[J epworth]

Guide Continued


Preparing for the Games


To prepare for each game you are able to set the importance of the game to your team, change your lines, and change your teams style of play.

The higher level of importance you play on, the more your players will fatigue. Fatigue is restored at the beginning of each season. Each player will have the same amount of energy to start the season, but it is your responsibility to keep an eye on this throughout the season. As your players fatigue, they will start to play worse. It is important to try and save energy for the playoffs if you plan on being successful in the playoffs.


The next component of preparing for games are is changing your lines. You can change your forwards, defense, starting goalie, special teams, captaincy, and your shootout lineup.

Then there is your style of play. There are 6 styles of play you can have your team play. Here is a quick explanation on what each style of play is all about.

Defensive Style of Play: If you select defensive style of play, your players have a defensive mindset. The forwards are helping as much as they can in the defensive tasks. This tactical option is useful especially against a stronger opponent, which is expected to dominate in the offence.

Offensive Style of Play: If you like offensive hockey and you would like your team to play in an attractive and offensive style, select this style of play for the game. With this style of play, the forwards are very well supported by the defensemen in their offensive game. However, the use of these tactics should be chosen wisely, because sometimes your players leave the door open and there is a risk of odd man rushes against your team.

Counterattacks: If you select this style of play, your players play a solid defensive game and they are looking for breakaways and odd man rushes. However, counterattacks are not very effective against team with a solid defensive game. This style of play also requires skilled wingers and a solid center who knows how to do his defensive duties.

Breaking Up of Play: If you select this style of play, your players are trying to cause as many interruptions in the game as possible to break the rhythm of a substantially stronger team so that it can't put your team under pressure. Whenever your team is about to get under pressure, your players prefer to ice the puck and the goalie prefers to cover up the puck instead of playing it.

Active Forechecking: Most players make mistakes when they are under pressure. That is the cornerstone of this style of play. Your forwards try to put the opposing players under pressure by a high forecheck in the offensive zone to create turnovers and thus create scoring chances.

Normal Style of Play: This is the regular style of play whereby the players hold on to their primary tasks. The defensemen play defensively and the forwards concentrate on the offense. It might seem too simple at first sight, but it is often more effective than complicated tactical maneuvers for which your players might not be skilled enough.



Players

Position - Primary Attribute - Secondary Attribute - Secondary Attribute


Goalie - Goaltending - Technique - Passing
Defenseman - Defense - Passing - Aggresiveness
Center - Offense - Passing - Technique
Winger - Offense - Technique - Aggressiveness

Of course Shooting is also a helpful stat for some defenseman, and forwards.


Stat Descriptions


Goaltending: This attribute is only used by the goalies. It represents the ability of a goalie to stop the pucks from going into the net. High value of this attribute helps the goalie keep a good save percentage.

Defense: This attribute is used by all the players to stop the opponent from scoring by not letting him create scoring chances. It is used mainly by defensemen but it is also useful for forwards who need it in order to contribute to the defensive play of the team.

Offense: The offense attribute determines the ability to play effectively in the offensive zone. It represents the ability of players to create a scoring position and it also represents the ratio of how often the player will shoot in a good scoring position. Players with lower offense attribute often elect to pass even if they should rather take a shot. For defensemen it determines their ability to contribute to the offensive play of the team.

Technique: This attribute is very universal. Goalies use it to increase their save percentage thanks to better reactions and good positioning. In defense it is required mainly for one-on-one battles. It helps the defensemen win these battles thanks to good stickhandling and speed and decrease the number of penalties. A forward with a good technique can be effective in one-on-one battles thanks to very good stickhandling and good speed. Technique also helps you to win faceoffs.

Passing: This attribute is important for all the players just like technique. For goalie, this attribute represents his ability to use his stick, not only to make passes, but also to eliminate scoring chances of the opponent. For the skaters it represents the ability to make proper passes and to create chances with good puck movement and playmaking. Passing, among other things, also helps the players on the powerplay to create scoring chances thanks to quick and sharp puck movement.

Aggressiveness: Aggressiveness is mainly used by defensemen and wingers. Defensmen utilize it to strip the attacking players of the puck with their physical play. Without a sufficient aggressiveness rating your defense would be easy to break through. Wingers, on the other hand, use this attribute to get into scoring chances through physical force. This attribute also represents the forechecking ability of players. However, it also has a down side. Players with high aggressiveness rating and poor technique are often penalized. Players like these can only be effective with their physical play, which logically results in more frequent penalties.

Shooting: The shooting attribute is important for all the players, except the goalie, to score goals. The higher the shooting rating, the higher the possibility that the player will capitalize on his scoring chance. Defensemen with good shooting tend to score more goals from the point.

Preferred side
Some players have a preferred side, depending on which side of the ice they like to play. Others - universals, play equally well on both sides. Therefore, no matter which side the player prefers he can play a center, but a left wing and a left denfenseman should be someone who prefers to play on the left. The right wing and the right side of the defense should be occupied by players who prefer to play on the right. If a player plays on the wrong side, he cannot fully use his abilities.

Career longevity
Another important characteristic of a player is his career longevity. Career longevity indicates for how long the player will be able to improve. Career longevity has six levels. If a player reaches the lowest level - 1/6, he stops improving and his attributes may even decrease. The speed of deterioration of attributes increases with age.

Popularity
Each player has a certain level of popularity, which indicates how popular he is amongst the fans. Popularity rises with his performance and with his position in the league statistics. Popularity rises faster in the higher divisions. The levels of popularity from the lowest to the highest are: Unknown, Known, Popular, Admired, Famous, Celebrity, Worldwide Star and Superstar. There are two main advantages to having popular players on the team. They increase game attendance and also the souvenir sale.