WEEK 12 PREVIEWS
Jets Vs Kings @ 8:45pm
The first game of the night goes to the Jets and Kings. Having faced each other twice this season, one can already predict how it will turn out. The Jets will be looking to grab a final 2 points on the season. It would be wise of them to use the game as a last experiment, tinkering with lines and goalie changes to prep for playoff season. The Kings on the other hand, should put all talk to rest and force one single win this season. A string of bad luck and attendance has plagued the Kings this season, who's magical playoff run never happened. All eyes will be on Jets all-star Ricky Saili to see if he can take a surprise come from behind lead on the leader board.
- Bruce Wayne
Hawks Vs Sharks @ 9:45pm
The second game of the night featuring the Hawks and Sharks is making a very strong case to be MMGL's game of the night...or even game of the season. Just about every team that isn't green is rooting for a Hawks victory; a loss for the Sharks would defeat their run at the President's trophy. Hawks offense of Baba Khan, Parmeet Uppal, and Sufyaan Shaikh will be under close watch. If history is testament to anything, it's that animosity breeds victors. The Sharks will be looking to use this lack of appreciation against the Hawks and send an emphatic message to all playoff teams. With the man of steel Uzair Baig in net and a captain in Belal Hafeez, it's wishful thinking to see the Sharks fall. On a personal note, I would LOVE to see some shark fin soup being made...
- Barack Obama
Nordiques Vs Bruins @ 10:45pm
The final game of the night, the intensity of which will be determined by the previous game features the two heavyweights of MMGL; the Nordiques and Bruins. Talk about thrilla in the MCC Manila. If the game is over in 2 periods, the victor can win the President's trophy and get a bye IF (Big IF) the Sharks lose. If the Sharks lose in OT, the loser of this match up will drop to third place and have to play first week of playoffs. Bruins offensive machine Muddy Hussain was quoted as saying, "I just want a bye week", meaning the Bruins, floating like a butterfly, would be willing to accept 2nd place if fate dictates it so. The run and gun Nordiques, stinging like a bee, on the other hand are going for it all, and have the unstoppable Yusuf Ingar to prove it. Yusuf leads the league in scoring, but is only ONE point ahead of Muddy. Two heavyweight teams fighting for first place. Two heavyweight scorers fighting for first place. Muhammad Ali should sponsor this game.
- Muhammad Ali Impersonator
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Week 11 Results
Nordiques defeat Falcons 12-2
The game of the night went to the Nordiques and Falcons, a potential second round playoff match up. Both teams started out the season 3-0 and were itching for a match up. The Nordiques started the game with only four players and Yasir Hussain between the goal pipes. They went up 2-0 on a deuce from Yusuf Ingar before Falcons' Sadik Patel cut the lead to half. Lucky for the Nordiques Rajin Patel came in halfway through the first period to assist Team Ingar...err Team Nordiques. Yusuf Ingar went on to score three straight goals, including an assist from goalie Yasir Hussain. This game was put away for the night well before the half was over, with a 12-2 Nordiques win at the end. Yusuf Ingar posted 10 goals on the night (3 unassisted), a new MMGL record, finishing with 11 points and overtaking Muddy Hussain as the leagues top scorer. What's even more amazing is Nordiques goaltender Yasir Hussain's rise to stardom. Pre-season talks had rival GMs chuckling at Shoaib Khan's pick for goalie. Yasir Hussain now boasts to be the most efficient goalie in the league when corrected for minutes played, posting a 3.87 GAA. With one week left to go, the Nordiques are sending a strong message to all other teams regarding the playoffs. With the league's top scorer in front and a solid wall of steel in between the pipes, the Nordiques finally look like the team they are on paper.
Special mention goes to Uzair Mayat of the Falcons for scoring their second goal unassisted.
Hawks defeat Kings 12-5
The Kings came into the game winless on the season, and nothing changed after their 12-5 defeat from the Hawks. Hawks Baba Khan finished strong with a 6 point night that included 4 goals. Setting up these goals was young start Sufyaan Shaikh who finished with a total of 6 assists on the night. The Hawks played a paced game with balanced scoring against an opponent that seemed demotivated. League administrator Shoaib Rangrez subbed in for the Kings, who are now 0-8-1. The Hawks too are sending out a strong message before the playoffs, as they have been one of the teams repeatedly underrated this season. Hawks' goalie Adil Mirza is making a name for himself and in good company with Yasir Hussain and Uzair Baig for GAA. The Hawks walk away with 2 points and a new-found sense of swagger as they await their last game of the season.
Special mention goes to Kings GM Haran for a solid 2 goal effort.
Sharks defeat Jets 10-4
The Sharks and Jets faced off in what seemed to be the most balanced game of the night. The Jets took to offense quickly and went up 2-0 with goals from Deepinder Brar and Ricky Saili. Jaspreet Brar was the man in net for the Jets, in a game that seemed to be experimenting with player chemistry. The Sharks rallied to take the lead with goals from Bilal Hafeez, Fayaz Kazi, and Mohammed Kazi. Former Jets goalie Deepinder Brar would reply with a goal of his own and tie the game up again. Sharks Varish Shaikh managed to sneak one in before the half to give his team the 4-3 lead. This is about as close as it got for any game this night folks. Sharks captain Bilal Hafeez took control of his team in the second and the Sharks blew out the Jets in the second half. Bilal Hafeez and Fayaz Kazi completed a hat trick each and that's all she wrote. Are the Sharks the modern era Detroit Red Wings? They seem to be making a very strong case to win the President's trophy AGAIN this year. With a balanced scoring effort and a superstar goalie, doubting the Sharks talent would be crazy...and in some countries, illegal.
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Week 10 Previews
Jets Vs Kings @ 8:45pm
The first game of the night sees the Jets taking on the Kings. The Kings are still searching for their first win of the season, but as lady luck would have it there is still a chance to make the playoffs. The Kings will be looking towards dynamic duo Huzeifa Patel and Fahad Panchbhaya to bring the offense that is so desperately needed to win these tight 1-goal games. The Jets are coming off of a bye week and will be looking for a W. Jets' GM Ricky Saili is 5th place in MMGL scoring and can tie for 3rd with two points. Whispers around MMGL have already counted the Kings out for the season, and this should serve as all the motivation they need to force an epic comeback.
Red Ranger
Falcons Vs Hawks @ 9:45pm
Next up in the birdcage are the Hawks and Falcons (pun intended). Both teams are coming off of crushing defeats on the defensive side, and one can safely bet that proper rearrangements will be made. Both goalies have made strong efforts to keep their teams in close games, and without a doubt this will be a close one. Though it may be dubbed the Battle of Goaltenders at 9:45, the offense will not go unnoticed. Hawks' forwards Parmeet Uppal and Sufyaan Shaikh prove to be an offensive threat, especially with Shakir Shaikh providing key support at the point. The Falcons will bring their own pair of forwards in Manjot Bhatti and Dalwinder Kang to keep the Hawks defense alert. Which team will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes (very bad pun; still intended)?
Zordon
Sharks Vs Bruins @ 10:45pm
The game of the night goes to the Bruins and Sharks at 10:45, not for their display of potent offense but the drama that comes along with it. Both teams having faced before (with Sharks coming out on top) has seen it's fair share of penalties and rough play. MMGL referees will be paying extra attention to make sure there's less whining and more hockey. The Sharks are coming off a bye week but that hasn't slowed them down before; can anyone put a stop to their 6-game winning streak? The Bruins on the other hand are coming off a close win (facing last place Kings) and will aim to keep the momentum going. The Sharks may not have an explosive goal scorer, but GM Zahid Panchbhaya knows that success of the team lies in the hands of goalie Uzair Baig (3.60 GAA, best in MMGL). Bruins offensive duo Rizwan Hassan and Muddy Hussain will need to be on top of their game to get past what seems to be an immovable object.
Pink Ranger
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Week 9 Results
Nordiques defeat Hawks 9-4
The first game of the night featured the Nordiques and the Hawks. A great deal of offence was expected for this game. Nordiques’ GM Shoaib Khan took a lead by scoring first in this game. Mr. Khan went on to score two more goals during the first period making it 3-0. The offence of Sufyaan Shaikh and Shakir Shaikh broke through near the end of the period as they both scored a goal each. But the Nordiques were not going to be intimidated one bit as Rajin Patel scored two goals of his own before the first period concluded. Nordiques’ goaltender Yassir Hussain was in it to win it and kept his team in the lead throughout the entire game. In the second period Parmeet Uppal scored two goals of his own to try to cut the lead, but this was not enough as Jason Gogna blasted four goals for the Nordiques who gained an even bigger lead. After the final buzzer, the Hawks were left with a very disappointing loss.
Sharks defeat Falcons 9-3
The second game of the night was between the feisty first place Sharks and the Falcons. This game was pretty much a one sided affair. The Sharks took home this game with a final score of 9-3. The first period saw a lot of scoring from the Sharks. Belal Hafeez, Zahid Panchbhaya, and Fayaz Kazi who scored a goal each for their teams during the first half kept the momentum going throughout the period. At first, there was very little hope as the Falcons’ offenceman Dalvinder Kang scored two goals with the period finishing at 5-2. Ridwaan Kanji further cut down the hopes of the Falcons during the second period as he only allowed in one goal by Dalvinder Kang who served as the only forward for his team for the night. Falcons’ goalie Stephen Corradino had an off night and probably wishes he could have some goals back. As the clock went on ticking, the Falcons were finding themselves falling deeper and deeper in a hole as Fahim Limbada took charge and scored four goals, in addition to the two more goals which were scored by Mohammed Kazi. The second game came to a conclusion as the score read 9-3 for the Sharks. One thing is for sure: GM Zakaria Manjra needs to recruit his troops and bring them back to their winning ways.
Bruins defeat Kings 6-5
The most thrilling game of the night took place at 10pm between the Bruins and the Kings. The Bruins came out extremely aggressive and dominated the Kings for the first period as they had a five minute power play served by their replacement, Shoaib Rangrez. Mudassar Hussain scored four goals in the first period alongside Ryan Hamchand who scored a goal for himself. The Kings responded within the first period with two goals of their own by Yasser Habib and Fahad Panchbhaya. At the end of the first period, the Kings were down three goals as the score was 5-2 for the Bruins. The Kings showed some sense of urgency as they madea comeback in the second period with Huzaifa Patel scoring two goals. As the second period was coming to an end, Bruins' rookie Sharukh Shah scored his fourth of the season to add to the lead. Finally, just before the end of the night, replacement Shoaib Rangrez scored a goal to cut the lead to 6-5 in the last few minutes. The Kings did press near the end, but the impressive goaltending of Kaleem Mirza made timely stops to seal the deal for the Bruins.
Week 7 Results
Falcons defeat Kings 5-4
Hawks defeat Jets 9-4
In the second game of the night, the Jets took on the Hawks. The Hawks were quick to get on the score sheet, going up 6-0 before the half with goals from Sufyaan Shaikh, Shakir Shaikh, Parmeet Uppal, Gurjeet Jhutty, and Shaukat Baba Khan. Jets' net minder Deepinder Brar was left in a daze and the team had to rework their game plan for the second half. The Hawks were playing a physical game and put up a wall of defense. The Jets came roaring in the second half with two quick goals from Arwinder Banwait and Mohammed Waleed, but the damage had already been done. The Hawks slid in a few more and happily took home the 9-4 victory. Special mention goes to Hawks forward Baba Khan for the hat trick.
- Bruce Wayne
Sharks defeat Nordiques 6-4
The game of the night was without a doubt the Nordiques versus the Sharks. The last time these two teams met, it ended in a shootout with the Sharks escaping with a hard-earned victory. The Nordiques aimed to come out strong this game, and it was evident with a great deal of physical play from both sides. In net for the Nordiques was backup Ridwaan Khanji and well before the game was 5 minutes old the Sharks were up 2-0. The Sharks produced an offense coming from all players and managed to go up 5-1 before the half. Many warnings were given to both sides to keep the physical play under wraps, as Sabir Shaikh, Belal Hafeez, and Varish Shaikh were among the lucky VIPs in the penalty box. The second period saw stronger play from Nordiques goalie Ridwaan Khanji; with the offense (Shoaib Khan and Jason Gogna) putting up what seemed to be a comeback. Although with a last goal from Belal Hafeez and a too many men penalty taken by the Nordiques sealed the deal for the night. Sharks win 6-4 in what has been the most physical (and perhaps foul) game yet.
- Mayor McCheddar
Week 7 Previews
Falcons Vs Kings @ 8:45pm
The first game of the night features a repeat of last week's game between the Falcons and the Kings. The Kings came close to their very first W of the season, only to be routed in a shootout. Nonetheless, this must be giving the team some long-warranted confidence and one can be certain all pistons will be firing for a win. A loss this week would give them the record for the longest losing streak in MMGL history. Falcon's net minder Stephen Corradino can expect to be on his toes with the likes of Yasser Habib and Fahad Panchbhaya aiming for goal.
- Ilya Kovalchuk
Hawks Vs Jets @ 9:45pm
The second game features the Jets and Hawks. The Hawks are coming off a big shootout win over the Bruins and hope to keep the momentum going. The Jets are coming off a bye week and a big trade. There are already talks within the league of the Jets becoming an offensive powerhouse after a glimmer of their first game with Jonathan Bhansingh. Hawks' net minder Adil Mirza will no doubt be put to the test. That being said, Hawks' superstar Parmeet Uppal is coming off a 5 point night, and will certainly be a threat up front. May the best goalie win.
- Nail Yakupov
Nordiques Vs Sharks 10:45pm
The game of the night goes to the Sharks and Nordiques. Both teams have only met once before, with the Sharks out-muscling the Nordiques in a seven round shootout. The Nordiques are coming off a tough loss against the Bruins, and will be welcoming back Yusuf Ingar and Rajin Patel into the offensive lineup. The Sharks are coming off a bye week and will need to play a smart game against a Nordiques team seeking vengeance. Sharks GM Zahid Panchbhaya will be looking to play a rough hitting game, all under the watchful eye of the refs. Nordiques Jason Gogna boasts a hat trick in the last game, and shows no sign of slowing down his offensive output. This will definitely be a game to remember.
- Alexander Ovechkin
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Week 1 Results
Falcons Defeat Sharks 4-3
With the drop of the puck (or should I say ball) season two of the MMGL officially begun. The first game of the Fall 2012 season featured the returning champions from the inaugural season, Falcons, taking on the Summer 2012 President’s Trophy winners, the Sharks. Despite missing Belal Hafeez, the Sharks were able to jump out on top quite early in the first with a goal from rookie Varish Shaikh, and what better way could there be to score your first goal than scoring it against your younger brother’s team. However, that celebration did not last for long, as younger brother, Suhaib Shaikh, took matters into his hands by potting in 3 goals of his own, before the end of the period! To make things worse, GM Zakaria Manjra added to the total giving the Falcons a 4-1 lead at the half. They looked to have the game in the bag; however, with no one on the bench, fatigue began to kick in, as the Sharks would try to take advantage and generate a comeback. With the second under way, the defensive efforts of Navdeep Virdi, who has been said to be a solid two-way aggressive player, paid huge dividends by keeping the Falcons in the game and making life much easier for Goalie Stephen Corradino. GM Zahid Panchbhaya and Fahim Limbada managed to get pass the Falcons net minder, but their efforts fell short. Honorable mention goes out to Sharks goalie Uzair Baig with a solid 36 saves alongside Dalvinder Kang who assisted on every single Falcon goal.
~Phantom Maverick ~
Jets Defeat Kings 8-7
The only two new franchises that played last week had a back and forth tilt the whole night. The Jets and Kings, both by the way lead by former teammates on the championship team, were out to battle for the bragging rights for the best new franchise in the MMGL. The Jets came out flying with a quick goal from new comer Mohammad Waleed, followed by a goal from Ricky Saili. The Kings didn’t take long to respond as Jonathan Bhansingh put his first of the night past goalie Deepinder Brar. However, playoff MVP Ricky Saili would put 2 of his own alongside Art Ross winner Fahad Panchbhaya’s goal to give the Jets a 5-1 lead. The Kings down 4 early looked a bit deflated, except for one very enthusiastic player in Jonathan Bhansingh, who managed to complete the hat-trick to pull his team within 2 goals before the period’s end. Over the break, the Kings looked to have fed off of “Tower Jon” and came out strong in the second. GM Haran Karunakaran cut the lead to one, just before Ricky Saili would complete his own hat-trick to restore the 2 goal differential. Then for some reason or another, the Jets looked to have loss their formation, and gave up 3 straight goals, from the likes of Mazhar Hussain, Sufyaan Shaikh, and Jonathan Bhansingh (4th of the night) to give them a 7-6 lead. With less than 2 minutes left, the Jets regrouped and managed to tie the game with a goal from Ml. Huzaifa Patel. When it seemed like it was headed for OT, Jets GM came through with a nifty goal, getting past two defenders, and putting one pass Goalie Syed Ahmed (in place for Faisal Limbada) to earn his own 4th goal, adding to a total of 7 points in the game! That’s all that was written for this one, with the Jets winning the bragging rights for now, since the Bruins haven’t had their debut yet.
~Phantom Maverick ~
Nordiques Defeat Hawks 8-1
The last game of the night had the Nordiques and Hawks tilt it out, but not till the end. The Nordiques certainly had something to prove after last year’s disappointing season, and GM Shoaib Khan has clearly made a statement this time around. The first half of the game went by with both teams sharing chances on net. The snipers on the Nordiques were able to get past Goalie Adil Mirza twice from the likes of Yusuf Ingar and Jason Gogna. With the 2-0 lead, the Nordiques were called for a high-sticking penalty, however only a minor was assessed even though injured Gurjeet Jhutty had to leave the game. The Hawks did manage to score on the powerplay, with the goal coming from Parmeet Uppal, but if the Hawks were given the extra 3 minutes for a major penalty, there is not saying as to how this game would have ended up. With it all said and done, the first ended with the Nordiques up by a score of 2-1. Now with only 1 sub left on the bench, the Hawks could not keep up with the Nordique storm. The two snipers stole the spotlight, putting 6 straight goals combined. Both Yusuf Ingar and Jason Gogna finished with 4 goals each. Besides the fact that this game was unusually lob sided, even for a gym league, and that two players on same team ended up with 5 points, the headline story of this game was without a doubt the play of Goalie Yasir Hussain. He has clearly stepped up to the challenge and has broken into the pads perfectly. The most underrated goalie of the year performed beyond expectations, and I am pretty sure GM Shoaib Khan has a big smirk on his face right now.
~Phantom Maverick ~
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Going into the draft, GM Haran Karunakaran knew what he was putting himself into by naming his new franchise the Kings. Now a couple weeks afterwards, not much can be said if this Kings team can hold up to its name and fame. From the looks of it, this team could be the most defensive team this season, considering the large number of two-way players. There is no doubt that Mazhar Hussain and Jonathan Bhansingh will be relied on heavily to get their offense started, and youngster Sufyaan Shaikh will need to duplicate his offensive performance from not long ago. On the defensive end, it looks like Hamza Minhas will take the lead and fellow teammates, and newcomers, Mufti Zakaria Panchbhaya and Irfan Hassan, will have to use their statures and skills effectively to help this Kings team come out on top. Between the pipes, Faisal Limbada, who was said to be "good back in the days," will look to shake off the cobwebs quickly and become the goalie he once was. All in all, having been on the championship team, GM Haran Karunakaran knows exactly what it takes to be a dominant team in the league, and we will soon see whether or not he has orchestrated the perfect team, destined to be crowned the rulers of the league.
~Phantom Maverick ~
Although there won't be immense hype towards the new Jets franchise in our own MMGL compared to the NHL, GM Ricky Saili is probably really hyped to see how his team will shape out. Just by looking at his team roster, one could tell he must have done his homework. Starting in goal, there was no way he would let his fellow teammate Deepinder Brar from last season's champion team play for anyone but himself. Despite coming into the league later on, his stellar performances in the playoffs helped the Falcons get to the finals. On the blue line, this air force composes the presence of Arwinder Banwait and Jaspreet Brar, who may be need some additional help if they intend to be one of the best defensive pairs in the league. Also, newcomer Mohammed Waleed will hope to fit in well with his experienced defensive partners. Upfront, this Jets team seems to have no deficiency whatsoever. When one puts MMGL's 2012 MVP Ricky Saili alongside sniper Ml.Huzaifa Patel and MMGL's 2012 Art Ross Winner Fahad Panchbhaya, their offensive artillery may never seem to come to an end. Not to forget Kiran Sandhar, who also happens to be solid two-way player? Putting aside their minor setback on D, this team does have all the pieces; however, can they put it all together and pull off the perfect air show?
~ Phantom Maverick ~
Besides acquiring the first overall pick and selecting Rizwan Hassan onto his squad, GM Faiz Vaid's biggest achievement would have to have been the Blockbuster Trade. Despite giving up a huge asset in net, he was able to acquire Mudassar Hussain. What we learn from history is that both Rizwan Hassan and Mudassar Hussain have been playing together for years, and can arguably be given the title of two of the best floor hockey players amongst the Muslim community. These two played in the Worlds in Slovakia last year and brought home gold metal. Their chemistry is comparable to that of the Sedin twins, and with that being said, you can expect to have a scoring spree when these two are on. Their goalie, Kaleem Mirza, finished off last season extremely strong and is expected to continue where he left off, taking his team to the top of the league once again. Also, on the offensive line they have Rizwan’s nephew, Sharukh Shah. Despite being a rookie in the league, if he boasts even a fraction of his uncle’s capability, alongside the speedy presences of Fahim Shaikh and Aabid Panchbhaya, this team could have a juggernaut up front. Lastly, inside reports could not find out much about fellow Ryan Hamchand and his hockey mentality, but the Bruins are hoping he can be a defensive asset for his team, just in case their GM may ever run into some trouble.
~Phantom Maverick ~
Being an all-star himself, GM Zahid Panchbhaya looked to have resorted to some famous and familiar players from the ever so popular I-Slam league. He also has come back to a couple of his former teammates from a season ago. There is no doubt that this seasons' Sharks team is full of leadership qualities on and off the floor. Beginning up front with the well known Abdul Hamid Kazi, who brings with him a whole lot of passion and power to his game; alongside the sweet hands and agility of former I-Slam GM Saqib Sheikh. On the defensive end, their blue line is well equipped with the dominant presence of Belal Hafeez accompanied with the veteran figure of Uzair Baig guarding the red pipes. With this experienced core, there is no saying as to where this team could end up. The ones who will benefit the most will have to be their 'rookies'. Fayaz Kazi will bring his young talents to this Sharks team once again, alongside new comers Fahim Limbada and Varish Shaikh, who have been said to have great talents in the sport of cricket. Only time will tell whether these two can translate their abilities on the pitch onto the gym floor, in order to bring back the Sharks franchise in contention for another Presidents’ Trophy.
~Phantom Maverick ~
The Spring 2012 Champions are back! From the looks of it, GM Zakaria Manjra went all out on acquiring offense, he may have forgotten about defense. As a matter of fact, 6 out of 7 of his players play the forward role! Nonetheless, his team looks to be based on size and overall experience on the gym floor. Last season, both Suhaib Shaikh and Sadiq Patel came through during the playoffs on route to the finals and everyone is expecting bigger things from them this season. Also, both Manjot Bhatti and Dalvinder Kang have been said to be gym hockey veterans, and there is no doubt that they will bring a great a deal of determination along with them. Uzair Mayat, another big body, possibly new to gym hockey, may turn out to be the surprise "rookie of the year". With his stature, being the offensive grinder in front of the opponents' net can be no big deal. On defense, Navdeep Virdi will be relied on heavily to fill the point position perfectly, but if all else fails, there seems to be no worry. Goalie Stephen Corradino is one of the best goalies in this league and could easily steal every game for his club, just trying to find out his weak spot may be the farthest his opponents can get.
~ Phantom Maverick ~
By far the most skilled GM this season, Shoaib Khan did not disappoint after being heavily criticized on his ability to regain his dominant status. Khan brings back the Nordiques after a disappointing loss in the finals last season. Selecting all-star Yusuf Ingar with his first pick, his offensive worries were probably put to rest right away. The rest of this Nordique team is one of the best structured teams out there. With the smart hockey sense possessed by his brother Muzammil Khan and power forward Sabir Shaikh paired with the presence of Asif Saleh, there looks to be no defensive worries for his team this time around. Also, Yusuf Ingar may not be the only threat up front, the likes of Jason Gogna and Rajin Patel could turn out to be great offensive powerhouses for this Nordique team. The big question mark lies in net, with goalie Yasir Hussain. Rumor has it the last time he played in net; his pads were made of sponge tied to his legs with shoelaces. However from inside reporters, for this season, Yasir Hussain has bought fresh pads and is probably breaking into them at this very moment. This team has everything to raise the Verdi Cup, but the question is…will Yasir Hussain step up to the challenge?
~ Phantom Maverick ~
Going into the draft, GM Shakir Shaikh had one thing in mind, and that was to have balance on his team. From the looks of it, he may have accomplished just that. With his first pick Shoaib Rangrez, a solid two-way forward and a great influence on the bench, the "quarter-backing" position was effectively filled. Also, with the presence of Zubair Patel on the blue line along side Gurjeet Jhutty, there is no doubt getting the ball to the front of the net will be a hassle. Not to mention, with the offensive flexibility of both Jaskaran Singh and Parmeet Uppal alongside the troublesome presence of Shakir Shaikh on the top of the crease, there is no telling what type of offense could be mustered up. The only question that can be pondered is to their position in net. It has been said that Adil Mirza 'has his nights' and could end up being the deciding factor to their season. He will have to be that backbone required for this team to be on top or the team will have to end up backing him up throughout the season.
~ Phantom Maverick ~
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Faiz Vaid: Coming off an up and down season, former Captain of the Nordiques will be starting off fresh by bringing in a new franchise to the the MMGL. Anyone who follows the NHL knows the type of team the Bruins are, and with the rough and tough style of hockey possessed by Faiz himself, you can pretty much guess that his team will primarily be focused on physicality. Faiz's stay at home defense is wanted on any team and with the heck of a shot he can unload, he can take care of the point position himself. With that being said, emotions will need to be kept in check in order for the Bruins to live up to their name properly and be a winning team. NHL Comparable: Chris Pronger
Zakaria Manjra: When taking over as GM of the Falcons half way into the season, his team had not won a single game and sat dead last with a 0-5 record. After the big trade, and naming Shoaib Rangrez as Captain, his team pulled of the inverse and finished the season with a 5-1 record, on route to a Championship. With experience and success already under his belt, Zakaria will look to continue his winning ways and draft a skilled and sized team, similar to last season. He may not be fast, but with his size, hustle, and amazing release, he can pretty much play the wing position with perfection. His easy-going nature is also an asset to any team. NHL Comparable: Brian Gionta
Shakir Shaikh: Last season, Shakir played for the President's Trophy winners Sharks and was a slowly becoming a dominant force down the stretch. With his size and great hockey sense, he is always a player you need to look out for on the floor, escpicially for the goalies. His favourite spot to be in must have to be the top of the crease, causing havoc for the goalie as much as he can, where he has been seen to score most of his goals from, if not all. Although he has a physical nature, he has a humorous personality. When it comes to hockey, for him balance on a team is key, and with a passion for winning, his team may be the best structured team, similar to the style of the 2010 Stanely Cup Champions, the Blackhawks. NHL Comparable: Johan Franzen
Ricky Saili: Joining the MMGL half way through last season, Ricky was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Falcons. His presence on the made everyone else look alot better. His hockey IQ, speed, and great passing skills is what makes the near perfect forward. These are not just words of praise either, as he did follow through in the Finals, taking home the Conn Smythe (MVP) Trophy. Now he looks to brings his talents to the draft floor with the new Jets team. However, this will be his first time managing a team in the MMGL and we will look to see if his play on the floor can be translated into the ability to draft effectively.
NHL Comparable: Sidney Crosby
Haran Karunakaran: Another former player for the Champions Falcons, Haran will also pursue the role of managing his own team with the Kings franchise. Playing what seemed to be a two-way posiiton last season, he is a well rounded physical presence on the floor. His ability to play the along the boards is highly effective and can cause great frustration for the other team. Now bringing in the Kings franchise, pressure will be on due to the fact that the LA Kings had a spectacular run last year on route to the Stanley Cup. It will be interesting to see if he can follow in the LA Kings footsteps and repeat by drafting a championship Kings team in our own MMGL.
NHL Comparable: Milan Lucic
Shoaib Khan: Possibly the GM that went throught the most pressure last season looks to return with his Nordiques franchise once again. Starting the season 3-0, the team looked destined to win it all. Then came a unpredicted 8 game losing streak, causing havoc in the team. Also, losing their first game in the playoffs, it all seemed over for Shoaib's team. However, the impossible seemed to have occured, and the Nordiques rallied to get to the Finals, coming up short. With the strong finish to the season, Shoaib made a clear statement he would not go down without a fight, and with that kind of personality accompanied by his tremoundous speed, agility, and puck handling, he is the ultimate power forward. This year he looks to regain the dominant status he once had and we will see whether or not he has learned from his unfavourable past. NHL Comparable: Rick Nash
Zahid Panchbhaya: It looks like the Sharks franchise has chosen to part ways with their former GM Syed, and will now rely on Zahid to win a championship. Playing for the Sharks last season, along side great veteran players, and winning the President's Trophy, he knows very well what it will take to form a winning team. With some expereince under his belt with last year's Tier 2 Mavericks team in the MHL, this will be his first season managing a team in the MMGL. With the amazing speed, hustle, and defensive awareness he possesses, you can rely on him to make a mark in the league. With his style of play, his thinking may be all about speed and the "dump and chase" mentality, so look for him to maybe draft a very young team.
NHL Comparable: David Backes :
