Quebec City Meute

[Will 4,604]

 

In the 35th season of VHL hockey, the Quebec City Meute prevailed over everybody else in what would be their cup-winning season. Before this season had began, Quebec had made some big moves in prior seasons and even in the off-season of Season 34. There were some big free agent acquisitions on top of trades that were done to put Quebec City over the top.

 

In the off-season of Season 33, the Meute organization went forward into grabbing one of the best up and coming centers in the league. Wesley Kellinger, in his rookie season had 66 points in 72 games with HC Davos.  In the Season 33 off-season, he was traded to the Quebec City Meute for a plethora of valuables. Davos received Steven Stamkos, S35 QUE 1st, S36 QUE 1st, S35 QUE 2nd, S36 QUE 2nd, S35 QUE 3rd, and an S36 QUE 3rd. Kellinger would go on to being one of the Meute's best players for multiple seasons.

 

Also in the Season 33 off-season, Quebec City would sign free agent Yuri Grigorenko. This high flying skater was just over a point-per-game in Season 33, and brought his game to another level when joining the Meute. Yuri would score over 100 points and 50 goals with the Season 35 Contintenal Cup team, and find a ton of chemistry with Wesley Kellinger.

 

Now, with those moves being done before Season 34, they weren't done yet in the Season 34 off-season. The Meute went out to acquire left wing veteran Miles Larsson, to become the third linemate to play with Kellinger and Grigorenko. In return for Larsson, Quebec City would send Jesper Hellkvist, S37 QUE 1st, and a S37 QUE 2nd to the Riga Reign. That same S37 QUE 1st would ironically become Travis Boychuk, who plays for Quebec City now after the Calgary Wranglers gained and used that pick to bring Boychuk to the VHL.

 

WESLEY KELLINGER

 

After one season with their newly made roster from free agency and trades, the new core was in place for Meute to do some damage in the season thirty five campaign.  The Meute failed to make it to the finals in their first season together, but would be back for the season thirty five campaign. Kellinger was just about to enter in to his prime, Grigorenko was ready to be the go to guy, Clifford was still growing and getting better, and Rift was looking for a new challenge to take this team to the cup. 

 

The man that was once traded for two full seasons of picks, was just finishing up his rookie contract and was entering into his prime. Wesley Kellinger was the first line center of the Meute in season thirty five just like what they hoped he would be when they dealt so much for him. He was centering some truly elite players, Miles Larsson on his left and Yuri Grigorenko on his right. In the seventy two game campaign Kellinger finished with thirty two goals and sixty eight assists for a total of a hundred points. That was good enough for a top ten in points in season thirty five, he was in the top eight for assists thanks to his line mates. He also finished in the top five for face-off percentage only behind some superstars. This season as an excellent step towards Kellingers stardom in the VHL and was a big part in Quebec finishing first in the VHL and winning the Victory for the first time in franchise history. Heading into the playoffs Kellinger really elevated his game and was the biggest part of the cup win besides Rift having an outstanding playoff run. Kellinger finished with seven goals and ten assists for a total of seventeen points in thirteen games. He had  a  team high for goals and finished the playoffs third in points, he also had the second highest face-off percentage in the playoffs.

 

MILES LARSSON

 

Every ship needs its captain, and for the Season 35 Quebec City Meute, Miles Larsson was that captain. Larsson was the kind of player that could do it all. On top of his 41 goals and 51 assists amassed during the season, he also led the team with a whopping 335 hits, which is third all-time within the Meute franchise. The only other player to gather more hits in a season is Bruno Wolf, who is on the team currently.

 

Larsson’s skill was often overshadowed by the likes of Wesley Kellinger and Yuri Grigorenko, but the leadership qualities he possessed were clearly abundant throughout the rest of the team. He was awarded the honors of team Captain during Season 35, and is the first Meute player to ever lay his hands on the Continental Cup. You don’t get an opportunity like that as a coincidence. The organization had the all the confidence in the world that Larsson could effectively lead the team.

 

Once the playoffs rolled around for Larsson, he continued in his great play. After ending their run with a Championship under their belt, Larsson was second on the team in points with 6 goals and 9 assists in 13 games. Much like during the regular season, Larsson wasn't afraid to throw his body around. He compiled 49 hits to lead the team, and on top of his already aggressive style, he managed to block 9 shots in the process.

 

Miles Larsson was arguably the most “complete” player on the Season 35 squad. He did everything for his team. He got points, he gave hits, and he even chipped in defensively as a right winger. That’s exactly what you want in a leader. Someone who can lead by example by doing the little things right. Miles Larsson was the clear leader of the team because of these important qualities he possessed.  

 

YURI GRIGORENKO

 

Every team has their powerhouse, and for the VHL-champion Quebec Meute in season thirty-five, the man that made it all go was Yuri Grigorenko. Having joined the Meute before the previous season, Grigorenko was hitting his stride that season, and with the continuity of a full year of teamwork with his mates, Grigorenko shined for most of the season. He led the team in goals and points during the regular season, and finished fifth in the entire league in both categories.

 

Grigorenko started off slow for the playoff run, barely making a blip during a heated seven-game series against Calgary. He only managed one inconsequential goal and two assists in the first seven games. He seemed to be saving all of his energy for the finals, however, because he put on a show against Helsinki. His impact came right off the bat, as he scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the opening game. He put up points in each of the next three games, but came back to the forefront in Game Five. Grigorenko scored twice and had two assists, including the only one on Wesley Kellinger's overtime-winner that put Quebec on the brink. For the playoffs, Grigorenko finished third on the team with 12 points (seven goals and five assists). He wasn't the key to the championship run, but he put his team in the pole position and helped a lot during the race.

 

DOUG CLIFFORD

 

A former first overall pick was Doug Clifford, he was brought in right when the rest of the core was brought in to Quebec. Clifford was looking like he was going to be an elite player in the league one day, unfortunately he didn't really have any amazing seasons other than the one on season thirty five fortunately. Clifford was a second liner, playing next to him was Roberto Martucci the famous depth player and center Tomas Valiq. Clifford was fourth on the team in points, he scored thirty eight times and added another fifty four assists for a total of ninety two points. He also added a secondary two way punch that Larsson gave on the first line, Clifford in only his second regular season had two hundred and thirty one hits. After a very successful sophomore season Clifford was looking hot heading into the playoffs, but Clifford would not keep up with his down amazing play. The first line really took all the points but Clifford was able to put four goals away with six helpers. Much like in the regular season Clifford was a secondary power forward that helped grind down the others teams defensive core with Larsson working in his hand.

 

ROBERTO MARTUCCI

 

In the VHL, anyone would be proud to score 88 points in a single season, but can everyone say that they can do that while playing on the 2nd line with limited ice time? One player who can say he’s accomplished this challenge is the former Meute right winger, Roberto Martucci. It’s no secret that in order to win a Championship in VHL, you have to have a deep team. You need a team of players who can all contribute to the success of the team. Martucci was one of the crucial depth players that the Meute needed in order to win their first Championship.

 

Once the playoffs came around, Martucci’s production took a bit of a dip. He was 6th on the team in scoring during the playoffs with 5 goals and 4 assists. Although his point total may not have been exactly what he was expecting, 9 points in 13 games is pretty good for a player who is getting limited ice time. On top of his 9 points, Martucci had 5 hits and stepped it up defensively blocking 17 shots, which put him at 3rd on the team in that category.

 

Although Martucci’s year in Season 35 may have been overshadowed by other superstar players playing for the Pack that season, the role he played was still just as important as anybody else’s. He made it so there were no flaws in the Meute’s game. They could fire all lines on all cylinders and expect production from everyone. Without depth scoring from guys like Martucci, who knows how the Meute’s season could have panned out?

 

 

NIKLAS VALIQ

 

Of the three Valiq's on this squad, Niklas was the one who was the team's best defense man. In the season of thirty-five, Niklas scored 92 points as a defender, which would also be second best in the VHL that season on defense behind Calgary's Clark Marcellin. Niklas Valiq scored 14 goals, had a great plus/minus of 70 and even a good number of hits with 214. Niklas could do it all, especially when making plays where he tallied 78 assists that season. In the playoffs, although he only had one goal, he still was able to register 10 assists for 11 points in the Meute's 13 playoff games. It was Niklas Valiq who was a huge part of Quebec's offense in the Continental Cup winning game against Helsinki where he had three assists on their four goals.

 

TOMAS VALIQ

 

This Valiq on Quebec player in the forward position, at center on the second line. In Season 34, he won the Dustin Funk Trophy as the VHL's Most Improved Player. While one might say he provided depth, he did a lot more than that for the Quebec City Meute in Season 35. In that season, he obtained 83 points on the year, which is superb for a guy playing on the second line. It was Tomas who provided the secondary scoring, and helped earn much of it, with his 62 assists, proving he had a much better than "depth" skill set. Tomas Valiq was not going to be your man for blocking shots or throwing hits, but what he brought to this cup-winning team was his scoring ability. Not only did he have 62 assists, but he also scored 21 goals for the Meute. He was also a very disciplined player as well, committing only 12 minutes in penalties.

 

Throughout the playoffs, he did not keep up his point-per-game pace, but he managed six points in those 13 games. His best effort in the the post-season was in the first round against the Calgary Wranglers, where he scored two goals, including the game winner in the third game of that seven game series. He was most prominent in that first round, where he earned five of his six points of the playoffs.

 

ALEXANDER VALIQ

 

The only Hall of Fame player to play more than a season on the Quebec City Meute, he had a very special player type, offensive defense men. Valiq was the oldest of his brothers to join the VHL and was also the first to join the Quebec City team. Valiq stuck it out through the tough times at the beginning of the franchise when Quebec still could not handle the heat of the VHL. But over time as GM Pavel Koradek put the pieces in place he had a competitive team. After a subpar season thirty four season which game the new Meute team a chance to do good but could not. Alexander Valiq had an amazing season thirty four campaign, heading into season thirty five it was expected for him to do as good. But with the added star power to the Meute Valiq fell behind, Valiq still had an amazing season goal wise, he scored twenty nine times and added forty apples for a total of sixty nine points. He was a force to be wrecken with on the power play scoring eleven goals and having eighteen points, good enough for the team lead in power play goals by a defense men. 

 

Valiqs aged really was showing in the playoffs, in thirteen games the veteran defense men did not even score a goal. He only added six helpers and three of which were on the power play, something he was known for was scoring goals and on the biggest stage in the VHL he could not do it. This was the only time Valiq would make it to the finals and only trophy he ever won.

 

SKYLAR RIFT

 

Goaltending was a huge reason why the Quebec City Meute won the Season 35 VHL Championship. Skylar Rift played outstanding all the way throughout the regular season, and played even better in the playoffs for the Meute. The controversial goaltender finished the regular season with a record of 47 wins, 13 losses and 3 overtime losses. Rift's 47 wins were the most among all goaltenders in the VHL. The American goaltender's .926 Save Percentage was the best among all starting goaltenders in the league. Skylar finished 2nd in the VHL with a 1.95 Goals Against Average, ending up just behind Helsinki's Tuomas Tukio (1.90). Rift also recorded 10 shutouts over the course of the regular season.

 

As the encore to his excellent regular season performance, Rift took his game to another level in the Continental Cup Playoffs. In the Continental Cup Finals, The Meute defeated the Helsinki Titans in 6 games. Quebec turned in an excellent all-around team performance. Rift was fantastic for Quebec City finishing with a .933 Save Percentage and 1.98 Goals Against Average over the course of the post-season. Skylar notched another shutout against the Calgary Wranglers. Goaltending is certainly capable of carrying a team to a championship. Quebec City put a very talented team on the ice in front of their American goaltender in season 35, but there's no way that winning the Cup would have been possible without Rift.

 

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

Yee

[boubabi 4,725]

Good Read

[Phil 5,009]

NIce write up. Obvious choice to me for the defining season. Aside from the few grammatical mistakes and the unfortunate misuse of the word "irony" (lol my pet peeve - I blame Alanis Morissette tbh), the bios were perfect length and gave a nice base to support the claim. Nice work (Brovy?) on the player card. I like how you decided to make them in the same way we already have them - it gives them a Special Edition feel, which is great. Just looks like the S35 Champion overlap a bit with the Quebec City Meute but great great work. Very impressed.

[Victor 10,526]

Oh my, Skylar Rift was #35

Ominous.

[Molholt 2,183]

Oh my, Skylar Rift was #35

Ominous.

 

[Kesler 1,514]

NIce write up. Obvious choice to me for the defining season. Aside from the few grammatical mistakes and the unfortunate misuse of the word "irony" (lol my pet peeve - I blame Alanis Morissette tbh), the bios were perfect length and gave a nice base to support the claim. Nice work (Brovy?) on the player card. I like how you decided to make them in the same way we already have them - it gives them a Special Edition feel, which is great. Just looks like the S35 Champion overlap a bit with the Quebec City Meute but great great work. Very impressed.

Yeah I did some of the writeups so the grammar was expected, and Frank did the fronts.

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

NIce write up. Obvious choice to me for the defining season. Aside from the few grammatical mistakes and the unfortunate misuse of the word "irony" (lol my pet peeve - I blame Alanis Morissette tbh), the bios were perfect length and gave a nice base to support the claim. Nice work (Brovy?) on the player card. I like how you decided to make them in the same way we already have them - it gives them a Special Edition feel, which is great. Just looks like the S35 Champion overlap a bit with the Quebec City Meute but great great work. Very impressed.

Was that me when I said it was ironic that Boychuk ended up on the Meute? Lol. I wrote that part.