NationStates Jolt Archive

You know what to do here. Roleplay storylines, press conferences, interviews, whatever. The Cherry Cup is almost over, so make it count. Because this does affect the scorination and give you an edge in the rankings.

*sees the tumbleweeds go across this topic*

OOC: I can't post with Abysmalistan, so I use my main nation.

IC:
The last three matches were nearly cancelled because the AbysmalIHA could not afford to prepare the ice for the matches. But suddently someone had the idea to search for a sponsor. Of course, no Abysmal corporation could sponsor the national team, they have enough to do fighting against the ravaging hyperinflation. But in forieign countries, no one is interested in the Abysmal national ice hockey team. When the AbysmalIHA was in the well-known state of desperation, finally they had success. The Knootoss company 'Bonifatius' (which was only called because Kvikk messed up another telephone number) decided to sponsor the team. So during these matches, the Abysmalis played in the psychodelic colors of a company, which sells drugs into nearly every nation, be it legal or not. In Abysmalistan drugs are legal (well, no one ever tried to govern the swamp, so no one outlawed anything) so no one has a problem with it. The other team and the fans had a problem with it, whioh might be the reason why one match was only lost 0:1. One fan said that this colors 'confuse like few things'.

The Abysmals reached eventually the last place of the table. A good change affter Oops decided to coach the team.

Rayzors back on top
Three point gap put back in place

Starblaydi Ice Hockey is back on track as the Rayzors once again sit on the top of the rankings.

All of the nastiness surrounding Jordy McCliff has been sorted out (rumours point to the fact the rest of the squad gave him a good beating beofre sending him on his way).

Starblaydia Rayzors Roster
Preferred Lineup:
Ulfrik Holt (Centre)
Ragnar Larsson (L-Wing)
Oberyn Baratheon (R-Wing)
Andall Dayne (Defence)
Magnus Tawney(Denfence
Olaf Goodbrother (Goalie)

Replacements:
Tomas Heiderson (Center)
Helmut Magnusson (Center)
Sven Fletcher (Wing)
Theon Greyjoy (Wing)
Gregor Pyke (Wing)
Ludwig Rotsheiss (Wing)
Dagor Saagt (Wing)
Erik Wynch (Defense)
Pieter Merlyn (Defense)
Dolf Stonehouse (Defense)
Timmett Saltcliffe (Defense)
Jordy McCliff (Defense) REMOVED FROM SQUAD
Marty Murphy (Goalie)
Petyr Andersson (Goalie)

One point from Six needed for Number 1 rank
Rayzors just need one draw to secure top seeding

Yes, I know we keep going on about it, but we're the best in the world at something, dammit! Having just broken into the top 100 with the main national sport, Football, being ranked 1st in any sport sends Starblaydi sporting journalists into fits of excitement and glee.

The only awkward factor in all this is that Starblaydia haven't performed too well against the other high-ranked teams in the competition, we do, of course, expect the Rayzors to rise to the occasion and bring home the Cherry Cup for Starblaydia!

Blades win Regular Seaon
Top of the rankings earns Starblaydia a Bye

After a 3-0 loss to The Gulf States in the penultimate game of the season, it was still touch-and-go as to whether Starblaydia or The Belmore Family would earn that top spot. Both were assured of byes, but Starblaydia needed at least a draw in their final match of the regular season to secure the number one rank. It came against Iansisle, whose war-torn rulers barely even knew they had a team in the competition. Starblaydia dominated on the rink like they couldn't do on grass a few days later, winning 5-1 in a resounding vicotry.

Now Starblaydia can celebrate with the #1 rank, having beaten TBF to it by three points. Starblaydia will now have to wait for the victors of Liverpool England Vs The Gulf States, their divisional rivals. After this 5-game play-off, the winner will go to the Cherry Cup final, to play for the ultimate glory of Cherry Cup 5 Champions.

Rayzors all the way, baby!

P.S. why the heck am i the only one RPing, is it because I'm the onyl one winning against expectation?

Hockey: Apparently, the Cassowaries can play!

No one in Tanah Burung has paid much attention to the fortunes of our ice hockey team, best known as one of the biggest losers in international sports, and suspected by many to be nothing more than a conduit for illegal marijuana exports. But it seems all that's changed. The Cassowaries are an unlikely success story in this year's installment of the Cherry Cup, vaulting past countries that know what "snow" is, to take a playoff berth.

Facing them, an equally unlikely for, the semi-professionals from Walmington-on-Sea. Neither team knowing much about defending their goal, the two clashes so far have been wide-open ones. WoS won the opener 4-2 but TB struck back with a frenetic and high-strung performance to get a 4-2 win of their own, evening the series at 1-1.

It all raises the question: what are this year's Cassowaries smoking?

Starblaydia to Meet The Gulf States in Semis
Hosts look like tough opposition

After comfortably beating Liverpool England after just 3 of the 5 match series, The gulf States, hosts of the 5th Cherry Cup will meet the Rayzors in the semi-finals.

TGS, who scored four goals in every one of their matches will certainly be hard to defend against. This means the semi line-up is:

Starblaydia (1) Vs The Gulf States (4)

The Belmore Family (2) Vs Tanah Burung (3)

Level after two matches
Blades look to take advantage in next games

After two matches with the results being a 2-1 Loss and a 3-2 Win, Starblaydia and The Gulf States are level-pegging with three matches to go. All the polls suggest that this one will go down to the wire, with both North-West Division teams having a 0 Goal Difference.

"This has been a tough couple of games," said Centre Ulfrik Holt, "I expect this to be decided on the 5th game, then we'll play, umm, either TBF or TB."

"When did we beat the Red Bears? I thought we were tied!"

Cassowaries captain Dachsund Macaroni looked dazed and confused.

"Nah, we won. You must have been tripping," replied the coach, Sven-Borje-Sven "Ripper" Jetsky.

"Cool. Who's up next?"

"Actually, we already played two matches in our semifinal. We're tied up at one win apiece."

"Man, wow, dude. Who're we playing, anyways?"

"The Belmore Family, apparently."

"Oh geez. Belmores, they always beat us. I hate that. I must be hallucinating."

"This whole tournamenet's a hallucination, it seems like. How else would we keep winning? You can't even shoot."

"Shoot? I can dribble." Macaroni fell asleep again.

Starblaydia going to the Cherry Cup final
Margaret loves the Rayzors on the Rink

http://www.starblaydestudios.co.uk/Images/SportsMinistryLo.jpg

In the Semi-final round of the greatest Ice Hockey tournament in the world, Starblaydia have defeated hosts The Gulf States to advance to the finals, where they will meet the winner of The Belmore Family Vs Tanah Burung, who play a fifth-mtach decider to sort the men from they boys.

With each of the four semi matches decided by just a single goal, this 3-1 series win was tougher than it looked. As Starblaydi Top-scorer Ragnar Larsson declared:

"If our finals are that tough, I'm gonna need a long holiday."

Starblaydi sports fans of all flavours are said to be delighted with a final appearance.

"Football may be our national sport but Hockey is definitely the number 2 now. Who knows what'll happen if we win the damn thing?"

Cherry Cup 5 Semi Results: Starblaydia Vs The Gulf States
Game 1: 1-2 Loss
Game 2: 3-2 Win
Game 3: 4-3 Win
Game 4: 3-2 Win

The other semi-final comes down to one match, as Tanah Burung and The Belmore Family are tied at two wins apiece.

"The Cassowaries have taken flight, and any result now will be cause for rejoicing," said people's representative for territorial defence and sports Bi Kikere in a formal statement. "This country can play with the best in the world, even in ice hockey. Geez, ice hockey, what the hell kind of ... what do you mean the mike is still on? Sh..."

Tanah Burung (3) vs. Starblaydia (1) in the Cherry Cup 5 Finals


A full run-down on the two finalists in the 5th Cherry Cup

Either team can easily win it, though Starblaydia have had a bye week and are ranked first, Tanah Burung have beaten The Belmore Family, so anything is possible.

Interestingly, the only time these two nations have met in the final stages of an international competition was in the 3rd Under-21 World Cup Football Championship. Debutants Starblaydia met and were defeated by Tanah Burung 1-0 in the Second Round of that tournament.


Focus on the teams:

Starblaydia (Seeded 1)
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/starblaydia.jpg
Region: Atlantian Oceania
Population: 691 million
Division: North-West

Opening the Season with a 10-game unbeaten streak, Starblaydia romped home to be ranked first in the entire compeition and earn the first bye past the Quarters. Only losing out on the Number 1 ranking once or twice during the season, Starblaydia defeated The Gulf States in a harder-than-it-sounds 4 game Semi-final series, the outcome of each game decided by just a single goal in each of the four matches.

Final Divisional Position
W L T Pts GF GA
Starblaydia 24 14 6 78 96 71

Tanah Burung (Seeded 3)
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/east_timor.jpg
Region: The Emerald Heights
Population: 3.313 billion
Division: South

Final Divisional Position
W L T Pts GF GA
Tanah Burung 24 14 8 74 95 86

Tanah Burung took a harder route to the Final series, coming up on the Blindside to pass The Gulf States for the 3rd seeding, beating off Liverpool England, too. They overcame Walmington-on-Sea in the Quarters, needing four of the five games to pull out a 3-1 Series win. They then had to overcome 2nd-ranked The Belmore Family, who were they deadliest team in front of goal, powerplay or no, by winning the 5th match decider in the semis.

Match Schedule:
Game 1: Tanah Burung @ Starblaydia
Game 2: Tanah Burung @ Starblaydia
Game 3: Starblaydia @ Tanah Burung
Game 4: Starblaydia @ Tanah Burung
Game 5: Starblaydia @ Tanah Burung
Game 6: Tanah Burung @ Starblaydia
Game 7: Tanah Burung @ Starblaydia

Two Wins and its ours!
Brace of Victories at home gives Rayzors the Edge

After twice hosting Tanah Burung and coming away both times with a win, Starblaydia are looking on course to win the Cherry Cup and with it become the first Starblaydi team in any sports competition to win a trophy.

No-one suggesting that Starblaydia will make a clean sweep of the Finals, as Tanah Burung are no push-overs. The remaining games, whether there be two or five, will be hard fought and every inch of ice will be contested as both teams vie for the ultimate homour of the right to be called World Champions.

Game 1: Tanah Burung 3 - 5 Starblaydia
Game 2: Tanah Burung 1 - 2 Starblaydia
Game 3: Starblaydia @ Tanah Burung
Game 4: Starblaydia @ Tanah Burung
Game 5: Starblaydia @ Tanah Burung
Game 6: Tanah Burung @ Starblaydia
Game 7: Tanah Burung @ Starblaydia

Rayzors all the way, baby!

Parkin Beans read the news report. "No push-overs? How dare they," the Tanah Burung left-winger said.

"Heh, we're famous for our on-ice futility," answered Chippin Eggs, another left-winger.

"Yeah, that's why Coach had a stroke when he heard we'd made the finals," chimed in Bacon Acake, who also played (you guessed it) left wing for the Cassowaries.

For all this was impossible. The Cassowaries did not beat decent hockey teams: they sustained a series of losses with good humour. They occasionally managed a draw against a team like, oh let's say Iansisle. Then they lost by a huge margin to Kalaallit Nunaat and watched the Greenland side go on to a galant second-place finish.

So it was written in the Book of Cherry. So it had always been.

"maybe we're all just characters in someone's overactive imagination," said Enouffa This, a centre trying for a left-wing position. "Maybe this whole season was a dream."

"Ooh, if it's fictional, then maybe we can even beat Starblaydia!"

What in the name of all that is Gretsky was that?
Rayors, well, lose (!) two in a row on the road

"There was no shape, no strength, no drive."

"Larsson didn't even do his laces up properly."

"I've never seen a hockey fight where a Starblaydi skated away before!"

"Well pull my jersey over my head, kick my ass and call me Jordy! We lost!"

These were just some of the fan comments as the Starblaydi Rayzors came away from Tanah Burung having seen two defeats on Match Days 3 and 4. This, to put it quite simply, wasn't even a bad performance. It was atrocious, not what Starblaydi fans have come to expect. Staring down the wrong end of four-one and five-one defeats, Starblaydi fans will want a lot more from their players in the next two matches.

"This might not even go to the final game, if we keep playing like this," said head coach Dagmer Cletfjaw, "We need some serious training to get over these losses and get back in the saddle after we've fallen onto the rink."

Err, exactly.

Just remember folks. Two wins and its ours, two losses and its theirs. And we can't let that happen, now can we?

Rayzors all the way, baby!

like i was floating, dude, y'know, flying like, and then he came at me and i skated circles around him, and the little rubber thing soared off my stick thing and i was invincible man nothing could stop me and i shot and i scored and scored and then carlos scored and nita and then me again lance et comte thats three dude amazing the power of three wot a rush it's cooler than ice, geddit, and then some drinks and home and another dose and i'm paying against wooden cardboard cut-outs of hockey players dude they are so slow i can barely see them so small and their net is just so big wow it yawns like the caverns of Santa Cruz ther eby the sea so cold in here and so hot outside drenching downpour fog in the doors fog in my mind the ice dude the ice hey cool we won wait til i te

News item: Tanah Burung evened the Cherry Cup finals at two games apiece after a home stand in the Matebian Mountains Ice Palace and Goat Pen. Team physician Socky the Bandito denied allegation that the players were using performance-enhancing drugs. "Would i lie to you, dude?" he asked. "Anyway, drugs re legal in this country. So back off, news guy."

Game Seven. All or Nothing
Winner take all in the Final Game of Cherry Cup 5

Starblaydi Ice Hockey fans have never been so nervous. As each of the six matches in the Cherry Cup Final has gone with the home side, all Starblaydis hope that this run will continue to bring the first ever Sporting Trophy (other than a single Footballing Wooden Spoon) to Starblaydia.

The entire team is fit, healthy and up for the contest with, thankfully, no injury worries, so if we're ever going to take the title, now is our chance. We're that close, and the only thing that will bring it home is to score more goals than Tanah Burung. Yes, we know its that simple, but thats the beauty of sport. Whoever wins this game will be World Champions. Second Place is only to be the First Loser, as my old coach used to say. He coached Chess, but the principle still applies.

Such is the beauty of sport.

In other news, Starblaydia will be ranked 8th in Cherry Cup 6, whether they win or lose. The big names of World Hockey, who seemingly didn't turn up during the matches for this competition, will look on Starblaydia as lucky upstarts, blessed by Voodoo dice. Will we simply be able to shrug and say 'But we are still World Champions' ? Let's hope so.

Rayzors all the way, baby!

Razyors all the way, baby!
Incredible win in debut Cherry Cup for Starblaydia

http://www.starblaydestudios.co.uk/Images/SportsMinistryLo.jpg

Purists will tell you that this year's championship was a flop, that the big boys barely sent squads worthy of their heritage. They'll tell you about host broadcasters devoting more time to ferret racing than Hockey. They'll tell you about a poor standard of refereeing, or any other one of a dozen excuses for low audiences and poor performances.

A Starblaydi, on the other hand, will tell you "Rayzors World Champions!", assuming they're not still drunk, elated, or otherwise incapacitated. Whatever excuse any other team can produce, whatever they say about themselves or Starblaydia, we are the Cherry Cup champions, and top of the World.

Here's a brief rundown on the seaon just past, if your memories needed any renewal.

Debutant Starblaydia started the Championship in great style with a prefect 2 wins from 2 games in the NorthWest, along with North-East's Walmington-on-Sea and South's Liverpool England, each of the three nations sitting proudly atop their Region. Two games later and Starblaydia were still a perfect 4 from 4, the only 100% team after four matches, though the Walmingtons were also undefeated.

The 100% streak laster for an amazing nine games, backed up by the best defence and the hottest offence, scoring 41 and conceding just 13 in the nine games played. Then, in game number 10, tragedy struck as Starblaydia drew, putting them on just 28 points from a possbile 30. They were still ahead of the rest, outpacing the much-improved Daistallia 2104 and Regional Rivals NEWI Cefn Druids by three and five points respectively. As the first set of rankings came out, Starblaydia were at the top while eventual finalists Tanah Burung were a lowly 17th out of 18.

With the next two matches the top teams bunched up, with Starblaydia picked up two losses in a row, meaning Starblaydia, Daistallia and NEWI Cefn were separated but just a single point.Twice more Starblaydia lost as they slipped to third in the rankings, overtaken by the Druids and the Abysmals, who were putting in an awful performance as they failed to not-win ever increasing amounts of games.Starblaydia were rocked by internal divisions as Defenceman Jordy McCliff created a serious furore within the squad. After being assulted on and off-rink by his fellow Rayzors, the Starblaydi Team Camp was restored to winning ways, minus one beaten-up, jackass of a player.

Five wins from eight put the Rayzors back at the helm, however as the Walmingtons came back into it, with The Belmore Family hot on their heels. Fifteen games later and the debutant Razyors were still on top, with The Gulf States gaining ground in the Northwest and the Druids and Belmores snapping at Starblaydia's heels in the race for the top rank.

As the final day of the Regular season dawned, Starblaydia were already guaranteed a first-round bye in the playoffs as their three-point lead over The Belmore Family was unassailable. Starblaydia would be ranked 1st for the knockout-series, and would gain a bye in the first week along with the Belmores.

For the Semi-Finals, Starblaydia played North-West rivals and Hosts The Gulf States, defeating them in a close-run four-game series 3-1, though the outcome of each match was only decided by a single goal in each case. Starblaydia would go to the finals and meet 3rd-seed Tanah Burung, surprise giant-killers of The Top-Scoring Belmore Family.

It took all seven games to see off the Burungians (Burungers? Burungovans?) but finally Starblaydia were crowned Cherry Cup 5 Champions!

Since you've asked, the Commission on Adjective Forms has agreed to make the official term "Burungi."

Random passer-by: "The Cassowaries lost? Well, so there is some sanity left in the world."

In honour of their runner-up spot after barely making the playoffs, Tanah Burung's hockey team has been officially renamed "the Cinderella Cassowaries."