Arce

The San Diego Marlins now sit at ten games into their regular season. In these ten games they have a record of 6-4-0. Fortunately enough for them this sits them second in their conference, four points under the dynamite offense that is Mexico City. But why shouldn't San Diego panic yet with the team above them scoring nine more goals than them in the same amount of games? Well. The key to their success this season will be the same players as it has been each night on the ice. 

It starts at the net with Olivier Gauthier or "Goat" as some of his teammates endear him. Currently at this time of this article sitting at 2.21 GAA and a .925 save percentage, has only allowed 22 goals over these ten games and has even put up two shutouts so early in the season. He leads all goalies in the VHLM in all stats mentioned even with a fresh, young, unproven team in front of him. This show of poise and leadership between the pipes gives the rest of the team no excuses to not improve on their vice like defense so far.
 
Moving out to the blue line we find a thin core of defensemen who went in as possibly the biggest question mark for the team at the start of the season. The front runner of the two signed on the same day is none other than recently assigned Alternate Captain Fradin McGryer. Who's put up 2 goals and 9 assists for 11 points in these first ten games. Although perhaps more impressive is his willingness to put his big frame to use. The physical presence racking up a singular fight, 45 hits (3rd in the VHLM) and 30 blocked shots (1st in the league). Whether he's trying to prove something to himself, his team, the front office, or the league, it's apparent this defenseman is willing to do whatever is necessary to keep his team in the game night in and night out.
 
Continuing with the leadership core showing the way, San Diego boasts a pair of top 5 point leaders. Alternate Captain Brad Marchand is in a seven way tie for third in goals scored at 6, and a four way tie for seventh in points at 13. He hasn't amounted in a single penalty minute yet this season, while boasting a spot on both the top powerplay and penalty killing lines. His reliability night in and night out sets a perfect example to the other forwards around him.
 
And perhaps the largest contributor to never count them out of a game is none other than their Captain, Sjin. An impressive offensive display to start the season to say the least. On a team that's been shut out twice in 10 games the star center has 9 goals (1st in the league), 8 assists (T-6th), and 17 points (3rd in the VHLM). On a younger Marlins team the Captain has been a showstopper most night out on the ice. If the team around him can keep up, or at least keep feeding the puck to this one-timer machine, Sjin should unsurprisingly sit at the top of the scoring sheet league wide come season's end. Between his and Fradin's post-game speeches and their on ice performance, the Marlins are in excellent hands in both their leadership, and their stars.
 
 
562 words for week ending 4/16/2023
 

A Turtle Race for Moscow

Goaltender Matt Murdock and defenseman Hammar Voss watch the puck go past them in their opener against the Prague Phantoms.
 
There are a few things the Moscow Menace are known for. The first is losing finals, the second is they are streaky, and third is they have a tendency to limp out of the gate to start the season at times. S88 is one of those times unfortunately. The Menace got off to an 0-3, and then 1-4 start to the season, putting them in a hole to start the season. With shovels in hand, Moscow got to work digging themselves out of their early hole. Goaltender Matt Murdock had not been posting up his best numbers having a sub par .900 save percentage and a GAA over 3. Star forward Ronan Lavelle who has made the transition over to center got worked in the faceoff dot in the early going. The only thing Moscow seemed to have going for them was longtime fan favorite star forward Tomas Sogaard and defenseman AK92 wit the Hoodie, who could finally be having the breakout year he has been waiting for. Hoodie has been dishing out assist after assist to start off the season, and Sogaard has been cashing them in. The Moscow miscues have come early as the team adjusts to a lot of changes from the previous S87 season. Left wing Ronan Lavelle has made the transition over to center to help the faceoff cause. Stud forward Nico Pearce was traded from Moscow for a second time and was replaced by Left Alone, and Jason Argos. Moscow has more depth than last season, so a turnaround was inevitable.
 
The Swing Upwards
 

Moscow forward Tomas Sogaard celebrates a breakaway goal against the Helsinki Titans to help power Moscow to their first win.
 
Moscow would finally get their first win against the surprising first place Helsinki Titans after dropping their first game to the Riga Reign. Since the Riga game, Moscow is 4-1 in their last 5 after the 0-4 start to the season. Tomas Sogaard leads the league in points (15) and goals with (9). AK92 Wit da Hoodie leads all defensemen in points with 14, as well as the whole league in assists with all 14 of his points. Sogaard's linemate Ronan Lavelle is just one point behind him with 14  and is second behind Hoodie in assists with 10. He also has a faceoff percentage over 51% so the faceoff wins are starting to come. Goaltender Sam Tombstone's Moscow debut was a thing of beauty as he recorded the shutout during Moscow's dominate 6-0 win over the Toronto Legion. Murdock is still finding his game, but no one seems worried. The former Rookie of the Year goaltender has shown what he can do, and he should be able to shake off this rusty start no problem. Captain Kyosti Karjalainen is off to strong start, averaging over a point per game with 10 in 9 games. 5 of those points were courtesy of him putting it in the back of the net himself. Hammar Voss is off to a slow start for his standard with 7 points, but it is almost certain that pace will be picked up as Voss looks to get more involved on the power play. Newcomers Left Alone and Jason Argos also will get more involved in the offense as the season progresses. The bottom line is Moscow's offense runs deep, so they should without any doubt be able to start putting up 4+ goals a game consistently while getting solid goaltender play from Murdock. With Voss and Hoodie on the blueline who can produce, what could stop a Moscow surge?
 
Words: 619

A Turtle Race for Moscow

Goaltender Matt Murdock and defenseman Hammar Voss watch the puck go past them in their opener against the Prague Phantoms.
 
There are a few things the Moscow Menace are known for. The first is losing finals, the second is they are streaky, and third is they have a tendency to limp out of the gate to start the season at times. S88 is one of those times unfortunately. The Menace got off to an 0-3, and then 1-4 start to the season, putting them in a hole to start the season. With shovels in hand, Moscow got to work digging themselves out of their early hole. Goaltender Matt Murdock had not been posting up his best numbers having a sub par .900 save percentage and a GAA over 3. Star forward Ronan Lavelle who has made the transition over to center got worked in the faceoff dot in the early going. The only thing Moscow seemed to have going for them was longtime fan favorite star forward Tomas Sogaard and defenseman AK92 wit the Hoodie, who could finally be having the breakout year he has been waiting for. Hoodie has been dishing out assist after assist to start off the season, and Sogaard has been cashing them in. The Moscow miscues have come early as the team adjusts to a lot of changes from the previous S87 season. Left wing Ronan Lavelle has made the transition over to center to help the faceoff cause. Stud forward Nico Pearce was traded from Moscow for a second time and was replaced by Left Alone, and Jason Argos. Moscow has more depth than last season, so a turnaround was inevitable.
 
The Swing Upwards
 

Moscow forward Tomas Sogaard celebrates a breakaway goal against the Helsinki Titans to help power Moscow to their first win.
 
Moscow would finally get their first win against the surprising first place Helsinki Titans after dropping their first game to the Riga Reign. Since the Riga game, Moscow is 4-1 in their last 5 after the 0-4 start to the season. Tomas Sogaard leads the league in points (15) and goals with (9). AK92 Wit da Hoodie leads all defensemen in points with 14, as well as the whole league in assists with all 14 of his points. Sogaard's linemate Ronan Lavelle is just one point behind him with 14  and is second behind Hoodie in assists with 10. He also has a faceoff percentage over 51% so the faceoff wins are starting to come. Goaltender Sam Tombstone's Moscow debut was a thing of beauty as he recorded the shutout during Moscow's dominate 6-0 win over the Toronto Legion. Murdock is still finding his game, but no one seems worried. The former Rookie of the Year goaltender has shown what he can do, and he should be able to shake off this rusty start no problem. Captain Kyosti Karjalainen is off to strong start, averaging over a point per game with 10 in 9 games. 5 of those points were courtesy of him putting it in the back of the net himself. Hammar Voss is off to a slow start for his standard with 7 points, but it is almost certain that pace will be picked up as Voss looks to get more involved on the power play. Newcomers Left Alone and Jason Argos also will get more involved in the offense as the season progresses. The bottom line is Moscow's offense runs deep, so they should without any doubt be able to start putting up 4+ goals a game consistently while getting solid goaltender play from Murdock. With Voss and Hoodie on the blueline who can produce, what could stop a Moscow surge?
 
Words: 619

A Turtle Race for Moscow

Goaltender Matt Murdock and defenseman Hammar Voss watch the puck go past them in their opener against the Prague Phantoms.
 
There are a few things the Moscow Menace are known for. The first is losing finals, the second is they are streaky, and third is they have a tendency to limp out of the gate to start the season at times. S88 is one of those times unfortunately. The Menace got off to an 0-3, and then 1-4 start to the season, putting them in a hole to start the season. With shovels in hand, Moscow got to work digging themselves out of their early hole. Goaltender Matt Murdock had not been posting up his best numbers having a sub par .900 save percentage and a GAA over 3. Star forward Ronan Lavelle who has made the transition over to center got worked in the faceoff dot in the early going. The only thing Moscow seemed to have going for them was longtime fan favorite star forward Tomas Sogaard and defenseman AK92 wit the Hoodie, who could finally be having the breakout year he has been waiting for. Hoodie has been dishing out assist after assist to start off the season, and Sogaard has been cashing them in. The Moscow miscues have come early as the team adjusts to a lot of changes from the previous S87 season. Left wing Ronan Lavelle has made the transition over to center to help the faceoff cause. Stud forward Nico Pearce was traded from Moscow for a second time and was replaced by Left Alone, and Jason Argos. Moscow has more depth than last season, so a turnaround was inevitable.
 
The Swing Upwards
 

Moscow forward Tomas Sogaard celebrates a breakaway goal against the Helsinki Titans to help power Moscow to their first win.
 
Moscow would finally get their first win against the surprising first place Helsinki Titans after dropping their first game to the Riga Reign. Since the Riga game, Moscow is 4-1 in their last 5 after the 0-4 start to the season. Tomas Sogaard leads the league in points (15) and goals with (9). AK92 Wit da Hoodie leads all defensemen in points with 14, as well as the whole league in assists with all 14 of his points. Sogaard's linemate Ronan Lavelle is just one point behind him with 14  and is second behind Hoodie in assists with 10. He also has a faceoff percentage over 51% so the faceoff wins are starting to come. Goaltender Sam Tombstone's Moscow debut was a thing of beauty as he recorded the shutout during Moscow's dominate 6-0 win over the Toronto Legion. Murdock is still finding his game, but no one seems worried. The former Rookie of the Year goaltender has shown what he can do, and he should be able to shake off this rusty start no problem. Captain Kyosti Karjalainen is off to strong start, averaging over a point per game with 10 in 9 games. 5 of those points were courtesy of him putting it in the back of the net himself. Hammar Voss is off to a slow start for his standard with 7 points, but it is almost certain that pace will be picked up as Voss looks to get more involved on the power play. Newcomers Left Alone and Jason Argos also will get more involved in the offense as the season progresses. The bottom line is Moscow's offense runs deep, so they should without any doubt be able to start putting up 4+ goals a game consistently while getting solid goaltender play from Murdock. With Voss and Hoodie on the blueline who can produce, what could stop a Moscow surge?
 
Words: 619

A Turtle Race for Moscow

Goaltender Matt Murdock and defenseman Hammar Voss watch the puck go past them in their opener against the Prague Phantoms.
 
There are a few things the Moscow Menace are known for. The first is losing finals, the second is they are streaky, and third is they have a tendency to limp out of the gate to start the season at times. S88 is one of those times unfortunately. The Menace got off to an 0-3, and then 1-4 start to the season, putting them in a hole to start the season. With shovels in hand, Moscow got to work digging themselves out of their early hole. Goaltender Matt Murdock had not been posting up his best numbers having a sub par .900 save percentage and a GAA over 3. Star forward Ronan Lavelle who has made the transition over to center got worked in the faceoff dot in the early going. The only thing Moscow seemed to have going for them was longtime fan favorite star forward Tomas Sogaard and defenseman AK92 wit the Hoodie, who could finally be having the breakout year he has been waiting for. Hoodie has been dishing out assist after assist to start off the season, and Sogaard has been cashing them in. The Moscow miscues have come early as the team adjusts to a lot of changes from the previous S87 season. Left wing Ronan Lavelle has made the transition over to center to help the faceoff cause. Stud forward Nico Pearce was traded from Moscow for a second time and was replaced by Left Alone, and Jason Argos. Moscow has more depth than last season, so a turnaround was inevitable.
 
The Swing Upwards
 

Moscow forward Tomas Sogaard celebrates a breakaway goal against the Helsinki Titans to help power Moscow to their first win.
 
Moscow would finally get their first win against the surprising first place Helsinki Titans after dropping their first game to the Riga Reign. Since the Riga game, Moscow is 4-1 in their last 5 after the 0-4 start to the season. Tomas Sogaard leads the league in points (15) and goals with (9). AK92 Wit da Hoodie leads all defensemen in points with 14, as well as the whole league in assists with all 14 of his points. Sogaard's linemate Ronan Lavelle is just one point behind him with 14  and is second behind Hoodie in assists with 10. He also has a faceoff percentage over 51% so the faceoff wins are starting to come. Goaltender Sam Tombstone's Moscow debut was a thing of beauty as he recorded the shutout during Moscow's dominate 6-0 win over the Toronto Legion. Murdock is still finding his game, but no one seems worried. The former Rookie of the Year goaltender has shown what he can do, and he should be able to shake off this rusty start no problem. Captain Kyosti Karjalainen is off to strong start, averaging over a point per game with 10 in 9 games. 5 of those points were courtesy of him putting it in the back of the net himself. Hammar Voss is off to a slow start for his standard with 7 points, but it is almost certain that pace will be picked up as Voss looks to get more involved on the power play. Newcomers Left Alone and Jason Argos also will get more involved in the offense as the season progresses. The bottom line is Moscow's offense runs deep, so they should without any doubt be able to start putting up 4+ goals a game consistently while getting solid goaltender play from Murdock. With Voss and Hoodie on the blueline who can produce, what could stop a Moscow surge?
 
Words: 619

People forgot how to

SEATTLE, April 10, 2023 (Shaiba.ru) – Whisper it quietly, the Seattle Bears could be the team to beat in the VHL this season. The Bears are the only side not to have lost a game in regulation at the time of writing, and they have already stretched out a five-point lead in the North American Conference ahead of the New York Americans. Of course, it’s far too early to say if the Bears will end up storming through the pack this season, but the signs are good.
 
Optimism was already high in the Seattle camp going into S88. The Bears rallied together in the playoffs to knock out the top seed Vancouver Wolves in the conference semi-finals, and put up a strong test against the Calgary Wranglers in the Conference Finals before eventually bowing out. On Sunday, the Bears got revenge against the Alberta side, winning 4-2 thanks to two goals by Tavish DeGroot.
 
Things appear to be looking up for the Bears. Vasile Lamb and the aforementioned DeGroot have continued their good form since joining the team at the trade deadline. Additionally, new acquisitions Mikhail Kovalchuk and goaltender Xaiver Booberry have fitted right in.
 
Another player who has made a major contribution to Seattle’s solid start has been Russian forward Yaroslav Bogatyrev. The coaching staff has made the decision to pair Bogatyrev with young star center Randy Bobandy and the veteran two-way forward Vasile Lamb. Immediately this trio appears to have the chemistry needed to help Bogatyrev push on after two torrid seasons with Seattle.
 
On opening night, Bogatyrev registered a goal as the Bears beat the Vancovuer Wolves. He followed this up with a goal and an assist in a shootout loss to the Los Angeles Stars, and a two-assist performance in an overtime victory against the Vancouver Wolves. At the time of writing, Bogatyrev has 4+9 through 9 games, a points-per-game clip that is almost double the marker he set over his first 144 games in the Victory Hockey League.
 
“It’s been an amazing start to the season. The signs were great during training camp, and we’ve started the season exactly as we wanted to. We’ve got two lines that are consistently scoring, and guys are contributing from the blueline as well. Additionally, it was tough to lose Dusty Wilson, but Xavier has come in and he’s done an amazing job. Of course, we know his pedigree, so we expected him to do this, but it’s been a great boost to the team,” Bogatyrev told a Shaiba.ru reporter via Zoom call.
 
Over the past two seasons, Bogatyrev cut a forlorn figure at times on the roster of the Seattle Bears. He often appeared to be frustrated, both on and off the ice, as his performances weren’t reflected on the scoresheet or in victories for the Seattle Bears. He made several media appearances appearing to be completely low on confidence, but in our recent discussion, Bogatyrev appeared to be upbeat. After facing a constant barrage of negative comments on social media, now the Bears fans appear to have turned in favour of their Russian forward.
 
“I knew coming into this season that things would have to change. I’ve spent too long over here in North America to blame it on the acclimatization period. I’m now in my third season with the Seattle Bears, and everyone has told me that it was time for me to step up, and to start making a proper contribution that would help lead this team to victory. To get the start that I have this season has been fantastic, but I need to do more, I need to maintain this form, and I need to help ensure that the Seattle Bears go on to make a proper playoff run, and a proper run at winning the Continental Cup,” the Nizhnii Tagil native said.
 
When asked about what he felt was different this time round, Bogatyrev said that his chemistry with Bobandy and Lamb was playing a major factor in his current confidence on the ice, and that this confidence was translating into success.
 
“I know that expectations were high when Seattle drafted both Randy and myself so highly in back-to-back drafts. Playing with Randy is fantastic. He’s so skilled, and he plays like he’s been in the league for 10 seasons already. He knows all the tricks, and I think that we can do some amazing things together. Also, having Vasile with us is super important. He’s done it all in the VHL, and I feel that I’m learning so much by watching him train and playing on the same line as him. I feel that we have everything covered when we’re on the ice together, and having that confidence is half of the battle when it comes to playing hockey at this level. Now the important thing is to keep it rolling, whether together or whenever we play on separate lines,” Bogatyrev remarked.
 
Next on the schedule for the Seattle bears are games against the D.C. Dragons and the Toronto Legion as the Bears continue on their march to finish top of the North American Conference. For Bogatyrev, keeping up his form will be vital, as will be avoiding injury.
 
“I came into the season after having surgery on my wrist, and while I thought that this would make the start of the season difficult, I’m surprised that I feel so good. The medical staff did a fantastic job and I feel that I have full strength in the wrist that I injured. I feel in fantastic physical shape, as I really had to focus on getting myself in the top shape while I was unable to grip a stick. To a certain extent, it seems that I’m now in the best physical shape that I’ve been in in my life. On the ice, I feel that I have a half step that I didn’t have in seasons before, and this could be a major factor as to why my play has been to the level that it has been so far. Saying that, I feel that I’ve still got a lot in the tank, and still a lot more potential to fulfil,” he remarked.
 
 

Why did Becca turn Arce into a raging alcoholic and why do we have to hear him pull up to the voice chat drunk at 2-3 AM telling us about a band he listened to in high school?

Hey VHL!
 
As some of you may recall I posted up a Christmas charity that myself and my wife Becca would get drunk and talk VHL and answer your questions. We got some feedback and donations. We are finally ready to get this going. But guess what we need more content. I want to thank everyone who donated to the cause. I am offering everyone in the community one free question! If you donated and asked a question already, guess what you get another! Help us make this a really fun experience.
 
I am genuinely sorry for the delay on this, but having a 1 and 2 year old has kicked our asses, as well as the 4 of us getting sick multiple times after the holidays. Let’s make this podcast as fun as possible!

San Diego Marlins Captain Circle

We are entering a new era in San Diego in S88 with a new GM/AGM tenure! With that we are seeing a mix of some familiar faces along with a lot of new ones. The Marlins have a culture of success and we are looking to continue that of course. An important part of doing that is assuring you have a reliable leadership circle. I know we have that with this group of guys. Without further delay, here are your S88 Marlins Captains!
 
[A] Fradin McGryer @Fradin99
 
Fradin is one of our newest players and has made an immediate impact in the locker room. He checks in every day, is very involved in team discussions and has caught onto league matters very quickly. His leadership trait was the first thing I noticed when he became a Marlin and we are incredibly honored to have him wear an A for San Diego this season. 
 
[A] Brad Marchand @McGriddy10
 
Brad is returning as a Marlin for his second season. He came to San Diego as a waiver last season, and when we had the opportunity to draft him I jumped on it. He was very vocal about wanting to become a Marlin and have a leadership role. He has been such a leader that we also made him our AGM for the S88 season. Brad’s dedication to the Marlins since day 1 has given him this well deserved A.
 
[C] Sjin @Mint
 
Returning again with the C on his chest is the one and only Sjin! Sjin has expressed interest in only playing in San Diego and was quick to express his re-sign intentions. He is a vital part of the San Diego locker room and knows the team inside and out. There was no doubt Sjin would be returning with the C on his chest and no one deserves it more.

The following is from a fan page of the young defenseman, pulling information from interviews, social media posts, and other articles written about the player.
 
 
 
Massachusetts. Home of countless events of American History, storied sports franchises, and even the Merriam Webster dictionary. Which is only fitting that they produce the living image of the word 'Cornerstone' for all three categories.
 
Fradin McGryer is the middle child of four boys, so there's no question where he learned his competitive spirit. Growing up in a small town in northern Mass, it wasn't uncommon for pickup games with the local kids to quickly split into the teams of the McGryer brothers take on the town. Largest of the four was Fradin who as a result was often a designated wall in front of his older brother Liam, who had been at the time and would continue to love playing tender in all sports - especially ice hockey.
 
This began his love of the growing sport of Rugby in New England. Starting in his middle school years he was introduced to a program teaching a sport that was very similar to American football. It was the process of learning a new system that drew him. Fradin in multiple interviews had often expressed his love for puzzles and strategy games. This pull to Rugby consumed most of his springs and summers. In the winters up until High School, Fradin would take up wrestling, a sport he and his father loved watching during the Olympic years together, and one that helped him retain his balance and strength. 
 
In his early High School years, his interests had swapped to fundraising and community service. As his High School hadn't quite the funding yet for the sport of Rugby to join the small division of schools that did play it in Massachusetts, a program would have to show enough interest to earn district funding. Teammates of his former middle school program would often be seen wearing their old jerseys and performing things like car washes, grounds keeping, and even trash removal in public areas. In the winters they would even work in teams of three shoveling out driveways in the heavy snow that the north is prone to.
 
In his Junior year the city had finally agreed to fund the program, with the promise that the team would continue to perform community service acts around the town in the offseason. The coaching duo from the middle school program was actually brought up and hired to coach the High School team, the Red Raiders. Now in Rugby, it's incredibly rare for a Prop to be handed a captaincy. But the coaches appreciated Fradin's ability to bring the group he'd grown up with to give up their time and actually enjoy helping others to bring the team to a reality in a bigger league. 
 
In his two seasons of High School Rugby, Fradin held the captaincy and played Right Prop. In their first season his team finished second to last in the twelve team league. To be expected for a team that had no experience in a professional setting in a larger age group than they last played. Throughout his final season of his short High School career, Fradin was being scouted by multiple colleges. Given his wide frame and fantastic balance, he was a hard prop for most to get by without doubling up on him. The Raiders eventually went on to lose in the finals that year, but Fradin was given an award by the league for his leadership abilities on and off the field before his sendoff to his visit with the University of San Diego.
 
It was here in San Diego where he rekindled his love of hockey. Spending his summer playing with his brother Liam, who had been goaltending for the University of San Diego for two years by this point. Liam often brought Fradin to watch practices and even skate with some of the VHLM players for the San Diego Marlins who would remain to put in some extra training in and interact with fans. Watching these players reminded the Mass native of his love of community, and that very feeling he had when he first discovered Rugby began to wash over him at the idea of professional ice hockey. Of course, this would mean giving up on a sport he'd found a love for at a young age. Edit: Fradin had stated recently in a radio interview that it was around this time he had realized his love for Rugby was more about helping his town and team than the sport specifically.

 
Shortly before the 88th season of the VHLM, Fradin had decided to attend a tryout for the Marlins. Encouraged by his brother, who had many years spent with his younger sibling help him keep pucks out of the net. A team with a new front office and staff, McGryer loved the energy of a new mindset and hunger on the Marlins. It was something he'd decided he wanted to be a part of. That competitive spirit and enthusiasm was seemingly exactly what Marlins management was looking for, as not only did they take in the budding defenseman, but they also granted him an alternate captaincy a game into the season. The New England native being recorded as one of the founders of a sporting team in his home town, his new captaincy on the Marlins, and how he carries himself on and off the ice proves Massachusetts has reinvented the 'Cornerstone' player.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Damn, pass.

Hello everyone,
 
I have recently been hired on as part of the Moderation Team in the VHL, as well as am apart of the Recruitment Team and a VHL GM. I have decided to step down as the WJC Commissioner to allow myself to invest more time into my other league jobs but also allow other members the opportunity to be a WJC Commissioner. I have really enjoyed my time in this position and am very sad to let it go but want to thank everyone who worked along side me over the last number of tournaments. 
 
With that being said there is now a job opening as a WJC Commissioner available. The person we hire will be working alongside @samx who has chosen to stay on as a Co-Commissioner. This is a really great opportunity to work with a lot of different members in the league (new and old).
 
If you’re interested in the position please comment below or send us a DM. We will decide on the new Commissioner at some point during this season.
 
 

San Diego Marlins Captain Circle

We are entering a new era in San Diego in S88 with a new GM/AGM tenure! With that we are seeing a mix of some familiar faces along with a lot of new ones. The Marlins have a culture of success and we are looking to continue that of course. An important part of doing that is assuring you have a reliable leadership circle. I know we have that with this group of guys. Without further delay, here are your S88 Marlins Captains!
 
[A] Fradin McGryer @Fradin99
 
Fradin is one of our newest players and has made an immediate impact in the locker room. He checks in every day, is very involved in team discussions and has caught onto league matters very quickly. His leadership trait was the first thing I noticed when he became a Marlin and we are incredibly honored to have him wear an A for San Diego this season. 
 
[A] Brad Marchand @McGriddy10
 
Brad is returning as a Marlin for his second season. He came to San Diego as a waiver last season, and when we had the opportunity to draft him I jumped on it. He was very vocal about wanting to become a Marlin and have a leadership role. He has been such a leader that we also made him our AGM for the S88 season. Brad’s dedication to the Marlins since day 1 has given him this well deserved A.
 
[C] Sjin @Mint
 
Returning again with the C on his chest is the one and only Sjin! Sjin has expressed interest in only playing in San Diego and was quick to express his re-sign intentions. He is a vital part of the San Diego locker room and knows the team inside and out. There was no doubt Sjin would be returning with the C on his chest and no one deserves it more.

G - Oskar Lindbergh
 
@Spartan Done!

F - Daryl Dixon
 
Draft complete @Spartan

San Diego Marlins Captain Circle

We are entering a new era in San Diego in S88 with a new GM/AGM tenure! With that we are seeing a mix of some familiar faces along with a lot of new ones. The Marlins have a culture of success and we are looking to continue that of course. An important part of doing that is assuring you have a reliable leadership circle. I know we have that with this group of guys. Without further delay, here are your S88 Marlins Captains!
 
[A] Fradin McGryer @Fradin99
 
Fradin is one of our newest players and has made an immediate impact in the locker room. He checks in every day, is very involved in team discussions and has caught onto league matters very quickly. His leadership trait was the first thing I noticed when he became a Marlin and we are incredibly honored to have him wear an A for San Diego this season. 
 
[A] Brad Marchand @McGriddy10
 
Brad is returning as a Marlin for his second season. He came to San Diego as a waiver last season, and when we had the opportunity to draft him I jumped on it. He was very vocal about wanting to become a Marlin and have a leadership role. He has been such a leader that we also made him our AGM for the S88 season. Brad’s dedication to the Marlins since day 1 has given him this well deserved A.
 
[C] Sjin @Mint
 
Returning again with the C on his chest is the one and only Sjin! Sjin has expressed interest in only playing in San Diego and was quick to express his re-sign intentions. He is a vital part of the San Diego locker room and knows the team inside and out. There was no doubt Sjin would be returning with the C on his chest and no one deserves it more.

An incredible honor to wear a letter to represent the team. I look forward to the ups and downs of the season, and traversing them with the guys in the room. Sjin and Marchy are great guys and I'm sure we'll do everything we can to continue to build the prestige and respect for the organization. It's my promise to work every day to be an example for every present and future Marlin as well as being someone past Marlins can look to and feel at ease to whom they left the team in the hands of.

San Diego Marlins Captain Circle

We are entering a new era in San Diego in S88 with a new GM/AGM tenure! With that we are seeing a mix of some familiar faces along with a lot of new ones. The Marlins have a culture of success and we are looking to continue that of course. An important part of doing that is assuring you have a reliable leadership circle. I know we have that with this group of guys. Without further delay, here are your S88 Marlins Captains!
 
[A] Fradin McGryer @Fradin99
 
Fradin is one of our newest players and has made an immediate impact in the locker room. He checks in every day, is very involved in team discussions and has caught onto league matters very quickly. His leadership trait was the first thing I noticed when he became a Marlin and we are incredibly honored to have him wear an A for San Diego this season. 
 
[A] Brad Marchand @McGriddy10
 
Brad is returning as a Marlin for his second season. He came to San Diego as a waiver last season, and when we had the opportunity to draft him I jumped on it. He was very vocal about wanting to become a Marlin and have a leadership role. He has been such a leader that we also made him our AGM for the S88 season. Brad’s dedication to the Marlins since day 1 has given him this well deserved A.
 
[C] Sjin @Mint
 
Returning again with the C on his chest is the one and only Sjin! Sjin has expressed interest in only playing in San Diego and was quick to express his re-sign intentions. He is a vital part of the San Diego locker room and knows the team inside and out. There was no doubt Sjin would be returning with the C on his chest and no one deserves it more.

After a hard fought four points earned to start the season, many would reasonably choose to rest in-between the heavy schedule of practices and meetings that come with the regular season grind. Fortunately for the San Diego youth hockey program, Defenseman Fradin McGryer doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word rest. Up early with the sun the hard hitting defenseman was seen at a local rink working practice drills and playing half ice games with members of the Mission Valley Bluegill, a U12 program that often partners with the Marlins for local fundraising campaigns. Pucks were in the back of nets, Pictures were taken, and smiles all around. The young defenseman was even seen giving a signed puck from his first goal - an overtime winner no less - to the program to raffle off to go with a pair of tickets to the Marlins next game against Houston in order to help raise money for equipment upkeep and travel costs. 

Fradin has eleven hits, four blocked shots, and one goal in the first two games of the season. This undrafted Free Agent has been a Marlin for hardly a week and we already find him becoming a local favorite for his actions on and off the ice. The season's early, but San Diego may have found a gem in their off season spending spree. 

Sorry about that, then
 
F - Nezuko
 
 
 

Friends, hazing has become a serious blight on the game of hockey, allowing the worst forms of abuse to infect a great sport. It is unacceptable in any league to allow such disgusting behavior amoung its members. But the VHL is not just any normal league. It is a league of inventive creativity. So what did India native Shubham Anand have to do to be "welcomed" by his new San Diego Marlins teammates? Dance to multiple songs in the mascot outfit, of course. The music connected to the goofy dances was a mix of classic Bollywood songs, K and J pop, and even some Fortnight emotes for extra cringe. Shubam's teammates later posted videos of his comical dance moves to the team's Tick Tok and others social media handles, where they became quite popular and proved entertaining enought to start a trend of various sport mascots dancing to random Asian music. This is what hazing is supposed to be about, not  trying to drowning yourself in alcohol or any abusive actions, but harmless, ridiculous, and slightly embarrassing fun.

Marlins Make Another Splash 
Sign Defenseman Fradin McGryer
 
     
 
  Well, San Diego went out to sea and certainly did not come back to port empty handed. Signing as of the release of this article, three free agents off of waivers ahead of this upcoming season. The biggest catch of the day being right handed defenseman Fradin McGryer to a league standard ($1,500,000) contract. McGryer was hardly in free agency for long. The young potential star was thought to have committed to his High School passion, Rugby. Now weighing in at roughly two hundred and forty pounds at six foot four inches in height, it's hardly a stretch to see why he was such a dominant Right Prop at a young age. 

An unusual sport for certain in the States, but that was part of the draw according to him. An active participant in school councils, performing fundraisers for the lesser known sports like Rugby to keep their funding in his district was something the young talent was known for. Everything from bake sales to the cliché's of car washing. Even going as far as to help coach a peewee team in the summers, hoping that exposing the sport to those even younger than him would help it grow along with the players. 
 
In the offseason he would play a sport more natural within his home state of Massachusetts. You would find him on the second pairing or more often the top penalty kill line for a hotheaded raiders team. For a team that constantly had deep playoff runs elude them, Fradin still managed to lead the league in blocked shots and was often fighting for the top five spots in plus/minus. A physically gifted athlete for sure, but who is this player out of a uniform? The following statement was taken from a video the young star posted to his social media after finalizing the signing with San Diego.
 
Fradin - "I'm excited, you know, to be so graciously welcomed in by this team that really, had no footage that made me stand out I think from any of the other guys out there. I'm ready to work hard and really prove I belong as a Marlin...and I don't think i'll be showing that by stacking up personal accolades. I'd much rather be remembered as a glue for the guys in that locker room. Those have always been the players I've looked up to in Hockey. The guys who show up and play hard not for their jobs, but for their team and the fans who show up wearing the same logo on their back. Guys like Kevan Miller or Johnny Boychuk...-".

There's certainly a case to be made for many of the prospects the Marlins picked up today. But with a thin blue line as of current on their active roster, an eager young player who's already willing instinctually to take up as much of the ice as he can should certainly ease the minds of both management and Goaltender Olivier Gauthier. Gauthier had a .890 save percentage last year with 2.71 GAA in the VHLM. If he has any chance of putting up better numbers this season, it certainly starts on the back end. The addition of McGryer shows the competency of management with their ability to also see this and quickly get some much needed help for their potential breakout netminder. 




555 Words II Week ending in 4/9

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