Rikard is nearing the peak of his TPE. With an outside shot of reaching 2k, Rikard has been thrust into a prominent role on the Steelhawks. While he doesn’t feel like it, he is now reaching “Superstar” status in the SHL and was somehow chosen to be on the Superstars team. Filled with a bunch of S53ers, Rikard sees his main competition day in and day out in his team. Players that he hated playing against like Steve Harrington, Ryuuji Minamino, Magnus Liljestrom, are now sitting next to and across to him in the Locker Room. Rikard remembers the points races, the many battles in the playoffs and in the regular season against these foes. Hammarberg wouldn’t classify himself as a top player but a very good supplementary player and he sees himself playing that role in this newly formed team. Interactions have been interesting, but grouping everyone together in this simulated simulated word is going to be fun.

Hammarberg prides himself in his defensive play, while contributing points wherever he can. He had a great season last season but has not played up to his peak this season. While the points and goals have not been there for Hammerberg this season, he has been somewhat decently proficient in defense this season. This dip in production could be attributed to being played up the lineup this season against the top lines last season, as opposed to playing 2nd or 3rd lines, usually full of up and comers last season. With this in mind, Hammarberg would likely play in the 2nd or 3rd line for his team, lined up against some amazing up and comers. With this scenario, Hammarberg’s breakout goal scoring season from last season would likely be replicated. In this game against the up-and-comers, Hammarberg would pot 2 goals, scoring in the 2nd period and 3rd period, both at even strength. Hammarberg’s deployment would like to be on the penalty kill, rather than on the powerplay, and thus most if not all of Hammarberg’s points would come from even strength.

With Rikard’s role as a defensive forward, staring across the ice against all of the legends that he grew up idolizing was a daunting task. These were the players Hammarberg grew up idolizing and that showed in Hammarberg’s play. He was unable to keep any of the Hall of Famers in check as they rolled back the years and danced around the Superstars team. Every single line on the Hall of Famers team had lethal goal scoring potential and kept the Superstars hemmed inside their own zone for significant portions of the game. It was near impossible for the Superstars to get in lanes against the crisp passing, nor were they able to knock the Hall of Famers off the puck with physical play. While Hammarberg’s team was able to keep it relatively close, it was just delaying the inevitable as the Hall of Famers were able to hand the Superstars a 6-3 loss, proving that age is only a number and skill lasts forever. The Superstars took it as a learning opportunity, and the coaching staff immediately went to drawing up plans to counter the dominant play from the Hall of Famers.

It has been quite the journey getting to know the rest of the team in grizzled vets. Staring at a sudden declination of their skills in the very near future for a vast amount of the grizzled vets team, this is likely the only shot at SHL supremacy for this group. Come next season the sharp decline would drop the grizzled vets to the level of the up and comers and this will be the only season where there might be an advantage of the grizzled vets.

With this advantage, a close fought contest ensued. It was a back and forth game with tight checking and free flowing offense for both sides. The experience of the grizzled vets proved too much and special teams led the way for the grizzled vets in vanquishing the up and comers. It was a close match but the difference in net and defense became key as the grizzled vets shut the door defensively to avoid losing.

Its come down to this. The undefeated Hall of Famers have decimated the rest of the teams and are 1 win away from being crowned champions of the SHL S62 Point Task Storyline Championships. Only one team stood in their way. The only team that was able to give the Hall of Famers a run for their money. Granted, the Superstars still got wiped by the Hall of Famers, losing their round robin play 6-3 with the Superstars unable to hold the high octane offense of the Hall of Famers. The Superstars were able to push their way back to the rematch, this time in the Championship game. With little time to game plan, the Superstars needed to rely on their constitution and instincts for this final game in a grueling tournament. With the fresh reminder of what happened last time they played, the Superstars turned and relied on a counter attacking style of play against the Hall of Famers. The Hall of Famers kept coming in waves, but the Superstars were able to withstand their attack, and one lucky bounce in the second period led to a blistering counterattack that allowed the Superstars to take the lead. With the Hall of Famers pressing, the Superstars were able to carry the one goal lead to the final period. The third period became the turning point. With the Hall of Famers never letting up on the gas the whole game, their stamina began to dwindle, while the youthful energy of the Superstars were able to gather their strength and pop in two more goals midway through the third. While the Hall of Famers were able to get one back near the end of the game, it was far too late and the Superstars were able defeat their nemesis and capture the SHL S62 Point Task Storyline Championship.

Rikard Hammarberg still sucked during the game. Nothing new :D