Victor

DA HYPE

DA BEARZ

The Seattle Bears won their 5th Continental Cup in 10 seasons to complete a S77 beyond their wildest dream. It was the 2nd cup in a row that they won by defeating the Helsinki Titans in the finals – Helsinki came into the S73 finals with the league lead in championships and now the Bears have overtaken them with 11 overall. Not content with merely defeating the Titans and taking the cup record, the Bears went one further, taking one of Helsinki's top players, Venus Thightrap, in a sign and trade deal. Although the Titans got one good season of service from Thightrap as a free agent and will have few regrets, this is clearly a move that strengthens the champions, even with letting go captain and S77 top goalscorer Jim Bob, while weakening a key rival. This wasn't it though. The Bears then signed one of Helsinki's best defencemen in free agency, with James Rose opting to take his talents to Seattle and play alongside Hex Rose. Before the emergency salary cap measures implemented by the league, this would not have been possible but now the Bears have improved in the one position they had taken a hit after the retirement of Odin Omdahl. Finally, to put the cherry on the cake, Frank Funk, famous for bringing both Rayz and Frank Funk Jr. into the VHL – both champions with Seattle – was named Helsinki's new GM despite close ties to Seattle management. An unintended consequence of this was the abrupt retirement of Helsinki's other top defenceman, Emi Rune, leaving the Titans, on paper, far behind the Bears within a week of Game 5 of the finals.

Yeah I'm saying it's wrong lol

Believe this is incorrect - @Quik feel free to double check and the 3rd slot is actually Stein's (10 votes to Telker's 2). Sorry @Telkster but congrats @IHateBobNutting!

oooh someone wasn't happy with the GM announcement

Think the top teams are now: Moscow – 33 Vancouver - 21 Malmo – 20 Riga, Helsinki, Seattle – 18 each

Sign me up

Beats Helsinki, takes over Helsinki, what a power move.

This is collusion of the highest calibre.

Disappointed that this breaks up the Strong Jr, Baille Jr, Landry II, LeClair II dynamic in Prague.

Commitment to the VHLM GM mantra

This is some kinky shit

I mean not even in the top 25. It was a large ballot and I think you missed out due to a lack of hits and a rather ugly +/-, even in the context of Malmo.

@Darth Kaprizov 2 @Midnite 2 @a_Ferk 2 Seabasstard 2 @Xdjk93 2 @TXC 2 @Spaz 2 @scoop 2 @Gooningitup 2 @Telkster 2 @McKelvie 2 @TTtheT 2 @Frank 2 @GrittyIsKing09 2 @ROOKIE745 2 @Devise 2 @dasboot 2 @16z 2 @Emi 2 @JardyB10 2 @Xflexz 2 @der meister 2 @STZ 2 @Azlan 2 @Coldex 2 @Domg5 2 @Spence King 2 @PatrikLaine 2 @Gwdjohnson 2 @hedgehog337 2 @Toast 2 @Da_Berr 2 @Fire Vigneault 2 @Hank 2 @BOOM 2

@Vkobe-v 2 @Brewins15 2 @Patrik Tallinder 2 @N0HBDY 2 @JB123 2 @youloser1337 2 @UnkemptCL4PTP 2 Brutal_Boost 2 @NSG88 2 @Mongoose87 2 @Tate 2 @Rocket 2 @Garsh 2 @jaredc7 2 @Deee.Geee 1 @DreMin15 2 @Eldredman 2 @Eynhallow 2 @Gaikoku-hito 2 @Mashy 2 @Infernal 2 @MSO94 2 @kentakira 2 @assassin6898 2 @Jubis 2 @Jubis 2 @Jbeezy76 2 @chikn 2 @Rhynex Entertainment 2 @tcookie 2 @Minermonkey 2 @Matt thunder 2 @HearnNation67 2 @Hoopydog 2 @Tbeez99 2 @G_Rush 2 @Greg_Di 2 @Vat 2 @Tape-to-Tape 2 @McWolf 2 @GreenGato 2 @GoldGear88 2 @Eddie Dams 2 @animal74 2 @Garrett 2 @MSO94 2 @MexicanCow123 2 @MrShark 2 @v.2 2 @Advantage 2

@.sniffuM 2 @GustavMattias 2 @weekz 2 @RstortonYT 2 @Ahma 2 @bluesfan55 2 @Ricer13 2 @Lilpfigher 2 @TheCHEESE 2 @VOID Stiles 2 @Eso 2 @Crstats23 2 @jacobcarson877 2 @Phil 2 @fyrefly 2 @tinafrombobsburgers 2 @LilHCorny 2 @AW13 2 @Sonnet 2 @Grape 2 @Spartakiller2 2 @Ty343 2 @Jtv123 2 @qripll 2 @Big Dee 2 @KC15 2 @Noxalpha 2 @dlamb 2 @DoktorFunk 2 @ClapbombsRus 2 @Sportsboy57 2 @solas 2 @PadStack 1 @BladeMaiden 2 Jubo07 2 @McLovin 2 @Big Bob 2 @Hylands 2 @MattyIce 2 @JetsFan81 2 @TenZi 2 @jared 2 @BigTittySmitty 2 @Cornholio 2 @SirRupertBarnes 2 @enigmatic 2 @gorlab 2 @Ryan Li 2 @IHateBobNutting 2 @Spartan 2

1. Mikko Lahtinen has just retired having played his 99th playoff game, the 4th most of all time and the most by a player who never won the cup. True or false: Every single other player with at least 80 career playoff games has won the Continental Cup. This was a bit of a teaser for my media spot last week, as Lahtinen @Beketov had a formidable playoff career and yet never got to win the cup. As for this fun fact, it is remarkably true. All 38 other players with 80+ career playoff games won at least one cup in their time, be they Black Velvet and Franchise Cornerstone, or Gritty and Francis York Morgan. Unwanted record of the century? Anyway, you'd have needed the playoff stats to figure this one out: https://vhlforum.com/topic/1067-vhl-career-playoffs-stats-updated-for-s77/ And shameless plug for my MS with more playoff fun facts: https://vhlforum.com/topic/102983-records-being-set-and-other-fun-facts/ 2. How many times has there been a back-to-back VHLM champion? (Credit and 1 uncapped TPE to @Lilpfigher) Less frequently than the VHL, which makes sense as longevity is more difficult to achieve in the M. This feat has been achieved 5 times, and remarkably not once since Bratislava's double in S47-S48 - GMed by one @Banackock. The Watchmen managed to repeat twice, despite only being around for 23 seasons (RIP Bratislava yet again), while once this was achieved by Yukon, Brampton, and Saskatoon, the latter led by Top GM trophy namesake, Jack Reilly. Easiest place to find this info would have been here: https://vhlforum.com/topic/2941-vhlm-playoff-history-updated-for-s77/

@Josh

@a_Ferk robbed thanks though guys, been a while since I won one of these. On the winning team now which is a pleasant change...

I wasnt tagged for my Kanou win so assumed Doom was still kidnapped. I mean yes, that was exactly my dumb joke.

Thank you @MexicanCow123 also spoilers much? Awards ceremony isnt over yet

Blade

This better not derail Su's Hall of Fame career. Watching you Calgary.

Any chance for a Miami one @Enorama x