Victor

I still remember the shock I felt when I went first overall to Riga, all thanks to @hedgehog337 and @Nykonax. I was standing in my kitchen, watching my laptop when I went absolutely red-faced. Thank you for the great career! It was a blast being a member of the Reign
 
 

Ode to a Hedgehog

It's been one season since the retirement of the 2nd-longest serving GM in VHL history – one Benjamin Zeptenbergs, aka hedgehog, of the Riga Reign. It was a relatively quiet, anti-climactic exit as a 41-season tenure, nearly half of Riga's franchise history, came to an end. I think we could all see that Hedge was past his prime but given it was also, at least for now, the end of his VHL tenure, it's a bit of a shame there was no grand conclusion or even celebration of one of the greatest GM runs this league has seen. Yes he has his Builder article and many ex-players who speak highly of their time in Riga, but without cultivating a die-hard following and being quite reserved and never one to pump his own tires, Hedge has gone into the sunset without much fanfare at all. I'm here today to correct this wrong – the best achievements deserve recognition and Hedge's run as Riga Reign GM was exactly that. Here's an ode to a hedgehog.

 
The Lightning Quick Start
I actually missed the first few seasons of Hedge's GM career through inactivity but was pleased with what I saw when I came back. As a Riga native myself, the Reign have always held a special place in my heart ever since I was shocked to see them contesting the S9 Continental Cup finals on my first site to the VHL website in 2009. Although Riga went through several well-respected GMs over the years, from founder Dustin Funk to the controversial and outspoken but undeniably successful Mike Szatkowski, there was some poetic seeing one of our small but noticeable Latvian diaspora taking charge of the league's Latvian franchise. I don't know if Hedge applied for any non-Riga GM jobs but I like to think he wouldn't have and part of the reason for his longevity was that natural connection with his country's capital city.
 
Benjamin Zeptenbergs as a player had only come into the league as part of the S42 draft so he was only about 10 seasons in and on his second player when he took over from Steve Smeall in S53. Smeall had ended a decade of mediocrity with a cup in S51 and a finals appearance in S52 but drained Riga's resources in the process meaning there was a tough rebuilding task on his successor's hands. It seemed a tall order for a relative novice in the VHL – Zeptenbergs was definitely a success story as a player, having a solid career as a (back then) late selection at 14th overall, making it to the first two championships of Toronto's threepeat, but was not well-known as a person. A four-season stint in the VHLM with Bratislava was certainly a promising start, as Hedge led the Watchmen to their last Founder's Cup before their contraction, but probably got the Riga job through a combination of making up for that franchise's death, the lack of serious GM candidates at the time, and being one of about three promising members to join between S40 and S60. In other words, here's an emptied-out team in a sinking ship of a league, good luck.
 
But Hedge quashed any fears of drowning in the job. Statistically, the first eight seasons of his tenure were undoubtedly his most successful. The Reign were back in the playoffs by S54, took a brief break, and then won three straight Victory Cups from S56 to S58, adding a Continental Cup in both the latter two seasons. The lack of high-end or high-volume draft picks didn't matter – the cup-winning teams featured only two players drafted by Riga. Instead, Hedge wheeled and dealed his way to picking up his own player, Fredinamijs Krigars (and also his other own player, Guntis Petenis, although that one retired before the winning started), goalie Markus King, Krigars' famous linemate John Locke, and other stalwarts like Essian Ravenwing, Phil Shankly, and Lukas Muller. Krigars, Locke, King, and Muller all ended up in the Hall of Fame. The league couldn't handle the Reign.
 
Hedge didn't necessarily steal the assets he acquired, paying fair market value, but he was aggressive in the market at a time when you were better off going for guaranteed talent rather than hoping for patience through the shallow drafts. The just rewards came in the form of championships and two Top GM trophies – remarkably he would only win one more in his career – and the rookie became one of the game's veterans right as the VHL was entering its new golden age.

 
Record-Breaker
As someone who GMed in the “old” VHL – i.e. the era which Hedge's debut in the 50s falls into – and the modern VHL, my main takeaways are as follows. It's a bit easier now in that you don't need to nail every draft pick because, especially in deep drafts, there are plenty of opportunities to make up for mistakes. There are new challenges though, firstly in the fact there is double the amount of competition (although that wasn't yet the case in S60) and also in having to keep track of more people – your own players, other teams, and of course draftees and prospects. Most old school GMs who have tested the GM waters in this new age have coped well enough with the modern pressures, but there are very few I have seen as adept at it as prime Hedge was.
 
In Season 61, Hedge drafted my comeback player, Podrick Cast, to Riga. It was actually my first and to date only time with the Reign, but what a time it was to experience a master at work first hand. Whilst Cast himself had a record-breaking sophomore season, it was made all the more enjoyable by a boisterous locker room constantly overflowing with players ready to contend for the cup and ready-made prospects to keep the winning run going. Lots of the names Hedge scouted in the drafts have come and gone but some of the gems he unearthed include the likes of Ryuu Crimson, Shawn Glade, Rylan Peace, and Dan Baillie. Add in a sprinkling of star power – Cast, Hedge's own super goalie Kallis Kriketers, first-gen TPE machine Ryan Kastelic, Edwin Preencarnacion – and it was another S56-S58 team in the making.
 
The absolute success wasn't quite as forthcoming as the first time around but there was an early championship to quell fears of unrealised potential in Season 63, and then what would become a record-setting (and still-standing) 13-season playoff streak from S62 to S74. By constantly shifting out older players, bringing through lower-ranked prospects, and sticking to a reliable core with a sprinkling of veteran talent (but not selling the farm to acquire it), Hedge continuously kept Riga among the cup favourites and made more and more history with each passing season. Lincoln Tate, Apollo Hackett, Guy Sasakamoose, and Patrik Tallinder were some of the homegrown players to come through while the Reign were competing on the fly, complemented by acquisitions like Rauno Palo, Joseph McWolf, Phil Marleau, and Greg Eagles.
 
The only real regret in this time period was the relatively poor returns in the playoffs – after S63 there was just one more championship in S72, with a finals loss in S69 in between. This often led to exasperation on Hedge's behalf at the sim but he kept going and retooling on the fly with every player in equal measure important and expendable depending on the team's needs. It's a run which newer members might link to successful recent eras in Seattle, Moscow, and Vancouver where the GM has almost been the bigger star than the team. But Hedge did it first and his playoff streak still reigns supreme – with four Continental Cups to his name in 20 seasons, he could have easily retired in S74 already confirmed as one of the all-time greats.

 
Season 75
Sometimes history provides very obvious turning points to those studying it. The point at which war was inevitable, the moment the revolution was inevitable, the year the empire started to crumble. For Hedge and Riga, it's clear now that the beginning of the end was in Season 75 but it looked anything but at the time. If anything, this was to be his crowning glory, the icing on the cake, the final feather in his cap. Just as his long-time rival in Seattle had created a dynasty with four cups in six seasons, thus more or less making the two equals in terms of both tenure and achievements, Hedge looked like he was about to drop his greatest hit. Not unlike the Seattle/Vancouver/Moscow trio I mentioned above, Riga had just hit a perfect opportunity to briefly stop retooling and instead hit reset and come back even stronger. Hedge sold his best players to stack up on the hottest currency on the market – S75 draft picks. Within days the Reign held five first-round picks and four second-round picks in the deepest draft in VHL history.
 
So what happened? A bit of bad luck of course – after sneaking into the playoffs in S76, Riga missed out by a point in S77, two goals in S78, and five points in S80. Their two forays into the playoffs in the seven seasons after S75 were short and unsuccessful. Despite drafting a goalie in S75 (his own player, Sirkants Klamasteris), Hedge traded himself away to Toronto after a season, thus ensuring the Reign didn't have a franchise goalie in this time period. But the core was still there to do better. Not all the draft picks were hits, but enough TPE to do better was earned by the likes of Justin Lose, Linus Zetterstrom, Cabe McJake, Matt Thunder, and Jan Hlozek to perform better. Something didn't click for this Riga squad and to their credit (or foolishness) they weren't one of the meta-exploiting teams of the era which almost certainly worked against them. It was a setback and despite cobbling together a contender again in S82-S84, Hedge was visibly drained and for the first time, genuinely running out of steam.

 
The End
There was no last hurrah which a tenure like this truly deserved. Despite another straight five playoff appearances from S87 to S91, with the likes of The Frenchman, Skor McFleury and future D.C. playoff hero Henry Tucker Jr, Riga's last conference final appearances under Hedge came in S82 and S83. That was the furthest the Reign advanced in the playoffs in the nearly 20 seasons from the 13-season playoff streak ending in S74 to Hedge stepping down at the end of S93.
 
In S81, Hedge drafted a first-gen Alexandre Leduc 13th overall, the man who would end up replacing him in S94, the injection of new blood and energy immediately driving Riga to their best playoff performance in decades, with hope of more to come. Hedge definitely knew when it was time to go and perhaps regretted not doing it sooner but despite fortune turning away from him, his methods and approach remained as strong as ever. As late as S87 he was nominated for and won his last Top GM award. He continued to steadfastly back new talent in the league, and understood how to build an engaging and competitive team, and when to pull the plug and go for a rebuild. It was a quiet exit from the stage for one of the most reserved people to take on one of the league's most underappreciated roles. Never to bang his own drum, so I'm here to bang it for him. Benjamin Zeptenbergs was one of the greatest GMs the VHL has ever seen, for 20 seasons backed it with some of the best results we have witnessed, and for another 20 made sure even more members experienced a well-run franchise. See you soon @hedgehog337
 

 
Tagging everyone mentioned in the article so you can all come in and pay your respects too
@Kendrick @Will @solas @der meister @Phil @ShawnGlade @SlapshotWrangler @MubbleFubbles @Peace @wcats @Enorama @Renomitsu @Tate @Cxsquared @Patrik Tallinder @jRuutu @McWolf @Greg_Di @youloser1337 @Ledge @Red @Matt thunder @Bojovnik @OrbitingDeath  @Alex @NSG @Lemorse7 and of course @Banackock

Ode to a Hedgehog

It's been one season since the retirement of the 2nd-longest serving GM in VHL history – one Benjamin Zeptenbergs, aka hedgehog, of the Riga Reign. It was a relatively quiet, anti-climactic exit as a 41-season tenure, nearly half of Riga's franchise history, came to an end. I think we could all see that Hedge was past his prime but given it was also, at least for now, the end of his VHL tenure, it's a bit of a shame there was no grand conclusion or even celebration of one of the greatest GM runs this league has seen. Yes he has his Builder article and many ex-players who speak highly of their time in Riga, but without cultivating a die-hard following and being quite reserved and never one to pump his own tires, Hedge has gone into the sunset without much fanfare at all. I'm here today to correct this wrong – the best achievements deserve recognition and Hedge's run as Riga Reign GM was exactly that. Here's an ode to a hedgehog.

 
The Lightning Quick Start
I actually missed the first few seasons of Hedge's GM career through inactivity but was pleased with what I saw when I came back. As a Riga native myself, the Reign have always held a special place in my heart ever since I was shocked to see them contesting the S9 Continental Cup finals on my first site to the VHL website in 2009. Although Riga went through several well-respected GMs over the years, from founder Dustin Funk to the controversial and outspoken but undeniably successful Mike Szatkowski, there was some poetic seeing one of our small but noticeable Latvian diaspora taking charge of the league's Latvian franchise. I don't know if Hedge applied for any non-Riga GM jobs but I like to think he wouldn't have and part of the reason for his longevity was that natural connection with his country's capital city.
 
Benjamin Zeptenbergs as a player had only come into the league as part of the S42 draft so he was only about 10 seasons in and on his second player when he took over from Steve Smeall in S53. Smeall had ended a decade of mediocrity with a cup in S51 and a finals appearance in S52 but drained Riga's resources in the process meaning there was a tough rebuilding task on his successor's hands. It seemed a tall order for a relative novice in the VHL – Zeptenbergs was definitely a success story as a player, having a solid career as a (back then) late selection at 14th overall, making it to the first two championships of Toronto's threepeat, but was not well-known as a person. A four-season stint in the VHLM with Bratislava was certainly a promising start, as Hedge led the Watchmen to their last Founder's Cup before their contraction, but probably got the Riga job through a combination of making up for that franchise's death, the lack of serious GM candidates at the time, and being one of about three promising members to join between S40 and S60. In other words, here's an emptied-out team in a sinking ship of a league, good luck.
 
But Hedge quashed any fears of drowning in the job. Statistically, the first eight seasons of his tenure were undoubtedly his most successful. The Reign were back in the playoffs by S54, took a brief break, and then won three straight Victory Cups from S56 to S58, adding a Continental Cup in both the latter two seasons. The lack of high-end or high-volume draft picks didn't matter – the cup-winning teams featured only two players drafted by Riga. Instead, Hedge wheeled and dealed his way to picking up his own player, Fredinamijs Krigars (and also his other own player, Guntis Petenis, although that one retired before the winning started), goalie Markus King, Krigars' famous linemate John Locke, and other stalwarts like Essian Ravenwing, Phil Shankly, and Lukas Muller. Krigars, Locke, King, and Muller all ended up in the Hall of Fame. The league couldn't handle the Reign.
 
Hedge didn't necessarily steal the assets he acquired, paying fair market value, but he was aggressive in the market at a time when you were better off going for guaranteed talent rather than hoping for patience through the shallow drafts. The just rewards came in the form of championships and two Top GM trophies – remarkably he would only win one more in his career – and the rookie became one of the game's veterans right as the VHL was entering its new golden age.

 
Record-Breaker
As someone who GMed in the “old” VHL – i.e. the era which Hedge's debut in the 50s falls into – and the modern VHL, my main takeaways are as follows. It's a bit easier now in that you don't need to nail every draft pick because, especially in deep drafts, there are plenty of opportunities to make up for mistakes. There are new challenges though, firstly in the fact there is double the amount of competition (although that wasn't yet the case in S60) and also in having to keep track of more people – your own players, other teams, and of course draftees and prospects. Most old school GMs who have tested the GM waters in this new age have coped well enough with the modern pressures, but there are very few I have seen as adept at it as prime Hedge was.
 
In Season 61, Hedge drafted my comeback player, Podrick Cast, to Riga. It was actually my first and to date only time with the Reign, but what a time it was to experience a master at work first hand. Whilst Cast himself had a record-breaking sophomore season, it was made all the more enjoyable by a boisterous locker room constantly overflowing with players ready to contend for the cup and ready-made prospects to keep the winning run going. Lots of the names Hedge scouted in the drafts have come and gone but some of the gems he unearthed include the likes of Ryuu Crimson, Shawn Glade, Rylan Peace, and Dan Baillie. Add in a sprinkling of star power – Cast, Hedge's own super goalie Kallis Kriketers, first-gen TPE machine Ryan Kastelic, Edwin Preencarnacion – and it was another S56-S58 team in the making.
 
The absolute success wasn't quite as forthcoming as the first time around but there was an early championship to quell fears of unrealised potential in Season 63, and then what would become a record-setting (and still-standing) 13-season playoff streak from S62 to S74. By constantly shifting out older players, bringing through lower-ranked prospects, and sticking to a reliable core with a sprinkling of veteran talent (but not selling the farm to acquire it), Hedge continuously kept Riga among the cup favourites and made more and more history with each passing season. Lincoln Tate, Apollo Hackett, Guy Sasakamoose, and Patrik Tallinder were some of the homegrown players to come through while the Reign were competing on the fly, complemented by acquisitions like Rauno Palo, Joseph McWolf, Phil Marleau, and Greg Eagles.
 
The only real regret in this time period was the relatively poor returns in the playoffs – after S63 there was just one more championship in S72, with a finals loss in S69 in between. This often led to exasperation on Hedge's behalf at the sim but he kept going and retooling on the fly with every player in equal measure important and expendable depending on the team's needs. It's a run which newer members might link to successful recent eras in Seattle, Moscow, and Vancouver where the GM has almost been the bigger star than the team. But Hedge did it first and his playoff streak still reigns supreme – with four Continental Cups to his name in 20 seasons, he could have easily retired in S74 already confirmed as one of the all-time greats.

 
Season 75
Sometimes history provides very obvious turning points to those studying it. The point at which war was inevitable, the moment the revolution was inevitable, the year the empire started to crumble. For Hedge and Riga, it's clear now that the beginning of the end was in Season 75 but it looked anything but at the time. If anything, this was to be his crowning glory, the icing on the cake, the final feather in his cap. Just as his long-time rival in Seattle had created a dynasty with four cups in six seasons, thus more or less making the two equals in terms of both tenure and achievements, Hedge looked like he was about to drop his greatest hit. Not unlike the Seattle/Vancouver/Moscow trio I mentioned above, Riga had just hit a perfect opportunity to briefly stop retooling and instead hit reset and come back even stronger. Hedge sold his best players to stack up on the hottest currency on the market – S75 draft picks. Within days the Reign held five first-round picks and four second-round picks in the deepest draft in VHL history.
 
So what happened? A bit of bad luck of course – after sneaking into the playoffs in S76, Riga missed out by a point in S77, two goals in S78, and five points in S80. Their two forays into the playoffs in the seven seasons after S75 were short and unsuccessful. Despite drafting a goalie in S75 (his own player, Sirkants Klamasteris), Hedge traded himself away to Toronto after a season, thus ensuring the Reign didn't have a franchise goalie in this time period. But the core was still there to do better. Not all the draft picks were hits, but enough TPE to do better was earned by the likes of Justin Lose, Linus Zetterstrom, Cabe McJake, Matt Thunder, and Jan Hlozek to perform better. Something didn't click for this Riga squad and to their credit (or foolishness) they weren't one of the meta-exploiting teams of the era which almost certainly worked against them. It was a setback and despite cobbling together a contender again in S82-S84, Hedge was visibly drained and for the first time, genuinely running out of steam.

 
The End
There was no last hurrah which a tenure like this truly deserved. Despite another straight five playoff appearances from S87 to S91, with the likes of The Frenchman, Skor McFleury and future D.C. playoff hero Henry Tucker Jr, Riga's last conference final appearances under Hedge came in S82 and S83. That was the furthest the Reign advanced in the playoffs in the nearly 20 seasons from the 13-season playoff streak ending in S74 to Hedge stepping down at the end of S93.
 
In S81, Hedge drafted a first-gen Alexandre Leduc 13th overall, the man who would end up replacing him in S94, the injection of new blood and energy immediately driving Riga to their best playoff performance in decades, with hope of more to come. Hedge definitely knew when it was time to go and perhaps regretted not doing it sooner but despite fortune turning away from him, his methods and approach remained as strong as ever. As late as S87 he was nominated for and won his last Top GM award. He continued to steadfastly back new talent in the league, and understood how to build an engaging and competitive team, and when to pull the plug and go for a rebuild. It was a quiet exit from the stage for one of the most reserved people to take on one of the league's most underappreciated roles. Never to bang his own drum, so I'm here to bang it for him. Benjamin Zeptenbergs was one of the greatest GMs the VHL has ever seen, for 20 seasons backed it with some of the best results we have witnessed, and for another 20 made sure even more members experienced a well-run franchise. See you soon @hedgehog337
 

 
Tagging everyone mentioned in the article so you can all come in and pay your respects too
@Kendrick @Will @solas @der meister @Phil @ShawnGlade @SlapshotWrangler @MubbleFubbles @Peace @wcats @Enorama @Renomitsu @Tate @Cxsquared @Patrik Tallinder @jRuutu @McWolf @Greg_Di @youloser1337 @Ledge @Red @Matt thunder @Bojovnik @OrbitingDeath  @Alex @NSG @Lemorse7 and of course @Banackock

Ode to a Hedgehog

It's been one season since the retirement of the 2nd-longest serving GM in VHL history – one Benjamin Zeptenbergs, aka hedgehog, of the Riga Reign. It was a relatively quiet, anti-climactic exit as a 41-season tenure, nearly half of Riga's franchise history, came to an end. I think we could all see that Hedge was past his prime but given it was also, at least for now, the end of his VHL tenure, it's a bit of a shame there was no grand conclusion or even celebration of one of the greatest GM runs this league has seen. Yes he has his Builder article and many ex-players who speak highly of their time in Riga, but without cultivating a die-hard following and being quite reserved and never one to pump his own tires, Hedge has gone into the sunset without much fanfare at all. I'm here today to correct this wrong – the best achievements deserve recognition and Hedge's run as Riga Reign GM was exactly that. Here's an ode to a hedgehog.

 
The Lightning Quick Start
I actually missed the first few seasons of Hedge's GM career through inactivity but was pleased with what I saw when I came back. As a Riga native myself, the Reign have always held a special place in my heart ever since I was shocked to see them contesting the S9 Continental Cup finals on my first site to the VHL website in 2009. Although Riga went through several well-respected GMs over the years, from founder Dustin Funk to the controversial and outspoken but undeniably successful Mike Szatkowski, there was some poetic seeing one of our small but noticeable Latvian diaspora taking charge of the league's Latvian franchise. I don't know if Hedge applied for any non-Riga GM jobs but I like to think he wouldn't have and part of the reason for his longevity was that natural connection with his country's capital city.
 
Benjamin Zeptenbergs as a player had only come into the league as part of the S42 draft so he was only about 10 seasons in and on his second player when he took over from Steve Smeall in S53. Smeall had ended a decade of mediocrity with a cup in S51 and a finals appearance in S52 but drained Riga's resources in the process meaning there was a tough rebuilding task on his successor's hands. It seemed a tall order for a relative novice in the VHL – Zeptenbergs was definitely a success story as a player, having a solid career as a (back then) late selection at 14th overall, making it to the first two championships of Toronto's threepeat, but was not well-known as a person. A four-season stint in the VHLM with Bratislava was certainly a promising start, as Hedge led the Watchmen to their last Founder's Cup before their contraction, but probably got the Riga job through a combination of making up for that franchise's death, the lack of serious GM candidates at the time, and being one of about three promising members to join between S40 and S60. In other words, here's an emptied-out team in a sinking ship of a league, good luck.
 
But Hedge quashed any fears of drowning in the job. Statistically, the first eight seasons of his tenure were undoubtedly his most successful. The Reign were back in the playoffs by S54, took a brief break, and then won three straight Victory Cups from S56 to S58, adding a Continental Cup in both the latter two seasons. The lack of high-end or high-volume draft picks didn't matter – the cup-winning teams featured only two players drafted by Riga. Instead, Hedge wheeled and dealed his way to picking up his own player, Fredinamijs Krigars (and also his other own player, Guntis Petenis, although that one retired before the winning started), goalie Markus King, Krigars' famous linemate John Locke, and other stalwarts like Essian Ravenwing, Phil Shankly, and Lukas Muller. Krigars, Locke, King, and Muller all ended up in the Hall of Fame. The league couldn't handle the Reign.
 
Hedge didn't necessarily steal the assets he acquired, paying fair market value, but he was aggressive in the market at a time when you were better off going for guaranteed talent rather than hoping for patience through the shallow drafts. The just rewards came in the form of championships and two Top GM trophies – remarkably he would only win one more in his career – and the rookie became one of the game's veterans right as the VHL was entering its new golden age.

 
Record-Breaker
As someone who GMed in the “old” VHL – i.e. the era which Hedge's debut in the 50s falls into – and the modern VHL, my main takeaways are as follows. It's a bit easier now in that you don't need to nail every draft pick because, especially in deep drafts, there are plenty of opportunities to make up for mistakes. There are new challenges though, firstly in the fact there is double the amount of competition (although that wasn't yet the case in S60) and also in having to keep track of more people – your own players, other teams, and of course draftees and prospects. Most old school GMs who have tested the GM waters in this new age have coped well enough with the modern pressures, but there are very few I have seen as adept at it as prime Hedge was.
 
In Season 61, Hedge drafted my comeback player, Podrick Cast, to Riga. It was actually my first and to date only time with the Reign, but what a time it was to experience a master at work first hand. Whilst Cast himself had a record-breaking sophomore season, it was made all the more enjoyable by a boisterous locker room constantly overflowing with players ready to contend for the cup and ready-made prospects to keep the winning run going. Lots of the names Hedge scouted in the drafts have come and gone but some of the gems he unearthed include the likes of Ryuu Crimson, Shawn Glade, Rylan Peace, and Dan Baillie. Add in a sprinkling of star power – Cast, Hedge's own super goalie Kallis Kriketers, first-gen TPE machine Ryan Kastelic, Edwin Preencarnacion – and it was another S56-S58 team in the making.
 
The absolute success wasn't quite as forthcoming as the first time around but there was an early championship to quell fears of unrealised potential in Season 63, and then what would become a record-setting (and still-standing) 13-season playoff streak from S62 to S74. By constantly shifting out older players, bringing through lower-ranked prospects, and sticking to a reliable core with a sprinkling of veteran talent (but not selling the farm to acquire it), Hedge continuously kept Riga among the cup favourites and made more and more history with each passing season. Lincoln Tate, Apollo Hackett, Guy Sasakamoose, and Patrik Tallinder were some of the homegrown players to come through while the Reign were competing on the fly, complemented by acquisitions like Rauno Palo, Joseph McWolf, Phil Marleau, and Greg Eagles.
 
The only real regret in this time period was the relatively poor returns in the playoffs – after S63 there was just one more championship in S72, with a finals loss in S69 in between. This often led to exasperation on Hedge's behalf at the sim but he kept going and retooling on the fly with every player in equal measure important and expendable depending on the team's needs. It's a run which newer members might link to successful recent eras in Seattle, Moscow, and Vancouver where the GM has almost been the bigger star than the team. But Hedge did it first and his playoff streak still reigns supreme – with four Continental Cups to his name in 20 seasons, he could have easily retired in S74 already confirmed as one of the all-time greats.

 
Season 75
Sometimes history provides very obvious turning points to those studying it. The point at which war was inevitable, the moment the revolution was inevitable, the year the empire started to crumble. For Hedge and Riga, it's clear now that the beginning of the end was in Season 75 but it looked anything but at the time. If anything, this was to be his crowning glory, the icing on the cake, the final feather in his cap. Just as his long-time rival in Seattle had created a dynasty with four cups in six seasons, thus more or less making the two equals in terms of both tenure and achievements, Hedge looked like he was about to drop his greatest hit. Not unlike the Seattle/Vancouver/Moscow trio I mentioned above, Riga had just hit a perfect opportunity to briefly stop retooling and instead hit reset and come back even stronger. Hedge sold his best players to stack up on the hottest currency on the market – S75 draft picks. Within days the Reign held five first-round picks and four second-round picks in the deepest draft in VHL history.
 
So what happened? A bit of bad luck of course – after sneaking into the playoffs in S76, Riga missed out by a point in S77, two goals in S78, and five points in S80. Their two forays into the playoffs in the seven seasons after S75 were short and unsuccessful. Despite drafting a goalie in S75 (his own player, Sirkants Klamasteris), Hedge traded himself away to Toronto after a season, thus ensuring the Reign didn't have a franchise goalie in this time period. But the core was still there to do better. Not all the draft picks were hits, but enough TPE to do better was earned by the likes of Justin Lose, Linus Zetterstrom, Cabe McJake, Matt Thunder, and Jan Hlozek to perform better. Something didn't click for this Riga squad and to their credit (or foolishness) they weren't one of the meta-exploiting teams of the era which almost certainly worked against them. It was a setback and despite cobbling together a contender again in S82-S84, Hedge was visibly drained and for the first time, genuinely running out of steam.

 
The End
There was no last hurrah which a tenure like this truly deserved. Despite another straight five playoff appearances from S87 to S91, with the likes of The Frenchman, Skor McFleury and future D.C. playoff hero Henry Tucker Jr, Riga's last conference final appearances under Hedge came in S82 and S83. That was the furthest the Reign advanced in the playoffs in the nearly 20 seasons from the 13-season playoff streak ending in S74 to Hedge stepping down at the end of S93.
 
In S81, Hedge drafted a first-gen Alexandre Leduc 13th overall, the man who would end up replacing him in S94, the injection of new blood and energy immediately driving Riga to their best playoff performance in decades, with hope of more to come. Hedge definitely knew when it was time to go and perhaps regretted not doing it sooner but despite fortune turning away from him, his methods and approach remained as strong as ever. As late as S87 he was nominated for and won his last Top GM award. He continued to steadfastly back new talent in the league, and understood how to build an engaging and competitive team, and when to pull the plug and go for a rebuild. It was a quiet exit from the stage for one of the most reserved people to take on one of the league's most underappreciated roles. Never to bang his own drum, so I'm here to bang it for him. Benjamin Zeptenbergs was one of the greatest GMs the VHL has ever seen, for 20 seasons backed it with some of the best results we have witnessed, and for another 20 made sure even more members experienced a well-run franchise. See you soon @hedgehog337
 

 
Tagging everyone mentioned in the article so you can all come in and pay your respects too
@Kendrick @Will @solas @der meister @Phil @ShawnGlade @SlapshotWrangler @MubbleFubbles @Peace @wcats @Enorama @Renomitsu @Tate @Cxsquared @Patrik Tallinder @jRuutu @McWolf @Greg_Di @youloser1337 @Ledge @Red @Matt thunder @Bojovnik @OrbitingDeath  @Alex @NSG @Lemorse7 and of course @Banackock

Great article. @hedgehog337 is so deserving of this recognition. Such a wonderful GM and member.  

Ode to a Hedgehog

It's been one season since the retirement of the 2nd-longest serving GM in VHL history – one Benjamin Zeptenbergs, aka hedgehog, of the Riga Reign. It was a relatively quiet, anti-climactic exit as a 41-season tenure, nearly half of Riga's franchise history, came to an end. I think we could all see that Hedge was past his prime but given it was also, at least for now, the end of his VHL tenure, it's a bit of a shame there was no grand conclusion or even celebration of one of the greatest GM runs this league has seen. Yes he has his Builder article and many ex-players who speak highly of their time in Riga, but without cultivating a die-hard following and being quite reserved and never one to pump his own tires, Hedge has gone into the sunset without much fanfare at all. I'm here today to correct this wrong – the best achievements deserve recognition and Hedge's run as Riga Reign GM was exactly that. Here's an ode to a hedgehog.

 
The Lightning Quick Start
I actually missed the first few seasons of Hedge's GM career through inactivity but was pleased with what I saw when I came back. As a Riga native myself, the Reign have always held a special place in my heart ever since I was shocked to see them contesting the S9 Continental Cup finals on my first site to the VHL website in 2009. Although Riga went through several well-respected GMs over the years, from founder Dustin Funk to the controversial and outspoken but undeniably successful Mike Szatkowski, there was some poetic seeing one of our small but noticeable Latvian diaspora taking charge of the league's Latvian franchise. I don't know if Hedge applied for any non-Riga GM jobs but I like to think he wouldn't have and part of the reason for his longevity was that natural connection with his country's capital city.
 
Benjamin Zeptenbergs as a player had only come into the league as part of the S42 draft so he was only about 10 seasons in and on his second player when he took over from Steve Smeall in S53. Smeall had ended a decade of mediocrity with a cup in S51 and a finals appearance in S52 but drained Riga's resources in the process meaning there was a tough rebuilding task on his successor's hands. It seemed a tall order for a relative novice in the VHL – Zeptenbergs was definitely a success story as a player, having a solid career as a (back then) late selection at 14th overall, making it to the first two championships of Toronto's threepeat, but was not well-known as a person. A four-season stint in the VHLM with Bratislava was certainly a promising start, as Hedge led the Watchmen to their last Founder's Cup before their contraction, but probably got the Riga job through a combination of making up for that franchise's death, the lack of serious GM candidates at the time, and being one of about three promising members to join between S40 and S60. In other words, here's an emptied-out team in a sinking ship of a league, good luck.
 
But Hedge quashed any fears of drowning in the job. Statistically, the first eight seasons of his tenure were undoubtedly his most successful. The Reign were back in the playoffs by S54, took a brief break, and then won three straight Victory Cups from S56 to S58, adding a Continental Cup in both the latter two seasons. The lack of high-end or high-volume draft picks didn't matter – the cup-winning teams featured only two players drafted by Riga. Instead, Hedge wheeled and dealed his way to picking up his own player, Fredinamijs Krigars (and also his other own player, Guntis Petenis, although that one retired before the winning started), goalie Markus King, Krigars' famous linemate John Locke, and other stalwarts like Essian Ravenwing, Phil Shankly, and Lukas Muller. Krigars, Locke, King, and Muller all ended up in the Hall of Fame. The league couldn't handle the Reign.
 
Hedge didn't necessarily steal the assets he acquired, paying fair market value, but he was aggressive in the market at a time when you were better off going for guaranteed talent rather than hoping for patience through the shallow drafts. The just rewards came in the form of championships and two Top GM trophies – remarkably he would only win one more in his career – and the rookie became one of the game's veterans right as the VHL was entering its new golden age.

 
Record-Breaker
As someone who GMed in the “old” VHL – i.e. the era which Hedge's debut in the 50s falls into – and the modern VHL, my main takeaways are as follows. It's a bit easier now in that you don't need to nail every draft pick because, especially in deep drafts, there are plenty of opportunities to make up for mistakes. There are new challenges though, firstly in the fact there is double the amount of competition (although that wasn't yet the case in S60) and also in having to keep track of more people – your own players, other teams, and of course draftees and prospects. Most old school GMs who have tested the GM waters in this new age have coped well enough with the modern pressures, but there are very few I have seen as adept at it as prime Hedge was.
 
In Season 61, Hedge drafted my comeback player, Podrick Cast, to Riga. It was actually my first and to date only time with the Reign, but what a time it was to experience a master at work first hand. Whilst Cast himself had a record-breaking sophomore season, it was made all the more enjoyable by a boisterous locker room constantly overflowing with players ready to contend for the cup and ready-made prospects to keep the winning run going. Lots of the names Hedge scouted in the drafts have come and gone but some of the gems he unearthed include the likes of Ryuu Crimson, Shawn Glade, Rylan Peace, and Dan Baillie. Add in a sprinkling of star power – Cast, Hedge's own super goalie Kallis Kriketers, first-gen TPE machine Ryan Kastelic, Edwin Preencarnacion – and it was another S56-S58 team in the making.
 
The absolute success wasn't quite as forthcoming as the first time around but there was an early championship to quell fears of unrealised potential in Season 63, and then what would become a record-setting (and still-standing) 13-season playoff streak from S62 to S74. By constantly shifting out older players, bringing through lower-ranked prospects, and sticking to a reliable core with a sprinkling of veteran talent (but not selling the farm to acquire it), Hedge continuously kept Riga among the cup favourites and made more and more history with each passing season. Lincoln Tate, Apollo Hackett, Guy Sasakamoose, and Patrik Tallinder were some of the homegrown players to come through while the Reign were competing on the fly, complemented by acquisitions like Rauno Palo, Joseph McWolf, Phil Marleau, and Greg Eagles.
 
The only real regret in this time period was the relatively poor returns in the playoffs – after S63 there was just one more championship in S72, with a finals loss in S69 in between. This often led to exasperation on Hedge's behalf at the sim but he kept going and retooling on the fly with every player in equal measure important and expendable depending on the team's needs. It's a run which newer members might link to successful recent eras in Seattle, Moscow, and Vancouver where the GM has almost been the bigger star than the team. But Hedge did it first and his playoff streak still reigns supreme – with four Continental Cups to his name in 20 seasons, he could have easily retired in S74 already confirmed as one of the all-time greats.

 
Season 75
Sometimes history provides very obvious turning points to those studying it. The point at which war was inevitable, the moment the revolution was inevitable, the year the empire started to crumble. For Hedge and Riga, it's clear now that the beginning of the end was in Season 75 but it looked anything but at the time. If anything, this was to be his crowning glory, the icing on the cake, the final feather in his cap. Just as his long-time rival in Seattle had created a dynasty with four cups in six seasons, thus more or less making the two equals in terms of both tenure and achievements, Hedge looked like he was about to drop his greatest hit. Not unlike the Seattle/Vancouver/Moscow trio I mentioned above, Riga had just hit a perfect opportunity to briefly stop retooling and instead hit reset and come back even stronger. Hedge sold his best players to stack up on the hottest currency on the market – S75 draft picks. Within days the Reign held five first-round picks and four second-round picks in the deepest draft in VHL history.
 
So what happened? A bit of bad luck of course – after sneaking into the playoffs in S76, Riga missed out by a point in S77, two goals in S78, and five points in S80. Their two forays into the playoffs in the seven seasons after S75 were short and unsuccessful. Despite drafting a goalie in S75 (his own player, Sirkants Klamasteris), Hedge traded himself away to Toronto after a season, thus ensuring the Reign didn't have a franchise goalie in this time period. But the core was still there to do better. Not all the draft picks were hits, but enough TPE to do better was earned by the likes of Justin Lose, Linus Zetterstrom, Cabe McJake, Matt Thunder, and Jan Hlozek to perform better. Something didn't click for this Riga squad and to their credit (or foolishness) they weren't one of the meta-exploiting teams of the era which almost certainly worked against them. It was a setback and despite cobbling together a contender again in S82-S84, Hedge was visibly drained and for the first time, genuinely running out of steam.

 
The End
There was no last hurrah which a tenure like this truly deserved. Despite another straight five playoff appearances from S87 to S91, with the likes of The Frenchman, Skor McFleury and future D.C. playoff hero Henry Tucker Jr, Riga's last conference final appearances under Hedge came in S82 and S83. That was the furthest the Reign advanced in the playoffs in the nearly 20 seasons from the 13-season playoff streak ending in S74 to Hedge stepping down at the end of S93.
 
In S81, Hedge drafted a first-gen Alexandre Leduc 13th overall, the man who would end up replacing him in S94, the injection of new blood and energy immediately driving Riga to their best playoff performance in decades, with hope of more to come. Hedge definitely knew when it was time to go and perhaps regretted not doing it sooner but despite fortune turning away from him, his methods and approach remained as strong as ever. As late as S87 he was nominated for and won his last Top GM award. He continued to steadfastly back new talent in the league, and understood how to build an engaging and competitive team, and when to pull the plug and go for a rebuild. It was a quiet exit from the stage for one of the most reserved people to take on one of the league's most underappreciated roles. Never to bang his own drum, so I'm here to bang it for him. Benjamin Zeptenbergs was one of the greatest GMs the VHL has ever seen, for 20 seasons backed it with some of the best results we have witnessed, and for another 20 made sure even more members experienced a well-run franchise. See you soon @hedgehog337
 

 
Tagging everyone mentioned in the article so you can all come in and pay your respects too
@Kendrick @Will @solas @der meister @Phil @ShawnGlade @SlapshotWrangler @MubbleFubbles @Peace @wcats @Enorama @Renomitsu @Tate @Cxsquared @Patrik Tallinder @jRuutu @McWolf @Greg_Di @youloser1337 @Ledge @Red @Matt thunder @Bojovnik @OrbitingDeath  @Alex @NSG @Lemorse7 and of course @Banackock

One more member of VHL has been thrown to the wolves - " user Diacope has received an indefinite ban per code of conduct item 1.5." The suits state the user has frequently broken the mentioned item 1.5, which is titled: "Drama, Fighting, and Trolling".  What has been said and/or done is not explained. I was curious, so I decided to listen to the cold streets of VHL in the hopes of finding clues and hints that could explain the decision to ban an active member of VHL.
 

What I found was interesting. By the looks of it, the user is a notorious anti-masker and possibly a Covid-denier. Evidence one shows user Diacope asking an anonymous user if they are ugly, a clear statement against the need to wear masks for any other reason than to hide your face. As we all remember and know, one of the main reasons the masks are worn is Covid, so when the user questions the need to wear masks they are also questioning Covid. They continue by stating: "at least I'm not hiding my face", an attempt to soften the blow caused by the first comment as user Diacope is showing they are vulnerable and "real" by showing their face to the whole world, they are not afraid,  the goal clearly is to encourage the anonymous user to open up about their views about masks and Covid.   
 
A final attempt to get the anonymous user to open up comes by reminding how the anonymous user has "been here longer too". A reference to the age of the anonymous user and how they were an adult well before the Covid pandemic started. Generally speaking, younger people are expected to follow the crowds and do as they are told. Those who are older are expected to think for themselves. User Diacope is saying the anonymous user "should know better" as they have been here longer too. A jab against Covid and the masks as user Diacope is questioning how the anonymous user can be so up in arms about the masks despite having the experience and knowledge that comes purely from age alone. Frustrated by the lack of responses user Diacope almost encourages the anonymous user to "report me already". In this case, reporting means reporting user Diacope to the suits as these types of discussions in VHL are not something the suits hope to see. The encouragement is also an apology, user Diacope is saying: "Sorry for speaking and asking these questions". To me, these comments clearly show one thing: user Diacope is not afraid to question the narratives spread by the media. Understandably, not everybody is comfortable participating in discussions that could be described as political, but is it enough to ban someone?
 
In the second piece of evidence, I have carefully censored a word that could lead to the user that user Diacope is referring to. User Diacope states a previous approach on a signature was "little racist". As a white man and after seeing the signature user Diacope is referring to, I think user Diacope got this one wrong. It was not racist. But once again - is something like this enough to ban someone?
 
Unfortunately, the world we live in is scared of hot babes asking questions and being something else than pretty and quiet. Diacope is not guilty of breaking conduct item 1.5. Diacope is guilty of making us feel and think perhaps for the first time in a long time.
 
 

Ode to a Hedgehog

It's been one season since the retirement of the 2nd-longest serving GM in VHL history – one Benjamin Zeptenbergs, aka hedgehog, of the Riga Reign. It was a relatively quiet, anti-climactic exit as a 41-season tenure, nearly half of Riga's franchise history, came to an end. I think we could all see that Hedge was past his prime but given it was also, at least for now, the end of his VHL tenure, it's a bit of a shame there was no grand conclusion or even celebration of one of the greatest GM runs this league has seen. Yes he has his Builder article and many ex-players who speak highly of their time in Riga, but without cultivating a die-hard following and being quite reserved and never one to pump his own tires, Hedge has gone into the sunset without much fanfare at all. I'm here today to correct this wrong – the best achievements deserve recognition and Hedge's run as Riga Reign GM was exactly that. Here's an ode to a hedgehog.

 
The Lightning Quick Start
I actually missed the first few seasons of Hedge's GM career through inactivity but was pleased with what I saw when I came back. As a Riga native myself, the Reign have always held a special place in my heart ever since I was shocked to see them contesting the S9 Continental Cup finals on my first site to the VHL website in 2009. Although Riga went through several well-respected GMs over the years, from founder Dustin Funk to the controversial and outspoken but undeniably successful Mike Szatkowski, there was some poetic seeing one of our small but noticeable Latvian diaspora taking charge of the league's Latvian franchise. I don't know if Hedge applied for any non-Riga GM jobs but I like to think he wouldn't have and part of the reason for his longevity was that natural connection with his country's capital city.
 
Benjamin Zeptenbergs as a player had only come into the league as part of the S42 draft so he was only about 10 seasons in and on his second player when he took over from Steve Smeall in S53. Smeall had ended a decade of mediocrity with a cup in S51 and a finals appearance in S52 but drained Riga's resources in the process meaning there was a tough rebuilding task on his successor's hands. It seemed a tall order for a relative novice in the VHL – Zeptenbergs was definitely a success story as a player, having a solid career as a (back then) late selection at 14th overall, making it to the first two championships of Toronto's threepeat, but was not well-known as a person. A four-season stint in the VHLM with Bratislava was certainly a promising start, as Hedge led the Watchmen to their last Founder's Cup before their contraction, but probably got the Riga job through a combination of making up for that franchise's death, the lack of serious GM candidates at the time, and being one of about three promising members to join between S40 and S60. In other words, here's an emptied-out team in a sinking ship of a league, good luck.
 
But Hedge quashed any fears of drowning in the job. Statistically, the first eight seasons of his tenure were undoubtedly his most successful. The Reign were back in the playoffs by S54, took a brief break, and then won three straight Victory Cups from S56 to S58, adding a Continental Cup in both the latter two seasons. The lack of high-end or high-volume draft picks didn't matter – the cup-winning teams featured only two players drafted by Riga. Instead, Hedge wheeled and dealed his way to picking up his own player, Fredinamijs Krigars (and also his other own player, Guntis Petenis, although that one retired before the winning started), goalie Markus King, Krigars' famous linemate John Locke, and other stalwarts like Essian Ravenwing, Phil Shankly, and Lukas Muller. Krigars, Locke, King, and Muller all ended up in the Hall of Fame. The league couldn't handle the Reign.
 
Hedge didn't necessarily steal the assets he acquired, paying fair market value, but he was aggressive in the market at a time when you were better off going for guaranteed talent rather than hoping for patience through the shallow drafts. The just rewards came in the form of championships and two Top GM trophies – remarkably he would only win one more in his career – and the rookie became one of the game's veterans right as the VHL was entering its new golden age.

 
Record-Breaker
As someone who GMed in the “old” VHL – i.e. the era which Hedge's debut in the 50s falls into – and the modern VHL, my main takeaways are as follows. It's a bit easier now in that you don't need to nail every draft pick because, especially in deep drafts, there are plenty of opportunities to make up for mistakes. There are new challenges though, firstly in the fact there is double the amount of competition (although that wasn't yet the case in S60) and also in having to keep track of more people – your own players, other teams, and of course draftees and prospects. Most old school GMs who have tested the GM waters in this new age have coped well enough with the modern pressures, but there are very few I have seen as adept at it as prime Hedge was.
 
In Season 61, Hedge drafted my comeback player, Podrick Cast, to Riga. It was actually my first and to date only time with the Reign, but what a time it was to experience a master at work first hand. Whilst Cast himself had a record-breaking sophomore season, it was made all the more enjoyable by a boisterous locker room constantly overflowing with players ready to contend for the cup and ready-made prospects to keep the winning run going. Lots of the names Hedge scouted in the drafts have come and gone but some of the gems he unearthed include the likes of Ryuu Crimson, Shawn Glade, Rylan Peace, and Dan Baillie. Add in a sprinkling of star power – Cast, Hedge's own super goalie Kallis Kriketers, first-gen TPE machine Ryan Kastelic, Edwin Preencarnacion – and it was another S56-S58 team in the making.
 
The absolute success wasn't quite as forthcoming as the first time around but there was an early championship to quell fears of unrealised potential in Season 63, and then what would become a record-setting (and still-standing) 13-season playoff streak from S62 to S74. By constantly shifting out older players, bringing through lower-ranked prospects, and sticking to a reliable core with a sprinkling of veteran talent (but not selling the farm to acquire it), Hedge continuously kept Riga among the cup favourites and made more and more history with each passing season. Lincoln Tate, Apollo Hackett, Guy Sasakamoose, and Patrik Tallinder were some of the homegrown players to come through while the Reign were competing on the fly, complemented by acquisitions like Rauno Palo, Joseph McWolf, Phil Marleau, and Greg Eagles.
 
The only real regret in this time period was the relatively poor returns in the playoffs – after S63 there was just one more championship in S72, with a finals loss in S69 in between. This often led to exasperation on Hedge's behalf at the sim but he kept going and retooling on the fly with every player in equal measure important and expendable depending on the team's needs. It's a run which newer members might link to successful recent eras in Seattle, Moscow, and Vancouver where the GM has almost been the bigger star than the team. But Hedge did it first and his playoff streak still reigns supreme – with four Continental Cups to his name in 20 seasons, he could have easily retired in S74 already confirmed as one of the all-time greats.

 
Season 75
Sometimes history provides very obvious turning points to those studying it. The point at which war was inevitable, the moment the revolution was inevitable, the year the empire started to crumble. For Hedge and Riga, it's clear now that the beginning of the end was in Season 75 but it looked anything but at the time. If anything, this was to be his crowning glory, the icing on the cake, the final feather in his cap. Just as his long-time rival in Seattle had created a dynasty with four cups in six seasons, thus more or less making the two equals in terms of both tenure and achievements, Hedge looked like he was about to drop his greatest hit. Not unlike the Seattle/Vancouver/Moscow trio I mentioned above, Riga had just hit a perfect opportunity to briefly stop retooling and instead hit reset and come back even stronger. Hedge sold his best players to stack up on the hottest currency on the market – S75 draft picks. Within days the Reign held five first-round picks and four second-round picks in the deepest draft in VHL history.
 
So what happened? A bit of bad luck of course – after sneaking into the playoffs in S76, Riga missed out by a point in S77, two goals in S78, and five points in S80. Their two forays into the playoffs in the seven seasons after S75 were short and unsuccessful. Despite drafting a goalie in S75 (his own player, Sirkants Klamasteris), Hedge traded himself away to Toronto after a season, thus ensuring the Reign didn't have a franchise goalie in this time period. But the core was still there to do better. Not all the draft picks were hits, but enough TPE to do better was earned by the likes of Justin Lose, Linus Zetterstrom, Cabe McJake, Matt Thunder, and Jan Hlozek to perform better. Something didn't click for this Riga squad and to their credit (or foolishness) they weren't one of the meta-exploiting teams of the era which almost certainly worked against them. It was a setback and despite cobbling together a contender again in S82-S84, Hedge was visibly drained and for the first time, genuinely running out of steam.

 
The End
There was no last hurrah which a tenure like this truly deserved. Despite another straight five playoff appearances from S87 to S91, with the likes of The Frenchman, Skor McFleury and future D.C. playoff hero Henry Tucker Jr, Riga's last conference final appearances under Hedge came in S82 and S83. That was the furthest the Reign advanced in the playoffs in the nearly 20 seasons from the 13-season playoff streak ending in S74 to Hedge stepping down at the end of S93.
 
In S81, Hedge drafted a first-gen Alexandre Leduc 13th overall, the man who would end up replacing him in S94, the injection of new blood and energy immediately driving Riga to their best playoff performance in decades, with hope of more to come. Hedge definitely knew when it was time to go and perhaps regretted not doing it sooner but despite fortune turning away from him, his methods and approach remained as strong as ever. As late as S87 he was nominated for and won his last Top GM award. He continued to steadfastly back new talent in the league, and understood how to build an engaging and competitive team, and when to pull the plug and go for a rebuild. It was a quiet exit from the stage for one of the most reserved people to take on one of the league's most underappreciated roles. Never to bang his own drum, so I'm here to bang it for him. Benjamin Zeptenbergs was one of the greatest GMs the VHL has ever seen, for 20 seasons backed it with some of the best results we have witnessed, and for another 20 made sure even more members experienced a well-run franchise. See you soon @hedgehog337
 

 
Tagging everyone mentioned in the article so you can all come in and pay your respects too
@Kendrick @Will @solas @der meister @Phil @ShawnGlade @SlapshotWrangler @MubbleFubbles @Peace @wcats @Enorama @Renomitsu @Tate @Cxsquared @Patrik Tallinder @jRuutu @McWolf @Greg_Di @youloser1337 @Ledge @Red @Matt thunder @Bojovnik @OrbitingDeath  @Alex @NSG @Lemorse7 and of course @Banackock

Maybe I'll even start submitting questions one day

Spartans curse is over, now it's time to end Josh's.

Never thought Paul was really destined for the HoF. Hall of very good maybe 
 
Also not fully disappeared just log in once every few months 😛

They finally did it 🥹

Barring a last minute impassioned intervention, we will soon be seeing the end of the road for a handful of players who have been on the HOF ballot for 5-9 seasons. It always feels harsh taking players off the ballot until you consider that a HOF induction is an extremely high bar to clear and even being in the conversation is a fine achievement in its own.
 
Paul Atreides @Mr_Hatter - first of all, Hatter just disappeared one day - although he did announce it when stepping away from the VSN. In his brief time in the VHL he didn't quite for 2 for 2 on Hall of Famers, with Atreides missing out in the end. Although he cleared the 100-point mark three times in his career, two of those were at the peak of the meta era, with Moscow and Atreides some of the main beneficiaries. With Atreides' more decorated teammates and contemporaries already recognised, the BOG ultimately decided he was a level below the rest.
 
Zach Kisslinger II @Kisslinger - 12 more points than Atreides for the Warsaw lifer and an impressive career as part of the 2nd successful Predators era. Ultimately what's gone against the 2nd Kisslinger was that 215 of his points came in his first two seasons, before the attribute change decreased scoring significantly. After that it was a solid but unspectacular career - but King Kisslinger may make it 3rd time lucky based on results to date.
 
Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday - a goalie who started in that era that was battered by forwards up to S82, then benefited from goalies being the dominant players for a decade or so. Ultimately Lindbergh put up solid numbers and after years of trying with Toronto got his just rewards in the playoffs with Calgary - it wasn't quite enough to lift him out of the Hall of Very Good. Doomsday's wait for a first HOFer continues.

Congratulations on the new position @Pifferfish! Welcome to the ranks :) congratulations as well to @Alex for the tenure, happy you're continuing as a writer as well! You're too kind :) 

It is amazing to think a something like a simulation league can have a long existence. To think that something of this fringe hobby can last as long as the VHL has is an significant achievement. This league is indeed something special. But what makes this league the  juggernaut mainstay it has become is where many other leagues have long fallen into obscurity? I will voice my answers to this question.
 
The league structure is an amazing entrypoint into sim leagues. Having a application available is huge for being inviting to new players. Giving room for creative art, writing, or speaking  is dream come true for creative types. The league is competive and rewards those who put the effort in but still gives room for those who would rather chill.The league is built around an international game and thus is formed as an international league with teams in both NorthAmerica and Europe. The sim engine while not as big and flashy as like a sport videogame as is common in other leagues, it is consistent updated and refine over the years. We have group of writers publishing top quality articles for all members. and that leads to my main point. 
 
While are these features help the league work, the real power that has kept the league going after all this time is the people. The passion that all the leaders of the VHL possess from each members of the Boad of Governor down to the lowest AGM is evidence in all that these do to support the league. These people sweat every detail to make everything as perfect as it can be. But more than just being great leaders they are great people here. Everyone here is so willing to jump in to help everyone out not only succeed in the game but in the real world as well. This community is one of the best places on the whole internet in general with none of the destructive toxicity that is tearing the world apart and that I personally despise. If a sim league is only as strong as its members, the VHL is as strong and unbreakable as a diamond. I am proud to be a small part of amazing place and to call myselfa VHL member.
 
As we celebrate the seventeen birthday celebration of our common found home and family, I can't help but look ahead to the big milestones that are soon to come. It will not be long before we celebrate the one hundredth season of VHL and VHLM play, an unprecedented achievement. Then in three years, in will be the twentieth birthday of our beloved league, sure to be a celebration like none other. The only reason the VHL has gone the distant it has is entirely the result of our love and passion for the game and each other. That is what makes the VHL the special league it is today and tomorrow. Here is a toast to all of us who have kept this league going. This is our achievement.

They finally did it 🥹

Well, this is it, my last earning post for Joel Castle. The Cup Final will either end tonight or tomorrow but I’ve taken it to the extreme end. And what a ride it’s been! No matter how Simon rolls the dice tonight, it’s been a great career. November 7, 2022 I was drafted by the Toronto Legion and soon my time in the crease will end and it will be time for another to guard the Legion net.
 
With all the amazing goalies that have played for the Legion over the years, I knew I would never be the best one, but I’m proud and grateful to have accomplished as much as I did. I never thought it would be as good as it has been. It has been an honor to stand in the blue paint, look up to the rafters and see those that have been in the same spot before me: Alex Gegeny, Aidan Shaw, Remy LeBeau, Hans Wingate, and Jaxx Hextall. To also know that many Hall-of-Famers defended the same net – Maxim Desny, Alexander Labatte, Greg Clegane, and Norris Stopko – gave me a sense of duty to perform well every night.
 
Joel Castle finishes his Legion career with the following stats:
 
Regular season:
GP: 504 (2nd all-time Legion), W: 256 (2nd), L: 197 (2nd), OTL: 47 (2nd), SV%: 0.924 (T-8th), GAA: 2.59, SO: 28 (T-7th), SA: 16949 (1st)
Playoffs:
GP: 63 (1st), W: 37 (1st, T-11th VHL), L: 24 (2nd), OTL: 2, SV%: 0.927 (5th), GAA: 2.47 (5th), SO: 6 (1st, T-8th VHL), SA: 2155 (1st)
One of only four goalies in VHL history to post 4 shutouts in a single post-season (Brick Wahl S39 & S42, M.T. Power S53, Jesse Teno S88, Castle S94)
 
Accolades:
S84 Founder’s Cup (Las Vegas)
S85 JST Champions (Dehli Pickles)
S86 WJC Silver Medal (Canada)
S90 WC Gold Medal (Canada)
S91 Continental Cup (Toronto), S91 Diasuke Kanou Trophy, S91 All-VHL Second Team
S92 WC Bronze Medal (Canada)
S94 Victory Cup (Toronto)
 
I want to thank @Shindigs for drafting me to Las Vegas and @Moon for drafting me in the S86 draft to Toronto and allowing me to assist as AGM.
I want to thank the rest of the Legion management team for being so awesome to work with: @Peace, @v.2 , @dstevensonjr.
Thanks to the BUGs that have come in when I had a bad game and rode the pine at the expense of their own playing time – DJ Fire Dragon @Firekiss, Even Bihler @Eb14, Toddly Bobbly @ToddlyBobbly - it was a pleasure sharing the crease with you!
Thanks to Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday for accepting a trade to Calgary and allowing me to become the starter right away – which I think turned out good for both of us!
Thanks to the rest of the “Fab Four” from the S86 Draft: Fuukka Rask @Jubis, Lachlan Summers @kirbithan and Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro. You guys pushed me to be better every day and it was honor to battle against you.
And especially I wish to sincerely thank all my teammates over the years with the Las Vegas Aces, Geneva Rush and of course, Toronto Legion. You have made this journey with Joel Castle so awesome and I appreciate every one of you.
 
I’m taking a season off but I’ll be around. I’m looking to recreate for the S97? Draft. Everyone have a great summer!
 
 

I have realised today that Toronto vs Moscow is a final featuring the best and the worst regular season team to make the playoffs in S94. The Legion won the Victory Cup while the Menace went in as the wildcard in Europe and if you sort the league standings top to bottom, Toronto sat 1st and Moscow sat 10th in the league.
 
So the Menace are pretty big underdogs in this final and should be happy with a 2-2 split after four games. But is this the biggest gap between the two finalists in VHL history? Let's find out.
 
We know for a fact we need to go back to S83 at the earliest as no Victory Cup winner since then had made the finals until this season's Legion. So let's go through all the regular season champions that did make the finals in a 16-team VHL:
 
S83: Moscow (1st) vs Seattle (2nd) – also tied on points with 113 apiece, as close as a final can be
S82: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (8th) – a mismatch compared to the previous two seasons but not as large as this season's
S81: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S80: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S79: Malmo (1st) vs Seattle (2nd)
S73: Seattle (1st) vs Helsinki (2nd) – like our first example, also tied on points with 109 apiece
 
Before then only 8 seasons made the playoffs each season (and even fewer in more bygone eras). So in terms of regular season positions, yes this is the biggest mismatch in Continental Cup finals history. In terms of points? S82 Vancouver beat S82 Moscow by 25 points while Toronto this season led them by 26. So based on this sample – also yes. Digging any further requires effort.

I have realised today that Toronto vs Moscow is a final featuring the best and the worst regular season team to make the playoffs in S94. The Legion won the Victory Cup while the Menace went in as the wildcard in Europe and if you sort the league standings top to bottom, Toronto sat 1st and Moscow sat 10th in the league.
 
So the Menace are pretty big underdogs in this final and should be happy with a 2-2 split after four games. But is this the biggest gap between the two finalists in VHL history? Let's find out.
 
We know for a fact we need to go back to S83 at the earliest as no Victory Cup winner since then had made the finals until this season's Legion. So let's go through all the regular season champions that did make the finals in a 16-team VHL:
 
S83: Moscow (1st) vs Seattle (2nd) – also tied on points with 113 apiece, as close as a final can be
S82: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (8th) – a mismatch compared to the previous two seasons but not as large as this season's
S81: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S80: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S79: Malmo (1st) vs Seattle (2nd)
S73: Seattle (1st) vs Helsinki (2nd) – like our first example, also tied on points with 109 apiece
 
Before then only 8 seasons made the playoffs each season (and even fewer in more bygone eras). So in terms of regular season positions, yes this is the biggest mismatch in Continental Cup finals history. In terms of points? S82 Vancouver beat S82 Moscow by 25 points while Toronto this season led them by 26. So based on this sample – also yes. Digging any further requires effort.

With the Legion looking to become the first team since S82 to win both the Victory Cup and the Continental Cup in the same season, I thought that I'd take a look back at the teams who have done so since the league's inception. The list is sorted by the first time that the team accomplished the feat chronologically. Here are the teams:
 
Calgary Wranglers
Four times: S3, S8, S19, S62
 
The Wranglers were the first team to double dip on the big trophies in the same season, but it wasn't for a lack of trying that it didn't happen earlier. Calgary won the Victory Cup in S1 before losing in the Continental Cup Final in six games to Vasteras. The following season in S2, the Wranglers missed out on the Victory Cup, and ended up winning the Continental Cup over Vasteras in a four game sweep. In S3, they put it all together, going 61-6-5 in the regular season to win the VC, before defeating Helsinki in a seven game series to win it all. A handful of seasons later, the Wranglers did it again, posting a 57-12-3 regular season to win the VC with 117 points. They beat Riga in six games in the final to win the S8 CC. Calgary won the VC in S9, along with the CC in S18, but it would be S19 that would see them combine both in the same season again. A 56-14-2 regular season locked up the VC, and a four game sweep of Davos would crown them as CC champs in S19. A more than forty season gap would follow before Calgary won both in the same year again, a gap that included three VC's (S31, S51, S61) and three CC's (S23, S30, S44). In S62, the Wranglers did both again, finishing the regular season at 60-9-3 and 123 points to capture the VC, and followed it up by beating Quebec City in a seven game CC final.
 
Seattle Bears
Four times: S4, S5, S28, S73
 
Seattle must have been inspired by Calgary's dominance in S3, because a season after the Wranglers did it, it was the Bears turn. The Bears went 53-14-5 in the S4 regular season, not quite as many points as were required the previous season to win the VC. The Bears then cruised to a five game CC win over the Stockholm Rams to win their first title. A year after their first time winning either trophy, the Bears were right back at it in S5. This time around, it was a much more dominant regular season, as Seattle went 63-7-2 to capture the VC with 128 points. In the CC Final, they met up with Helsinki, where they dispatched the Titans in a five game series to go back to back. Seattle would win VC's in S6 and S27, as well as CC's in S12 and S17, but it wouldn't be until S28 that they doubled up again. Following a 57-14-1 regular season to clinch the VC, Seattle bested New York in six games to claim the CC as well. 45 seasons later, the Bears had won four VC's (S52, S53, S64, S65) and five CC's (S43, S59, S68, S69, S71) without doing both in the same season. In S73, those came together again, with a 49-18-5 regular season to clinch the VC at 103 points and a six game victory over Helsinki to win the CC.
 
Avangard Havoc/HC Davos Dynamo
Five times: S7, S11, S13, S20, S25
 
One of only two teams to double dip five times, the Avangard/Davos combination comes with a small asterisk due to the franchise name change, but I'll include them together. The Avangard Havoc were around from S2 to S10 before becoming the HC Davos Dynamo, but in that short run they managed to double up in S7. A 57-11-4 regular season of 118 points was enough to clinch the VC, and a six game series win over Calgary notched the CC in that season. In the first season under the rebranded Dynamo in S11, they proceeded to go 59-7-6 with 124 points to win the VC. Another six game series win, this time over Seattle picked up their second franchise double. Only two seasons later, the Dynamo did it again, going 59-10-3 in the regular season for 121 points, and beating New York in seven games to clinch the CC. There was a bit longer gap until the next time, as a whopping seven seasons had passed when Davos did it again in S20. A regular season record of 56-12-4 and 116 points locked up the VC, and a seven game series win over Toronto picked up the back half with the CC. Davos would win the VC in S23 and the CC in S24 before doubling up in S25. Finishing the regular season at 47-17-8 and 102 points, it paved the way for a five game victory over New York to mark the final time to this point that the Havoc/Dynamo would win both in the same season.
 
New York Americans
Four times: S14, S39, S41, S47
 
New York made their first Victory Cup and their first Continental Cup special, as they picked up both in S14. A record of 50-17-5 and 105 points was tops in the VHL in the regular season to secure the VC, and a six game win over Helsinki in the finals added the Americans first CC. A quarter of a century later (along with VC's in S15, S38 and a CC in S32), New York double dipped again. S39's regular season saw the Americans put up 114 points with a record of 54-12-6 to win the VC. A tidy five game series win over Davos allowed the Americans to complete the double that season. That VC was part of four in a row for New York, as they won it again in S40, but it wasn't until S41 that they doubled again. At 59-10-3, New York had 121 points with their VC, and a seven game nailbiter against Riga won them another double. Six seasons (and a movie) later, the Americans would do it once more, their fourth time in franchise history. S47's regular season saw New York put up 119 points and a record of 57-10-5 to win the VC. The playoffs ended with a five game victory over Stockholm to mark the last time that New York would double down.
 
Riga Reign
Four times: S16, S57, S58, S63
 
The Stockholm Thunder/Rams became the Riga Reign in S8. The Stockholm franchise didn't win either a Victory Cup or a Continental Cup in the seven seasons that they were in the league, only making it to one CC final that didn't end in victory. As Riga, the franchise had far more success, winning the VC in S12, and a CC in S10. They pieced together their first double in S16, compiling a record of 53-15-4 (110 points), and their second VC. The playoffs saw them defeat Toronto in a seven game series to accomplish their first franchise double. Almost a half century later, and following three VC's (S16, S32, S56) and three CC's (S33, S40, S51), the Reign doubled dipped on a double dip. S57 saw Riga go 60-7-5 in the regular season for 125 points and the VC. The playoffs wrapped up with a six game win over Quebec City to finish up the first part of their double. S58 was much of the same, as Riga was 56-11-5 in the regular season, posting 117 points and another VC. The CC Final saw them face Seattle this time, winning in six games as well. Five seasons later, and Riga added another double to their list. A 110 point season at 51-13-8 saw them clinch the VC during the regular season, and another six game series win over Calgary wrapped up the last double for the Reign.
 
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Thank you for reading Part 1 of my article! Part 2 will be up soon!

I have realised today that Toronto vs Moscow is a final featuring the best and the worst regular season team to make the playoffs in S94. The Legion won the Victory Cup while the Menace went in as the wildcard in Europe and if you sort the league standings top to bottom, Toronto sat 1st and Moscow sat 10th in the league.
 
So the Menace are pretty big underdogs in this final and should be happy with a 2-2 split after four games. But is this the biggest gap between the two finalists in VHL history? Let's find out.
 
We know for a fact we need to go back to S83 at the earliest as no Victory Cup winner since then had made the finals until this season's Legion. So let's go through all the regular season champions that did make the finals in a 16-team VHL:
 
S83: Moscow (1st) vs Seattle (2nd) – also tied on points with 113 apiece, as close as a final can be
S82: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (8th) – a mismatch compared to the previous two seasons but not as large as this season's
S81: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S80: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S79: Malmo (1st) vs Seattle (2nd)
S73: Seattle (1st) vs Helsinki (2nd) – like our first example, also tied on points with 109 apiece
 
Before then only 8 seasons made the playoffs each season (and even fewer in more bygone eras). So in terms of regular season positions, yes this is the biggest mismatch in Continental Cup finals history. In terms of points? S82 Vancouver beat S82 Moscow by 25 points while Toronto this season led them by 26. So based on this sample – also yes. Digging any further requires effort.

I have realised today that Toronto vs Moscow is a final featuring the best and the worst regular season team to make the playoffs in S94. The Legion won the Victory Cup while the Menace went in as the wildcard in Europe and if you sort the league standings top to bottom, Toronto sat 1st and Moscow sat 10th in the league.
 
So the Menace are pretty big underdogs in this final and should be happy with a 2-2 split after four games. But is this the biggest gap between the two finalists in VHL history? Let's find out.
 
We know for a fact we need to go back to S83 at the earliest as no Victory Cup winner since then had made the finals until this season's Legion. So let's go through all the regular season champions that did make the finals in a 16-team VHL:
 
S83: Moscow (1st) vs Seattle (2nd) – also tied on points with 113 apiece, as close as a final can be
S82: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (8th) – a mismatch compared to the previous two seasons but not as large as this season's
S81: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S80: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S79: Malmo (1st) vs Seattle (2nd)
S73: Seattle (1st) vs Helsinki (2nd) – like our first example, also tied on points with 109 apiece
 
Before then only 8 seasons made the playoffs each season (and even fewer in more bygone eras). So in terms of regular season positions, yes this is the biggest mismatch in Continental Cup finals history. In terms of points? S82 Vancouver beat S82 Moscow by 25 points while Toronto this season led them by 26. So based on this sample – also yes. Digging any further requires effort.

I have realised today that Toronto vs Moscow is a final featuring the best and the worst regular season team to make the playoffs in S94. The Legion won the Victory Cup while the Menace went in as the wildcard in Europe and if you sort the league standings top to bottom, Toronto sat 1st and Moscow sat 10th in the league.
 
So the Menace are pretty big underdogs in this final and should be happy with a 2-2 split after four games. But is this the biggest gap between the two finalists in VHL history? Let's find out.
 
We know for a fact we need to go back to S83 at the earliest as no Victory Cup winner since then had made the finals until this season's Legion. So let's go through all the regular season champions that did make the finals in a 16-team VHL:
 
S83: Moscow (1st) vs Seattle (2nd) – also tied on points with 113 apiece, as close as a final can be
S82: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (8th) – a mismatch compared to the previous two seasons but not as large as this season's
S81: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S80: Vancouver (1st) vs Moscow (3rd)
S79: Malmo (1st) vs Seattle (2nd)
S73: Seattle (1st) vs Helsinki (2nd) – like our first example, also tied on points with 109 apiece
 
Before then only 8 seasons made the playoffs each season (and even fewer in more bygone eras). So in terms of regular season positions, yes this is the biggest mismatch in Continental Cup finals history. In terms of points? S82 Vancouver beat S82 Moscow by 25 points while Toronto this season led them by 26. So based on this sample – also yes. Digging any further requires effort.

Life can sometimes be overwhelming - a whirlwind of emotions and expectations that can lead you to stretch yourself thin. It can dull your awareness, making it increasingly difficult to engage with the present. When your mind is cluttered like this, creativity falters, and inspiration struggles to break through the noise.
 
In these troubled times, we can find ourselves stuck in a cycle of anxiety and distraction. Ideas feel distant, and the spark of imagination extinguishes. In a holistic view, the VHL seems unimportant, but there's pressure to perform, which can lead to a further block.
 
Recognizing these feelings can lead to deeper awareness and a better understanding of moments where you should pause and reconnect with yourself without external pressures. While this happens, you lose time for some of your favorite activities, but eventually, new ideas will emerge.
 
Anyway, life's been hectic. I want to write a HoF article, but I can't. Full disclosure - I almost forgot the VHFL and Super Coach payouts. Things will get better!
 
It has taken a while for this claim to be approved, and with the VHL birthday, it turned into an incredible opportunity to upgrade this to a Point Task. 17 TPE for an extra 300 words? Lovely!
 
Keeping in line with the overall theme of well-being, I believe it's a splendid time to let the league know how appreciative I am of it, even though my activity hasn't been the same for the past months.
 
This league embodies both the highs and lows of life. Each challenge can become a source of your next best version. As a team, not everything will happen as you'd like. There will be challenges to overcome, and much like in life, beauty is waiting on the other side.
 
Lately, the league overcame a small challenge, Fantasy Zone. My view is tied to the user running it when I entered the league, Justin. Ever since Justin decided to step down from the position, after some holistic changes to the structure of Fantasy Zone, it never managed to recover. Either because of the unwillingness, inability, or lack of opportunity, the Zone couldn't get back to the highs of early 2022.
 
Enter @AJW. What a 'bang on' choice he was for this job. Not only did he manage to change minor things that helped bring back the community's interest, but he also added new features that created a more considerable 'buzz' around Fantasy. To put it plainly, it's no longer dull, and I believe he has not finished innovating yet.
 
Let's end this small rant by telling how appreciative I am of this season's Wranglers. I felt like we've all been in somewhat similar situations in life. Either stuck in work or starting a new one, it felt like we wanted to be more present than we were, but it didn't take anything away from our Locker Room. Through it all, we have shown incredible resilience and camaraderie. Our locker room still reminds me why this league is so special.