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DOI96's C.A.P. League - Season 1

connor macdavid

connor macdavid

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Dec 24, 2008
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(Still want to sign up? Head over to http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?p=71640911&posted=1#post71640911 )

THIS IS IT.

Opening night for the World League. A tripleheader of epic proportions.
But first, let's get straight into our season preview:

Gretzky Conference
While the top four of the Conference are pretty much set (Canada, US, Finland, Switzerland), it really is anyone's game for the final four playoff spots. Norway and Latvia seem to be the 5th- and 6th-best teams in the conference, but both of them have some serious doubts in net. Italy, spearheaded by youngster Matteo Pollari on the backend, could hop into the playoffs if their goaltending holds up.
The bottom of the conference is a mad scramble as teams that simply won't compete with the top-tier teams will try and sneak into the playoffs through the backdoor. Sleepers are Japan and Korea.

Predictions:
1. Canada
2. USA
3. Switzerland
4. Finland
5. Norway
6. Latvia
7. Kazakhstan
8. Italy
-----------------
9. Belarus
10. Hungary
11. Japan
12. Korea
13. Romania
14. Poland
15. Croatia


KHARLAMOV CONFERENCE
The Kharlamov Conference is probably a little bit deeper than the Gretzky in terms of good-calibre teams, however towards the bottom of the conference there are some, simply-put atrocious teams. Sweden and Russia have to the two odds-on favorites to win the conference, while 3rd to about 7th are wide-open. The sleeper player to watch is Ireland's Angus O'Brian. Towards the bottom of the conference, Spain and Lithuania will really struggle.

Predictions
1. Sweden
2. Russia
3. Slovakia
4. Czech Republic
5. Germany
6. Denmark
7. France
8. Austria
---------------
9. Slovenia
10. Great Britain
11. Ukraine
12. Ireland
13. Netherlands
14. Lithuania
15. Spain

---------------------------------------------------
Created Players

Name - Country - Position - Age - Team Role

Chris Stennermann - Germany - LW - 21 - 3rd Liner
Chibi Pooky - South Korea - LW - 21 - 2nd Liner
Kurtis Alston - Canada - RW - 19 - 4th Liner
Max Vassart - France (via Belgium) - LW - 23 - 2nd Liner
Patrick Meier - Switzerland - RW - 20 - 3rd Liner
Elijah O'Bannon - Ireland - LW - 17 - 2nd Liner
Jack Thompson - Great Britain - D - 20 - 2nd Pair
Matteo Pollari - Italy - D - 21 - 1st Pair
Deaglan O'Connor - Ireland - C - 20 - 1st Liner
Sean O'Connor - Ireland - D - 19 - 2nd Pair
Angus O'Brian - Ireland - RW - 27 - 1st Liner
Keenly Frets - Latvia - D - 18 - 2nd Pair
Nicholas Franchuk - Great Britain - C - 19 - 2nd Liner
Dmitry Kholatsyev - Japan - RW - 18 - 2nd Liner
Gardner McKay - Ireland - D - 20 - 2nd Pair

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Without further ado, let's get you set for the first three games of the World League!

2PM - Finland vs. Sweden
5PM - USA vs. Ireland
8:30PM - Canada vs. Russia
Click to read more...
 
Last edited:
connor macdavid

connor macdavid

Press Box Rat
Dec 24, 2008
1,676
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Ottawa
Triple-Header Recap

Finland 3, Sweden 1
In a bit of an upset, the hosts beat Kharlamov Conference-favorites Sweden in a tight, surprisingly physical game.

Mikko Koivu scored at the 7:32 mark of the first period to get things underway for the Finns, who doubled their money a minute later when Mikael Granlund beat Henrik Lundqvist.

Sweden managed to cut the Finnish lead in half at the 1:13 mark of the final period, when Henrik Sedin scored unassisted, but it was as close as they would come.

Granlund sealed the deal into an empty-net late and the Helsinki faithful went home happy.

Nicklas Backstrom was first star, turning aside 37 of the 38 shots he faced.
----------------------------------------------------------------

USA 1, Ireland 0 (SO)
In a huge surprise, the upstart Irish managed to go into Boston and leave with a massive point after taking their hosts to a shootout before losing.

The US dominated the Irish from start to finish, but for whatever reason couldn't find the back of the net. The Americans hit the post eleven times, but couldn't bulge the twine in regulation or overtime.

The Irish played a very workman-like road game, managing just 11 shots but frustrating the Americans with their hard-work and shot blocking prowess.

Patrick Kane scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Americans the extra point.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Canada 3, Russia 0
It wasn't the all-out offensive battle everyone expected, but the home fans went home happy after Canada manhandled the visitors for the full 60 minutes.

Brent Seabrook put the hosts on the board early in the first period, and then Mike Babcock's defensive systems went to work, shutting down the Russians effectively all game.

Shea Weber doubled the Canadian lead late in the 2nd period, when he drilled home a one-timer on the powerplay, bringing the Toronto crowd to its feet.

Rookie Kurtis Alston put the nail in the coffin for the Canadians early in the third, when he picked up his first professional goal at the 3:14 mark on a breakaway.

"A very disappointing loss, we have much to ruminate on on the flight home," commented Russian assistant coach Vladislav Tretiak.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will do three updates throughout the season:
25-game mark
60-game mark
82-game mark
 
connor macdavid

connor macdavid

Press Box Rat
Dec 24, 2008
1,676
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Ottawa
Looking at roughly 10 days for one season.

25-game - TODAY
60-game - Tuesday
End of Reg. Season - Thursday
Playoffs - Saturday
Finals - Saturday Night
 
connor macdavid

connor macdavid

Press Box Rat
Dec 24, 2008
1,676
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Ottawa
Season 1 - 25-game Update

33% Review of WL's First Season
Canadians, Slovaks, dominating​

It's been a very interesting first two months of the World League, featuring many interesting storylines, breakout players, and upsets.

We'll start with the Gretzky Conference, where the Standings look like this:

1. Canada (22-2-1) (45pts)
2. USA (18-5-2) (38pts)
3. Finland (16-9-0) (32pts)
4. Norway (15-8-2) (32pts)
5. Switzerland (13-11-1) (27pts)
6. Latvia (11-10-4) (26pts)
7. Italy (12-12-1) (25pts)
8. Kazakhstan (11-13-1) (23pts)
--------------------------------------
9. Japan (11-14-0) (22pts)
10. Hungary (10-12-2) (22pts)
11. Belarus (9-13-3) (21pts)
12. Korea (8-17-0) (16pts)
13. Poland (7-15-2) (16pts)
14. Romania (7-16-1) (15pts)
15. Croatia (1-24-0) (2pts)

Storylines
- Canada is yet to drop points at home, posting a perfect 13-0-0 record.
- Switzerland fired head coach Bob Hartley after losing 2-1 in OT to lowly Croatia.
- Norway is playing their best ever hockey, building a fortress at home in Oslo (9-1-2 at home).
- Belarus fired coach and former NHLer Dave Lewis just six games into the season after they started 0-5-1.
- Sidney Crosby set a national record for goals in one game, scoring a whopping seven against Croatia in Zagreb as Canada won 13-0.

Now off to the Kharlamov Conference:

1. Slovakia (19-4-2) (40pts)
2. Russia (17-7-1) (35pts)
3. Sweden (16-8-1) (33pts)
4. Germany (14-11-0) (28pts)
5. Czech Rep. (13-11-1) (27pts)
6. France (11-11-3) (25pts)
7. Denmark (12-13-0) (24pts)
8. Ireland (11-13-1) (23pts)
----------------------------------
9. Great Britain (11-14-0) (22pts)
10. Slovenia (10-14-1) (21pts)
11. Ukraine (10-15-0) (20pts)
12. Austria (8-13-4) (20pts)
13. Netherlands (6-18-1) (13pts)
14. Spain (5-17-3) (13pts)
15. Lithuania (4-20-1) (9pts)

STORYLINES
- Ireland have been the Cinderella Story of the WL thus far, somehow sitting in a playoff spot despite an awful 0.5-star Defense and Goaltending rating!
- Austria have severely underachieved, but the goaltending has just not been there for them (106GA in 25GP).
- Slovakia have been a revelation, with Jaroslav Janus an early front-runner for the Tretiak Best Goalie Trophy.
- Spain shocked the world with a 2-1 overtime victory in Moscow over the powerhouse Russians early in the season!
- Great Britain have started four different goalies in the first 25 games.

PLAYER UPDATES​
(Format: Short blurb on stats, and a performance rating taking into account the calibre of the team, player role and stats)

Chris Stennermann has played 21 games for Germany on the 3rd line, putting up 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points. Rating: A-

Chibi Pooky has played in all 25 games for Korea on the 2nd line, scoring 1 goal and adding 4 assists. Rating: C

Kurtis Alston has played in 15 games for Canada on the 4th line, scoring 7 goals and adding 10 assists. Rating: A-

Max Vassart has played in 24 games for France on the 2nd line, scoring a team-leading 11 goals and adding 8 assists. Rating: A+

Patrick Meier has played all 25 games for Switzerland on the 3rd line, chipping in with 6 assists. Rating: B-

Elijah O'Bannon has played all 25 games for Ireland on the 2nd line, scoring 7 goals and adding 10 assists. Early front-runner for Young Player of the Year. Rating: A

Jack Thompson has played in 19 games for Great Britain, scoring 1 goal and adding 1 assist. Rating: C+

Matteo Pollari has played in all 25 games for Italy, scoring 3 goals and adding 14 assists. Rating: A

Deaglan O'Connor has dressed in 22 games for Ireland, scoring 5 goals and adding a team-leading 12 assists. Rating: A-

Sean O'Connor has played in 11 games for Ireland, scoring 1 goal. Rating: C-

Angus O'Brian has played in 23 games for Ireland, scoring a team-leading 11 goals and adding 6 assists. Suspended two games for causing a ruckus against Slovenia. Rating: A

Keenly Frets has dressed in all 25 games for Latvia, scoring 4 goals and chipping in with 6 assists. Rating: B-

Nicholas Franchuk has played in 2 games for Great Britain, not registering a point. Torn ACL in Game #2 against Ireland after a vicious knee from Angus O'Brian. Rating: N/A

Dmitry Kholatsyev has played in 17 games for Japan, registering a team-leading 9 goals and 1 assist. Rating: A-

Gardner McKay has played 16 games for Ireland, scoring 1 goal and adding 4 assists. Picked up a ten-game suspension for a nasty hit on Japan's Dmitry Kholatsyev. Rating: B
 
connor macdavid

connor macdavid

Press Box Rat
Dec 24, 2008
1,676
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Ottawa
Heading into the Home Stretch (Playoff Race Update)

60 Down, 22 to go, Lots on the Line​
Canada crushing everyone​

STANDINGS​

Gretzky Conference

1. Canada 49-7-4 (102pts)
2. USA 40-18-2 (82pts)
3. Finland 35-20-5 (75pts)
4. Switzerland 32-20-8 (72pts)
5. Norway 31-27-2 (64pts)
6. Italy 29-27-4 (62pts)
7. Japan 26-27-7 (59pts)
8. Latvia 26-29-5 (57pts)
-------------------------------
9. Kazakhstan 25-31-4 (54pts)
10. Belarus 24-33-3 (51pts)
11. Hungary 24-34-2 (50pts)
12. Poland 22-35-3 (47pts)
13. Korea 21-37-2 (44pts)
14. Romania 20-39-1 (41pts)
15. Croatia 4-52-4 (12pts)

Canada has lost just once in regulation at home!
Croatia somehow put together a 3-game winning streak, with wins against Poland, Kazakhstan, and Korea!
Sidney Crosby, despite only playing in 34 games thus far, has 68 points...
Croatian goalie Tihomir Filipec has the highest GAA in the league (8.79)!


Kharlamov Conference

1. Russia 40-17-3 (83pts)
2. Slovakia 37-17-6 (80pts)
3. Sweden 37-20-3 (77pts)
4. Germany 35-21-4 (74pts)
5. France 34-20-6 (74pts)
6. Czech Rep. 33-26-1 (67pts)
7. Denmark 30-26-4 (64pts)
8. Great Britain 30-27-3 (63pts)
-------------------------------------
9. Ireland 29-29-2 (60pts)
10. Slovenia 27-29-4 (58pts)
11. Austria 27-29-4 (58pts)
12. Spain 25-31-4 (54pts)
13. Ukraine 24-32-4 (52pts)
14. Netherlands 22-36-2 (46pts)
15. Lithuania 17-40-3 (37pts)

Ireland's form has dropped off recently, but they look the most likely to launch a playoff push in the final 22 games.
Spain has been red-hot of late, 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Ukraine have had three coaches already this season
Jaroslav Janus (G, SVK) leads the WL in SV% (.944) and GAA (1.39)

​


PLAYER STATS

Name - Pos - Team - Role (GP/G/A/PIMS/+-)

Chris Stennermann - F - Germany - 3rd Line (52gp/17g/12a/32pims/+7)

Chibi Pooky - F - Korea - 2nd Line (51gp/4g/7a/67pims/-19)

Kurtis Alston - F - Canada - 4th Line (27gp/13g/17a/34pims/+22)

Max Vassart - F - France - 2nd Line (59gp/19g/22a/65pims/+4)

Patrick Meier - F - Switzerland - 4th Line (60gp/1g/7a/97pims/-9)

Elijah O'Bannon - F - Ireland - 1st Line (57gp/25g/31a/17pims/+11)

Jack Thompson - D - Great Britain - 3rd Pair (31gp/2g/3a/97pims/-3)

Matteo Pollari - D - Italy - 1st Pair (54gp/5g/29a/47pims/+13)

Deaglan O'Connor - C - Ireland - 2nd Line (57gp/16g/23a/33pims/+7)

Sean O'Connor - D - Ireland - 3rd Pair (46gp/2g/3a/77pims/-12)

Angus O'Brian - F - Ireland - 1st Line (58gp/31g/22a/43pims/+17)

Keenly Frets - D - Latvia - 2nd Pair (60gp/7g/11a/27pims/-5)

Nicholas Franchuk - F - Great Britain - 4th Line (17gp/1g/5a/13pims/+6)

Dmitry Kholatsyev - F - Japan - 2nd Line (44gp/16g/6a/22pims/-13)

Gardner McKay - D - Ireland - 2nd Pair (36gp/4g/3a/134pims/-7)

---------------------------------------------------
Created-Player-of-the-Year (CPOTY Award)
Season 1 Candidates: Matteo Pollari (Italy, D), Elijah O'Bannon (Ireland, F), Angus O'Brian (Ireland, F)

U-20 Player of the Year
Season 1 Candidates: Elijah O'Bannon (Ireland, F), Jonathan Huberdeau (Canada, F), John Gibson (USA, G)
 
connor macdavid

connor macdavid

Press Box Rat
Dec 24, 2008
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Ottawa
Gigantor The Goalie said:
Just how bad is Croatia? Does Poland at least have Wolski?
Click to expand...

Croatia is quite bad...worst ranked in their conference (61 or 62 I believe).

Wolski is considered an FA, I'll flip a coin to decide whether he plays for Canada or Poland in Season 2.

I'm amazed Spain is doing as well as they are, they are the worst-rated team in the league (59).
 
The Head Crusher

The Head Crusher

Re-retired
Jan 3, 2008
16,712
2,067
Edmonton
DemonsOnIce96 said:
Croatia is quite bad...worst ranked in their conference (61 or 62 I believe).

Wolski is considered an FA, I'll flip a coin to decide whether he plays for Canada or Poland in Season 2.

I'm amazed Spain is doing as well as they are, they are the worst-rated team in the league (59).
Click to expand...

Just wait til Don Blas Vivar joins the team next season, Spain will once again rule the world!!
 
connor macdavid

connor macdavid

Press Box Rat
Dec 24, 2008
1,676
0
Ottawa
My biggest surprises thus far are definitely France and Italy...France is challenging for HOME ICE! How is that even possible? :O

Italy meanwhile...well they're really just beast I guess.
 
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