WCOH 36 Everything Thread

[The South Falls]

The Sporting Times interviews the National Hockey Team

Our reporters cornered the National Hockey team exiting the locker room after their sixth-game win, which kept them in fourth place, and still in the running. They were elated after a win against Austrakia, which was only their second win in this tournament, and their second internationally. While thousands of spectators turned out for the last game, public mood over the national team is one of slight disappointment over their multiple losses. Our reporters have met up with the team to help give the nation a first-hand experience as to the demeanor and methods of the National Hockey Team, leading into their Matchday 7 game tomorrow.

We cornered the Head Coach first, with our own R.A. Taxeron.

Taxerton: Hello, Coach Libertas, how are you?

Libertas: I’m doing fine, Mr. Taxeron. How’s your day been.

T: Silence

L: Well, do you want some tea?

T: We’re conducting an interview, so no. Anyway, the first question. What do you think about your team’s overall performance this cup?

L: I have to approach this question in two parts. Our performance on the field, at the beginning of this cup, was not the best. While we did lose 5-0, and again 6-4, it wasn’t the end for us. Look at us now. We’re in 4th place, and I think we have a great chance of getting into 3rd. We lost to Neu Engollon, but that was a hair-thin loss, and again, it doesn’t mean the end of the world.

T: I see. How do you think that your team can improve going into the next few games?

L: Well, our defensive capabilities were not up to speed in the last few games, but we’re really training and working on those skills in these last three games, now that it really counts. I think we’ll be able to improve enough to win.

T: Alright, that sounds good. How d-

L: Would you like some tea?

T: No, I’m fine.

L: That’s perfectly fine. Cookies?

T: No!

Camera Crew: Giggles, and laughter as people shuffle around.

T: Alright, so how do you feel about your offensive line?

L: I think they’ve been showing out this tournament, and the 20 or so goals we’ve scored are the best that they can do. I think they have room to improve, but they can still do better.

T: For my final question, how do you think your team will finish this final?

L: We’re in fourth place, we’ve got 7 points, and our competition has thirteen. We drew with said competition, and we need to win all of our next games for us to be able to advance. I wish that we were a higher position, but that’s entirely up to us, and our discretion. I believe we will be able to advance to the round of 16, although we have some tough competition. They’re all great teams, but I think we can win.

[Ko-oren]

Parliaments of Ko-oren

Canon #9: Towns of Ko-oren
1. Serevne, Aerellen
2. Almina, Sudaefjoll
3. Angelwoud, Intermare
4. Vurusen, Yoshima
5. Coloruna, Finisterre
6. Cévilliers, Côte Austral
7. Kirgithen, Mayara
8. Strongfair, Gehrenna
9. Tarrashall, West Strand Riding
X. Brighthaven, Surbourneshire
=. Abyss, Surbourneshire
0. Penstead, Mawryshire

[Elejamie]

"... Over to John Daverson with that absolute heartstopper of a match we had last night. John?"

That's right, Steve! Good morning, Elejamie! The Icy Elephants narrowly managed to escape with three points after a nail-biting 6-5 win against the Alpine Union. Elejamie were the favourites going into the match and, indeed, they had won the first encounter 6-2 earlier in the tournament. However, the Bisons seemed to have learned their lessons from their last match and came very close to handing the Icy Elephants their first loss since the opener against Abanhfleft in the last tournament. As always, here are the highlights:

The first period very nearly saw Elejamie get an early lead as, 15 seconds in, Stacy Saunders' opening shot was easily caught by Jenni Kekäläinen, forcing a face-off. The Alpine Union. However, with 14:11 left on the clock, Melania Zyskowska - assisted by her twin sister Emilia Zyskowska as well as line-mate Czeslaw Niemczynowicz - would get her first goal of the evening, with her shot sailing just over Elejamian goalie Adrian Lambert's glove and into the back of the Elejamian net. Fortunately for Coach Madgwick's men, Elejamie were quick to equalise when, 26 seconds later, Cerin Meloten won the face-off and passed the puck over to Anatoly Kasputin; although Kasputin's shot went over the bar, Saunders managed to skate round the back to recover it, eventually slotting it into the back of the net before Kekäläinen could get a skate to it. With 6:51 left in the first period, Pael Atenar and Krzysztof Klepczynski dropped the gloves right after the face-off, a fight that Atenar was just able to win, but apart from that not much happened after the two goals and the first period ended 1-1.

The second period was where the Alpine Union hit their stride while things fell apart for Elejamie. With 17:11 left in the first period, the Alpine Union would regain the lead when Peter Sundin won the face-off and passed it to Fredrika Laine; although Lambert managed to deflect Laine's shot, Anton Lundström's shot would find its way into the back of the net to make it 2-1. Another fight broke out exactly four minutes later, this time between Paul Morton and Arkadiusz Zlomanczuk, although this was more evenly matched and both fighters had to sit out for five minutes. The Alpine Union would go on to score their third goal with 9:44 left in the third period when Czeslaw Niemczynowicz intercepted a pass from George Lincoln and passed it to Emilia Zyskowska, who netted it off the one-timer. Elejamie swiftly pulled one back exactly a minute later, with a well-timed shovel shot and assistance from Stacy Saunders and Greg Warren to make it 3-2. With 6:18 left in the period, Ethan Swinburne was given a minor penalty for hooking Szymon Krzysztalowicz; one minute, thirteen seconds later Melania Zyskowska would score her second goal of the evening on the powerplay thanks to a wrist shot through Lambert's five-hole, assisted by Niemczynowicz and Krzysztalowicz. In the dying seconds of the period, about 13.2 seconds left to be precise, James Han's unassisted slapshot from the point was enough to bring it back to within one, but Elejamie would still be down 4-3 at the end of the second and all seemed lost.

However, Elejamie would make an incredible comeback in the third period, presumably aided by regular backup goalie Pedro Cervantes replacing Adrian Lambert in the net. Stacy Saunders would get his second goal of the evening 45 seconds into the period, when his snapshot caused the puck to bounce off the goalpost and into the opposing goal, levelling the scores. And, though Adam Keane had to spend two minutes in the box for tripping Niemczynowicz, his side was able to kill off the penalty easily. In fact, the Alpine Union wasn't able to get ahead until 12:11 left when Arkadiusz Zlomanczuk buried the puck into the back of the net thanks to a brilliant slapshot and assistance from line-mate Mikko-Petteri Karjanlahti and defenceman Stanislaw Wojciechowski. Their lead was short-lived, however, as exactly four minutes later, Aaron Andrews would level the score again, managing to net the puck again from the point after receiving the puck from James Han who, in turn, intercepted an Alpine pass. And then, with 4:37 left on the clock, Anatoly Kasputin would finally score a goal of his own where, after receiving the puck from Stacy Saunders, he tipped it into the back of the net to give his side a lead for the first time in the match. Despite having a good chance to when, with 2:23 left on the clock, Bill Harrison receiving a two minute minor for slashing Peter Sundin, the Alpine Union were unable to pull one back and the match ended in a 6-5 Elejamie win.

In a post-match interview, head coach Michael Madgwick said "That was extremely tense. And while I'm glad we came away with the win, we made a few errors that gave them the edge. I take full responsibility for resting Peter, since he's been starting for the past six games and Pedro said that he still wanted to stay on the bench for this game. That being said, well done to Stacy for his couple of goals and couple of assists, well done to James, Aaron, Cerin and Anatoly for their single goals and well done to the Alpine Union for a brilliant performance. A round of applause for them."

"How do you think you'll fare in your second game against Tobiasia?"

"Ideally, we should be a lot better here. We should learn from the mistakes we've made here. We dropped a couple of points unnecessarily against Neo-Romanum. We very nearly came close to repeating that here. And while we did beat them 2-1 back in Hannasea during that perfect run we did, it was only after they lead for most of the match and our two goals came in the third period. We beat them 2-1 here as well but they kept us scoreless in the first and we scored a goal each in the other two periods whereas they scored their a few minutes from the end. And, hopefully, we won't get a third 2-1 win."

Elsewhere, it was goals galore as Tobiasia thrashed Neo-Romanum 8-2 whereas Ko-oren grabbed a second consecutive 4-0 win, this time against Kilaguni. And, as we look at the table, we can see that Elejamie remain at the top with 19 points, whereas the Alpine Union remain in second with 13 points. Tobiasia and Ko-oren are third and fourth respectively, both with 12 points, although Tobiasia are ahead thanks to point difference; +10 compared to +8. Neo-Romanum remain in fifth place with one win and two draws making up 5 points. And Kilaguni are still in last place with 0 points.

And so, looking at today's games, we have the Alpine Union trying to make a comeback in their game against Kilaguni, who desperately needs a point; and Ko-oren hoping to keep their winning streak going in their game against Neo-Romanum. But most importantly we have Elejamie vs Tobiasia. Will the Icy Elephants make a comeback from their near-miss last evening? Or will Tobiasia finally get one over us? Find out on Puck Drop!

The Elejamie/Alpine Union game wasn't the only high-scoring nail-biter on the cards, ladies and gentlemen, as Group 5 gave us Cosumar vs Anthor Round 2, with Cosumar winning 7-6. The last time these two teams met was earlier in the group state, where the Ducks and the Ice Dragons played out a 6-6 draw...

---

Period			P1	P2	P3	FS
Alpine Union		1	3	1	5
Elejamie		1	2	3	6

Three Stars:
Stacy Saunders (EJM) (2G, 2A, 4 points)
Czeslaw Niemczynowicz (UAR) (0G, 3A, 2 points)
James Han (EJM) (1G, 1A, 2 points)

[Neu Engollon]

Monk’s Garden
Pine Park, Geneva
Geneva, Neu Engollon

He walked quickly, as he usually did during their sessions in the park. It was not because he wanted to get through it quickly, as he knew he would get his couple hours in no matter what. He wanted to map out as much as he could and continue to judge distances.
Celeste, for her part, got used to his odd behavior and tried to take it in stride, but she still pointed it out from time to time.
“You don’t have to go so fast, Walt. We have all the time we need. You can see it all.”

“Again, I’m sorry, Dr. Celeste. I just like to keep moving, to keep stretching my legs and to take it all in.”
He did stop, at times, at certain vantage points, but he did his best to make sure that he was looking at Dr. Celeste, with the view he wanted behind her. He took many mental photos that way.

“Do you feel like you’re maybe fleeing something in a sense? Poor choices, perhaps?”

Walther laughed. “Oh, please. You never cease with the shrinking, do you?”

“Walt, we have to get some work in here. That’s the point of these little jaunts, right?”

“You’re asking me?”

“I’m asking if you understand the point. I have explained it many times, but I need you to confirm that you understand that we need to get something in return for your bouts of freedom.”

“I understand that that is how you rationalize brief moments of humane treatment in an otherwise illegal imprisonment resultant of a traumatic kidnapping.”

“Oh, Walt. I feel like we’re backsliding here. I’m not going to justify that statement. You’re imprisonment is the consequence of your own actions. You spied for your country. I won’t take that away from you, you were given orders, but you still made a choice to follow them.”

“Hypothetically, if I did as you said, wouldn’t I have been a little more subtle than tumbling down a hill into the middle of a secret military installation surrounded by thousands of skiing fans? I mean, it’s all really ludicrous. I wonder what the WA thinks of the whole situation?”

“The circumstances of your apprehension are a bit odd, I will admit, but if you weren’t caught then, don’t you think it would have happened eventually? The WA doesn’t intercede in espionage cases.”

“I think that my delegation would have racked up some medals and gone home, me with it. They did go home, I just wasn’t allowed to go back with them over the border.”

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you? You were captured with spy gear, from the reports I read.”

“I was beat up by your goons because I had a cell phone with a camera. Something that everyone has these days. Something that the thousands of ski fans and event staff I mentioned had on them.”

“You really do strive to make yourself some kind of innocent victim. Do you feel that your reality is more valid than that of our teams?”

“I think you’re turning simple entrapment into a complex plot, like they are all doing, like your superiors have told you to do.”

What he really needed to see was some sign that his side might be watching and waiting for a moment to take him back. He knew there were BND teams in Geneva. They had to know this was one of the likely spots he would turn up. Were they even looking for him anymore? How would he even recognize such a sign?

“I see. I think we need to return back to the facility. It may be a while before we return.”

“Do you really have to do that? You’re overreacting, Doc.”

“We need to talk in a more controlled environment for a while. This is earned privilege, Walt, not a given.”

Nothing he said could stop her from committing to this course, but he also was sick of trying to play along with the lies. Yes, he was a spy, but so what? He hadn’t actually been spying when he was caught, so he had a leg to stand on in his mind. He took his last breaths of fresh air for a while. He would work his way back, but until then, he had to work hard to remember it all.

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

OOC: I'm gonna try something different, instead of an article in a newpaper it's a match description on tv

Larry Gallagher (commentator): Tonight's starting goalies are Adrian Lambert for Elejamie and Jenni Kekäläinen for the Bisons.
Barry Coleman (play by play guy): The puck is dropped Czeslaw Niemczynowicz wins the faceoff Wojciechowski with the puck he passes to Krzysztalowicz who passes to... it's intercepted by Kasputin. He passes to Saunders he shoots and Kekäläinen makes the save.
Larry Gallagher(commentator): Good play by Anatoly Kasputin on the forecheck who stole Krzysztalowicz 's pass intended to Emilia Zyskowska and nice shot by Stacy Saunders. luckily Jenni Kekäläinen made the save. 19:45 remaining in the 1st period, we're gonna have a faceoff in Alpine territory.

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

(In the 2nd period)

Barry: Karjanlahti passes the puck to Wiktorsson who skates along the... oh my what a hit by Morton.. and now Zlomanczuk and Morton drop the gloves... they're holding each other... Zlomanczuk hits Morton on the helmet... and now Morton hits Zlomanczuk... the referrees are separating them.
Larry: It was a legal hit by Paul Morton on Hampus Wiktorsson along the boards...Arkadiusz Zlomanczuk went chirping at Morton and both players agreed to fight! Both will get five minutes for fighting.

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

(During the intermission between the 2nd and 3rd period)

Ron Blueberry (in studio): I hope you're enjoying the game as much as I do! The Alpine Union is leading 4-3 and we got two fights so far.. let's hope for more in the 3rd period, we need more old time hockey like this! Since the creation of the Alpine Hockey League with players from what was called Prusy Krolewskie, hockey has become too soft. Since women started playing hockey with men, hockey has become too soft. Prussians are too soft and women are too soft.

Seeing two fights today against Elejamie made me remember how much I miss the Southern Hockey League back in the days when we had an average of 3 or 4 fights per game. Now in the AHL with prussians, bothnians and women it’s 1 fight every 3 games. The only prussian who play real hockey like men is Arkadiusz Zlomanczuk who fought against Paul Morton tonight. The other prussians are all pus****. It’s time we get rid of prussians and bothnians and women and go back to old time hockey with teams only in the former Southern Democratic States!

Same can be said internationally. Nations like Valanora should be banned from playing hockey! Even South Covello has become too soft and Québec aren’t fighting as much as they used to. It’s time we go back to old time hockey!

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

(Start of the 3rd period)

Barry: wow did you heard what Ron said during the intermission?
Larry: Yeah... well he's been saying the same for 50 years.. he's just an old senile analyst I wonder why he's still on tv.
Barry: well I'm not agree with him all the time but I love his flashy outfits!
Larry: We have a goalie change for Elejamie... Pedro Cervantes will be in the net for the 3rd period. let's go to a commercial break and the 3rd period is starting right after the break!

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

(With less than 5 minutes remaining in the 3rd period)

Barry : Saunders skates with the puck and he passes to Kasp oh crap… he tipped the puck in the back of the net and Elejamie takes the lead.
Larry : Great play by Saunders and Kasputin. Elejamie is now leading for the first time in the game and the Bisons have to come back. We need a goal to tie the game and there's only 4 minutes left.

(At the end of the 3rd period)

Barry: Only 15 seconds remaing, Emilia with the puck, she passes to Melania who shoots. Cervantes makes the save and gives the puck to Lupe who clears the puck along the boards. Krzysztalowicz takes the puck in his own zone and passes to Wojciechowski who skates with the puck and shoots from center ice as the game ends. The Alpine Union lost 6-5.
Larry: Well this game will become a classic in World Cup history with lots of goals and fight.. well too much fights in my opinion but it's one of the best group stage game I've seen in a World Cup. It's too bad we lost it. Now the three stars of the game... the 3rd star is James Han, from Elejamie, with 1 goal and 1 assist... The 2nd star is Naprzod Ozorkow star Czeslaw Niemczynowicz with 3 assists ... And the 1st star it's not a surprise... Stacy Saunders with 2 goals and 2 assists.

[-Anthor-]

World Cup of Hockey 36
Match Day 8 Cutoff
Host Note: This cutoff was delayed due to the downtime NS experienced last night during what would have been the cutoff. The rest of the Cup will be pushed back a singular day, apologies in advance.

Group 1
Free Republics 2–4 Neu Engollon
Mercedini 6–2 Austrakia
Detroit-Sud 0–2 The South Falls

  Group 1                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Neu Engollon                                8    7   0   1    31   21  +10    21   
2 Mercedini                                   8    6   0   2    37   20  +17    18  
3 Free Republics                              8    4   1   3    28   25   +3    13    
4 The South Falls                             8    3   1   4    24   22   +2    10   
5 Austrakia                                   8    2   0   6    18   28  −10     6     
6 Detroit-Sud                                 8    1   0   7     9   31  −22     3

Group 2
Kilaguni 2–4 Alpine Union
Elejamie 3–1 Tobiasia
Neo-Romanum 1–7 Ko-oren

  Group 2                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Elejamie                                    8    7   1   0    27   11  +16    22
2 Alpine Union                                8    5   1   2    33   24   +9    16
3 Ko-oren                                     8    5   0   3    23    9  +14    15
4 Tobiasia                                    8    4   0   4    25   17   +8    12
5 Neo-Romanum                                 8    1   2   5    15   37  −22     5
6 Kilaguni                                    8    0   0   8     8   33  −25     0

Group 3
Ranoria 1–3 Abanhfleft
South Covello 2–2 Kita-Hinode
Halfdansodal 2–3 Cassadaigua

  Group 3                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Abanhfleft                                  8    7   0   1    32   15  +17    21
2 Kita-Hinode                                 8    5   1   2    26   11  +15    16
3 Cassadaigua                                 8    5   0   3    29   21   +8    15
4 South Covello                               8    4   1   3    14   10   +4    13
5 Halfdansodal                                8    1   0   7    13   35  −22     3
6 Ranoria                                     8    1   0   7    10   32  −22     3

Group 4
Lycrabon 3–6 Banija
Valanora 3–6 Equestrian States
Jebslund 2–9 Thibaea

  Group 4                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Valanora                                    8    5   2   1    29   19  +10    17
2 Equestrian States                           8    5   1   2    34   19  +15    16
3 Thibaea                                     8    5   0   3    42   24  +18    15
4 Banija                                      8    5   0   3    25   20   +5    15
5 Lycrabon                                    8    0   3   5    24   48  −24     3
6 Jebslund                                    8    0   2   6    16   40  −24     2

Group 5
Lochario 0–2 Cosumar
Anthor 7–2 The Sherpa Empire
Benin-Togo 0–5 Gergary

  Group 5                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Cosumar                                     8    6   2   0    45   29  +16    20
2 Anthor                                      8    6   1   1    43   23  +20    19
3 The Sherpa Empire                           8    4   1   3    29   24   +5    13
4 Gergary                                     8    3   1   4    18   20   −2    10
5 Lochario                                    8    1   2   5    16   30  −14     5
6 Benin-Togo                                  8    0   1   7    18   43  −25     1

Group 6
Krenorus 1–0 Qasden
Savojarna 6–1 Razenthuria
New Jarwel 3–5 North Prarie

  Group 6                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Razenthuria                                 8    6   0   2    27   17  +10    18
2 Savojarna                                   8    5   1   2    33   19  +14    16
3 Qasden                                      8    5   1   2    25   17   +8    16
4 North Prarie                                8    4   0   4    26   24   +2    12
5 Krenorus                                    8    2   0   6    14   31  −17     6
6 New Jarwel                                  8    1   0   7    14   31  −17     3

Group 7
Routcher 2–5 Cosneolta
Vilitia & Turori 6–2 St.Saratoga
Mapletish 3–5 Northwest Kalactin

  Group 7                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Vilitia & Turori                            8    8   0   0    35    9  +26    24
2 Cosneolta                                   8    6   0   2    32   14  +18    18
3 Northwest Kalactin                          8    4   1   3    32   20  +12    13
4 St.Saratoga                                 8    4   1   3    23   23    0    13
5 Mapletish                                   8    1   0   7    17   38  −21     3
6 Routcher                                    8    0   0   8    12   47  −35     0

Group 8
Maryloupe 3–8 Royal Kingdom of Quebec
Novaya Zemlya 5–4 Siovanija & Teusland
Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland 1–5 United States of Devonta

  Group 8                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Novaya Zemlya                               8    7   1   0    29   11  +18    22
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec                     8    6   0   2    35   19  +16    18
3 Siovanija & Teusland                        8    5   0   3    34   16  +18    15
4 United States of Devonta                    8    4   0   4    22   24   −2    12
5 Maryloupe                                   8    1   1   6    14   36  −22     4
6 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland    8    0   0   8    10   38  −28     0

[Savojarna]

SavojarSports.sj - inside reports from all Savojarna
Unlikely help puts Savojarna on the KO spot

The vague and careful optimism of the last round against Qasden gave way to a hockey enthusiasm that had previously been lacking in the Savojar fan base as they dominated Razenthuria from the beginning and took second place thanks to an unexpected loss of Qasden against Krenorus. The Krenorussians, who had lost a hard-fought and at times ugly clash with Savojarna rather clearly, edged out a 1-0 victory over the second-placed team of the group. The help they gave to the Savojars with that victory is rather ironic given the tense atmosphere between the two countries following their own match, in which Krenorussian fans insulted the Savojar players rudely and homophobically, leading to some altercations between fan groups in the streets. With the victory over Qasden, however, they will have redeemed themselves in the eyes of Savojarna, placing the Northlights' fate in their own hands again.

Thanks to a spectacular 6-1 against leaders Razenthuria, the Savojars took the second spot ahead of Qasden, leading their pursuitors in both goal difference and head-to-head. The match was a great display not only of the defence, who almost shut the Razens out and only conceded one goal in the second period, but also by the first line led by a brilliant Mikko Simonen and a Pavel Rasnikov in his best form who could utilise the lethal passes of Simonen to two goals. The fourth line contributed their part in the rough moments of the game, as Elyagin finished a Razen phase of strength with a rebound that he pushed over the line to the 2-0. This goal shortly after the beginning of the second period seemed to have broken the spirits of Razenthuria, who gave up two more goals in the next five minutes by the hands of Rasnikov and Victor Troels.

Following the 4-0, and knowing about the standings in the group, Savojarna let up a little and focused on managing the lead, giving up only one goal in the second period and scoring two more in the final one, again by Rasnikov with a one-timer and Stefansson with a beautiful wristshot to the near top corner. The man of the match was Mikko Simonen with three assists, orchestrating the attack of the first line and leading to another spectacular victory of a rather defensively oriented Savojar side, but wih a powerful offence that can strike fear into every opponent. With this result, the Savojars now have a major chance to secure at least a good shot at qualification, if not even to the first place, with a win against North Prairie while Razenthuria and Qasden face each other. This means that if Savojarna win the game, they will remain second for sure and take over the lead if Razenthuria don't win. With the final opponent being New Jarwel, this places a great shot at a last-minute-save in Savojarna's hands.

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

The Alpine Union beats Kilaguni

Avon City, Anthor - (NAP) After an heartbreaking loss against Elejamie, the Alpine Union played against winningless Kilaguni and beat them 4-2. For this game, coach Otto Klötzer decided to rest Jenni Kekäläinen and start Grzegorz Grzegorczyk in goal. With 14 minutes remaining in the 1st period, 4th Line Center dumps the puck in Alpine zone. Czeslaw Szerszenowicz and 4th Line Right Wing battles with the puck in the corner. 4th Line Right Wing comes out with the puck and passed to 4th Line Left Wing in front of the net who shoots the puck. Grzegorz Grzegorczyk makes the save but the puck is loose just in front of him. 4th Line Left Wing takes it and shoot it in the net. It's a goal and Kilaguni is leading 1-0. 5 minutes later, Krzysztof Klepczynski passed to Peter Sundin who carries the puck in Kilaguni's territory. Sundin shoots, Starting Goalie makes the save but doesn't control the rebound. Anton Lundström takes the rebound and shoot the puck into the net and the game is tied at 1-1! With less than 3 minutes remaining in the first period, Samuel Schöpf passed the puck to Czeslaw Szerszenowicz who shoots the puck from center ice and the puck is in! Starting Goalie looked weak on this shot and the Alpine Union is leading 2-1.

With 12 minutes remaining in the 2nd period, 1st Line Right Wing is on a breakaway and he's tripped by Krzysztof Klepczynski. It's a penalty shot for Kilaguni. 1st Line Right wing executes the penalty shot, he tries the five hole and he scores, the game is tied again at 2-2. 4 minutes later, Kilaguni is penalised for too many men on the ice and the Alpine Union goes on a power play! A minute later, Szymon Krzysztalowicz skates with the puck and passed it to Emilia Zyskowska who passed back to Szymon Krzysztalowicz. Krzysztalowicz passed to Stanislaw Wojciechowski who shoots wide left. Melania Zyskowska takes the lose puck and passed to Czeslaw Niemczynowicz who shoots and scores! The Bisons are now leading 3-2!

With 17 minutes left in the 3rd period Emilia Zyskowska shoots and Starting Goalie makes the save. Goalie gives the puck to 2nd Line Right Defenseman who tries to pass to 1st Line Right Wing but Melania Zyskowska intercepts the pass and passed to Emilia Zyskowska who shoots and scores! The Reprezentacja Alpejski takes a 4-2 lead and this is the final score!

With the Alpine's win against Kilaguni, Elejamie's win over Tobiasia and Ko-oren's win against Neo-Romanum, the Icy Elephants are still first with 22 points. The Bisons and Ko-oren have 16 and 15 points respectively and Tobiasia still has 12 points. The Alpine's next game is "away" against Tobiasia while Ko-oren and Elejamie will play each other. This is a crucial game for the Alpine Union.

BOXSCORE

1st period
14:19 - 4th Line Left Wing assisted by 4th Line Right Wing
8:54 - Anton Lundström assisted by Peter Sundin and Krzysztof Klepczynski
2:38 - Czeslaw Szerszenowicz assisted by Samuel Schöpf

2nd period
11:46 - 1st Line Right wing (penalty shot)
6:35 - Czeslaw Niemczynowicz assisted by Melania Zyskowska and Stanislaw Wojciechowski (PPG)

3rd period
17:10 - Emilia Zyskowska assisted by Melania Zyskowska

[Northwest Kalactin]

As the Northwest Kalactanians celebrate another win here could we be considering that they can make it to the knockout round. Some people say we can others say that our team is playing well although their not good enough to do that. Hopefully the kalactanians can prove those people wrong and win the World Cup of hockey. Our team has a strong defense this year although we haven’t been playing like that lately. Anyways we are tied with st Saratoga going in to the final few mathches and go Northwest Kalactin.

[Neu Engollon]

NESA Prison
Geneva

The guard's attitude had definitely been, if not nice, at least neutral. It had improved as Celeste had said it would. They weren't outwardly vocally and mildly physically abusive anymore, although he caught an occasional mumble. He hadn't griped about it, but it was more than fine with him. He didn't need sunny and happy, but being cussed and berated several times a day had gotten old.

"They're in there." The guard nodded to the door.

"Who is in there?"

"Your people, dammit!"

Walther blinked. His people? Was this a trick and they were going to torture him finally? It wasn't the regular session room he saw Dr. Celeste. In fact, he had been clued in earlier when they took a different route to what appeared to be another wing he'd never been taken before.

The guard was getting annoyed by his inaction. "Get in there! I know you speak English."

Walther inhaled, then turned the handle on the door.
It was an interrogation room much like one might see in the cinema. A beat up metal table with a myriad of scratches and dents was bolted to the center of the floor. 3 grey plastic lawn style chairs that were so flimsy they would struggle to hold the weight of a person over 100 kg were arrayed around the table.

Two of those chairs, on the same side of the table, were occupied by two men in professional suits. Their appearance immediately screamed out barrister to him, but subtle differences that only a man in his profession might recognize, like mannerisms and accessory details, indicated they were not exactly on the same team.
When he entered, they both stood up to greet him.

"Mr. Liebsgott, I'm Frederik Reyner, from the Austrakische - Maderaner Rechtsverteidigungruppe (Austrak - Madurin Legal Defense Group). I'm the attorney sent by our embassy. It's a pleasure to meet such a maligned average patriot such as yourself..."

Walther held in a smirk. This was indeed 'his people'. The Legal Defense Group was a front for the BND, yet any officer within their ranks was a fully licensed, bar passed attorney that could practice in multiple jurisdictions across the Madurin continent. Who was the other then?

"...May I introduce Jean Woulin, my co-counsel, appointed by the 8th District of the Federal Court of the Confederacy."

The look said it all. Reyner could not communicate freely as they had appointed a legal sham monitor to him that would likely report everything said and done on Walther's behalf.
So they had finally let in the Austraks and were acquiescing to international pressure, but not without heavy monitoring. It wasn't an unexpected tactic, but it was certainly underhanded of them to undermine the legal process in this way.

" Mr. Liebsgott? It's an honor to finally meet you." The Neu Engollian Woulin stuck out his hand. Walther begrudgingly took it.
" I look forward to us being able to plead your case and get you out of here."

"Sure you do." Walt didn't bother hiding the dripping sarcasm in his voice.

The younger Neu Engollian nodded, tactfully ignoring the attitude.
"Let's sit."
He motioned to the chair on the other side of the table.

[Ko-oren]

Aminey

Canon #X: History of Ko-oren
1. Leeshire Caves
2. Ko-oren City Ruins (at Gehrenna)
3. Open Air Ancient History Museum - Marinwood
4. Aminey City Museum
5. State Library of Mayara
6. Old Parliament of Gehrenna
7. Linguistic Museum - Willowbourne
8. Laringen Harbour Ruins
9. Maethoru City Centre
X. Open Air Modern History Museum - Amillon
=. Schemerdrecht Steam Terminal
0. Traditional Arts and Culture Festival - Llandy

[-Anthor-]

World Cup of Hockey 36
Match Day 9 Cutoff

Group 1
Detroit-Sud 2–5 Free Republics
The South Falls 2–3 Mercedini
Austrakia 1–5 Neu Engollon

  Group 1                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Neu Engollon                                9    8   0   1    36   22  +14    24   
2 Mercedini                                   9    7   0   2    40   22  +18    21  
3 Free Republics                              9    5   1   3    33   27   +6    16    
4 The South Falls                             9    3   1   5    26   25   +1    10   
5 Austrakia                                   9    2   0   7    19   33  −14     6     
6 Detroit-Sud                                 9    1   0   8    11   36  −25     3

Group 2
Neo-Romanum 0–0 Kilaguni
Ko-oren 0–7 Elejamie
Tobiasia 9–3 Alpine Union

  Group 2                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Elejamie                                    9    8   1   0    34   11  +23    25
2 Alpine Union                                9    5   1   3    36   33   +3    16
3 Tobiasia                                    9    5   0   4    34   20  +14    15
4 Ko-oren                                     9    5   0   4    23   16   +7    15
5 Neo-Romanum                                 9    1   3   5    15   37  −22     6
6 Kilaguni                                    9    0   1   8     8   33  −25     1

Group 3
Ranoria 1–3 Abanhfleft
South Covello 2–2 Kita-Hinode
Halfdansodal 2–3 Cassadaigua

  Group 3                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Abanhfleft                                  9    8   0   1    38   18  +20    24
2 Kita-Hinode                                 9    5   1   3    29   17  +12    16
3 South Covello                               9    5   1   3    18   11   +7    16
4 Cassadaigua                                 9    5   0   4    30   25   +5    15
5 Ranoria                                     9    2   0   7    13   34  −21     6
6 Halfdansodal                                9    1   0   8    15   38  −23     3

Group 4
Jebslund 4–4 Lycrabon
Thibaea 3–1 Valanora
Equestrian States 0–1 Banija

  Group 4                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Thibaea                                     9    6   0   3    45   25  +20    18
2 Banija                                      9    6   0   3    26   20   +6    18
3 Valanora                                    9    5   2   2    30   22   +8    17
4 Equestrian States                           9    5   1   3    34   20  +14    16
5 Lycrabon                                    9    0   4   5    28   52  −24     4
6 Jebslund                                    9    0   3   6    20   44  −24

Group 5
Benin-Togo 1–0 Lochario
Gergary 0–3 Anthor
The Sherpa Empire 4–2 Cosumar

  Group 5                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Anthor                                      9    7   1   1    46   23  +23    22
2 Cosumar                                     9    6   2   1    47   33  +14    20
3 The Sherpa Empire                           9    5   1   3    33   26   +7    16
4 Gergary                                     9    3   1   5    18   23   −5    10
5 Lochario                                    9    1   2   6    16   31  −15     5
6 Benin-Togo                                  9    1   1   7    19   43  −24     4

Group 6
New Jarwel 0–6 Krenorus
North Prarie 1–4 Savojarna
Razenthuria 3–1 Qasden

  Group 6                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Razenthuria                                 9    7   0   2    30   18  +12    21
2 Savojarna                                   9    6   1   2    37   20  +17    19
3 Qasden                                      9    5   1   3    26   20   +6    16
4 North Prarie                                9    4   0   5    27   28   −1    12
5 Krenorus                                    9    3   0   6    20   31  −11     9
6 New Jarwel                                  9    1   0   8    14   37  −23     3

Group 7
Mapletish 5–3 Routcher
Northwest Kalactin 1–3 Vilitia & Turori
St.Saratoga 2–5 Cosneolta

  Group 7                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Vilitia & Turori                            9    9   0   0    38   10  +28    27
2 Cosneolta                                   9    7   0   2    37   16  +21    21
3 Northwest Kalactin                          9    4   1   4    33   23  +10    13
4 St.Saratoga                                 9    4   1   4    25   28   −3    13
5 Mapletish                                   9    2   0   7    22   41  −19     6
6 Routcher                                    9    0   0   9    15   52  −37     0

Group 8
Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland 4–0 Maryloupe
United States of Devonta 0–5 Novaya Zemlya
Siovanija & Teusland 1–4 Royal Kingdom of Quebec

  Group 8                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Novaya Zemlya                               9    8   1   0    34   11  +23    25
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec                     9    7   0   2    39   20  +19    21
3 Siovanija & Teusland                        9    5   0   4    35   20  +15    15
4 United States of Devonta                    9    4   0   5    22   29   −7    12
5 Maryloupe                                   9    1   1   7    14   40  −26     4
6 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland    9    1   0   8    14   38  −24     3

[Elejamie]

"... Some brilliant news in the sports now, so we now go over to John Daverson. John?"

That's right, Steve! Good morning, Elejamie! The Icy Elephants have confirmed their place in the Round of 16 thanks to a 7-0 win over Ko-oren. Elejamie had won the first game 5-0 and, indeed, were the favourites going into the match, although Ko-oren were on a three-game winning streak - two 4-0 wins against Tobiasia and Kilaguni, as well as a 7-1 victory over Neo-Romanum the day before - and it seemed like they could keep the streak going against a powerful opponent. However, the loss of usual starting goalie Hartwig Kersegaard due to illness, proved to be a bad omen as the Dragonflies were slaughtered on the ice and would need to win their next game to have a chance of qualifying for the next round. Here are the highlights:

The first period saw Elejamie go down a player relatively quickly when, 15 seconds into the period, Adam Keane was sent to the box for interference. Fortunately, not only was his side was able to kill off the penalty, but they'd also get a shorthanded goal exactly a minute into the period, with Stacy Saunders burying the puck into the back of the net thanks to a slapshot from the point and assistance from Cerin Meloten and Lupe. The first Ko-orenite shot on net, however, wouldn't come until three and a third minutes in, when Uvantas Aemilor's wrist shot was easily by Peter Berg. And things went from bad to worse for the Dragonflies when Goran Magnusson was given a minor penalty for slashing Carlos Sierra, although fortunately his side was able to kill off the penalty. The second Elejamian goal would come with 7:47 left, when Lucas Madgwick was on the breakaway and his backhander went in between Bergland's legs and into the back of the net; Paul Morton and Greg Warren were credited with assists. However, other than Warren's defensive partner George Lincoln getting sent to the box for two minutes when he tripped Reimar Lipman, not much else happened and, eventually, the period came to a close with Elejamie being 2-0 up.

The second period was more of the same for the Icy Elephants. With 17:13 left in the period, Paul Morton was given a double minor for high-sticking Eckhard Juste, although fortunately his side was able to kill off both penalties. Indeed, at some point during Morton's double minor, Winand Nedergard was sent to the box as well, albeit as a single minor for slashing Cerin Meloten; his side was able to kill off the penalty as well. Halfway through the period - with 10:11 left on the clock, to be precise - Elejamie would score goal number three when Aaron Andrews' simple wrist shot, assisted by Ethan Swinburne and Adam Keane, bounced off the post before hitting the back of the Ko-orenite net. Shortly afterwards, Elis Linddal would be given a penalty for interference, although his side wouldn't be so lucky; twenty seconds into the penalty kill, Elejamie would score again thanks to a one-timer from captain Anatoly Kasputin and assistance from Cerin Meloten and, again, Adam Keane. The rest of the period was a quiet affair and, when it came to an end, Elejamie were leading 4-0 and all seemed lost for Ko-oren.

The third period saw a change of goalies as Bergland was swapped out for Aeiniv Aovena. And at first it seemed to have worked as Aovena was able to save every shot the opposition fired at the Ko-orenite net. However, Cerin Meloten would go on to score a goal of his own with 14:11 left in the period, when he intercepted a pass from Lothar Vogelzang to Daniel Oostberg and managed to deke it into the back of the Ko-orenite net to make it 5-0 to Elejamie. This would become 6-0 exactly eight minutes later thanks to a snapshot from Bill Harrison and assistance from line-mates Lucas Madgwick and Paul Morton. With a minute to go, Aovena was pulled and replaced by an extra attacker. It didn't seem to have done much, as Danilo Barajas would go on to score an empty netter 20.4 seconds from time, assisted by his twin brother Felipe as well as Pael Atenar, by simply tipping the puck into the net. Eventually, when the klaxon went, Elejamie had not only won their game 7-0 but had also won their group with a game left to go.

In a post-match interview, head coach Michael Madgwick said "That was a brilliant game. No words for it, just sheer class. A brilliant goal each from Anatoly, Cerin, Stacy, Lucas, Bill, Aaron and Danilo, as well as a hearty congratulations to those who assisted them. However the real star of the show was our very own Peter Berg. Saving skills that proved he's a worthy successor to Toni Cervantes; an absolute cool head when it seemed like they'd score and just talent all-round. A round of applause to him and a round of applause to our defence. Next question."

"Who do you think will be joining you in the next round?"

"Probably the Alpine Union. They're a good team, they're full of good players. And while they may have taken a couple of unfortunate losses, such as the 6-2 and 6-5 defeats to us, I have a feeling that they might have what it takes to move past this stage. They've done it before and I have a feeling they'll do it again. I'm not discounting Tobiasia breaking the curse or Ko-oren returning to how they were many moons ago, but I have more faith in the Alpine Union going through."

Meanwhile in the other Group 2 games, Kilaguni got their first ever World Cup of Hockey point as they held Neo-Romanum to a goalless draw, whereas the Alpine Union were on the receiving end of a shocking 9-3 defeat to Tobiasia. And as we look over at the table, we can clearly see that Elejamie are unable to be dislodged from the top spot, with eight wins and a single draw giving them an unmoveable 25 points and, as previously mentioned, the group title. The Alpine Union remain in an unsteady second place, still with 16 points. Tobiasia has regained their third place spot from Ko-oren, who now reside in fourth, thanks to that win; although both teams are on 15 points, Tobiasia are ahead on point difference. Neo-Romanum have essentially been eliminated, with 6 points coming from a single win and three draws. And Kilaguni remain in last place, albeit with a single point thanks to that draw last night.

Over to tonight's games and, of course, we have the Elejamie-Neo Romanum match-up that you can catch on Puck Drop, where the Icy Elephants will see if they can make up for that disappointing draw last time. However, the excitement doesn't stop there as we have the two big games: The Alpine Union vs Ko-oren and Kilaguni vs Tobiasia. Two big games to determine who'll be joining Elejamie in the next round, other than the already-eliminated Kilaguni. It's anyone's game, folks.

Elsewhere, Vilita and Turori carry on their amazing winning streak thanks to a 3-1 win over Northwest Kalactin. The Ice Cat Things, who were bronze medallists in the last competition and winners of the tournament before, had won the first leg 5-0, were expected to get the double over their opponents...

---

Period			P1	P2	P3	FS
Elejamie		2	2	3	7
Ko-oren			0	0	0	0

Three Stars:
Peter Berg (EJM) (17 shots allowed, 17 saved, 100SV%)
Cerin Meloten (EJM) (1G, 2A, 3 points)
Lucas Madgwick (EJM) (1G, 1A, 2 points)

[The Sherpa Empire]

----o-֎-o----‭

‭Shuang Gao was feeling good as he made his way back to the locker room. The Sherpa national hockey team had just won an upset victory against the highly-regarded team from Cosumar. His teammates were chattering happily in a variety of languages and patting each other on the back. Gao pulled out his phone to see if he had missed any calls or texts while he was out on the ice, not expecting to have any. He did a double-take. 14 new voicemail, plus a bunch of other missed calls and texts. "What the hell?" he said.

‭"What?" said Suhrawardy.

‭Gao showed Suhrawardy his phone.

‭"Whoa, that's a lot of missed calls," said Suhrawardy.

‭"I know," said Gao. "And I have no idea what they're about." He checked to see who the voicemails were from. Most of them were from his wife, but there were also a couple from his stepdaughter, a couple from "Xiamen Police Department, Tong'an," and one that said it was from "Phurwa Adhikari." He couldn't immediately remember who Phurwa Adhikari was. The name looked vaguely familiar, but it was Nepali and the phone number had a Nepalese area code... Who the hell did he know in Nepal?

‭He started playing the voicemails.

‭"Uggghhh! Answer the phone! Gao Shuaaaaang... I need to talk to you! It's midnight. Changyi said she'd be home at ten and she's not home yet. Do you know where she is?"

‭He deleted it and went on to the next message. "Dammit, Gao Shuang, pick up the damn phone! I NEED TO FUCKING TALK TO YOU!!! It's 12:30 and Changyi is still not home! You need to call me!"

‭By now, Shuang Gao's good mood had been ruined. It must have showed on his face because Suhrawardy asked him if everything was OK. "No," said Gao.

‭"What's wrong?" said Suhrawardy.

‭"Family problems," said Gao. "I'm still trying to figure out what actually happened."

‭Suhrawardy looked sympathetic, but had nothing useful to say. Gao played the next message. "Piiiick uuuuup the damn phooooone.... Goddammit Gao, ANSWER THE FUCKING PHONE!!! OUR DAUGHTER IS MISSING!!! Uuugggghhh... That's it, I'm calling the police! CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS!!!"

‭"Okay, I just got off the phone with the police. They have no idea where Changyi is and they can't send anyone out to look for her until tomorrow morning because some stupid building collapsed and APPARENTLY digging through a pile of fucking rubble is more important than finding my daughter!"

‭"Gaaaaaoooo Shuaaaaaang.... Answerrrrr the damn phooooooone...."

‭The sixth message was from the Xiamen Police, and it was in Sherpa instead of Chinese: "Hello, this is Detective Lakpa Wu from the Xiamen Police Department. Your stepdaughter Changyi Ihawa was reported missing and I'm calling to see if you have any idea where she is. Please call me back when you get this message. My number is 592-555-13143. That's 592-555-13143. Please call me back as soon as you get this."

‭The next message was another one from Gao's wife: "I NEED TO TALK TO YOU! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU NOT RETURNING MY CALLS??? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN DOING??? OUR DAUGHTER IS MISSING AND YOU'RE TOO BUSY CHATTING UP SOME ANTHORAN BIMBO TO ANSWER THE FUCKING PHONE??? ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE!!!"

‭The eighth message was from Changyi. Her voice was shaking like she'd been scared out of her wits -- not that she had a lot of wits to begin with. "Hi, Papa Gao. Uh, something happened tonight and I just want to tell you I'm okay. I got attacked on my way home from my photo shoot, but I'm not hurt. I don't know when I'll be home, but I'm safe. I'm at Jamling's house in Namche."

‭Apparently Changyi had also called her mother. The next message from Gao's wife was much calmer, though it was dripping with bitterness. "Well, I found out where Changyi is. Apparently Jamling thinks court orders don't apply to him."

‭The tenth message was Detective Lakpa Wu calling back to report that Changyi was apparently at her biological father's home in the national capital. The police were still trying to piece together how she had gotten there and whether it had anything to do with a building collapse at a market in the Tong'an neighborhood, but Wu was closing out the missing persons case.

‭There was another message from Gao's wife: "You know, I was joking when I left you that message about chatting up Anthoran bimbos, but I'm starting to wonder if you really are in bed with some hooker. ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE!!!"

‭"Oh, you're going to love this," the twelfth message said sarcastically. "I just got a call from some Nepali bitch threatening to get Changyi legally emancipated if I take Jamling to court to for violating the custody agreement, because EVERYONE KNOWS court orders don't apply to you if you grab some whore off the street in Kathmandu and have her do your dirty work instead of handling it like a man and picking up the phone yourself. By the way, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!! How long before I have to start talking to some random Anthoran chick to relay messages because you can't be bothered to PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE???"

‭The thirteenth message was from Phurwa Adhikari. As Gao reached for the "play" button to listen to it, he finally remembered why the name was familiar. She was a sports agent, and Changyi's biological father Jamling Ihawa was one of her clients. "Hello, Mr. Gao. My name is Phurwa Adhikari. I'm Jamling Ihawa's agent. I know you're out of the country right now, and I'm not sure how much you've heard about what happened tonight. I still don't have all the details myself, but the Ihawa family has asked that I speak with you and explain what happened so you can hear the story without having Hua Hu twist it around. Can you please call me when you have a chance? My number is 101-555-05361."

‭The last message was Changyi explaining that her father had rescued her from being kidnapped by the Taliban, but had been seriously injured in the process and was unconscious. His family was having him moved to a hospital in Lukla, and she wanted to stay with them until he woke up. "Please tell mom not to start another custody battle. I don't want to be legally emancipated or put in Jamling's custody. I just want to stay here until he wakes up, so I can talk to him, and then I'll come home."

‭Shuang Gao just stood there staring at his phone, struggling to process everything he had just heard. "Are you okay?" Suhrawardy asked. He looked seriously worried.

‭"No," said Gao. "I need a divorce."

----o-֎-o----‭

[Ko-oren]

Great Northwestern trail

Canon =#: Food and Drink of Ko-oren
1. Fruit salad biscuits (originally a way to prevent fruit from rotting, also includes (short)cakes)
2. Fish and vegetable burritos (staple food. Where fish aren't available, meat is switch in)
3. Fruit stews (dishes with meat/fish and vegetables, but sweet fruits mixed in for taste)
4. Rich salad, a salad consisting of meat, potatoes, and small bits of vegetables, served cold
5. Croquettes
6. Aerellen fish with Yoshima spices
7. Effectively a deep dish hamburger
8. Mawryshire seafood and small game with bread
9. Fruit soups
X. Battered and deep fried... anything, all of Eastern Ko-oren
=. Pancakes and syrup, served cold, often with cinnamon, vanilla, saffron, and other spices.
0. Hortensia tea (a group of teas that are extremely sweet)

[Krenorus]

https://www.kbc.com.kr/sports/kren_win_snd_mtch_agnst_jarwel

Krenorussian Broadcasting Company

Rogate City, Anthor - The Krenorussian Hockey Team, known as the Krenorussian Beasts, has won against the national hockey team from New Jarwel. Krenorussian fans were cheering and elated while some shouted anti-New Jarwel slurs at the supporters of the New Jarwel team. James Fogg-Czines told reporters in the press conference after the match that, 'The Beasts have made a true comeback, chaps.' This comes after the Krenorussian National Team won against North Prarie and Qasden. Many have the renewed hope that Krenorus could beat their next opponent. These hopes have now been boosted after winning seven to nil. Many Krenorussians say that 'someone has pulled out the nail in the coffin with a bloody hammer' and that Krenorus would surely win the next few matches.

We look at KBC sports reporter Semy Le'Roi again, who wrote a new graphic report on what happened:

***

Semy Le'Roi, KBC SPORTS

The game started out calm with the Krenorussian team being confident after winning the last two matches against North Prarie and Qasden respectively. Jackson Tiggers showed his simply charismatic smile as the crowd - especially the youthful females - cheered. Tiggers then started to focus on the game as Fritj Steiner stole the puck from an opponent trying to score. Steiner passed it to von Neumann as he quickly deflected it to Smith-Winstons as he moved with a calming speed. Both players would exchange the puck. Dodging the opposing players. Tiggers followed behind, getting into a brawl with one of the opponents. Smith-Winstons soon noticed that he had been surrounded by enemy players, but he had a window to pass the puck to Tiggers. He took the risk. The puck slid through one of the opponent's legs while another one hit the puck, sending it back to Smith-Winstons who hit said puck once again! The puck zoomed past into Tiggers control. Jackson Tiggers soon shot the puck, having it land in the goal. Cheers of, 'Krenorus! We'll win the game!' were present. Fierce fighting followed as the New Jarwel team almost managed to score, but failed, unfortunately for them. Jacques Ouilsonne deflected the puck coming near him with his hockey stick, having it go into Al' Mikaelo's control. Mikaelo shot it at von Neumann, who was the only player not obstructed by the opposing team. Von Neumann ran like he was being chased by the fastest ferocious beasts, wanting to eat his fairly 'German' body. Erik von Neumann soon shot the puck into the goal, making it two to nothing for Krenorus. The chilling cold soon became a sweltering heat for the audience supporting Krenorus, as they clamped their bodies together and put their arms around each other's necks, a guise of patriotism fell upon the match. It was time for Krenorus to reveal its brightness; and so they did.

Tiggers would put in another two points in the next few scores of minutes, making the score four to zero. Smith-Winstons was next, scoring another two points, making the match six to nil in the second period. In the last minute, von Neumann would place the finishing blow, scoring by having the puck go through five players and past an unsuspecting goalkeeper. It was Krenorus' victory. The whole team celebrated and hugged each other. They congratulated the New Jarwel team, who fought ferociously. Finally, they gave thanks to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

In the post-match press conference, Fogg-Czines said he was 'impressed' by the victory of the Beasts. He said 'let us pray that they will win the next round' and so... we will. Let us pray that the Krenorussian Beasts - blessed by God Almighty - will win the next round. In Nomine Patris, Fille, et Spiritus Sanctus, Amen!

[Neu Engollon]

NESA Prison
Geneva, Neu Engollon

Walther had sat down opposite his two co-counsels, one, Frederik Reyner, was a barrister who worked for the Austrakische - Maderaner Rechtsverteidigungruppe (Austrak - Madurin Legal Defense Group) a cover legal group that was under the actual auspices of the BND, the intelligence agency of the Bundesrepublik of Austrakia; the other was an attorney supposedly appointed by the Federal Court system of the Confederacy of Neu Engollon, but obviously a NESA agent with that cover to monitor them.

His salvation was here before him, surrounded by a shield of malice, courtesy of his oppressors, but with the flimsy cover that the man would actually be on his side and looking out for his best interests. It was a dilemma he didn’t expect to have when faced with possible liberation after these months of detention.

He needed to be as sharp as possible and use all his guile to communicate with Reyner, while sidestepping Jean Woulin, the NESA plant, who would obviously know that something was up. The key was to know how far he could push it without actually jeopardizing Reyner. If the Austrak attorney heard too much, they might detain him too instead of letting him proceed with Walther’s trial or even ever return back to the Bundesrepublik.

“How are they treating you, Mr. Liebsgott?” This from Woulin, who was bent on trying to ingratiate himself with Walt.
Walt looked at the Neu Engollian and gave an annoyed look.

Reyner rode over the question before Walt could even give a smart ass answer.
“Walther, we need to establish some things here. We do need to know if you feel you have been treated fairly, considering the charges they have against you.”

Walther Laubmann considered the matter for a few more moments. “I suppose, considering their standpoint on my detention, they have treated me as one would a suspected spy. I haven’t been tortured or physically abused to any quantifiable degree.”

“I see.”
Reyner jotted down some notes.
“How about mentally? Do they use psychological torture?”

Walt took another moment to eye Woulin.
“Well...It’s been no bed of roses. I think that some persuasive tactics have been used, yes. There was a rough start to my routine here.”

“Do you know where you are?”

“In a NESA, or some other intel agency, security facility.”

“But what city?”

“I think in Geneva.”

“That’s correct.” Reyner smiled.

Woulin cleared his throat and gave a sharp look to Reyner.

The Austrak attorney continued,
“I think once the trial starts, that would have been obvious enough. And yes, as far as I know, this is a NESA facility, but I can’t be positive of that, to be honest.”

Woulin cut in. “I don’t know how constructive that is to building the case. Our time is limited here.”

“I’m just establishing some rapport and awareness to our client’s situation, Woulin. You need to back off a bit.” Reyner looked back at his assigned, un-wanted ally. Even Woulin had to be aware he was overstepping bounds, even as far as his own superiors were probably concerned.

Walt chimed in. “Yeah, I mean after all, what am I? A monk here? I should be able to talk freely with my attorney, right?”
It was a slightly odd comment if taken out of context, but hopefully the hidden message had been driven home. He kept eyes locked with Reyner.

Woulin looked at the both of them, clear that he was losing control of the situation, but apparently not alerted enough to worry too much.
“Let’s focus on our defense. Are you in fact pleading not guilty?”

“What?”

Woulin repeated himself. “Are you pleading not guilty? We’re your defense, you can be honest with us. We’re sworn by client privilege.”

“Yeah, right. Damn right I’m not guilty! Don’t you fucking say otherwise.”

“Alright, alright. I just had to make sure. We have to be on the same page.”

Reyner just waved his hand in a placating motion without saying a word. Walther snorted in contempt, not at his fellow countryman, but at the whole situation.

They continued to hash out a defense, getting closer to being on the same page, even with the NESA monitor doing his best to subtly sabotage them or stonewall them on certain points. They began to wind down after 25 more minutes.

“We are going to do our best to get you out of here, Walt. Don’t you worry about that, but we still have a lot of ground to cover.”

Walther was sick of the placations, but he saw yet another opportunity to let drop a clue.
“Of course I can find things I appreciate about the monastic life, but I’d like my freedom much more.”
Once again, he locked eyes with Reyner.

He needed him to lock in. He needed Reyner to get the message through to their people.
Monk’s Garden, Pine Park. Get a recovery team there. Fuck all this trial shit.
Neu Engollon wasn’t going to just let him win his freedom. They had to seize it. They had to seize the moment and break him out.

Reyner looked quizzically at him, then nodded.
“Okay then, Walt. I think we’re set for now. We’ll set up another appointment. They’re making us go through their office and our embassy. It takes a few days, but we’re going to make sure they let you know. No more surprises, okay?”

“That would be nice. I thought I’m supposed to have the right to see my lawyers at any time?”

“You’re special. You don’t have the same rights as a criminal or accused citizen here. That’s why it’s been so hard to get in here. They’re pulling out statutes that they haven’t used in decades, hell...centuries…”
Reyner trailed off rather than get into a rant against the Confederacy and its hypocritical ways in front of his co-counsel.

“Please don’t stall any more. I need to get out of here. Please.”

“Yes. Count on it, Walt. Just have patience. We’re doing the best we can. Our legal group, the Embassy, the people back home in Vilgenna. We’re working our asses off to get you out of here. Trust that.”

“It’s hard to trust anything right now, Frederik.”

“I understand, but you have to try. Stay strong, Walt.”

Walther dipped his head. He didn’t want to go round on this anymore. The door behind him opened and slammed shut.

“Time to go, spy.”

[-Anthor-]

World Cup of Hockey 36
Match Day 10 Cutoff

Group 1
Free Republics 6–0 Austrakia
Neu Engollon 7–2 The South Falls
Mercedini 2–1 Detroit-Sud

  Group 1                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Neu Engollon                               10    9   0   1    43   24  +19    27
2 Mercedini                                  10    8   0   2    42   23  +19    24
3 Free Republics                             10    6   1   3    39   27  +12    19
4 The South Falls                            10    3   1   6    28   32   −4    10
5 Austrakia                                  10    2   0   8    19   39  −20     6
6 Detroit-Sud                                10    1   0   9    12   38  −26     3

Group 2
Kilaguni 2–3 Tobiasia
Alpine Union 3–1 Ko-oren
Elejamie 3–0 Neo-Romanum

  Group 2                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Elejamie                                   10    9   1   0    37   11  +26    28
2 Alpine Union                               10    6   1   3    39   34   +5    19
3 Tobiasia                                   10    6   0   4    37   22  +15    18
4 Ko-oren                                    10    5   0   5    24   19   +5    15
5 Neo-Romanum                                10    1   3   6    15   40  −25     6
6 Kilaguni                                   10    0   1   9    10   36  −26     1

Group 3
Ranoria 1–5 Kita-Hinode
Abanhfleft 7–2 Cassadaigua
South Covello 3–0 Halfdansodal

  Group 3                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Abanhfleft                                 10    9   0   1    45   20  +25    27
2 Kita-Hinode                                10    6   1   3    34   18  +16    19
3 South Covello                              10    6   1   3    21   11  +10    19
4 Cassadaigua                                10    5   0   5    32   32    0    15
5 Ranoria                                    10    2   0   8    14   39  −25     6
6 Halfdansodal                               10    1   0   9    15   41  −26     3

Group 4
Lycrabon 2–6 Equestrian States
Banija 3–5 Thibaea
Valanora 8–2 Jebslund

  Group 4                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Thibaea                                    10    7   0   3    50   28  +22    21
2 Valanora                                   10    6   2   2    38   24  +14    20
3 Equestrian States                          10    6   1   3    40   22  +18    19
4 Banija                                     10    6   0   4    29   25   +4    18
5 Lycrabon                                   10    0   4   6    30   58  −28     4
6 Jebslund                                   10    0   3   7    22   52  −30     3

Group 5
Lochario 3–7 The Sherpa Empire
Cosumar 6–1 Gergary
Anthor 4–2 Benin-Togo

  Group 5                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Anthor                                     10    8   1   1    50   25  +25    25
2 Cosumar                                    10    7   2   1    53   34  +19    23
3 The Sherpa Empire                          10    6   1   3    40   29  +11    19
4 Gergary                                    10    3   1   6    19   29  −10    10
5 Lochario                                   10    1   2   7    19   38  −19     5
6 Benin-Togo                                 10    1   1   8    21   47  −26     4

Group 6
Krenorus 0–1 Razenthuria
Qasden 5–0 North Prarie
Savojarna 4–3 New Jarwel

  Group 6                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Razenthuria                                10    8   0   2    31   18  +13    24
2 Savojarna                                  10    7   1   2    41   23  +18    22
3 Qasden                                     10    6   1   3    31   20  +11    19
4 North Prarie                               10    4   0   6    27   33   −6    12
5 Krenorus                                   10    3   0   7    20   32  −12     9
6 New Jarwel                                 10    1   0   9    17   41  −24     3

Group 7
Routcher 4–3 St.Saratoga
Cosneolta 3–0 Northwest Kalactin
Vilitia & Turori 4–2 Mapletish

  Group 7                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Vilitia & Turori                           10   10   0   0    42   12  +30    30
2 Cosneolta                                  10    8   0   2    40   16  +24    24
3 Northwest Kalactin                         10    4   1   5    33   26   +7    13
4 St.Saratoga                                10    4   1   5    28   32   −4    13
5 Mapletish                                  10    2   0   8    24   45  −21     6
6 Routcher                                   10    1   0   9    19   55  −36     3

Group 8
Maryloupe 0–4 Siovanija & Teusland
Royal Kingdom of Quebec 6–3 United States of Devonta
Novaya Zemlya 1–0 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland

  Group 8                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                
1 Novaya Zemlya                              10    9   1   0    35   11  +24    28
2 Royal Kingdom of Quebec                    10    8   0   2    45   23  +22    24
3 Siovanija & Teusland                       10    6   0   4    39   20  +19    18
4 United States of Devonta                   10    4   0   6    25   35  −10    12
5 Maryloupe                                  10    1   1   8    14   44  −30     4
6 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland   10    1   0   9    14   39  −25     3

World Cup of Hockey 36 Round of Sixteen Matchups

Vilita & Turori (#1) v. Alpine Union (#16)
@ Lendos Entertainment Arena, Penshurst

Elejamie (#2) v. Kita-Hinodev (#15)
@ Norshye Arena, Girvan

Novaya Zemlya (#3) v. Valanora (#14)
@ Barclay Arena, Kirkwall

Abanhfleft (#4) v. Thibaea (#13)
@ Fey City Arena, Korsvegen

Neu Engollon (#5) v. Savojarna (#12)
@ Marshall City Forum, Furness

Anthor (#6) v. Cosumar (#11)
@ Prince Daniel Stadium, Kerveguen

Cosneolta (#7) v. Razenthuria (#10)
@ Poole Ring, Kinloch

Royal Kingdom of Quebec (#8) v. Mercedini (#9)
@ Digby & Dawn PL Arena, Norton

[Mercedini]

A Closer Look at the MSL Teams

With the MSL season on a brief hiatus while the Hockey Champions' League experiences a bit of instability in it's in leadership, we thought we would take another look back this season and the ten teams who were in contention for the MSL title. This is the fifth season since the inception of the Mercedinian Super League, with the then branded Mercedini National Hockey Federation (now Mercedinian Hockey Association) launching the league following a couple of cycles of wishy-washy performances at the World Cup of Hockey. It was designed to put some of the league's brightest prospects alongside foreign juggernauts to train them up, and one day the nation could lift the storied World Cup of Hockey in future tournaments. The team got within relative touching distance last edition, ultimately placing fourth after running into the brick walls of Abanhfleft and Vilita & Turori. Now, they have got themselves back to the knockout stages as ninth seeds in the tournament, following their second place in Group A. They face the Royal Kingdom of Quebec in the Round of 16, with plenty of big names in the draw following a fairly run of the mill group stage. But enough of that, let's round up the ten teams that were in contention this season.

Acoflosa Penguins
Manager: Niklas Vespa
Home Stadium: VolareMercedini Park (7,500)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Lyle Mace	        25	  Kaboomlandia
D	Kirill Yeleshev	        33	  Novaya Zemlya
D	Karl Darlington	        26	  Mercedini
LW	Dani Naemilan	        20	  Elejamie
C	Zach Arthur	        27	  Mercedini
RW	Patrick Pucheclic	22	  Mercedini

Surprise champions in the first full season of the Super League, Acoflosa have been on the slow grind to the top, qualifying for the HCL three times, and have only placed fourth twice outside of their opening season win. The Penguins' marquee signing has been Elejahmi Dani Naemilan, who has held firm throughout most of the seasons he has played in Acoflosa, combining well with both Zach Arthur and Patrick Pucheclic, who have now become solid starters for the Mercedinian National Team. Naemilan, combined with Yeleshev from Novaya Zemlya, provide the foreign tip to a strong domestic base to give the Penguins plenty of firepower in their front line. While results have been mixed, the team can definitely put results together based on the personnel they have in their rosters

AHC Langtree
Manager: Quentin Bauregard (KBC)
Home Stadium: Sebangchek Arena (9,000)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Carl Arkenton	        27	  Mercedini
D	Karsten Ruggiero	26	  Neu Engollon
D	Valent Manoj	        30	  Mercedini
LW	Timur Ultinov	        23	  Novaya Zemlya
C	Volodymir Dragomirov	21	  Novaya Zemlya
RW	Eric Olavur	        26	  Mercedini
RESERVES
C	Alistair Flavicon       23	  Mercedini

AHC Langtree have always been considered an unknown value within the Super League, with the team having the ability of hanging with the best of them, but always coming up short against teams they should ideally beat. Langtree have qualified twice for the Champion's League in previous seasons with two third place finished in the Exhibition Season and Season Two. The city has seen a renaissance of sporting triumph with Langtree United winning the MPL and making their way to the Globe Cup group stages in last season's UICA cycle. Hockey has unfortunately been neglected by the city due to it's success in football, meaning the hockey team hasn't been competitive in a number of seasons, flirting with relegations on a number of occasions in the past. Decent transfer business has kept the team afloat in recent seasons, but the club risks going nowhere fast if they don't find their strengths and challenge for a top four spot.

Blue Strike Zoloroni
Manager: Mesut Alanya
Home Stadium: Blue Strike Hockey Centre (4,800)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Davis Sorana	        26	  Mercedini
D	Olly Lemaani	        23	  Cosneolta
D	Andris Draspanza	27	  Mercedini
LW	Elia Korvachov          21	  Mercedini
C	Harry Ingrosso	        19	  Mercedini
RW	Dan Brown               19        Northwest Kalactin
SUBS
RW	Carl Rento-Tamana	26	  Mercedini

Blue Strike Zoloroni, the corporatist team. Despised by many, supported by plastic fans (supposedly). Energy drink conglomerate Blue Strike have dabbled they foot into the realm of sporting clubs, owning both this hockey team and Blue Strike Zoloroni FC, currently rising through the ranks in the Mercedinian Football League. The team are made up almost completely of domestic talents and brand sponsored athletes, with the exception of Kalactanian Dan Brown who was signed as a free agent when the opportunity arose to sign the player. This was the first season the team played in the league with Blue Strike Zoloroni topping the Development League and gaining automatic promotion to the top tier with relatively few funds. This is a chance for the company to get their brand image out into the wide world through the medium of sport, but it will be a tough journey to the top due to the limited HCL places, a team which is still Development League quality and the lack of money coming in from a loyal fanbase. With the team having the backing of Future Enterprises 100 company, it won't be hard for the team to drum up funds for a potential Champion's League run.

Darlaston Wolves
Manager: Ray Andersen
Home Stadium: Darlaston University Hockey Rink (2,500)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Adrian Lambert	        20	  Elejamie
D	Kapel Gruffurdd	        29	  Mercedini
D	Issac Mons	        20	  Mercedini
LW	Rodya Makari	        27	  Nyaryaga
C	Vaselko Stepane	        25	  Mercedini
RW	Joshua Arslan	        22	  Mercedini

Darlaston Wolves are the one and only team outside of the Greater Mercedinian mainland, following the Exton Islanders' relegation to the second tier of Mercedinian hockey. They are another team choked by their location as a team based on an island off the Zoloroni coast, but they have a near complete monopoly of the talent found on the island of Darlaston and the surrounding Kingfisher archipelago, meaning they have first dibs on the players up and coming in that area. The fact that the Wolves don't have their own hockey arena, and therefore have to use their university's arena to host their league matches. Darlaston will have to develop if they want to remain competitive in the league, with teams in tiers below then likely to develop at a faster rate than the Wolves.

HK Dynamo Shebchetsik
Manager: Krasyek Sitzon
Home Stadium: Shebnatsiya Ice Palace (26,500)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Mavuto Elisedd	        24	  Mercedini
D	Nikita Khudyakov	21	  Novaya Zemlya
D	Casey Lindsay	        26	  Kaboomlandia
LW	Felipe Barajas	        25	  Elejamie
C	Vitaliy Bezrodny	24	  Novaya Zemlya
RW	Danilo Barajas	        25	  Elejamie

Shebnatsiya, where it all began. The mountainous city located in the north of the nation is widely believe to be the original starting point for mainstream hockey coming to Mercedini, with the experience of the community being widely reflected in the results for the team in the league. Winners of the exhibition season, things were looking up for the team who plucked the best players from the region, with the team ploughing in plenty of money to sign the players they want. HK Dynamo Shebchetsik is by far the largest club in the region, with Ogdenagorv and Ozzaya Agranka the other two team from the region competing for the hockey playing citizens in Shebnatsiya. They have never won a full season but remain one of the only teams to have a 100% record in HCL qualifications, finishing in second place for a record five times. They have never fallen below second place and remain one of the most consistent teams in the league, but it must hurt to consistently be surpassed by different teams every season, to finish one away from the top spot.

Orga HC
Manager: Christian Senni
Home Stadium: Connexion Stadium (10,000)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Martin Adalya	        31	  Mercedini
D	David Ornstein	        23	  Mercedini
D	Grover Tinyenacht	20	  Mercedini
LW	Mitchell Sedeksa	20	  Mercedini
C	Fabien de Saint-Pierre  31	  Kebec
RW	Borislav Kedzierski	29	  Novaya Zemlya

Orga certainly haven't been on the radar of many hockey fans, due to the proficiency in football which occupies a large portion of the population in the industrial city. The Connexion Stadium in Orga is the only hockey rink located in the city, which can be difficult to attract upcoming players who want to play for their hometown club. Orga have risen in the ranks as of late thanks their super savvy signings of Boroslav Kedzierski from Novaya Zemlya and Fabien de Saint-Pierre from Kebec who have quickly grown to become the lifeblood of the team, combining well and slamming in the goals with the other four first liners supporting in defence, keeping the team tight at the back. Orga HC claimed third place in the league last season, putting them in prime position for a title run next season. In one of the biggest ever sporting shocks in Mercedini, Saint-Pierre guided Orga HC to their first MSL title, claiming a spot in next season's Champion's League and putting the city on the map when it comes to being a sporting city. Who known where the team can go from here.

Ozzaya Agranka Synthesis
Manager: Dominic Bracco
Home Stadium: OAS Stadion (3,000)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Misha Dugalova	        23	  Mercedini
D	Danil Kytilya	        30	  Mercedini
D	Laika Nyzhelar	        22	  Mercedini
LW	Eliah Kozhikina	        20	  Mercedini
C	Jacob Andersson	        22	  Savojarna
RW	Franco Denitrelli	24	  Mercedini

The smallest team in the league is always likely to struggle throughout the season, but Ozzaya Agranka have managed to make themselves the neutrals choice and have thrived of the obscurity and adversity of staying in the league with such a small budget and fanbase. They're another team from the region of Shebnatsiya, but the team typically struggle to keep the players they want, with HK Dynamo Shebchetsik only a couple of miles down the road, players often fly to the cash and the heritage of the bigger club. The one piece of transfer business catching eyes is the permanent signing of Jacob Andersson from Savojarna, adding that touch of quality to a rather mediocre squad. It might just be a case of too good for the development league, but lacking that cutting edge to be considered a serious challenger for the Super League. Plenty of big decisions to be decided by the club as it determines it's identity going forward.

SKK Ogdenagorv
Manager: Simon Traverso
Home Stadium: KSO (3,500)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Maxym Constantin	27	  Mercedini
D	Pavel Spiridon	        29	  Mercedini
D	Phillip Mikhailov	24	  Mercedini
LW	Abraham Aleksandrov	30	  Mercedini
C	Pedro Antic	        22	  Mercedini
RW	Lukas Tchaikovsky	21	  Mercedini

The third team from the region of Shebatsiya have been on an upward tick as of late, thanks to some freak results and some opportunistic title challenges when some of the other teams are on their backs. It's a team made up of local talent which hasn't been stolen by larger teams in the area thanks to a growing wage budget and the lack of proximity to larger teams around them. They surprised everyone in Season Three when they went the distance and lifted the MSL title after close challenges from the perennial juggernauts behind them. They have qualified for the HCL three times in the past but have never made it into the group stage, always losing in the preliminary qualifiers before that point. Ogdenagorv look to be one of the teams safe in the MSL time being, with a quickly developing team and local talent coming through the ranks. It's an exciting time to be a fans of SKK, even if the name doesn't exactly bring hockey to mind.

Zholvi HC
Manager: Geoffrey Cravelli
Home Stadium: ComTec Park (4,000)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	AJ Nakosh	        28	  Mercedini
D	Antonio Maravoni	25	  Neu Engollon
D	Yaroslava Moric	        33	  Mercedini
LW	Viktor Silayev	        21	  Novaya Zemlya
C	Yohan Chuckmennerson	32	  Mercedini
RW	Huw Boyd	        30	  Mercedini
RESERVES
GT	Benjamin Slatina	17	  Mercedini

A team that's has been yoyoing between te first and second tiers of Mercedinian hockey, Zholvi seem to have found some stability in their team, which has meant they can hold firm around the lover portions of the table, knowing they can turn on the style if they ever want to get out of danger or ignite a HCL run. Zholvi are one of those teams who have yet to break the top four and claim a spot in the Champions League, although they certainly have the capability with the individual players on their rosters. ComTec Park is usually half filled, giving the team some of the lowest attendances in the league, but they still keep a small fanbase loyal to them, especially when local rivals Orga HC are riding a wave with their triumphs.

Zoloroni City Icers
Manager: Dominic Bracco
Home Stadium: CUBE.MRC (16,000)

Pos.	Name	                Age	Nation
GT	Nathan Delacroix	26	  Kebec
D	Mike Cruickshank	37	  Elejamie
D	Magnus Demokritos	23	  Mercedini
LW	Nikon Tokaryev	        26	  Novaya Zemlya
C	Robert Jindrich	        27	  Mercedini
RW	Carson Kinney	        24	  Kebec
RESERVES
D	Dawid Mastorv	        18	  Mercedini
D	Francois Brouillard	21	  Mercedini

Finally, probably the biggest team in the MSL and perennial favourites for the title are the Zoloroni City Icers. Their funds that they have gathered from owners and sponsors make them the richest club in the league. They currently play in the CUBE.MRC, a multi prupose arena which hosts regular concerts and played host to the 4th Junior World Hit Festival, meaning the schedule can be disrupted when an event like that is taking place. The Icers regularly fill their arena, but attendances have been declining in recent season with the rise of other Zoloroni-based teams rising up the ranks, but they have gained international supported due to the marketing overseas. They have won the MSL twice before and are another team to have never missed an HCL sice the league's inception. The quality they have on the ice cannot be understated, they look to be set as a titan of the league for many season's to come, with yet more trophy's and titles expected to be going their way in the future.

[Neu Engollon]

NESA Prison
Geneva, Neu Engollon

He was back in the same wing, brought to the same room as he’d met Woulin and Reyner just a few days previous. Quite honestly, he didn’t see the point in meeting with them again. Hed said all he had to say. They wanted to drag this out ad nauseum, but it would lead to nowhere.

NESA, Pine Park, hell...All of Neu Engollon would never just let him walk because of a court decision, no matter how solid a verdict it was. All other thoughts in that line were lost as he was taken aback when he was thrust into the room. Only one of the chairs were occupied. The occupant was the only one that he’d want to see sitting there in that moment.

Frederik Reyner smiled up at him and stood up, motioning to the other seat. “Walther Liebsgott, it’s good to see you again. You’re probably wondering...Well, you’re probably wondering a few things, but first...Why I’m here alone? Why I’m here so soon after our first meeting?”

Walther could only simply nod.

“Sit, Walt.”

Walther sat.

Reyner sat down as well. He began to tap a pen softly on a pad of paper on the table. “I have limited time before Woulin catches up with me, Walt. Let’s just say a series of miscommunication and misdirection sent him far to the other side of the city. It won’t keep him away forever.” He was in violation of the agreement that had been signed allowing him to even get near Walther. It was a risk worth taking, however.

Walther decided it was time to speak.
“Did you get my message?”

No further explanation should be necessary. And it wasn’t. “Loud and clear, Walt. Loud and clear. Will you be ready?”

“Really?”

“Really. We will have a small window.”

“Any time. Any place. Any fuckin’ moment. I have been ready for weeks. Months. Since the day they put the shackles on me.”

“I bet. That makes sense to me, Walt. Well, then be ready.”

“It might be a few days. I’m sort of working my way back into good graces.”

“Work your way as quick as you can. Find that fervent religious spirit, young monk.”

Walther was neither that young, nor a monk, but he was glad to know that the message had truly gotten across. He didn't need to know any more details, and Reyner wouldn't be able to speak freely, anyway. Despite rules to the contrary set up by their own legislatures, NESA was surely listening in to every word. Perhaps they'd wanted Reyner to be alone and at ease. Perhaps they had even figured out that the secret of Monk's Garden was no longer a secret. It didn't matter. It was a wide area that Walt had studied well, and the BND would have top experts going in to bring him out. It would be close and it could get messy, but they had to get him out. No, he had to get himself out. There would be no sham trial.

[The Royal Kingdom of Quebec]

The Cannabist - The Necessity's Multi-layered stories exposes the mental degeneration in certain Quebecois incels

Fabian Wiercigroch

WINNIPEG, MANIOTBA - It's been shown from time to time that Quebecois audiences will turn out to see a movie about the modern Quebec and its conflicts: a serious and inquiring drama of international radicalism, executions, weird tastes and regression. But even in an era as fraught with instability as 2030s, will people show up to see a movie about attempted defence of misogyny and terrorism in the criminal's perspective. Usually, the answer is 'hell no'. Quebecois society absorbs most forms of films, but maybe not to this extent in mainstream cinemas.

Yet I can't help but to feel the confusion with the hateful rhetorics used by so-called incelibates that brilliantly channeled the moral degradation of Quebecois teenagers would have the potential to strike appropriate warnings with the mass audience. "The Necessity", consisting of small-scale dramas from Royal Kingdom of Quebec and Terra Henrius (which, contrary to many foreigners' confusions, is not a Quebecois province and is recognised as a penal colony no more nor less), is like baby-steps version of the movie. It interweaves 3 stories, set in 3 different places, and it takes us into the 2034 Quebecois Commonwealth Incelibate Crisis, but the film is most telling when it uses the international danger to show people what's happening to the people who refuse to grow into the world among its finest in progress.

The moral disfigurement of those who call themselves incels, is a perfect storm of necessary personal and national measures: mass shootings and a van attack, laid on top of many website shutdowns and the yearlong purge of over 3,000 Quebecois and Commonwealth citizens across Quebec and the Commonwealth, all feeding into the jail system of Gotham. At first, the film seems to be about the development of the incelibate plague, as it sheds light on a weekday of typical Quebecois college student, Simon Tremblay, before looking into his interactions on the online forum 'PtQTPr'. Before long, you start noticing that he judges his own appearance to that of others, as well as their supposed status on interpersonal and romantic relationships.

Fitting the filming style he takes, it's pretty boring for those looking for the thrills and we don't always notice the common element that creeps into all four - that feeling where you don't necessarily feel the shiver when a creepy guy is approaching you on your way home. What grounds the segment is the targetting on a mysterious target by those in his community. Based in both lone wolf and organised cells, the incelibates plan a heavily-coded activity that he does not understand its purpose from what he's read from their plans on online forums. He's too lazy to figure it out anyway so he gives no damn and just continues with his own life, still on a documentary style. For the audience, they obviously know it's the 2034 crisis they're planning about. Then, while on a date with his floor crush, Dana (Elaina Rosenbloom-Shin), he notices that somebody's just sent a GPA location right to the restaurant he's eating...

At that point, the writer-director, Isidoro Cordero, cuts away. The more resonant and shocking is the second segment, which stars Aaron Hornqvist-Duesen as a beleaguered father and professor named Norman who has to consume marijuana-induced aspirin and antidepressant tablets as he struggles to handle his own reputation as a star lecturer in mathematics department and a family where his girlfriend Anya is a graduate student of his friend in chemical engineering and 25-year old son James spends all day emerged in resentment, discontentment and most importantly hatred brought by online subculture. Watching his contrasting realities, where he enjoys a positive, intelligence-based relationship with Anya but also has to cope with his son's decline in morals and mental health, it's clear that his devastation and disappointment derives from his problems that the coexistence cannot be negotiated with extreme misogyny lurking within one corner of the family.

Norman tries his best to help his son move, enjoy a life of positivities like Norman did when of his age. But then there's a coldly parallel storyline where for all of Norman's activities he engages with were done under stable two-way relationships (like that of his long dead wife), and that concides with his son's further descent into the hole of misogyny and terrorism. Eventually, while walking out of a meal he had with his graduate students, Norman bumps into James, who's seen plotting a van attack in daylight. Disgusted and embarrassed to see of his son's plans to engage in a van attack at Strathclyde York, he kills his son to save the hundreds in the square, before crying on grief.

With audience shocked from a Man of Steel-esque moment, "The Necessity" lands in an episode that feels like eating a sweet dessert in middle of a dusty desert. It stars Kieran Park, who plays Edgar, a 17 year old high school dropout. While an adorable attempt, Kieran Park's screen debut was not so smooth with a rather weak Winnipegger accent (it sounded more like someone from Kenora, especially given the vocabulary), but he does look very much like late Clayton Moreno, the actual inspiration behind Edgar, and acts excellently for someone with no prior background in acting. Holding a very popular, highly-controversial podcast that talks about defending incelibates, Kieran meets Ella, a college student who's spending the summer working for a lab not far away. Their courtship consists of discussing about their lives in solve puzzles - a rather romantic act that'd normally have the audience laugh too much, if it weren't discussing about a topic in relation to the national and international disaster - and his life gradually changes. These two lost souls find common ground and go on a trip to St. Andrews By-the-Sea, where they arrive in their hotel only to see on television of what Kieran tried to defend and understand of...

As a film consisted of 3 short films, this film holds limited potential in the market, both domestic and international. It's not bad, but the interweaving of 3 stories wasn't as well done as expected. Yet the movie is onto something: what happens to a society when we do not focus on keeping society aware of what is dangerous and what needs to be purged. There's a huge difference between freedom of speech and spewing hatred, and that's a theme we'll see more of in future.

[-Anthor-]

World Cup of Hockey 36
Round of 16 Cutoff

Vilitia & Turori 3–3 Alpine Union (3–4 OT)

Elejamie 4–2 Kita-Hinode

Novaya Zemlya 2–3 Valanora

Abanhfleft 5–0 Thibaea
Referees provided by the Quebec Hockey Federation

Neu Engollon 5–3 Savojarna

Anthor 2–1 Cosumar
Referees provided by the Quebec Hockey Federation

Cosneolta 5–4 Razenthuria

Royal Kingdom of Quebec 1–1 Mercedini (2–1 OT)


Quarterfinal Schedule

Royal Kingdom of Quebec v. Elejamie
@ Barclay Arena, Kirkwall

Abanhfleft v. Alpine Union
@ Norshye Arena, Girvan

Neu Engollon v. Cosneolta
@ Fey City Arena, Korsvegen

Valanora v. Anthor
@ Prince Daniel Stadium

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

The Alpine Union beats Vilita & Turori in overtime!

Penshurst, Anthor - (NAP) The Alpine Union barely made the round of 16 by finishing 2nd in group 2 and had to play against the #1 seed, Vilita & Turori, or maybe it was against a team from another dimension called Vilitia & Turori. The only goal of the 1st period was scored by the Alpine Union when Melania Zyskowska beat 'Snowman' Avalanski with a wrist shot. The goal was assisted by her twin sister Emilia Zyskowska and Czeslaw Niemczynowicz. The Alpine Union was leading 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Early in the 2nd period, Vakki Cren was penalised for hooking and the Alpine Union was on the power play. The Bisons were still attacking in Ice Cat zone at the end of the power play when Szymon Krzysztalowicz's shot from the blue line was wide left. Dolak Vintal-Morta takes the loose puck and passed to Vakki Cren who just came out of the penalty box. Vakki Cren is on a breakaway, he skates and put the puck past Jenni Kekäläinen and the game is tied at 1-1. With 13 minutes remaining in the 2nd period, Ocean Suzgar recieved the puck from Kevin Diesel and was on a 2 on 1 with Cartai Chiate. Suzgar passed the puck to Chiate who shoots and score. Vilita & Turori is now leading 2-1. 5 minutes later, Torren Filiao is penalised for slashing and the Alpine Union goes on the power play. 40 seconds later, Szymon Krzysztalowicz had the puck in Vilita & Turori territory and he passed it to Czeslaw Niemczynowicz who passed back to Szymon Krzysztalowicz who passed to Stanislaw Wojciechowski. Wojciechowski shoots, 'Snowman' Avalanski makes the save but doesn't control the rebound, Emilia Zyskowska shoot the puck in the net and the game is tied again at 2-2!

With 15 minutes remaining in the 3rd period, Peter Sundin is on a 3 on 1 with Anton Lundström and Fredrika Laine. Sundin passed to Laine who shoots on the post. Lundström takes the rebound and shoot the puck in the net and the Alpines are now leading 3-2! With less than one minute remaining in the 3rd period, Vilita & Turori is pulling their goalie for an extra attacker. Cartai Chiate shoots wide left, Stanislaw Wojciechowski takes the puck and passed to Emilia Zyskowska who shoots just wide right but it was called an icing because she didn't cross the red line before shooting. With 6 seconds remaining, we have a faceoff in Alpine territory. Ocean Suzgar wins the faceoff, Dolak Vintal-Morta recieves the puck and passed to River Suzgar who shoots and it's a goal, Vilita & Turori tied the game at 3-3 and we're going to overtime.

We have a 4 on 4 overtime and if the score is still tied after 10 minutes, we're going to shoutouts. Coach Otto Klötzer only used 3 offensive lines in overtime: the Zyskowska sisters are on line 1, Czeslaw Niemczynowicz and Fredrika Laine are on line 2 and Peter Sundin and Anton Lundström are on line 3. With 6 minutes remaining, Ocean Suzgar shoots and Jenni Kekäläinen makes the save and she gives the puck to Czeslaw Niemczynowicz who is on a 2 on 0 with Fredrika Laine. Niemczynowicz passed to Laine who passed back to Niemczynowicz. Niemczynowicz shoots and he scores, the Alpine Union won in overtime against Vilita & Turori!

The Alpine Union have eliminated the 1st seed and 2nd ranked team, Vilita & Turori. Well this team was clearly from another dimension because honestly the real Vilita & Turori would have beat us. The Bisons' next opponent is Abanhfleft, who beat Thibaea 5–0. Our association football team is familiar with Abanhfleft but, if I'm correct, it's the 1st time the Alpine Union plays against them in hockey. Elejamie beat Kita-Hinode 4-2 and will play against Québec who won over Mercedini in overtime. Valanora beat Novaya Zemlya 3-2 and will play against Anthor. The other quarter final features rugby powerhouse Neu Engollon and a small tax haven, Cosneolta.

BOXSCORE
1st period
7:35 - Melania Zyskowska assisted by Emilia Zyskowska and Czeslaw Niemczynowicz

2nd period
16:49 - Vakki Cren assisted by Dolak Vintal-Morta
12:54 - Cartai Chiate assisted by Ocean Suzgar and Kevin Diesel
7:18 - Emilia Zyskowska assisted by Stanislaw Wojciechowski and Szymon Krzysztalowicz (PPG)

3rd period
15:21 - Anton Lundström assisted by Fredrika Laine and Peter Sundin
0:02 - River Suzgar assisted by Dolak Vintal-Morta and Ocean Suzgar

Overtime
5:45 - Czeslaw Niemczynowicz assisted by Fredrika Laine

[Elejamie]

---

Analyses and Predictions: Quite A Few Shocks This Time Around

Before I start: no, the win over Kita-Hinode wasn't one of the shocks I've mentioned before. But I will definitely talk about it. Granted it wasn't the most exciting of matches but it still has to be covered. ETV has a more in-depth analysis so I'll just give you the rough basics. Stacy Saunders scored the only goal of the first period 12:25 from time, thanks to a bit of clever deking. They equalised early in the second by Lucas Madgwick made it 2-1 to us going into the third, thanks to a one-timer. We scored again in the third, with a goal from Kasputin. Although they scored shortly afterward, we scored again a couple of minutes from time (2:01 to be precise) thanks to Ethan Swinburne. They pulled their goalie in the last minute but it was no use, for we had won 4-2 to make it to yet another quarter-final. Don't act like you're surprised.

Still, we've made it to the quarter-finals, which isn't a shock either for reasons I'll get into later. The shocks, however, are teams that you didn't expect to make it here getting here and a couple of teams you expected to breeze through falling in the Round of 16. Vilita and Turori's perfect run came to a disappointing end when they lost 4-3 in overtime to the Alpine Union; as a result, our amazing run in Hannasea remains unmatched, at least for this competition. Mercedini, who finished in a disappointing but still commendable 4th place last time, lost 2-1 in OT to the Royal Kingdom of Quebec. And Neu Engollon beat Savojarna 5-3 to make it through to their first quarter-final since the 30th edition in Norrehavn. Cosneolta made it to the quarter-finals as well with a 5-4 win over Razenthuria (aka the nation formerly known as Kebec), although I don't have much to say there since both teams seem to be on the same level. I don't have much else to say about the other teams, so let's get straight to it.

---

Quarter-finals

The Royal Kingdom of Quebec vs Elejamie

In the last competition, the Royal Kingdom of Quebec finished second in group 5, just behind Siovanija and Teusland, with seven wins and three defeats making up a respectable 14 points. Indeed, on the final day, they had to win their game against Gergary and Tobiasia had to either draw or lose for the Ice Knights to make it through; indeed, that's what happened, with a 3-0 win for Quebec and a 1-0 win for S&T, who beat Tobiasia. Unfortunately that's where their good luck ended, as they'd go on to lose 2-1 to then-reigning World Champs Vilita and Turori. Fortunately for their fans, the team showed a massive improvement this time around; while they finished second in their group, they qualified ahead of Siovanija and Teusland with one game left to go. Throw in the aforementioned 2-1 overtime win against Mercedini and you already have a team that could go on to win it in a few tournaments.

Whereas Elejamie... we all know how this story goes. In fact, the last time, or rather the ONLY time, we missed a quarter-final was our debut competiton in the 26th World Cup of Hockey, when we got knocked out of the group stage. And it wasn't a case of us losing all of our games, as we finished third and only got eliminated due to that loss to Zenic. Besides, the last time we played against the Ice Knights was also the last time we were in Anthor, with Quebec sweeping us (since what was supposed to be game one had to be abandoned), so naturally we're hoping to bounce back from that.

Winner: Elejamie. Probably not by a great deal, mind, but still enough to avenge our defeat the last time we were in Anthor.

Abanhfleft vs Alpine Union

Abanhfleft were something of a rival of ours in the last tournament. They won the first game 4-3, although since both the match and overtime ended in a 3-3 draw and they won the shootout 2-0, we didn't lose too many points. Either way, they were the group leaders for the first half of the group. Then we unseated them from the top spot by thrashing them in the 8-3 rematch, which kind of went into overkill in some bits but was still a fun match all-round. Fortunately, our other groupmates were unable to catch up to us and we both qualified for the Round of 16 with two games left to go. After we finished top with 19 points and the Fleftics 18, we went our own separate ways in the knockout stages with us taking on our new old rivals Anthor and them playing against Group 1 leaders Cosneolta. Team Fleftic would get a hard-fought 1-0 OT win after no goals were scored in regulation time. They followed it up with another 1-0 win, this time in regulation and up against Nova Anglicana, which came across as an unexpected shock. Another unexpected shock was to follow when they got a hard-fought 6-4 win over Mercedini to make it to their first World Cup of Hockey final. Unfortunately, they lost 5-3 to us but, for a team that was preparing to call it quits due to a lack of interest in their country, you had to admit that it was an extraordinary run.

The Alpine Union, however, didn't do so hot at the last tournament. They came close to making it to the actual tournament in the Free Republics; had they not lost their last game against Valanora 2-1 (after OT) then they would've made it through regardless of the result of the Kita-Hinode/Central Shaneville game. In Savojarna, they finished second from bottom with two wins, two losses and a shootout loss. A massive step down from their first go in Anthor, where a 4-4-2 record meant they finished second in their group, just behind Novaya Zemlya; however, they would go on to lose their Ro16 series against then-reigning World Champs Valanora 2-1, losing games one and three 1-0 but winning game two 3-0. However, here, they turned things around, finishing second in their group (just behind us) and, as previously mentioned, beating the favourites Vilita and Turori in overtime to make it to their first quarter-final, so it's just a question of whether or not they can keep this up.

Winner: While I think this one can go either way, I'd say that Abanhfleft have a slight edge due to the momentum they had coming in from the last tournament. However, the Alpine Union have been showing plenty of improvement from their first few tournaments as a unified nation and I think they have a chance to pull off the win. So I'm going to go with the Alpine Union for a shock win. It certainly won't be the first this tournament has seen.

Neu Engollon vs Cosneolta

When you hear of Neu Engollon, you'd normally think of their rugby sides. Union, league and sevens, they're a major force in the sport and all three of their rugby squads are widely considered to be among the best in the multiverse. When it comes to ice hockey, however, things take a different turn. They were knocked out of last time and back in Savojarna, fourth place in their group the last time, a sweep to the hosts in their Round of 16 series back in Valanora and didn't appear at the 31st edition in Hannasea. They did, however, make it to the quarter-finals in the 30th World Cup of Hockey over in Norrehavn, where they lost their series 2-1 to the eventual winners Valanora. And they even managed to knock out Gregoryisgodistan, who were the world champions at the time, in the 28th edition, much to everyone's surprise. So while there is a glimmer of greatness in there, it's just a question of whether or not it'll shine here.

Cosneolta, however, are a team that have yet to live up to their full potential. As I previously mentioned, they lost 1-0 in OT to eventual runners-up Abanhfleft last time despite finishing top of their group. They finished third in their group in Savojarna, with Nyaryaga beating them to second place thanks to goal difference. They finished fourth in their group the last time they were in Anthor. And they very nearly made it to the next round in their group when they debuted in the 32nd World Cup of Hockey; had they not lost 1-0 (or, indeed, lost at all) to Unified Sunrise Islands on the last day, they would've gone through, as both teams were level on everything but the USI won the head-to-head.

Winner: Neu Engollon. While this seems to be another case where it can go either way due to the pool thinning, I believe the Ibex have that spark I mentioned earlier to take them to a medal game.

Valanora vs Anthor

We all remember that amazing rivalry we had where, from the 28th through to the 32nd World Cup of Hockey, we met Valanora four times; the 28th WCoH semi-finals (where they swept us) and those three consecutive finals, where they won the 30th, we won the 31st and they won the 32nd. Why do I bring this up? Because luck hasn't been on their side lately. While they got that 2-1 series win over the Alpine Union in the Round of 16 back at the 33rd edition, they surprisingly got reverse swept by eventual shock winners Cosumar in the quarter-finals. They made it to the quarter-finals again in Savojarna, only to lose 4-2 to us. They made it back to the quarter-finals in the Free Republics and were hoping to come back from that disappointing loss to the Icy Elephants, only to get crushed 9-1 by Coach Madgwick and the boys. Ouch. While I speculate it could be the use of human players, compared to the swift and crafty elves that won them all of those trophies, we'll just have to wait and see if they can bounce back from this slump.

Anthor, however, still seem to be on the up and up. Granted they got eliminated in the Round of 16 by us last time round but they've been showing signs of improvement. They finished third in the 33rd edition, which they hosted, being swept by eventual winners Cosumar but going on to win their 3PPO series against Nova Anglicana 4-1 (no, that's not a typo, all five games in the series were played even when Anthor had a 3-1 lead at the end of game four). They made it to the quarter-finals in Savojarna, having won all of their group stage games (including a 3-1 shootout win against the Equestrian States after their game ended in a 1-1 draw) and comfortably defeating Kaboomlandia 5-2 before falling 2-1 to eventual bronze medallists Novaya Zemlya. And while they were soundly defeated 6-2 in their Round of 16 match-up against us in the Free Republics, I'm sure they would've gotten further if they played a different opponent.

Winner: Anthor. While I have a gut feeling the Calcuttas would put up more of a fight here, I don't think they have enough in them to get one over the Ducks. A rebuild might be in order or, failing that, a mixed human-elf team, even having the odd half-elf on the team.

Semi-finals

Elejamie vs Alpine Union

I'm not sure how the semi-finals are going to be decided and I'm too lazy to check the site, so I've decided to have it as "highest seed vs lowest seed", as you'd normally expect. Either way, here we are, up against an old groupmate. Sort of like the final of the last World Cup of Hockey but with the two main differences being that a) we won both of our group stage games against them compared to our one SO loss and one RT win and b) we're meeting them in the semi-final as opposed to the regular final. And while those two group stage games seem to be our only meeting against them, we did play against Prusy Krolewskie in the group stage over at the 27th World Cup of Hockey, where they held us to a 4-4 draw; they probably also would've gone through if they didn't draw 6-6 to Havl (who also would've gone through if they won). Nothing else to say so let's go to the prediction.

Winner: Elejamie. Don't get me wrong, the Alpine Union are a good team. They've certainly grown out of that shaky start as a unified country and could prove to be serious contenders. But I have my doubts here and I'm sure we'll make it three out of three.

Neu Engollon vs Anthor

This will be the first time these two teams have met. Since I don't have much to say as a result, I'll instead talk about the furthest each side has gone. As I've previously mentioned, Anthor won the bronze medal on home ice, losing both of their games against Cosumar but winning their series against Nova Anglicana (who, as a side note, also finished fourth in the 28th edition in Valanora, losing their series to us). Neu Engollon, on the other hand, made it to the quarter-finals in the 30th edition and in the 28th edition (famously winning that series against Gregoryisgodistan 2-1); all the other attempts saw them fail to make it out of the group stages or bow out in the Round of 16. Not much else to say but to be fair I didn't have much to work with.

Winner: Anthor to make it to their first World Cup of Hockey final. On home ice too, which would be a bonus.

Finals and 3PPO

Elejamie vs Anthor

Yes, it seems like we'd be in for a treat as we meet our new rivals Anthor. Yes, even though I'm not sure if the team or even the AIHB consider them that, not to mention that I'm just a small blog with a few thousand readers, I consider them to be our rivals. Especially with the old rivalry with Quebec falling out of favour and the Calcuttas not being as great as they were during those three consecutive finals where it was Elejamie vs Valanora. And since we played Anthor six times over the past few WCoHs (twice in the 31st, one in the 32nd, twice in the 33rd and once in the 35th), you could make a seriously good case for a rivalry. I know they already consider us to be one, so let's return the favour. And yes, I know that's padding but since we've beaten them five times out of six (our only loss to them was that 3-1 defeat in the group stage of the 33rd World Cup of Hockey, compared to 4-1, 1-0 OT, 3-2, 1-0 and 6-2 wins for us) there isn't much else to talk about, really.

Winner: We're going back to back for the first time since Havl's three-peat in the 20th, 21st and 22nd World Cups of Hockey (World Cup of Hockies?). Yes, Elejamie will win their second consecutive tournament. And while Anthor are a great team and worthy of that win against us the last time we were in Anthor (even though the group stages were home and away, with home games being hosted in the home teams' nations), I don't think it'll happen here. Sorry, Ducks.

Alpine Union vs Neu Engollon

The last two time these two teams met was the 34th World Cup of Hockey back in Savojarna, when they were both in Group C. Going into their MD4 game, the Alpine Union were top of the table with two wins and a shootout loss, whereas Neu Engollon slid in second place thanks to a 2-0 shootout loss after their game against Quebec ended in a 4-4 draw. Fortunately for the Ibex, they managed to not only bounce back but secure a spot in the next round thanks to their 5-2 win, whereas the Alpine Union would go on to finish second from last following their 3-2 defeat to eventual group winners Nurkama. And while there might've been previous encounters between Neu Engollon and all the different nations before they were unified, I'm in a little bit of a rush and I don't want to bore you, so I'm going to end it here.

Winner: Alpine Union to take the Bronze. Probably going to be a narrow victory, with the possibility of going into overtime, but they'll still win it.

---

So that's it. Of course, the way this tournament's going, as well as what happened last time we were in the Kingdom of Anthor, I wouldn't be surprised if we get a completely random team winning the trophy. Such as Cosneolta or Neu Engollon. Or even the hosts themselves, although that would be less of a surprise since they got a bronze medal last time they hosted it. Not to mention that, again, I'm not entirely sure what the semi-final matchups will be; although I'm definitely sure we'll be playing both Anthor and/or the Alpine Union (for the third time if it happens), I'm not sure when we'll be playing them. And, of course, there's the massive possibility of me being wrong in some other way so, as always, take care if you use this to help you bet. Now, with all that said and done and nothing else to add, I'm going to do what I do best: I'm going to sit back, crack open a beer and watch what should be some quality ice hockey. I recommend you all do the same.

[Neu Engollon]

Windrunner Industries (A front company)
Toft Building, Downtown Geneva
Geneva Canton, Neu Engollon

A man dressed in a black T shirt and black jeans with greying hair stood at one of the windows that overlooked Genèva, the capital of the Confederacy of Neu Engollon. The view was not as breathtaking as Burgunden, the large city of millions with a multitude of skyscrapers, but it did have its charms. If he looked far enough off to the Southwest, he could see the famous fountain in the Lake, with lights shining on it.

He had been to Burgunden many times in his service to the cause. At this time of night, the large metropolis would be gleaming with lights as far as the horizon. It was Burgunden that was the true capital. The capital of youth, vibrancy, innovation, commerce and growth. Geneva was good for tradition and culture, but in this modern age, it lacked the cosmopolitan nature that Burgunden had.

The capital of his own nation, Vilgenna, had centuries of tradition and history like Geneva, but had made the leap to the modern age and continued to evolve into the 21st century. He just couldn’t get that vibe from this quaint town. In his line of work, that had its advantages and disadvantages.

Leopold was a top agent for the BND, much as Walther Laubmann had been vaunted to be, but to Leo, it wasn’t evident from the way he was captured. As to his mission portfolio, it wasn’t something that Leo would even have access to review, but still he had his doubts.

Leo turned back to the men and women in the room. They were a mix of BND agents, both active and sleepers, as well as a small team of Jagdkommando infiltrated in over the border over several days. The operation had been some time in planning since they had some idea of where Walther had been relocated for his incarceration. The fact that their superiors in Vilgenna had borrowed a team of special operators from the Army showed how high the stakes were for them to get this man back.

He pointed to the map spread out on a table, one of the few pieces of furniture that was in the main space up on this upper floor that their front company had rented. No one who ever visited the company and tried to conduct actual business ever made it past the fully furnished lobby.

“This is the Pine Park campus...The headquarters for the Neu Engollian Federal Gendarmerie. Acres of administrative, training and operational facilities. Our focus is here in this corner...probably one of the few, if only patches of purely aesthetic garden areas on the whole estate. They call it Monk’s Garden. It’s here where they transport the target to go for walks, usually a couple times a week for about 2 to 3 hours at a time.”

He paused for questions. There were none. Despite the ease of the operation itself, the opposition was an overwhelming concern to say the least. To say the most, it was a suicide mission. They were brave and they knew that the chances of getting back to the Bundesrpublik with their skin intact were slim.

“Ahem...So...They have a layer of undercover security on the surrounding streets. Counter-sniper teams check the taller buildings on a 2 to 3 hour rotation. There are patrols of uniformed gendarmes within the grounds. From what we could observe over the weeks, the patrols number 3 men each and seems to rotate between 5 to 7 patrols at a time. We have our tech team that will be doing the hacking and jamming necessary to thwart their sensors and electronic defenses. We need to be up and ready at the right time. We’ll only get the one chance at this.

We will have a small window when he gets to the part of the Garden nearest the NW fence, hoping that our distraction lures away at least two of the patrols in that space…” He paused to scan their still stony faces.

“...So...assuming we spirit him to the breach in the fenceline and get him out, we will have to clear the outer security, get him in the delivery truck and disperse to our cover vehicles. Should we not succeed, besides patrol cars, we should expect that they could vector in the 1st Battalion of the 1st DGC (Diplomatic Guard Corps) Regiment within ten to twelve minutes. Exfiltration, as we discussed, is south, to the small airstrip near Annecy where our chartered jet will be waiting. The other dispersal routes, as also discussed, are to the sea and over the Gaul border for the rest of the team. Before I review the details, were there any questions on the overall plans?”

“Do we get to make last phone calls on the scrambled sat phone?”

The Chief Agent was about to chuckle but held it in. They all had earnest looks on their faces. Normally, even though the signals were getting routed through proxies and bouncing up before bouncing down to Austrak cell towers, it could still be a bit risky. Mostly because of the risk of anything slipping out. These were all professionals, but sometimes, one word could inadvertently be passed to a loved one, who innocently could pass it along to others and blow the mission. The risks were too high.
“I’m sorry. You all know OPSEC. We’re on 24 hour radio silence. Now...let's go over the operational details...”