The Colorado Raptors are off to a scorching hot start over the first couple weeks of sims. They have walked away with the decision in 17 of their first 25 games and have an strong goals-for to against differential, notching 89 goals while only giving up 68.

Most of the credit goes to goalie, Yanno Rosejac, who was nearing the 425 cap and standing on their head game in and game out. In the young 57th season, Rosejac has posted a 0.907 save percentage, 2.40 goals against average, and 67 average game rating leading his team to the 3rd least amount of goals allowed, only one goal behind Kelowna and quite a few behind Anchorage. On the offencive side of things, Colorado is sitting with the second most amount of goals scored, only behind the powerhouse Quebec City team. While they have lost a few of their vets to callups in the offseason, the trio of the bonified sniper Jarmo Kekalainen on the left wing, punsher Juni Panda on the right wing, and the lynchpin playmaker Josh Dolphin up the middle has proven themselves as a force to be feared in the juniors. Out of the gates, Jarmo leads the team with 33 points and 14 Goals, Dolphin is shortly behind with 32 points, but leads the team with a whopping 24 assists, and our resident punisher, Juni lead the team with 82 penalty minutes, 139 hits and carrying linemates into the opposing team’s net.

The second line features a rookie phenom rookie centreman in Noel Blanchet, flanked wingers Sonata Diamante and Eero Makinien Jr. This dynamic 2nd line thrives off each other and a brutish barrage style offence where opposing goalies are forced to endure a shooting gallery of screened shots and react to dangerous garbage-area rebounds. On the season the line has been a net contributor with each player positive in +/- and double digit points. The third line is a rookie dominate lineup with the chippy Ruedi Huber, who was racked up 4 goals and hitting the back of the net at a clip of 11.43%; the handy Leon Schweingruber who has fed his teammates with 3 assists so far; and the versatile Bobby Motz who has notched 3 goals and assists each. The 4th line features high potential prospects in Brian Ruddy in the middle, Twenty Twenty on the left and a veteran defencive presence in Terrence Smith on the right. The bottom line has been consistently outhustling opposing teams and have established themselves as strong net contributors for the Raptors.

On the blueline, Colorado is led by a dominate veteran first pairing in Captian Jed Mosley Jr. and locker room champion Ruggs McOoooh. Both stalwarts on the defencive side of the ice, they have also found ways of contributing on the attack with Mosley Jr. amassing 5 goals and 12 assists and McOooh notching 3 and helping with 8. The second pairing features another strong vet in Ren-Ekelemchi Shimizu-Oko, and showcases the top-ranked rookie, Basil Sivart. Holding their own, they have been consistent in their own zone and finding opportune moments to let the offencive side of their game shine when the pace of the game allows. RESO has tallied an impressive 7 goals and 11 assists, while the improving rookie Sivart has notched 2 and helped with 6. The 3rd pairing features the team’s fearless shot blocking and penalty killing champion, Anrijs Asts with 42 shots blocked and another rookie to watch in Rovolio Clockberg Jr. who is +9 on the season with 5 points. This paring has been dominate, even with reduced icetime they have made a big impact on the teams ability to win games.

As a whole, this roster is performing exceptionally well with every player contributing in one way or another. Just looking at +/-, there are only 3 players barely in the negative while the rest of the roster has been outperforming opposing teams in every spot on the ice. With continued blessings from the hockey/sim gods, and consistent updates from this young team, watch for them to be a top contender for this season and some time to come.

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Approved, +5 TPE @Sivart