Login

*Redderder15* · 09-27-2021, 11:13 PM

The Zerks are aware that they aren't the favorites going into the playoffs this year, and need to fill the gaps left behind by the stars of last season. Heavy training has been the norm for all of the players in the room, with everyone trying to be the best they can be come playoff time. This quote from Jeff says it all: "We may not have Greyson Cooper, but we know damn well we are a better team than QCC. The Whalers and the Raptors are the favorites going into playoffs this year, but we are a true dark horse roster that many people are sleeping on. Our rookies aren't 155s anymore, we have depth to rival COL and VAN and we will show it in the playoffs." The team continues to train hard physically and mentally and are looking in better shape than ever and are looking like one of the favorites despite being ranked lower than QCC by many experts and other teams, as they pass QCC in the standings with one sim block left to go.

***mer*** · 09-28-2021, 11:27 AM

The Citadelles' amazing season has turned a little sour lately, with some losses and a fall from that #1 spot in the league. But it's no skin off the players' backs - spirits are still high and the team is still hoping for wins in the 3 games today for the bye.

Faelax and Evok are going over the lines and helped with the last trainings before the playoffs, so there isn't much else to do. Cooper's already broken the SMJHL goal record with 48, and the team rightly celebrated the huge milestone achievement for the captain. Quebec will keep playing to the best of their ability, giving time to their rookies and the newly signed DFAs, and whatever happens happens. Playoff wins and a cup would be lovely markers for the players that excelled in the league this season - Cooper, Kappa, and Dekes just to name a few of the junior veterans, but no matter what happens the team has had a fantastic season.

(166 words)

*Vulfzilla* · 09-28-2021, 01:34 PM

We're streaking baby! Running through the quad and down to the gymnasium!!

Okay, not really. But we are hitting our stride at just the right time. After a tough few weeks to open the season, we as a team, have really been focusing up as of late on the defensive end of the game. Since the signing of league MVP Dom, our shot stopping game has hit a new level obviously. (Despite playing less than half the games in the season, he has 5 shutouts!!) However, what most people don't realize is that much of that is down to some intense practice from the boys in front of him. We've been working on shutting down passing lanes faster, laying out on the ice to block shots, and generally just having much more grit around the crease. As we head toward the playoffs, I know that our high intensity blue line play, along with our already solid offense, is going to lead us on a wild run. Teams have probably forgotten about the juggernaut that was the Armada of seasons' past. But soon they will remember all too well.

-Cup Noodle Armada

shan3p · 09-28-2021, 08:39 PM

The Elks know that we are underdogs going into the playoffs, but our tightknit group should be able to make some noise in the post-season. The expectations are low, but I think we could do this because we've already preformed better in the post season then expected, now we just need to do it again in the playoffs.

Currently, to prepare we are blasting music in our locker room every pregame, we are shooting 300 shoots top cheddar in warmup, and we have hired a private teacher to train us. This is on top of our regular hour long blasting music session we already have, on top of our 1000 warmup shots we already do, and its an additional coach on top of the 6 we already have. We doubt that any other team in the league have the same grindset to really match our energy, and we hope to bring this energy in the post season. Additionally, all the other teams are probably tired from killing us in the regular season, while we have just been preserving our strength.

JayWhy · 09-29-2021, 01:11 AM

Well this one is pretty easy. We started our preparations a while back, actually. Just building ourselves up as much as we can, shining our shoes and getting the outfits together for this big moment in our lives. We have done everything it takes to get to this point in our lives, and now it all comes together.

The playoff for the Maine Golf Invitational Tournament.

Oh, did you mean the SMJHL playoffs? Yeah, no. We were one of two teams not to qualify this season, in spite of being the 8th best team in the league which is nearly the halfway point in the standings. We end up in the same bucket as Nevada, screwed by a bad division.

While Nevada has a complaint, finishing above three teams but being the only other team missing the playoffs, we quite literally make the playoffs by a wide margin in every single other division than our own. We were screwed by a new system that feels half-assed at best by the junior head office.

So now we put together our clubs, put on a polo and some wacky shorts and head to the course. Because why operate logically, right? Oh well.

An old man's dream ended. A young man's vision of the future opened wide. Young men have visions, old men have dreams. But the place for old men to dream is beside the fire.

Thanks to Jackson, Copenhagen, and Harry Hans!

GOING DOWN IN STYLE. TOAST4LYFE

FourFour · 09-29-2021, 01:28 PM

After a very strong start to the season for the Detroit Falcons, the team seem to have imploded in the latter parts only to finish last place in the SMJHL this season. Obviously trading two big stars in Marco and Zukal played a big part in this demise, but nonetheless the team is still trying to boost morale as they head into a first round matchup versus the powerhouse Quebec City Citadelles. The Citadelles are by far the best team in the SMJHL and as a player its hard to muster up any hope of defeating them, but the Falcons have been having team events trying to build up morale and confidence heading into the series. These events have included kareoke nights, bowling days and even golf outings whenever they can, also some practice for the offseason can be developed here. They have also had other in-person parties to try and motivate the troops to band together and be a severe underdog during these playoffs. Look for the Falcons to make a surprise with this newfound confidence and really put in the work.

(184 words)

*RashfordU* · 09-29-2021, 04:56 PM

Now that the Regular Season is finished, and the playoffs begun, The Newfoundland Berserkers are using their first round bye to get ready. Key this week is some recovery exercises, such as Yoga with some muscle repairing Ice Baths afterwards. Practices have looked decently intense with a focus on ensuring the team systems are running as they should. The Powerplay has been working on some tweaks in order to get ready for the grit and grind of playoffs and hoping to maximize on the limited opportunities that are given on the powerplay. There has been an increase in team dinners as it is clear that the team has bonded well over the season. The squad all wants to be with each other and they know what it as stake. It is rare that you get a chance to compete for the 4 star cup, but it is even more rare to be able to challenge for a back to back championship and that is exactly what is on the minds of Zerks everywhere.

MDavidson · 09-29-2021, 07:46 PM

Any expansion team qualifying for the post season is always a great accomplishment (ignore any default qualification type comments from the reporters and bloggers). This Regina Elks team hope to rally themselves around a steady rookie goalie, block out any outside noise and play the type of boring hockey that can win games.

The shutdown, 1-2-2 trap, and shadow the opposition key players type of hockey. This is the stuff that fans don’t come to see, but in hockey to allows for lesser skilled teams to outwill and out work any team in the league.

In practice the coach is working on tightening up the ship, individually getting each player to buy into their roles and as a group to buy into the team concept. Working on the team positioning in the defensive zone, collapsing towards the net while moving up the ice as a 5-man unit will be key for this team to compete against the SMJHL teams that dress greater skill.

***CapnCooper*** · 09-29-2021, 07:52 PM

This season the Detroit Falcons weren't the winningest team but they definitely didn't make it easy for every team to get the win. To prepare for the playoffs this season they intend on leaning on being that hard to finish team that won't let up. If it has to be a loss for the Falcons they're going to make sure it's at least a one goal game or an overtime loss. To make this possible the Falcons will be relying heavily on Hugh Jass who has been absolutely huge in net for the team. Hugh Jass is currently leading the regular season in shots against and saves. If the defense is able to step it up, the Falcons could be the loveable underdog team that makes it's way through teams. Should the Falcons get taken down they'll be sure to leave them as bruised and battered as possible. Vasily Arkhangelsky will lay the beats on the opposing team and be sure to leave a player shaped dent into the boards where he checks them into it.

As the Falcons aren't a current favorite to make it to the end, they will take all games as experience for the rookies on the team as they prepare and build towards a very strong contender for seasons to come.

Southie · 09-29-2021, 09:37 PM

ISFL Affiliate

Mook · 09-29-2021, 10:25 PM

The Anaheim outlaws are busy with their playoff preparations. The first order of business is making everybody who showed up to practice make sure they're at the top of the game before the Anchorage series. That damn Gus Ceroni didn't show up again, no surprise there, leads half the season for the team on one training session and retires as top dog.

While only seven people showed up to the practice facility, they were the top seven and the ones vital to the first round playoff appearance. The hopes may not be high but even winning a handful of games this series gives hope for the seasons to come.

After training of course and there's the team pizza party at Chuck E Cheese. Everyone only got 10 tokens for games because the GMS didn't want us distracted by Skee-Ball when we should be focusing on getting the power play together. So it's actually a good thing Gus didn't show up because we split his tokens with the rest of the team

mcpumpkin · 09-30-2021, 12:53 AM

The Kraken as of late were on a hot streak, at one point we were 10-0-1 in our last 11, looking to make a strong push for 4th in the final set of games. However, our streak came to a humbling halt, as our next 7 games saw the deep sea terrors going 2-4-1. The group had to rally, we had to get pumped, so we could stop getting pumped, and start pumping our way to the top. After some incredible acquisitions in Zukal and Barengrub, and some strategy adjustments from our masterful Kraken coaching squadron, we ended the season 3-0.

Going into playoffs, the Kraken are focused on the following tasks:

Pumping up morale: the Kraken crew is an incrediblely supportive hype crew, here to hype each other up to the highest degree. Going into playoffs, we've gotta pump each other up bigger than ever before

Pumping that iron: Its no secret to anyone that playoff hockey is brutal, it is unforgiving, it is merciless, it will chew you up and spit you out an empty husk. We gotta pump so hard that we do all of that chewing.

Pumping that strategy into our brains: the coaching staff has designed our path to victory. Now it is up to us as individuals to become much greater than the sum of our parts. Trust the system, and the cup is ours.

GO Kraken

GO

(242 words)

duffleman2002 · 09-30-2021, 09:51 AM

So, I made the playoffs in my first year with the St. Louis Scarecrows. We are playing the Great Falls Grizzles in the first round and we went 3-3 on the regular season. So, this is going to be a pretty even match up and tough win. They have home advantage so, we need to go in there and surpise them and take at least on win from the first two games. Then when we get our home games we got to win our two home games it will be important to the series and for us to come out on top and advance. We need strong defense to help our goalie and a strong offensive front to put shot after shot on the their goalie. We need to work as a team and just give it our best, every game this series if we want to win it. This probably going to be on of the closeest series in the first round and we will come out on top.

conet_ · 09-30-2021, 11:50 AM

ISFL Affiliate

Yagoyi · 09-30-2021, 01:40 PM

Regina's strategy for these playoffs is nothing more than strengthening the mind. You may see other teams like Maine and Great Falls going heavy in the gym, deadlifting as much as they possibly can. But it really isn't necessary. Physical strength is overrated for the playoffs. What you really need to succeed is a strong mind. A mind that won't bend and break after a couple losses. A mind that is able to see the bigger picture.

You can strengthen the mind in many ways. One strategy the Elk are using is optimism and positivity. Led by Daud Ramza and Jaeger Jones, the Elk will never go into a game with a negative attitude. This ensures that every game is competitive. Win or lose, the opposing team WILL struggle. The post-game recaps by Jaeger Jones gives every player an outlook of how they did, and how they can improve for the future. The GMs of Regina have really built a team that compliments eachother on and off the ice.

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us