part 2: a look back at the roster of the Season 70 winning Minnesota Storm, before and since

[ROOKIE745 608]

Hello and welcome back, we will continue off from last time, this time looking at where they came from and what happened to the players listed as wingers for the season 70 Minnesota Storm.

 

Left Wingers:

Gabriel Gutzwiler

VHLM: Halifax 21st-Minnesota Storm

The brother to Leon and another former Halifax player, Gabriel was drafted 17th overall by the 21st in season 69. If you remember in part one his brother was drafted by the Aces but was traded to Halifax, I imagine so the two could play together. In his first season in the M Gabriel scored 35 goals and 38 assists for 73 points, a very balanced game. Playoff wise he played 11 games getting 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points. Do I even need to say who eliminated them? The following season the brothers were traded to the Storm where he was almost two points per game. 72 games, 63 goals, 74 assists for 137 points, a beast of a season. In the playoffs 9 goals, 13 assists for 22 points in 14 games. They win it all and the VHL is next for the brothers.

 

VHL: New York Americans-Toronto Legion

Similar to part one, with his brother yet again he was traded to the Toronto Legion very early in the season by the team that drafted him 16th overall. So far in his 384 games played in the VHL he has scored a total of 193 points, 61 goals and 132 assists. His career high in points is 66 and assists is 51, those were both in season 73. Goal wise it's 16 which he got just last season, one better than his 15 goals in season 73. This season, season 76 he's got 3 points in 24 games, 1 goal and 2 assists. His rookie season he got 13 points in his 72 games, netting 6 and getting 7 helpers. his other 3 full seasons have sat in the 34 to 42 points range. Usually in the 25 assists range and 10 to 16 goals. This season may be a little more rough for the Gutzwiler brother as his other brother was let go as his play development stopped and was hurting the team more than helping. He so far is the most successful VHL player that I have covered from the season 70 Minnesota Storm. A good chunk of the centers simply didn't develop more to make the VHL long term.

 

Joe Proto

VHLM: Minnesota Storm-Las Vegas Aces

Joe Proto, drafted first overall in season 71 but! before that he had signed with the Minnesota Storm as he had missed the VHLM season 70 draft. In those 66 games he netted 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points. Playoffs we know they went all the way, 14 games, 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points. Being more than a point per game in the playoffs is huge, and we would see his work effort pay off next season. Now with the Aces he played all 72 games, netted 54 goals, 57 helpers for 111 points. Playoffs the team went the full 7 against the reapers and lost to the Rush in 5. 8 goals, 9 assists for 17 points in those 12 games. No denying he gave it is all.

 

VHL: Vancouver Wolves-Calgary Wranglers-HC Davos Dynamo-New York Americans-London United-Toronto Legion

Yours eyes aren't playing tricks on you, Proto has played for a lot of different teams. Pretty sure we can call him a journeymen. Sadly when Proto got out of the M his development just slowled down a lot till it basically stopped. While still a good player he never became the superstar many had thought he would become. (and by this I mean there was some unfortunate drama and he basically left, he was a great guy though) Proto so far hasn't played more than 1 full season with a team, unlikely this will change but it's still possible. Starting with the team that drafted him, in season 72 with the Wolves he played the 72 games and put 16 in the net, 14 passers for 30 points. I'd say solid for a rookie season. In season 73 he would play... 73 games?  well this season he was traded to the Wranglers, so from one Canadian team to another. inbetween the two teams he again put 16 in the net, had 1 more helper than last season for 31 points, so one more point with one extra game played. Following season 73 Proto would be traded twice, first to Davos before being sent to New York. In his next 72 games he would put up career bests, 27 goals, 28 assists for 55 points. I will also not a huge increase in his hits, previous season he had 23, that season he had 129 and it would fall to 15 the next. With his contract being over now he was free for anyone to grab, London would come calling for his services. 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points in that full 72 game season. Career worsts for him but despite that Toronto would pick him in season 76 for depth. Completing the trifecta of the VHL Canadian teams, he's already doing better this season, 10 goals, 5 helpers for 15 points in his 24 games played so far. It's great to see him still in the VHL and getting chances. So far we are two for two on the centers.  (Even if both of them are basically inactive)

 

Jason Connors

VHLM: San Diego Marlins-Houston Bulls-Minnesota Storm

Signing as a free agent in season 67 with the San Diego Marlins, he would put together a solid rookie season, 12 goals, 25 assists for 37 points. Playoffs that season they Marlins would get swept, Connors netted 2 goals and 1 assist in that series. Since he was a free agent signing in season 67 that meant in season 68 he was forced into the VHLM draft. Houston would select him 36th overall, playing with the bulls now he'd stay with the team for two seasons. Season 68 he improved his play but he was also on a pretty good roster, 18 goals, 27 assists for 45 points, following that season he'd have career highs posting 71 points with 36 helpers and 35 goals. Lets take a step back though as the season 68 playoffs were big though. 15 games played with nothing finding the back of the net but 6 helpers. While nothing special point wise the team would win the Founders cup! Meaning yes, he did indeed win two founders cups. Houston did not make the playoffs in season 69 and after that season Connors was traded to the Storm. Bringing important experience on and off the ice, Connors put 66 points on the score sheet with 20 netted and 46 passers. Playoffs he had 4 points, two of each kind. Connors was never quite the playoff performer one would want but for Minnesota the experience was important. Post season 70 he was released and never made it to the VHL. He was drafted 51st in season 68 by the New York Americans but never played for them.

 

Right Wingers:

Gary Tarantino

VHLM: San Diego Marlins-Saskatoon Wild-Minnesota Storm

Starting off the right wingers is Gary Tarantino, and our first player from the season 69 Saskatoon Wild winning team, meaning yes another two time Founders cup champ. Before he became apart of either of those cup winning teams though, he started his career with the San Diego Marlin. Now it says he played 73 games so I assume he was traded very early on from another team, which I'm not sure but in that first season he'd put up 5 goals, 7 helpers for 12 points. Under whelming I imagine but not all rookie seasons are great. Playoffs the team played 6 games and he'd only get a single goal. Forced into the draft he was picked up by the Wild 14th overall, that season he would double his goals from last season, earn 5 more assists for 10 extra points compared to last season. In the 14 games he played to the run for the cup, he put up 7 of each to be a point per game guy in the playoffs. Following that championship season he would follow it up with an even better season, 55 goals, 44 assists for 99 points, that has be be frustrating to be one shy of 100. However who can complain when you win a second cup in a row? another 14 games, 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points later, another cup. After two back to back cups it was time for the big leagues.

 

VHL: Helsinki Titans-Calgary Wranglers-Prague Phantoms

Back in the season 69 draft, Tarantino was picked 27th overall by the Titans, but before he ever played for them he was traded to the Wranglers. The one season he spent with the team he put up 8 points, 4 of each. following that he was moved to the Phantoms, playing four seasons for them, he had 13, 33, 22 and 23 goal seasons, 23, 33, 26, 24 for assists equaling 36, 66, 48 and 47 points. Playoff wise nothing to write home about, 9 total games between 2 playoff series in season 71 and 74. 1 Assist in season 74 and that's it. Tarantino retired early after season 75, who knows where his career would be at if he was still playing, this season would have been his last.

 

Ben Storm

VHLM: Halifax 21st-Minnesota storm

One of my favorite players, Ben Strom was one hell of a player and it suck he didn't keep growing, however I'm getting ahead of myself. Drafted 67th overall in season 68, he'd play with the Canadian team for two seasons. Season 68 he put up 26 goals, 21 assists for 47 points, a good rookie season. Playoffs 12 games played, point per game split evenly. Season 69 he made a huge jump, 50 goals, 57 assists for 107 points. A leading force for Halifax and in the playoffs he was even bigger, 11 games, 10 goals, 5 assists for 15 points. Finally he didn't resign with Halifax and would be picked up by Minnesota for depth shortly into the season. His best season yet, in 71 games he netted 40, had 75 helpers for 115 points, in the playoffs he wouldn't let up, 14 games, 5 goals and 17 helpers for 22 points. A great friend I was sad he never made the VHL, he was drafted 7th overall in season 69 by the Riga Reign but that never went anywhere sadly.

 

Aleelee Kiak

VHLM: Houston Bull-Minnesota Storm

VHLM drafted 18th overall in season 70 by the Minnesota Storm, the previous season he signed with the Houston bulls where he would play 52 games, scoring 10 goals, 18 assists for 28 points. After He would play two seasons with his draft team. 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points in that cup winning year. Playoffs he had 2 goals and 5 passers for 7 points, half a point per game. The following season he got 120 points, split with 59 goals and 61 helpers. The Storm would make the playoffs and played 6 games in season 71, 3 netted and 5 helpers for 8 points.

 

VHL: Moscow Menace-Seattle Bears-Los Angeles Stars-Chicago Phoenix

Making it to the VHL in season 72, Kiak would only play one season with his draft team, the Moscow Menace. In his rookie season he put 14 in the back of the net and had 19 passers for 33 points. In 10 post season games got 2 goals and 5 passers. Moscow decided to trade him to Seattle and Kiak would prove to be a depth piece for the team, he would get less points, only getting 30 points split between 16 goals and 14 assists. In their 19 games in the post season to winning the cup, he got 8 points split evenly between goals and assists. That season Seattle won both the Victory cup and Continental cup. Being a depth piece though it means he could be a easy one out, and that's what happened. Moving on to the Los Angeles Stars. 29 goals, 58 assists for 87 points, despite his best season yet he went to free agency, signing with the Chicago Phoenix, Kiak went on to have his best season yet. In 71 games he netted 41, helped on 45 to beat his previous season by 1 point. Post season he was a point per game, 17, 8 goals and 9 assists. Despite all of this he would be dropped and to this day is a free agent. Unlikely he'll be picked up at this point but he has had 2 great years in the VHL.

 

Teddy Smith

VHLM: Yukon Rush-Minnesota Storm

Drafted 18th overall in season 69 by the Yukon Rush, Smith very solid depth piece. 10 goals, 45 helpers for 55 points. Post season 4 games played and just 2 assists. Traded to Minnesota the following season, he'd play both in season 70mand 71 with the team. 14 and 12 goals, 44 and 68 assists for 58 and 80 points.The season 70 playoffs saw him net 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points, season 71 just 3 assists in 6 games. Smith would announce his retirement before the end of season 71. For his VHL draft he was chosen 29th overall by the Riga Reign. I don't need to say he never saw the light of day.

 

Alex Burrows

VHLM: Mexico City Kings-Minnesota Storm

Our last winger on the list is Alex Burrows, a long stay in the M. He would play three season with the Storm who drafted him 25th overall in the season 70 draft. Predating that though he would sign as a free agent with the Kings. In 22 games he wouldn't net a signal point, in 11 extra games in the post season he would finally get a point with the team, getting 1 helper. Moving on to Minnesota, in his three seasons this is what his numbers looked like. 22, 6, 2 for goals, 27, 11, 2 for assists and 49, 17, 4 for points. Just from looking at his points he nose dived after season 70, but speaking of which there are still the playoffs. 3 goals, 2 assists for 5 points in 5 games in season 70, 1 assist in the following post season and zero in the one after. In terms of the VHL, Malmo Nighthawks drafted him 39th overall, though I imagine they weren't impressed by his numbers and development in the M. Thus the story ends there.

 

@Rayzor_7 @Mr_Hatterpart 2 done now

 

(final word count 2456)

Edited February 2, 2021 by ROOKIE745

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for first time Jan 31st

[Ledge 1,131]

Review: First of all, formatting is amazing. All the bold and underline and stuff is really good. But the content is top notch too, and giving so much information on some of your past teammates, it's just a fun read. Keep this up man, I'm enjoying em

8.5/10

[ROOKIE745 608]

Just now, Ledge_and_Dairy said:

Review: First of all, formatting is amazing. All the bold and underline and stuff is really good. But the content is top notch too, and giving so much information on some of your past teammates, it's just a fun read. Keep this up man, I'm enjoying em

8.5/10

Hey thank you man!! somehow I failed to notice the font size change until just recently DX but ya it was important to me to make them stand out more, the name and teams they played for, need to update part one to be more like this one. And I enjoy seeing what happened to my former teammates too, glad to see more of the wingers have had VHL success ^^

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for 2nd time feb 7th

[Mr_Hatter 1,608]

love seeing these, always brings me back  

[ROOKIE745 608]

Clamming for third time Feb 21st.

[ROOKIE745 608]

Claiming for fourth and last time Feb 28th.