World Cup of Hockey 49 Everything Thread

[Maraonia]

THE WORLD
SPORTS-ICE HOCKEY-WCOH 49
Maraonia loses to Baker Park in first match
Maraonia were beaten by Baker Park 6-3 in their first game of the 49th World Cup of Ice Hockey
The first goal came from Greg McNamara and Dale Morrison then Alex Saxby made it 3-0. The first Maraonian goal came from Gabriel Carvalho halved the deficit with 13:37 gone. Then Baker Park’s Morrison got his 2nd goal. Two goals from Śebastien Mosinmann and Aleksandr Milenkovic tied the game. But it didn’t last long Steven Lapointe passed Alexandre Desmarais for BP’s 5th goal and Curtis Adejobinda got the 6th for Baker Park.
Maraonia’s captain Jose Pereira Da Silva said after the game ‘’ We have to defend more or attack more in our next game’’
Even though it was a loss, The game between BP and Maraonia became the most watched TV Event of the week with MRT1 gaining the Highest viewers. Maraonia will play their next game on Matchday 2.

[Elejamie]

Not a bad start at all.

Sure it may have been more of a fizzle more than a bang, but it was still a good way to kick things off. The defensive core kept their cool and managed to help keep everything out of the net. Hell, goalie Ricardo Bejarano racked up 17 saves thanks to how solid they were. That and the Equestrian States seemed to be a bit rusty from not playing competitive ice hockey for so long. This including one stretch late in the second where the Equestrians had a two man advantage, thanks to Ethan Swinburne being given a minor for high-sticking and Bill Harrison for slashing less than twenty seconds later. Despite firing eleven straight shots at the post, they were either deflected by the defence, missed entirely or in once case flew over the goal, although it was recovered by one of their players before Bejarano got a glove to it and froze it to force a face-off.

As for the offence? They did a decent job as well. They didn't score as many goals as they would've had it been a straight 50/50 of offence and defence, it probably would've been double the score had that been the case, but they scored enough to keep their head above water. And they weren't exactly showy about it but, then again, they didn't need to be unless they had a sizeable enough lead. It probably also helped that they also managed to drop back and help defence with relative ease; even in moments where a player or two couldn't make it in time, like with 5:36 to spare in the third when the Equestrians found themselves on a 3-on-2 and the Elejamian second line were a bit slow to back check, they were still able to retrieve the puck and start a counter-attack without many problems.

But what about the goals? After all, this was an opening day victory and a shut-out to boot, so there must've been some goals scored. The first one came with 7:52 left in the first. After a long and gruelling defensive battle which could've gone either way, Bejarano was able to save the puck and slid it all the way over to Diego Pinto, who just managed to pass it over to Carlos Sierra before he could be checked. Sierra made his way up the ice before passing it over to Stacy Saunders. Saunders proceeded to play a simple passing game with Cerin Meloten, with Harrison waiting in the wings to make sure no one interfered with the play. When the two made it to the goal posts, Saunders' first shot hit the post and his rebound bounced off the goalie's pads. Fortunately Meloten got the puck and moved into a better position before he fired it into the back of the net. It took a while, but his side were 1-0 up.

And they doubled their score in the second period. With 14:12 left in the period, the Equestrians had to lose a player for two minutes after they charged into Bill Harrison. Simón couldn't remember which player it was, and the lack of an Equestrian team sheet didn't exactly help either, but it didn't really matter in the end. What did matter was that they actually capitalised on this power play, unlike their last couple where they came up short. And, fortunately for him, they did. Twenty-seven seconds into the power play Lupe, Adam Keane and Meloten forced the Equestrians to turn the puck over just before they could get a shot on goal. Meloten then passed it all the way up the ice to Saunders. Saunders then managed to get onto the breakaway before the he deked the puck in to double the score.

Could they have scored more? Most certainly. Indeed, there was a moment with 10:17 left in the third where there was very nearly a third goal, with Harrison Blackburn just netting it in. However, while his foot was in the crease when he dumped it in, that wasn't the reason why it was ruled off. Instead, it was revealed that Kiko Carpio had accidentally moved the net during the huge push to put it in.A strange turn of events, sure, but at least it prevented any possible controversy even if it was a game that didn't exactly matter all that much. Apart from that, there were moments where the offence could've done so much more. The aforementioned power plays where they were killed off. A second go after the Blackburn no-goal that just fizzled out. A penalty shot that was just saved. All of those could've easily had been goals but fell short for one reason or another.

But, again, a win was a win. Simón was pleased with how well his defence held up. There were very few mistakes, fortunately, and any slip-ups were quickly rectified or not capitalised upon. The offence weren't as solid, but they were still able to do the job they were able to do and do it fairly well. Better yet, it propelled his team to the top of the table, if only because of goal difference. Even more better, the experiment seemed to be working for both Sarzonian and Ko-oren as not only did they win their games but also shut out their opponents, 2-0 against Mali i Kuq and 5-0 against Terefuxe resectively. Granted they were both debutants and one seemed to be a one-and-done, but it was still promising and if they repeat what they did against a proper team then it should be solid enough proof for the EIHB to support his plan.

With that out of the way, who were their next opponents? Aust Scor. They had gotten a shock 3-2 win over Cassadaigua, which kind of made Simón a little bit nervous. Was this because Team Cassadaigua were playing down to their opponents? Did they not really prepare for the warm enough weather of Banija and thus their training ended up being a bit lacklustre? Or was Aust Scor sinmply just a red hot force that the normally dominant Cassadaiguans just couldn't handle them. He would appreciate the challenge and planning accordingly, while hoping his defence would still hold up fairly well, but it meant that a clean sweep was probably going to be even less likely than it already was on paper.

At least a quick look at some of the other games helped put his mind at rest, especially since there were also a few quite surprising wins as well. Kimi-Suomi were on the wrong end of an eleven goal thriller as they lost 6-5 to the unranked Sea Dome. The Canadian Dominion lost 4-1 to Eden and Cambersey, even though he was expecting a draw or one of them to win by a single goal. Gyatso-Kai somehow lost to the Squornshelan Remnant States 5-3. Darkmania didn't just beat Klakahollin, they OBLITERATED them with a 7-0 victory. Valanora's victory over Huayramanca wasn't unexpected but he certainly didn't expect it to be 7-4 in favour of the Calcuttas. And Lacfroid just pipped Nova Anglicana to the post thanks to a single goal. There were other games but those were the main ones that caught his eye.

Regardless, it was time to come up with a solid game plan. Would he analyse the Aust Scor-Cassadaigua match to try and find potential strength to cut down and potential weaknesses to use to his advantage? Maybe, but they'd probably be side pieces to his overall style. His main plan was to have Cerin Meloten, Rafael Espinosa, Danilo Barajas and Bill Judge to act as third defencemen unless it was obvious enough that they could advance. Maybe have a way to kill speed as well, with some elements of the neutral zone trap. Sure it may be antiquated and quite boring for the fans but if there were any facets of it that could work in the modern game, it might be worth giving it a shot. And, of course, have the left defencemen move up a line as part of his plan to ease out Lupe; Diego Pinto in the first pair, Neil Cuevas in the second and the otherwise scratched Alex Martin on the third. Maybe stick Lambert or Serrano between the pipes, since having a hybrid goalie could work that teensy bit better instead of a purely standing one. It was coming together and fairly nicely to boot, but would it actually work in practice? He wasn't too sure but he decided to stick with it and treat it as a draft.

Besides, there was training tomorrow to test it all out.

[Canadian Dominion]

Very Knies pt2.

The first game of his second World Cup of Hockey for the young defensemen Knies ended in disappointment and frustration. As he stepped off the ice, he could sense the anger emanating from his coach Hugo Simmons. The scoreboard showed a terrible score for their team Canadian Dominion they had been thoroughly smacked around by Eden and Cambersey. To add to Knies' dismay, he had been beat earlier in the game and ultimately allowed a goal to be scored against him. Knowing that his performance had played a part in their defeat intensified his anticipation of what that next day might hold and it was inevitable that the goalie and defense would be put on blast as they failed at keeping the Eden and Cambersey offense away from the net, but it was also on offense for not helping and backchecking enough to help the goalie and blueline players. In moments like these, athletes such as Knies rely on their coaches to guide them through difficult times and help them improve. Coach Simmons' anger served as motivation for Knies to work harder during upcoming practices as he knew that if he didn’t he would be benched and forced to watch from the penalty box. It was clear that they would be focusing on areas where improvements were needed to avoid similar outcomes in future games. Although this particular game had left a bitter taste in everyone's mouths, it was an opportunity for Knies to take a moment and learn from his mistakes and develop a resilience as he was still 20 and had a couple more years left from what he knew. As Knies knew he would end up having to face the challenges ahead with determination, Knies and the team knew that it was going to be a tough night sleeping.

Despite Knies getting some sleep, the anticipation of the next morning weighed heavily on his mind. He knew that he would have to face a potential berating during the film session. As he reluctantly got out of bed and went through his usual routine, a sense of dread lingered in the back of his mind. Soon enough, Knies and the rest of his teammates were gathered to the film room. Their coach's stern expression added to the tension in the air. As they sat down and prepared themselves for what was to come, Knies braced himself for criticism and harsh words. As the film played on and mistakes were pointed out one by one, it was undoubtedly a challenging experience for Knies and his teammates. However, amidst the difficult moments and self-reflection prompted by their coach's critique, Knies started to gain some perspective. He knew that these film sessions were not just about pointing out flaws but also about opportunities for growth but it hurt as a younger man but all he could do was get better and by carefully studying his performance and the whole team needs everything and will do what, they could to identify areas that needed improvement while also learning from each other's successes. Although initially dreadful, this particular film session afforded Knies an invaluable chance to evaluate himself objectively and contribute towards collective progress. With this newfound perspective gained through self-reflection and teamwork analysis during these sessions in mind, he felt nice after but he knew that it was to make positive changes in his game moving forward in the tournament.

After the film session, Knies and the other players left the room and proceeded with their off-ice workouts. While the workout may not have been as intense as they had anticipated, it served as a foundational scrimmage between players. The practice was relatively easy, but Knies understood that their upcoming practice would not be if they were to mark another loss in the standings. In order to avoid another loss, Knies recognized the importance of staying focused and putting in 110 percent effort in both practice and the upcoming game. Knies knew and understood that every practice session contributed to the team's overall performance and that complacency was not an option. With this mindset, Knies and his teammates pushed themselves during the workout even though it was a fairly long one, ensuring that they were fully prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. They knew that their success hinged on consistent dedication and a willingness to push beyond their comfort zones. As they left the training facility, Knies reflected on the importance of maintaining a strong work ethic both on and off the ice. He realized that victory required more than just skill; it necessitated discipline, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The next game would undoubtedly be a test of their abilities, but through hard work and unwavering commitment, Knies was confident in the team's ability to rise up to any challenge they faced. Even though they were going against Ryujin, an unranked team, and Darmen, two very easy teams, they should be able to beat them, and he knew if they didn’t beat the two, there would be hell to pay.

With rigorous team training sessions and well-deserved naps to recharge their energy, Knies and his teammates were determined to rise above the competition and make a resounding statement about the prowess of Canadian Dominion hockey. No longer would they allow their beloved sport to be trapped in a period of insignificance as they just needed to get two wins against Ryujin and Darmen. As Knies heard his teammate's rallying cry of "let's go," an exhilarating rush surged through his veins. He knew that this was his moment to shine on the ice to chase after victory once again with his unwavering determination. With each stride across the frozen surface, he embodied the indomitable spirit that defines Canadian Dominion hockey defense and he would show that it was still powerful. Knies knew that his teammates were ready to showcase their skills and elevate themselves into the prestigious top half of the leaderboard, Knies led his teammates onto the ice with a fierce determination burning in their eyes. They were not just playing for themselves; they were carrying the hopes and dreams of an entire nation on their shoulders. The dark age that threatened to engulf Canadian Dominion hockey would be ready to be shattered by this year's Canadian Dominion rosters efforts. With every shot fired towards the net, every pass executed with precision, they aimed to illuminate a bright future for their sport. No longer confined by doubt or hesitation, Knies propelled himself forward with unwavering confidence. His skates glided effortlessly over the ice as he pursued victory like a warrior on a mission. Every stride brought him closer to victory, closer to rewriting the Canadian Dominion’s narrative in WCoH history. In that moment when anticipation danced in the air and adrenaline coursed through his veins Knies knew that he had become part of something greater than himself. An emblematic figure in an ongoing saga where persistence triumphs over adversity.

Once they were close to the bench Hugo Simmons spoke to them saying “Alright boys let them hear our battle cry echo across arenas and transcend boundaries! Let our passion for hockey reverberate through time and space, igniting the hearts of our fans and inspiring a new generation of players. Together, with some unyielding teamwork and an unwavering belief in the power of our beloved sport, we will rise from the shadows and reclaim our rightful place among the giants on the ice. Ready to conquer any obstacle that stands in our way, we will leave an indelible mark on the history of Canadian Dominion hockey and lets win us some games!”

So.. let the games begin! LET'S GO CD.

[Kimi-Suomi]

Hockey. Our sport. So much so that we are ranked ahead of JYK-inen - a rare feat in this universe we call home. The Leijonat are a team that many feel has a future, have something to fight for, but recent events have made some people feel that assumption is pie in the sky. Never before has the Rouge Kingdom been on the defensive, feel as though those outside AO feel that we shouldn't be here at all in the international arena...and so, Hannes Lehtonen entered this WCoH looking to change that perspective...to try and prove that our existence is actually worthwhile and to prove that his team has the fight required to make it far here. With games being hosted home and away for the first time in our experience here, an opportunity presented itself...but could we take it?

Tähtien Palatsi, the Palace of the Stars, in Lumikukkulat was illuminated and ready to fly as 15,000 fans packed in hoping to witness our first-ever true home game in WCoH history. We would be taking on the Lemon Sharks of Meren Kupoli (Sea Dome) on this historic night and let's just say that both Lucas Tömmernes and Bernadette Grey won't want to watch this one back. This game was just a mess in terms of defence as this game finished up with 11 goals in total. Captain Frans Seppälä (2), Erik Ekman-Larsson (2) and Marcus Rosenqvist scored our goals in this match, all to great acclaim, but the Lemon Sharks were a brilliant debutant side and that would show here with Michonne Rose, Syntax Destructor and Eyecroft Mexides all scored twice to sink us on our home debut. It sucked...but it was also an experience we had to learn from.

Lisander is up next, followed by the visit of Itäinen Halten (Osterhalten). Two opportunities to put things right...right? NOSTA KUIN LEIJONAT!

---

SCHEDLUE (Group 1)
MD1: vs Meren Kupoli [Sea Dome] (UR) - Tähtien Palatsi [Palace of the Stars], Lumikukkulat L 5-6 (3rd)
-------------------Double-Header------------------
MD2: @Lisander (33)
MD3: vs Itäinen Halten [Osterhalten] (14) - Tähtien Palatsi [Palace of the Stars], Lumikukkulat
-------------------Double-Header------------------
MD4: @Meren Kupoli [Sea Dome] (UR)
MD5: vs Lisander (33) - Tähtien Palatsi [Palace of the Stars], Lumikukkulat
-------------------END------------------
MD6: Itäinen Halten [Osterhalten] (14)

[Vilita and Turori]

Vilita & Turori Take Momentum from AOHC to WCoH

Turoki Coliseum, Turoki City, Turoki Island, Vilita :: Despite marking 6 consecutive Atlantian Oceania Hockey Championships without a victory, the Vilita and Turori Ice Cat Things managed to clean things up after their defeat by Cordia in the regional Semi-Finals to take third place in the competition, earning a medal for the second straight edition after being shutout four cycles in a row. With that momentum, Vilita and Turori would open up their World Cup of Hockey campaign on home ice against the top seed in Group 8, TJUN-ia. There have been plenty of collaborations in the past between the two Dart-driving nations but there would be no open attempt at collaboration on this night on Turoki Isle where both sides were looking to set their tone for the competition.

Ultimately the local crowd and the momentum and confidence they had built up in the regional competition helped to propel Vilita and Turori into a hard-earned draw, a solid start punching above their weight as the Ice-Cat Things look to re-claim their place amongst International Hockey's elite. Despite having one of the most dominant and successful domestic leagues in the Ice Hockey world, Vilita and Turori have struggled at the National Competition level since reaching their peak as champions of the 34th World Cup of Hockey in Savojarna. As the level of skill and competition increased in the Vilitan Hockey League, it seemed often that players began to prioritize club over country with the Vilitan Hockey Champion and Hockey Champions League trophies being the most important in the Vilitan game, leading to an extended period with no titles at either the regional or World Cup of Hockey level. There is hope now, however, with the World Cup of Hockey returning to Atlantian Oceania, that Vilita and Turori can use this 49th cycle as a spring board back for the National Team to raise the level of their competition to where many expect it should already be.

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

SOCIAL SEASONS OF SHIN-GORYEO: SYNOPSIS

For those wondering about the Social Seasons, an introductory article about it is available here.

Year   Season  Month  City            Function
    1    Small   Oct.  Dongnae-Halifax Festival de Dongnae
Brief synopsis: Raoul-Christophe 'R.C.' Jang-Nolan meets his friend Louise and tells her that there will be a new film project of his that could be his 'finest work', but will likely require assistance from a specific studio. 
With a set plan for the presentation of the project, R.C. heads to the premiere at the Festival de Dongnae, where he lightly drops the notes of Rico Sierra, the Quebeco-Krytenian chair of the Monte-Sierra studio, of 'Barbenheimer'. 
Sierra finds it amusing, but informs R.C. to give about a month before deciding on the project.
Cutoffs to occur: July 1 (Louise) - July 3 (Raoul-Christophe) - July 5 (Festival Review)
    1    Small   Nov.  Joongyeong      Bal des Ballons
Cutoff to occur: July 7 - July 9
    1    None    Oct.  Mlima Kijani        Testiculos Ceremony
Cutoffs to occur: July 27 - July 31 - October 6th (Mauril)
    1    Large   Dec.  Montevicio      Montevicio Emerald Ball
Cutoffs to occur (Likely in WCoH/DBC): TBD - TBD - TBD
    1    Large   July  Joongyeong      Grand Prix de Joongyeong
Cutoffs to occur: August 31 (Pierre) - September 3 (Dr. Heo) - Sept 6 (The Siblings)
---
    2    Small   Oct.  Joongyeong      Final Night of the QBC Proms
Cutoffs to occur: September 24 (Myeong-Shin) - September 26 (Ian) - September 27 (Raoul-Christophe)
    2    Small   Fall  Various         Background
Cutoffs to occur: September 29 - October 1 - October 2
    2    Large   April Joongyeong      Jongmyo Jerye
    2    Large   May   Songak          Athlone Gala
    2    Large   July  Adelphi Castle  Adelphite Festival

The Social Seasons of Shin-goryeo

Part 8 - Testiculos Ceremony - Mauril

'Ah, the most opportune timing possible indeed,' Mauril 'Mo' Goh lifted his voice slowly, almost as if he were falling under a drawl and roll, as he took the opportunity to take a break from all the post-ceremony highs and quietly made a phone call.

It surprised nobody that Mauril, who was Quebecois superagent Pierre McCarthy's successor-designate at the Maison M, made his own way to accompany multiple players of his, especially considering the relatively heavy proportion of footballers in his limited stable that only went by references or his own calls driven out of intuition. Rebecca-Anne Wawanolett, this previous cycle's Testiculos d'Oro winner, was a former, one who signed with his predecessor under the recommendation of two Zenit legends - Jannick Kontiola (remember that name?) and Sandra Middleton. 'Your congratulations to Ms. Wawanolett is accepted, I will send her my dearest regards, as any self-respecting man would.'

'Absolutely, what else would I to say as a fellow footballing professional?' Rico Sierra, the co-owner of the pre-eminent filmmakers in Montersierra Productions, as well as a co-owner of Perce Town alongside his wife, basketball legend Heo Myeong-Yoon and club president Einar Salihamidzic. 'You have done your best part to ensure she stays with the best club in the world right now. Not a lot of clubs can say that out there - maybe Crisisbless, Myana, Atleik, Mipojoseon, and I'm sure Rulandea Kosta would also have a word on that too. The list is very small, but one that is distinguished indeed.'

'Rico, you know we do not have a lot of time right now. So, while your congratulations are accepted, I'd like you to go straight to the point, my dear friend,' Mauril said, feeling a little bit of smug in his voice. Mauril, for most part, did not work much with Perce Town players - Sinisa Salihamidzic, the current President's son who played Centreback with them before 8m move to Montreal Koreana, was the last one - but it wasn't exactly by his choice. Perce Town's business model, as a smaller-town side with more malleable prospects, worked slightly different

'What is it with me that you would like to discuss? I believe that no client has come forward to speak about moving to Perce Town just yet, though I'm sure that by next year we would be talking things differently.' This was a reference to possible move, one that would become effective under Bosman Rule by the new year, he wanted to secure for Gabriel Sayritupac, with the rumours of Audioslavian National League's finances looming on the papers.

'Ah, sorry about that,' Rico answered it right away, before proceeding to ask Mauril about a project. 'Mauril, you said that you work routinely for the Quebecois players at the SFPL right? And I do not mean just for those playing in Banija.' This part was important - while most of the Quebecois players who were in the SFPL were playing for one of ten Banijan sides, the Farf clubs had a couple of high-profile national teamers who had played for them.

Era comes, era goes, was the wording that's often used to described how the players who would have gone to Faroleran clubs (and thus part of the Farolera-friendly inner circle of RQFA administrator and oldbies) in our parents' generations, were now heading to Rulandese sides. 'I'm specifically talking about those in the other side [of Shango-Fogoa].'

For a brief second, Rico heard some loud noise outside, though it would quickly be dropped. Festivities things, or the matter of life being somewhere far and deep into the wilderness like Mlima Kijani, thought he, before letting out a sigh to get some air out. He had relatively little to work with the Farf clubs of the SFPL sides - the clubs themselves paid their players well, even in the direst of wartimes, and neither the Kangs nor Mathinna Bouck, who had been signed from his familiar grounds of Montreal Koreana to replace Erin Kang, now the General of the Rulandese Revolutionary Army.

'Okay, sorry about that, cellular isn't the best.' Mauril returned to speaking on his phone. 'Yes, I would be the right person to talk about it. But you have to keep in mind that right now, the transfer market is closed and most agents do not enter into the godforsaken island unless absolutely necessary. So whatever you are proposing will have to be convincing.'

'Well, it does involve somebody familiar with Ruland and the related parts of Farfadillis for the sake of our...project, let's say,' Rico answered confidently. 'It involves the filming of our latest project, a blockbuster that you likely would not have expected from us ever and never will. And we, as in me and a certain director known for his non-linear plots and excellent real-life recreations, will be looking to film the latest project in Ruland....let's just say it involves explosions, a Quebecois Prometheus back in the days of Southern Rushmori War, et cetera.'

'Okay, so the story of Dr. Kenneth and Mrs. Barbara Barbenheimer,' Mauril answered, unsure on how to go about it. Everybody had known very well about the Quebecois Prometheus, the Jewish Quebecois physicist whose scientific innovations and moral consciences have influenced many, as well as his wife Barbara, whose eccentricities and love of firearms...have no doubt added interesting notions. 'I'm sure it would be the worst-kept secret in the world by the time you will actually film it though.'

'In any case, we will need your help in filming this project, not because of who you can be but because who you are,' Rico answered. 'This could be one of the most monumental projects in the recent history of Quebecois films. To actualise a dream our ancestors had, we need practical men on board, and everybody has different ways of being practical.' He then stopped for a second, before resuming. Perhaps there was an irony in such connotations of patriotism said by an Avides man. 'It is deemed that Ruland, due to the availability of mass casting opportunities, perfect climate to replicate Los Pueblos, and not to mention the polyglot nature of the populace, is considered the best. Not to mention the public favourability would rank higher there than in other places, where either the governance model is dubious or the situations too unstable.'

'Szoirsia is not an option?' Mauril questioned. 'And yes, even then, that require a lot of reasons to go back to a goddamned war zone there when it's not the transfer period.'

'No time to waste, we will talk when our plane will be picking you up in the days time.'

Then Rico hung up the phone. Mauril, who immediately went back to the winners' banquet table with purple-haired Reba and her family, as well as the fellow members of the particularly heavy Quebecois delegation of this year's Testiculos ceremony in Mlima Kijani, knew he was in for a long ride. It wasn't exactly the safest of ideas, and he knew that, but the temptation of participating in a project as important as that, even if for the site consultation, was not exactly something that he had in mind of refusing. Who would when offered, after all?

So he knew that he was fucked.

[Banija]

The haters better beat! Because we are at the Second Cutoff of the 49th World Cup of Hockey!

Reminder that the next cutoff is in around 72 hours from this cutoff, not the standard 24 or 48, due to host schedule. This is already in the calendar, but as a reminder about the extra time.

Matchday 2 & 3 Scores

Group 1
Matchday 2
Osterhalten 6–0 Sea Dome
Lisander 3–3 Kimi-Suomi

Group 1                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Osterhalten                                 2   2  0  0   11   1 +10    4
2 Sea Dome                                    2   1  0  1    6  11  −5    2
3 Kimi-Suomi                                  2   0  1  1    8   9  −1    1
4 Lisander                                    2   0  1  1    4   8  −4    1


Matchday 3
Kimi-Suomi 4–1 Osterhalten
Sea Dome 6–4 Lisander

  Group 1                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Osterhalten                                 3   2  0  1   12   5  +7    4
2 Sea Dome                                    3   2  0  1   12  15  −3    4
3 Kimi-Suomi                                  3   1  1  1   12  10  +2    3
4 Lisander                                    3   0  1  2    8  14  −6    1

Group 2
Matchday 2
Abanhfleft 6–0 Valhalla Union
Cordia 5–1 Dod Rava

Group 2                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Cordia                                      2   2  0  0    9   4  +5    4
2 Abanhfleft                                  2   1  0  1    9   4  +5    2
3 Dod Rava                                    2   1  0  1    4   6  −2    2
4 Valhalla Union                              2   0  0  2    1   9  −8    0


Matchday 3
Dod Rava 7–2 Abanhfleft
Valhalla Union 3–4 Cordia

  Group 2                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Cordia                                      3   3  0  0   13   7  +6    6
2 Dod Rava                                    3   2  0  1   11   8  +3    4
3 Abanhfleft                                  3   1  0  2   11  11   0    2
4 Valhalla Union                              3   0  0  3    4  13  −9    0

Group 3
Matchday 2
Canadian Dominion 3–0 Ryujin
Eden and Cambersey 3–1 Darmen

Group 3                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Eden and Cambersey                          2   2  0  0    7   2  +5    4
2 Canadian Dominion                           2   1  0  1    4   4   0    2
  Darmen                                      2   1  0  1    6   6   0    2
4 Ryujin                                      2   0  0  2    3   8  −5    0


Matchday 3
Darmen 4–5 Canadian Dominion
Ryujin 3–9 Eden and Cambersey

  Group 3                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Eden and Cambersey                          3   3  0  0   16   5 +11    6
2 Canadian Dominion                           3   2  0  1    9   8  +1    4
3 Darmen                                      3   1  0  2   10  11  −1    2
4 Ryujin                                      3   0  0  3    6  17 −11    0

Group 4
Matchday 2
Equestria 4–8 Cassadaigua
Elejamie 5–0 Aust Scor

Group 4                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Elejamie                                    2   2  0  0    7   0  +7    4
2 Aust Scor                                   2   1  0  1    3   7  −4    2
3 Cassadaigua                                 2   1  0  1   10   7  +3    2
4 Equestria                                   2   0  0  2    4  10  −6    0


Matchday 3
Aust Scor 4–1 Equestria
Cassadaigua 2–7 Elejamie

  Group 4                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Elejamie                                    3   3  0  0   14   2 +12    6
2 Aust Scor                                   3   2  0  1    7   8  −1    4
3 Cassadaigua                                 3   1  0  2   12  14  −2    2
4 Equestria                                   3   0  0  3    5  14  −9    0

Group 5
Matchday 2
Gyatso-Kai 7–1 Sky Reavers
Squornshelan Remnant States 4–0 Devonta

Group 5                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Squornshelan Remnant States                 2   2  0  0    9   3  +6    4
2 Gyatso-Kai                                  2   1  0  1   10   6  +4    2
3 Devonta                                     2   1  0  1    5   4  +1    2
4 Sky Reavers                                 2   0  0  2    1  12 −11    0


Matchday 3
Devonta 5–4 Gyatso-Kai
Sky Reavers 0–0 Squornshelan Remnant States

  Group 5                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Squornshelan Remnant States                 3   2  1  0    9   3  +6    5
2 Devonta                                     3   2  0  1   10   8  +2    4
3 Gyatso-Kai                                  3   1  0  2   14  11  +3    2
4 Sky Reavers                                 3   0  1  2    1  12 −11    1

Group 6
Matchday 2
United Hawkland 2–2 Independent Athletes from Quebec
Banija 4–0 Rapaldegia Bagazis

Group 6                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Banija                                      2   2  0  0    6   0  +6    4
2 Independent Athletes from Quebec            2   1  1  0    8   6  +2    3
3 United Hawkland                             2   0  1  1    2   4  −2    1
4 Rapaldegia Bagazis                          2   0  0  2    4  10  −6    0


Matchday 3
Rapaldegia Bagazis 3–3 United Hawkland
Independent Athletes from Quebec 5–5 Banija

  Group 6                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Banija                                      3   2  1  0   11   5  +6    5
2 Independent Athletes from Quebec            3   1  2  0   13  11  +2    4
3 United Hawkland                             3   0  2  1    5   7  −2    2
4 Rapaldegia Bagazis                          3   0  1  2    7  13  −6    1

Group 7
Matchday 2
Gatchingerrak Union 0–3 Ko-oren
Kelssek 1–2 Terefuxe

Group 7                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                     2   2  0  0    8   0  +8    4
2 Terefuxe                                    2   1  0  1    2   6  −4    2
3 Kelssek                                     2   1  0  1    7   4  +3    2
4 Gatchingerrak Union                         2   0  0  2    2   9  −7    0


Matchday 3
Terefuxe 4–0 Gatchingerrak Union
Ko-oren 2–2 Kelssek

  Group 7                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ko-oren                                     3   2  1  0   10   2  +8    5
2 Terefuxe                                    3   2  0  1    6   6   0    4
3 Kelssek                                     3   1  1  1    9   6  +3    3
4 Gatchingerrak Union                         3   0  0  3    2  13 −11    0

Group 8
Matchday 2
TJUN-ia 2–0 Klakahollin
Vilita and Turori 6–3 Darkmania

Group 8                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Vilita and Turori                           2   1  1  0    8   5  +3    3
2 TJUN-ia                                     2   1  1  0    4   2  +2    3
3 Darkmania                                   2   1  0  1   10   6  +4    2
4 Klakahollin                                 2   0  0  2    0   9  −9    0


Matchday 3
Darkmania 3–3 TJUN-ia
Klakahollin 1–4 Vilita and Turori

  Group 8                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Vilita and Turori                           3   2  1  0   12   6  +6    5
2 TJUN-ia                                     3   1  2  0    7   5  +2    4
3 Darkmania                                   3   1  1  1   13   9  +4    3
4 Klakahollin                                 3   0  0  3    1  13 −12    0

Group 9
Matchday 2
Huayramarca 9–3 Sarzonia
Valanora 8–2 Mali i Kuq

Group 9                                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Valanora                                    2   2  0  0   15   6  +9    4
2 Huayramarca                                 2   1  0  1   13  10  +3    2
3 Sarzonia                                    2   1  0  1    5   9  −4    2
4 Mali i Kuq                                  2   0  0  2    2  10  −8    0


Matchday 3
Mali i Kuq 3–4 Huayramarca
Sarzonia 2–0 Valanora

  Group 9                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Valanora                                    3   2  0  1   15   8  +7    4
2 Huayramarca                                 3   2  0  1   17  13  +4    4
3 Sarzonia                                    3   2  0  1    7   9  −2    4
4 Mali i Kuq                                  3   0  0  3    5  14  −9    0

Group 10
Matchday 2
Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove 4–5 HUElavia
Patriotlandia 2–1 Zenic

Group 10                                    Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 HUElavia                                    2   2  0  0    9   6  +3    4
  Patriotlandia                               2   2  0  0    7   4  +3    4
3 Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove      2   0  0  2    7  10  −3    0
  Zenic                                       2   0  0  2    3   6  −3    0


Matchday 3
Zenic 1–1 Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove
HUElavia 2–6 Patriotlandia

  Group 10                                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Patriotlandia                               3   3  0  0   13   6  +7    6
2 HUElavia                                    3   2  0  1   11  12  −1    4
3 Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove      3   0  1  2    8  11  −3    1
  Zenic                                       3   0  1  2    4   7  −3    1

Group 11
Matchday 2
Nova Anglicana 9–2 Commonwealth of Baker Park
Lacfroid 5–2 Maranoia

Group 11                                     Pld  W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Lacfroid                                    2   2  0  0    6   2  +4    4
2 Nova Anglicana                              2   1  0  1    9   3  +6    2
3 Commonwealth of Baker Park                  2   1  0  1    8  12  −4    2
4 Maranoia                                    2   0  0  2    5  11  −6    0


Matchday 3
Maranoia 2–5 Nova Anglicana
Commonwealth of Baker Park 0–4 Lacfroid

  Group 11                                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Lacfroid                                    3   3  0  0   10   2  +8    6
2 Nova Anglicana                              3   2  0  1   14   5  +9    4
3 Commonwealth of Baker Park                  3   1  0  2    8  16  −8    2
4 Maranoia                                    3   0  0  3    7  16  −9    0

[The Valhallan Union]

For the second time ever, introducing...
[KITS AND BADGE COMING SOON]
THE VALHALLAN UNION HOCKEY TEAM
THE SEA VULTURES

Ice Hockey in the Valhallan Union, for all the climate may suggest a national obsession, still sits below well football in terms of popularity, and competes with rugby union and handball when it comes to bearing the 'honour' of being the nation's 'second sport'. Hockey fans tend to be only hockey fans though, if you see what I mean. They're a passionate bunch.

The Polar Islandstates side came second in the WCoH once upon a time, and although they competed together once upon a time, the current political climate in the Valhallan Union led absolutely nobody to believe that a cross-VU team was ever on the cards for a WCoH return. Well, shows what you know. Who can tell what motivation The Party has to encourage the VHL to arrange for a unified team to compete at this tournament, when close cooperation with their Valhallan 'partners' is usually a long way from the top of their to-do list... Still, here we are, and although not much is hoped for from this batch of playerrs, hockey fans have been starved of entertainment recently, and they'll be desparate to see the Sea Vultures in action regardless of the result.

Valhallans are a warm bunch - every bit as warm as the land they inhabit is cold - and they are ruthlessly efficient and athletic almost naturally. They are pacifists by nature, and will rarely start fights. This doesn't mean they won't fight back, of course, and they will give more than as good as they get.

Hopes are high, but change will come gradually. Nobody is expecting instant results, but it would be nice to get an idea of how high this team's ceiling can be. Polarian players dominate for the time being, but with the growing popularity of the game in Minor Valhalla, that may not be the case for very much longer. Head Coach Richard Karlsen is a wily veteran of the VHL, but the real talent in the management team is young prodigy Kenji Van Kampen. A hockey obsessive from Karbijnhavn, Kenji broke his pelvis in three places in a freak accident whilst on a school trip to a farm. With his competitive hockey ambitions in tatters, he quickly turned his attention to coaching and is something of a genius. Needs to learn man management, fast, but is the driving force of all tactical decisions.


MANAGEMENT:
Head Coach - Richard Karlsen - (PIS) - 62
Assistant - Kenji Van Kampen - (SKB) - 21

LINE ONE:
LW - Philip Landsberger - (PIS) - 23 - Hounds of Juura
C - Esajas Bennick - (PIS) - 26 - Invermuir Eagles
RW - Joske Wilts - (SKB) - 21 - Karbijnhavn Starbursts

LINE TWO:
LW - Dagbjartur Oddisson - (BLK) - 20 - Holtrecht Islanders
C - Koloman Danz - (PIS) - 26 - Hounds of Juura
RW - Jonny Schnell - (PIS) - 31 - Matua Ice Wolves

LINE THREE:
LW - Sveinn Lowenthal - (PIS) - 22 - Forrairn Hammers
C - Abraham Loffler - (CSK) - 26 - Scheveningen Hurricanes
RW - Robin Nortman - (TFI) - 24 - Hounds of Juura

LINE FOUR:
LW - Vincent Hokke - (PIS) - 23 - Invermuir Eagles
C - Finnur Bærentsen - (BLK) - 20 - Eaglescliffe Talons
RW - Sven Kreiling - (PIS) - 21 - St Denys Torpedoes

PAIR ONE:
D - Timothée Stoebner - (PIS) - 29 - Invermuir Eagles
D - Ketil Yavlinsky - (PIS) - 24 - Hounds of Juura

PAIR TWO:
D - Tomas Sanchez - (EKU) - 25 - Agheim Tornados
D - Janik Lauser - (PIS) - 30 - St Paul Whitecaps

PAIR THREE:
D - Mathias Alapassi - (PIS) - 22 - Torshavn Ice Kings
D - Robert Rensing - (PIS) - 24 - Matahiko Dynamo

GOALKEEPERS:
G - Iosef Nystuen - (PIS) - 24 - Bathurst Maelstrom
G - Einar Lisberg - (TFI) - 26 - Marylebone Giants
G - Ram De Clercq - (SKB) - 19 - Eindhavn Scythes

BENCH:
C - Artturi Loosli - (PIS) - 20 - Franz Josef Force
LW - Alari Ostergard - (PIS) - 25 - Jan Mayen Icebreakers
RW - Rupert Speer - (SKB) - 24 - Sint Willem Wildmen
D - Arvid Tschantz - (PIS) - 21 - Islay Flames
D - Raymon Nuelle - (PIS) - 22 - Invermuir Eagles
G - Sasha Forsberg - (TFI) - 21 - Uelmark Engines

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: Yes
Choose my scoring events: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes, aside from deaths.
Godmod Injuries to my players: Yes, aside from deaths.
Give Yellow Cards to my players: Yes
Give Red Cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes
STYLE MODIFIER: +2

With intense apologies to my groupmates for the lack of roster thus far.

A quick IC note for your RPs:
The Federation is no longer the bastion of civil rights and political freedoms that you might remember. The long absence from international sport is thanks to an isolationist and paranoid military police state taking over, using whipped up fear against the Sargossans' claim to Külmsaar and Terra Scotia as both carrot and stick. Citizens are now preoccupied with achieving the title of True Valhallan, which is acquired through either military service, civil service, outstanding conduct, or as of recently, representing your national in international sport.

As an aside, the nation has also taken a rather more bullying tone towards the rest of the Valhallan Union, with Minor Valhalla now very much pressured into living up to the definition of its geographical title, and not best pleased about it.

So, the nation is no longer closed, but Valhallan fans will not yet be permitted to travel in large numbers, and organised supporters groups are currently illegal. Expect plenty of shady support staff to follow the Sea Vultures abroad, too, and any and all mingling between nationals of different VU nations will be watched very, very closely.

In short; it's Valhalla, Jim, but not as we know it...

[Lacfroid]

The Universite de Lacfroid, Udelac for short, occupies ten square blocks in downtown Saint-Laurent and accounts for much of that city’s culture, even the parts that are not directly associated with the school. The oldest and largest university in Lacfroid, it is also the home of its only law and veterinary schools, as well as one of the country’s two medical schools. The Udelac Tigres compete in every varsity sport offered by the Fédération Lacfroidois du Sport Universitaire, and the city is known to shut down on gamedays.

Since the demise of collegiate gridiron football in Lacfroid, ice hockey has asserted itself as the dominant sport in the FLSU, followed by association football. Collegiate ice hockey is an integral part of the pipeline to the Ligue Gauthier, with university hockey programs scouting Ligue Gauthier teams’ academies and collegiate players participating in the Ligue Gauthier draft. While professional teams are allowed to sign players directly from their academy, there are a limited number of slots for non-college graduate players, and these players’ contracts are subject to a number of restrictions intended to allow them to finish their degrees while playing.

The Tigres are the dominant team in FLSU hockey by most metrics; win percentage, number of championships, number of players in the pros, and fanbase among others. However the end of FLSU gridiron football has allowed other schools to invest more in their hockey programs, creating a significantly greater level of parity between the teams. In the past decade, a record six teams have won the title at least once, while Udelac has won only three times, compared to a rate of nearly fifty percent since the FLSU’s founding.

Into this dynamic environment stepped Diana Ratchford-Debusk, former collegiate shot putter, Udelac Law graduate, and former corporate counsel at Arnaud. Diana, who goes exclusively by DRD or “Dee”, took over as athletic director at Udelac at the start of the 73-74 academic year. Her husband, Dale Ratchford, is an immigrant from New Gesem who holds a Ph.D. in engineering from the Universite de Sciences et Technology in Raleigh and teaches in the engineering department at Udelac.

One of DRD’s first priorities was to improve the gameday experience at Udelac; it’s never been bad per se, but there’s never been anything to recommend it to anyone who wasn’t already a fan. Simple, easy fixes came first, such as lockers for food that allow fans to order from their phones, and a series of traffic signs linked to an AI-driven mesh network that directs traffic on game day. Greater institutional change will take longer, but DRD has her priorities set, starting with moving homecoming to January to coincide with hockey instead of the now-defunct football season.

[Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove]

A slow start at the World Cup of Hockey

San Valerie, Zenic - Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove started off the World Cup of Hockey with two losses and a draw. On game 1, the Tapirs lost 5-3 against Patriotlandia. On matchday 2, they lost 5-4 against HUElavia and, finally, on matchday 3, the Jean-Jacquois and Burnhamese tied 1-1 against Zenic.

On matchday 2, Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove received HUElavia at home at Arena 1 at Complexe sportif national de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer. The visiting team opened the score early in the 1st period with a two on one goal by Rimak Asto Orccosupa. Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove tied the game midway in the period when Jérémie Boissonneault-Gougeon scored off a rebound. 4 minutes later, Jean-Philippe Léger was penalised for hooking and the Tapirs had a power play. Just one minute later, Pierre-Olivier Hautcoeur received the puck from Jean-Guy Rabouin and scored a power play goal from the blueline. Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove was leading 2-1 after one period.

Early in the 2nd period, HUElavia was attacking in SJJetBoS zone for two minutes and Giovane Cavalcanti Brandão scored with a wrist shot after recieving the puck from Chibueze Chidike and the game was tied. The Tapirs answered 3 minutes later with a 3 on 1 goal from Emily Wojciechowski, the younger sister of Ethan Wojciechowski. HUElavia tied the game once again with 2 minutes remaining in the 2nd period after Gunther Schmidt was penalised for high sticking. It was a power play goal from Khuyak Chalco Huayta. With less than 30 seconds in the 2nd period, HUElavia also had a 3 on 1 and Luca Klostermann scored from a beautiful pass from Rimak Asto Orccosupa. The score was 4-3 HUElavia after 40 minutes of play.

With 12 minutes remaining in the 3rd period, Xavier Lajeunesse-Flanagan, whose older brother, Félix, is a cornerback with the national gridiron team and played in the latest World Bowl, won the faceoff and Bruno-Pierre Rabouin passed backward to Mason Bartoszkiewicz who shoots from the blueline and he scores. The game is tied at 4-4. With 5 minutes renmaining, both Anne-Élisabeth Geoffrion and Koka Vilca Sianquiz were penalised 2 minutes for roughing and both teams played at 4 on 4. 30 seconds later, Giovane Cavalcanti Brandão scored on a 2 on 1 and HUElavia took a 5-4 lead. This is the final score.

On matchday 3, the Tapirs travelled to San Valerie, Zenic to play against the Arctic Survivors. Guillaume Champoux-Rinfret scored a power play goal midway in the first period but Ovidia Ellis tied the game on a 2 on 1 late in the 2nd period. Vlastimir Tomislav got an assist on Ellis' goal. The game was tied at 1-1 and it was a final score. Early in the 2nd period, Anne-Élisabeth Geoffrion was hurt after beiing checked into the board by Radomir Wandalin. Geoffrion did not came back into the game and will miss matchday 4 against Patriotlandia. Audrey Fleury will replace her in the line up.

Charlotte Escobar-Constantineau

[Darkmania]

It started with a bang. A 7–0 win against Klakahollin. Then a Vilita and Turori 6–3 loss threw a wrench and was only saved by a 3-3 draw. At the time of this, Darkmania was placed 3rd in their group, having a fall from the 1st in their group from Matchday 1. Morale is high in the camp as the players all do not want a repeat of the WCoH48 campaign when Darkmania finished last in their group. Questions have been raised if Darkmania is repeating it again, but the future is unknown and we don't know when it happen.

The interim manager has announced he will be stepping down after this tournament when a new permanent manager has been appointed. So far the candidates are both historical ice hockey players who both have manager experience with managing top league ice hockey teams. Who they are will be announced later but just for now, both candidates are known names within darkmanian ice hockey.

[Elejamie]

Simón Montenegro was completely gobsmacked by what was going on.

Not only was his side defending relatively well, they were absolutely dominating their opponents. He wasn't expecting much from his side after their 2-0 opening win. Maybe a few more close wins and some solid defending to kill off the clock, pretty much what you'd expect from a team that was doing what he wanted them to do. However, he certainly wasn't expecting them to crush Aust Scor 5-0, nor did he expect them to completely dismantle Cassadaigua 7-2. Granted, that other game didn't see as much solid defending compared to the two games before it but considering that they were a tougher opponent and one of those goals came on a power play there was a lot more room for forgiveness.

First, there was the match against Aust Scor. They weren't exactly a one-and-done team, but they weren't anything to write home either. Sure there was the 3-2 win over Cassadaigua on the opening day but that could've either been because they actually prepared for playing in a much warmer climate or their opponents just completely sucked for one reason or another. But that doesn't change the fact that they were a team whose players Simón didn't exactly know anything about. He didn't know how old the players were, he didn't know what teams they played for, what their preferred playing style was. He didn't even know what the players' names were! That wasn't so bad, they were shut out after all so that made covering this match a hell of a lot easier.

At least he was able to remember which of his players scored and when. The opening goal came with 12:09 left in the first when Stacy Saunders fired it in through the goalie's five-hole, with a bit of assistance from Cerin Meloten and Carlos Sierra. The second came exactly eight minutes later after a massive net battle where the Aust Scor goalie was doing a decent job blocking shots from Lucas Madgwick, Rafael Espinosa and James Han with both pads and sticks before a close range shot from Madgwick just managed to sneak in under the glove. Goal #3 came with 17:28 left when Aust Scor had to lose player for interference, which lead to a tight defensive battle before Saunders was just able to net it before the end of his shift. Number four came with 4:47 left, where Diego Pinto (again playing on the first line instead of Lupe as part of Simón's "move the left defencemen up" tactic) fed the puck over to Adam Keane who them passed it up to Felipe Barajas, who proceeded to fire in a slap shot from the point while his twin brother Danilo and fellow third-liner Ethan Swinburne helped keep the opposition at bay. Speaking of Swinburne, he scored the fifth and final goal of the match, an empty netter with 36.2 seconds left when he just tipped it in between the posts to make it five.

A good game but how would they fare in the big game against Cassadaigua. A team that had been a thorn in Elejamie's side at least once. Perhaps there was another meeting between the two sides but Simón couldn't exactly remember when and where. Or if it had happened. Either way, they were a team that was crawling their way up after their opening day defeat. They had managed to bring more pain onto the Equestrian States with an 8-4 stomping but Simón was guessing that it felt more like a consolation rather than a well-deserved victory. This was going to be a real challenge, especially since they had beaten Elejamie 5-4 in the last World Cup of Hockey and were no doubt gunning for another victory just to stake their claim on the top of the table. As a result he decided to have everyone back in their usual spots but still keep a few changes. Bejarano will be back in goal for this one after Cristian Serrano's stint in net, for a start, and Lupe and Pinto will be on the first and second pairs respectively. But Alex Martin and Paul Sinclair will be the third defensive pairing instead of Neil Cuevas and Rafinho. Would this ultimately change anything? Probably not but it was still worth giving them some more ice time, especially if they're to start in the next one.

The first period was a very strong one for one side. That side turned out to be the Ice-a-phants as they came close to scoring in the opening fifteen seconds when Stacy Saunders fired one at the Cassadaiguan net. If only Tyler Sherman just didn't get a glove to it. Of course, Cassadaigua were quick to very nearly get a goal of their own but Bejarano managed to move his stick just in time so the puck would deflect into the path of Adam Keane. After a hard-fought defensive battle in front of the Cassadaiguan net, the Ice-a-phants managed to find themselves 1-0 up with 14:05 left thanks to a well-timed backhander from Bill Harrison, with a bit of assistance from Cerin Meloten and Stacy Saunders. Indeed, Saunders would help double up with 9:43 left when he found himself on the breakaway and proceeded to deke the puck past Sherman; Diego Pinto and Carlos Sierra were credited with assists. Goal #3 came with 5:44 left, when Sierra passed it over to Rafael Espinosa, who then passed over to Lucas Madgwick. The two played a back-and-forth passing game before Espinosa passed it over to Madgwick, who smacked it in off the one-timer.

The second period didn't go so well for Cassadaigua as they had two players sent to the box in the first five minutes. With 18:56 left on the clock, Tori Davis had to be sent to the box for two minutes after she slashed Bill Harrison although fortunately her side was able to kill off the penalty with relative ease. But with 16:04 left on the clock, Kelsey Justice was sent to the box for two minute for interference after she collided with James Han despite him not having the puck. This penalty kill didn't go so well for them as, thirty seconds later, Cassadaigua had to deal a tough defensive battle where there was a mad scramble that saw the puck change hands a number of times before Meloten got the puck and passed it over to Saunders, who proceeded to bury it from close range. Cassadaigua were 4-0 down in less than 25 minutes and the fans weren't happy, the players weren't happy and the Elejamian players and staff were a bit surprised at what was going on.

And then, with 13:41 left on the clock, Cassadaigua were finally able to pull one back. After winning the face-off in Elejamian ice, they decided to go full-on attack. Sure it seemed like a bit of a bad move when facing a team whose defence was pretty top-notch so far this tournament but there seemed to be a bit of method to the madness. After all, something was going to give eventually, especially since this immovable object wasn't as immovable as expected. And then there was a fatal mistake that lead to Bejarano finally conceding. It wasn't anything major, just simply a defenceman not being in the right place so they couldn't provide any proper cover, but it did mean that Cassadaiguan captain Crystal Shadrick was able to feed the puck to Tori Davis, who fired a shot past Bejarano. After 146 minutes and 19 seconds, the Elejamian defence had finally allowed its first goal. It was bound to happen eventually, which was why Simón wasn't really that upset by it and just gave them a round of applause. Plus his side answered with 4:44 left in the period, thanks to a simple wrister from Ethan Swinburne and assistance from Danila Barajas and Alex Martin.

Going into the third, head coach Maddie Tiriano pulled Tyler Sherman and replaced him with Damon Kennedy. This might've been the spark needed to get her team working because Cassadaigua would pull another one back with 14:05 left. After Paul Sinclair had to be sent to the bench for two minutes for cross-checking Amanda Norton. This lead to another strong offensive effort that lead to a goal from Meghan Hess, with Shadrick and Rachel Tillman being credited with assists. Unfortunately for them, not only would that be their last goal of the match but also Elejamie would respond quickly, with a goal coming in with 13:13 left thanks to a well-timed snap shot from Harrison Blackburn that just crept its way past Kennedy, as well as a bit of help from Kiko Carpio and Paul Sinclair. And then the final goal came with 8:37 left, when Diego Pinto intercepted a pass from Hailee Cortez and made his way up the ice before passing it up to Rafael Espinosa. He then passed it over to Lucas Madgwick, whose one-timer bounced off of Kennedy's pads, although Espinosa retrieved the puck, skated into a better position and fired it in to make it seven. While Kennedy was pulled with a minute left, his skaters were able to prevent Elejamie from getting an empty netter.

So the group stage was halfway done and already Elejamie were doing fairly well. Three wins out of three with a second half to go. Fourteen goals scored, two conceded and a goal differential of +12. The best of the group leaders so far, although there was a strong possibility of it slipping if they weren't careful. In second place was Aust Scor, who were 2-0-1 with seven scored and eight conceded with a -1 goal differential. Cassadaigua were in third thanks to a 1-0-2 record with 12 goals scored and 14 conceded (half of them coming from the massive collapse against Elejamie), meaning they'll really need to buckle down if they wish for a chance to survive the group stage and be chucked out of the tournament early. And, unsurprisingly, Equestria are in last place having lost all of their games so far, only scoring 5 goals (all but one of which came from their 8-4 defeat to Cassadaigua) while conceding 14 and having to face a red hot Ice-a-phants in their next game.

Simón also decided to have a look at the other groups, not just to see how the two examples he planned to use were doing but also see if there were any other surprises in store. Sarzonia were third in their group but it wasn't due to them suddenly deciding to suck but, rather, because they share a 2-0-1 with the two teams above them (Valanora and Huayramanca) but are in a bad spot thanks to tie-breakers. Ko-oren were sitting pretty at the top of their group with a 2-1-0 record, thanks to a 2-2 tie with now-third placed Kelssek to round off their first half. Gyatso-Kai were still in a very poor position, being third in Group 5 with a 1-0-2 record and their goal differential (14 scored and 11 conceded making it +3) being any sort of consolation. And Eden and Cambersey seemed to be a real threat over in Group 3, as not only have they also won all of their games but they've scored 16 goals, conceded 5 and have a goal differential of +11, although the Canadian Dominion have bounced back from that opening day defeat and now occupy second place. There were other games and matches but they weren't really anything that caught his eye.

Still, he now had to worry about this second half. His side had recorded a good first half but he was a bit sceptical going into the second. The Equestria match was tight and respectable, he didn't need to worry about much there. Lambert was going to be between the pipes for that match anyway. But Aust Scor and Cassadaigua were bloodbaths and he had to face them again. So, naturally, they'd probably be seeking revenge the next time they meet Simón's team. Which'd mean teaching them not to be complacent, to not allow any unnecessary goals and, most of all, concentrate on actually defending rather than showing off. His side did seem to be capable of that, as evidenced by their elimination stage run in 48 and their group stage run so far, but the memory of 7-6 still haunted him. So, naturally, he wanted to make sure they never had a repeat of that again.

And, guessing by the game plan ideas floating around in his head, there was a possibility that it won't happen soon.

(OOC note: I will be moving house next week and won't be having internet installed until sometime the week after, so there might be a little bit of slowdown from me. I'll have unlimited data to piggyback off so I won't be disappearing completely but don't be surprised if the RPs aren't up to my usual standard)

[TJUN-ia]

After starting our new WCOH journey with a draw of all things, the Ice Jaguars of TJUN-ia were 0-1-0 and in a position where they didn't quite know what to think about themselves. Winning would've made them feel good, a defeat the opposite, but a draw? Well that was interesting. Coming back to get the draw was a good thing but the fact we had conceded twice in the 2nd to set up that scenario certainly added a sting in the tail. Therefore, Ølson Rasmussen could take both positives and negatives from that game but he knew full well that getting wins is more valuable in this sport...and so, could they start coming? And quick?

Up first in this first double-header would be the first game back home in a long long time as The Rink in The Gardens of New Washington was packed for the first home game of our campaign. Debutants Klakahollin would be our opponents for this glorious occasion and as fitting as things could be, we managed to pitch a shutout baby! Nicholas Artiaga-Tapia managed a brilliant performance in his 1st home game in the net and that gave our players plenty of time to go out there and will the win into our laps. That would be as simple as one and two as all it took to take Ugluspegill Holgersson's side down was two goals in the 2nd via Luis Olivares. 2-0, the crowd went home happy and things were back on track!

And then we had to go to Darkmania in order to face interim Manager Krÿster Gärlond and his squad. Facing a team similar to ours in terms of current points tally was always going to be interesting, but this one seemed to be a struggle from the get-go. Ërÿk Kälengöskop managed to score twice in P1 and while Lan Yih-Wen and Yun Pong-cho did get goals back in the 2nd, they were responded to by Erÿk Hälsmen to make it 3-2 after 2. Thabo Tholo would end up having to tie this one in P3 but once again, no winner would come and so we would have to settle for a 2nd draw overall.

Halfway through and while we are unbeaten, 1-2-0 doesn't sound too fun if you ask the fanbase. Vilita and Turori is heading this way before we must go over to Klakahollin...as every game does indeed count. GO ICE JAGS!

---

SCHEDULE [Group 8]
MD1: @Vilita and Turori (23) D 2-2 (T-2nd)
------------------Puck Watch!------------------
MD2: vs Klakahollin (UR) - The Rink in The Gardens, New Washington W 2-0 (2nd)
MD3: @Darkmania (34) D 3-3 (2nd)
------------------Puck Watch!------------------
MD4: vs Vilita and Turori (23) - The Rink in The Gardens, New Washington
MD5: @Klakahollin (UR)
------------------Puck Watch!------------------
MD6: vs Darkmania (34) - The Rink in The Gardens, New Washington

[Valanora]

The World Cup of Hockey is a tournament where the Eternal Empire has a long and lustrious history, with a record six titles to her name in this wonderful competition. However much like the Marauders in the World Cup (of Football), it has been quite a bit of time since the Calcuttas have tasted the sweet taste of ultimate victory in the tournament. However unlike the Marauders (until very recently) the Calcuttas have been a continued force of power within the tournament and always there or therabouts when it comes to actually being in contention for the title, even if the dominance that the team once shared with the likes of Elejamie do seem a bit of a faded memory now. That dip in form can be traced to the same time when the Elven Hockey League (EHL), also saw it's stranglehold on the Hockey Champions' League be disrupted and torn apart, supplanted by Vilita and Turori's domestic league as the most dominant power in the domestic hockey front. It is a weird coincidence though, since the team from the Cove with such an exceptional league does not have that same sort of power on the international ground, where the Empire team has faltered slightly with the decline of the domestic league.

The side has been handed a somewhat difficult group to navigate through at the most recent edition of the tournament, where they have been paired with Mali i Kuq, Huayrmarca, and regional rival of Sarzonia. It is a group that on paper the Calcuttas should be able to easily secure a top two position from and see advancement, but it never is as easy nor as simple as it can appear on paper. The Calcuttas are already reeling a bit after being stymied by Sarzonia in their last game, who were able to keep the very potent offense of the Calcuttas off the scoreboard. The side had put up fifteen goals in the first two games heading into the match with the Stars of Sarzonia but the fellow Atlantian Oceania outfit was able to keep the high powered offense of the team from being able to showcase their skills and talent. It is a bit of a poignant moment as it showcases that the team can be stopped on any given night by a netminder who is on their game and if the team just fails to click in the offensive zone. It also has Sarzonia, Huayramarca, and the Empire all level on four points at the halfway stage, with one of the three teams doomed to miss out on making it through to the knockout rounds.

There is a concern for the team outside just not finding it all together on any given night though and that is the age of the squad, with the same squad that entered into the last tournament being given a second chance to earn their way back up to the championship game and make good on that desire and promise that they failed so late in the tournament last time. This veterancy can both be a blessing and a curse, with the side having the experience of overcoming obstacles and reaching those latter stages of the tournament with success, while the downside being the obvious need to manage minutes of the older players so that they can still be effective into a hopeful deep run. Keeping your best players playing at their best and helping them lift the squad around them has a proven track record of seeing more success in a tournament than sole reliance on them or trying to explode during the group stage with little thought to what comes after. While you still have to have that focus on the group stage to ensure that you make it to the knockout stages, a smart manager also has to keep a plan of action to keep the players they need to be at their best for those pivotal moments. Whether the Calcuttas can do that (again) will be a running question through the second half of the group stage and into the knockouts if the Calcuttas do earn their passage into them.

[Kimi-Suomi]

Hockey can be a brutal game at times. That showed on opening night when the Leijonat lost their first-ever home game in Lumikukkulat and it did sting for a while. But we have to move on and Hannes Lehtonen knew that for a fact.

And so, we marched to Lisander looking to bounce back...but that didn't go to plan either. It was a shootout of a game, with Lisander always finding their way to respond to anything we threw at them...and that really did get on our nerves. Jenna Silvonen (2) and Erik Ekman-Larsson provided our goals, but that wasn't enough to secure the win but we did get a draw instead. Not perfect, but a point all the same.

Then it was time to head back to Tähtien Palatsi to face Itäinen Halten, Osterhalten, and we knew that we couldn't just let the Otters run the show at this critical point in our campaign. That would be shown early on as goals from Frans Seppälä, Marcus Rosenqvist and EEL meant we finished the 1st Period an astounding 3-0 up. Of course, the Otters got one back in the 2nd thanks to Arlen Kestrel, but Krista Parkkonen made sure of a historic home win with her goal in the 3rd, sealing the 4-1 deal right there and then.

Finally getting a win on the board felt so fucking good, but we still have a long way to go if we want to stay alive. A trip to Meren Kupoli, Sea Dome, is up next before our final home game against Lisander...and points really do fucking matter now. We need them. And fast. NOSTA KUIN LEIJONAT!

---

SCHEDLUE (Group 1)
MD1: vs Meren Kupoli [Sea Dome] (UR) - Tähtien Palatsi [Palace of the Stars], Lumikukkulat L 5-6 (3rd)
-------------------Double-Header------------------
MD2: @Lisander (33) D 3-3 (3rd)
MD3: vs Itäinen Halten [Osterhalten] (14) - Tähtien Palatsi [Palace of the Stars], Lumikukkulat W 4-1 (3rd)
-------------------Double-Header------------------
MD4: @Meren Kupoli [Sea Dome] (UR)
MD5: vs Lisander (33) - Tähtien Palatsi [Palace of the Stars], Lumikukkulat
-------------------END------------------
MD6: Itäinen Halten [Osterhalten] (14)

[The Cordian Isles]

The Cordasfjord Daily

---

Cordians Crush Dod Rava, Lead Group Two Games Into World Cup of Hockey 49

---

After the last edition of the World Cup of Hockey, which saw the Cordian national team drop 4-3 to Huron League (now Osterhalten) in the opening game, many fans were concerned about a slow start for the Cordians. Concerns grew after a too-close 4-3 victory over 31st-ranked Abanhfleft on the first day of the Group Stage. The North Stars were due to face 17th-ranked Dod Rava two days later, and the competition would be that much stiffer.

Let’s not forget, though, the time that the North Stars have had to get ready. The AOHC is no longer simply a tune-up or exhibition tournament for Atlantean Oceania’s various storied ice hockey programs. In six games in the tournament, the North Stars faced four teams in the World Cup of Hockey Rankings’ top 25, winning three including against 11th-ranked Kimi-Suomi and losing only to 1st-ranked Gyatso-Kai. Given that, the North Stars were ready to go for the World Cup of Hockey.

They proved that beyond all doubt against Dod Rava. Alicia Sorensen got lost in coverage and Magnus Bjornsen set her up at the back post midway through the first period for the first goal of the game that seemed inevitable after several minutes of hard pressure on a Dod Rava side that could not seem to get off the ice. The floodgates opened with that. Randolf Karlsson set up Ragnvald Nyberg to fire a blistering one-timer from the left faceoff dot, forcing the attention of the Dod Ravian defenders to stay on him with Agenta Bjorn keeping the netfront defenders occupied. Two to zero Cordia, with seven shots to the Dod Ravians’ three. The Dod Rava team quickly adjusted, ensuring that they covered every player and playing more conservative on offense to defend against the rush, always a dangerous scenario with the North Stars. That worked until three minutes left in the period when Martin Kordsen picked up the puck for a breakout and caught the Dod Ravian defense flat-footed, tossing the puck up to Justin Perreau, who had already blasted by the opposing defense and caught the puck past the red line for an easy breakaway. Expecting a move, Justino Pino backed too far into the net and Perreau fired an accurate shot to his lower glove side for the goal. Three to zero Cordia.

Pino was pulled in favor of Artur Jakubowski during the break between the first and second periods, but the damage had already been done. Playing notably less aggressive than normal, the Cordians altogether shut down the Dod Ravian attack, allowing just six shots in the second period, none of which provided a real threat. The lone goal of the period was an Ivar Leifssen point blast that Jakubowski never saw, thanks to some effective screen play from Helmer Lundqvist.

No adjustments were made between the second and third periods. The game stayed about the same, with the Cordians by and large shutting down Dod Rava at every opportunity while refusing to go all out, saving some energy for the rest of the group stage. After the last edition, six games might not seem like too much, but it adds up, especially with a deep run in the AOHC in the legs of the Cordians when only one squad has had so many games so recently, with the Anaian Ice Hockey Championships taking place a little longer back. So the third period went about as expected. The Cordian third line struck again. This time, Randolf Karlsson showed a good bit of experience with a beautiful pass to Agneta Bjornsen at the net front, who jammed it in for the goal and Karlsson’s second assist on the day. The Cordians showed a more balanced offense than usual, with two of their five goals coming on the rush. Dod Rava would finally notch a goal, Robert Trumna taking on the role of sniper with a precise shot between the shoulder of Chris Ericsson and the crossbar for a goal on Dod Rava’s sixteenth and final shot of the game with forty-two seconds remaining.

The North Stars played good, clean hockey, leaving undamaged with a devastating victory in hand. In blowout victories, things tend to get messy, but credit goes to the Dod Ravians for continuing to play hard but clean. The Cordians next play unranked newcomers-yet-oldcomers Valhalla Union, who got creamed 6-0 by Abanhfleft before the Cordian game against Dod Rava and who should not pose too much of a threat if things go as planned.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Kimi-Suomi are struggling, having lost 6-5 to unranked Sea Dome on MD1 and then drawing 3-3 with 33rd-ranked Lisander. Group 1 as it stands does not look too good for the Atlantean Oceanian nation, especially with 14th-ranked Osterhalten next up on their schedule. Gyatso-Kai came back from a stunning MD1 loss to the Squornshelan Remnant States with a wild 7-1 victory over Sky Reavers in Group 5. 27th-ranked HUElavia and 4th-ranked Patriotlandia set the stage for a titanic MD3 clash in Group 10, both of them having won their first two games. A Group 11 that contains several well-known names in Cordia like Lacfroid, Nova Anglicana, and Baker Park has Lacfroid on top and Nova Anglicana in second, with Lacfroid having won the clash between them.

It’s altogether too early to try to figure out how groups will turn out, but with some big upsets in the past and big games set for the next few days, we’re looking at a very interesting group stage, still just two games into the tournament.

Note: This story was ICly written between MDs 2 and 3, and assumes that a rest day separates each matchday. Things against Valhallan Union, of course, did not exactly go as planned.

[Gyatso-kai]

'The Final Song'... that was what ASPN was calling it...

It was a long ride out from the city centre of Augnook into the countryside, and thankfully for Song Unataq, the weather was mostly amicable. This time of year in the Southern Water Tribes -- where the currents off of New West Guiana and Alanis Star, having travlled thousands of kilometres over deep ocean water before crossing above Eshan and into the southern islands of Gyatso-kai -- were usually a bit cooler; daytime temps hovering around 18 degrees and night time dipping into the single digits. However, the seasonal climate had shifted warmer this year, and on his ride out, Song only wore his traditional armor and no heavier outercoat. The horse he had -- a tawny colt with a name Song struggled to pronounce -- belonged to one of the equipment managers of the Southern PolarLeopards, and when he had asked to borrow it for the day after a struggling start of the tournament, the equipment manager was quick to oblige.

I guess I still have pull... but for how long?

The entire ride had left Song nearly three hours to think and talk to himself, something he often did on the road. Back home, he would often ride out on his homestead whenever he needed time to think, to take in the sweet air of Sundari from his home at the base of the Kumi Mountains as he would travel the entire length of his sixteen hectares of property. He would often leave his home late in the day -- I've always been a night owl -- and return after sundown to a patiently waiting wife and food that had been cook in such a way as to be done for his arrival. The rides were often more theraputic than any therapy session he could have ever imagined; just time spent communing with nature without a care or responsibility. He picked the habit up from his time spent with Ishii when he was a young center for the Itakawai Lightning and would often go out to Ishii's homestead in Ita'kumi; the head coach of both the National Team as well as the AHL Lightning would have monthly meetings at his estates, where he would often take members of the team out for heart-to-heart chats surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Though, this time, he would not have the joy of travelling through pristine wilderness, but rather, he would have to travel back through the city center, past the Saddleback Dome where tomorrow's match against the Ice Bisons' newest rival in the Squornshelean Remnant States would take place, to a property just fifteen minutes outside of town to return his borrowed steed and see him well rewarded for his work. Then, a short drive to the hotel in his rental car that the team was staying at, before having to turn in for the evening before morning skate and the eventual rematch of the group stage. Song kept thinking of that first match, and how such a loss came after such a victory back in Al-Tamazgha.

And what a victory it was... the first-ever Atlantian Oceanian hockey championship to have the name "Song Unataq" stamped into it.

To think, Song had managed to captain the Ice Bisons to not one, not two, but three World Cups in five tournaments, as well as to finally capture regional supremacy after falling short so many times. For Song, after all these years on the National Team, from an upstart-twenty-year-old to now a well-seasoned man nearing forty, he suddenly felt like he was nearing the end of it all. For Avatarian players, staying active well into your forties was far from uncommon -- the Ice Bisons had Hiteki Kia right now pushing 43, and even Head Coach Ishii Hakoda had been on the national team at 41 --- but for Song, something about looking down and seeing the fourth star on the crest made it all seem a bit too much for him. He wanted to focus on his AHL career, to see the development of younger players to eventually take over the reins of the national team and continue building a strong legacy behind him. Not to mention, to continue crafting the dynasty that had become Avatarian Hockey throughout the multi-verse. Over the last five editions of the World Cup of Hockey, Gyatso-kai had been sitting at or very near the top in terms of rankings, maintaining the Number One ranking it had held through two consecutive tournaments.

Four World Cups, One AO Cup... Not a bad amount of hardware. But it is enough?

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

The Baker Park National Hockey Team will look to get their second win against Maraonia in the group stage of the World Cup of Hockey, hoping to reverse the play that consigned them to back to back losses against the top two seeds in Group 11.

Both Toby Charles and Daria Hornchurch were chased from their respective starts—Hornchurch replaced during the 2nd period after allowing 6 goals to Nova Anglicana in a 9-2 defeat, and Charles replaced before the 3rd period in the 4-0 defeat to Lacfroid.

Hornchurch will start again after not allowing a goal over the final 20 minutes, but her teammates and coaches agree that she--and Charles--need far more support than they've received.

Coach Patrick Newhouse has been honest about the level of play BP has faced.

"We've fallen behind by not coming to the (WCoH) and we've not been able to measure ourselves against the rest of the multiverse. We've got to have a realistic goal to at least close the gap against the teams in this group over the return games we're playing."

[Ko-oren]

Ice hockey, the newest addition to the list of professional sports in Ko-oren, has found a surprising group of fans to give legitimacy to its claim as a truly national league - if we don't focus too much on where most fans of the sport actually live, which is on the northeastern isles and in pockets along the northern coast, representing at best 10% of the population of Ko-oren. Comparing that to soccer, which is actually popular nationwide, is a bit unfair, but most professional sports on the Ko-orenite archipelago can trace their viewership to pockets and regions of the country. Rugby union - southwest. Rugby league - southeast. Baseball - southeast (but a bit smaller than rugby league, though with far more intense fans). Cricket - southwest (but similarly, with far more intense fans). Ice hockey claiming the north and northeast would be an achievement in and of itself, but the sport set itself bigger ambitious targets. Call them foolish, but the various owners and investors in the league (who have turned it from merely semi-professional with some well-intentioned amateurs to fully professional) saw the Banijan league putting a team in Shemurdar (Schemerdrecht) and chose, as the kids say, violence.

"A surprising group of fans" and "as the kids say" turn out to tell most of the story there - gamers, fans of esports, and kids are turning into a weirdly strong fanbase. The Aevarea League, as it's known for sponsorship reasons, spent a lot of money on their social media accounts, offering everything from tiny bite-sized 'Play of the Game' segments (which include as many goals as violent checks) and short play analyses, linking esports to ice hockey.

Small team sizes, lots of opportunities for big plays, every player can assume a big role for minutes on end - if not the entire game - and plenty of opportunities for highlights too. The Aevarea marketing team weren't wrong - looking past the boomerly obvious, there actually are some similarities there.

Meaningless statification of sports is at play here as well. Gridiron does it - "The Willowbourne Saints have a 100% win percentage on rainy afternoons in Aerellen", etcetera - but ice hockey media have taken it to an even further extreme, and with that comes a host of interns and teenagers recording stats for everything that happens, helped by all kinds of gadgets recording speed, direction, etcetera. After the technological revolution took cricket and baseball they moved on to ice hockey. Then again, the nerds were already there - Ko-oren's Silicon Coast is famously located in the northeast anyway. The university campus responsible for quite a bit of this is located eleven minutes from a pro team and a second division team who have been all to happy to work with them.

Quickly, they recorded not just the shots on goal, but also the amount of times player X carried the puck into the neutral or offensive zone vs how often player Y chased a dumped puck in the offensive zone. That has led to coaches looking at those stats to say something meaningful about each of their lines and how they like to carry or dump, how and where they put pressure on the other team, how fast they turn defence into offence or vice versa. And that has some overlap with our unlikely fans - now all of a sudden we're looking at a menu that allows us to pick how we want each line to behave. And interestingly, instead of borrowing the common terms for those, it's esports jargon that was borrowed for team tendencies.

Offence
Brawl: slow advance, physical, playing in small spaces with lots of bodies close together, close range shots and deflections (drawing in defenders, passing backwards for your teammate to make small incremental progress, who passes back again, to get into the offensive zone)
Dive: medium-fast advance, shots from distance with one or two players tied up in with defenders, laying long sieges, cycling puck out of melee (send pass deep for your winger to chase along the board, chance of a scrimmage on the board)
Poke: fast advance, breakouts, not trying to be too physical, shoot before defence is completely set, then defend (carry puck into offensive zone)

Team mentality
Offence: rank these four items for what's most important to you: pressure, puck control, support, transition
Defence: rank these four items for what's most important to you: pressure, position, play reading, transition

Game situations
Defence
- When you put pressure on the puck (immediately and aggressively vs protect net)
- Who puts pressure on the puck (man-to-man vs contain the puck and protect the net)
Offence
- Carry vs dump (carry puck into offensive zone, or launch puck into offensive zone and chase)
- Position (one behind their net, overload on one side, put everyone on the net)
- Pass vs shoot (cycle the puck around or find shooting lanes fast)

[Sarzonia]

For a manager whose team had just been slammed 9-3 by Huayramarca, Sarzonian national ice hockey team manager Thomas Brown was remarkably sanguine.

"We didn't play well," he admitted, "but the way The Fugitives played tonight, we still would've lost even if we played a perfect match. Sometimes, you know, you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you."

Brown admitted to leaving in goaltender Jack Michel too long, not turning to backup goalie Matt Lambert until after the second intermission with the Fugitives already leading 7-1. He said Michel didn't see the puck very well, but with Huayramarca firing 40 shots on Michel during his two periods on the ice, "we're probably lucky we weren't down by 15 goals."

Following the loss to Huayramarca, Brown decided to stick with Michel in goal against No. 4 Valanora. He said he wanted to send a message to his young goalie that he had every confidence in him.

Message sent and received. Michel turned aside all 44 shots the Calcuttas launched his way in front of a delirious Bank of Sarzonia Arena crowd and the Stars pulled off a 2-0 victory that almost no one in the hockey multiverse saw coming. Left wing Marty Martin scored Sarzonia's first goal against Valanora with a blistering lefty slap shot from the point during Sarzonia's second power play opportunity of the afternoon.

"We didn't expect to get too many player-advantage opportunities against Valanora," Martin said. "I was a little surprised they called a roughing penalty on their guy on a pretty routine check."

Sarzonia's second goal came at the 19:48 mark of the third period when right wing Olly Campbell made good on an empty net with the Vanorians employing a sixth attacker in hopes of salvaging a point in the Group 9 table. Instead, the three ranked sides all sit with 2-0-1 records with Sarzonia in third position due to goal differential.

"We've got the next two matches here at home," Brown said. "Mali i Kuq and Huayramarca are making the trip here. Hopefully, that gives us a bit of breathing room before our trip across the region to Valanora."

Brown said he warned his team not to take the lone unranked side Mali i Kug lightly even though they already had one victory over them.

"Points and wins are at a premium in this group," he said. "We can't afford to squander opportunities when we get them. It's not like [right wing] Brett [Tanguay, Jr.], [centre] Alyssa [Hannigan], or [goalies Jacob] Parsons or [Owen] Franks are gonna walk through those [dressing room] doors."

Negotiations between the Incorporated Hockey Players Union and the Incorporated Ice Hockey League have not resumed after they broke off Thursday, and sources familiar with both sides say neither is willing to come to the table.

"The owners are hell bent on breaking the players' union," said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the owners. "There's a sentiment that they want the players to be destitute so they can impose terms on the players."

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Athletics said Vice President Carter Marshall is hoping the two sides can return to the table to negotiate in good faith.

"He doesn't want to get involved," they said. "The Vice President believes that the two sides should come together and agree on terms, even if they aren't exactly what they want."

A spokesperson for President Haffner declined comment, except to note that Haffner is loath to strong-arm either side when the health and safety of Sarzonia as a whole isn't involved.

"If this were air traffic controllers or health care workers, the President would try to require both sides to negotiate," the spokesperson said. Without the Wartime Powers Act, though, Haffner is somewhat limited as to what he can do."

[Patriotlandia]

Ready to Rock
While the national team is out competing and the hockey season is out for a few months still the city of Jolicoeur occupies with different activities. Chief among which is the Rockcoeur music festival that takes place all around the city. Stages are dotted in and around the city in parks, halls and arenas. Bands of all style, eras and genres entertain the masses of fans over the three day event.

Friday's headliners were The Klaxons who rocked the Arena Nationale stage with their upbeat energy. The band, who are promoting their new album "The Peak", had fans signing along until the late hours of the night. Band frontman Félix Arnaud was excited about the performance: "I know in our new album we say we peaked in highschool but this was very much up there tonight. To play on the nation's capital in front of thousands was epic"

Meanwhile in Centennial Park, an outdoor watch party for the World Cup of Hockey and the show for the band Snow Plow ran simultaneously. "It was an interesting experience playing alongside the game", said guitarist Ian Provencher, "but you can't keep Patritolandians away from hockey too long. It was good though. We reached new fans and they got free music during commercials."

Unfortunately for concert goers, the weather for the next few days is less clement with heavy rain being predicted in areas. The planning committee has already announced that some concerts could be moved inside but droves of fans could overwhelm the small arena's facilities as the bands become more and more prominent.

---------
The Mountaineers take a commending lead in the group stages

The national team started the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. The first game saw the Mountaineers face off against Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove. The team from the city states put on a good showing, pushing the national team to the limit in a 5-3 thriller. Jeremy Faraday opened the scoring and was quickly followed by Marion Prunel who doubled the lead. The powerplay also showed their usefulness as the team were given plenty of opportunities to get going and get momentum. Janna Friedova showed she still belongs on the top unit as she masterfully quarterbacked with perfect puck distribution.

The second match opposed the Mountaineers to unranked Zenic. A new team at this level, the Zenicians seemed to have done their homework as they limited the Patriotlandian offense to only a few opportunities. Max Galant and Francis Vergne were able to score for the Mountaineers leading them to a 2-1 victory.

Finally, the national team faced off their biggest challenge yet in match 3 as they had a bout with HUElavia. The offense kicked into high gear as the team combined for six goals. Defensively, the team's checking was impressive limiting the opposition's chance and keeping the puck in the offensive half most of the game. A scary moment happened minutes before the second intermission as Fernande Dupuis laid a big hit on Antoine Delafose along the boards. Both players seemed a little shaken from the collision but would come back to finish the game. In net, Renée Latraverse faired decently only allowing an average of 2 goals a game, but a few fans and pundits are starting to ask for Claude Juvais to get a crack at the starter job.

[Sea Dome]

'Meren Kupoli' has taken on a popular character here in the People's Federal Matriarchy of Sea Dome City & the Massives, which is usually a lot to translate for domestic purposes. Since Sea People come from many home worlds and dimensions and other strange places, translation takes vast amounts of time and material resources. OTOH, in internationstatal business, if there is a simple term in a foreign language that cuts out all the faff while technically being understood as officially referring to the nation, it has the perfect situation to overtake the official name when dealing with people who speak that language. Thus, the 'Meren Kupoli' Lemon Sharks are a household name in many other languages, except of course everyone is pronouncing it in increasingly unbelievable ways. However you say it, we beat them in a shootout before and Matrian fans have middling to high hopes that these sea people could do something special on the frozen lakes.

[Osterhalten]

Ranking the Top 10 Best Commuter Rail Systems in Osterhalten: 10-6

We follow the Osterhaltian government’s definition of a ‘commuter rail’ as a railway system centered around a major center of population and reaching out to adjacent or nearby suburban localities. Across Osterhalten, there are 35 commuter rail systems carrying a grand total of 20 million passengers daily, each usually run by a regional government. Commuter rail systems are generally named after either the Region in which most of the tracks are located in, or the city where the system centers around. In order to even the playing field in terms of population and places to expand to, we disregarded the amount of stations and daily passengers for average wait time between trains and passengers compared to total population of the served area. Essentially, we are ranking based off of quality instead of quantity.

But first: some fun facts.

- The regional rail system with the most trackage and most riders is the Metropolitan Ingny Regional Rail network, with 157 stations across 15 lines and an estimated 3 million daily trips.
- The furthest distance between any two stations on a commuter rail line is between Avitton West Station and Rossen Station on the Haverby Area Rail Transit network, spanning 55 kilometers in distance.
- The highest ridership in any network in a single day was the day of the 4th game in the 2020 OHL championship, between the Ingny Wolves and Darton Eagles, when over a million people from the outer edges of the Ingny metro area descended on the main cities to watch the game. An estimated 7.3 million trips occurred on the MIRR that day.
- The shortest distance between two stops on a commuter network is between West Docks and East Docks on the South Vichelin Regional Transit network , with a mere 0.5 kilometers between the two. This was an unpopular decision to spend millions on two stations within a 10 minute walk of each other, however officials went through with it for the benefit of dock workers who would be using the stations.

10. Dreamcliff Area Rail Transit
- 56 stations, 389 kilometers of track
- 605,000 passengers daily
- 5 lines
Without many suburbs, Dreamcliff doesn’t need too many kilometers of track to satisfy its riders needs. A well connected, regular service is offered by the nation’s capital, but it doesn’t quite stack up in ridership to other cities, especially as Dreamcliff is the 2nd largest city in the nation. Also, the city focuses far more on its metro and tram system, seeing as the central city is far more populated (almost 5 times more) than all of its suburbs combined. The furthest track extends east to the low-density city of Madigan, running 4 times hourly, like the four other lines. The Dreamcliff Area is one of the slower-growing metros in the country, so don’t expect it to move up this list anytime soon.

9. Traise Rail Transit
- 59 stations, 449 kilometers of track
- 458,000 passengers daily
- 4 lines
The TRT runs the fastest trains in use by any commuter rail network, but unfortunately lacks in the regularity of said trains. The trains, which can hit fantastic speeds of 180 km/h, extraordinary for a commuter rail, have been in use for 12 years, and have seen few mishaps or accidents. The main downfall to these trains was the cost, which prevented the city from buying enough to offer very regular service. The lines each run trains 2 or 3 times an hour, and each line takes about 40 minutes to finish, including stoppages.

8. Haverby Area Rail Transit
- 62 stations, 295 kilometers of track
- 515,000 passengers daily
- 6 lines
The 16th largest city in the nation packs a solid punch with its commuter rail network, running consistent 15-minute intervals across all 4 lines managed by HART. Ridership is relatively high compared to similarly-sized networks, with an estimated 1 in 7 citizens of the Haverby metro area (including Haverby citizens!) riding the HART more than once in a day. The HART connects downtown Haverby to Scotia, a top-100 population city with a population of about 190,000 people. The network runs a dedicated line out of Scotia, connecting its southern suburbs into the rail fabric of the area. Overall, the HART runs a solid, consistent service that is crucial to the economic and transport development of southeastern Burton.

7. Colorac Commuter Transit
- 50 stations, 440 kilometers of track
- 424,000 passengers daily
- 3 lines
Three simple lines make up the CCT, one of the most reliable and up-to-date networks in the nation. With over 10 billion in funding poured into the system in the 2010’s, the network fully replaced all of its old rolling stock, most of which dated back to 1969. Westward, the CCT extends towards Saint-Columbe, ranked among the top 5 prettiest cities in Osterhalten and also on of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The well-funded network runs trains 5 times an hour on each line, each of which extends further than most lines in the country due to the relatively spread out suburban centers around the city.

6. South Vichelin Regional Transit
- 59 stations, 240 kilometers of track
- 610,000 passengers daily
- 4 lines
South Vichelin Regional Transit, which is run by the regional government of South Vichelin, centers around the major population center of Wittengen. The longest, most regular line runs along the coast, and services many various shipping and passenger ports as well as localities found along the Bay. The trains, which have a unique, almost steam-punk feel, run at 130 km/h on mostly elevated right-of-ways and come either 4 or 3 times hourly, depending on time of day and route. This system, like most others in the nation run for 24 hours every day, but uniquely still come at regular interval that you would see during the daylight hours.

Part 2 coming for next cutoff.

[Canadian Dominion]

Very Knies pt3.

After a series of intense Ice Hockey games and practice sessions, Knies was finally able to take a well-deserved rest day. He had given his all on the ice as his team bested Ryujin and Darmen. Now he could finally recharge and unwind. As he sat down and looked at his phone, he found himself mindlessly scrolling through twii.tur. Post after post caught Knies' attention as he immersed himself in the world of online content. It was a chance for him to catch up on the latest news and trends while putting his tired body at ease. With every scroll, he could feel the stress of the previous games and future games melting away. Knies found solace in reading various posts and updates from fellow hockey enthusiasts. From game strategies to player profiles and even some stupid hockey memes that got a laugh out of him, he didn’t know if that was just telling of his terrible humor but who cared. As it was all there for him to enjoy, it was in these moments that he truly felt a sense of relaxation. As the evening went on and Knies continued to browse through twii.tur's vast array of content, he realized just how valuable this time for himself was. It allowed him not only to decompress but also to stay connected with the hockey community even on his much-needed rest day. With each post read and shared with friends online, Knies experienced a sense of joy that only true passion can bring. In these moments of digital escape and leisurely scrolling through posts from fellow enthusiasts like himself, he found a renewed appreciation for both ice hockey and technology. So with his rest day winding down and a refreshed spirit within him, Knies continued to enjoy every last bit of relaxation that twii.tur had brought him. As tomorrow approached with new challenges on the ice looming ahead; today was about embracing tranquility amidst the buzzing virtual world and recharging for what lay ahead.

After a while, Knies felt his stomach grumbling and decided it was time to grab a bite to eat. He certainly didn't want to go hungry, but he also didn't feel like eating just anywhere. So, he turned to his friends and teammates, Joshua Larocque and Bastien Cohen, for some recommendations on where they could satisfy their hunger in style. Together, the three of them ventured out on foot, exploring the bustling streets in search of the perfect dining spot. As luck would have it, they stumbled upon a Banijan traditional restaurant that seemed to beckon them inside with its vibrant ambiance and mouthwatering aromas. Laughing and exchanging banter along the way, Knies and his buddies eagerly took their seats at a table adorned with exquisite decorations. The anticipation of indulging in authentic Banijan cuisine filled the air as they perused through a menu bursting with tantalizing options. From savory stews to aromatic rice dishes, there was something for everyone's palate. Each bite transported them deeper into the heart of Banija's rich culinary heritage while leaving them craving for more. They savored every morsel as if it were an adventure in itself. The joyful chatter rebounded off the restaurant's walls as Knies, Joshua Larocque, and Bastien Cohen shared stories over delicious bites and sips of refreshing beverages unique to Banija. Their laughter echoed through the cozy space as they reveled in not only satisfying their hunger but also creating unforgettable memories together. In that moment at this enchanting Banijan traditional restaurant, time seemed to stand still as their friendship was nourished alongside their appetites. It was an experience that reminded them just how delightful it is to explore new flavors and cultures with those you hold dear. As night fell outside beyond the restaurant's windows, Knies found himself grateful for his friends' company and this serendipitous culinary journey they embarked upon. And with satisfied bellies and smiles on their faces, they bid farewell to the Banijan restaurant, promising to return and relive this moment in the future if they had time to come back and enjoy it.

After an exhilarating day of relaxing and food; Knies, Cohen, and Larocque couldn't help but chat about the incredible food they just had as they strolled back to their hotel. The lighthearted conversation kept the atmosphere upbeat and their spirits high. Little did they know that their fun walk home would take an unexpected turn. As soon as they reached the hotel entrance, they ran into their coach, who wasted no time in filling them in on upcoming games and important practice schedules. With a quick talk, their coach informed them that tomorrow's practice would be on ice and that it would be harder than previous practices informing them that it would be skating drills and defensive plays. As Knies and his teammates bid farewell to their coach, each one brimmed with anticipation for what lay ahead. They knew tomorrow's icy practice session would push them to new heights, hone their skills, and strengthen their camaraderie as a team. The nervousness grew in Knies chest as he went to bed early trying to get some sleep before the hellish race that was Hugo Simmon’s skating drills. After waking up and going though his regular routine Knies along with Cohen, and Larocque walked to the ice rink, there awaiting them was the rest of the team and coach. Knies couldn't help but feel a surge of nerves coursing through him as he realized that his least favorite part of the practice was just around the corner. It was clear that practice would bring challenges for Knies and the other players along with each player's legs are in for growth whether they like it or not..

It was a grueling practice session for Knies and his teammates, pushing their physical limits and testing their endurance. Despite the fatigue that set in over the course of their intense training, they skated off the ice feeling accomplished. Coach's words of encouragement reverberated through the empty arena as everyone gathered around to listen. Simmons's voice boomed with conviction as he addressed the exhausted but determined team. "Good job today, men! You all stepped up and gave it your all out there. There is no doubt in my mind that if we keep pushing ourselves like this, we may just find ourselves on top of that group!" The team nodded in unison, understanding that their efforts were not going unnoticed. The challenging practice had taken its toll on their bodies but had also strengthened their resolve to succeed. Each player knew that they were part of something greater than themselves, a collective pursuit of victory. The words lingered in the air as Knies and his teammates absorbed them deep into their spirits. The belief instilled by their coach fueled a burning desire within each player; a relentless determination to leave no stone unturned in the quest for success. As they made their way back to the locker room, minds replayed every moment of that demanding practice session—every stride taken with conviction, every shot executed flawlessly under pressure. They realized that these grueling moments would ultimately shape them into a formidable force capable of overcoming any obstacle or rival standing in their way. For Knies winning wasn't just about claiming victory on the scoreboard; it was about surpassing personal limitations and discovering untapped potential within themselves collectively. Simmons's unwavering faith mirrored in Knies’s eyes as they geared up for what lay ahead an audacious pursuit of excellence. In the face of adversity and exhausting practices, Knies and his teammates found solace in knowing that their efforts were building a foundation of strength and resilience. The belief instilled by their Simmons transformed each setback into an opportunity to rise higher, to push further, and to prove their mettle. Knies knew that with every practice session, they grew closer as a team, transforming into a unified force bound by a common purpose. The challenges they faced together only fueled the fire burning within them, propelling them towards their shared goal: Winning the group was no longer just a dream, it was an inevitability waiting to be claimed. In this relentless pursuit, Knies and his teammates understood that success would not be handed to them on a silver platter. It required unwavering dedication, countless sacrifices, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. But armed with the encouragement from their coach and the unbreakable bond formed through hard work on the ice, they were ready to conquer any obstacle in their path. The journey ahead might be arduous; it might test every ounce of physical and mental strength they possessed. However, with each challenging practice session completed in better condition than before, Knies and his teammates revered in the knowledge that victory was not just within reach it was theirs for the taking.

After taking some much needed naps and resting up to recharge his energy levels from the practice session, soon enough Knies boarded the bus. As he settled into his seat, a sense of determination filled his heart and a tune began to escape from his lips as he hummed to himself. Today's match would be a formidable challenge for Knies and his teammates. They were facing off against the Eden & Cambersey Hockey team, a force that had smacked them around during their previous encounters. But today was different; today was their chance for redemption. With every passing minute of the bus ride, Knies' excitement and nerves grew. He imagined the thrill of stepping onto the ice rink and giving it his all alongside his teammates. The thought of Canadian Dominion Hockey reclaiming their honor fueled him even more. This game wasn't just about winning; it was about getting their get back - proving that they were not easily defeated. This match was an opportunity to surpass Eden & Cambersey and seize the coveted number one spot in their group. As Knies mentally prepared himself for battle, he reminded himself of the countless hours spent practicing on-ice skills and strategizing with his teammates. The time had come to channel all those efforts into this crucial moment. Knies knew that success would require not only physical exertion but also mental fortitude. He steeled himself with confidence as he envisioned victory standing within reach. With each passing mile on that bus journey towards destiny, Knies felt an unwavering belief in himself and in his team's ability to rise above adversity. They were ready for this challenge mentally prepared like never before. As they neared the arena where destiny awaited them, Knies couldn't help but smile at the thought of what lay ahead. Today, Canadian Dominion Hockey would show the world the strength of their spirit and determination. So, with a heart full of passion and anticipation, Knies took a deep breath and stepped off the bus. It was time to leave everything on the ice, pour every ounce of energy into this game, and seize victory from the clutches of defeat. Together with his teammates, Knies prepared to conquer all obstacles that stood in their way - one powerful stride at a time.

[Eden and Cambersey]

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Three straight wins in World Cup as Mist Knights eye third knockouts berth
Eden and Cambersey atop Group 3 halfway through group stage
Natalie Bowen (@NHBowenUP)
^{Sports | Pompey, Eden and Cambersey}

^{SHARE THIS:}

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#PLAYER

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9Axel Begbie
10Caspar Begbie
2Leo Castledine
92Tristan Halley
88Tetsuya Kon
86Damian Oddy-Black
8Adrian Rosewarne

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#GOALTENDER

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1Owen Lambert

#PLAYER

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19Daniel Couture
2Carloman Donalds
28Garbhán McGuinness



XXX

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#GOALTENDER

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1Mason Nelson

GAP

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022
112
011
101
011
101
011

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SASVSV%

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2928.966

GAP

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011
011
101



XXX

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SASVSV%

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2724.889

E&C 3 — 1 DAR
Grosvenor Pavilion, Pompey

POMPEY, CAMBERSEY — Eden and Cambersey's Mist Knights completed a two-game homestand undefeated as they vanquished a resilient Darmeni side by a score of 3—1 before a sellout crowd at Grosvenor Pavilion. Following their victory against the Canadian Dominion on matchday 1, Eden and Cambersey still boasts a 100% win rate at home, seeing as Darmen were just the second team to be welcomed into the Commonwealth since borders were reopened following the Century of Silence. Despite the result, the Mist Knights were thoroughly tested by their Rushmori opponents, who were well within a shot at victory throughout the entirety of a fiercely-contested showdown.

Wily veteran Axel Begbie struck first for Eden and Cambersey, taking a feed from his brother Caspar and taking advantage of a poorly-timed Darmeni line change to dance past Carloman Donalds and create a 2-on-0 situation with defenseman Leo Castledine at his side — a couple passes between the two and the puck was past a helpless Mason Nelson and in the net. The Darmenis were not ones to go down easy, however, as their second line would level the game just two minutes later. The away team demonstrated well-drilled positional play on an intense cycle, allowing Garbhán McGuinness the time and space to fire a surgically precise slapshot through traffic and bardown.

Mirroring the game against the Canadian Dominion, the second period expired without any change to the scoresheet, with both sides locking in defensively, far too aware of the importance of the game's next goal to risk being the ones to concede it. It wouldn't be until fifteen minutes into the third period when the 1—1 tie would be broken. Damian Oddy-Black would vindicate Lionel Cress' decision to include the youngster in the World Cup roster by scoring his first goal of the tournament.

With the Begbie twins being his linemates on both the national team and at the club level at Lotus, Oddy-Black was able to take advantage of their chemistry to at last pierce through what had been a rock-solid Darmeni blueline, bringing every spectator in the crowd to their feet with an expertly-timed slapshot off an uncharacteristically-wonky chipped pass from Axel Begbie. With the Darmeni team playing increasingly aggressively in a desperate bid to steal level at the last, Eden and Cambersey's dominant top line took advantage of their defensive neglect, creating a 3-on-1 breakway and passing their way past a lone Camille Rome to fire home the Mist Knights' third of the night past Nelson.

#PLAYER

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2Unknown Defenseman
19Unknown Center
10Unknown Winger
18Unknown Winger










XXX

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#GOALTENDER

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1Unknown Goaltender

#PLAYER

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8Adrian Rosewarne
88Tetsuya Kon
42Archie Frost
92Tristan Halley
98Miles Dryden
1Owen Lambert
9Axel Begbie
16Cody Berenger
14Darcy Bysshe
19Riley Coulthard
34Matthew Holmes
66Damian Lindsay
86Damian Oddy-Black
3Max Sheringham
67Ledley Sinclair

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#GOALTENDER

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1Owen Lambert

GAP

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033
212
111
011










XXX

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SASVSV%

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3425.735

GAP

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224
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022
022
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SASVSV%

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3027.900

RYU 3 — 9 E&C
National Stadium, Ryujin

UNKNOWN CITY, RYUJIN — Matchday 3 brought the Mist Knights to a nation as mysterious as Eden and Cambersey — one in which either unreliable record-keeping or government censorship prevented details as basic as the names of the home side's players or indeed the very name of the city in which they were to play to be revealed publicly. Nevertheless, the Mist Knights were to emerge victorious in the end, and in style at that — demolishing Ryujin on their turf by a score of 3—9. A whopping fifteen Edenocambrian players would find their names on the scoresheet that night, with goaltender Owen Lambert managing a two-point game while also posting a .900 save percentage.

A goalfest from start to finish, the Mist Knights' first line was in especially good form, with the trio of Adrian Rosewarne, Tristan Halley, and Tetsuya Kon combining to net an astounding 11 points. Kon did all that could be done to quash murmurs from skeptics amongst the Edenocambrian faithful that he wouldn't be able to replicate Francis Brekespear's exploits in the 1RW position, showing exceptional game sense and hockey IQ to record a goal and four points. Captain Rosewarne was not one to be upstaged, however, as Eden and Cambersey's prodigal son matched Kon's four points, scoring twice in three minutes to open the score early in the first period. Halley netted a goal and three points, totals matched by offensive defenseman Archie Frost, who was one of four defensemen to record a point in the game.

Youngsters Cody Berenger, Riley Couthard, Damian Lindsay, and Damian Oddy-Black continued to impress as they all found the net, with Lindsay scoring his first of the tournament and his first as a Mist Knight. 18 year-old wonderkid Matthew Holmes recorded the first point of his national team career as well, registering an assist on Coulthard's goal. Eden and Cambersey will face the Canadian Dominion once again on matchday 4, traveling to Goose-Bay for the return fixture of matchday 1 as the Ganders will hope to record their first win against the Mist Knights and the Mist Knights will hope to avoid recording their first loss of the tournament.

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World Cup of Hockey 49 — Eden and Cambersey

Schedule

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Group Stage
MD1: Eden and Cambersey 4—1 Canadian Dominion @Grosvenor Pavillion, Pompey
MD2: Eden and Cambersey 3—1 Darmen @Grosvenor Pavillion, Pompey
MD3: Ryujin 3—9 Eden and Cambersey @???
MD4: Canadian Dominion vs. Eden and Cambersey @Macro Center, Goose Bay
MD5: Darmen vs. Eden and Cambersey @???
MD6: Eden and Cambersey vs. Ryujin @Grosvenor Pavillion, Pompey









XXX

Goals

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Adrian Rosewarne - 3
Cody Berenger - 2
Riley Coulthard - 2
Tristan Halley - 2
Damian Oddy-Black - 2
Caspar Begbie - 1
Archie Frost - 1
Tetsuya Kon - 1
Damian Lindsay - 1
Ledley Sinclair - 1






XXX

Assists

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Tetsuya Kon - 5
Axel Begbie - 3
Archie Frost - 3
Tristan Halley - 3
Adrian Rosewarne - 3
Ledley Sinclair - 3
Darcy Bysshe - 2
Miles Dryden - 2
Owen Lambert - 2
Caspar Begbie - 1
Leo Castledine - 1
Riley Coulthard - 1
Matthew Holmes - 1
Max Sheringham - 1


XXX

Points

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Tetsuya Kon - 6
Adrian Rosewarne - 6
Tristan Halley - 5
Archie Frost - 4
Ledley Sinclair - 4
Axel Begbie - 3
Riley Coulthard - 3
Caspar Begbie - 2
Cody Berenger - 2
Darcy Bysshe - 2
Miles Dryden - 2
Owen Lambert - 2
Damian Oddy-Black - 2
Leo Castledine - 1
Matthew Holmes - 1
Damian Lindsay - 1
Max Sheringham - 1