SV% in the S64 playoffs. "He was a force in net all post-season long, and he faced some dang good hockey teams in San Diego and Mexico City. He stole us some games in the last two rounds, for sure. Jacob deserves all the credit in the world for this win; there's no way we could've done it without him," said McLaren.