Stromboli

This season was Strom's senior year in the junior leagues.  It was meant to be a pure paragon of play.  It started out exactly as he had intended, however at certain points whenever his team struggled, he struggled.  Despite being locked in as the best earning goalie in his class, and the 6th overall earner of his draft class, he always seemed to be overlooked...more mediocre in play by comparison to others around the league despite trying to match his Season 52 feat of becoming a 4-star cup champion.  His one main goal (other than a cup) was to try and make the All-Star team...which he failed to do so.  Despite now looking like he might be at that point of possibly repeating and becoming a multi 4-star cup champion...overall the season was again a bust.  His next best hope for fame and immortality lies in the hands of his SHL team, the Winnipeg Jets.

Losing a brother is detrimental not only to a family, but also as a player due in part that it prohibit's Andrei from being able to focus 100% on performing well for his team.  It is unknown still where Sergei may be as there have been no leads leading to him.  Despite this, hope is not all lost.  In order to help my fellow SMJHL player, I have requested Sergei's image to be placed in all Wal-Mart locations around my hometown of St. Louis, MO and have also placed his likeness, the old fashioned way, on milk cartons with the phrase "Have you seen me?".  

I predict that for S54 Team USA will once again bring home the gold.  Just as regular teams eventually hit a rebuilding period, Team USA hasn't hit that yet, even with some of the star players teetering on the edge of regression.  The coaching and leadership staff there have an excellent grasp of matching individual talents inside of a winning system, and have a deep enough continued prospect pool to fill the gaps when needed.  Aside from them, I would consider team Canada as another main candidate to win.  They have shown in the past a similar grasp of the game mechanics and are developing their own well rounded depth pool to fill the main roster and gaps from as needed.  When the time comes that Team USA does start regressing many of their superstars, in this league it wouldn't surprise me then to see some underdogs jumping up into the limelight.

Two words:  Aleister Cain.  Alester is not only the highest grossing goalie that I've ever known, but possibly that the SHL has ever known.  He's lightning on his skates and in the crease, and while he may not have multiple Challenge Cups under his belt, he more than makes up for it on the world's stage with a multitude of gold medals strewn around his neck for Team USA.  This season he could very well add a challenge cup to that resume, and also due to his high experience earning...the longevity he has in the league will mean that he runs at or near peak performance for several seasons to come, possibly to the tune of several more gold medals & Challenge cups.




The world of fantasy hockey
is as diverse as the sky is blue
you can even be a radio jockey
with a podcast of a different hue

From forwards to goalies and more
legends here are waiting to be born
Though TPE earning is a chore
Its worth it at the sound of the horn

Come play with us some would say
You could be drafted at number one or two
Its up to you at the end of the day
Writing the legacy is up to you.

Oh, and one more thing by the way
It is imperative that we find Sergei!

TPE 19/16