World Cup of Hockey 28 (Everything Thread)

by **Valanora** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 4:32 pm

Valanora Times
On To The Quarters, A Rematch

After escaping Cosumar in the second game thanks to the wonderful performance in the penalty shootout to sweep the two game series, the Calcuttas got to enjoy an extra day of rest while three of the other first round series went the distance. The side watched in complete intrigue as the reigning world champions were pushed to a third game by the so called upstarts of Neu Engollon, the team that came in second in the Calcuttas group. It was with a huge amount of awe as they watched the champions struggle in the third game as well, with Neu Engollon pushing the champions as good as they were getting pushed. Both netminders seemed completely intent on not letting in a goal, with the scoresheet remaining blank after the whole sixty minutes of regulation and then the overtime period. Like the rest of the world, the Calcuttas too were shocked as the upstarts took out the champions in that shootout, putting the Gregoryisgodistan out at least one round before most would have thought they could have been eliminated.

By the virtue of their win, Neu Engollon now sets up with our side once more, a series that will no doubt be watched by many to see if Neu Engollon is for real or perhaps the Ice Slaves were overhyped heading into the tournament, resting on their laurels perhaps. For the Calcuttas, this is probably not the matchup that they wanted to see, having had already had to sweat through the challenge of Neu Engollon in the group, the match against them in the group stage being the lone belmish keeping the Calcuttas from a perfect group stage. The four all tie with them was the most difficult of the matches in the group stage, as the Neu Engollon forwards made the Calcuttas defense look like they were junior hockey members rather than seasoned professionals.

Amonion Galaethrin and Voronthal Falasumé are going to have to lead their lines as the tip of the spear and destroy the defense of the opposition as well as the morale for the Calcuttas to make it through this stage of the competition. While the side is trying to revive itself from its poor performances of the past, it can begin by purging one from this group stage. As evidenced by the game against us and then the series against the former champions, the Neu Engollon side plays up to the level of their competition and can play numerous styles. That's what makes preparing for the side so difficult, as one game they can be an offensive juggernaut while the next they are a steel curtain impossible to dismantle. The key to victory then is for the scoring lines to do their job early and often in order to dishearten their foes, to zap the morale and whatever third party support they might be getting from the crowd. A large game one victory could then spill over into game two, with battered bodies and egos. Look for the Calcuttas to go out on full for the attack and kill and let us see if our upstarts are up for the task and this series as a whole.

by **Valanora** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 4:53 pm

Quarterfinals, Game 1
Valanora 2–2(2–0 SO) Neu Engollon
Esparmuran 1–3 Elejamie
Ko-oren 1–0 Zenic
Royal Kingdom of Quebec 1–1(1–2 SO) Nova Anglicana

by **Zenic** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:21 am

Marten Kuijper – that is the name of the Unionite who beat us in Game 1 of the Quarterfinals. Despite an exciting Zenician performance, they fell to Ko-oren 1-0 thanks to a Kuijper goal early in the third quarter. It may be a tough loss to swallow but there were surprisingly many positives from the game.

In the loss, Zenic and Ko-oren showed why defense wins championships. Both goalies had above a 93% save percentage: Piatek allowed 1 goal in 19 shots on goal while Geels allowed 0 goal in 15 shots on goal. Both defenses did well in limiting the other team’s offense without committing to many penalties: 9 minutes total for Zenic and 8 for Ko-oren. Zenic looked like they had practiced line changing as they seemed like cheetahs coming on and off the ice for seamless transitions, unlike the previous rounds. Even the goal wasn’t one to be ashamed of letting in. as Kuijper’s shot was almost blocked by Tamrat Hermann.

The deflection that resulted altered the trajectory just enough to pass by Piatek’s glove. As quoted from head coach Henri Giehl after the game, “There was nothing wrong with that goal. Hermann did everything he should have, just got there a little too late. But even then, he almost blocked the shot. He did well so there’s no need to place the loss on him.”

The only true negative in this game was the fact that no one stepped up to help Jernej in the offensive department: 9 out of the 15 Zenician shots in Game 1 came from Tendaji Jernej, a shockingly unbalanced ratio. Very few top tier nations rely on a single player to produce all of the offense in the big games. Our centers, Tennison, Herut and Tobias need to do a better job in front of the opposing goal, blocking the goalie’s view and creating openings for either themselves or teammates to take advantage of and score. Meanwhile, the wingers haven’t done much offensively either: combined they have 3 goals and an assist.

To keep score, Tendaji Jernej has 5 goals and 2 assists while the rest of the team has 10 goals and 6 assists. In the knockout rounds, Tendaji has 3 goals and 1 assist while the rest of the team has 5 goals and 2 assists. When one player is producing, by themselves, almost as many goals as an entire team, something needs to be done to get the rest of the team going.

Now, Zenic face at least one do-or-die game against Ko-oren as Game 2 approaches. A win here forces a Game 3 where both team will be facing a do-or-die situation and we’ll get to see who wants a chance at ice hockey immortality more. That is, if the Zenic squad can get going offensively like they did defensively and win this game. We’ll have to wait and see.

-- Pauline Ferzi

Pauline Ferzi is a homegrown talent, having lived most of her life in San Valerie. She attended New Citium University and majored in sports journalism. She joined The Leinz Herald soon after graduation and returned to San Valerie after the Zenic national hockey team’s headquarters and stadium were constructed. She is now the lead reporter on any and all news hockey related and looks to have a promising career.

by **Ko-oren** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 2:02 pm

Dragonfly defence shuts down Zenic production

The Unionites are doing a great job in the quarterfinals: the first of the series ended in a 1-0 win over Zenic. It was the first Ko-orenite victory over them in history, after two losses and a tie. Ahead of the game, Zenic knew to make every attempt on goal count and to keep playing a high level ice hockey game. After game one of the series, we can say that Ko-oren was perfectly aware of Zenic's goals and handled them expertly.

Zenic had a good number of shots on goal. Most of those were completely harmless and only a handful chances were actual scoring opportunities. And that was because the Unionite defence knew very well that Zenic's offence goes mainly through one player only. Tendaji Jernej is by far the most dangerous man on the Arctic Survivors' team, and he could enforce nothing. He had a lot of shots on goal, all of which were easy preys for Geels. It was only when Zenic changed up their attack to involve different players that they came close to scoring, but even then, Zenic just came short. They were not consistent enough in their level of play, often being just a split second late to the puck or just missing a perfect shooting window by a tiny margin.

All things considered, Zenic still have a quality team. They have a talented group of players, they have the results to show for it (especially so in previous World Cups) and they are more than capable of making this a very, very hard series for the Dragonflies. But if they keep playing like yesterday, they'll be going out of the tournament unnecessarily. Not that we'd be complaining: we know we have a good team, that just never goes all the way until the semifinals.

Zenic held up very well against us, getting the better of the game from time to time, but when it comes to results, it's the Ko-orenites getting the points. Kuijper scored the only goal of the game, and you guessed it, goalie Piatek and defenceman Hermann were a fraction of a second late to keep the puck out. It's just minor details and less than seconds that decide games, and Zenic will have to make a tiny little improvement to catch up to Ko-oren again. We're warned.

by **Elejamie** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 3:50 pm

"It was the start of the quarter finals here at the 28th World Cup of Hockey in Valanora, so we turn to John Daverson with the news about it. John?"

That's right, Steve. Good morning, Elejamie! The Icy Elephants became one of the many gifts in the tournament that kept on giving as they defeated Esparmuran 3-1. While the Icy Elephants fell in the quarter finals, Esparmuran famously made it to the final of the last tournament, going all the way to Gregoryisgodistan where they were swept by the hosts; losing their first game 3-1, their second 2-1 and their third 5-3. And now, the Espars are one of eight teams left in the tournament, whereas the Ice Slaves were famously eliminated by Neu Engollon in game three of their Round of 16 matches. And so, as both sides get themselves geared up for game two, we look back at what happened in game one; as always, here are the highlights.

The first period saw captain Orrell Beake, assised by linemate and alternate captain Bailey Royston, end Antonio Cervantes' 147 minute long shutout-streak, when Beake's wrist shot made it 1-0 to Esparmuran. Not to be deterred, Elejamie started firing back. Lucas Madgwick's shot just hit the post. Ethan Swinburne's shot was saved by Espar goaltender Wolf Paige. Felipe Barajas hit it into the netting again, although this time the puck didn't get stuck in the net. There were some unpleasantries during the first period, when Bernt Bager highsticked Elejamian defenceman Mike Cruickshank earning a two minute minor in the box, which was then followed by Greg Warren also having to sit out for a couple of minutes for slashing. Near the end, Cerin Meloten won the face-off and passed it to Lupe, who helped captain Anatoly Kasputin get it into the Espar net, levelling the scores at the end of the first period.

The second period began with Esparmuran trying to make it 2-2, with Orrell Beake firing a slapshot towards goal. Fortunately, Antonio Cervantes managed to knock it away with his stick, followed by him catching Darian Sidney's rebound shot immediately after. However, at the five minute mark, Bill Harrison received a two minute minor for interference. Fortunately, the Elejamian PK unit held up as they prevented Esparmuran scoring anything on the power play. Halfway through the period James Han intercepted an Espar pass and dumped it into the net, putting Elejamie ahead. However, both sides were unable to do anything after that; the closest there was to a goal was this shot by Orrell Beake, which was disallowed when it turned out that he was offside. In the end, the period ended 2-1 in Elejamie's favour.

The third period began with Cerin Meloten winning the faceoff and passing the puck back to Lupe. After receiving the puck, the Avon Stars defenceman immediately passed it to Francisco Solano, who knocked it back to Meloten, who scored Elejamie's third of the night on the one-timer. After that, both sides were unable to put another one on the board; with Paul Morton's snap shot being saved by Paige, Ole Henriksen's wrist shot hitting the post and Kim Jardine's rebound shot being saved easily by Antonio Cervantes. And then, eight minutes before the end, a fight broke out between George Lincoln and Njord Abrahamsen:

"... Cruickshank and Sierra come off and George Lincoln and Greg Warren - aka the two Gs - come on. Warren intercepts a pass from Klausen to Lauritsen and... BAM! Njord Abrahamsen delivers an incredible body check into Warren! Uh-oh, I don't think his line-mate is too pleased about it. Abrahamsen and Lincoln have both dropped their gloves and it looks like we have a fight on our hands! Right from Lincoln! And another right! Abrahamsen counters with a left! And that one nearly knocks Lincoln off his feet! Luckily, George is able to keep his balance as he delivers a right blow, drags him onto the ice and... the... fight is over! And now, it's time for the refs to separate the pair and take them to the penalty box where they'll receive a five minute major each."

Not much happened after that. Cerin Meloten tried to score a fourth one for Elejamie not long afterwards, with the puck sailing over the goal before being cleared by Royston. In the dying seconds, James Han tried to get another goal. And he did, although, sadly, it was disallowed as it went in after the end-of-period horn had gone. It didn't matter as, in the end, Elejamie walked away with a 3-1 victory and, with the second game not far off, the upper hand.

After the match, head coach Michael Madgwick said "Boy, I really was not expecting that result! I mean, I knew we were going to win by a goal, maybe an overtime one. But 3-1? I'm hoping that we'll keep this up for our next game! Toni was on fire, as usual; I think at one point he was going to melt the rink, he was that good! D's been on point, like they've always have been this tournament. Namely Lupe, who I think should've gotten one of those stars. The offence has massively improved for this game; kudos to Anatoly, Cerin and James for their wonderful goals. And, again, I hope we give another performance like this for the rematch."

"Do you think there will be a game three?"

"I certainly hope not. After all, we had a whale of a tournament last time, conquering our group and cutting down Arkiasis before the quarter finals. So why shouldn't we improve on that result? Although I feel that this tournament has been quite disappointing, I will say that we're doing much better than last time. There was the goalless draw against Quebec, although it was because everyone was more interested in fighting each other; shutting out The Sword Bloke quite easily in the round of 16; and now this. Although I'm not giving away any tactics for game two, I will reveal one thing that I'm going to do: Pedro's replacing Toni in goal."

In a different post-match interview, goaltender Antonio Cervantes said «Although it was a shame I had let one in, ending what was pretty much a shut-out streak, it wasn't the end of the world. I still kept my nerve, still kept them from adding to it. And I am happy with the result. And I'm pretty sure everyone else is at home. Since I've found out that I won't be on the ice tomorrow night, here's hoping my nephew will do well in goal for the next game.»

Meanwhile, Valanora snatched a 2-0 shoutout victory over Neu Engollon after the match ended 2-2; Nova Anglicana won another shootout, defeating the Royal Kingdom of Quebec 2-1 after a 1-1 draw; and, in the other regulation-time win of the night, Ko-oren snatched a 1-0 victory over Zenic. Tonight will be game two of the quarter finals, where Elejamie look to carry on their run of good results, whereas Esparmuran look to snatch one back. Will the Icy Elephants be able to take game two? Or will it go to game three? Find out on Puck Drop, this evening at 5pm.

Rugby league, now, as the Alvis Mechanics managed to beat Woodsworth 16-9, despite missing captain George McFarland who was out with a sprained knee. Woodsworth was also down a player, with Nathan Westerman being unable to make it with a sprained ankle...

Period			P1	P2	P3	FS
Esparmuran		1	0	0	1
Elejamie		1	1	1	3

by **The Royal Kingdom of Quebec** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:56 pm

Top 10 Smartest QHL athletes

Academics. Athletics.

For some strange reason, those two words don't mesh well together on our modernly biased minds as we watch the sports. This is more or so in our hockey-loving minds. Though hockey athletes are hard-working people who may be athletically-superior to any other of top 4 Quebecois sports (gridiron, soccer and handball are other 3, for those who don't know) they, often through their mediocre interviews and media actions in general, are frequently regarded as athletically-gifted, but dim-witted. This is in spite of the fact that people are more than able to attain both abilities with success, and on very high levels.

So, I would like to give my shout out and mention to those who took a harder way into the professional circuits and succeeded in achieving success in both hockey and academics. It's impressive how vast majority of the athletes here are from "traditional 12", which is certainly impressive in all regards.

In order to qualify for the list, players had to have played at least one game in the QHL last season (2017-2018), or have formerly played in the QHL but are currently toiling in minor leagues.

Here's the list of top 10 smartest players in QHL.

10. Mark Liu (Labrador City Freeze)
Kingston Varsity Blues haven't been a relevant force in college hockey for many years, but they seem to never lack in producing big talent that plays in the league from time to time. Mark Liu is one of those Varsity Blues still remaining today. The Winnipeg native, well known as "The Diplomat", is a well-educated goaltender in the QHL, earning a degree in International Relations from UofK's renowned Brousseau School with a 3.6 GPA.

The fact that he earned his degree all while handling 43 shots a game on OUA-worst defence and garnering Daniel Baranski nominations in his last 2 years of high school is more than enough to land Liu a spot on this list. Using his experiences as Student Association President, Liu's also served as president of QHLPA the past 5 seasons, playing a significant role in ending the lockout last May.

9. Dan Passmore (Attawapsikat Avalanche)
Dan Passmore's immediate success in PLI and then Attawapiskat may has surprised plenty of QHL fans across the world, but to the college hockey fans it probably wasn't that surprising. The Sherbrooke, Estrie native has played in 121 consecutive QIS games with Farrer Redmen from 2010-2011 to 2013-2014 seasons. During his time with them he's won 3 Broadus Shields (RSECQ championship), 2 University Cups (QIS Championship), 4-year RSECQ and 3 QIS First-team honours.

He bolstered his collection on his final 2 seasons when he added to the list with 2 Ingmar Han Trophies (QIS defenceman of the year) and a Mikhail Leishmann Trophy (all-QIS MVP), all in while graduating from Farrer with a 3.8 GPA in Life Sciences.

8. Alexander Galiev (Saint John Acadiens)
The 7th-round pick by Saint John Acadiens on their 2008 draft, it is safe to say that the Fort Warren-native has gone a long way a lot since then. Galiev has graduated from University of New Brunswick with a degree in electrical engineering (12), won 3 AUS all-star mentions (including a first-team mention at his senior season), and has played in 417 games (402 regular season and 15 playoff) for the Acadiens.

Though his career was cut short by a series of injuries that forced him to retire this offseason, but the 27-year old certainly had a longer career than your average 7th round pick. Also having a high-paying job waiting for him down the road also helps, after one's QHL career.

7. Sung Min Nam (PLI Islanders)
It takes more than simple feistiness to be a pest in QHL, especially an effective one at that. It requires brains, and Sung Min Nam's career and resume show no less than commendable grades in such. Sung Min Nam may now be known as a feisty pest who loves taking aims at guys, but it wasn't not too long ago when he was a top scorer in QIS hockey.

Nam started his post-secondary education at University of Goose Bay, but transferred to his native UPLI after his first year, citing homesickness. Back home, he continued his journey, and he managed to play excellent hockey for Panthers while maintaining satisfactory GPA. He eventually graduated from UPRI with a degree with marine biology, before signing with PLI Islanders, where he's now playing primarily as their first-line LW.

6. Richard Hyun (Kingston Knights)
Richard Hyun may be playing limited minutes and games with Kingston Knights the past few seasons, but the Saguenay graduate has an economics degree to fall back on, should things don't work out as anticipated with hockey.

His time at Universite du Saguenay's not otherworldly, but significant enough to make a difference. While playing for the Saints, Hyun served as team captain and notched 29 points in 32 games in his senior year, making him 3rd on the list of highest-scoring defenceman for the season. This, on top of a 3.91 GPA in Korean literature and various scholarships earned over his 4-year career, had him as one of the most academically-distinguished athletes.

Special Guest: Soo Myeon Kim
Kim's probably the biggest name on Quebecois hockey right now. Whether it be because of his famous relationship with Jane Withers, his generous donations to charities or sponsoring artists on his native and adopted provinces of Gaspecie and Northwest, he's always on the news for whatever he does.

On here he's noted for his academic achievement, and on a very good way. While Kim never played college hockey in his illustrious career as a Quebecois hockey hero, Kim's nonetheless a very smart man: He graduated from Peel Collegiate Institute in Montreal with 97% average and 3 awards, including the prestigious Sir. Hebert Boland Trophy for Male Student of the Year. This all happened while scoring 143 points in 66 games during his draft season with Hochelaga Devils of CHL. Impressive in all accounts.

Note: Traditional 12 schools are, in IC sense, Ivy League of Quebecois schools. Following are part of the "traditional 12": Western Ontario, Kingston, Queen's, Ottawa, Northwestern, Farrer, St.Croix, Saguenay, Gaspe, Mount Ester, UNB and Halifax.

by **Valanora** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:58 pm

Valanora Times
Calcuttas Have Just Enough

It was not the performance that many in the arena wanted to see but it was performance that put the Calcuttas one game to the good in this best of three series with Neu Engollon. The offense came out blazing in the first period, with each of the top two scoring lines netting a goal. Imenien Lithloth managed to put on in on a one timer in the slot from a wonderful saucer pass from behind the net from Amonion Galaethrin at the 7:36 mark, while Voronthal Falasumé was able to convert a breakaway after poke checking the puck away from a Neu Engollon defenseman at the 14:36 mark. With two goals to the good and the defense looking solid after one period, the Calcuttas thought that the game was all but wrapped up.

That was not the case though as Neu Engollon came out a team invigorated in the second period and put on the full rink press on the side. The press got the side trying to play far too quickly, leading to several turnovers and some really sloppy play from the usually crisp Calcuttas. Neu Engollon was able to take advantage of that exactly halfway through the game, converting on a very well produced two on one, leaving Suiadan Lasséseth almost no chance of coming up with the stop. However, the side was able to escape the trap that was the Neu Engollon second period with just a single goal given up and clinging to their one goal lead with hope to get a third in the third and put the game out of reach.

The third goal did not come and with the game entering its final five minutes of regulation, the Calcuttas went into a defensive shell, which ironically was the worst thing that the side could have done. Now under an avalanche of offensive pressure, they cracked with just under two minutes to go as Neu Engollon put together a trio of passes to get from their blue line and in on Lasséseth alone, Ernst Volkzein putting the shot in the top left corner and sending the game into overtime. Balafindien Lanethdal hit the post twice in the overtime period but luck was not kind and the puck did not find a way to fully cross the line before it was cleared. Meaning that for the second game in a row, the Calcuttas were going to a penalty shootout. Lanethdal made up for his two clankers with a sweet deke that left Calvino Bassati out of position and an easy conversion, while Amonion Galaethrin put a slapshot through the five hole. Suiadan Lasséseth came up with two huge saves and clinched that first game for the Calcuttas, leaving the series now in their favor and the side with confidence but concern as they head into the second game.

by **Valanora** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:59 pm

Quarterfinals, Game 2
Valanora 5–2 Neu Engollon, Valanora wins series 2-0
Esparmuran 3–5 Elejamie, Elejamie wins series 2-0
Ko-oren 0–1 Zenic, Series tied 1-1
Royal Kingdom of Quebec 3–1 Nova Anglicana, Series tied 1-1

by **Ko-oren** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:17 pm

One goal separates Ko-oren and Zenic - again

Excellent defence on display once again in Valanora. Ko-oren and Zenic were at it again after the tiny margin 1-0 victory of day 1. Day two would mostly be a repeat of the first game at first glance, just with the score reversed. Zenic won 1-0 to tie the series up 1-1 with one crucial quarterfinal game tomorrow.

As said, the second game was much like the first, at least, that is what it seemed like. Under the hood, both teams switched up multiple things to avoid becoming predictable, and also because there were still things to improve on from the first meeting. The general impression of the game stayed the same, relatively: two teams that both do not want to concede, for they know how difficult it would be to score against the opponent.

Zenic came away with an early second period goal, on powerplay. Both teams were dead set not to cause too many fouls, and especially the Arctic Survivors played this game within a game perfectly. They were still having trouble getting more than one player in a good shooting position, but they covered their other shortcomings extremely well. So much so that the Dragonflies ended up not scoring at all.

Jernej was on point again, the main man on the Zenic team. He was responsible for the goal: he found a way to keep Bradley away for just long enough to get his stick against Ellsworth's pass to centre. Ko-oren were a man down at the time. The Dragonflies failed to learn from their mistake, causing more fouls later in the second period and the third period in doing anything to prevent Jernej from showcasing more good hockey. Zenic did not exploit these later opportunities, partially to keep Jernej safe. In the end it wasn't Jernej but Tennison who came off the ice with a minor injury in a reckless charge between him and Matthew Hughes. The Dragonflies also suffered an injury in Rory Calderon. Calderon is ruled improbable for the third game, and Tennison was in pain when he left the ice but further information has not been released yet.

Valanora won 5-2 to advance to the semifinals. Elejamie also scored 5 to beat Esparuman 5-3 to seal the first semifinal fixture as Valanora versus Elejamie. The second semifinal could still be anything: Ko-oren and Zenic will face off once more, as do Quebec and Nova Anglicana. Quebec won the second game 3-1 to correct their shootout loss on day one. We will have to be quicker and cleaner to finally get that semifinal we've been waiting for so long.

by **Zenic** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:04 pm

“Woohoo! What a match, what a match.”

Henri Giehl was ecstatic after the 1-0 win over Ko-oren in game 2 of their Quarterfinals series. It was the first time the squad had won a game in the Quarterfinals in the four times they’ve been to this stage of the knockout rounds. And what a game it was, Giehl was thinking. Oh, ho, ho, what a game indeed.

They had worked extra hard in practice to make sure they weren’t making unnecessary fouls and hurting the team with players sitting on penalties. They must have spent a total of 2 and ½ hours on just that in the limited practice time between games that they had. And it paid off as his players only sat for a total of 4 minutes. Otherwise, they were the more technically sound team on the ice that game. The defense and goaltending? Just like old times, they were as sturdy as a brick wall. And who could forget Tendaji Jernej, the superstar of Zenic. Tendaji just seemed to have a nose for the puck: he got the game winner and almost netted in at least one more.

As he walked through the hall of the floor he was staying on, he passed by Dr. Henrietta De See, the team’s doctor. The joy fell a bit as he recalled one of the two negatives of the game. The first was the fact that the offense as a whole was still struggling in the knockout stage, with Tendaji being the main contributor and carrying the goal-scoring duties practically on his own. The second was that his first-line center, Celso Tennison, left the game early in the third period with a neck injury. Giehl stopped to speak with Dr. De See. “Hello, Henrietta. How are you doing?” Henrietta smiled. “Hello there, Henri. I’m actually doing quite well, so thank you for asking. But, I know what you really want to talk about: Celso, right?”

Giehl nodded. “Celso is a great player and an even greater person. It almost physically hurt me to see him heading to the locker room in pain. Please tell me there is some kind of good news,” he said, with a hint of begging mixed in. Henrietta folded her arms together, rubbing the inside of her bicep in uncertainty. “Okay, I’ll try and make this as positive as I can. Celso suffered a dislocated shoulder, not a broken shoulder like we originally thought he had. Good news is that Celso will be back to play in this World Cup of Hockey. Bad news is that the earliest he can come back would be for Game 1 of the Finals, if we can make it that far. Even then, I would advise that you gave him limited time on the ice, most likely playing on the third-line,” Henrietta replied, as positively as she could.

Giehl took a deep breath and exhaled. The news was a bit worse than he had expected: he was hoping Celso would be back to start on the first-line in the semifinals. “Not the best of news, Henrietta. However, at least the injury isn’t severe, correct? It won’t threaten his career?” Henrietta nodded. “As long as we sit him until the finals in order to let the injury heal itself, it will not cost him his career. I can say that to you with the utmost confidence.” Giehl hugged Dr. De See. “Great news. Keep up the amazing work, Henrietta. I’ve got to go prepare for Game 3 tomorrow so have a wonderful night,” he said before jetting for his room. Dr. Henrietta De See simply chuckled as she continued toward her own room.

Once inside, Giehl walked over to his notebook where he kept all of his strategies and turned to the first blank page available. On that page, he wrote the full list of all three lines, removed Tennison from the list completely, moving Herut into the first line, Tobias into the second line and surprisingly putting backup goalie Ananta Darwin as the third-line center. It was a little bit of a risky move as Darwin had not played center since high school but it did keep him from having to go with an incomplete third-line. This way, he wouldn't have to wear out Herut or Tobias by keeping them from pulling double line duty. Now, whether the move worked or not was something the world will get to see first-hand in Game 3.

They had to win this game, not only for Celso but for the Empire.

by **Elejamie** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:34 pm

"It was the start of the quarter finals here at the 28th World Cup of Hockey in Valanora, so we turn to John Daverson with the news about it. John?"

That's right, Steve. Good morning, Elejamie! Elejamie has made it through to the semi-finals of the 28th World Cup of Hockey, defeating last time's runners-up Esparmuran 5-3 in game two. Despite an injured Greg Warren being replaced by Rafinho and, in a bold move, usual starting goaltender Antonio Cervantes being replaced by his nephew Pedro - who represented Elejamie in the eighth World Junior Hockey Championship, where they came fourth - the Icy Elephants managed to hold onto an amazing victory that, at one point, saw them four goals ahead of their opponents. And now, with a guaranteed spot in the semi-finals, it's safe to say that there's a good chance Elejamie will come home with something. Here are the highlights:

The first period saw Esparmuran on the attack, winning the opening faceoff and very nearly going 1-0 up when Orrell Beake's shot was saved easily by Cervantes. Beake got a second chance later when Bailey Royston won the face-off and passed it to Beake, who tried to shoot it in off the one-timer; unfortunately, not only did it scrape the crossbar but, in pure Felipe Barajas style, it got stuck in the glass. Fortunately, it was easily removed, the pane of glass was replaced and play carried on as normal. However, it was Elejamie who managed to get the first goal of the night, when James Han helped set up a Danilo Barajas' shovel shot nine minutes after the start of the match. Just as quickly as the goal came, Esparmuran got a chance to equalise when Pael Atenar was sent to the box for two minutes for slashing. And they managed to make it level on the power play, when Orrell Beake finally got the chance to put the puck past Cervantes, intercepting a pass from Lupe to Adam Keane and scoring via an unassisted wrist shot. However, both sides were unable to score after that and the period ended 1-1.

The second period was kicked off by Cerin Meloten not only winning the opening face-off but also scoring shortly after, with a slapshot roughly four seconds after the match began. Three minutes later, Elejamie added another one on the board, with Rafinho and Lucas Madgwick assisting Aaron Andrews' snap shot. Fortune smiled once again on Elejamie when, not long afterwards, Dan Rasmussen was sent to the box for two minute when he cross-checked Pael Atenar; Cerin Meloten made it two out of two, with a wrist shot and some assistance from line-mates Anatoly Kasputin and Francisco Solano. Thirty seconds from time, Bernt Bager was sent to the box for two minutes for tripping; roughly ten seconds before the end of the period, Meloten completed his hat-trick, thanks to captain Kasputin intercepting an Espar pass and knocking the puck to the Rosetta Royals centre, whose snap shot put the puck past Paige. Not long afterwards, the end-of-period horn went; Elejamie were 5-1 ahead and pretty much had the match in the bag.

The third period saw not only Wolf Paige being replaced by backup goalie Aydan Herbert but also signs that the Espars were not quite defeated. Herbert showed plenty of promise in goal, deflecting shots like this one from Kasputin, this one from Meloten and this one from Andrews. In fact, check out this amazing save; Ethan Swinburne thinks he's made it 6-1, only to find out that the puck didn't quite cross the line. Esparmuran finally pulled one back six minutes from time, when Carlos Sierra was given a two minute minor for hooking; Bailey Royston won the face-off and, after much struggling, Orrell Beake got his second in. Esparmuran would get a third in not long after, except it was Royston with a shovel shot and Orrell Beake - along with Peder Oakley - assisting him. However, even with Herbert being pulled in the final minute, Elejamie were unable to add to their amazing tally. In the end, Elejamie walked away 5-3 victors, a place in the semi-finals and the feeling that they could go on and bring the trophy home.

Over in the stands, the fans couldn't believe what they had seen. Originally bemused by a series of boring, low scoring games, things started turning around in the Round of 16, where - in both of otheir games - they had managed to completely shut out The Sword Bloke, who had finished top of their group. And then they managed to turn expectations round by turning the tables on Esparmuran in game one, before delivering the final blow in game two. This fan, who became an overnight sensation as he danced in the stands after Elejamie's fifth goal, said "At first I was tense, I was nervous. Then I was amazed by the second goal. But after I saw that third goal go in, I thought that we might have a chance. After the fourth, I was ecstatic. And after the fifth, I just couldn't handle it and did what I had to do."

Evem the fans back home couldn't believe it either. With as many as 20,000 fans in total watching it in fan zones in Coventry, Avon, Davenport and Mainsborough, there was no shortage of fans coming together to cheer their team on. We caught up with a group of fans in Coventry, who gave their views on what they had just seen: "That first period was tense, no doubt, but the second one? No words! Seriously, that shot from Meloten at the beginning of the second period? Pure class! Nothing's going to stop us now. Move over Elejamie/Havl, we've got a new best World Cup of Hockey game!"

In a post-match interview, head coach Michael Madgwick said "I will admit that I felt a bit shaky when I rested Toni and put Pedro in. It seemed like it was an idea better suited for a group stage game, not one of the biggest nights of our lives. But he performed very well, especially during that second period where he was pretty much a brick wall. That third period was a bit rough but he kept his nerve, kept his cool, didn't let too many in. I might pick him for the next tournament, I don't know yet."

"How do you feel going into the semi-finals?"

"I ain't going to lie: I'm pretty damn nervous. I don't know who we'll be up against but my best bet is Valanora. Seriously, the Calcuttas have been on point throughout the whole tournament; they breezed through the group stages, only losing one game and they've swept their round of 16 and quarter finals games. But I guess we're doing better on defence, letting in about half as many goals as they have. Our best hope is that we can put more past Lasséseth than they can against Toni."

Elsewhere, hosts Valanora carried on their run of good fortune as they grabbed the other series win of the night, thrashing Neu Engollon 5-2. However, Zenic managed to sneak a goal in as they bagged a 1-0 victory over Ko-oren; whereas the Royal Kingdom of Quebec stepped into overdrive as they beat Nova Anglicana 3-1. Tomorrow sees the Icy Elephants and the Calcuttas take the day off, whereas the Ko-oren/Zenic and Quebec/Nova Anglicana series goes into overtime with game three. Who will be going into the semi-finals? And who will be the last teams to go home? Only time will tell...

Elsewhere in ice hockey news, the Elejamie City Ice Elephants and Edgebaston Shamrocks have both announced their interest in Pracibamian defenceman Neil Cuevas. Cuevas, who was born in Krisþisinam to a Pracib father and Elejamian mother, had been making some waves in the Gloriatran League...

Period			P1	P2	P3	FS
Esparmuran		1	0	2	3
Elejamie		1	4	0	5

by **Kaboomlandia** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:47 pm

Strachan Returns Home

Following the coup in Kaboomlandia, Avon Stars defenseman Derek Strachan has returned to Kaboomlandia to be with his family. "Yeah, I don't want to have to leave the team, but my family needs me back home," Strachan was quoted as saying to the Elejamian media. He has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons, meaning his contract will still be there when he comes back, but his cap hit will not come off the books in his absence.

by **Valanora** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:56 pm

Quarterfinals, Game 3
Ko-oren 0–1 Zenic, Zenic wins series 2-1
Royal Kingdom of Quebec 2–2(2–3 SO) Nova Anglicana, Nova Anglicana wins series 2-1

Semifinals
(1) Valanora v Elejamie (11)
Nova Anglicana (9) v Zenic (10)

Rankings reflect seedings.

by **Zenic** » Thu Oct 08, 2015 5:33 pm

And the curse has been broken, everyone. Zenic has made it to the Semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey for the first time in their history after a 1-0 win in Game 3 of the Quarterfinal series against Ko-oren. We should all be proud of this squad for such an amazing accomplishment.

Game three was the type of win you would call “textbook”: hard defending, quick line changes, efficient passing and game-planning. It was everything from Game 1 and Game 2 wrapped up into one game and amplified to 100% on the excitement scale. Very few low scoring matches are entertaining from beginning to end but this was one of those exceptions, especially since it was between two top-ten teams. Credit needs to be given to Ko-oren who played an absolutely incredible match and could have easily come away with the win. But we, as Zenician and hockey fans, must thank them for lighting a fire under our players by challenging them.

The goal of the game came, fittingly, from Veronica Herut. After having been made the first-line center due to Celso Tennison’s injury, she seemed to have a fire lid inside her and she was incredible this game. It’s the first time in the knockout stages that someone has stepped up to help Tendaji Jernej going forward on offense. She re-directed Ellsworths’ shot at goal 4 minutes into the game to give Zenic an early lead. Herut would then go all over the ice, playing hard on offense and defense, setting an example for the rest of the team. Ko-oren got in several shots throughout the game, including three in the last 1 ½ minutes of the game. But our defense held strong and we skated off with the win and the series.

Now, we move onto our very first semifinals where we take on another surprise entrant: Nova Anglicana. Now, I am not saying they are a bad team: after all, they are ranked 9th in the world. But with the likes of Gregoryisgodistan, Havl, the Royal Kingdom of Quebec, Ko-oren, Esparmuran and others, it certainly would not have been a surprise if Nova Anglicana had not made it. Yet here we are, two nations that most people would not predict to make it this. Here’s a little bit of info on our semifinals opponent.

Nova Anglicana, as stated before, are 9th in the world. They enjoy a balanced style with a slight inclination towards the defense. The squad finished second in their group, finishing behind Gregoryisgodistan. Afterwards, they beat Novaya Zemlya in three games during the Round of 16 before upsetting the Royal Kingdom of Quebec in three games during the Quarterfinals. They haven’t really had too many high-scoring games until the most recent series against Quebec but it means they are a very consistent team, something Zenic is still unsure if it is still consistent. However, considering this Zenic squad has made it farther than any other previous squad who were very consistent, maybe they don't want to be so anymore if it means a chance at a championship.

The only thing certain is that this will be a very interesting series to watch.

-- Pauline Ferzi

Pauline Ferzi is a homegrown talent, having lived most of her life in San Valerie. She attended New Citium University and majored in sports journalism. She joined The Leinz Herald soon after graduation and returned to San Valerie after the Zenic national hockey team’s headquarters and stadium were constructed. She is now the lead reporter on any and all news hockey related and looks to have a promising career.

by **Valanora** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:19 pm

Semifinals, Game 1
Valanora 4–2 Elejamie
Nova Anglicana 1–2 Zenic

by **Valanora** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 4:09 pm

Semifinals, Game 2
Valanora 6–5 Elejamie, Valanora wins series 2-0
Nova Anglicana 0–3 Zenic, Zenic wins series 2-0

Championship Series
Valanora v Zenic

Third Place Series
Elejamie v Nova Anglicana

by **Zenic** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:26 pm

The day is finally upon us, fellow Zenicians: Game 1 of the 28th World Cup of Hockey Finals. And for the first time ever, Zenic will be one of the participants. The Frozen Survivors have had one of their most turbulent editions ever, second only to their first ever WCoH. And yet they have played well when it matters most and arrived at the final stage over many other top tier teams. Now, only one team stands in the way of the Frozen Survivors: the hosts, Valanora.

With a 2-1 win in Game 1 and a 3-0 win in Game 2 of the semifinals series against Nova Anglicana, Zenic convincingly earned their spot in the finals. Two more goals plus an assist for Jernej add to his MVP resume, two goals for Veronica Herut and one for Gianmarco Jekyll while allowing only one goal was a display that proved why Zenic are ranked 4th overall in the world. Nova Anglicana just could not keep up and will now face-off against Elejamie in the 3rd place playoff series. Meanwhile, the nation that beat Elejamie, Valanora, have returned to the final for the first time in 22 years.

Valanora should be a familiar name to most sports fans in Zenic: they are famous for their record tying 5 World Cup titles. However, they are no slouches in ice hockey either as they have won two Winter Olympic Gold medals and hoisted the Don Cherry Cup during WCoH 7, 8 as well as 17, which was the last time Valanora hosted the tournament. They are currently ranked 13th in the world while playing a moderately offensive style. Now, they hope to hoist the Cup in victory for a fourth time in their slow but steady quest to tie Havl’s 4 championships and eventually their eternal sports rivals, Starblaydia in hockey championships as well, who have 5 (all from the WCoH predecessor, the Cherry Cup.).

Another reason this is a tough matchup is that our opponents are Elves, who are known for having extremely long lifespans. So long in fact that everyone who was is on the current WCoH 28 squad were also on the WCoH 17 winning squad and possibly the WCoH 7 and 8 squads (Most of the records for the Cherry Cup and the WCoH before the 9th edition are scattered through the universe due to years of clerical errors). Normally, only a goaltender would be able to remain on a team for that long and only if they started at the age of twenty or younger. Being able to remain at peak condition over centuries is an ability that is made dangerous by the experience the Vanorians have gained from their championships. But it’s a challenge our Frozen Survivors are willing to take on and overcome anyone or anything in their way.

But all of this fact-checking, analyzing and hyping are, in the long run, meaningless. It doesn’t matter who’s been in this spot before, which team has been struggling / on fire or what rank the teams are. This is what makes the finals of the WCoH amazing: it all comes down to playing hard, defending well, fast line changes, precise passing, and scoring goals under pressure, all thanks to both individual and team plays.

The winner of the 28th edition of the World Cup of Hockey will be the national squad that can do all of the aforementioned the best. And I, for one, will be putting my money on Zenic.

-- Pauline Ferzi

Pauline Ferzi is a homegrown talent, having lived most of her life in San Valerie. She attended New Citium University and majored in sports journalism. She joined The Leinz Herald soon after graduation and returned to San Valerie after the Zenic national hockey team’s headquarters and stadium were constructed. She is now the lead reporter on any and all news hockey related and looks to have a promising career.

by **Valanora** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:39 pm

Championship Series, Game 1
Valanora 0–0(0–2 SO) Zenic

3rd Place Series, Game 1
Elejamie 1–1(0–1 SO) Nova Anglicana

by **Zenic** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:47 pm

“You think you’re fit enough to play, Celso?”

This was the question posed by Dr. De See and Head Coach Giehl to first-line center, Celso Tennison. He had left in the third period of the second game against Ko-oren in the Quarterfinals. At first, it was believed to be a neck injury or even a broken shoulder. Finally, it was diagnosed as a dislocated shoulder. Right about this time in the finals was the original period that Dr. De See believed he could return.

“I think so, Coach. It still hurts a bit to lift my right arm above my shoulder but moving it any other way doesn’t hurt at all,” Tennison responded honestly. Dr. De See looked over the medical reports. “In my opinion, there are two options we have here: 1) He continues to sit until he naturally regains full motion and control in his right arm or 2) he give him an injection before game 2 and play him sparingly in the third line.” Giehl weighed the options presented to him. “So either we play it safe or we give him a chance for one game and see what happens. Either way, it’s still a risk: first option, we’re hoping we can continue to do well with two true centers instead of three. In the second option, we risk further injuring one of our best players.”

The room grew quiet for a couple of seconds as each person weighed the risk and benefit of each option. “I’m willing to take the chance,” Tennison said, breaking the silence. “If it’s for one game and he’s played sparingly on the third line, I don’t see a reason to prevent him from playing. I can, in good faith, allow him to play,” spoke Dr. De See. Giehl was the only one who did not speak, continuing to weigh the options carefully. At last, he came to his decision: “Fine, I’ll return Darwin to backup goaltender and place Celso as the third line center for Game 2. Hopefully, I only have to play the third line for 10 or so minutes, which should give him enough time on the ice for us to see just how much Celso has recovered.”

“Sounds like a plan, Coach. Now let’s go out there and win a championship.”

by **Valanora** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 5:49 pm

Championship Series, Game 2
Valanora 0–0(3–2 SO) Zenic, Series tied 1-1

Third Placed Series, Game 2
Elejamie 1–0 Nova Anglicana, Series tied 1-1

by **Zenic** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:56 pm

It is a rare occassion when back to back scoreless games are some of the most entertaining you'll see in a long time. That is the exact scenario we have witnessed in the first two games of the finals of the 28th edition of the World Cup of Hockey.

Both games so far have end in both regulation and overtime at 0-0 thus forcing a shootout to determine who was victorious. In the first game, Zenic was on point converting its first two penalty shots while Captain Olli Piatek emerged the hero of Game 1 by blocking the first two Vanorian shots, winning the game 2-0 in the shootout. In the following game, Valanora and Zenic both made their first two shots in the shootout. For the third set of shots, Amonion Galaethrin converted their penalty while Gulshan Ellsworth's shot was deflected, giving game 2 to Valanora. It has been a bit of a surprise that there haven't been any goals outside of the shootouts so far, considering Valanora is a moderately offensive team and Zenic scores quite a number of goals for a defensive minded team.

Now, we head to Game 3 of the finals in Valanora but it isn't the only Game 3 being played there. Elejamie have forced a Game 3 in the 3rd Place Playoff series against Nova Anglicana and will play a few hours earlier than Game 3 of the Finals. We here at the Leinz Herald suggest watching the match if you can spare that time as Elejamie have played incredibly well the entirety of this tournament while Nova Anglicana have been a bit of a surprise as well. This game will be the last WCoH game to not feature either Zenic or Valanora in two years so it is your last chance to see any other competitors for awhile.The Leinz Herald experts have Elejamie winning 2-1 in Overtime to claim third place.

So far, there really hasn't been anything that Zenic needs to improve on and the news only get better: first-line center Celso Tennison skated competitively for the first time since his injury in Game 2 of the Quarterfinals against Ko-oren. He was placed as the third-line center and was on the ice for approximately 15 minutes in total. He played well but you could still see a grimace on his face every so often and he couldn't get a lot of strength into the few shots he took. However, he almost scored when he redirected a Madeiros shot but it bounced off the post and Suiadan Lasséseth scooped it up. So, all in all, it was a promising return by Tennison. Hopefully he continues to improve as he recovers and can start to make a bigger impact in this series.

For now, all of us in the Empire will have to pray and root for our Frozen Survivors to get two more wins. If they can manage that, they will prove to themselves and the world that Zenic are worthy of being World Champions.

-- Pauline Ferzi

Pauline Ferzi is a homegrown talent, having lived most of her life in San Valerie. She attended New Citium University and majored in sports journalism. She joined The Leinz Herald soon after graduation and returned to San Valerie after the Zenic national hockey team’s headquarters and stadium were constructed. She is now the lead reporter on any and all news hockey related and looks to have a promising career.

by **Nova Anglicana** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 4:24 pm

Lions Face Battle For 3rd Place

Martin Granger, Staff Reporter

In case you haven't been following it, the Nova Anglicana Lions men's hockey team advanced to the semifinals of the 28th World Cup of Hockey after never even making it past the Round of 16 in any previous cup. They succumbed to Zenic in two games, but got a chance to redeem themselves in the 3rd place series against Elejamie. The series is currently tied at one game apiece, with a deciding Game 3 upcoming. The Lions won the first game in a shootout, their 3rd shootout win of the playoffs (this out of five playoff wins). They lost the second game 1-0 and now will play a winner-take-all match tonight.

When asked to explain the Lions' success, captain Troy Parker was stumped. "I really can't pinpoint any one thing. To be honest, it's been kind of weird for us too. It just seemed like we blinked and we were in the semifinals. People always say that a team is 'unconscious' when they're playing well, but it really feels like we've been unconscious the past couple of weeks." The captain laughed. "Maybe that's why we've been able to win all of our shootouts; we can't feel the pressure."

Unconscious or not, the Lions' run has been both mystifying and inspiring. A team that has traditionally struggled in the playoffs and has never been able to find the key goal in the right moment finds itself staring 3rd place in the face. Maybe they got unstuck against Novaya Zemlya, a team that the U20s have had significant success against. Maybe it was vanquishing traditional foe The Royal Kingdom of Quebec in the quarters, a 3-2 shootout victory no less. Maybe it's the renewed effort of Todd Ingram, the always capable but never quite good enough netminder. His 1.07 GAA in the entire tournament is astounding. Ingram credits it to increased training. "You know, I really tried to get better and stronger with my lower half this year. That's always been a weakness, but I think those extra hours are paying off."

They certainly are. The Lions have also benefited from the emergence of their bottom two defensive pairings, Cyrus Lovett and Brian Caldwell and Bo Knudsen and Gabe Holt. Lovett and Knudsen are the bruisers, not afraid to do the dirty work, while Caldwell and Holt threaten opposing goalies as much as they protect their own. Head coach Cecil Palmer hasn't been afraid to put them in against the opponent's top lines, and has even sneaked them in a little on the power play. Whether it's goalies or defensemen, the Lions' ironclad defense has seen them through even as the attack has withered. Let's hope that formula works for one more game.

by **Valanora** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 4:34 pm

"The Calcuttas are trying to make and repeat history here in Stormguard, looking to win their first World Cup of Hockey championship since the last time they hosted the tournament. It has been such a long time since the Calcuttas have won the WCoH tournament that many people have either forgotten or do not think that the Calcuttas are one of the best teams in the World when it comes to the frozen game, despite having also notched three Olympic titles since the last time they added the WCoH trophy to their cabinet."

"Yes, as it has been well documented that since the last time the Calcuttas won the tournament, they have been consistent in their inconsistency, having a very visible yo-yo effect. One tournament they do seem like a team that three WCoH titles and Three Olympic titles, while the next they leave the fans and the world scratching their heads to the talent level as they seem to fall off the face of the world and lose games and series to both good teams and complete nobodies. It is quite the puzzling affair and one that may have contributed to the lack of awe and respect that the hockey community seems to have for the Calcuttas the last few years."

"Through two games of the Championship series, you can see just how much that coming away with this title means to this squad, as many if not all of them have been on the squad during this turbulent years. However it is perhaps a case of trying too hard instead of merely playing the game, letting it come to you, as the side has failed to find the back of the net. That is to take nothing away from the opposition in Zenic, as they are renowned for how well they play defense, but not a single goal through one hundred eighty minutes for this side that is laden with offensive talent has to be worrying and frustrating. They are fortunate that they have met Zenic's own defensive prowess with a sudden surge in their own, as Zenic has been blanked through both games until the shootout as well."

"They are some wondering if the series will see a goal before the shootout at all with how well these two sides have been playing inside their own blue line and some of the amazing saves from the goalies. However as memorable and historic as that might be, I have a feeling that sooner or later these squads will begin to figure each other out and then we will see the goals start to pour in. It may very well be the upcoming pivotal game 3 that we see this, as whoever notches the victory will be just a win away from taking the series and the tournament with them."

"This is where the pressure definitely mounts and you look to your leaders to be your best players, to overcome the obstacles before them and deliver now when the finish line is so close in sight. Zenic should be here, they have been a great side for some time now and the Calcuttas have not, yet our lads have the home crowd behind them and a growing reputation to shake off. By rights Zenic should win this series and be crowned champions of the world, yet like the Marauders before them, the Calcuttas are out to prove that they are still among the power elite and have not had their best by date come and gone by. For that, I think they have just enough determination to overcome the steel curtain of Zenic and take game 3 and then take the series."

by **Valanora** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 4:34 pm

Championship Series, Game 3
Valanora 1–1(1–0 SO) Zenic, Valanora leads series 2-1

Third Place Series, Game 3
Elejamie 0–0(2–1 SO) Nova Anglicana, Elejamie wins series 2-1

by **Zenic** » Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:00 pm

It's do or die time now. Our Frozen Survivors have to now win 2 straight games in order to become world champions.

In Game 3 of the finals, Málassnen Mallithar struck first to put Valanora up 1-0 halfway through the 2nd period. Eventually, Tendaji Jernej level the score with a slap-shot goal with 7 minutes left in the 3rd period. The score remained tied 1-1 through the end of regulation and to the end of overtime. During the shootout, only Imenien Lithloth converted their attempt into a score, giving Valanora the 2-1 lead in the series. Now, a win for Valanora in Game 4 gives them the Don Cherry Cup and their 4th overall championship; a victory for Zenic forces Game 5 and a chance for Zenic to claim their first championship in ice hockey.

Obviously, credit to the Vanorians for showing up and playing hard when it matters. Those players have been here before and it shows as they have skated toe to toe with our top 5 squad. If they truly hope to become champions, they will have to dig deeper within themselves and find that special quality that separates champions from talented teams. That was the one thing that separated Zenic from Valanora in Game 3 and will determine who comes out as champions by the end of this series.

In other news, Elejamie defeated Nova Anglicana 2-1 in a shootout after drawing 0-0 in Game 3 to win 3rd place in the 28th WCoH. Congratulations to a young and talented squad that will hopefully prove some competition for Zenic and force us to continue to get better for the future.

Should everything work out, there could be a future match-up between the rising stars of Elejamie versus the defending world champions Zenic. After all, as my colleague Xavier Magnusson says, anything can happen.

-- Pauline Ferzi

Pauline Ferzi is a homegrown talent, having lived most of her life in San Valerie. She attended New Citium University and majored in sports journalism. She joined The Leinz Herald soon after graduation and returned to San Valerie after the Zenic national hockey team’s headquarters and stadium were constructed. She is now the lead reporter on any and all news hockey related and looks to have a promising career.

World Cup of Hockey 28 (Everything Thread)

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