MAHLEN Struggles to Begin

Simha 22, 2078, m249

The much anticipated amateur hockey league, MAHLEN, has had a difficult go at getting started. Of the chapters that have signed on, only 2 colonies, Marineris and Wendland, have been able to form teams, secure the facilities and actually play the game.

The Marineris chapter of MAHLEN has 3 active teams with a 4th expected to come online before the Christmas holidays.

“It hasn’t been easy figuring things out as the founding members still haven’t finalized the details on intracolony activites.”, says Cab Leonard, of the Europa Chapter, “On our end, we are frustrated because we have the equipment and rink, but haven’t been able to make schedules work, so we’re still reshuffling teams.”

Leonard also admits that Aero Football has been a major distraction, as they haven’t been able to reach quorum in their weekend meetings to make necessary decisions.

For obvious reasons, Marineris hasn’t had the same problem. With the Comets out of contention, even practice games are drawing in local spectators.

Sam Baily, former goaltender of the ISMO Moles, now plays for the Shooting Stars. Happy to be between the pipes again, he shows little concern over the slow start to an official season.

“We are getting out on the ice and getting to play with the Orbiters and yet to be named Canadian team," he says, “I didn’t think we’d have a chance to play again after ISMO disbanded us, so what more can I ask for? “

The rest of the Moles haven’t been fairing as well. Janice Campbell, who has been instrumental in building MAHLEN has reincarnated the Moles club in San Olympus, but with only 1 team so far, they are still in a mode of teaching people to skate.

Novyimir and Korolev have opted out of MALHEN entirely and has, instead, booted up their own Russian Hockey Association. Boasting a total of 10 teams between the two colonies.

So, even though Hockey has been able to stay alive post ISMO, it’s going to be restricted to local colony activities in the near future.

Marineris Takes First Olympus Run

In hot pursuit - Adeva Faeren of Marineris tailed KLM's Velden Petrovly for most of the race, overtaking him in the final stretch to claim the GolD.  KHX takes silver and Anaias Jorgund takes the  Bronze for Wendland.

Place	Name	Colony
1st	Adeva Faeren	Marineris
2nd	Velden Petroviy	KHX
3rd	Anaias Jorgund	Wendland

the 180km route takes runners from the gates of San Olympus to the edge of the calderas at the peak

28 participants competed for the Olympian's Crest on Cancer 12, m2078,  in a marathon from San Olympus to the peak of Olympus Mons.

Olympus Run – The 180 km race is a far cry from the 1200 km Pathfinder Marathon, but contenders are still thoroughly trained and vetted before being allowed to compete. Like Pathfinder, participants are required to undergo a week-long training bootcamp that includes several orientation runs to prepare them for the harsh conditions.

Although the slope of Olympus Mons is not quite as sheer as the cliffs of the Valles Marineris, the incredible height of the peak means even thinner atmosphere and increased radiation on the exposed mountainside — all part of the thrill for some.

“I don’t want to live my entire life cooped up inside a bubble. There are risks involved with going Out-of-colony, but we each make our choices on how to live our lives. There’s so much I want to experience on Mars!”

— Adeva Faeren, Olympus Run Gold Medalist

Mateo Magic

Aries 1, 2078, m249

It was a close game for the Wildcards. And it was Mateo Martinez’s day to work his magic.

The 27-year-old San Olympus native continued his whirlwind scoring pace, sinking the two goals that lead to the Wildcard’s victory. After today’s performance, Martinez leads the league with a mind-blowing 14 goals after just three games.

“My teammates are really giving me lots of nice chances, so just doing my part,” said Martinez, laughing. “The Phantoms gave us a really good scare today. So we’re lucky to have come back from behind to win.”

The Wildcards’ comeback capped off a highly entertaining back and forth game which saw both teams snapping off the puck and intercepting plays at an electric pace.
 
Tia Halvorsen for the Wildcards opened up scoring after just 3 minutes of the first period with a sharp angle shot that slipped through the Phantoms goalie, Vivien Lewis.
 
The Wildcards would add to that lead as Carl Lindberg beat Lewis with a one-timer from the left circle just before the end of the first period.
 
Refusing to go quietly, the Phantoms roared back in the second period as Aaron Bello’s lethal snapshot after just 40 seconds of play whizzed past a screened Jules Arquette for the Phantoms’ first goal of the game.

Four minutes later, Phantoms defender Alex Gaumond took possession of play in a surprising breakaway down center ice, deftly dodging an aggressive play by Wildcard defender Arquette, to backhand the puck.

With less than 20 seconds left in second period Peter Lehmann tipped a shot from Gaumond into the net to bring the score to Phantoms-3, Wildcards 2. 

Phantoms took the lead 3-2 in the 2nd period, but were unable to fend of Wildcards #2, Mateo Martinez

And when the third period started, the Mateo Magic Show would begin.
 
Right past the two minute mark, Wildcards’ Amelia Harris delivered a beautiful 180-spin pass that freed up Mateo Martinez for an one-on-one with Lewis. Martinez’s uncanny sense of timing gave him an edge as he faked out Lewis, and slapped the puck between the goalie’s pads to bring the score back to a tie.

A 12 minute stalemate of blocked shots, brilliant saves, and breakneck passes was broken in the final moments of the game.With less than a minute left to play, Martinez sliced through the middle of the ice and between defenders to get a shot off, beating Lewis’ high glove side for the winning goal!
 
With this win, the Wildcards move to 3 and 1 for season while the Phantoms drop to 1 and 3.