Victor

Daniela Tavau loved herself some Jokinen.

good thread name

F

A busy off-season in Seattle has seen a surprising pivot to retooling on the fly by long-term GM Blank Campbell. Gone are fan favourites Severus Targaryen, Gustav Mattias, and Mina, among others, and coming in are a fewer number of players and a decent amount of draft capital. Third-season forward Gianfranco Del Rocco has become the third best player on the roster overnight (in terms of TPA, ones Jasper Davis applies banked TPE post depreciation), which came as a slight shock to the Italian winger. “It's not something that was communicated to the team in advance,” Del Rocco says, “Obviously the GM has been around the block so those of us who remain have faith in his decisions, but it was still a slight shock to the system. We didn't perform as well as we could have in the last two seasons so maybe a small shake-up isn't the worst idea.” When asked about committing his future to the new Bears project Del Rocco was more avoidant. Having signed a 1-season extension last year through to the end of S96, it is understood the same offer is available for S97 but it won't be a decision the Italian makes before the start of the season.

not again

Finally free of Fong so I can actually chase down his cup record.

Yup this was a hotter debate 2-3 years back, I think the war is lost now.

Game recap 2 (RIP trivia) It was only ever going to end this way. Five times Toronto and Riga had met up in the Continental Cup finals and for the fifth time it was decided by a Game 7. In S9, legendary defenceman Jochen Walser seals his playoff MVP run with an overtime winner to give the Legion their first championship. In S10, rookie Zak Rawlyk returns the favour and Riga's first cup also comes in overtime. By S16, Rawlyk has scored another cup-winning goal for New York in S14 and is playing for Toronto now, but his S14 teammate Jeff McCarthy hits one from the blue-line to give the Reign another Continental Cup. In S51 it's about the goalies – Greg Clegane wins playoff MVP but it's his brother Sandro that gets the Game 7 shutout – Toronto's quest for a fourpeat is ended with 24 seconds left of normal time by Jeff Hamilton who would join the Legion the very next season. And who writes their name into history in S95? Axle Gunner of course, for the Reign's fourth finals win over the Legion and Gunner's second straight championship. Perhaps a Kanou trophy to match Walser is next in line.

Game recap (RIP trivia) With his career on the line, Toronto lifer Mac Atlas refused to accept defeat. Captain of the Legion for 7 seasons, a feat matched by only 7 others in VHL history (and beaten by just 3), and only the great Zach Parechkin of the threepeat in Toronto blue, Atlas put his team on his back to force Game 7. Two goals in the first and second period brought the Legion back from the brink after an early 2-0 Riga lead, and it seemed like job done for now when Toronto was one goal up with a minute to go. Alas, enter S87 draft rival Skor McFleury to tie things up with 35 seconds to spare. Atlas had to find one more extra gear, hitting a one-timer from a pass from Diego Machado 17 minutes into overtime. He lives to fight another day. Back to Latvia for the last game.

I don't, might need a reminder

There would have been something poetic about Vasteras winning the 1st and last of these but alas it hadn't been 25 seasons yet. Fitting that the league is signed off by the team that dominated it and made up for any VHL failings. Goodbye sweet E.

oooh that Game 4 could be massive

Under pressure from your GM?

RIGd

Vote for the most outstanding player of Season 95 @Members

The league is healing, low TPE goalies outperforming high TPE ones is in its very fabric. Refer to below, point 3 in particular

Story of my life Yeah I actually came across something after the recording that made me realise that. I mean I need to convey some sort of respectability as commish so I think that did the trick. All the more reason to revolt against that old fart Beketov. Makes the US senate look like preschool.

Three of the most common playoff match-ups in VHL history have taken place in Season 95. Riga beat Davos in their 21st match-up of all time, Toronto got the best of Seattle in their 20th, and Seattle's wildcard victory over Calgary was the pair's 19th meeting in the post-season. Riga vs Toronto is a throwback final too which puts that match-up in the joint 3rd most common intercontinental meeting. Riga and Toronto first contested two straight finals in S9 and S10 and after a short break Riga made it 2-1 in cups between them in S16. Then in S51, the Reign stopped the Legion's fourpeat in Game 7 of the famous Cleganebowl and they met most recently in S65, the last of the single conference days, when Toronto upset Riga en route to a second straight championship. Excluding that S65 semi-final match-up, every Toronto vs Riga final before then had gone the distance to 7 games. We could be in for another classic! Finally, the Reign make it back to the finals for the first time since their last championship in S72, ending the fourth-longest finals drought of all time. Toronto actually ended their own drought with the S91 Continental Cup, while Davos' slump ended in S87 before the cup drought itself ended in S89. It's good to see these historic franchises back on top and hopefully New York's time will come soon as well.

New York would give a lot for that run at this point tbh...

Rumour has it Del Rocco was waiting outside the locker room

yeah blocked shots have been high since more parity, but will have to see if the changes to curb save percentage will affect SBs as well.

Riga vs Toronto final it's like when I joined the league @Ahma @FrostBeard

I mean you did specialise in defencemen before

Two very tight series

I get the joke but also I literally did talk about my birthday