NationStates Jolt Archive

<keep posted for updates>

tag

(Two of the Hanson Brothers playing road hockey.)
"Hey, Steve, I was thinking, what's it gonna be like playing in the big leagues?"
"I dunno, Jeff. D'ya think they're gonna make us get rid'a the foil?"
"They better not." He pushes his taped-up glasses up the bridge of his nose. "CAR!"
"Car!" The black sedan rolls by and Coach Victor Wilde sticks his head out.
"All right Hansons, I wanna see you at the airport by six o'clock to-morrow morning. Looks like we're gonna be flying out to Belmore to start the cup soon. And I want all three of you ready, got it?"
"Got it, coach!" Jeff said, snapping to attention, holding his stick straight at his side.
Coach Wilde rolls his eyes and drives away. "Six o'clock, Hansons!"
The two boys watch the car roll down the street. Steve stares at the car, a little slack-jawed, then: "D'ya think we should tell Jack!"
"Good idea." He turns to the goalie figure tied to the hockey net. "Jack, we have to be at the airport at six to-morrow."
"Okay," he replies. "When we go in for supper, I'll ask mom if I can borrow the keys."
"Game on!"
"GAME ON!"

The McLean Division results have been Telegrammed.

The Cherry Division will be sent out in 6 hours time.

The Standard- Bears maul somebody!

"Lovisa? There may be two and a quarter billion of the pinkos, but we've never heard of 'em!" Proclaimed brace-scoring forward Whiteside after the Walmington Red Bears' 4-0 dismissal of their first opponent this year.

Largely unprepared for the new tournament and somewhat pre-occupied by the latest phase in the war against the Axis, Walmington was surprised and rather lifted by the Bears' victory today.

Young hot-head Regie Whiteside seemed to think little of his goals, while Yeboba and sub Danny Chipple were evidently delighted to wrap up the scoring. The African forward actually damaged his skates during an acrobatic celebration of his main contribution, while rosey-faced and amiable Chipple seemed close to tears come the post-game interviews.

In goal Clifford Uppington was back to the form he showed in broken spells during Walmington's last two Cherry Cup outings, and more than earned his semi-professional wage.

Yet again Walmington's hopes rocket over the heads of their amature and semi-pro players.

well, I never hear to Your counrty too :evil:
I newbie in Hockey tournament.
------------------------------------------------------Lovisa is magic
Ale i tak lepszy w noge od ciebie. :twisted:

(Here's what I had typed for yesterday, until the forums shut down on me)

Tranquillitis Nyheter
Tjänande Anden sedan den är 1955

Moose Look To Repeat as Champions
-Frederik Johansson

Ian City, The Belmore Family - The Tranquillitis Moose begin their run towards their second straight Cherry Cup tomorrow, as they face off in Ian City against newcomers Cockbill Street.

"We're pretty confident about our chances to repeat," Coach Markus Wilhelmsson said from his Ian City hotel room. "We aren't in the toughest division, but there are plenty of teams that could do what we did two tournaments ago. Iansisle and New Montreal States are definitely capable of great things, and Teakland looks promising."

The Moose roster is unchanged from last year's cup. The team worked so well as a unit, with only one draw and one loss during the last tournament, that Coach Wilhelmsson decided not to change an already working machine.

"Things are going well for us, so why would I change it?" he asked rhetorically. "Our top two lines are producing, [Gustav] Enstahl's line is scoring and marking the opposing teams' stars, and Salo's line is a great defensive line."

The Moose division also contains Alex the Tall, Toelieban, and Timway.

Tranquillitis Nyheter
Tjänande Anden sedan den är 1955

Moose A "Terrible Disappointment" in Opener
-Frederik Johansson

Ian City, The Belmore Family - The Moose were surprised yesterday with a 3-2 loss to newcomers Cockbill Street.

Two early goals by Jokela and Stahl led many to believe that the Moose were continuing the play that made them champions in the last Cup, but a third period collapse led to three Cockbill Street goals, giving the Moose their 2nd loss in 4 games, going back to the last Cup.

"I'm extremely disappointed in our play in the third period," coach Wilhelmsson said. "I wouldn't expect that kind of play from my 12-year-old son's team. We better pick it up in the next game, or else we might as well pack it in right here and now.

"I don't blame Adam [Hölmqvist, the Moose goaltender] for the loss, our whole team let us down today," Wilhelmsson said when asked if he would consider starting backup Andreas Hedman in the next game. "It was a terrible team effort for 20 minutes, and we paid for it."

The Moose take on another newcomer, Alex the Tall, in the next game. It will be broadcast live on TTV1, and again at 10pm on tape delay.

http://home.comcast.net/~rockchalkjayhawk87/ysn.gif

Panthers Start off Witha Sputter
Draw Abysmiltan

TBF -- The Panthers weren't on the prowl as they started off their second Cherry Cup run in a tight game against Abysmiltan, a new team.

Scorers from the Panthers were Jeff Sakicº (1) and Jason Barnes (1).

According to Panther's new head coach Rick Hartfield, new coaching was a factor.

"This is a very talented team, one of the best in Sliponia, but with the tragic departure of Coach Martin just before the Cherry Cup, the players are adjusting to myself and my coaching staff."

ºDenotes Team Captain


Final score:
Sliponia 2 - Abysmiltan 2

OOC: Once again: We are Abysmalistan, think of abysmal!

IC:
The Abysmal times

Abysmals exceed expectation
This may sound like a strage joke, but it is true: The Abysmalistan Abysmals have reached an incredible draw in the Cherry Cup against Sliponia. No, this is no April joke, it really happened (even if we are not sure how it could happen since the Abysmal television couldn't broadcast the match). It is said, that Katil and Kora scored the goals for the Abysmals and that Jeff Sakic and Jason Barnes both scored for the Sliponians but that is only a guess, since our reporter couldn't leave the country due to the current high hyperinflation (even for abysmali standards high - and that means *really* high). We don't expect the Abysmals to score in the next five cups since they used all the luck they had for this draw.

Blue Spiders Blasted!
Teakland’s Golden Team Falls Apart In First Game of Cherry Cup
Anna Wasylyshyn, B.A. – Staff Writer

It was a less-than-auspicious start for the group that was hailed by coach Victor Wilde as “Teakland’s first really great sports team,” but you wouldn’t know it by their behaviour in the locker room at the end of the game. After a 3 – 1 loss to Timway at Ian Cheeters Stadium, the men and women from the Blue Spiders were, if not entirely jubilant, certainly satisfied with their performance. Faces were bright, smiles were ever-present, and even a few cheers were raised, mostly in favour of assistant captain Nathan Oguok, the team’s sole goal-scorer. “The first two periods were a little rough,” said Oguok, “but we showed ‘em what we can do in the last period.”

“A little rough” might be an understatement. The Blue Spiders gave up two goals in the first and another in the second, thanks to a combination of penalty minutes and disorganized play. Offence and defence were sorely lacking at the start of the game; Timway had puck possession for fifteen minutes in the first period, and twelve minutes in the second.

Coach Wilde started the game with second goalie José Guerrero in net, but with a spotty defense, was forced to hold off twenty-two shots on goal in the first period, letting in two. Teakland’s only shot on goal came from captain Gerry Hawkins, on a fluke 1-on-1 breakaway in the nineteenth minute of the first period. Teakland’s poor offence was likely due to penalty minutes; the fourth line alone racked up ten penalty minutes, and the penalty-killing units scrambled to keep up with one man down.

After their dismal first period, the Blue Spiders put first-string goalie Aldon Brasseur in net, and with a strong performance from the defensive lines, he let in only one goal: a penalty shot, thanks to a vicious cross check from Steve Hanson, costing him a game misconduct. Despite a strong showing from the defence, offence still sputtered, with another six penalty minutes and only five shots on goal.

The third period, however, was the team’s turnaround point. The defence solidified even further, allowing just four shots, and the offensive line picked up. The combination of solid checking from the second and re-organized fourth lines, and lightning speed and puck control from the first and third lines, caused a great deal of frustration on the opposing side. Finally, twelve minutes into the last period, the team hit home. After a vicious fight from Steve Hanson, both teams were down one man, and with all the extra space on the ice, the Blue Spiders’ penalty-killing line had a lot more room to manoeuvre in. Leslie Benz intercepted a Timway pass, and hooked up with Oguok for a 2-on-1. Benz made a smoking pass to Oguok, who deked around the last defenseman and hammered a shot straight to the top right corner of the net. The momentum from that goal carried the team all the way to the final buzzer.

With first-game jitters out of the way, Teakland showed just what they can accomplish. If Coach Wilde can pull the team together like he did in the third period, and keep the fourth line’s penalty minutes down, the Blue Spiders might just have what it takes to make it to the playoffs.

OOC: TBF, don't just say the result on IRC, but actually TG them.

The abysmali reporter finally was able to get into the Belmore family and even to watch the match. Now he phones to the 'Abysmal times' to give them the required information.

Editor: Abysmal times, Hicks here

Reporter: Hello Hicks, I am Swoosh, from TBF.

Editor: How high did the Abysmals lose?

Reporter: They didn't lose.

Editor: You mean that they drew?

Reporter: They also didn't draw.

Editor: In this case they lost!

Reporter: No, they didn't lost and they didn't draw!

Editor: Why couldn't the match take place?

Reporter: The match took place and the opponents lost.

Editor: Don't start talking nonsense!

Reporter: I am saying the truth: The Abysmals didn't lost and didn't draw, but the match wasn't forfit!

Editor: How did the match end?

Reporter: 2-1.

Editor: And it were the Abysmals who score twice and not The Gulf States?

Reporter: Three times, actually!

Editor: F*ck! This is the best story ever and no one will believe it!

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

The Walmington Red Bears have begun to make the Empire Service broadcast, something that in sporting terms is usually reserved for the nation's cricketing heroes. However, the Bears' 4-1 drubbing of Karantania makes it three in a row for the semi-pro side, and means that after just three games the side has notched up ten goals scored.

Player-coach Ernie Mellington said that he, "could not ask more of the lads. We've yet to face the toughest challenges in our group, but it is fair to say that we've put ourselves in a fine position. If we can only match the likes of the Kaze it'll be up to them to do the leg work against the less well established teams."

Goals from Whiteside, Ingle (2), and Mellington secured victory, while Uppington played another good game in net despite being made perhaps a little too busy by over-confident Walmingtonian offensive commitments.

Man of the match Ingle was the day's surprise, the left-winger coming on for Lewis who is said to be experiencing personal difficulties since the loss of his brother aboard ill-fated cruiser HMWS Hansen.

Walmington can hopefully anticipates a continuation of the Red Bears' form as fixtures with better established teams loom, while critics continue to speculate as to the side's defensive strength beyond that provided by Uppington alone.

The Abysmal Times

Abysmals lose 0-4
The Abysmals showed a not-that-horrible-as-expected-but-nearly-as-bad performace against Kalaalit Nunaat, scored twice and lost 0-4. Lirx played in goal since Wong was overtired and drunk. At least he managed to keep the score relatively low at least for Abysmals measures, not because he has skill, but becuase he fell dow about every 10 seconds and by this hindered the puck to go in several times. Wong can at least stand on the ice, but perhaps Lirx inability was a thing-that-made-things-less-bad. The former world champions totally outclassed the Abysmals, which had no single chance to score anything but an own-goal. At the end, the 0-4 at least brings the Abysmals down to a more-deserved place in the table after some error by mathematicans rated them second.

Tranquillitis Nyheter
Tjänande Anden sedan den är 1955

Moose Struggling For Wins
-Frederik Johansson

Ian City, The Belmore Family - After goaltender Adam Hölmqvist led the Moose to an unimpressive 2-0 win over Alex the Tall, the Moose once again faltered, this time needing a late goal to gain a point in the game with Toelieban.

After Markus Östberg put the Moose up 1-0 early, the Tranquillitis team looked horrible, allowing a goal late in the 1st period, and another in the 2nd. The offence didn't seem to click at all, and the defensemen frequently were outworked in the Moose zone. With 4 minutes remaining, Fredrik Ljundberg scored a power play goal, earning the Moose a point.

"There's something going wrong here," coach Markus Wilhelmsson said. "We aren't playing our best hockey at all. I don't see any drive out there, we aren't the same team that won the Cherry Cup last year, that's for sure."

Backup goaltender Andreas Hedman will start for the next game with Teakland, and the Moose hope to start stringing some wins together to get needed momentum heading towards a playoff run.

Win Some, Lose Some
One step forward and one step back puts the Blue Spiders at 1-2
Anna Wasylyshyn, B.A. – Staff Writer

Two games in two days have put one notch in the wins column and one in the loss column for the Blue Spiders, giving them the not-very-coveted 6th place position in the Cherry Division 2 with three points, just one point back of Iansisle.

After their solid third period against Timway, the Blue Spiders faced off against The New Montreal States. The game was fast and loose, hard-checking and with many shots on goal from both sides. The New Montreal States laid 27 shots on first-string goaltender Aldon Brasseur, but he pulled out some fantastic saves managed to block all the shots to his first shutout of the year. Coach Wilde was able to keep the roughhousing fourth line under control for most of the game, letting them out to do their specialized brand of old-time hockey only when he needed a serious shakeup in the game play.

The players were showing their fatigue towards the end of the third period, thanks to the rapid end-to-end play and hard bodychecks. With two minutes remaining in the third period, it looked like overtime was imminent, and Coach Wilde decided to let the defensive second line play out the clock, as opposed to the more offensive first line. Center Jamie Green won the face-off in Teakland's zone, and gave it to Right Winger Truong Fan-Hong, who carried it up the ice into the New Montreal States zone. The NMS goalie blocked the shot , but the rebound was picked up by Green, who fired it through the five-hole for the game winning goal. The very visible Green had been the target for a lot of media-bashing in Teakland for not being able to handle the pressure of a man's game, claims that had also been made for Right Winger Allison Porter and Defenseman Leslie Benz. With that performance she just might have stopped that kind of talk.

In the Blue Spiders' third game, against Iansisle, the team simply failed to deliver on every front. In the 1-0 loss, the goaltending was shoddy, with Brasseur letting in the only goal five minutes into the first period, the defense was constantly caught off-guard by the Iansisle forwards, and with Captain Gerry Hawkins out of the game thanks to a debilitating virus, the offensive lines suffered with the shuffle of players. The team just couldn't build any momentum, but the silver lining (if you could call it that) is that the score didn't reflect the poor quality of play on Teakland's part. That kind of performance isn't going to get the team to the playoffs, and Coach Wilde knows it. Hopefully he can turn things around for the next game.

Coach Babcok was furious. This was the Same Eizen team that had won the Imperial Cup for the last two years in a row and here they were struggling mightily in their last two games since tying their opener.

"Guys, are these other teams too tough for you? If you want we can all go home and tell His Majesty that we embarrassed our reputation by getting whipped. Tell you what, lemme go grab a phone and you can call all those folks back in Eizen and explain why we've been so bad."

Coach crossed his arms. his players looked devastated, granted this was not one of his more endearing traits but Coach Bacok wasn't going to let this team down. These stump speeches were what set the good teams apart from the bad ones, and his team was wrecked from injuries and without star Goalie Frink, who had to return home after a family emergency.

"There's one alternative though men, and I know you're capable of this. So maybe this tournament is a little out of reach right now, we've been there. We used to get pummeled by the Oblivion Blue Wings every year right? Well guess what, we just have to do what we'd do then. We're going to toughen up and play harder, we're going to let these other teamsknow that if they want to beat us out there on the ice then we will take every drop of blood, pound of flesh, every tooth and break every bone for every bit of ice they cover. Because that's what hockey is all about. That's why they call us the Mighty Ducks of Eizen."

Props again to TBF for all the work, it never occurred to me to telegram the results.

The Red and White Iceberg smashed through early competition, as Greenland tries once again to win the Cup after three consecutive runner-up finishes to three different teams.

Greenland has defeated Quality Assurance 3-1, The Belmore Family 2-1, and Abysmalistan 4-0 for a so-far undefeated record.

This year is our year!

-- Big Bobby Clobber
Commissioner of Hockey
Inuit Free State of Kalaallit Nunaat

Imperial News Network, Tonight in Sports:

....and that's about it for today's basketball reports. three dead, two wounded, all in all a fairly exciting game.

now we turn to the Ice where our Beloved Mighty Ducks have earned some good news! Star Goaltender Dale Frink returned to the Team and #35 is looking to stop the puck tonight as Eizen took on Kaze Progressa. Frink, who had left the team temporarily to be with his ailing father, returns fresh off the news that an operation to repair his father's heart has succeeded. We now take you live to our on ice reporter, Cal Cameron.


*switch camera feed*

Yes Chet we're here live at the Cherry Cup finals where Eizen is looking to score big after two tough losses. Although the team is winless in their first 3 international games coach Babcock is still optimistic about his teams chances for success on the international stage. And with their Star Goaltender Dale Frink back between the pipes. The Imperial Cup winners should see a lot more stopped pucks. Frink last played in Game Four of the Imperial Finals, where his Mighty Ducks defeated the Antares Wings 1-0 in double overtime. the fans are out in force for the event tonight, and we should see a return to form. Back to the newsroom, im Cal Cameron.

*change channel to game*

Arena Announcer:

....And in goal for the Mighty Ducks of Eizen, number 35, DAAAALE FRIIINK!

Game Announcer:

And listen to the Eizen fans roar, a their hero returns to action. I must admit i've been eagerly anticpating watching this goalie in action, hopefully his team will respond to the challenge as he has as Eizen takes on Kaze Progressa! Tonight!

Liberal Republic of Alex The Tall Sports News of the day!

Hello everybody here is Alex Marginal for you're sports news, our team in the Cherry Cup don't go very well in 4 matchs the don't have any wins... People are very mad about it, i have nothing to said really about it, but we wish that the patriots will be more competitive in the next few games... Good luck Patriots. This is Alex Marginal for you're "Patriots" Sports News.

Liberal Republic of Alex The Tall Sports News of the day!

Hello everybody here is Alex Marginal for you're sports news, our team in the Cherry Cup don't go very well in 4 matchs the don't have any wins... People are very mad about it, i have nothing to said really about it, but we wish that the patriots will be more competitive in the next few games... Good luck Patriots. This is Alex Marginal for you're "Patriots" Sports News.

(OOC: I'll be a little tardy with my CC4 RPs, as I'm taking a vacation. Maybe tonight or to-morrow, but maybe not until Friday. I'm not lazy, I'm just a busy Teakland with very little internet access...)

Good to see my boys get back on track with 2 wins in a row after a shaky start.

SI

Liberal Republic of Alex The Tall sports news of the day

Hi everybody, I am Alex Margianl you're sports news reporter on the chanel #52... Today i will talk about our national sports, ice hockey. Our patriots in the Cherry Cups have some problem in the moment the have 1 tie game, 3 looses, 1 win... I wish that we will have some consecutive win after the win today of 1-0, we need some points on the board and some winning game. We all know that is our first ice-hockey tournament but we can do someting great, i wish... There was Alex Marginal for you're "patriots" sports news of the day.

Tranquillitis Nyheter
Tjänande Anden sedan den är 1955

Moose Back To Form?
-Frederik Johansson

Ian City, The Belmore Family - After a series over unimpressive draws, the Moose may finally be back to their winning form, after their latest game, a 5-1 beat down of Timway.

"I'm feeling slightly better following tonight's win," coach Markus Wilhelmsson said in a post-game news conference. "We've had some really bad games lately, and have been lucky enough to come away with some points in all of them, but hopefully things are looking up now. This could be that turnaround point, like the 4-2 win over Soviet Haaregrad two years ago."

After Timway opened the scoring off a weak goal in the first period, the Moose went into the first intermission looking true to their recent form. Wilhelmsson must have said something in the dressing room, however, as the Moose came out flying in the 2nd period. Henrik Källström opened the scoring for the Moose just 39 seconds in, after he intercepted an attempted cross-ice pass in the Tigers zone. The Timway goaltender had no time to get ready for the shot, as Källström quickly snapped a shot over the goaltender's glove hand. The game was tied.

The Moose struck again at the 7:13 mark, when, on the powerplay, Anders Eriksson redirected Sven Olofsson's shot from the point into the net. The third came on a Gustav Enstahl breakaway. Enstahl froze the Timway goaltender, and slid the puck into the net, making it 3-1. It was 4-1 before the end of the period, after Mikael Stahl blasted a shot into the net, again on the powerplay. The Moose added a goal in the third period, when Fredrik Ljundberg, from behind the net, centered the puck for Markus Bergström, who quickly put it into the net. The game ended 5-1, and the Moose look to be playing like the world's number 1 team again.

Imperial News Network: Nightly Sports Edition

Eizen's hockey fans are riding a new wave of elation after the return of their star player to the Eizen Mighty Ducks. With the return of #35 The Ducks won their first ever game in international play vs. Kaze Progressa and tonight came back to tie Karantania 1-1 with under a minute left in regulation.

Since Frink's return the Ducks a 1-0-1, with only 2 goals allowed on a merciless 76 shots. Frink has been brilliant in his performances, including an incredible save in tonight's second period after losing his stick, and a complete stonewalling of Karantania's star player on a penalty shot early in the third. That save earned Frink a particular measure of revenge after the player scored on a tricky rebound that came off Frink's skate.

The Imperial Hockey League is also planning on Organizing a full International Team. Comprised of the IHL's finest players around the League rather than the winners of the Imperial Cup.

Imperial Hockey Fans are flooding thir local bars, restauraunts, and crowding in front of the television during game times and one thing can be certain. This country is proud of its team, his majesty has already prepared to honour the players with commendations of the New order and Icons of the Empire Medallions.

The Abysmal Times:

Score-keeping-error leads to not-win for the Abysmals
The Abysmals archieved the second not-win in this tournament but not by own archievements but by an error of the scorekeeper. The Belmore Family scored in this match whole 21 times, while the Abysmals only fluke into the net. The poor person, who was selected to keep the scoreboard updated and to report the scores totally lost count. The score-board had one bug, or as developer say: one 'undocumented feature': It only could store score up to 19 since everything above is highly improbable unless the Abysmals are involved. Since the person has lost count, he lookedat the scoreboard which he incremented correctly. Well, due to the said error, it read 1-1. He didn't really believe it, but he believed that this equipment doesn't fail and so the 1-21 became a 1-1 and the Belmore Family is perhaps the only team which has lost points through scoring.

Hockey Night in Eizen:

Greetings Hockey Fans, and Especially Ducks fans! On tonight's special edition we look back at last season's Imperial Cup playoffs, and the eventual victory won by the Ducks. but before we do we've got ourselves an exclusive interview with the Ducks' Star goaltender, #35 Dale Frink. Dale are you there?

"Yes Sir."

If I may ask, how are you feeling after the near death of your father, do you feel you've been playing up to your usual standard?

"Getting back out on the ice has been great for me, I know Dad's been watching the games from his hospital room cheering me on. It's helped me stop a lot of pucks knowing that everyone back home has been watching."

Indeed we have, as you might know Eizen's victory over Kaze Progressa was the highest rated broadcast in Imperial History.

"That was a fun game to play in too, we really went all out."

how would you feel about playing on an International Imperial All Star team for each tournament as opposed to the Imperial Cup winner representing the Empire?

"heh, you're putting me on the spot man. I love playing with my teammates, we've worked our butts off to win the cup and these torunaments give us a lot more time to play together. BUt there are a lot of players around our league, even a few former teammtes, that I think would be awesome to skate with."

Im sure there are a few guys that would rather have you guarding their net as opposed to being in front of their shots too. we have to go to a commercial break shortly, but is there anything you'd like to say to the fans before the interview has ended?

"Id just like to say thanks for all your support over the last few weeks, my family and I are incredibly grateful and I hope you all keep watching the games and come out to support the team."

*TAG*

(OOC: I’m back from vacation, and so proudly present two news articles in a row. First, the lost Teakland / Tranquilitis news article, which I thought I sent off before but apparently got lost in the shuffle, and second, a short review of our most recent game.)

Old-Time Hockey
Blue Spiders Salvage a Tie Against the Mighty Tranquilitis
Anna Wasylyshyn, B.A. – Staff Writer

With captain Gerry Hawkins still out of commission, the Blue Spiders seemed a little hesitant at the start of their game against the defending Cherry Cup Champions, Tranquillitis. Was it because of their shaky start to the season? Was it because they were afraid of facing the mighty Moose without their Captain? Whatever the reason, the team struggled to keep their heads above water in the first period. The Moose were all over the Blue Spiders for the first twenty minutes: their defensive line was fast and solid, giving the team only three shots against the Mosse backup goaltender Andreas Hedman. The same could not be said for Teakland’s defense. Time after time, the Moose broke through the holes in the defensive lines and crashed the net, letting off seventeen shots in the first period. Finally, at 17:12 in the first period, Tranquilitis’ Kristian Dackell fired a hard shot from the point that slipped through the glove of Teakland goaltender Aldon Brasseur.

The beginning of the second period saw the return to form of Teakland’s fourth line, the infamous Hanson Brothers, who had shown a great deal of discipline in the first period. Wanting to shake things up a little in his captain’s absence, Coach Victor Wilde decided to get down to the game’s rough-and-tumble roots. The boys racked up an almost-reserved 8 penalty minutes in the first ten minutes of the game, and even short-handed, the team’s spirit surged, and at the end of a harder-hitting second period the team was all smiles, having fended off the Tranquilitis offence for twenty minutes.

The third period started off much like the first, with the fourth line taking a few penalties, giving the other three lines a more distracted Tranquilitis team to deal with. After a few breakaways with no goals, however, Teakland seemed likely to fall victim to the Too-Little-Too-Late curse that had plagued them over their past few games. With less than two minutes to go in the third period, the fourth line was put back on the ice as an attempt to soften up the Moose before a last-minute first-line assault. Miraculously, Jeff Hanson somehow got a hold of the puck and carried it down the ice on a breakaway, but was tripped by Tranquilitis defenseman Mattias Axelsson, who was a little frustrated by the amount of damage Jeff and his brothers had done to the team. Hanson, known more for his hard fists than for his accuracy, had drawn a penalty shot. His strategy was simple, but elegant: skate as hard and as fast as you can towards the goaltender, and when he ducks for cover, shoot the puck into the net. A strategy that paid off, as the unlikely hero Hanson got his first-ever professional goal, and tied the game for the Blue Spiders. A strange end, but we’ll take anything that’s not a loss at this point.
Final Score: Tranquilitis 1 - 1 Teakland

Return of the King
Hawkins’ Return Lights a Fire Under Blue Spiders
Anna Wasylyshyn, B.A. – Staff Writer

Hot after stealing a tie from the mighty Tranquilitis Moose, Teakland felt convinced that they could have an equally good performance in their game against Cockbill Street. Even before the game started, though, they were hit with the good news / bad news conundrum. The bad news: starting goalie Aldon Brasseur was a game scratch thanks to a strained wrist, putting the relatively inexperienced José Guererro between the pipes. The good news: the return of team captain Gerry Hawkins, who was itching to lace his skates up and head to the face-off circle.

Hawkins’ return gave the team a boost of adrenaline; the first five minutes of the game against Cockbill Street were the fastest and most offensive the team had played all season. At 6:04 of the first period, the first line jumped back onto the ice, and the team quickly took possession of the puck. Hawkins hammered a shot at the Cockbill Street goaltender, and right-winger Linus Cross chipped the rebound over the goal line for the first goal of the game. The second came two minutes later, when Teakland was short-handed thanks to a Steve Hanson spearing penalty. Leslie Benz intercepted a Cockbill Street pass and sent it up the ice to Nathan Oguok, who deked around the only CS defenseman and sent a hard shot to the top right corner of the net. The team was on a roll, but the momentum was broken at 15:15 when Cockbill Street scored on a 2-on-1 breakaway. After the first 20 minutes, Teakland had 10 shots on goal and Cockbill Street had 5, and the goals matched up accordingly.

The second period belonged to the Blue Spiders: they kept up their hard and fast play and scored two more goals in six minutes. At 6:12, Gerry Hawkins scored on the power-play from a Linus Cross assist, and at 12:02, Hawkins set up a goal for the veteran defenseman Al Romey. The team sputtered out in the last 20 minutes of the game, but thankfully netminder Guererro kept the team in the game, fending off 12 shots in the last period to cap the night with a win. At 2-2-1, Teakland looks like they might just turn things around in time for the playoffs.
Final Score: Teakland 4 - 1 Cockbill Street

http://home.comcast.net/~rockchalkjayhawk87/ysn.gif

Panthers Continue to Stutter & Sputter
Get Doubled Up by The Belmores

TBF -- The Panthers weren't on the prowl as they were doubled up by The Belmore Family 2-1.

The lone Scorer from the Panthers was Jeff Sakicº (2).

According to Panther's new head coach Rick Hartfield new coaching, again, was a factor.

"This is a very talented team, one of the best in Sliponia, but with the tragic departure of Coach Martin just before the Cherry Cup, the players are adjusting to myself and my coaching staff."

ºDenotes Team Captain


Final score:
Sliponia 2 - Abysmiltan 2
Sliponia 0 - 2 The Belmore Family

http://home.comcast.net/~rockchalkjayhawk87/ysn.gif

Panthers Get Back on Track
Double Up on Sterling Ice

TBF -- The Panthers were on the prowl as they doubled up on Sterling Ice 2-1.

The lone scorer from the Panthers was Jeff Sakicº (4).

According to Panther's captain Jeff Sakic bonding has helped.

"We've been getting to know Coach Hartfield and this has helped level out the team some. I can't make any promises of how we'll do, but let it be known, we are working hard."

ºDenotes Team Captain


Final score:
Sliponia 2 - Abysmiltan 2
Sliponia 0 - 2 The Belmore Family
Sterling Ice 1 - 2 Sliponia

Imperial News Network, Sports Update:

Hello im Sudzee Dishsope and you're watching Imperial News netowrk's ongoing coverage of the Mighty Ducks of Eizen and their performance is this year's Cherry Cup. The Ducks, currently at 1-2-2 started poorly but have rebounded to respectability with the return of their star goalie. Right now we bring you a special interview with the mastermind and architect of the Ducks Imperial Cup and International runs. Coach Babcock has been with the Ducks for two seasons now and he has turned around a franchise that used to be considered the laughingstock of the capital city. The Ducks are now considered force to be reckoned within the IHL and that will surely be remembered as his contract comes up for renewal shortly. Coach are you with us?

"Yes Sudezee"

Coach thank you for being withus tonight, I know the practice regimens and off ice routines for this competition must be trying.

"No more so than what we went through in the Imperial Finals, i've been trying to keep it fresh though so our guys can keep interest."

Coach is there any truth o the rumours that you'll be leaving the ducks after next season in order to head up an international team of the Empire's finest?

"I haven't been asked about the job directly myself, there's a lot of great coached though just as deserving as I am and I love the fans we have in Supreme Horizon. It would be a tremendous honour to lead an international team though."

Especially if the Emperor himself asked you himself?

"Heh, there's no way I could turn down the Ducks' biggest fan. Especially since the revenue generated from his luxury box alone pays the equivalent of my salary."

Well i'm sure heading up an international team would get you a lot more Imperial Credits. Coach, thank you for your time and good luck with your remaining tournament schedule.

"Thank you."

Southern Service, WoS Radio

4-0, 2-0, 4-1, 2-0, 4-4, 2-2, were these really the Walmington Red Bears? The semi-pros were starting to give competition to real honest to goodness ice hockey players. Some of them didn't even bother with the word ice, they were so into the game's superiority over the form previously foremost of the variants in Walmington.

Still nobody had beaten WoS this season, and a few faithful Norbray residents, previously the kingdom's poorest, were suddenly rolling in their winnings.

"Oh, they're besting first timers and other rookies, usually by crippling their players, but they'll come unstuck against the Wizards.." And for a moment it looked as if the detractors would be vindicated, as keeper Uppington's temporary replacement Raymond Alshon struggled to keep Warnocks out. He found his skates before the game's end, however, and whizz-kid Whiteside paid the Wizards back in full, netting a record four in less than forty minutes.

"Ah, but that exposed the team's lack of depth! The Kaze will break them down!" But with Uppington back in goal, forward Whiteside wasn't needed for the Bears to reply equally to Progressa's twin strikes. Walmington cling on to their unbeaten record, though they have not proven decisive against top notch competators.

The dominions may be spinning apart the nation's cricket side, but WoS has a backup in the Red Bears!

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Digit4lis Pregame

Greetings Hockey Fans I'm Sal Cameron and this is my colleague Dean Auzzy and welcome to tonight's game and on the remote chance you aren't sure who is playing I have the information right here for you. Tonight's Cherry Cup match will feature the team representing the nation of Digit4lis versus the Mighty Ducks of Eizen! To the millions upon millions of viewers watching the brodcast back home in the Empire, and to the several thousand loyal fans that have descended upon the arena, welcome! As game tiem rapidly approaches and the national anthems are about to come on lets quickly review tonight's matchup and the keys to victory, sponsored tonight by Imperial Shipping Services. Dean what do you think?

Well Sal I hate to sound like an echo but I think tonight's game rests in the hands of two players for the Ducks tonight. First andForemost is #35 Dale Frink, hes only allowed two goals in two games since his return and that has played a key role in eizen's recent gameplay. The other player not surprisingly is #91 Dirk Stroker, the captaain. During Imperial Cup play he was a scpring force like none other player had ever been in the postseason, but here at the Cherry Cup he's only found the back of the net twice including the game winner in the victory against Kaze Progressa. I think if he can play as sharp as he is capable of, and rise to the pressures and demands of International competition I think the Ducks will look good tonight.

Alright, Dean Auzzy ladies and gentlemen, now let us take you live to center ice, wher ethe proud anthems of both nations will be played followed by the dropping of a ceremonial first puck by the two countries respective Sports Ministers.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Digit4lis 1st Period

Twelve minutes have passed and it is still a scoreless tie between Eizen and Digit4lis, the Digit4l team has managed to keep othe puck on the other side of the ice for nearly the entire period. So far Frink has managed to stop seven shots but if eizen doesn't get the puck onto the other end of the ice soon we could se a breakdown and eventually a Digit4l goal, Slap shot towards Frink and a HUGE GLOVE SAVE! wow, that puck was heading right towards the top left corner of the net and I tell you what no one i've ever seen has relflexes like that. Now to the face off and The draw is won by Digit4lis, the pass is backtowards, OH MY LORD! Frink just deflected the one timer off the face off with his stick! An incredible display of goaltending by #35 for the Mighty Ducks of EIzen. Eizen controls the rebound and takes it down the ice, Dirk Stroker has the puck and he breaks the defense, Stroker passes it back to his defenseman before he can be called on the offsides and the ducks regroup, bringing the puck across Centre Ice. Stroker recieves the pass and begins cutting for the net and he is tripped up by a stick1 The ref blows a whistle and it looks like Eizen will go on the power play for the second time tonight. their first attempt proved useless with only two shots and they hope to improve on that and I think they need to if they are going to get goals against a very tough Digit4lis team.

Stroker swats it back behind the net to the Left Winger, Chuck Orr. Orr passes it back to stroker who shoots And SCORES! the Mighty Ducks of Eizen have taken a one goal lead in this crucial game. Orr gets the assist on the play and the Ducks have their first goal on just their fifth shot of the night. the Imperial fans here are going absolutely crazy!

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Digit4lis First Intermission


...and now we take you live to the Duck's locker room, where Coach Babcock is firing up the team for the second period. One more time with the scoring summary, the goal by Stroker from Orr with 6:34 left in the first period. Mighty Ducks of Eizen lead Digit4lis, 1-0. Frink has stopped twelve shots for the Ducks but the Digit4l goalie has been impressive as well, allowing only the one goal on ten shots with a couple of strong saves.

*cut to camera 2*

"All right guys we came out of that one looking pretty sharp but there's a few things I am definitely not happy with, namely the amount of time that the Digit4ls have been spending in front of our net. We have to get that puck down in front of their goal and keep it there. Otherwise they're going to start scoring goals. Also, you guys are doing a barely average job of keeping onsides, work with each other a bit better and stay patient, we'll score when the opportunities arise so don't worry about it. One more thing, when you guys go back out on the ice, theres a few thousand fans that came all the way from the Empire, some of them for just this one game every last one of you is going to skate down in front of our cheering section and acknowledge the crowd, but keep it respectful, we haven't won yet and there's still forty minutes left to play you got that? Oh and by the way, I just got word that the Royal Family is in attendance tonight, so make us look good and i'm sure you'll all be taken care of in the civilian awards department ok?"

*cut to camera 1*

An impassioned speech by Coach Babcock, lets hope he can keep the Ducks fired up for the next two periods of play. an here they come now ladies and gentlemen! Up 1-0 The Mighty Ducks of Eizen!"

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Digit4lis Second Period

There's only four minutes remaining in the second Intermission and the scores is tied at 1-1 on the power play goal by the Digit4l team. So far Dale Frink has stopped twenty shots in the period while the Ducks have managed just five of their own but they have played som incredible defense despite the penalty situation early on. Now all five Ducks are moving down the ice and would you look at that! Dirk Stroker has just been tripped nd we've got a whistle! Dirk Stroker was tripped as he corssed in front of the net and one of the Digit4l players is going to be called for tripping at 16:30, this is a huge opportunity for the Ducks as they get their third crack at the power play tonight.

Stroker wins the face it off and slides it back towards the point where the Right Winger Latham is waiting for it, Latham passes it across to his left side counterpart Fredricks who passes it back in front of the net to Stroker, Stroker gets control of the puck fires the shot and SCORE! Dirk Stroker scores from nearly point break range betweenthe five hole to put Eizen ahead 2-1 late in the 2nd period. The fans are going absolutely crazy in this arena and the Digit4l fans are stunned as the momentum they supposedly had has just left the building in a hurry. And as we go to the replay we'll also showyou the view towards the Luxury Suite where the Emperor is viewing the game and is is definitely happy with how his team is playing. The Crown Prince is also taking a liking to the happenings on the ice. Up 2-1 thanks to a power play goal by Dirk Stroker with the assist from Latham and Fredricks.

The two teams take the face off again and Digit4l has the puck and it looks like they are trying to regain their composure and slow down the pace of this game...

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Digit4lis Second Intermission

...Digit4l made their charge in the remaining minutes after Stroker's power play goal but could not regain their edge as they managed no shots in the remaining two and a half minutes of the period. Both teams managed power play goals and both goalies looked very strong, with Frink outdueling his counterpart between the pipes. Frink has had a strong night, including this stick save:

"Digita4lis gets it across the blue line and they are on the attack now,, the right winger checked hard into the glass by Latham of the ducks but the puck gets centered, and Latham gets back wards the center but his knocked into Frink by a Digit4l player! The net is wide open as the puck is passed back ttowards the circle, slap shot and STICK SAVE FRINK! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! Frink managed to stand and swat the puck out of the air and down the ice with his stick! An incredible save! Digit4l recovers the puck out of the zone but they lost out on a huge opportunity there."

There was also this hit put on one of Digit4lis' players midway through the second. We see Fredricks eyes catch that puck and never leave it, he then spots his opponent up against the glass and SLAMS him through the plexiglass window and into the crowd on the other side. That hit will be replayed a lot in the coming days all over the Empire, and we'd expect no less from a 2 year veteran of the Infantry either, coming up shortly we'll take you back to the ice for the third period of Eizen vs. Digit4lis as well as the postgame interviews with players and coaches.

Stay tuned after this break for more Cherry Cup scores and highlights on ESPN, your home for International hockey in the Empire.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Third Period

And with about a minute and a half left to play in the game, and the score still 2-1 in favor of Eizen, Digit4lis is preparing to pull their goalie, who despite 31 saves on 33 shots, has been outperformed by Dale Frink who has had a brilliant game stopping 44 out of 45 shots. But now he's going to face an extra skater as the Digit4l goalie comes off. Digit4lis is doing an excellent job of keeping the puck and keeping Eizen from taking advantage of the empty net. there's a lot of bodies in front of the net right now and it looks like Frink is having a hard time seeing the puck. the crowds for both sides are going wild! The Digit4l team is really pressuing and there's a slapshot from the point! Deflected! Digit4lis has the rebound and Another save by Frink! A Digit4l player gets that puck as well and they maintain control, less than forty five seconds to play and things are getting tight in front of the Eizen net! Another shot goes wide, eizen gets control of the puck but loses it behind the net and the wrapround shot is DENIED BY FRINK! The Eizen fans are roaring with applause after that one and Frink tries to fall on the puck but he misses! Digit4alis hangs on! There's less than fifteen seconds to play and the puck is still in Digital hands, time is winding down and hre's an excellent shot from right in front of the net...Frink dives to his left...the puck heads towards the top shelf...

AND FRINKMAKES THE GLOVE SAVE! THE HORN SOUNDS AND FRINK FALLS ON TOP OF THE PUCK! THE EIZEN TEAM HAS WON AGAIN! The team pours out onto the ice and piles up in front of their net! Eizen has won 2-1 on this night! in front of the Royal Family and his Majesty! Fans all over the Empire will be celebrating tonight!

Stay tuned folks! We'll be having immediate postgame coverage in a little bit! Stay Tuned!

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Postgame part I

Hey hockey fans and we're back with ESPN's ongoing coverage of the Cherry Cup. In case you've been living under a rock, or were one of the few fans not watching tonight's game then let me be the first to tell you. The Mighty Ducks of Eizen have won again, 2-1 over Digit4lis, with strong performances from both #91 Dirk Stroker and #35 Dale Frink. We'll recap the highlights in a bit but first we'll take you live to the stadium for live post game interviews. Sal Cameron and Dean Auzzy are in the lockerroom with some of tonight's stars, Sal? Dean?

*cut camera*

Hey guys, Sal Cameron here with one of tonight's MVPs Team Captain Dirk Stroker. Dirk you scored both goals tonight and an overall impressive performance, what was it tonight that you had that you might have been lacking in the first few games?

"Well, I think I just felt a lot more comfortable tonight, coach has been trying to get us to relax a bit more these last few days and it fees liek theres a lot of pressure off our shoulders to do well. The other thing is that tonight I was the guy who saw the opportunities tonight and I'm just glad I was able to take advantage of them."

Tell me what you think of Dale Frink;s performance in goal tonight.

"Aw man I'm going to get in trouble with Thomas (*the backup*) for this but with Frink in Net it's so easy to skate around attack the net and not be completely paranoid about getting back on defense. He can stop almost anything given an opportunity."

Describe for us what it was like to score that second goal in front of all the fans.

"The fans were great and its an extreme honour to be able to play well in front of the Emperor, he tries to attend all of our games during the regular season and its thanks to the New Order that we got our chance to play internationally. This is what the game is all about, playing against the best from all over."

Anything you'd like to say to the fans back home watching?

"From the bottom of my heart thanks, our fans are the best. We appreciate their support and they appreciate the effort we put into our games. that what it means to be a hockey player, thank you."

Okay now we'll go over to Dean Auzzy who is live with the man himself, #35 Dale Frink, Dean?

OK, Seeing as the scores thread is not as easy to post in as this, here is a list of all the previous scores:

Match Results

McLean Division 1
Warnocks Wizards 2 - 1 Digit4lis
Kaze Progressa 1 - 2 Karantania
Tanah Burung 2 - 2 Eizen
Walmington on Sea 4 - 0 Lovisa

McLean Division 2
Soviet Haaregrad 4 - 0 LynyrdSkynyrd
Quebec Nouveau 2 - 0 Bourgeois Corp
Trevorland 0 - 2 Cottonisking
Liverpool England 2 - 4 Warner Brothers

Cherry Division 1
Kalaallit Nunaat 3 - 1 Quality Assurance
Sterling Ice 2 - 3 The Belmore Family
Sliponia 2 - 2 Abysmaltan
The Gulf States 2 - 1 Wella

Cherry Division 2
Tranquillitis 2 - 3 Cockbill Street
Iansisle 2 - 2 Alex The Tall
New Montreal States 1 - 4 Toelieban
Timway 3 - 1 Teakland

-------------------------------------------------------------------

McLean Division 1
Warnocks Wizards 1 - 1 Karantania
Kaze Progressa 2 - 1 Digit4lis
Tanah Burung 1 - 1 Lovisa
Walmington on Sea 2 - 0 Eizen

McLean Division 2
Soviet Haaregrad 5 - 0 Bourgeois Corp
Quebec Nouveau 2 - 0 LynyrdSkynyrd
Trevorland 1 - 1 Warner Brothers
Cottonisking 1 - 1 Liverpool England

Cherry Division 1
Kalaallit Nunaat 2 - 1 The Belmore Family
Sterling Ice 0 - 0 Quality Assurance
Sliponia 1 - 2 Wella
The Gulf States 1 - 2 Abysmalistan

Cherry Division 2
Tranquillitis 2 - 0 Alex The Tall
Iansisle 2 - 2 Cockbill Street
New Montreal States 0 - 1 Teakland
Timway 3 - 0 Towlieban

-------------------------------------------------------------------

McLean Division 1
Warnocks Wizards 4 - 0 Eizen
Kaze Progressa 1 - 1 Lovisa
Tanah Burung 1 - 0 Digit4lis
Walmington on Sea 4 - 1 Karantania

McLean Division 2
Soviet Haaregrad 1 - 4 Cottonisking
Quebec Nouveau 1 - 2 Warner Brothers
Trevorland 3 - 1 LynyrdSkynyrd
Liverpool England 2 - 4 Bourgeois Corp

Cherry Division 1
Kalaallit Nunaat 4 - 0 Abysmalistan
Sterling Ice 3 - 1 Wella
Sliponia 0 - 0 Quality Assurance
The Gulf States 1 - 1 The Belmore Family

Cherry Division 2
Tranquillitis 2 - 2 Towlieban
Iansisle 1 - 0 Teakland
New Montreal States 0 - 1 Cockbill Street
Timway 5 - 0 Alex The Tall

-------------------------------------------------------------------

McLean Division 1
Warnocks Wizards 2 - 2 Lovisa
Kaze Progressa 1 - 2 Eizen
Tanah Burung 3 - 1 Karantania
Walmington on Sea 2 - 0 Digit4lis

McLean Division 2
Soviet Haaregrad 3 - 4 Warner Brothers
Quebec Nouveau 1 - 1 Cottonisking
Trevorland 3 - 1 Bourgeois Corp
Liverpool England 5 - 4 LynyrdSkynyrd

Cherry Division 1
Kalaallit Nunaat 1 - 2 Wella
Sterling Ice 5 - 0 Abysmalistan
Sliponia 0 - 2 The Belmore Family
The Gulf States 1 - 1 Quality Assurance

Cherry Division 2
Tranquillitis 1 - 1 Teakland
Iansisle 3 - 0 Towlieban
New Montreal States 1 - 0 Alex The Tall
Timway 1 - 1 Cockbill Street

-------------------------------------------------------------------

McLean Division 1
Warnocks Wizards 4 - 4 Walmington on Sea
Kaze Progressa 2 - 0 Tanah Burung
Lovisa 0 - 0 Digit4lis
Eizen 1 - 1 Karantania

McLean Division 2
Soviet Haaregrad 1 - 1 Liverpool England
Quebec Nouveau 4 - 1 Trevorland
Warner Brothers 1 - 1 LynyrdSkynyrd
Cottonisking 2 - 3 Bourgeois Corp

Cherry Division 1
Kalaallit Nunaat 1 - 4 The Gulf States
Sterling Ice 1 - 2 Sliponia
Wella 0 - 0 Quality Assurance
Abysmalistan 1 - 1 The Belmore Family

Cherry Division 2
Tranquillitis 5 - 1 Timway
Iansisle 2 - 2 New Montreal States
Teakland 4 - 1 Cockbill Street
Towlieban 0 - 1 Alex The Tall

[code:1:b25b477e0a]Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
U Walmington on Sea 5 4 1 0 16 5 11 16 13 19
2 Warnocks Wizards 5 2 3 0 13 8 5 13 9 15
3 Tanah Burung 5 2 2 1 7 6 1 7 8 14
4 Kaze Progressa 5 2 1 2 7 6 1 7 7 13
5 Karantania 5 1 2 2 6 10 -4 6 5 11
6 Eizen 5 1 2 2 5 10 -5 5 5 11
7 Lovisa 5 0 4 1 4 8 -4 4 4 10
8 Digit4lis 5 0 1 4 2 7 -5 2 1 7

Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
1 Warner Brothers 5 3 2 0 12 8 4 12 11 17
2 Quebec Nouveau 5 3 1 1 10 4 6 10 10 16
3 Cottonisking 5 2 2 1 10 6 4 10 8 14
4 Soviet Haaregrad 5 2 1 2 14 9 5 14 7 13
5 Trevorland 5 2 1 2 8 9 -1 8 7 13
6 Bourgeois Corp 5 2 0 3 8 14 -6 8 6 12
7 Liverpool England 5 1 2 2 11 14 -3 11 5 11
8 LynyrdSkynyrd 5 0 1 4 6 15 -9 6 1 7

Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
1 Kalaallit Nunaat 5 3 0 2 11 8 3 11 9 15
2 The Gulf States 5 2 2 1 9 6 3 9 8 14
3 The Belmore Family 5 2 2 1 8 6 2 8 8 14
4 Sterling Ice 5 2 1 2 11 6 5 11 7 13
5 Wella 5 2 1 2 6 7 -1 6 7 13
6 Sliponia 5 1 2 2 5 7 -2 5 5 11
7 Abysmaltan 5 1 2 2 5 13 -8 5 5 11
8 Quality Assurance 5 0 4 1 2 4 -2 2 4 10

Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
1 Timway 5 3 1 1 13 7 6 13 10 16
2 Iansisle 5 2 3 0 10 6 4 10 9 15
3 Tranquillitis 5 2 2 1 12 7 5 12 8 14
4 Cockbill Street 5 2 2 1 8 9 -1 8 8 14
5 Teakland 5 2 1 2 7 6 1 7 7 13
6 Towlieban 5 1 1 3 6 10 -4 6 4 10
7 New Montreal States 5 1 1 3 4 8 -4 4 4 10
8 Alex The Tall 5 1 1 3 3 10 -7 3 4 10[/code:1:b25b477e0a]

2nd in the division, 5th in the conference.

We're pretty happy with how our team's doing right now. Just need to cut some of these draws into wins.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Postgame part II

Dale you had a superb game tonight, about that last shot though and be honest, did it have a chance of going in?

"Every shot has a chance of going in, its just a matter of how good the guy in front of the puck is at stopping it and tonight I guess I was on my game."

You guess? That's one heck of an understatement, you stopped every puck that came at you tonight except for that power play in the second, what was it on that shot that was different from the other ones that came at you?

"Well for one thing Digit4lis has a good power play, they might not always score but their system is definitely set up to fire a lot of pucks toward the net in a short amount of time and that makes any part of the game dificult, and with the man advantage that's pretty tough to go against. They were able to fire it past me that time and afterwards I told myself that I couldn't let anymore by."

What was it like playing in front of the Royal Family?

"Well my family has been a military family for a long time and I served for two tours of Duty on a Giguere-Class in the Navy myself and my Dad got the best medical care at a veteran's hospital. Playing hard for the Royal family after theyve done so much for the military is a true honour."

Coach Babcock told ESPN before the game that the key to victory was to get that puck on their end of the Ice and keep it there. Do you think your teammates did a good enough job of that?

"Absolutely, I mean, my job is to stop the pucks from getting into our net and I do the best I can so that those guys can feel free to do their job and score goals. Some times it might seem like the puck is on our side a lot but our guys play very agressive hockey, plus some nights I'll see barely ten shots."

Dale I know you want to get back with your teammates and everything but I do have one more thing to say, it's some rather exciting news for you though. You've got a phone call from the Royal Family and they're asking for you.

"You're kidding me...hello? Whoa, Thank you your Majesty...."

We'll go live now to Sal Cameron who is currently interviewing Coach Babcock amidst a throng of reporters and fans in the press room, take it Sal.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Postgame part III

Coach Babcock thank for taking a few minutes to talk to us right now, I wanted to ask you a few things about the upcoming two games left in the tournament. namely, this EIzen team was widely expected to crash and burn in international competition and after the first three games that is sure what it seemed like, now with the Ducks only two points out of the quarterfinals, does this team have a chance to become a modern day miracle?

"You know that's not a question I was expecting to be asked after those two losses of ours but I know that we will keep playing hard in these last two games and we'll give the fans good reason to be proud of us. Its been a great time and we'll be ready for the next tournament no sweat."

The two teams that beat you, Walmington and Warnocks, are atop the standings but you are unbeaten against the three teams you are chasing, including your vicotry over Kaze Progressa. How does this reflect on Eizen's current position in the standings?

"We took two losses in arguably our two toughest games while we were down our MVP from the IHL season, and Walmington only beat us 2-0 and we made them work for it which makes me feel good as a coach. And the three teams we are chasing we've played well against. We're looking forward to seeing where we stand after the next game and wether or not we actually have a shot at this thing. These players have been improving every day and they're really playing a level of hockey that they're going to remember for the rest of their lives.

One last question for now, how does this tournament affect the incoming next season fro the Imperial League?

"Well Sal normally i'm a modest guy about these sort of things but I will tell you this. We are keeping this franchise together and we expect no less than a second straight Imperial Cup. We're setting our sights high for next season wether or not the International format switches to an International All Star Team.

Thanks coach, good luck in your next game and congratulations for tonight's victory. For more coverage of tongiht's win over Digit4lis, stay tuned to ESPN and be sure to watch the ongoing coverage of the Cherry Cup!

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2night

greetings hockey fans and welcome to a special edition of IHL 2night as we take an in depth look into the Mighty Ducks of Eizen and their big victory tonight over Digit4lis.

Across the Empire and in their home city of Supreme Horizon especially, Ducks fans have been throwing watch parties at every bar and restauraunt all over the city and people are opening their homes to neighbors and friends in order to support their team. Even in Oblivion, where the Blue Wings are the team of choice, fans turned out in droves in order to watch the top team of their nation go up against Nationstates' finest. After the victory, and the Huge Save by Goalie Dale Frink, people poured into the streets and celebrating. Fans were kept in check by police but as seen here on this file footage, even the boys in blue were celebrating tonight.

*cut to a video of police wearing Ducks Hats waving and talking with other fans*

The Imperial Citadel meanwhile, following a pregame Imperial Order from the Emperor himself, flew the colours of the Franchise prior to the game. That flag was to be taken down after the game but a last minute call from Crown Prince Azure has kept the banner up, where it will remainf or the rest of the tournament. The Banner will be retired after the tournament and raised at the Imperial Pond where it will hang alongside the Championship banners from the previous season of IHL play.

for Ducks fans this is a great victory. Since the return of their star goalie Dale Frink, the team is ubeaten with a 2-0-1 record and has actually made moves towards the quarterfinals. In these games theyve allowed Only Three goals, a marked improvement since their first three games and the Ducks are right now at an above expectations 2-2-2. With little time left in the first round of play, it remains unclear and a low possibility that Eizen will play further. But the fans are already talking about the next Tournament.

ESPN: Commercial Break

The Mighty Ducks of Eizen have done it! THey are this years Imperial Cup champions! Now you can get in on the exciting victory with the Sports Imperiated Mighty Ducks victory package! This exclusive leather bound edition chronicles the Ducks incredible season and the performances of star players such as #91 and Valor Trophy winner Dirk Stroker, and the League's MVP #35 Dale Frink. And that's not all, included with this edition will be a special bonus section featuring bonus coverage of the Mighty Duck's Cherry Cup IV run! Don't miss out! Call Today and you'll recieve this limited edition hockey puck featuring the Ducks logo, and every one in 10,000 of these pucks will bear an autograph of one of the Ducks players! Don't wait call now! Makes the perfect gift for any hockey fan of any team!

Matchday 6 results
Warnocks Wizards 1 - 1 Tanah Burung
Kaze Progressa 2 - 2 Walmington on Sea
Lovisa 0 - 0 Karantania
Eizen 2 - 1 Digit4lis

Soviet Haaregrad 3 - 1 Trevorland
Quebec Nouveau 1 - 3 Liverpool England
Warner Brothers 4 - 1 Bourgeois Corp
Cottonisking 2 - 0 LynyrdSkynyrd

Kalaallit Nunaat 3 - 2 Sliponia
Sterling Ice 2 - 3 The Gulf States
Wella 0 - 3 The Belmore Family
Abysmalistan 2 - 1 Quality Assurance

Tranquillitis 4 - 1 New Montreal States
Iansisle 1 - 4 Timway
Teakland 1 - 2 Alex The Tall
Towlieban 1 - 1 Cockbill Street

There will be an extra 3 points on offer for the nation that has RPed the most over the first 7 matchdays, enough for most of you to qualify so get your RPing caps on.

The Red and White Iceberg drowned another opponent. Is this the year for a Cherry Cup at last?

Probably not, said Susan Aglukark, President of Greenland.

Cherry Cup 5 sign-ups:
http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2824788#2824788

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2night, Eizen vs. Lovisa Part I

Greetings Hockey fans and greetings Ducks Fans. We have some big Hockey news for you tonight related to next years Fifth Annual Cherry Cup but first things first lets get to the highlights from last night's game against Lovisa. Lovisa, who seems to be echoing the Mantra of "we're just as good as everybody else" , is winless is this year's tournament but has a record of 0 wins, one loss, and a rare five draws. the Lovisa team is arguably the hardest fighting team of the tournament and the Ducks had there work cut out for the in McLean Conference play.

Things got off to a slow start in the first period, which both goalies shutting out their opponents. As we take a look at the replays its hard just to pick out one save as Dale Frink and his Lovisa counterpart battled it out shot for shot and both teams' offenses got nothing going. It got very brutal out there midway, with Duck's Defensemen Chaz Weston laying on the hit that sprawled a Lovisan to the ice. That sparked off a series of confrontations started by both sides and the last six minutes of the period were played in approximately one minute intervals, the period ended with Lovisa on the Power play with a 4 on 3 advantage.

As we take a look at the statistics from the first period both goalies stopped eight shots while the Ducks continued their domination in the face off circle and increased their tournament percentage to 65%. THe Ducks also added significantly to their penalty minute total and we will see whether or not that leapfrogs them above other teams in that category. That numbe rremains high due to the Ducks unfamiliarity with the International rules of play, which disallow for cross checking and penalize more heavily for fighting even if both sides instigated the conflict.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2night, Eizen vs. Lovisa Part II

On to the second period and early on it seemedlike much more of the same from the first period. The Ducks erased Lovisa's man advantage and for the first seven minutes it seemed like nothing was going to happen. Then just as the fans were becoming restless, captain Dirk Stroker who is shown here in the spotshadow, pokes the puck away from the Lovisa Winger and this brings us to our ESPN Call of the day.

"Stroker pokes the puck away from the winger, and chases after the puck. Look at him go, he's breaking away from the Lovisa defenders and he's got the puck! A one on one match between Stroker and the goalie. Stroke maneuvers and shoots, GOOOOAAAALLLL! Dirk Stroker with an initmidating first goal of the game for the Mighty Ducks! The horns are blaring and the crowds are screaming for that one!"

That one goal seemed like it could have been the only one of the day, but the pace of the game picked up rather quickly as Lovisa scored four minutes later on an excellent breakaway that caught the Ducks in the middle of a line change. Frink tried his best and stopped two pucks before failing to cover the puck and succumbing to a top shelf shot that was way out of his reach. With only a handful of time left in the period Lovisa would add another goal as they crashed the net with an extra skater after the ducks incurred another penalty, before the Ducks could get control the Extra skater was able to screen for the shooter, who rifled it through the five hole to give Lovisa a 2-1 lead going into the third period. Eizen fans couldn't have been happy after that.

During the second period the key to the game was time, lovis a has the puck down by the Eizen net 2/3 of the period due to some sloppy passing and some poor puck handling for the normally steady players. The Ducks went into the Lcoker room down 2-1 but there was still another period of Hockey left to play as the Eizen fans were so keen to remind everyone, as the roared in cheer as the third period started...

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2night, Eizen vs. Lovisa Part III

Every player for the Ducks played hard in the third period, I don't think any Lovisa player that made it out on the ice that period came away without some serious bruises. the Ducks came out swinging right at the opening face off as Defenseman Mark Asgard dropped his stick and immediately began trading puches with the player net to him. Both players were penalized but the Ducks seemed to have a fire lit under them. Lovisa was held to just 3 shots in the first fifteen minutes of the period by the stifling Defense and Frink stopped all three in a ruthless fashion. Frink was not lacking for action though and he would factor in big on his sixth save of the period.

Frink stopped the shot with his stick and swatted it out towards Latham at the point who fed a beautiful pass across the ice to Fredricks who not one second later Would take a hard slapshot that actually shattered the stick of the Lovisa goalie and went into the net! With the score tied 2-2 and time running down both teams began to regress into that brutal phase that we saw at the beginning of the game. Asgard would pick another fight again after he was called for a crosscheck on the Lovisa center on their end of the ice and then, as one of the Lovisa players streaked towards him, he tossed a huge elbow to the face, the entire Lovisa team charged after Asgard, who was caught in an area by himself with no teammates to protect him. Asgard though, a military veteran with advance combat training like most Eizen hockey players, held his own long enough for his teammates to come in. Confrontations made the remainder of the game a write off as the teams tied the score at two. The Ducks now await the outcome of the remainder of the games to find out wether or not they have made the quarterfinals. With Kaze Progressa and Karantania's results today against some tough teams, Eizen could very well leap frog ahead into the quarterfinals and continue playing, which would bring great honour to Imperial hockey Fans all over.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2night, Special Announcement Part I

We'll go over the statistics and box score and do further analysis later on in the game fit first we now take you live to the IHL Comissioners office for a special announcement by Comissioner Thompson regarding Next Year's Cherry Cup V. The buzz is that this announcement will make clear wether or not Eizen will be represented y an IHL All Star team or wether or not the Imperial Cup winner will remain the nation's representative. Fritz Fitzgerald is live on location, go ahead fritz.

*cut camera*

Thanks Omar, the setup you see behind me is a rarity in the IHL offseason, a full media frenzy is taking place here and officials and general managers from around the league are eager to hear the announcement, and here comes comissioner Thompson now.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed officials of the Imperial Hockey League, and fans and player alike watching from all around. I am here today to announce that the representative of the Empire from the IHL, will remain the winner of the Imperial Cup. Our nation was founded on the premise that the strong rise to the top and then continue to rise further. Each of our twenty eight teams works hard together, trains together, and battle together on the ice. The team that wins the Imperial Cup is obviously the best team in the league each year as they are the ones who rose to the occaision. Players not of that team did not achieve their objective for the season and should not be rewarded with a chance to represent the Empire and the New Order. This has been the stndard Imperial ruling doctrine since the rebirth of our country and what our society bases itself on. henceforth it is the declaration of my office, that for no less than five seasons, the Imperial Cup winner will represent the IHL and Eizen as the Cherry Cup Contenders. This declaration is made with approval from the Monarchy, and from the International Relations Ministry. I will now begin fielding questions at this time..."


So there you have it folks, the IHL Champion will continue to represent the Empire in International play! A stunning reversal of what was thought to be the popular decision.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Commercial

Tune in tomorrow for IHL 2night as we go through all of the day's highlights in Cherry Cup action! Will the Ducks make the quarterfinals and how would they fare? And also, how will today's announcement regarding the International representatives affect next year's tournament and this year's hockey season? Join reporters Omar Atkins and Fritz Fitzgerald each night for hard hitting fast skating ice hockey action from all around the Empire and all around nationstates. And don't forget to tune into ESPN, the only network bringing the Cherry Cup to the televisions of Eizen. If the Ducks make the quarterfinals we guarantee live coverage of every game! For all IHL games Watch ESPN Live Broadcasts, because tape delays are for golf fans!

Gulls light up the ice with first reported match!

Crushing, bitter disappointment is no stranger to the avid fan of Iansislean national athletics. For time immemorial, one team after another, in widely disparate sports, have failed to live up to any specter of their expectations.

Could Mark Woolf, now the proud owner of a hat-trick, and the rest of the Iansisle Gulls be laying that to rest at last?

After a crushing defeat, 4-1 at the hands of group leader Timway, the Gulls seemed ready to roll over and die as they are wont to do. However, the birds bit back, tearing through the former cup champion Moose like a whirlwind. A big 4-2 whirlwind

Many people may argue that Mooses do have teeth, where as Gulls do not. Many people would also argue that ‘Mooses’ is an improper plural which the editors of the Ianapalis Sports-Journal just made up. The editors of this paper argue that they’ll use the word mooses if it damn well pleases them, and that a gull could probably land on a moose’s back and peck at it for a while, perhaps even causing severe annoyance.

Might this game, this inner desire to get back up and fight despite a set-back, make the Gulls Iansisle’s first team to win a major sports tournament? Many say yes. Many say no. Many say the Iansisle SuperIans, who won the SuperCup (ironically held in Tranquillitis), really claimed a major title, so the Gulls would only be second anyway. Many wish our writers would stop using this hacked, conversationally informal style of writing.

We’ll just have to stay tuned and find out.

The Abysmal Times

Can't we even lose?
Exactly that did coach Loos shout after the Abysmals got points in their third consecutive match. After the match against the Belmorian hosts, which ended 1-1 after one fluke of Zoom and 21 goals of players called Alan Belmore (only because the scoreboard had an overflow and the scorekeeper lost count), the Abysmals didn't-lose-and-also-didn't-draw agaist Quality Assurance. However, there are rumours that the Quality Assurance lost intentionally. The fact, that the goalie nearly fled from the puck is perhaps one good evidence of this. In the last third, the QA players even defended the Abysmal goal to avoid more own goals. Also the fact, that belmorian bookmakers have suffered a high loss and the team from QA suddently appeared in designer suits for an interview could be a proof for this theory. These draws and more-than-draws could be explained, the dreadfull 1-1 draw against Wella has however no real explaination. The Abysmals played terribly and scored both goals in the match. They however didn't manage to score the third goal in this match and also the opponent didn't make it, since goalie Wong fell down at the wong time and by this blocked the goal. After this match, Loos was outraged. He shouted the above-mentioned: 'Can't you even lose?' And after that sacked goalie Wong. 'There are too many mediocre teams in the world! To be remembered in history, we need to be really bad, we need to be Abysmal!' was his justification. Substitute goalie Lirx will take wong's place.

Spider Shutout!
Guererro Has Cake and Eats it in Towlieban Game
Anna Wasylyshyn, B.A. – Staff Writer

After a heartbreaking 1-2 overtime loss to Alex The Tall, Teakland’s momentum threatened to sputter to a halt after only two games. The pressure was mounting on backup goaltender Jose Guerrerro to perform, as Aldon Brasseur was still missing due to a vicious flu virus. “A solid goaltender is like the first layer of a cake,” said Coach Wilde as the team headed into the game. “The rest of the players make more layers and icing, but if you don’t have a good base, your cake’s a little flat. Jose just needs a little time to rise.” This reporter wondered exactly where Coach Wilde’s mind was during the brief interview, but the analogy was apt enough. Heat and pressure were building on Guererro, and questions were arising as to whether the young man was able to keep performing under the weight of all the expectations.

“I’d be lying if I said that I was just shrugging it all off,” Guerrero said in an interview before tonight’s game. “It’s a pretty heavy burden to carry, trying to keep the rest of the guys in the game. They’ve got a good rhythm going with Aldon, they’ve been playing with him so long, and I’m still trying to get my own groove going out there. The more I play, though, the more sure we are on the ice, so maybe a little pressure’s what I need.”

The pressure finally paid off for Guerrerro and the rest of the Blue Spiders last night in the form of a 2-0 shutout, with the goaltender all but standing on his head in an acrobatic display of goaltending. Guerrerro blocked 31 Towlieban shots for his first-ever shutout in international competition: even though the Teakland defense had one of their strongest starts this season, the Towlieban offense alternately skated around and through them right to the net. Guerrerro stopped them all, however; the most memorable of the night was when, flat on his back, he shot up his glove and caught a rebound that seemed destined to go between the pipes.

But as good a cake Guererro’s shutout was, the icing was even more spectacular. The first and game-winning goal came at 17:42 of the second period, after a power-play face-off in the Towlieban zone. After winning the puck, Gerry Hawkins chipped the it back to the point to Defenseman Louis Boulanger; his slapshot was blocked by the Towlieban defenseman. Picking up the rebound, Left Wing Ian Black skated around the prone defenseman, and deked out the goaltender to put it up in the top right corner of the net.

The Towlieban team turned up the heat in third period, desperate for the tying goal. Their hard-checking offense meant that Coach Wilde brought out the fourth line a little more often than he would have in any other game where Teakland was ahead, but neither Gerry Hawkin’s line nor the Hanson Brothers could cool off the Towlieban offense, which played the best nineteen minutes of hockey of their season. Desperate for the goal, the Towlieban coach pulled the goalie for the sixth man, and the shots flew hard and fast at Guerrerro. Desperate for a little breathing room, he fired a hard shot over the heads of the offense and down the ice to clear the zone. Miraculously, the puck caught a hard bounce and sped right for the Towlieban net. One of the defensemen raced back to intercept the puck, but Hawkins caught up to the puck first, and laid him out with a mid-ice shouldercheck as the puck slid over the goal line to make the game 2-0.

With a shutout and his first-ever goal under his belt, I caught up with an ecstatic Guerrerro after the game in the locker room. When I asked him how he was going to celebrate the win, he replied, simply: “I dunno. I do enjoy a nice piece of black forest cake.” Apparently, the team has pastries on the brain. And they’re making me hungry.

Final Score: Teakland 2 - 0 Towlieban

Supreme Horizon Imperial Standard News: The Monarchy's Choice Paper

Fans Speak Out on IHL International Ruling
Pascal Ascii Reporting

SUPREME HORIZON -- the IHL was abuzz today with the unexpected news that the IHL will not form an Imperial All Star team to compete in international events such as the Cherry Cup. While there is nothing less thana huge groundswell of support for the Mighty Ducks of Eizen as they await the final standings with regards to the Cherry Cup Quarterfinals. Opinion is split fairly evenly along both lines, while there are those that fully agree with the comissioner's statement regarding Imperial Doctrine there are also those that believe the Empire should field the finest team it possibly can to best represent itself. There is also a small growing faction that thinks we shouldn't use IHL players at all and instead utilize amateur players instead of professionals, however this idea is sunk by the fact that the talent pool for amateur players is so large that the selection process would take such a long time that it would be infeasible.

There is still hope for an IHL All Star team though, even within the five year plan as speculated by the comissioner. It is speculated that if the Ducks were to go on to a dynasty and continue to win title after title then the Crown Prince Azure, who also serves as the Imperial Competition Minister, could reverse the decision made by the comissioner. If the Prince were to invoke his rights as Competition Minister, Comissioner Thompson would be forced to acknowledge that ruling.

IHL to Expand to Neon Simian, 1337 5p34k
Java Binaree Reporting

THe IHL announced today that for the upcoming season the IHL will expand to include established clubs from Neon Simian and 1337 5p34k. Two clubs will join next seaason, followed by two more. This will be a trial experiment to see wether or not the possibility of a multinational League consisting of all Nations professional clubs.

With the RPs counted I can confirm that the 3 points go to Eizen, so with that said, here are the Matchday 7 Results:

Warnocks Wizards 2 - 3 Kaze Progressa
Walmington on Sea 3 - 4 Tanah Burung
Lovisa 2 - 2 Eizen
Karantania 0 - 1 Digit4lis

Soviet Haaregrad 2 - 2 Quebec Nouveau
Trevorland 0 - 2 Liverpool England
Warner Brothers 1 - 1 Cottonisking
Bourgeois Corp 2 - 1 LynyrdSkynyrd

Kalaallit Nunaat 1 - 3 Sterling Ice
Sliponia 3 - 1 The Gulf States
Wella 1 - 1 Abysmalistan
The Belmore Family 2 - 1 Quality Assurance

Tranquillitis 2 - 4 Iansisle
New Montreal States 1 - 1 Timway
Teakland 2 - 0 Towlieban
Alex The Tall 3 - 0 Cockbill Street

[code:1:94a05d2a28]McLean Division 1
Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
U Walmington on Sea 7 4 2 1 21 11 10 21 14 14
U Tanah Burung 7 3 3 1 12 10 2 12 12 12
U Eizen 7 2 3 2 9 13 -4 9 12 12
U Kaze Progressa 7 3 2 2 12 10 2 12 11 11
D Warnocks Wizards 7 2 4 1 16 12 4 16 10 10
D Lovisa 7 0 6 1 6 10 -4 6 6 6
D Karantania 7 1 3 3 6 11 -5 6 6 6
D Digit4lis 7 1 1 5 4 9 -5 4 4 4

McLean Division 2
Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
U Warner Brothers 7 4 3 0 17 10 7 17 15 15
U Cottonisking 7 3 3 1 13 7 6 13 12 12
U Soviet Haaregrad 7 3 2 2 19 12 7 19 11 11
U Quebec Nouveau 7 3 2 2 13 9 4 13 11 11
D Liverpool England 7 3 2 2 16 15 1 16 11 11
D Bourgeois Corp 7 3 0 4 11 19 -8 11 9 9
D Trevorland 7 2 1 4 9 14 -5 9 7 7
D LynyrdSkynyrd 7 0 1 6 7 19 -12 7 1 1

Cherry Division 1
Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
U The Belmore Family 7 4 2 1 13 7 6 13 14 14
U Kalaallit Nunaat 7 4 0 3 15 13 2 15 12 12
U The Gulf States 7 3 2 2 13 11 2 13 11 11
U Sterling Ice 7 3 1 3 16 10 6 16 10 10
D Abysmaltan 7 2 3 2 8 15 -7 8 9 9
D Sliponia 7 2 2 3 10 11 -1 10 8 8
D Wella 7 2 2 3 7 11 -4 7 8 8
D Quality Assurance 7 0 4 3 4 8 -4 4 4 4

Cherry Division 2
Pos Team P W D L F A GD GS Pts PP
U Timway 7 4 2 1 18 9 9 18 14 14
U Iansisle 7 3 3 1 15 12 3 15 12 12
U Tranquillitis 7 3 2 2 18 12 6 18 11 11
U Teakland 7 3 1 3 10 8 2 10 10 10
D Alex The Tall 7 3 1 3 8 11 -3 8 10 10
D Cockbill Street 7 2 3 2 9 13 -4 9 9 9
D Towlieban 7 1 2 4 7 13 -6 7 5 5
D New Montreal States 7 1 2 4 6 13 -7 6 5 5[/code:1:94a05d2a28]

Leaving the Conferenmce Quarter Finals as:

Walmington on Sea
Vs
Quebec Noveau

Tanah Burung
Vs
Soviet Haaregrad

Eizen
Vs
Cottonisking

Kaze Progressa
Vs
Warner Brothers

The Belmore Family
Vs
Teakland

Kaaliat Nunaat
Vs
Tranquillitis

The Gulf States
Vs
Ianisle

SterlingIce
Vs
Timway

After running 234 Calaculations here are each teams chances of winning the whole competition.

[code:1:94a05d2a28]22.22222222 Tranquillitis
17.09401709 Kaaliat Nunaat
12.82051282 Soviet Haaregrad
12.82051282 Eizen
9.829059829 Ianisle
5.555555556 SterlingIce
5.555555556 Kaze Progressa
5.555555556 Quebec Novaeu
3.418803419 Timway
2.136752137 Tanah Burung
1.282051282 Teakland
0.854700855 The Gulf States
0.854700855 Cottonisking
0 Walmington on Sea
0 Warner Brothers
0 The Belmore Family[/code:1:94a05d2a28]

RPing will increase your chances

((Wait...how do those calculations work? WoS had the second best record, won his conference, had a +10 GD, and RPed as much as anyone else, but has a 0% chance of winning the cup? Or am I just reading the chart wrong?))

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL2night Special Edition

In a stunning comeback from their early misfortunes the Mighty Ducks of Eizen have finished the first round of play unbeaten in their last four games and overtook three teams in the standings to reach the Conference quarterfinals! Including the Warnock team that humilated them early on and the Karantania team that managed a draw. As the final standings were announced earlier on ESPN's Cherry Cup selection show players and fans alike celebrated all across the Empire! Champagne was uncorked and A day of celebration was decreed by the Royal Family. The Mighty Ducks will begin play against the nation of Cottonisking in Quaterfinals action in the third of eight games to be played. In an interview taken right after the pairings were announced he is what Coach Babcok told our own Fritz Fitzgerald.

"well what can i really say about this team, we didn't lose in our last four and we had to go up against some very good teams. this is probably the greatest moment in my careernext to winning the Imperial Cup and i'm pretty sure that a lot of these guys here feel that way too."

Eizen has their work cut out for them though with Cottonisking. The Cotton team finished with three wins three draws and but one loss. However, led by the resurgent Dirk Stroker and the seemingly unbeatable Dale Frink, the Mighty Ducks of Eizen should have a good shot at advancing to the next round. Wanna go see the game? Sorry, Eizen's allotment of tickets for the event have already sold out in record time but you can catch Eizen vs. Cottonisking and all other Cherry Cup IV events right here on ESPN.

When we return we'll analyze each matchup and each teams chances to go all the way.

Warner Brothers Goes From Last In Last Cherry Cup To First In Division

Warner Brothers has made a stunning turnaround from the last Cherry Cup the firing of the old coach and hiring of 6 time championship winning coach Dan Freezman to the national team and the emergence of young rookie of the year player Todd Wieve who has scored most of warner brothers goals this tournaments contest. Will warner brothers go all the way???? Only time will tell.

((Wait...how do those calculations work? WoS had the second best record, won his conference, had a +10 GD, and RPed as much as anyone else, but has a 0% chance of winning the cup? Or am I just reading the chart wrong?))

Losing to Tanah Burung immediately reduces your chances to zero. The entire WoS team will surely be expected to commit suicide now.

What? We qualified? There must be shome mishtake. I thought all those wins were just the players' inflated sense of self-esteem.

Sobered into respectability, the Cassowaries preapre for their next match against .... Soviet Haaregrad? No, that's definitely a hallucination.

The Standard: Mixed feelings in Norbray as fans unsure how to behave

"Do we celebrate?" Asked one open-mouthed Norbray resident as his eyes scanned from results to tables and back.

The Red Bears finished on top of their conference, but suffered their first defeat. That in itself would ordinarily make the victory a little bitter-sweet, but the fact that the defeat came against Tanah Burung puts it in an entirely different context.

"They're as bad as we are!" Exclaimed a disgruntled Clifford Uppington after letting in three goals against the Cassowaries.

Some critics have suggested that the Bears' undoing was in their inability to seriously injure their less than sure-footed opposition.

"It's true." Says captain and coach Ernie Mellington. "I'd swing at them and they'd just go down before I could make solid contact."

"I'm sure I skated over the right back's hand. Frankly I think he was too stoned to notice." Adds Whiteside, frustrated by his failure to score against a side he previously professed a hope to break records against.

(I'm a little confused, too. Anyway, I probably haven't been paying enough attention, but what happens if we lose to Quebec? Is that elimination, or are the q-finals a mini league of their own? Of course there'll be riots in Norbray if we go out to a team we'd still have done better than, but that's sports competitions for you, I suppose. I'd go searching the forums but they've crashed three times for every one attempt at changing pages so..oh well.)

I think playing Quebec Noveau, then probably Soviet Haarergrad did not help. I think it is near impossible to beat both the 3rd seed, then the 4th seed.

('nearly impossible' is quite different that 'impossible.' But, whatever.)

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2Night, Cherry Cup IV Rundown part I

With the quarterfinals about to be played and all of the teams ready to compete in what will surely be an exciting round fo play, lets look and analyze the three teams in the quarterfinals that the Mighty Ducks of Eizen has played in McLean Conference 1, and their upcoming opponent Cottonisking. We'll look at the teams' records after the even games from the first round while also looking back on the games already played, or to be played, against the Ducks. Eizen's record against these teams currently stands at an even 1-1-1 with a -1 goal differential. Two of these games, vs. Walmington on Sea and Tanah Burung were played prior to the Ducks 4 game unbeaten streak and the emergence of Eizen. Let's proceed in the order of which Eizen has played them.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2Night, Cherry Cup IV Rundown part II

Tanah Burung (3-3-1,12,2nd in Mclean 1) - Tanah Burung and Eizen met on the first day of match play and the game ended in a 2-2 tie. As the season progressed both teams have shown marked improvement and a rematch would be incredibly exciting. TB has demonstrated a keen talent for goal scoring in key situations and punctuated their Cherry Cup run by defeating the undefeated Walmington on Sea team in the final round of match play. Should these two teams clash again one could only speculate as to who could possibly win. Tanah Burung emerged quickly as a Conference contender with its steady play and ability to keep the pressure on teams all through the game and not give in to sloppy play. The Key to defeating TB for the Ducks will be to take advantage of power plays and breakaways and not letting opportunities go to waste against a team that committs few mistakes.

Walmington on Sea (4-2-1,14,1st in McLean 1) - Despite their perfect record being blemished by Tanah Burung in the final game of match play the Walmington team is still one to be feared and respected. Walmington has amssed a stunning +10 Goal difference with their opponents and is one of the bookmaker's favorites to win it all. Eizen was defeated 2-0 by the Walmington team in a game that showcased a powerful offensive attack and a more powerful defensive effort while Eizen has improved as of late with the return of their Star Goalie, the resurgence of Captain Dirk Stroker, and the emergence of Mark Asgard, it is still believed that the Walmington team would be favored in a rematch against the Ducks. Beating Walmington would be a real coup for this team and in order to do so would require an effort of every player operating at their full potential, especially on offense.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL 2Night, Cherry Cup IV Rundown part III

Kaze Progressa (3-2-2,11,4th in McLean 1) - Kaze Progressa was the first of Eizen's two victories in match play, a spectacular upset victory which heralded the return of Star Goalie Dale Frink, the emergence of the Imperial team as an international player, and a serious contender for the quarterfinals in the McLean conference. The Ducks won that game 2-1 and it would be the first gamein their four game unbeaten streak to end match play. Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa was not only one of the highest rated Cherry Cup broadcasts of the tournament but was also the highest rated hockey broadcast in Eizen history. A rematch between these two teams has been clamoured for by the media and tournament executives have openly confessed to desiring such a rematch. Eizen can beat Kaze Progressa again as long as they do what they did the first time, control the puck, keep their goalie busy and never relent.

Cottonisking (3-3-1,12,2nd in Mclean 2) - Cottonisking will prove to be a tough opponent for the Ducks as their team allowed a tournament low seven goals that wasmatched only by host nation The Belmore Family. Cottonisking also fared well against the Warner Brothers team that finished the tournament undefeated while also defeating former finalist Soviet Haaregard in a stunning 4-1 victory. The Ducks will have to rely on their proven goal scorers in C Dirk Stroker, Wingers Sam Latham and Zack Fredricks, and Defenseman Perry Skull, in order to generate the offense required to come out on top while it will be up to Goalie Dale Frink to ensure that things do not get out of hand as even some of the most powerful teams in the tournament have given up goals en masse to this team. Defeating this team would prove the Ducks as a legitimate contender.

RP bonuses have been counted and the results will be sent out at 6:00pm GMT.

Wow! I figured I was done for, 1 point back of a likely qualifying spot and playing Kalaallit. I'm certainly not going to look this gift horse in the mouth :)

SI

ESPN Radio: Hockey Talk With Omar and Fritz , Call I

...we've got a call from Larry in Machina, you're on the air with Omar and Fritz we're talking about the Mighty Ducks of Eizen and the cherry Cup Quarterfinals today, Larry what's your question?

"Hey Omar, I was just wondering how you think this extended season is going to affect the Ducks' chances of winning the Imperial Cup Next Season."

Thats a pretty good question Larry, well Fritz i'm not sure about you but I think that this tournament is absolutely going to slow them down. Don't get me wrong, they have the talent to make the playoffs with a high seed easily but it looks like they'll be playing a straight year's worth of hockey. We all know this is one of the most demanding sports out there, if you don't get that time to rest you're looking at a crash andburn that can leave you high and dry in clutch situations.

Well Omar i'm going to have to dsiagree with you, while I can't entirely disagree that the Ducks are going to have a hard time getting their next season underway andmore than likely will have a slow start, they've begun to ascend to a level of play we haven't seen yet in our own local league. The Ducks are going to have a huge advantage in preparedness also. While the other teams are getting the kinks worked out in spring training they're going to be ready to go and that should offset any start to their season.

Thats a good point, well Larry that's our take on the whole thing, you rooting for anyone in particular to win it all next year?

"Machina Storm all the way Omar"

Storm fan eh? Well good luck next year playing Oblivion, they looked fairly mad after the finals.

"They got nothing!"

Alright thans Larry Appreciate the call. Machina Storm? did you hear that Fritz?

I mean no disrespect to theMachina Storm fans this year, but there was never a better definition of underacheiver last year than Machina, news to Storm fans, you can't win games if you can't hold a lead!

ESPN Radio: Hockey Talk With Omar and Fritz , Call II

Okay we've got another caller, speaking of the Blue Wings we've got a caller from Oblivion City on the line. Jerry you're on the air with Omar and Fritz talking about the Cherry Cup and the Ducks' improbable playoff run. Got a question for us?

"Yeah this one's for Fritz, hey man you were at that press conference the other day, why in the hell aren't we fielding an All Star team next season, doctrines aside this is freakin' hockey and it aint fair to all the fans round the rest of the league who wanna see their players move along too."

Geez Jerry sound a little bitter? Well Omar while I do think Jerry's more than a little bitter over that loss in the Finals he is making a good point. Im not so sure Comissioner Thompson made the right call on this one. Like we were saying during the last call, to subject a franchise on its own to this sort of schedule is pretty demanding to that organization. Its never a team's goal to be a one year wonder, they want to win and keep on winning and what happens if star players get injured or if a team keeps on winning.

Fritz is right, while i'll support any Imperial team that represents us in Cherry Cup play as a sports reporter and hockey fan I feel obligated to support the creation of an International Team taking players from all around the League. That would also give the League more options to provide International-caliber replacements should anyone go down midway through.

"THANK YOU! I'm glad you guys agree with me, now tell me what you think of the fact that those officials CONSPIRED to keep the Blue Wings from winnin the cup!"

You're on your own on that one Jerry, don't worry though buddy, next season's coming up and you'll get another shot at it.

Before we take any more calls I'd like to remind everyone that Fritz and I are going to be doing hockey talk and IHL2night live from The Belmore Family when the Ducks take on Cottonisking in their Quaterfinal match coming. Keep watching ESPN to find out when the game is going to be played and never EVER forget to check your local listing to find out when you can listen to US on television and radio.

Next caller!

ESPN Radio: Hockey Talk With Omar and Fritz , Call III

Okay we'll take one more call before we take a break, lets see we've got a call from the capital city, Robert in Supreme Horizon go ahead Bill.

"Hey guys, just wanting to ask the obvious question you guys seem to be tiptoeing around. Ducks went unbeaten when Frink got back in goal, you think they could have gone unbeaten if he would have been around for the beginning of the tournament?"

I can't really say for sure, Fritz do you think we've been tiptoeing around this question? I don't recall ever avoiding this question.

No one has ever avoided answering the question but the problem has been why haven't people been asking this question! The greatest goalie in the league, the key to your teams championship season, of course its going to negatively affect your team! No offense to the backup or anything but Frink is above and beyond the best. If he had been in net for those three games, Eizen would have done a lot better than a draw and two losses.

This bings up another good point too for the International team argument. Frink's bereavement with his father's illness could have been offset, I can think of two or three goalies that would have been very deserving of a chance to play between the pipes on an NHL stage. Wether or not the Ducks would have gone undefeated I'm not so sure but they could have won at least two of those in my opinion.

You have to think though, he's not playing at the same level he was during the Imperial Cup. He;s had a lot of great saves and put on a great show for the fans but I still think his family issues are bothering him somewhat and I don't want to sound like a jerk but if he can't fully deal with those issues then the ducks are in for some trouble in the upcoming rounds. Sure Eizen has momentum right now but these teams are the best of the best and they are going to come out completely focused and kick butt left and right.

Thats all the time we have for this edition of hockey talk, stay tuned after these commercials we're going to hand over the booth to our Rugby guys Steve and Gonk as they breakdown the season at the midway point.

Supreme Horizon Imperial Standard News: The Monarchy's Choice Paper

Workplaces Brace For Hockey
Pascal Ascii Reporting

Employers all over Eizen have begun to brace for what could become the largest "no-show" in economic history. As Eizen prepares for the upcoming match against Cottonisking, companies are scrambling to ensure that thier operations are able to maintain enough staff in order to function on the day of the big game. Many places are purchasing televsion sets and setting them up all around their offices in an attempt to entice people to come in to work. Other companies are offering additional pay as an incentive. Still there will be companies and businesses either forced into an early shut down, or that shut down of their own accord because no one wants to sit in an office when the biggest game in Imperial History is about to be played. necessary indsutries, financial institutions, and the military have been warned by the New Order that they must maintain the asolute highest level of professionalism they always have when they are on duty. however, the Emperor has authorized the Order to undertake movements so that the game can be made availiable to those industries so long as they continue their work.

Movie theaters are attempting to compensate by devoting some of their screens to fans who would like to watch them game on a very big screen completel with concessions. restauraunts and bars have begun preparing themselves for the nevitable blitz of customers, while IHL teams from around the League are hosting watch parties at their event arenas. Players from the IHL are also giving the league a high profile appearance at team sponsored events all over the country.

It's official, Eizen has truly gone hockey crazy.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: ad

"Its been a long hard road for the Mighty Ducks as they seeked to continue their unbeaten streak alive in the quarterfinals!"

*camera cuts to a short series of clips featuring Ducks players scoring goals and hitting opponents*

"but the Cottonisking National team is looking to start a streak of their own on their way to the Cherry Cup."

*camera cuts to a short series of clips of Cottonisking's highlights, including goal scoring and impressive hits.*

"Hell has frozen over, and these two teams will skate on it next week as they vie for a birth in the next round. Eizen, Cottonisking, Live on ESPN! Its time for Hockey, Teeth Optional"

*cut to a montages of Eizen and Cottonisking highkights depicting the teams celebrating goals and victories.*

The Cassowaries have never been known for being good at hockey. This is the team that won only two games in the first two Cherry Cups combined, both of them against hapless Daistallia. (A cheer went up with the news that Daistallia 2104 had signed up for Cherry Cup 5 -- "we're better than them!" the fans cried out. Well, the fan, at any rate.)

The Cassowaries were surprised, then, to wake up from sleep walking through their first matches to see that they were in line for qualification. All they had to do was defeat Walmington on Sea, the somewhat addled but always enthusiastic competitors. And surely no more addled than the Cassowaries, who were good at toking, but less good at skating. In fact, team captain Mau Incompetent fell over in surprise to see one of Walmington's finest skating backwards. "Back home, that against the rules. Seems a bit unsporting to me."

The word "unsporting" apparently upset some of the Walmingtonish players. The Cassowaries could not imagine why. And so, with a shudder of unexpected anticipation, they found themselves on the winning side of a scoreline and in the playoffs.

Dressed in clown suits for the clash with Soviet Haaregrad, the Cassowaries came out swinging. Buffoonishly careening around the ice, they smashed into Haaregradian players on a regular basis, upending them heels over kiesters. More than once, the referee would then call the Haaregradian players for high sticking, giving the Cassowaries eight power play opportunities against only two Haaregrad man advantages. Result: regulation time ended in a 2-2 scoreline.

The Cassowaries were in overtime against a real hockey team, a former champion! Back home, two more fans switched on the television. In a pub somewhere deep in the Burung Paradis rain forest, three rubber tappers came in and said "what in the name of God is that on the TV?" Told it was men wearing blades on their feet playing a football-style match with sticks while skimming around on a sheet of frozen water, they watched in confusion. This was not a simple game like competitive body piercing: it was confusing.

Just as well, then, that the natural order of things was restored with a winning goal by Soviet Haaregrad, off a shot so hard that the puck crossed the goal line twice, resulting in the impossible overtime result of Soviet Haaregrad 4, Tanah Burung 2. The universe was set right again: the Cassowaries were going home.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking Pregame

Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to tonight's game live from the Belmore Family where we are only moments aay from the widely anticipated matchup between the Cottonisking National Team, and your Mighty ducks of Eizen. It's been a long road for these two teams, every game has been a hard fought battle and these two masters of the ice are about to collide in a quarterfinal contest that will send one team back home, and another team further on the road to Cherry Cup glory.

The Ducks, a lowly ranked team not given much chance to succeed in this tournament, have surprised the hickey world and, on the heels of their star players, have made this cherry Cup run as memorable as any in recent history. As they come into the game tonight, the eyes of all Nationstates, and especially those of their homeland, are watching. It's been one heck of a day in Eizen and right about now everything is shutting down in anticipation.

Brfore the national anthems lets go over the keys to victory for tonight's game for both teams. For the Ducks the key is simple, the star players have got to come through. Cottonisking had their way with their opponents in the first round on account of their targeting key players and shutting them down and that takes teams out fo their rythm. the Ducks must play absolutely punishing difference to stop Cottonisking's incredible scoring attack as well. Cottonisking meanwhile knows how to beat a star goalie and they plan on doing that tonight by keeping the puck in front of the Ducks net and firing as many shots as possible.

*The lights in the arena go completely dark save for the jumbo tron and spotlights, the fans begin to cheer. The rink announcers begins addressing the fans*

Well fans they're about to begin the national anthems and we'll take you live to the ice for that but before we do we'd like to thank you once again for joining us on ESPN tonight, Its EIzen vs. Cottonisking! Stay Tuned!

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking First Period part I

"The shot bounces off of Frink's Pad and the kicksave sends the puck over to Stroker who nearly loses the puck off his stick but recovers and manages to get the puck over to Mark Asgard without trouble. Asgard passes it up the ice to Fredricks who takes it across the blue line. Fedricks passes it back over to Asgard who quickly gives it up to Latham who takes it behind the net. Latham is trapped up against the boards and now Stroker is back down there to help, three men fighting for the puck and Latham comes away with it. Latham passes it out to Ipsen who evades the Cottonisking winger and gets the puck back over to Fredricks who sees Stroker over by the goal, Fredricks passes and Stroker fires off a slapshot towards...SCORE! I don't know how that puck found its way through! It came in on the short side bouned off the crossbar and then into the net off the goalies back! That was incredible! The Ducks lead 1-0 on an incredible shot by Dirk Stroker! Only four minutes into the first period and the Ducks are off to a fast start! The Eizen fans are going berserk in the stands after the goal by Stroker with assists from Ipsen and Fredricks!

The Cottonisking fans are stunned by that one and it looks like their coach is having the same reaction. Im pretty sure this wasn't in their game plan tonight folks. The puck is dropped once again at center ice and play starts up again, again the goal by Stroker with assists from Ipsen and Fredricks at 4:18 in the first period.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking First Period part II

"Cottonisking seems to have some spring back intheir step after the goal earlier with eight minutes left in the first period. They've been keeping the puck centered and they're firing away, the shot comes towards the goal and Frink shrugs it away with his shoulder, I swear its liek the Ducks have put a mountain in front of the net tonight instead of a human being. there goes another shot towards the net and again Frink repels it! The Ducks regain control of the puck and take it on down the ice, where Fredricks passes it over to Stroker, Stroker charges towards the net and fakes the shot as he passes behind towards Asgard who fires a shot and GOAL! Asgard takes it to the net and shot it right between the goalie's legs! So far this tournament the Ducks haven't score more than two goals in a game and they've already matched that tonight against the favoured Cottonisking team!

And the state of disbelief on the Cottonisking sideline is unmistakeable, that's part of the game though, one second you're on the verge of tying the game and the next moment before you know it the score is 2-0 in favor of the other team. And right now that team is the Ducks! Eizen's fans are celebrating once again and if you look over towards Cottonisking's bench they probably can't wait for this period to end and to get back in the locker room. The Ref takes the puck back out to center ice and Eizen takes the face off. Well fans here's the offical scoring, the goal by Asgard at 12:26 with the assist by Stroker..."

*fast forward*

"And the horn sounds and play has ended and the Ducks take a surprising 2-0 lead into the locker room, Shots on goal in favor of the Ducks thirteen to eight, no penalties yet but expect the game to get more intense as it progresses. Its time for a commercial break but we'll breakdown the first period, right after this."

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking First Intermission

"Well Fritz the Ducks have a surprising 2-0 here after the first period, and how important do you think this fast is for the Eizen team tonight?"

"Its huge Omar, simply huge, the Ducks have come right out of the gates and said, we're going to show you what we can do and you had better bring you A-game for all sixty minutes tonight. This sends a big message to the other teams in the quarterfinals too, The Ducks are for real and they aren't going anywhere unless you play your best hockey."

"Very well put, very well put. Dale Frink has stopped all thirteen shots he's seen tonight and he's done so in a dominant fashion. If you look at the camera here we'll spotshadow him and look at him move. He is not losing sight of that puck and he is anticipating it as if he knew where it was going to end up anyways! this is the sort of goaltending we saw back in the season and I think he's rising to the challenge of the next round."

"Frink's been good but the guy im impressed with is Dirk Stroker, he has been skating at will through the Cottonisking defense and even though the goal he scored was simply amazing im more in love with assist to Mark Asgard. He single handedly created that play and that's the sort of effort that gets you that 'C' on your jersey, #91 so far has been my MVP."

"Well its a good thing that Cottonisking got out of that period when they did because things were really starting to disintegrate for them out there and hopefully for them the intermission can calm them down a bit."

"They need to stick to their game plan if they want to stay in this game but I don't think that Eizen is going to let them, they've been slamming the Cotton team into the boards and leaving them limping during the line changes. Its a real beating out there right now and I wonder how many teeth are still out there for the zamboni."

"We'll be back with more hockey in a bit but we'll take you to our studios for sportscentral highlights from all around Eizen, we'll see you shortly."

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking Second Period

"Here at the midway point the Ducks still lead 2-1 and Cottonisking is looking to get back into this game. If you're just joining us now the Ducks have two goals in the first period and so far Dale Frink has stopped twenty of the twenty one shots he has faced. Brian Ipsen takes it across center ice and one of the Cotton defensemen comes in swinging his stick and it looks like...yes the referee is going to call the Cottonisking player for slashing, Ipsen tried to pass it to Latham but it is intercepted by Cottonisking and the whistle blows. that's going to be a two minute slashing penalty, the first of the game for Cottonisking and the second of the game after the crosschecking call earlier in this period. Dirk Stroker faces off for the Ducks and he wins the puck. Latham takes the puck and passes to Fredricks, Fredricks maneuvers his way along the boards and shove the puck over to asgard who is waiting behind the net. Asgard fakes going for the wraparound and dishes it over to Latham who sets up the offense, Latham passes it to Stroker who shoots, but a kick save by the Cotton goalie and the rebound is picked up by Asgard, Asgard shoots and a stick save by the goalie but Stroker is there for the rebound and HE SCORES! Dirk Stroker takes the rebound and scores on the power play making it three to one in favor of Eizen. The pressure was on the power play was good and the Cottonisking players just werent picking up those rebounds and they weren't doing their job of clearing the puck. The goial by Stroker, from Asgard at 11:47 in the second. Eizen has now scored three goals for the first time in this tournament and have regained their two goal lead after giving up a tough goal earlier. As we watch the replay again folks watch #91, Dirk Stroker just effortlessly makes his way towards the net after the missed shot and gets right into position for that rebound, enabling him to fire the puck past the goalie and give himself his third point of the night."

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking Second Intermission

*Ducks Locker Room, Coach Babcok talks to his team*

"That was some good hockey, you did your jobs you kept them under wraps, and you answered back when you had to do so. But you know what? You weren't half as good as you were out there in the first? Don't let this lead we've built make you soft dammit! when you go back out on that ice for the third you're going to go up against a completely different team. those guys in the other jerseys are going to have changed, they're going to be hungry beats and they are going to do everything in their power to get those two goals they need. I don't know about you guys but I'd be completely embarassed if we blew a 3-1 lead in a big game like this. Heres what I want, when you guys get back out on the ice you need to be as hungry as they are, you need to be even hungrier. You need to show them how mad you are at them, they have the freakin' nerve to try and tie this game up! Be Mad! Lets punish these guys for sharing the ice with us, lets make them have to go all out just so they can do a damn line change. If you guys can do that, then we'll win this game. Dale I want you to keep stopping those pucks, I know you've done a great job tonight but me and the other coaches are thinking that they're going to try and attack your stickside and try and get you to make some mistakes there. Eventhough I trust Dale to protect his ass out there I need you guys to hep cover that angle too. Most importantly though I want you guys to lay down some hits, we might have to take a penalty or two I understand but those guys at the end of the first were losing their skates right out from underneath them, if we can start hitting them as hard as we were then I bet you all money that we'll have a much easier time in the last few minutes. Lets break their spirits and then lets take this game shall we?"

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Cottonisking Third Period

"And with only three minutes to play Cottonisking is still scrambling to try and get that much needed second goal. Still down 3-1 they've been relentless on the attack but Eizen has not made it easy. Two crosschecking penalties and several other hits have left this Cotton team skating a little slower than they were last period. the shot is wide and its controlled by Latham who takes it back down the ice and is caught up by a Cottonisking player at center ice. Latham loses the puck and oh no! Its a one on one breakaway with the goalie! Frink readies himself for the shot and, GLOVE SAVE! A huge glove save by Dale Frink with 2:30 left to play in the game! His Fortieth save of the night comes on a brilliant stop that would make even a baseball shortstop stand up and cheer! The face off now is set up now on the Ducks end of the ice and the net is now empty, Cottonisking has put in their sixth skater and they're ready to do battle here in front of that net. Eizen's fans are up and cheering loudly and the puck is dropped. the puck is won by Cottonisking and is take by the winger who gets a good screen and the shot goes wideright of the posts and is controlled by Stroker, Stroker got back there and...He's passed the puck to Frink! Frink fires it down the ice and two cottonisking players are charging right after it! But the puck makes its way across the line and GOAL! AN EMPTY NET GOAL BY #35 DALE FRINK! This is the first time in his professional career he has scored a goal and the Ducks now lead 4-1! The assist will be credited to Stroker as he picks up his third point of the night but that was one helluva shot fired from across the ice, right on goal, Cottonisking had no way of getting back on time to guard against it and Dale Frink has sealed this game with a goal of his own!

The puck is dropped and the goalie is back in for Cottonisking, Eizen wins the face off and theyre going to hold the puck and play a little monkey in the middle with a completely stunned Cottonisking team, and there's the buzzer! Eizen wins 4-1 in the conference quarterfinals! Eizen has scored the upset vicotry! For ESPNand Fritz Fitzgerald this is Omar Atkins saying good night. your final score once again Mighty Ducks of Eizen 4, Cottonisking 1. Keep watching for postgame coverage on ESPN!"

ONLINE REPORT:

www,cherrycuphockey,com

>Teams
>Eizen
>News and Notes

Early Goals Help Ducks Fly Over Cottonisking

Dirk Stroker had two goals and two assists in last night's game, including one goal and one assist in the first period as the Ducks defeated Cottonisking convincingly with a 4-1 victory, including a 2-0 first period that set the tone for the entire match. Eizen now advances to the conference semifinals where they are due to take on the winner of Warner Brothers vs. Kaze Progressa.

The scoring for the Ducks began when Dirk Stroker almost literally threaded a needle to score a shortside goal that actually bounced off the post and then off teh back of Cottonisking's goalie. The Ducks would score again on a tricky pass from Stroker to defenseman Mark Asgard. Cottonisking answered back in the second period but the Ducks would score on a power play goal by Dirk Stroker on a rebound from a shot by Latham.

Dale Frink stopped 40 of 41 shots on the night but the most memorable play of the night for him came with two minutes left as Cottonisking pulled their goalie in a desperate attempt to catch up. Frink took the puck from Dirk Stroker and he fired the puck down the ice over the head of one Cottonisking player, and just beyond the reach of two others as it slid into the net for his first ever career goal. Shortly afterwards the horn sounded and the Mighty Ducks had a Quarterfinals victory in hand.

Post game notes:

-The four goals are an international best for Eizen, eclipsing the two goal mark set several times previously in this tournament. The four points for Stroker are a record as well and it was his highest output game since game three of the Imperial Cup Finals.

-The Goal by Frink is the first by a professional or amateur player in Eizen in nearly two years, since a collegiate game between Eizen University and Imperial State that ended in a 6-4 Imperial State victory.

-Eizen is now Unbeaten in its last five games with three victories and two draws. The Ducks have outscored their opponents 11-6 and Dale Frink's 1.20 GAA is the best five game stretch against five different teams in Ducks history.

ooc: (who won the Kaze Progressa game?)

Scores, Division Quater Finals

Match results
Walmington on Sea 5 AET 4 Quebec Noveau (2-2 AFT)
Tanah Burung 2 - 4 Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen 4 - 1 Cottonisking
Kaze Progressa 4 - 2 Warner Brothers

The Belmore Family 2 - 1 Teakland
Kaaliat Nunaat 3 - 2 Tranquillitis
The Gulf States 2 - 3 Ianisle
SterlingIce 0 - 3 Timway

Next Matches-
Walmington on Sea Vs Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen Vs Kaze Porgressa

The Belmore Family Vs Kaaliat Nuunaat*
Ianisle Vs Timway

*To be generated by Kaze Progressa

Scores, Division Quater Finals

Match results
Walmington on Sea 5 AET 4 Quebec Noveau (2-2 AFT)
Tanah Burung 2 - 4 Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen 4 - 1 Cottonisking
Kaze Progressa 4 - 2 Warner Brothers

The Belmore Family 2 - 1 Teakland
Kaaliat Nunaat 3 - 2 Tranquillitis
The Gulf States 2 - 3 Ianisle
SterlingIce 0 - 3 Timway

Next Matches-
Walmington on Sea Vs Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen Vs Kaze Porgressa

The Belmore Family Vs Kaaliat Nuunaat*
Ianisle Vs Timway

*To be generated by Kaze Progressa

Scores, Division Quater Finals

Match results
Walmington on Sea 5 AET 4 Quebec Noveau (2-2 AFT)
Tanah Burung 2 - 4 Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen 4 - 1 Cottonisking
Kaze Progressa 4 - 2 Warner Brothers

The Belmore Family 2 - 1 Teakland
Kaaliat Nunaat 3 - 2 Tranquillitis
The Gulf States 2 - 3 Ianisle
SterlingIce 0 - 3 Timway

Next Matches-
Walmington on Sea Vs Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen Vs Kaze Porgressa

The Belmore Family Vs Kaaliat Nuunaat*
Ianisle Vs Timway

*To be generated by Kaze Progressa

Scores, Division Quater Finals

Match results
Walmington on Sea 5 AET 4 Quebec Noveau (2-2 AFT)
Tanah Burung 2 - 4 Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen 4 - 1 Cottonisking
Kaze Progressa 4 - 2 Warner Brothers

The Belmore Family 2 - 1 Teakland
Kaaliat Nunaat 3 - 2 Tranquillitis
The Gulf States 2 - 3 Ianisle
SterlingIce 0 - 3 Timway

Next Matches-
Walmington on Sea Vs Soviet Haaregrad
Eizen Vs Kaze Porgressa

The Belmore Family Vs Kaaliat Nuunaat*
Ianisle Vs Timway

*To be generated by Kaze Progressa

all hail the quadruple post!

ONLINE REPORT:

www,cherrycuphockey,com

>Conference Semifinals
>Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa
>Preview

First Round Thriller Becomes Rematch, Eizen to face "KP" Duty

Eizen has never been in international play before, yet they are already preparing for their first ever rematch as they take on their McLean 1 division rival Kaze Progressa. Eizen and Kaze Progressa met in the fourth game of the first round where the Ducks pulled off the incredible upset in a 2-1 victory that gave Eizen their first victory in international play and kicked off the first game of their current five game unbeaten streak. Both teams had a grueling road to the quarterfinals, with Eizen finishing 3rd in the division and Kaze Progressa finishing fourth. Both teams upset tournament favorites, with Eizen dealing with one-loss team Cottonisking, and Kaze Progressa beating the previously unbeaten Warner Brothers team.

In their last game, also the first game the Ducks played with goalie Dale Frink, Frink stopped twenty six of twenty seven shots and prevented Kaze Progressa from generating opportunities by giving up just one penalty, in a game that exemplified the tough defense of Eizen over its goal scoring, the Ducks still managed to score two goals that came from Winger Zed Ipsen and Defenseman Mark Asgard.

First Come First Serve

The Mclean First Division has dominated its counterparts in the second division by winning three of the four games played in the conference quarterfinals. The sole loss was a bitter game between Tanah Burung and Soviet Haaregard that saw the Soviet team win 4-2. Soviet Haaregard will face Walmington on Sea, who is tied with Timway and The Belmore Family for the best record remaining. A Walmington win would guarantee that the Conference Winner and championship game representative is from the first division.

the Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa game will be televised on ESPN and other nation's carrier stations, that game will be immediately followed by Soviet haaregard vs. Kaze Progressa for an evening of hockey fans will be sure to remember for years to come.

New Report: Iansisle didn’t make the playoffs after all!

In a startling turn of events, it turns that the beloved Iansisle Gulls, most notable for their saving of orphans stuck in the high branches of burning trees, actually did not qualify to play for the Cherry Cup.

“Shoot, it confused the hell out of me,” said Eugene J. Acornbury, a long time Gulls fanatic and general sports fan. “One minute, we were right behind Timway in the standings; the next, I open my paper and we’re nowhere to be seen!”

Acornbury added “there was a team from some country called Ianisle; I’ve never heard of them, but their name is close to ours - sort of - so I guess I’ll root for them instead. Oh yeah, and the Walmies, too.”

Meanwhile, the Gulls couldn’t be more confused. “Hell, I thought we made the playoffs,” said team captain B.J. MacPherson after his team played and beat the Gulf States in someone else’s name.

“Things were going great, too,” he continued. “Mark [Woolf] had just broke past the defensemen and put a wrister in the back of the goal for the first score. Then I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that it said ‘1’ under the team from ‘Ianisle.’ I was like ‘Ianisle’? Who the hell are they?”

MacPherson and team coach Steve Martinson had a long discussion with the referees, and it was decided that, rather than have Ianisle forfeit the match, Iansisle would simply have to play in their stead. There was some hesitation on the Gulf States’ side, seeing as how they were down 1-0 at that point, but the compromise was eventually agreed upon. At least, until the team from Ianisle shows up to take their rightful place.

Ianisle is slated to play Timway tomorrow in the quarterfinals, following the Gulls’ 3-2 vanquish of the Gulf States in their name. Although Timway just obliterated former Cherry Cup Champions SterlingIce 3-0, MacPherson remains cautiously optimistic.

“I mean, sure Iansisle and Timway have a great rivalry,” he said. “They’ve butted heads in situations no less intense than this several times before. But Ianisle doesn’t - have a rivalry with Timway, that is. Hell, maybe they’ll even be just as confused as were were by this whole mess, and we can sneak past them that way.”

“Still,” MacPherson added, “it is kind of crappy knowing that even if we do win, it’ll be Ianisle’s name that goes on the Cup.”

ONLINE REPORT:

www,cherrycuphockey,com

>News
>Top News

Naming Fiasco upsets Iansisle fans

Players and fans from the nation of Iansisle were angered after a spelling eorr had the counntry's name icorrectly displayed as Ianisle. The head of Iansisle's international competiton agency was visibly irritated in his latest interview, calling it a "ludicrous spelling error" and an "insult to our reputation." Officials from host country The Belmore family apologized for any offense taken over the spelling of the names calling it a "one time error". A spokesman for The Belmore family who asked not to be identified identified the miscue as a "language translation error", with the various international teams coming to The Belmore Family, officials have been scrambling to compensate for the multitude of languages that accompanied the teams.

Meanwhile, residents of the tiny desert nation of Ianisle were puzzled today when they discovered that they had a hockey team. The nation of Ianisle, which consists of a dozen Sand Dunes surrounding a small oasis, has a scant sixty two person population, many of whom have never seen ice and cannot concieve of the concept of freezing.

Iansisle does have a chance for public retribution, should they defeat Timway they will have a shot at the winner of the contest between The Belmore Family and Kaalit Nunaat. A matchup between Iansisle and TBF has the potential to be not only a great match, but an excellent side story as well.

MD9 Results will be coming out tonight

Empire Service broadcast averts riot?

The city of Durban in the Walmingtonian Cape Colonies was a scene of chaos. A cricket match between management and local low-level employees of the Henry Wayne Cape Company had turned sour as native employees contested the impossibility of management's six over come-back from 34 for 6 against a target of 217. Players accused match officials; especially umpire Paul, manager of the Maseru Automation Plant; of cheating. There was no other way for the turn-around!

Or so it seemed until news of Walmingtonian sporting prowess arrived via the Empire Service. The Red Bears had taken Quebec Noveau to extra time, fallen 4-2 behind, somehow, and come back through a Whitehouse brace and Yeboba's first goal in God-knows-how-many-hours.

If they can do it on ice, then maybe middle-aged tail-enders really can score five runs off every ball..

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, Pregame

"Good evening sports fans and we are once again broadcasting to you from the Belmore family bringing the wideley lauded and much contested rematch of the Mighty Ducks of Eizen and their first round rivals Kaze Progressa! The first match was a slow and punishing battle of goaltenders but your guess is as good as ours as to how these two teams will play tonight. Both teams look incredibly hot since their lastmatchup. Eizen has remained unbeaten in five straight including a huge 4-1 Victory over Cottonisking, while Kaze Progressa has learned some lessons of their own. Since being defeated by Eizen they are unbeaten in their last four including three wins that includes their big 4-2 win over previously undefeated Warner Brothers. These two teams have amassed NO losses in the combined eight matches they have played! But one of them has to lose tonight as the unstoppable forcemeets the immoveable object in a match to determine entry into the conference finals!

Both teams have been very controlled and quiet towards the media, theres been no boasting, no side stories, but the inevitability of this match can be best defined by a combination of dread and anticipation. It's as if both sides are anticipating a war where only one side can survive.

Fans from both sides have literally divided this side in two and as we look out over the rink you can see that each team's respective colors occupy half of the seats divided right down the center. THere are no casual fan here tonight! So hockey fans all over the EMpire, sit back, relax, and enjoy tonight's hockey game. EIZEN! KAZE PROGRESSA! The rematch is right here, right now!"

*Imperial National Anthem begins playing*

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, First Period

"..and we're playing four on four hockey after the double penalty, Asgard picked it up for the ducks and so now its Stroker, Fredricks, Latham, and Ipsen out there for the Ducks. Not a lot of bodies out here on the ice right now and while that means fewer directions the puck can come from, thats also fewer bodies in front of the net though. Ipsen gets the puck to the point and passes it over to Latham, Latham takes it behind the net and is caught up by a couple of Kaze Progressa players looking to but a hit on him and HE SPLIT THE DEFENSE! The two Kaze Progressa players collided with each other and are down on the ice scrambling back to their feet but Latham centers it to Stroker and GOAL!!!! Stroker has a large opening to put that puck through top shelf and the Ducks take a 1-0 lead! The GOal by Dirk Stroker, a 4 on 4 goal, at 15:06! Kaze Progressa is going to have to score twice now, which is twice as many as they did the last time they went up against this club from Eizen."

*later*

"Only four minutes to play here in the first and the score is tied at one after the power play goal by Kaze Progressa just four minutes ago, The Ducks main scoring line is out, coming down the Ice is the wingman Wyskll followed by the backup center Santoro, Wyskll passes to Santoro who dished the puck over to Gaunt at the point who takes the shot! That goes wide right of the goal but Wyskll is back there to recover the puck, Wyskill skates back out front and passes it over to Gaunt who gives it right to Santoro and GOAL! Santoro took it right through the five hole and the Ducks are now up 2-1! I think this answers a few questions about the Ducks productivity outside of their main scoring line led by Dirk Stroker. the Eizen fans are rejuvenated!"

*later, horn sounds*

And after a wild first period the Mighty Ducks of Eizen lead Kaze Progressa 2-1, as many goals were scored in this first period as there were in the entire first round match between these two! Stick around for the break we'll provide you with scores and highlights from all around cherry Cup play and bring you other scores from Imperial sports bbeing played back home. You're watching ESPN.

The Gulls Probably Win!
No one is positive; may have actually lost in blown out.

“Iansisle 9 2 -- 1 18 Timway!” was the result sent back from the latest Cherry Cup game. At once, celebrations broke out across the Commonwealth, before everyone paused and considered the result again.

“The first time I saw it, I thought ‘Hooray! The Gulls win 2-1!’” said avid Gulls fan Ambrosia Blutterschmidt. “Then I thought, ‘wait! What if it really says Gulls 92, Timway 118?’ I know a total score of more than 200 goals is a little unrealistic, even in the Cherry Cup, but one never knows. Hell, maybe it even means Gulls 9, Timway 1. Or Gulls 9, Timway 18. Or Gulls 1, Timway 18.”

Blutterschmidt obviously wasn’t the only person confused. The UnderMinistry of Sports, Games, and Recreation sent a questioning telegram back, asking for clarification of the scores, and received the following back: “Iansisle 9 2 MacP 1 1101-1; Woo 1 0722-3 -- 1 Unkn 1 05:27-2 18 Timway”

“What in the green hills of the Shield is that supposed to mean?” asked Sir Gregory Penns-McCormick, UnderMinister of Sports, Games, and Recreation. “I’m guessing that ‘MacP’ stands for center B.J. MacPherson and that ‘Woo’ means wingman Mark Woolf, but how about ‘1101-1’!? That sounds like his bloody social security number or something!”

In the meantime, enterprising young people have started up different cults worshipping certain interpretations of the results.

“That second telegram is obviously an instrument of the devil,” said cultist Enlightened-Walks-Out-Loud, formerly 16 year old high school student Geoffrey Hudson. “It’s, like, so obvious that the score was 92-118. I mean, I’m just as bummed that the Gulls lost by 30 goals, but it’s nothing to, like, get all upset about! Oh, and, like do you want to be in our cult, man?”

Rival cultist Justice Fist, formerly 32-year old butcher Harold Duquens of Duquens Meats on Grand and 31st, challenged Enlightened-Walks-Out-Louds statement through a bullhorn from across the street. “The Gulls could never lose, you heretic! The score was 9-1!”

“92-118!” insisted Enlightened-Walks-Out-Loud, several of his long-haired friends nodding and gesturing angrily at Mr. Fist. “You’re, like, so uncool, man!”

“I’ll uncool you, you whippersnapping blasphemer! In fact, uncool isn’t even a word! Ha! Burned!”

Gun fire was exchanged briefly, and Enlightened-Walks-Out-Loud was winged a small caliber wound to the shoulder, which was tended by Geoffrey Hudson’s girlfriend and Enlightened-Walks-Out-Loud’s spiritual partner Faith-In-Running-Water (once Ms. Heather Buckington, 16, of Ianapalis PHS 47).

“Never give up the fight!” were Enlightened-Walks-Out-Loud’s final words before fainting from the sight of blood.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, First Intermission

Greetings fans this is Omar Atkins coming to you live from tonight's game where Eizen and Kaze Progressa have already matched their previous scoring output with Eizen leading once again 2-1. With a trip to the Conference Finals at stake these two teams are sure to take the intensity to a new level in the second period. Our own Fritz Fitzergerald has been walking around the arena getting in touch with the Eizen fans who made the long trip to attend this game.

*cut camera*

(Two beautiful ladies in hockey jerseys, one wearing #35 and another wearing #91.)

Hey ladies Fritz Fitzegerald from IHL 2night, you excited about the game tonight?

"Woo! You know it! Dirk Stroker baby That's my man! He can score on me anytime!"

"Dale! Thirty Five! I love you! Wooooooo!"

So how does a guy get lucky enough to come to a hockey game with a pair of gorgeous gals such as yourselves?

"The only player im lookin for is wearin' skates tonight!"

"And a heap of armor! Go DUCKS!"

So a guy ike me doesn't stand a chance?

"Well that Omar Atkins guy is waaaaaay hotter no offense"

"Oh yeah, is he heere tonight? He sounds HOT!"

Uhhhh, no he isn't. Lets talk to some more lad....err....fan

*cut camera*

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, Second Period

"...Latham takes the hit but Fredricks recovers the puck out of that mass of bodies and the Ducks gain the line and take it towards Kaze Progressa's Net, Fredricks gets it over to Asgard who nearly loses the puck but manages to poke it over to Stroker, Stroker passes it to Latham who brings it to the point and passes it over to Ipsen, Ipsen, the little known defenseman of this big production firstline kicks it back over to Ipsen who dishes it to Stroker who his behind the net and Stroker skates around and SCORES ON THE WRAPAROUND! Dirk Stroker has Extended the Ducks lead and made it 3-1 on a sweet wraparound goal here with just under nine minutes left in the period! Give credit to Ipsen on that laser pass over to Stroker for the goal! The Ducks lead by two and if you look atthe replay here, you can see the look of the stunned Kaze Progressa fans as the puck entered the net."

"With less than two minutes to play the Ducks are back on the attack as Kaze Progressa gives up a power play, Coach bacock choosing to use his second line on the power play to conserve his top players for the third apparently but this line does have a goal tonight and perhaps the coach is thinking that he can really get this line going. Wyskll and Vaucluse screen for Santoro as they get the puck across the ice, Santoro passes it over to Gaunt, Gaunt manages to work his way behind the net and he passes it to Wyskll, Wyskll gets it over to Oeilvert who sets it up at the point. Eizen's players are set in formation as Oeilvert passes it over to Gaunt, Gaunt winding up for a huge slapshot and he SCORES! Gaunt fired an impossible shot that nearly beheaded the Kaze Progressa goalie! The score is now 4-1 and this game is escaping Kaze Progressa with each passing second!"

"The horn takes little time to sound after the face off and Kaze Progressa heads to the locker room to hopefully find a way to counter this Eizen offensive attack."

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, Second Intermission

"...and Iansisle's team reacts after victory celebrations in their nation turns ugly, more on that sotry ont he ESPN News Network. Meanwhile we're having a great time at this game, Eizen is up 4-1 and goalie Dale Frink has amassed 19 saves on the night, allowing only one puck to get by him. And all of you hockey Fans are probably wondering if Goalie Dale frink is going to get another shot at the goal tonight! with that in mind I direct to to tonight's ESPN online Poll: Which of the following moments so far have been Frink's greatest in the tournament?

#1 - Return Of Dale Frink, Eizen defeats Kaze Progressa 2-1

*show highlight*

#2 - Amazing Performance vs. Digit4l team, Eizen defeats Digit4lis 2-1

*show highlight*

#3 - Goalie scores a goal, Eizen defeats Cottonisking 4-1

*show highlight*

We'll give you those results later on IHL 2night, with that being said we'll return to the Ice after a quick break and a word from our sponsors.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, Third Period

"The long shot by Wyskll goes wide and Eizen changes up the lines, Kaze Progressa trying to get back on the attack and get this game to within one after the huge goal scored on the power play a few minutes ago. Stroker goes after the puck and..he takes it awa from the winger! Dirk Stroker is moving uncontested towards Kaze Progressa's goal and He SCORES! DIRK STROKER COMPLETES THE HAT TRICK! Boy I would hate to be in net for Kaze Progressa right now, and, yep it looks like they're going to make a change. Kaze Progressa has finally switched their goal after he allowed five on the night, the fifth coming against Dirk Stroker who is arguably one of the best ever at taking on a goalie one on one. Eizen is back up by 3 with the score 5-2. Time seems to be running out for Kaze Progressa, but as they say "Three is the worst lead in hockey." Let's not count them out yet."

"Under a minute to play and al six skaters for Kaze Progressa are desperate crashing the net. Eizen can't keep up with their passes and all attempts to clear the puck have been stopped short by a strong offensive shift. Kaze Progressa is determined to score again and keep their night alive. The centering pass taken and here's a shot, GLOVE SAVE by Frink! A huge glove save with seconds remainging on the clock! The puck is taken out to the face off circle and the fac eoff is won by Stroker as he gets it out to Latham, Latham ices the puck and that's it. The horn sounded before the icing call was made and the Mighty Ducks of Eizen are going on to the Conference Finals! Stay tuned for more Cherry Cup action as Walmington on Sea takes on Soviet Haaregard with the winner of that game taking on these Mighty Ducks!"

The Earth Stops Spinning!

One minute, everything in the world was just as normal as it had ever been. The next, it was a cold day in hell, pigs sprouted wings, and bears potty-trained themselves.

At the Cherry Cup, every Gulls player stood in mute shock, gazing up at the scoreboard.

No, it wasn’t possible.

By a score of 2-1, the facts said, the Iansisle Gulls had beaten the Kalaallit Nunaat Greenlanders.

Such was absolutely unprecedented! Everyone knew that the Greenlanders never lost before the final game! But there it was! Iansisle would be moving up, and the Greenlanders would be going home!

No one was sure quite how it had happened. “One minute, everything was going according to plan,” said right wing Mark Woolf. “We were down 1-0, and thinking ‘at least we lost to the eventual runner-up.’ And then we scored, and everyone was like, ‘oh, so we lose in overtime. O.k.’ And then we scored again. And people started to get nervous, like a plague of locusts was on its way or something.

“The coach sent in the fourth line, you know, to try and help them score, but to no avail! The final buzzer rang, and we had won!”

According to sources, that exact moment the Devil ascended from the depths of hell, and gave everyone a stern look.

“I was just in the middle of torturing some damned souls,” Satan started to lecture to the astonished crowd and hockey players, “when all of a sudden, I noticed it was getting a bit nippy outside! Next thing I know, it was 40 degrees below, and a crowd of penguins tried to move in!”

He cast a gaze across the arena. “Now, I knew just where to look for who caused this ... this catastrophe! I hope you’re all happy with yourselves! Now I won’t be able to punish anyone ever again!”

With the threat of eternal damnation among fire and brimstone removed, the crowd apparently ran rampant, engaging in gluttony, coveting their neighbor’s wife, allowing Americans to play hockey, and a host of other usually unforgivable sins.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL2night

The Conference Finals are set! The McLean and CHerry Conferences are poised to name their champions and bring us the culmination of and Exciting tournament!

Cherry Conference Final: Iansisle vs. The Belmore Family

The Iansisle Gulls delivered one of the most exciting upsets of the tournament by sending perennial runner up Kaaliat Nunaat a pre-finals exit in the Conference Semis. Between this upset and the victory over a strong Timway team Iansisle looks like a strong cup finalist already. However the Belmore Family has two of the most important things needed to win a big game, a roster stocked with talent, and home ice advantage. This year's hosts are going to work as hard as they can up and down the ice right in front of their countrymen. This match also has the bonus political overtones from the recent scandal was well regarding The Belmore Family's discrepancies in the spelling of Iansisle.

McLean Conference Final: Eizen vs. Soviet Haaregard

Soviet Haaregard entered the tournament like a wounded giant, powerful but showing the signs of injury after a tough end to the first round of play, but after a solid victory over Tanah Burung the Soviets found the strength they needed to crush Walmington on Sea 6-3 in a textbook display of offensive prowess. Haaregard may be playing the role of the giant, but EIzen is looking to play the role of the giant killer. Already this underdog team has squeaked its way into the quarterfinals on the heels of a six game unbeaten streak and two decisive playoff games where they have outscored their opponents 9-3 in two games. Eizen only scored nine goals in the entire first round, they've picked a great time to hit their stride.

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL2night part I

The Road To the Cherry Cup and the Conference Finals has been paved with a frozen trail of blood sweat and tears, tonight we take a look back on Eizen's run at the Cherry Cup, and the outstanding efforts by the players.

Game #1: Eizen vs. Tanah Burung

In the first ever game played by an Eizen team internationally, Eizen showed that it came to play as it went up against the like of Tanah Burung. The game ended in a come from behind tie for Eizen, and gave them their first ever international standings points.

Final Score/Record:
Draw 2-2, 0-1-0

Game #2: Eizen vs. Walmington on Sea

The increibly talented players of Walmington on Sea thoroughly dominated with their defense and held Eizen scoreless for the entire game, Eizen showed toughness on defense but in the end the Walmington team was able to use their skills to overcome.

Final Score/Record:
Walmington on Sea def. Eizen 2-0, 0-1-1

Game #3: Eizen vs. Warnocks Wizards

Eizen was completely outclassed in this match and Warnocks Wizards were relentless against Eizen goaltender Scott Fullmer. Eizen would not score in this match either making it six straight periods without a goal, shortly after this game, Eizen goaltender Dale Frink returned to the lineup after a family crisis prevented him from joining the team in the first three matches.

Final Score/Record:
Warnocks Wizards def. Eizen 4-0, 0-1-2

Game #4: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa

Starting goaltender Dale Frink's return to the lineup was much heralded and desperately needed for the Eizen team. Former Cup hosts Kaze Progressa were stifled on defense including several superhuman saves by Frink. Eizen went on to win thanks to this dominating performance, its first in international competition. #91 Dirk Stroker also re-established himself as Eizen's captain with an outstanding performance.

Final Score/Record:
Eizen def. Kaze Progressa 2-1, 1-1-2

Game #5: Eizen vs. Karantania

A hard fought game that could have been a complete disaster for Eizen if not for superb goaltending. Eizen managed to get the draw in a game that saw penalty minutes reach extremely high levels on both sides.

Final Score/Record:
Draw 1-1, 1-2-2

Game #6: Eizen vs. Digit4lis

One of the highest rated broadcasts of the first round had a large number of hockey fans all around Eizen watching this game, the first. this contest featured one of the best performances of the tournament by both sides. Stellar performances by Stroker and Frink were the keys to victory for Eizen/

Final Score/Record:
Eizen def. Digit4lis 2-1, 2-2-2

Game #7: Eizen vs. Lovisa

In yet another penalty-laden match, Eizen went up against Lovisa seeking to put together its first winning streak and continue the current unbeaten streak. Lovisa however, managed to play to an unprecedented sixth draw. Both sides featured great defense and after the match was over the physicians were quite busy.

Final Score/Record:
Draw 2-2, 2-3-2

Game #8: Eizen vs. Cottonisking, McLean Quarterfinals

Eizen made the unthinkable lep into thenext round of play with a decisive message by beating Cottonisking with a performance that had bookmakers and sports analysts alike completely stumped. The heavily favoured Cottonisking team pulled their goalie towards the end, allowing Dale Frink to score his first goal ever as a goaltender.

Final Score/Record:
Eizen def. Cottonisking, 4-1, 3-3-2

Game #9: Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa, McLean Semifinals

The much anticpated rematch between these two teams was not as much of a contest as everyone expected. Eizen jumped out to a fast lead and managed to hold it through the second. However the third period turned ugly for Kaze Progressa as Dirk Stroker completed the Hat Trick to lead Eizen into the Conference Finals for the first time.

Final Score/Record:
Eizen def. Kaze Progressa 5-2, 4-3-2

Eizen Sports Programming Network: IHL2night

now for some interesting facts regarding Eizen's Cherry Cup run.

-Eizen scored a mere 9 goals in the first seven games, including six periods of scoreless hockey vs. Walmington on Sea and Warnocks Wizards, in the Conference Quarterfinals and semis though they have amassed 9 goals in just two games.

-In the Three games without Dale Frink, Eizen allowed 8 goals while scoring only 2 of their own. In the following four games of the first Round, Eizen scored seven and only allowed five. During the six game unbeaten streak, Eizen has allowed eight goals giving goalie Dale Frink an excellent 1.33 GAA.

-Nearly 50% of all households watched the Eizen vs. Kaze Progressa Rematch, making the toyal viewership an estimated 1.1 billion viewers, an Imperial record.

So, uh, who won?

So, uh, who won?

I got a TG from The Belmore Family saying that Eizen defeated Iansisle 2-0 in the cup final, no word on how the Conf FInals went.

Same here, but my TG said Iansisle beat Eizen 256 to -3. So :P. ;)

Normally id suspect controversy, but then Im scanning back a few posts and it seems the Iansislians don't know how to read a box score!

:wink: 8)

(Go Eizen, go- the Red Bears want to have a 2-0 win over the champions rather than a destined-never-to-meet them! In fact if Eizen does turn out to have won, SOW will prrrobably make a raid on the trophy cabinet.. and if the Ians win/won.. we'll probably scuttle the Tarriff ;) )

"Oh, made it to the finals, eh? I suppose you walked-over Eizen then, after all our boys beat them by two clear runs."
..Mainwaring might chance to say. After all, he can't be snooty and entirely accurate at once.

Yea but you guys beat Eizen before we got our Star Goalie back! I'll give you a rematch any day you like!

Congratulations, Eizen's goalie: you've just won a round the world cruise on Walmington's classiest (and as such slowest) liner!

Any time in the next six months should be good ;)

Congratulations, Eizen's goalie: you've just won a round the world cruise on Walmington's classiest (and as such slowest) liner!

Any time in the next six months should be good ;)

Heheheh, unfortunately the IHL season is coming up and the Ducks have to defend the Imperial Cup so they can go for the Cherry Cup repeat as well, otherwise some other team is gonna get to represent. Oblivion City Blue Wings are gonna be hard to argue with. (note: The Ducks will always win in my bizarre demented fantasy world, despite how they are tanking in the standings now)


Seriously this was the most fun RPing i've done on Nationstates, I cant wait for CCV.

OK, congratulations Eizen. The complete destruction of Iansisle is fitting punishment for having beaten the Greenlanders. Also, hockey should not be played in San Diego.

Sign-ups for the next installment, in case anyoen here is not signed up yet: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127773&highlight=

Thanks again to the Belmour Family for organizing!

Also, hockey should not be played in San Diego.

Oh? Sounds like a disgruntled fan of the Bakersfield Condoms...er, I mean, Condors. We can't help it that we're so much better than everyone else - 5 time Taylor Cup Champions, baby!

As for the weather, I'll agree it's hardly arctic. Still, there's nothing like watching a hockey game and walking out into a sunny 82 degrees, no matter the time of year :P.

OK, congratulations Eizen. The complete destruction of Iansisle is fitting punishment for having beaten the Greenlanders. Also, hockey should not be played in San Diego.

Sign-ups for the next installment, in case anyoen here is not signed up yet: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=127773&highlight=

Thanks again to the Belmour Family for organizing!

Thanks KN, but you do know I live twenty minutes away from Anaheim don't you? ;)