Victor

Here for the free TPE

Trade deadline day in the VHL in S91 arrived with unexpected great news for Italian hockey – not one but two highly-rated prospects from well-regarded agencies decided to join the S93 draft while also representing Italy. At the time of writing, Antonia Bucatini and Gianfranco Del Rocco remain the top two prospects in the draft based on TPE and pleasingly for Italian fans do not appear to be engaging in a toxic rivalry but going about their business in a healthy manner. Those hoping for an immediate link-up between the two young forwards were left disappointed when Bucatini teamed up with fellow S93 draftee Jean Pierre-Devote from nearby Monaco instead, joining the high-flying Philadelphia Reapers. Bucatini has reaped benefits of making the first move with 14 points in 18 regular season games and now already beating that with 15 points through two rounds of the playoffs as Philadelphia has booked a ticket to the Founder's Cup finals. Del Rocco, having opted to join fringe playoff team Miami instead to guarantee a top 6 position, matched Bucatini's regular season output but the playoffs ended for the Marauders after just five games, with just a goal and an assist for Del Rocco to show for it. Both Italians have shown good progress in their early VHLM days and will be expected to be drafted early in the upcoming Dispersal Draft, with fans back home having every reason to look forward to a bright future in the VHL.

All 4 now (or again in Teno and Vandelay's case) feature prominently in the best goaltending performances ever... https://vhlforum.com/topic/35246-greatest-goaltending-performances-in-single-playoff-series/ More to come in the conference finals and finals perhaps?

Thank you for your submissions. Members with more than 1 nomination and going to the BOG ballot are: @Gaikoku-hito @Jason kranz @Subject056 @Zetterberg Also receiving nominations: @FrostBeard @InstantRockstar @KaleebtheMighty @Lemorse7 @Ricer13 @Spartan @STZ @Banackock and me, woo! Well done all and merry Christmas! (if you want to find out what you got nominated for, drop me a message here or on Discord)

Week 3 of 4

Toronto really got the better deal by finishing 2nd.

Clark really takes no prisoners.

After a season's hiatus, we return with the feelgood award of the VHL. Why were we gone for a season? Answer is here: https://vhlforum.com/topic/141424-elmebeck-trophy/ As a reminder, every member can nominate one other member who they feel demonstrated great work ethic, passion for the VHL, and/or made some notable contribution which in your eyes made them stand out. There are no restrictions on who you nominate, but we will not necessarily vote for someone in a position of power. This should whittle it down to a few candidates which the BOG will vote on prior to the off-season awards ceremony. Big change this season is this is looking at the last 2 seasons, i.e. the last 4 months. Get your nominations in and give us some strong candidates to assess. To nominate a fellow member, simply fill out the short form linked here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflbbFNs0D13BMOj9Fv5EFDqIpUdRhM7JqSLwFmhLnyUyoPng/viewform?usp=sf_link @Members

Great run, thank you for bringing Calgary back to the top where it belongs. Thought you'd be a Bana/hedge style lifer but tbh not entirely sure how they do it, respect the decision to step away rather than dwindling away.

1. How do you think the team has done overall this season and what do you think we can do to improve if needed. - I can't speak for the whole season but I could see it was a high-scoring and leaky team when I came in. I'm not sure that's changed much but we've had a good last week of the season and stopped leaking as many goals. If we keep that up we should be a dangerous team in the playoffs. 2. Do you think pineapple belongs on pizza? - Absolutely not 3. What is your favorite restaurant? - There's this one place in Reading (UK, not Pennsylvania) which is run by Greeks and it is the best Greek food I have had outside Greece. It's one of like 3 places anywhere ever I have left a Google review (5 stars of course) - yes I was also drunk but by god the food melted in my mouth. 4. When do you think Christmas decorations should be put up? - My mom's birthday is 2 December so that's kind of ingrained in my brain as the start of Christmas even though I've long moved out. Tree went up this weekend and it will forever be thus. 5. What was your goal for your player at the beginning of this season and do you think you have met that goal. - Clearly trade deadline for me, and it was really to join a fun team where I'd be able to contribute offensively (i.e. a top two role). Full marks on all counts I think, now a playoff series upset would be the icing on the cake. 6. If you had to chose a different position for your player what would you chose? - Every single other forward I had in the VHL was a center so I would probably veer that way - my last 2 players were a dman and a goalie so it pretty much has to be winger or center. Didn't want to dump TPE into faceoffs though so here we are.

A good run into the playoffs, let's see what we can do there

More Ws and a 3 point sim, beautiful.

Week 2 of 4

A winning streak

1. What is your favorite holiday? - Tricky one, I think Easter because it's a long weekend that always seems to be the start of warm weather 2. Is this your first season playing with Miami if not when was your first season? - 'tis just the first week in Miami for young Gianni Del Rocco, possibly just a short stay but hopefully we can extend it as far as possible in the playoffs! 3. Do you think we have it in ust to get the 12 or so wins to get to the playoffs? - Well we've done it now, in spite of not being able to win that many games hahaha. Hopefully we're saving the consistent wins for the playoffs. 4. What is your favorite board game? - I'm not massive into board games tbh and when I do play it seems to be something new and random every time. Usually good fun but I can't say I really have a favourite. 5. What do you think is our team's biggest weakness? - Heh where to begin... Nah we have some good pieces but when we lose we seem to do so by a big margin. Keeping that scoreline down would boost confidence. 6. Favorite type of weather? - Early and late summer when it's not obscenely hot and you can just chuck on a pair of shorts and go through the whole day in them, whether you're inside or out.

Welp at least I got a 2nd goal.

Gol and win numero uno, let's go

Nearly cried over Germany won't lie

I mean there hasn't been a vote yet so yeah that's a mistake for now. But only for now

should have been Swiss

That American defence could definitely shift a bit. A lot of is recent retirees who we haven't really settled on a specific order yet - I couldn't tell you off the top of my head if I think Thunder is better than Payne or if Payne is better than Smitty.

Brooks on the 3rd line is unholy. It will be scary but not for Murica.

I've always been fascinated by the nationalities of the VHL, both at a member level, but also in the countries that members have chosen for their players. There has been a dominance of Canada and the US as expected but also a lot of other traditional and non-traditional hockey markets, which has meant a very eclectic list of entries into the Hall of Fame, and also a very balanced World Cup which has recently become a particularly underappreciated tournament. I'm moving away from the most unusual locations for the purpose of this article but you can see the nationality of every single Hall of Famer in the linked thread below. In the meantime, here is an attempt to create all-time rosters (3 forwards, 3 defencemen, and 3 goaltenders) for the most popular nations in VHL history. https://vhlforum.com/topic/63841-hof-players-builders/ Note: Blue = Hall of Famer. Italics = out of position (i.e. centers used as wingers) Canada Matt Thompson - Unassisted - Brett Slobodzian Jardy Bunclewirth - Ethan Osborne - Zach Parechkin Tom Lincoln - Andrew Su - Josh Vestiquan Sterling Labatte - Daniel Braxton Black Velvet - Aurelien Moreau Elijah Incognito - Lincoln Tate Aidan Shaw Benoit Devereux Rhett DeGrath Canada's obviously #1 in this discussion. 46 Canadians have been inducted into the Hall of Fame to date, by far the most of any country, and nearly enough for 3 rosters exclusively made out of Hall of Famers. Strength in depth was never going to be an issue here but what I do find interesting is that Canada has almost not produced any player considered the best beyond dispute. Yes there's the award namesakes – Slobodzian, Labatte, Shaw – and for a time they would have been considered the pinnacle of their position, but all have been moved down the ranking with the passage of time. It's also curious that there's not really been an all-time great coming out of Canada since Matt Thompson retired in S68, evidenced by the fact only Su, Moreau, and Tate would be considered “modern” players and all three are a bit buried on the depth chart. Make no mistake, Canada would almost certainly win a hypothetical all-time tournament but it's nice that there is quite a bit of individual brilliance sprinkled across the other nations. @Beketov @STZ @JardyB10 @DollarAndADream @Da_Berr @v.2 @sterling @Frank @Tate USA Gabriel McAllister - Thomas O'Malley - Diana Maxwell Jarvis Baldwin - Mike Szatkowski - Cam Fowler John Locke - Kevin Brooks - Brannan Anthony Conner Low - Ryan Sullivan Hard Markinson - Jake Wylde Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen - Brian Payne Apollo Skye Xavier Booberry Benjamin Glover The US might have only half of Canada's Hall of Famers but it's arguably got more bang for its buck. O'Malley and McAllister are two of the 3-4 names in VHL history who can challenge Scotty Campbell as the league's GOAT. Conner Low and Ryan Sullivan – that's basically your #1 and #2 in the all-time defencemen ranking. Any of the 3 lines could realistically be the first and rolling out the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th all-time top scorers as your 3 centers puts the recent Pittsburgh Penguins dynasty to shame. Defence has been historically a weak spot (behind Low and Sullivan) but Markinson and Smitty have bridged the gap as the best of their generations, and likely S91 inductee Brian Payne is building on an impressive recent legacy. Whisper but America could well knock Canada off its perch in a one-off playoff. @CowboyinAmerica @OrbitingDeath @scoop @Will @Smarch @Advantage @Fire Fletcher @Velevra UK Chris Hylands - Leeroy Jenkins - David Smalling Brennan McQueen - Phil Rafter - Phil Gerrard Dougie Daniels - Podrick Cast - Uhtred David Walcott - Matt Bentley Jeff Hamilton - Phil Hamilton David Henman - Joseph McWolf Hans Wingate Adrian McCreath Finn Davison The streak of HOF-only rosters ends at 2. But the UK put up a very strong effort and is only 2 forwards and a goalie away from matching Canada and the US. Also, the UK as #3 in a hockey setting? The VHL's English speaking background has definitely had its impact here as has the influence of a handful of Builders. The Knight brothers account for 6 of the players on the team (hint: it's anyone named Phil or David) and as a UK resident I have also assisted with Cast and Bentley. Is it enough to challenge the top two? Probably not, despite a sprinkling of real VHL royalty in Jenskins, Smalling, and Rafter. Goaltending depth is where the team falls down (this will start to be a recurring theme from here), with McCreath widely considered one of the weaker goalies in the Hall, and Wingate's famous playoff heroics might not be enough to rescue the UK here. @hylands @Knight @Phil @leafsman @McWolf Switzerland Scott Boulet - Scotty Campbell - Matt Bailey Branden Snelheid - Daniel Janser - Leander Kaelin Rudolph Schmeckeldorf - Jasper Davis - Tomas Ziegler Tomas Jenskovic - Alexander Sauve Petr Shirokov - Lars Intranquilo Mike Kloepfer - David Tavau Sandro Clegane Matthew Pogge Marius Henchoz Probably the most unbalanced team of them all. Switzerland was a VHL superstar hotspot in its early days (see Campbell, Boulet, Jenskovic) and then after S20 or so stopped producing notable talent with any regularity at all. “Recent” Hall of Famers Clegane and Janser retired some 40 seasons apart. Tellingly, Jasper Davis makes the cut despite being in his third season at the time of writing. Tavau, Kloepfer, and Ziegler in the meantime might be the worst players on any of the teams being profiled although satisfyingly have a Davos connection as either cup-winners with the Swiss team (Kloepfer, Ziegler) or Dynamo lifers (Tavau). In a 6v6 tournament, Switzerland would be up there with the best of them. Even the second line can hold its own but it all falls apart after that and the production line doesn't seem to be getting any better. @Quik @Daniel Janser @Corco @Josh @diamond_ace @Ahma Sweden Mathias Chouinard - Anton Brekker - Theo Axelsson Miles Larsson - Niklas Lindberg - Lasse Milo Ola Vikingstad - Sebastian Ironside - Scotty Sundin Alexander Valiq - Mats Johnsson Battre Sandstrom - Bo Johansson Robin Galante Nilsson - Patrick Bergqvist Torstein Ironside Papa Emeritus Oskar Lindbergh Probably the team most expected to be third in the list, Sweden likely does occupy that spot based on quantity, but has not really provided the VHL's absolute cream of the crop over the years. The thing that does stick out here is the overall balance – take out Brekker and Valiq and there's not really much separating the Hall of Famers from the 3rd liners. Most of the players on the roster have been or currently are on the HOF ballot. In particular this is relevant in net where Emeritus and Lindbergh are still awaiting the call and could change the complexion of this Swedish team if they do get inducted. Overall, however, the verdict would have to be solid but unspectacular which definitely fits the stereotype. @solas @boubabi @Dil @fromtheinside @Acydburn @Shindigs @RomanesEuntDomus @Doomsday Finland Tukka Reikkinen - Mikka Virkkunen - Jukka Hakkinen Saku Kotkakoivu - Aleksi Koponen - Joel Jarvi Valtteri Vaakanainen - Mikko Lahtinen - Karsten Olsen Fabio Jokinen - Voittu Jannula Kasper Kankkunen - Spencer Elsby Kerkko Hyvärinen - Ville Sixten / Velociraptor Greg Tuomas Tukio Vase Trikamaki Fuukka Rask Sweden's neighbours and eternal rivals are hot on their tail and one thing stands out from the off – they love a center. 8 of the 9 forwards are centers by trade and fittingly the only winger, Karsten Olsen, was a defenceman to begin with. This means great depth in the middle (not quite US level but very possible second place) but less so elsewhere. This is particularly obvious on defence where Jokinen flies the flag alone in the Hall of Fame and the depth guys blend so much that I couldn't even pick one between Sixten of 30s Toronto fame and current Prague dinosaur Greg. But the contrast is clear in goal as well – Tukio is one of the greatest ever in contention with Shaw, Wingate, and the Cleganes yet somehow my first-gen who retired in S16 with 634 TPE is still the second-best Finland has managed to produce. Like Switzerland, we are top-heavy here and will struggle on the line changes. @.sniffuM @Jubo @jRuutu @Spence King @samx @Higgins @Jubis Denmark Aloe Dear - Lars Berger - Max Molholt Jerome Reinhart (GR) - Aksel Thomassen - Zach Arce Tomas Sogaard - Venus Thightrap - Niels Skovgaard / Tyler Reinhart (GR) Zeedayno Chara (GR) - Frans Spelman Asher Reinhart (GR) - Reylynn Reinhart (GR) Joe Madison (GR) - Sven Eightnine Grekkark Gyrfalcon (GR) Jakob Kjeldsen Tobias Reinhart (GR) The Danes have really put all their eggs in one basket. Six Hall of Famers is actually quite good going for a country that's not necessarily a hockey hotbed but each one has been a forward. Offense as a strategy is a pretty good one in the VHL and Dear, Berger, and Molholt is one of the higher-scoring first lines out there, but we shouldn't cut Denmark too much slack. They've been bailed out significantly by the VHL's Greenland and interlinked Reinhart epidemic and will soon need to worry about whether a stand-alone Denmark team could beat a stand-alone Greenland one. For now though, this is a well-balanced combined team which would hold its own in a Nordic tournament. @Renomitsu @Molholt @MexicanCow123 @Arce @Brandon @BladeMaiden @Zetterberg @Ricer13 @BarzalGoat @Spaz @Sharkstrong Germany Tyson Kohler - Markus Strauss - Christian Stolzschweiger Ignatius Feltersnatch - Felix Peters - Shawn Muller Marek Schultz - Lukas Muller - Wolfgang Strauss / Christoph Klose Jochen Walser - Joey Kendrick Erik Summers - Torsten Schwarz Cole Hagstrom / Jaeger Stryker - World B. Free / Klaus Muller Dominik Stryker Greg Harbinson Mathieu VanCoughnett Germany is definitely closer to the Swiss end of the range in that a lot of its strength comes from its past rather than more recent seasons. The majority of the roster had retired or at least debuted by S30 and talent has only trickled in since. There are two old names who continue to hold up well in modern discourse in Stolzschweiger and Walser and a strong trio of centers, while the 3 split decisions on the third line show that there is more than decent depth to call upon. Goaltending is definitely a weakness however, with one of the great first overall busts in VanCoughnett propping up two names more famous for their GM roles than their exploits on the ice. @Kendrick @gregreg @TheLastOlympian07 @der meister @Erik Summers @stevo @Zero Russia Alexander Beketov - Daric Radmonovic - Pavel Koradek Evgeni Fyodorov - Sergey Preobrazhensky - Nikolai Lebedev Bogdan Trunov - Igor Molotov - Yuri Grigorenko Maxim Kovalchuk - Aleksei Federov Radislav Mjers - Vladimir Boomchenko Siyan Yasilievich / Vladimir Pavlov - Victor Grachev Alexander Labatte Maxim Desny Rara Rasputin Finally we close off this piece with the Russian team which is quite similar to the Swedes in 1) being quite balanced with no real standout superstar and 2) being pleasingly stereotypical. Russia's famous in the hockey world for producing individually brilliant players with good attacking instincts and little in the way of a two-way game – it is both their strength and often their downfall. The all-time VHL Russian team is no exception with pretty much everyone on the team focused on scoring (other than the goalies of course) and doing so well enough to be in the Hall of Fame or at least the Hall of Very Good. Everyone on the roster except Desny is also a cup winner which is quite impressive so if nothing else, team Russia would be entertaining. @Bulduray_1 @qripll @Dom @Banackock @InstantRockstar @BOOM @badcolethetitan @KaleebtheMighty After Russia the disparity grows, with no other country really providing a consistent stream of high quality VHL players. Ukraine is the only other nation with more than 2 Hall of Famers, with 4, and features prominently on the best of the rest roster I've put together below just for fun. Of course there are not many traditional hockey markets not covered above (and indeed the UK and Denmark are probably less traditional than others). The Czech and Slovak presence has also been low in the VHL with just 1 Hall of Famer between them, while Latvia actually does quite well with 2 but as expected doesn't really have the depth. Apart from that, lots of VHL members opted to bring in talent from eclectic destinations, from Asia to Australia, from South Africa to the Caribbean. It's provided a good deal of flavour to the overall list but does mean there are still gaps to fill on the more traditional teams which should be the main takeaway from this.... don't make Canadians and Americans. Everyone else Volodymyr Rybak (UKR) - Franchise Cornerstone (MON) - Odin Tordahl (NOR) Lord Karnage (SOM) - Alexander Chershenko (UKR) - Duncan Idaho (SMR) Pietro Maximoff (ROM) - Grimm Jonsson (ISL) - J.D. Stomwall (NZL) *Ronan Lavelle (IRL) could have a claim here Japinder Singh (IND) - Condor Adrienne (VAT) James Bencharski (UKR) - Patrice Reynaud (FRA) Tui Sova (FIJ) - Roque Davis (POR) Greg Clegane (IRL) Daisuke Kanou (JPN) Alex Gegeny (NAM) @Baozi