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dogwoodmaple · 04-26-2022, 12:23 PM

Playoffs, shmayoffs! Let's talk about the regular season and break down each teams performances this year. We'll start from the bottom and work our way up, which of course means we start with...

Manhattan Rage Rage

Record: 10-55-1
Points: 21
Goals for: 124
Goals allowed: 305
Goal differential: -181
Home: 5-28-0
Away: 5-27-1

Points leader: Thomas Lind - 43 points
Goals leader: Thomas Lind - 23 goals
Assists leader: Jonathan Granstrom - 23 assists
Hits leader: Jonathan Granstrom - 206 hits
Blocks leader: Jed Mosley Jr - 250 blocks

It was a rough season for Manhattan as they finished with only 21 points. They were last in the league in wins, goals scored, goals allowed, and goal differential. There were some bright spots, however, as Thomas Lind had a 20+ goal, 20+ assist season. Jonathan Granstrom and Jed Mosley Jr also had impressive statistical numbers as they topped the 200 mark in hits and blocks, respectively. The Rage look to rebuild and get the proverbial train back on the tracks for the immediate future. With some shrewd drafting and some other potential moves, they could certainly be on the good side of a rebuild. They've been in the bottom three in the league in points for six consecutive seasons and there's been some rumors that the fanbase is antsy for some immediate on-ice improvement. Here's to hoping the Rage start that process off with a bang and select a future Hall of Famer with the first pick in the draft. Go Rage!

New England Wolfpack

Record: 12-49-5
Points: 29
Goals for: 128
Goals allowed: 283
Goal differential: -155
Home: 6-24-3
Away: 6-25-2

Points leader: Slap McShotty - 38 points
Goals leader: Slap McShotty & Jonny Tsunami - 16 goals
Assists leader: Slap McShotty - 22 assists
Hits leader: Jakub Bruchevski - 124 hits
Blocks leader: Sven Yxskaft - 214 blocks

New England finished the regular season safely out of the basement, but it was a long season nonetheless for the Wolfpack. They ranked second-to-last in points, goal differential, goals allowed, and goals scored. By just about every metric, they were the second-worst team across the board, but they're hoping this season was more of a flash in the pan than something endemic to the franchise. On offense, they were led by the dynamic duo of Slap McShotty and Maine Timber legend Jonny Tsunami who each had strong seasons for the Wolfpack. They've turned their full attention to the upcoming draft as they have the third overall selection. Rumors have swirled about which way they'll go with that pick, but it's safe to say that the fanbase ready for the next great Wolfpack to hear their name called by the Commissioner. Will they go offense? A high-flying goal scorer to excite the fanbase and pump up season ticket sales? Or maybe a two-way defenseman to usher in the next era of Wolfpack greatness. Either way, it'll be exciting to see how it all shakes out.

Toronto North Stars Stars

Record: 19-43-4
Points: 42
Goals for: 191
Goals allowed: 272
Goal differential: -81
Home: 9-22-2
Away: 10-21-2

Points leader: Ty Murphy - 58 points
Goals leader: Jimmy Slothface - 24 goals
Assists leader: Ty Murphy - 45 assists
Hits leader: Ruslan Zaporozhets - 183 hits
Blocks leader: Sachimo Zoidberg III - 253 blocks

It was a season of change for Toronto. They made some major moves at the trade deadline and their roster certainly looks different than it did a year ago. Among the additions were a pair of former Hamilton Steelhawks in Dogwood Maple and Ty Murphy who added some firepower to the North Stars' offense. In fact, it was Murphy who ended up with the lead in points on the team while veteran Jimmy Slothface scored 24 goals to lead the way. Toronto also had a pair of high achieving players with some impressive defensive stats - Ruslan Zaporozhets who tallied 183 hits and Sachimo Zoidbeg III who finished the year with 253 blocks. Toronto fans across the country are hoping the in-season acquisitions prove to be fruitful and the disappointing S64 campaign is closer to a one-off than a pattern. Plus, Toronto just signed a host of their younger players to extensions so we could be looking at a promising group of North Stars here in short order.

Minnesota Monarchs

Record: 22-43-2
Points: 45
Goals for: 143
Goals allowed: 254
Goal differential: -111
Home: 13-20-0
Away: 9-23-1

Points leader: Cal Labovitch - 53 points
Goals leader: Cal Labovitch - 28 goals
Assists leader: Daniel Laforest - 28 assists
Hits leader: Arsene Leclerc - 117 hits
Blocks leader: Arsene Leclerc - 263 blocks

Minnesota finished in the bottom four of the league in total points for the second consecutive season, but there were definitely some things to be excited about for Monarchs' fans. How about the season Arsene Leclerc put up? Leclerc led the team in hits and blocks and tacked on 23 points for good measure. They were a menace on defense for Minnesota and more than a minor pain in the side of opposing coaches. On offense, it was Cal Labovitch and Kynwyl Pearce show. That duo combined for 104 points and were #1 and #2 in goals and points on the team, and were a force to be reckoned with. The bottom line with Minnesota this year was that they just didn't have the horses to compete with the top teams on a consistent basis. With another year of earning and perhaps some exciting moves this offseason, the Monarchs could get the ship turned around quickly. Here's to hoping the Monarchs start heading in the right direction.

Montreal Patriotes

Record: 23-39-4
Points: 50
Goals for: 178
Goals allowed: 256
Goal differential: -78
Home: 12-19-2
Away: 11-20-2

Points leader: Kriss Darzins - 57 points
Goals leader: Kriss Darzins - 35 goals
Assists leader: Roderic Banes - 33 assists
Hits leader: Roderic Banes - 136 hits
Blocks leader: Jonathon Hagan - 207 blocks

For the first time in franchise history, the Montreal Patriotes hit the 50 point mark in a season. They were led by the unbelievable play of Kriss Darzins who led the team in points and goals, while also logging 100+ blocks and hits. That stellar play combined with solid depth resulted in the highest point season for Montreal and hopefully a sign of more good things to come. They also acquired former Hamilton Steelhawk Jay Cue Jr. who looks to be one of the best young players in all of SHL. Between the moves they made this year and the momentum they'll carry into next season, we could be looking at a massive improvement over the course of the next few years. Keep your eye on Montreal, as they might not be so close to the bottom of this list in the near future. Things are looking up for the Patriotes.

Calgary Dragons Dragons

Record: 23-39-4
Points: 50
Goals for: 177
Goals allowed: 252
Goal differential: -75
Home: 12-20-1
Away: 11-19-3

Points leader: Luukas Lilja - 52 points
Goals leader: Luukas Lilja - 24 goals
Assists leader: Taylor Johansson & Jon Forty-One - 35 assists
Hits leader: Duncan Mackenzie - 124 hits
Blocks leader: Chris Goodname - 189 blocks

In a strange occurrence, the Calgary Dragons and the Montreal Patriotes ended up with not only the same number of points (50), but also the exact same record. And in perhaps a less-strange-of-an-occurrence, they were also led on offense by one player who was tops on the team in goals and points - Luukas Lilja. Overall, the Dragons' trajectory has been the opposite of their 50-point partners as they've essentially been on the downtrend the last few years. All is not lost, however, thanks to some good luck in the draft lotto which gave the Dragons the second overall pick in the coming draft. They need to nail this selection and surround them with a core of talented players to help bring this franchise back to the elite level of play it displayed just a few short years ago. The Calgary war room is already buzzing, I'm sure - can't afford to not hit a home run with this draft.

Winnipeg Aurora Aurora

Record: 23-36-7
Points: 53
Goals for: 209
Goals allowed: 259
Goal differential: -50
Home: 12-18-3
Away: 11-18-4

Goals leader: Bas O'Bigbers - 34 goals
Assists leader: Ryuuji Kawahima - 44 assists
Points leader: Bas O'Bigbers - 69 points
Hits leader: Gonzo Gobbledygook - 133 hits
Blocks leader: Marcel Beck - 168 blocks

What a turnaround for the Winnipeg Aurora! They've been on the uptrend the last few seasons and put together a strong S64 campaign. They finished the season with 53 points thanks to a sneaky good offense. They were led, of course, by Bas O'Bigbers who finished the season with 69 points, thanks to 34 goals and 35 assists. O'Bigbers was a fantasy star for those who had them and helped pace the Aurora to their successful season. Let's not forget about Ryuuji Kawahima whose 44 assists were among the league leaders. Throw in Gonzo Gobbledygook's 133 hits and Marcel Beck's 168 blocks, and it's no surprise to see the Aurora be as competitive as they were. The question that remains for Winnipeg is can they parlay this success into the future and take the next step to be among the best regular season teams in the league next year. They certainly have the individual pieces to do it and this squad has shown they know how to have quite the turnaround.

Edmonton Blizzard

Record: 28-34-4
Points: 60
Goals for: 200
Goals allowed: 226
Goal differential: -26
Home: 14-15-4
Away: 14-19-0

Goals leader: Leon Athanasios - 25 goals
Assists leader: Kaapo Kampainen - 36 assists
Points leader: Kaapo Kampainen - 53 points
Hits leader: Pasta the Turtle - 147 hits
Blocks leader: Pasta the Turtle - 164 blocks

The Blizzard posted their best season since S61 as they finished the year with 60 points and a more than respectable showing in the regular season. They improved their point total by 10 last season and are looking to build on S64's success into the future. The offensive MVP has to be Kaaop Kampainen who led the Blizzard in both assists (36) and points (53). And while Leon Athanasios led the way with goals (25), Edmonton hung their hat on defense this season. Pasta the Turtle was the do-everything star for them and teamed up with Ren-Ekelemchi Shimizu-Okoli to give the Blizzard a really good defense. In goal, Tyler Ward was phenomenal, finishing with the 7th best save percentage among goalies who started 40 games or more. With that level of play in the net and the great defenders Edmonton put on the ice, it's no wonder they had a better-than average defense. Had they been a little more lucky on the offensive end of the ice, the Blizzard could've been much more competitive in their division. Look for them to build on this success for next season.

Seattle Argonauts

Record: 35-25-6
Points: 76
Goals for: 248
Goals allowed: 216
Goal differential: +32
Home: 18-14-1
Away: 17-11-5

Goals leader: Rotticus Scott - 40 goals
Assists leader: Vaseline Podcalzone - 52 assists
Points leader: Calvin Hobbes - 77 points
Hits leader: Calvin Hobbes - 108 hits
Blocks leader: Vaseline Podcalzone - 157 blocks

Seattle took a slight step back from last season in points, but still managed to finish the year with 76 total points, which was their second-highest total in recent memory. They finished third in the Pacific Division thanks in large part to outstanding seasons by the dynamic duo of Calvin Hobbes and Vaseline Podcalzone. That pair finished the season with 148 points thanks to 48 goals and 100 assists. Not to mention that Hobbes and Podcalzone led the team in hits and blocks, respectively. They made a move at the deadline to acquire Rotticus Scott who put together yet another fantastic season on the ice. Hard to say what the future holds for the Argonauts, but it's hard not to be happy with how this season went for them. If they're able to sign their core to extensions and make a move or two in the offseason, this team could be right back near the top of the league like they were last season. No matter what happens, it'll be interesting to watch how management decides to kick this squad up a notch.

New Orleans Specters

Record: 36-25-5
Points: 77
Goals for: 213
Goals allowed: 201
Goal differential: +12
Home: 19-11-3
Away: 17-14-2

Goals leader: Valtterri Kauppinen - 31 goals
Assists leader: Xavier Doom - 48 assists
Points leader: Xavier Doom - 77 points
Hits leader: Friedensreich Hundertwasser - 143 hits
Blocks leader: Zakkira Diporov - 199 blocks

New Orleans put together it's best season-total in points in forever and continued their noticeable improvement over the last few seasons. Xavier Doom was a one-player wrecking crew for the Specters, finishing with 77 points and 48 assists to lead the team in both. They truly made their hay at home this season, posting 19 wins on home-ice. While they did not have what one would describe as an elite offense, they more than made up for it with some really good defensive play. They allowed only 201 goals this season, thanks to the likes of Hundertwasser, Diporov, and the stellar combination of Jon St. Ark and Iorek Byrnison in goal. That pair had a .918 combined save percentage and kept the Specters in just about every game this year. Really strong season from an ever-improving franchise. Excited to see what the future holds in New Orleans and will be curious to watch their offseason moves heading into season 65.

Hamilton Steelhawks

Record: 37-22-7
Points: 81
Goals for: 261
Goals allowed: 221
Goal differential: +40
Home: 20-11-3
Away: 17-12-4

Goals leader: Rikard Hammarberg - 33 goals
Assists leader: Aaron Wilson - 46 assists
Points leader: Mitchell van der Heijden - 73 points
Hits leader: Reid Sutherland - 131 hits
Blocks leader: Guy O'Shea - 206 blocks

It was a season in flux for Hamilton this year as they unloaded many of their young players at the trade deadline, but that did not stop them from finishing the regular season with 81 points. Like New Orleans, they were a menace at home, totaling 20 wins and routinely outplaying better teams in the friendly confines of their home arena. On offense, they were ultimately led by the three-headed legendary monster of Rikard Hammarberg, Mitchell van der Heijden, and Aaron Wilson, who combined for an insane 193 points on the season. They were also no slouch on defense, thanks to A. Jobin holding down the net and a set of more than capable defensive lines in front of him. What does the future hold for Hamilton? That remains to be seen, but as for now, they put together yet another strong regular season campaign and were among the top teams in the league in finding the back of the net. How the Steelhawks choose to rebuild will be one of the most closely-followed topics of the coming offseason, thanks to their multitude of picks in the next few drafts. Will they regress big time next season? I guess we'll all find out in short order.

San Francisco Pride pride

Record: 38-23-5
Points: 81
Goals for: 221
Goals allowed: 193
Goal differential: +28
Home: 23-8-2
Away: 15-15-3

Goals leader: Walton Stromberg - 31 goals
Assists leader: Jack Klompus - 39 assists
Points leader: Walton Stromberg - 65 points
Hits leader: Rikard Bjerg - 142 hits
Blocks leader: Rikard Bjerg - 144 blocks

Stop me if you've heard this before, but we have another team who absolutely dominated their opponents on home-ice. San Francisco had a sterling 23-8-2 record at home, leading them to be one of the most formidable matchups in SHL. They were led by their defense as they allowed the sixth fewest goals in the league. Nicolae Antonescu was fantastic as their primary goalie, posting a .915 save percentage. In front of Antonescu, they were led by the fantastic defensive duo of Rikard Bjerg and Alexander Oscarsson who routinely shut down opposing teams' forwards on a nightly basis. That pair combined for 264 blocks and 277 hits, while throwing on 78 points for good measure. On offense, they had a trio of players eclipse the 60 point mark in Walton Stromberg, Jack Klompus, and Sven Svenson combined for 191 points thanks to 80 goals and 111 assists. That combination of rock solid offense and exceptional defense led the Pride to a 2nd place finish in the Pacific Division with an eye on topping that in the near future. They were a bit unlucky at times, but still a really solid performance on the season in the Bay.

Philadelphia Forge Forge

Record: 38-23-5
Points: 81
Goals for: 249
Goals allowed: 202
Goal differential: +47
Home: 22-9-2
Away: 16-14-3

Goals leader: Kaarlo Kekkonen - 35 goals
Assists leader: First-Name Last-Name - 44 assists
Points leader: Kaarlo Kekkonen - 67 points
Hits leader: Samuel Michaud - 131 hits
Blocks leader: Samuel Michaud - 171 blocks

Philadelphia and San Francisco had virtually identical win-loss splits this season but went about it completely differently. Both had 81 points and finished 38-23-5 and were within one win/loss of having the same home and away records, but while San Francisco leaned more on defense, the Forge were more reliant on their offensive players. Philadelphia finished with an insane seven players who topped the 50 point mark, led by Kaarlo Kekkonen who topped the list in both goals and points. Samuel Michaud did a lot of the heavy lifting on defense, leading the way in both hits and blocks and doing their best to make life easy on the Forge goalies. That pair, Scoochie Stratton and Thor Odinson, combined for a .918 save percentage and topped the 2200 save mark for the season. Overall, it was a very successful season for the Forge, especially when you consider their TPE rank in the league and their most recent seasons. Management has certainly pushed the right buttons with this squad so far and they have truly rallied the city of Philadelphia around the team. If they continue their upward trajectory into the near future? Watch out. We could have a real contender on our hands with the Forge.

Tampa Bay Barracuda

Record: 39-22-5
Points: 83
Goals for: 253
Goals allowed: 207
Goal differential: +46
Home: 23-6-4
Away: 16-16-1

Goals leader: Aleksander Kozlov - 39 goals
Assists leader: Aleksander Kozlov - 45 assists
Points leader: Aleksander Kozlov - 84 points
Hits leader: Michael Fitted - 151 hits
Blocks leader: Elwulf Jericson - 149 blocks

What a season for Aleksander Kozlov! The Barracuda center finished with the sixth most points and fourth most goals on the season, leading Tampa Bay to a 39-win, 83 point season. They finished in third place in an insanely difficult Atlantic Division that had four teams top 80 points. In fact, no other division had more than two 80+ point teams, which further highlights the murderer's row they had to go through. On offense, Kozlov was buoyed by Zoltan Topalo who had a stellar season with 70 points thanks to 34 goals and 36 assists. Their defense was steady this season with players like Michael Fitted, Panda Panico, and Elwulf Jericson all having really good years on the defensive side of the ice for Tampa Bay. They were nearly unbeatable at home and like so many other teams around this point total in the league, were right at .500 when playing on the road. Was it a disappointing regular season for the Barracuda? Probably, but there's something to be said for clinching their fourth-straight 80+ season and a really strong showing in the most competitive division in all of hockey.

Atlanta Inferno Inferno

Record: 41-22-3
Points: 85
Goals for: 275
Goals allowed: 199
Goal differential: +76
Home: 22-9-2
Away: 19-13-1

Goals leader: Burlok Sulfurgold - 37 goals
Assists leader: Jack Nishimori - 48 assists
Points leader: Burlok Sulfurgold - 78 points
Hits leader: Jay Sink - 127 hits
Blocks leader: Jay Sink - 120 blocks

Speaking of the most competitive division in all of hockey, we've got yet another member of the Atlantic. Atlanta finished the season in second place in the division and ended the season with the second-most goals in all of hockey. They were led in that regard by Bulok Sulfurgold's 37 goals, but also had four other players with 20+ goals on the year. They truly could score from just about anywhere and with any line on the ice and had one of the most balanced attacks in the league. That's why they were able to have five different players with 40+ assists and be more than a minor thorn in the side of opposing defenses all season. They were no slouch on defense in their own right, thanks to players like Jay Sink, Michael Withecheck, Puddles O'Duck, and Eko van Otter. Each of those four were able to impact the defense with blocks, hits, and the overall intangibles that are necessary to form a consistent defense. Not to mention the great play of Evgeni Petrov in the net, who finished with a 2.75 goals against average, which ranked fifth among primary goalies in the league. Overall it was a really strong season from the Inferno, who just so happen to play in the finest city in the land. No bias at all.

Los Angeles Panthers

Record: 44-14-8
Points: 96
Goals for: 264
Goals allowed: 175
Goal differential: +89
Home: 23-7-3
Away: 21-7-5

Goals leader: Rock Strongo - 35 goals
Assists leader: Rock Strongo - 50 assists
Points leader: Rock Strongo - 85 points
Hits leader: Sarah Burke - 121 hits
Blocks leader: Jonas Kahnwald - 175 blocks

How about the season from Rock Strongo? It was a clean sweep in goals, assists, and points for the team's offensive MVP who finished in the top 10 in each of those categories across the league. Long John Donair and Jimmy Wagner also put up really strong seasons and each finished with 70+ points on the year. In all, Los Angeles had seven players with 50+ points and finished with the fourth-most goals in the league. On defense, their numbers were just as impressive, if not more. Their 175 goals allowed were tied-for-fourth fewest in all of hockey, thanks to outstanding campaigns from their goalie duo of Olof Karsikko and Monster The Doctor. The pair allowed an average of 2.62 and 2.12 goals allowed, respectively, and consistently put together great performances in the net. Sarah Burke and Jonas Kahnwald deserve a big chunk of credit for the defensive play as well, as both were able to frustrate the opposition on a nightly basis. Whether it was blocking shots, knocking forwards on their backside, or just the overall stymying of the offense, virtually every defensive player Los Angeles threw out on the ice was able to make a positive impact. That's evident by their level of consistency when you look at their win-loss record both home and away. They were simply rock solid game in and game out all season, regardless of the venue.

Baltimore Platoon Platoon

Record: 46-16-4
Points: 96
Goals for: 286
Goals allowed: 175
Goal differential: +111
Home: 25-7-1
Away: 21-9-3

Goals leader: Daniil Nikiforov - 38 goals
Assists leader: Ryu Jones - 56 assists
Points leader: Ryu Jones - 93 points
Hits leader: Noel Blanchet - 130 hits
Blocks leader: Adam Barron - 120 blocks

Just look at that goal differential from Baltimore this season. They're the only team to top +100 in goal differential and ended the year with the most goals in the league and fourth-fewest goals allowed, proving to be one of the best teams in all of hockey. And you can't talk about Baltimore without mentioning MVP candidate Ryu Jones. Jones finished the year with the league-lead in points (93), the second-most assists (56), and the seventh-most goals (37). In addition to Jones, Baltimore featured four more players with 60+ points, and a total of nine players with 50+ points. Those numbers are straight up bananas when you compare them across the league and it's no surprise that the Platoon fielded the most explosive offense in the nation. With Adam Barron leading the way on defense, the Platoon were no slouches on that side of the ice, either. They had four players with 110+ blocks, which was a point of extreme frustration for opposing forwards. Their exceptional play this year led them to the Atlantic Division title and tied-for-most points in the Eastern Conference. In all, Baltimore was truly a juggernaut game in and game out this regular season.

Buffalo Stampede

Record: 47-17-2
Points: 96
Goals for: 265
Goals allowed: 169
Goal differential: +96
Home: 24-8-1
Away: 23-9-1

Goals leader: Steve Harrington - 39 goals
Assists leader: Chimkin Wing - 54 assists
Points leader: Chimkin Wing - 90 points
Hits leader: Alexander Roach - 142 hits
Blocks leader: Emilia Bergman - 137 blocks

While we on the topic of high-powered offensive duos, how about the numbers Chimkin Wing and Steve Harrington put up this season? They ranked 2nd and 4th in points, with Wing also finishing 3rd in assists and Harrington coming in fourth for goals as well. They were a sight to see from the offensive perspective and lit up the goal siren in Buffalo on a regular basis. Plus, Alexander Roach established themselves as one of the premier two-way players this year with 70 points, 142 hits, and 79 blocks. On defense, they were stingy all season, allowing the third-fewest goals in the league. Elizabeth Doyle and Skating Dino were a fantastic combo in goal for Buffalo and managed a perfect 6-0 shootout record on the season, to boot. When you have that pair in goal and defenders like Emilia Bergman, Billy Brooks, Nicholas Owens, and Bean Beanman, it's no surprise that Buffalo had the regular season that they did. 96 points, top team in the East, 23 road victories, and one of the best rosters top to bottom. What a year for the Stampede!

Texas Renegades

Record: 47-12-7
Points: 101
Goals for: 250
Goals allowed: 159
Goal differential: +91
Home: 28-4-1
Away: 19-8-6

Goals leader: Lemo Pihl - 30 goals
Assists leader: Theo Kondos - 59 assists
Points leader: Theo Kondos - 86 points
Hits leader: Ryosuke Sato - 150 hits
Blocks leader: Adam Scianna - 112 blocks

Your eyes are not deceiving you - Texas' home record is accurate. They were downright deadly on home ice, compiling a 28-4-1 record and routinely blowing opponents out. Theo Kondos led the offense and finished with a league-leading 59 assists and 86 total points. Kondos was constantly looking to set their teammates up for easy goals and managed to do that from just about everywhere on the ice. Lemo Pihl was the beneficiary of many of their precision passes and ended the season with a team-leading 30 goals. In total, there were seven Renegades who had 50+ points as they featured one of the deepest offensive attacks in the league. On defense, you have to start with their phenomenal goalie pairing of Cillian Kavanagh and Podan Podanovic, who were dominant all season. With 11 total shutouts and the second-fewest goals allowed, they helped field one of the top defensive units in hockey. Adam Scianna and Ryosuke Sato both managed to top the century mark in both blocks and hits and forced forwards to constantly keep their head on a swivel when in the offensive zone. Overall this was the fourth straight 100 point season for Texas - what an accomplishment!

Chicago Syndicate

Record: 52-14-0
Points: 104
Goals for: 244
Goals allowed: 155
Goal differential: +89
Home: 27-6-0
Away: 25-8-0

Goals leader: Mats Marner - 51 goals
Assists leader: Gudmundur Kristjansson - 50 assists
Points leader: Mats Marner - 83 points
Hits leader: Patric Twist - 142 hits
Blocks leader: Jukka Timonen - 117 blocks

And now we have finally arrived on the best regular season team from S64, the Chicago Syndicate! They managed an incredible 52 wins with an astonishing 25 of them coming away from home. They also led the league in goals allowed and finished with an impressive +89 goal differential. With Chicago, how can you not mention Mats Marner? The league leader in goals finished with 51 on the season, which was 10 more than second place. Marner shot an eye-popping 17.3% with 45 of their goals coming at even strength. Gudmundur Kristjansson had a helping hand in a heaping of those goals, as their 50 assists was among the league-leaders. On defense, they were even more impressive. Primary goalie Mat Smith finished the season with 41 wins, an outrageous .932 save percentage, and a downright-unbelievable 2.16 average goals against. Each of those three stats were the best in the league among primary goalies which is just further proof of their incredible play this season. When you combine Smith with Lord Skrolk, you've got perhaps the best net tandem in all of hockey. Let's not forget about crucial defensive players like Jukka Timonen, Disisde Dayudie, and Akira Ren, however, as each of them did the consistent cleanup work to help out an already fearsome goalie duo. It's no surprise that Chicago had this much success in the regular season when you look at their high-level offensive firepower, impenetrable defense, and top-to-bottom roster that seemingly doesn't have a weak spot.

What a season for the Syndicate and the city of Chicago!

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