HearnNation67

Have you dreamed about being an NHL superstar but maybe an injury cut your career short? Or you were too lazy like me and had very little athletic ability? Maybe you grew up playing street hockey with your friends, recreating iconic moments and creating your own. Maybe you played all the video games and wanted to see your face on the cover of the newest EA Sports game or the greater hockey series, NHL Hitz. Perhaps you dreamed of shining in one of Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em videos or be featured on his next techno single*. Or maybe you prefer to be the mastermind behind a dynasty, the next Lou Lamoriello, Ken Holland, or Peter Chiarelli. If you've ever imagined any of these scenarios, then the Victory Hockey League is the league for you.
The VHL is a simulation based hockey league, where you control how your skills grow through various types of “point tasks”. Point tasks range from short, 150 word articles to 500 word media spots, team or individual press conferences, a quick podcast, or creating a graphic card for players or teams. You can use these point tasks to review the VHL and the world around you, or to grow the legend of your player. You can also get points by doing different jobs around the league, including being a General or Assistant General Manager. The GMs and AGMs are in charge of the 12 VHL teams and 11 VHLM (the minor league) teams. Controlling lines, signing free agents, trading, and asking press conference questions are just some of their duties. The are also a great help if you need something explained, or need some tips in building your star.
Creating a player is easy as pie, and you're in control of their history, skills, position, and physical attributes. Pick the right country, and you could see yourself wearing the flag in the World Juniors or World Championships someday. You can name your player after yourself, someone famous, someone you know, a fictional character, or just make up a name. I myself am what they call a “first gen” player, which just means that I've created one player. I chose to create a goalie, who I named Woody McPine. Woody is named after a wooden goaltender my dad made me when I was a kid to shoot on, and my friends and I named him as appropriately as we could. Now, the original Woody McPine didn't have great movement but he was still a solid goalie, especially because I had no aim. His career ended tragically after his arm was broken by a soccer ball. The new McPine has a different backstory than that (and better movement), which has been a lot of fun to create, and is on his way to becoming a legend in the league. You can check it out on the VHL's website if you so choose.
Once your character is made, you'll either get signed or drafted into the VHLM, depending on when in the season you create. And then, your journey to superstardom begins.
 
*
You're welcome
 
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Welcome back to another S71 WJC update. These series are about best players, surprises, and let downs from the most recent games. Stick around and follow us as VSN is here to be the media outlet for you and your entertainment!
 
Also, don’t forget to check out other cool VSN Content produced weekly for your entertainment. From lovely podcasts hosted by Berocka to stat-filled content on weekly news, history and more!

VHL Weekly | VHLM Weekly | League History | S71 WJC Team Rankings | VSN Radio
 
With another seven games gone by, Team Asia maintains their run of dominance. Other than that, the standings are completely shaken up, with only Europe maintaining their position. Things are still very close between teams not named Asia. The points difference between second-placed Canada and last-placed World is only four; one less than the gap between Canada and Asia. There is still time to play, but for now, this Red Robin round is certainly setting up an engaging playoffs, as all five teams this season seem to have a shot at the gold. 
 
Team Asia
 
Speaking of all five teams having a shot at the gold, I may have spoken a little too soon; a shot at silver might be more accurate. Though Asia is certainly not unbeatable (as evidenced by their Game 8 loss to Europe by a score of 5-4, what a game), they are in the driver's seat, and their goal differential doesn’t lie. Sitting right now at a +8, with 30 goals scored, they have been dominant offensively. Vladimir Shaposhnikov maintains his impeccable form with a tournament-leading 18 points and has been truly massive this tournament. He is followed by teammate Kyl Oferson whose 8 goals in only 6 games is the highest of all players. Asia’s goaltending has been strong as well, with Nicolas Fomba maintaining his .925 SV% despite having faced the highest number of shots throughout all goalies in the competition. Nikita Kulikovich leads all defensemen in points with 11 after 6 games, thanks to his impressive 10 assists. 
 
Team Canada
 
Team Canada has rallied hard, and the perennial competitors are looking like they have a good shot at challenging for the gold. Despite being 5 points back off leaders Asia, they do have a game in hand. While Asia is offensively dominant, Canada has been relying on an airtight defence. In fact, they have the lowest goals scored with only 17 despite being second in the standings, but thanks to their tournament-best 15 goals allowed, they are still at a +2. This is of course in part due to their goaltender, who has so far been the best out of anyone, with the top SV% of .929, and top GAA of 2.72, almost a full goal better than Asia, Mr Woody McPine. McPine has been helped out tremendously by the strong defensive efforts of the whole roster, as he has faced almost 100 shots less than Asia’s Fomba (although he has played one less game). Alex Letang has been tremendous with this defensive effort, blocking 17 shots over 5 games, and Hugh Jass is currently second in defensemen leaderboard by points with 7 after 5 games. 
 
Team United States of America
 
The United States has rebounded quickly as well, going 2-1 in their games this time around, and only losing to Asia in a tight 5-4 barnburner that saw Asia take the win on two powerplay goals in the third period; basically, the Americans came very close to a big victory here, almost winning all three matches. In fact, they have had a lot of close games so far this tournament, with five of their six games being decided by two goals or less, and the sixth being their big 7-4 win over Team Europe in Game 12. The Americans are the second-best offence in the tournament, only 4 goals scored behind Asia, and only 2 more goals allowed. This is despite not having a single person in the top five for points; they have really been relying on all their players contributing, and have a strong offensive core of Joe Proto, Thomas Landry II, and Alex Bridges with ten, ten, and nine points respectively. Landry leads the team with 5 goals. Their netminder Stone Wolski has had some solid performances so far, maintaining a .914 SV%, but they might need a little more out of him in the games against the top teams this tournament. 
 
Team Europe
 
The Europeans have been somewhat of an enigma thus far this tournament. They are the first of our teams this update that is in the negative in goal differential, and they have struggled at times. With that being said, they are also the only team so far that has managed to win against Team Asia. So what does that tell us? Issues with consistency could certainly be a factor. Their top man is certainly Derek Eriksson, who is in third in points with 11 despite having only played five games; in fact, along with Gabriel Gutzweiler, they are the only two players in the top ten for points who have played five matches. So how can Europe make a run for the gold? Obviously they can do it, they beat Asia. They need to just improve each game, and start playing like that in repeat performances. Additionally, their goaltender Joakim Bruden will need to start playing to his potential, as his .866 SV% will struggle to take them all the way. Plainly said, they just need their players to step up. 
 
Team World
 
Team World struggled with this round of games, losing all three, including a humiliating 4-0 loss to the Canadians in Game 11. With that being said, there is still a chance for them to turn around, as they have been unlucky -  yes, unlucky. That game against Canada was the only one truly out of reach, as every other game was decided by two goals or less. Furthermore, two of their losses came in overtime, with one being decided by a shootout. Pengu has been scoring well for them with eleven points, albeit a -3 on the ice. They just haven’t been enough; each game tends to seem just a little too much for them to handle. Things aren’t too late for them to turn around, and their goalie Zamboni Driver has been holding things together decently considering the situation, with a .911 SV%, but they will need to switch something up sooner rather than later if they want to have a shot. Considering that if they manage a win in the play-in match they are rewarded with a game presumably against Asia, things aren't looking too hot for our World brethren.  
 
 
But for now, that will be it from us. Do you agree with our assessment or do you think VSN is completely wrong? Tune in to the next WJC Update when it comes out! See you there!
 
Players Mentioned: @ng1291, @Nykonax, @efiug, @Lockdown Defense, @HearnNation67,
@Spartan,@TheFlash, @Proto, @Doomsday, @Alex Bridges, @DollarAndADream,
@DirtyDerek, @PadStack, @Pengu, @Tape-to-Tape
 
 
VSN Writer Mr_Hatter
 

Hi @Members,
 
Something that has long been discussed is the fact that there is an optimal time to create a player for any given draft, and that is right at the trade deadline, giving some players several weeks of earning potential over members who create later on in the process. While it is impossible to completely negate this fact, we have worked to find a solution that we think is more fair to members who create their player in the weeks that follow the deadline. Thus, the Late Joiner Adjustment!
 
The Late Joiner Adjustment equates to +6 TPE for every week that has passed since the most recent trade deadline, which for this season means that anyone who creates a player next week, they are entitled to an additional 6 TPE, on top of their starting TPE, and applies to both first-gen members and re-creates.
 
While we do plan on automating this process into the portal, having the adjusted start TPE automatically applied upon creation, it is not currently a feature that is available. In the mean time, players who create as of April 27th may link to this post to claim their corresponding Late Joiner Adjustment as Uncapped Career TPE, which can be seen below for the dates of creation.
 
UPDATE: As of May 13th, the Adjusted Starting TPE has been automated. Anyone who creates a player going forward does not need to worry about manually claiming. Anyone who created a player between April 27th and May 13th (before the update went live) is eligible to manually claim the Late Joiner Adjustment, as follows:
 

1. Based on the performances of the other teams as well as our own, I think we'll finish the season in 3rd.
2. I'd love to get 13 more shutouts.
4. I'm confident that our team can take any team, so not scared of anyone.
5. I think it would be fun to play my former team, the Las Vegas Aces.
6. Gonna have to stick with Winter, he's been on a tear all season.
7. Donald Duck was banned from Finland for not wearing pants.
 

Kevin Weekes & Johannes Benoit. Brick Wahl & Kevin Weekes. Woody McPine & Carter Fetterley? Can this new goaltending duo lead Canada back to World Junior glory since Wahl and Weekes went back to back (to back in Weekes' case, who also won in season 62) in seasons 63 and 64? McPine and Fetterley look to avenge Canada's heartbreaking loss in double overtime to the United States and returning goalie Stone Wolski in last season's tournament. Fetterely, picked 55th overall by Saskatoon in the season 70 draft, has a 4-1-1 record in 8 games this season while sporting a 0.879 save percentage and 3.87 goals against average and McPine, who was picked by Minnesota at 7th overall in the season 71 draft and is rocking a record of 33-10-1 in 49 games with a 0.875 save percentage and a 2.94 GAA. The two young goalies are poised to lead a strong Canadian team back to their rightful place at the top of the hockey world.
 
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Kevin Weekes & Johannes Benoit. Brick Wahl & Kevin Weekes. Woody McPine & Carter Fetterley? Can this new goaltending duo lead Canada back to World Junior glory since Wahl and Weekes went back to back (to back in Weekes' case, who also won in season 62) in seasons 63 and 64? McPine and Fetterley look to avenge Canada's heartbreaking loss in double overtime to the United States and returning goalie Stone Wolski in last season's tournament. Fetterely, picked 55th overall by Saskatoon in the season 70 draft, has a 4-1-1 record in 8 games this season while sporting a 0.879 save percentage and 3.87 goals against average and McPine, who was picked by Minnesota at 7th overall in the season 71 draft and is rocking a record of 33-10-1 in 49 games with a 0.875 save percentage and a 2.94 GAA. The two young goalies are poised to lead a strong Canadian team back to their rightful place at the top of the hockey world.
 
Word Count:165

I would just like to say, even though me (Hextall) and Lafontaine weren't able to bring home the gold, we still got silver and we were the best goalie tandem in S70 WJC. Team Canada just seems to always have good goalies at hand.

Kevin Weekes & Johannes Benoit. Brick Wahl & Kevin Weekes. Woody McPine & Carter Fetterley? Can this new goaltending duo lead Canada back to World Junior glory since Wahl and Weekes went back to back (to back in Weekes' case, who also won in season 62) in seasons 63 and 64? McPine and Fetterley look to avenge Canada's heartbreaking loss in double overtime to the United States and returning goalie Stone Wolski in last season's tournament. Fetterely, picked 55th overall by Saskatoon in the season 70 draft, has a 4-1-1 record in 8 games this season while sporting a 0.879 save percentage and 3.87 goals against average and McPine, who was picked by Minnesota at 7th overall in the season 71 draft and is rocking a record of 33-10-1 in 49 games with a 0.875 save percentage and a 2.94 GAA. The two young goalies are poised to lead a strong Canadian team back to their rightful place at the top of the hockey world.
 
Word Count:165

Kevin Weekes & Johannes Benoit. Brick Wahl & Kevin Weekes. Woody McPine & Carter Fetterley? Can this new goaltending duo lead Canada back to World Junior glory since Wahl and Weekes went back to back (to back in Weekes' case, who also won in season 62) in seasons 63 and 64? McPine and Fetterley look to avenge Canada's heartbreaking loss in double overtime to the United States and returning goalie Stone Wolski in last season's tournament. Fetterely, picked 55th overall by Saskatoon in the season 70 draft, has a 4-1-1 record in 8 games this season while sporting a 0.879 save percentage and 3.87 goals against average and McPine, who was picked by Minnesota at 7th overall in the season 71 draft and is rocking a record of 33-10-1 in 49 games with a 0.875 save percentage and a 2.94 GAA. The two young goalies are poised to lead a strong Canadian team back to their rightful place at the top of the hockey world.
 
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(logo credit to my friendly rival @Zetterberg!)
 
 Ladies and gentlemen, the announcement you have all been eagerly awaiting is here. I'm proud to announce to you the S71 WJC Team Canada Roster! 
Some of the best and brightest Canadian stars have made their way onto this roster, and will compete against the best youth players in the world! The choices were extremely difficult, but I am confident this team will develop over the next few weeks and be a rousing force in this tournament. 
 
Introducing, your Team Canada representatives:
 
Forwards:
Erik Killinger - @Peace
Daldo - @Harpskii
SS Hornet - @McWolf
Damien Wolfe - @Laflamme
JaredN - @jared
Squirrely Dan - @jacobaa19
Andrew Su - @Da_Berr
Gino Alkamino - @ChaceT
Timothy Brown - @a_Ferk
 
Defensemen:
Hugh Jass - @TheFlash
Jason Goeson - @Legend0985
Bo Burrows - @Walter Fizz
Alex Letang - myself!
 
Goalies:
Woody McPine - @HearnNation67
Carter Fetterly - @Boltzy
 
I am extremely excited to meet our new players, so please join our team's Discord server linked here. All are welcome to join, including players on other teams! I'd love to build a community between all nations, so that the next generation of VHL stars can get to know each other!

1. Great choices for both teams! Should be interesting to see what they can do.
2. Maybe in a future season when I'm not so new.
3. Love the juniors! It would be an honor to be picked to represent my country ?
5. Yes, it's absolutely worth it. It's a wild ride from start to finish of episode 7. 
6. 5 wins in 5 games, so I'll give us a 5/5 rating.
7. Something with a bit of a kick, not too picky on the flavour

Hoppy Easter sports fans, hope everyone is staying safe this long weekend and has a good egg hunt, much like the Minnesota Storm are hunting for first place in the VHLM. They've been on a roll lately, winning 11 of their last 15 games (including their last 4) and are right in the mix. It's a tight race (for 2nd place, goddammit Ottawa), with Yukon, Philly, and the Storm all within 1 point of each other. With each team having played 34 games, its anyone's guess who will eventually overtake the Lynx for first in the league. However, this being a mildly Easter themed article, it seems obvious that, with the return of Jesus Christ, comes the return of the true kings of the league, and Minnesota should be retaking their 1st place throne. With the first half of the season drawing to a close, we can only hope that the second half will be filled with as much, if not more, excitement and tight battles between each team.
 
Have a blessed zombie Jesus weekend everyone,
Woody
 
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MINNESOTA -  One of the big questions coming into the season for the defending champions Storm was between the pipes. Taking what was thought to be a risk at 7th overall, goaltender Woody McPine has turned out to be worth it all. He's been improving at a steady rate and becoming the starting goaltender that the Storm need to make another run at a cup this year. Woody boasts a 21-8-1 record with .876 SV% and 3.16 GAA which are much improved over the .855 SV% and 5.31GAA he had last season in Las Vegas. With that he has 2 shutouts on the year. But those numbers are only improving with a massive performance in his last two games, only allowing 1 goal in each and obviously picking up the wins. It seems that by playoffs come, he will be a premiere starter in this league and will likely see one more season in the VHLM before graduating, and whoever he plays for next season will have the best goaltender in the league without a doubt. But for now, let's see if McPine can back the Minnesota Storm to that repeat.

1. That's a tough one, but I'd have to go with Grapenut
2. Mark Wahlberg has a new movie out called "Spenser Confidential". Shockingly, it's about corrupt cops in Boston. Way out of character for him.
3. 7-3 at the worst.
4. It's exciting! Keeps everyone competitive and on their toes.
5. I've always wanted to go to Norway, but Minnesota is a great hockey city.
6. The Prague Phantoms got this in the bag.

I recently watched the phenomenon that is Tiger King and it inspired me to break some of the characters down into teams for a possible VHL expansion. Some characters were easier to write about because they got more screen time but I tried. The remainder of the teams can be made up by whatever staff and family members don't get mentioned. Here y'all go:
 
Oklahoma Tiger Kings
 
Joe Exotic/Schreibvogel/Maldonado-Passage – Founder, owner, CEO, coach, captain. Had top 6 potential when he first came into the league but wasted his prime partying and doing drugs. Should be in the minors but is playing first line center. Talks a big game but can't back it up no matter how hard he tries. In charge of dressing room music, plays his original tunes. Very unpredictable on and off the ice which makes him a huge liability and threat. His trash talking and off ice activities got him kicked out of the league and he's now trying to sue the pants off of everyone. Loyal to no one but Dillon Passage.
 
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle – The Tiger Kings goalie and a doctor of natural sciences. Been in the game long before Exotic recruited him to his team. King of his own little paradise (some claim its a cult, but they're really just jealous of his several wives) and does his own thing off the ice but is laser focused between the pipes. Has an in person hearing with the commissioner for doping accusations. Has dreams and connections in Hollywood and used to go by Kevin.
 
John Finlay – Joe's right winger but should be playing defence. Exotic recruited him as a young player and managed to keet him around until he eventually left to play for a different team. Blocks shots with his face.
 
Travis Maldonado – Plays on Exotic's left wing, but like Finlay, should also be playing defence. Also got brought in as a young player a few years after Finlay. Tragically suffered a career ending injury off the ice at a very young age.
 
John Reinke – Team manager and defenceman. Battled through some serious leg injuries. Is incredibly loyal to Maldonado-Passage. Loves the game more than his family.
 
Erik Cowie – Loves the game, but not the coach. Doesn't give a fuck about Doc. Plays defence with Reinke and is glad Exotic got kicked out of the league. Made the team as a walk-on after seeing an ad online.
 
Jeff Lowe – Brought in by Joe to give the team some depth but the relationship went south fast. A real 'fake it til you make it' kind of player, Lowe slowly took over Exotic's roles with the team and some say he encouraged the actions that led to his banishment from the league. Pulls some sketchy shit on the ice. Originally second line center, but moved to Exotic's right wing after Finlay left and is now the number one center. Very flashy off the ice and isn't shy about his “superstar” status. Big lady's man.
 
Allen Glover – Joined the team with Lowe to add some grit and meanness to the team. Plays defence. In it for the money and will do anything for the right price. Loves to party. Helped get Exotic banned from the league.
 
Kelci “Saff” Saffery – Second line winger. Major injury to her left arm but barely missed a game. Incredibly loyal to the team.
 
Dillon Passage – Brought in shortly after Maldonado's career ended. Played left wing with Exotic until the latter left the league. Passage is loyal to Exotic and only Exotic, and left the team following Joe's banishment.
 
Joshua Dial – Former WalMart worker, Dial was brought in late in Exotic's career as his agent. Hated every minute of it. Got Joe some publicity but it wasn't enough to keep him in the league. This was his first job as an agent and has moved onto a new career path.
 
Marc Thompson – The Marty McSorley to Exotic's Gretzky.
 
Rick Kirkman – The team camera man. Well, really Joe's camera man. Got some interesting footage that Joe didn't want to see the light of day. Bailed on the team after a fire destroyed most of his gear and films.
 
Cheryl Maldonado – Travis's mom. A big supporter of the team, she was a constant on the sidelines while Travis was playing. Oversaw the signing of Passage, for some reason, and then distanced herself from the team.
 
Lauren Lowe – Named assistant manager by Jeff after he took over the team from Joe. Kind, caring, and always happy to share, she lets Jeff make all personel decisions.
 
Florida Big Cats
 
“That Bitch” Carole Lewis/Baskin – Owner, manager, coach, captain. Founded the Easy Street Wild with Don Lewis but later changed the name to the Florida Big Cats. Ferocious competitor, will do anything it takes to win. Acts like the good girl in the league but has a dark side and she is very dangerous when provoked. Carole's a feisty, top line winger who drove Joe Exotic to madness, leading to his banishment from the league. Has some shady off ice tactics, and isn't afraid to play dirty.
 
Jack Donald “Don” Lewis – Co-founder. Sex addict. A solid, top pairing defenceman who can jump into the play with his seemingly endless amount of resources which was a huge part of why Carole joined forces with him. Suffered a career ending injury late in his career shortly after asking for a trade. Nobody knows what he's up to now. Could be in Cuba.
 
Howard Baskin – Don's replacement on the backend. More defensively minded than Don, but equally as effective. Helped the Big Cats become the powerhouse that they are. Very loyal to Carole, which could be triggered by either respect or incredible fear.
 
Gladys Lewis Cross – Goes to every game because her daughters are there and definitely not because she's still in love with her ex husband.
 
Kenny Farr – Equipment manager and Don's defense partner. Blames Carole for Don's injury.
 
Joseph Fritz – Don and Carole's agent. Also not a fan of Carole, but a job is a job. Keeps a tight mouth about how much each players contract is worth.
 
Anne McQueen – Joined the team when Don was still around, Anne is a trustworthy stay at home defencewoman. Fiercely loyal to Don and also blames Carole for ending his career.
 
Gale Rathbone – Don's daughter, played top 6 minutes when he was with the team. She signed a long term contract, but Carole has her warming the bench every game.
 
Lynda Sanchez – Another one of Don's daughter, she too used to play top 6 minutes with her sister but has also been reduced to a bench role. Tremendous potential wasted on both sisters.
 
Jamie Murdock – Carole's daughter. Plays center on the second line but isn't very effective. Doesn't appear to have her mother's drive and ambition to win.
 
Susan Bass – The teams goalie. She's steady, and always ready to bail the team out of any trouble they may get themselves in.
 
Those 3 girls with the dead rabbits – This tricky trio is always in the mix. They make up the top line with Howard and Carole, and are certified pests. Whenever anything goes down however, they always play innocent and have the rest of the line, including Bass in nets, to bail them out of trouble.
 
Others
 
Mario Tabraue – Easily the biggest beauty in the league. Mario had some troubles early in his career trying to break into and keep himself in the league. But he took his punishment on the chin and now he's just glad to be on the ice without any distractions. Or so he says.
 
James Garretson – Brought in by the league to help tame down the animosity between the Tiger Kings and Big Cats, James was a former player himself, albeit a very brief career in the minors. A big reason that Exotic got banned.
 
Kody Antle – Doc's son, he is following in his Father's footsteps and is a very solid goalie in the minors. He's a bit more down to earth and in touch with the real world than Doc, and both are very popular with women.
 
Amanda Green – A league executive who was part of the team that handed Joe Exotic his historic punishment.
 
Larry Rhodes – Another league executive, who dealt with many of Exotic's minor outbursts. Issued a lot of warnings but never did anything.
 
It was a hard fought battle both on and off the ice, between the two teams (and within the teams), with each side having the advantage at one point or another. But ultimately, the Tiger Kings wild tactics couldn't keep up with the Big Cats well planned ferociousness. They took the win in the first of what is sure to be many battles and I for one looking forward to seeing what comes out of all of this, and see who's still standing at the end.
??
Word count:1509
First claim: Mar. 30 - Apr. 5
Second Claim: Apr. 6 - Apr. 12
Third Claim: Apr. 13 - Apr. 19

I recently watched the phenomenon that is Tiger King and it inspired me to break some of the characters down into teams for a possible VHL expansion. Some characters were easier to write about because they got more screen time but I tried. The remainder of the teams can be made up by whatever staff and family members don't get mentioned. Here y'all go:
 
Oklahoma Tiger Kings
 
Joe Exotic/Schreibvogel/Maldonado-Passage – Founder, owner, CEO, coach, captain. Had top 6 potential when he first came into the league but wasted his prime partying and doing drugs. Should be in the minors but is playing first line center. Talks a big game but can't back it up no matter how hard he tries. In charge of dressing room music, plays his original tunes. Very unpredictable on and off the ice which makes him a huge liability and threat. His trash talking and off ice activities got him kicked out of the league and he's now trying to sue the pants off of everyone. Loyal to no one but Dillon Passage.
 
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle – The Tiger Kings goalie and a doctor of natural sciences. Been in the game long before Exotic recruited him to his team. King of his own little paradise (some claim its a cult, but they're really just jealous of his several wives) and does his own thing off the ice but is laser focused between the pipes. Has an in person hearing with the commissioner for doping accusations. Has dreams and connections in Hollywood and used to go by Kevin.
 
John Finlay – Joe's right winger but should be playing defence. Exotic recruited him as a young player and managed to keet him around until he eventually left to play for a different team. Blocks shots with his face.
 
Travis Maldonado – Plays on Exotic's left wing, but like Finlay, should also be playing defence. Also got brought in as a young player a few years after Finlay. Tragically suffered a career ending injury off the ice at a very young age.
 
John Reinke – Team manager and defenceman. Battled through some serious leg injuries. Is incredibly loyal to Maldonado-Passage. Loves the game more than his family.
 
Erik Cowie – Loves the game, but not the coach. Doesn't give a fuck about Doc. Plays defence with Reinke and is glad Exotic got kicked out of the league. Made the team as a walk-on after seeing an ad online.
 
Jeff Lowe – Brought in by Joe to give the team some depth but the relationship went south fast. A real 'fake it til you make it' kind of player, Lowe slowly took over Exotic's roles with the team and some say he encouraged the actions that led to his banishment from the league. Pulls some sketchy shit on the ice. Originally second line center, but moved to Exotic's right wing after Finlay left and is now the number one center. Very flashy off the ice and isn't shy about his “superstar” status. Big lady's man.
 
Allen Glover – Joined the team with Lowe to add some grit and meanness to the team. Plays defence. In it for the money and will do anything for the right price. Loves to party. Helped get Exotic banned from the league.
 
Kelci “Saff” Saffery – Second line winger. Major injury to her left arm but barely missed a game. Incredibly loyal to the team.
 
Dillon Passage – Brought in shortly after Maldonado's career ended. Played left wing with Exotic until the latter left the league. Passage is loyal to Exotic and only Exotic, and left the team following Joe's banishment.
 
Joshua Dial – Former WalMart worker, Dial was brought in late in Exotic's career as his agent. Hated every minute of it. Got Joe some publicity but it wasn't enough to keep him in the league. This was his first job as an agent and has moved onto a new career path.
 
Marc Thompson – The Marty McSorley to Exotic's Gretzky.
 
Rick Kirkman – The team camera man. Well, really Joe's camera man. Got some interesting footage that Joe didn't want to see the light of day. Bailed on the team after a fire destroyed most of his gear and films.
 
Cheryl Maldonado – Travis's mom. A big supporter of the team, she was a constant on the sidelines while Travis was playing. Oversaw the signing of Passage, for some reason, and then distanced herself from the team.
 
Lauren Lowe – Named assistant manager by Jeff after he took over the team from Joe. Kind, caring, and always happy to share, she lets Jeff make all personel decisions.
 
Florida Big Cats
 
“That Bitch” Carole Lewis/Baskin – Owner, manager, coach, captain. Founded the Easy Street Wild with Don Lewis but later changed the name to the Florida Big Cats. Ferocious competitor, will do anything it takes to win. Acts like the good girl in the league but has a dark side and she is very dangerous when provoked. Carole's a feisty, top line winger who drove Joe Exotic to madness, leading to his banishment from the league. Has some shady off ice tactics, and isn't afraid to play dirty.
 
Jack Donald “Don” Lewis – Co-founder. Sex addict. A solid, top pairing defenceman who can jump into the play with his seemingly endless amount of resources which was a huge part of why Carole joined forces with him. Suffered a career ending injury late in his career shortly after asking for a trade. Nobody knows what he's up to now. Could be in Cuba.
 
Howard Baskin – Don's replacement on the backend. More defensively minded than Don, but equally as effective. Helped the Big Cats become the powerhouse that they are. Very loyal to Carole, which could be triggered by either respect or incredible fear.
 
Gladys Lewis Cross – Goes to every game because her daughters are there and definitely not because she's still in love with her ex husband.
 
Kenny Farr – Equipment manager and Don's defense partner. Blames Carole for Don's injury.
 
Joseph Fritz – Don and Carole's agent. Also not a fan of Carole, but a job is a job. Keeps a tight mouth about how much each players contract is worth.
 
Anne McQueen – Joined the team when Don was still around, Anne is a trustworthy stay at home defencewoman. Fiercely loyal to Don and also blames Carole for ending his career.
 
Gale Rathbone – Don's daughter, played top 6 minutes when he was with the team. She signed a long term contract, but Carole has her warming the bench every game.
 
Lynda Sanchez – Another one of Don's daughter, she too used to play top 6 minutes with her sister but has also been reduced to a bench role. Tremendous potential wasted on both sisters.
 
Jamie Murdock – Carole's daughter. Plays center on the second line but isn't very effective. Doesn't appear to have her mother's drive and ambition to win.
 
Susan Bass – The teams goalie. She's steady, and always ready to bail the team out of any trouble they may get themselves in.
 
Those 3 girls with the dead rabbits – This tricky trio is always in the mix. They make up the top line with Howard and Carole, and are certified pests. Whenever anything goes down however, they always play innocent and have the rest of the line, including Bass in nets, to bail them out of trouble.
 
Others
 
Mario Tabraue – Easily the biggest beauty in the league. Mario had some troubles early in his career trying to break into and keep himself in the league. But he took his punishment on the chin and now he's just glad to be on the ice without any distractions. Or so he says.
 
James Garretson – Brought in by the league to help tame down the animosity between the Tiger Kings and Big Cats, James was a former player himself, albeit a very brief career in the minors. A big reason that Exotic got banned.
 
Kody Antle – Doc's son, he is following in his Father's footsteps and is a very solid goalie in the minors. He's a bit more down to earth and in touch with the real world than Doc, and both are very popular with women.
 
Amanda Green – A league executive who was part of the team that handed Joe Exotic his historic punishment.
 
Larry Rhodes – Another league executive, who dealt with many of Exotic's minor outbursts. Issued a lot of warnings but never did anything.
 
It was a hard fought battle both on and off the ice, between the two teams (and within the teams), with each side having the advantage at one point or another. But ultimately, the Tiger Kings wild tactics couldn't keep up with the Big Cats well planned ferociousness. They took the win in the first of what is sure to be many battles and I for one looking forward to seeing what comes out of all of this, and see who's still standing at the end.
??
Word count:1509
First claim: Mar. 30 - Apr. 5
Second Claim: Apr. 6 - Apr. 12
Third Claim: Apr. 13 - Apr. 19

Nicely done, Woody! Keep up the good work!

Woody McPine and the Minnesota Storm had a couple days off to recharge in between games 88 and 96 of the VHLM season, and it was very beneficial for the team. They blew out of the break winning 3 of their next 4 games, including McPine's first career shutout in a 7-0 thumping of the Mexico City Kings. When asked about his first donut, McPine said it “Feels nice” and credits to his teammates for playing a complete game in front of him. Those 6 points propelled the team into a three way tie for 3rd place with the San Diego Marlins, who they beat in the first of those 4 games, and the Philadelphia Reapers, who played a clutch game and were the only team to beat the Storm during the 4 game stretch. McPine and the Storm will look to carry this momentum forward over the next stretch of games on their quest for the cup.
 
Word count: 158

Claim for G Woody McPine
1. Connor McDavid
2. Martin Jones
3. Brian Elliott
4. Vladimir Tarasanko
5. Alexander Edler
6. Kris Letang
7. Jamie Benn
8. Seth Jones

I recently watched the phenomenon that is Tiger King and it inspired me to break some of the characters down into teams for a possible VHL expansion. Some characters were easier to write about because they got more screen time but I tried. The remainder of the teams can be made up by whatever staff and family members don't get mentioned. Here y'all go:
 
Oklahoma Tiger Kings
 
Joe Exotic/Schreibvogel/Maldonado-Passage – Founder, owner, CEO, coach, captain. Had top 6 potential when he first came into the league but wasted his prime partying and doing drugs. Should be in the minors but is playing first line center. Talks a big game but can't back it up no matter how hard he tries. In charge of dressing room music, plays his original tunes. Very unpredictable on and off the ice which makes him a huge liability and threat. His trash talking and off ice activities got him kicked out of the league and he's now trying to sue the pants off of everyone. Loyal to no one but Dillon Passage.
 
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle – The Tiger Kings goalie and a doctor of natural sciences. Been in the game long before Exotic recruited him to his team. King of his own little paradise (some claim its a cult, but they're really just jealous of his several wives) and does his own thing off the ice but is laser focused between the pipes. Has an in person hearing with the commissioner for doping accusations. Has dreams and connections in Hollywood and used to go by Kevin.
 
John Finlay – Joe's right winger but should be playing defence. Exotic recruited him as a young player and managed to keet him around until he eventually left to play for a different team. Blocks shots with his face.
 
Travis Maldonado – Plays on Exotic's left wing, but like Finlay, should also be playing defence. Also got brought in as a young player a few years after Finlay. Tragically suffered a career ending injury off the ice at a very young age.
 
John Reinke – Team manager and defenceman. Battled through some serious leg injuries. Is incredibly loyal to Maldonado-Passage. Loves the game more than his family.
 
Erik Cowie – Loves the game, but not the coach. Doesn't give a fuck about Doc. Plays defence with Reinke and is glad Exotic got kicked out of the league. Made the team as a walk-on after seeing an ad online.
 
Jeff Lowe – Brought in by Joe to give the team some depth but the relationship went south fast. A real 'fake it til you make it' kind of player, Lowe slowly took over Exotic's roles with the team and some say he encouraged the actions that led to his banishment from the league. Pulls some sketchy shit on the ice. Originally second line center, but moved to Exotic's right wing after Finlay left and is now the number one center. Very flashy off the ice and isn't shy about his “superstar” status. Big lady's man.
 
Allen Glover – Joined the team with Lowe to add some grit and meanness to the team. Plays defence. In it for the money and will do anything for the right price. Loves to party. Helped get Exotic banned from the league.
 
Kelci “Saff” Saffery – Second line winger. Major injury to her left arm but barely missed a game. Incredibly loyal to the team.
 
Dillon Passage – Brought in shortly after Maldonado's career ended. Played left wing with Exotic until the latter left the league. Passage is loyal to Exotic and only Exotic, and left the team following Joe's banishment.
 
Joshua Dial – Former WalMart worker, Dial was brought in late in Exotic's career as his agent. Hated every minute of it. Got Joe some publicity but it wasn't enough to keep him in the league. This was his first job as an agent and has moved onto a new career path.
 
Marc Thompson – The Marty McSorley to Exotic's Gretzky.
 
Rick Kirkman – The team camera man. Well, really Joe's camera man. Got some interesting footage that Joe didn't want to see the light of day. Bailed on the team after a fire destroyed most of his gear and films.
 
Cheryl Maldonado – Travis's mom. A big supporter of the team, she was a constant on the sidelines while Travis was playing. Oversaw the signing of Passage, for some reason, and then distanced herself from the team.
 
Lauren Lowe – Named assistant manager by Jeff after he took over the team from Joe. Kind, caring, and always happy to share, she lets Jeff make all personel decisions.
 
Florida Big Cats
 
“That Bitch” Carole Lewis/Baskin – Owner, manager, coach, captain. Founded the Easy Street Wild with Don Lewis but later changed the name to the Florida Big Cats. Ferocious competitor, will do anything it takes to win. Acts like the good girl in the league but has a dark side and she is very dangerous when provoked. Carole's a feisty, top line winger who drove Joe Exotic to madness, leading to his banishment from the league. Has some shady off ice tactics, and isn't afraid to play dirty.
 
Jack Donald “Don” Lewis – Co-founder. Sex addict. A solid, top pairing defenceman who can jump into the play with his seemingly endless amount of resources which was a huge part of why Carole joined forces with him. Suffered a career ending injury late in his career shortly after asking for a trade. Nobody knows what he's up to now. Could be in Cuba.
 
Howard Baskin – Don's replacement on the backend. More defensively minded than Don, but equally as effective. Helped the Big Cats become the powerhouse that they are. Very loyal to Carole, which could be triggered by either respect or incredible fear.
 
Gladys Lewis Cross – Goes to every game because her daughters are there and definitely not because she's still in love with her ex husband.
 
Kenny Farr – Equipment manager and Don's defense partner. Blames Carole for Don's injury.
 
Joseph Fritz – Don and Carole's agent. Also not a fan of Carole, but a job is a job. Keeps a tight mouth about how much each players contract is worth.
 
Anne McQueen – Joined the team when Don was still around, Anne is a trustworthy stay at home defencewoman. Fiercely loyal to Don and also blames Carole for ending his career.
 
Gale Rathbone – Don's daughter, played top 6 minutes when he was with the team. She signed a long term contract, but Carole has her warming the bench every game.
 
Lynda Sanchez – Another one of Don's daughter, she too used to play top 6 minutes with her sister but has also been reduced to a bench role. Tremendous potential wasted on both sisters.
 
Jamie Murdock – Carole's daughter. Plays center on the second line but isn't very effective. Doesn't appear to have her mother's drive and ambition to win.
 
Susan Bass – The teams goalie. She's steady, and always ready to bail the team out of any trouble they may get themselves in.
 
Those 3 girls with the dead rabbits – This tricky trio is always in the mix. They make up the top line with Howard and Carole, and are certified pests. Whenever anything goes down however, they always play innocent and have the rest of the line, including Bass in nets, to bail them out of trouble.
 
Others
 
Mario Tabraue – Easily the biggest beauty in the league. Mario had some troubles early in his career trying to break into and keep himself in the league. But he took his punishment on the chin and now he's just glad to be on the ice without any distractions. Or so he says.
 
James Garretson – Brought in by the league to help tame down the animosity between the Tiger Kings and Big Cats, James was a former player himself, albeit a very brief career in the minors. A big reason that Exotic got banned.
 
Kody Antle – Doc's son, he is following in his Father's footsteps and is a very solid goalie in the minors. He's a bit more down to earth and in touch with the real world than Doc, and both are very popular with women.
 
Amanda Green – A league executive who was part of the team that handed Joe Exotic his historic punishment.
 
Larry Rhodes – Another league executive, who dealt with many of Exotic's minor outbursts. Issued a lot of warnings but never did anything.
 
It was a hard fought battle both on and off the ice, between the two teams (and within the teams), with each side having the advantage at one point or another. But ultimately, the Tiger Kings wild tactics couldn't keep up with the Big Cats well planned ferociousness. They took the win in the first of what is sure to be many battles and I for one looking forward to seeing what comes out of all of this, and see who's still standing at the end.
??
Word count:1509
First claim: Mar. 30 - Apr. 5
Second Claim: Apr. 6 - Apr. 12
Third Claim: Apr. 13 - Apr. 19

1. Bit of a slow start but I think we can turn it around
2. I think we'll move up, currently on a 4 game win streak so that's helpful.
3. Nope, got a lot to work on to bring my GAA down
4. Goaltending and secondary scoring
5. Octarine, the Colour of Magic
6. We're in a state of emergency but I'm considered an essential worker so I just go to work and then go home. Sometimes stop for gas or groceries. So the only thing that's changed for me is that I don't do anything on weekends. But haven't lost my mind yet so that's good.

All I gotta say is my bad on the wording of question 1. Granted, 50+ always means 50 or more so won't accept that as an excuse. Also, after changing it to "end of S65" I think that made it clear that it was from S66 onwards and yes it was 3 individual players, but 3 wasn't an option. Anyway, most people got it right.
 
Anyway....
 
1. Since the end of S65, how many players had 50+ goal seasons in VHL? (Credit to @SweetMike666 - and 1 uncapped TPE. You can yell at him, but he's inactive)
As we live through the real dead puck era of the VHL, 50-goal seasons are rare. The last one was S68 when Matt Thompson hit 60 and Rauno Palo broke 50 as well. Thompson and Borwinn also did it in S66. And no one else in the last 5 seasons and counting.
 
Your best bet of finding the answer would have been here: https://vhlportal.com/tools/archive
 
2. TRUE/FALSE: The most common name for a Hall of Fame player is Alexander (including short-form)
I expected this one to be more confusing hence the clarification in the end, in case people decided to get pedantic about Matthew's and Mats'. This is in fact true.
 
Alexander (5) - Beketov, Sauve, Chershenko, Labatte, Valiq + 2 Alex's (McNeil and Gegeny) + 1 Aleksi Koponen
Matt (5) - Bentz, Defosse, Bailey, Bentley, Thompson + 1 Matthew Pogge + 1 Mats Johnsson
 
Either way, the Alexanders win or tie, so the answer is true.
 
There's a few spreadsheets rolling about which make this an easy search or just typing in the name into the search bar here: https://vhlportal.com/hof/inductees/players
 
 
2 capped TPE goes to:
GustavMattias @GustavMattias
Matt_O @Matt_O
VinCal @VinCal
Esso2264 @Esso2264
GlowyGoat @GlowyGoat
Oilmandan @oilmandan
Domkey @Domkey
Boragina @Boragina
DoktorFunk @DoktorFunk
CrlineDijohn14 @CrlineDijohn14
TheFlash @TheFlash
solas @solas
Telkster @Telkster
Da_Berr @Da_Berr
Spaz @Spaz
Zetterberg @Zetterberg
McWolf @McWolf
TTtheT @TTtheT
aye my name jeff @Aye my name jeff
ng1291 @ng1291
Big Mac @Big Mac
biggreen10 @Biggreen10
Jubis @Jubis
Ricer13 @Ricer13
Garrett @Garrett
Proto @Proto
Doomsday @Doomsday
Little Ri-Dog @LittleRiDog
pennypenny @pennypenny
Spyro @Spyro
Josh @Josh
Beketov @Beketov
chillzone @chillzone
DaftRaincloud @DaftRaincloud
studentized @studentized
fonziGG @fonziGG
HearnNation67 @HearnNation67
DirtyDerek @DirtyDerek
CowboyinAmerica @CowboyinAmerica
Patrik Tallinder @Patrik Tallinder
wcats @wcats
McWolf @McWolf
Alex Bridges @Alex Bridges
SlapshotDragon @SlapshotDragon
Velevra @Velevra
enigmatic @enigmatic
Brewins15 @Brewins15
animal74 @animal74
HulkHogan @HulkHogan
DollarAndADream @DollarAndADream
Ferda @Ferda
gorlab @gorlab
Mr_Hatter @Mr_Hatter
Kyle @Kyle
Matmenzinger @Matmenzinger
Pengu @Pengu
bluesfan55 @bluesfan55
Reverb @Reverb
BigIrish @BigIrish
Underclass_Hero @Underclass_Hero
Peace @Peace
Enorama @Enorama
DangerGolding @DangerGolding
efiug @efiug
Midnite @Midnite
STZ @STZ
OrbitingDeath @OrbitingDeath
Kekzkrieg @Kekzkrieg
Barzalgoat @BarzalGoat
philliefan @Philliefan
Dil @Dil
I'll change this later @I'll change this later
Jbeezy76 @Jbeezy76
GRZ @GRZ
Motzaburger @Motzaburger
DMaximus @DMaximus
jared @jared
Jacobaa19 @jacobaa19
Tbeez99 @Tbeez99
BigTittySmitty @BigTittySmitty
ChaceT @ChaceT 
Bob Helminen @Bob Helminen
Brrbisbrr @Brrbisbrr
Jtv123 @Jtv123
Jubo07 @Jubo07
okochastar @okochastar
Tagger @Tagger
Garsh @Garsh 
KC15 @KC15
Quik @Quik
MMFLEX @MMFLEX
ROOKIE745 @ROOKIE745
Rayzor_7 @Rayzor_7
Erik Summers @Erik Summers
Broalie @Broalie
Tape-To-Tape @Tape-to-Tape
Grape @Grape
destroyyourbrain @destroyyourbrain
cody73 @cody73
dasboot @dasboot
FrostBeard @FrostBeard
rjfryman @rjfryman
cxsquared @Cxsquared
Grant @Grant
Greg_Di @Greg_Di
LastOneUp @LastOneUp
McLovin @McLovin
Spence King @Spence King
Cusemode @Cusemode
teajbee @teajbee
Phil @Phil
SDCore @SDCore
Anthony Matthews @Anthony Matthews
Zepheter @zepheter
jRuutu @jRuutu
fever95 @fever95
radlikemydad @radlikemydad
scoop @scoop
leafsman @leafsman
DGarrett32 @DGarrett32
Hops @Hops
Renomitsu @Renomitsu
flyersfan1453 @flyersfan1453
sebster03 @Sebster03
Joe Exotic @Joe Exotic
David O'Quinn @David O'Quinn
Kendrick @Kendrick
.sniffuM @.sniffuM
 
 
1 capped TPE goes to:
Mike @Mike
Legend0985 @Legend0985
Viperxhawks19 @Viperxhawks19
sjs88speed @sjs88speed
Btown03 @btown03
PadStack @PadStack
flatl99 @flatl99
Corco @Corco
kenfury @KenFury
Trifecta @Da Trifecta
MexicanCow123 @MexicanCow123
Spartan @Spartan
Lefty_S @Lefty_S
a_Ferk @a_Ferk
Nykonax @Nykonax
Tate @Tate
st4rface @st4rface
Weather @Weather
Zyrok @Zyrok
KnightRiley @KnightRiley
twists @twists
ProLime4 @ProLime4
SweatyBeaver @SweatyBeaver

Game 40 of season 71 saw the Minnesota Storm play arguably their most complete game of the year to date. Backed by solid goaltending (finally) from young tendy Woody McPine and a high powered offense, the Storm surged past the Houston Bulls 9-2. Led by a monster 4 goal, 3 assist performance by top prospect (and former Bulls player) Aleelee Kiak, the Storm seemed unstoppable all night long. Perhaps a sign of what this team can really do if McPine can get his shit together. Robin Winter (2g,3a) and Danny DeYeeto (1g,4a) each chipped in 5 points in the game, while Dick Cheezy put up 3 assists and Valtteri Vaakanainen had 2. Alex Burrows and Squirrely dan each scored once for the Storm, while Jack Feriancek and Latrell Mitchell both contributed an assist. Riley Walker and JJ Johnson scored for the Bulls, with assists coming from Gregg Stallion, Jimothy Frost, and Walker.
 
Word count:152

Woody McPine is a young goaltender with tremendous potential to do big things in the league. Under contract with the Prague Phantoms in the VHL, he is currently the starting goaltender for the VHLMs Minnesota Storm. Everyone knows that goalies are the weirdest players in the league, so we did a little investigating into the off-ice lifestyle of Mr. McPine.
 
Question: First off, Woody, what’s your gameday ritual look like?
Woody: Wake up, make breakfast. 3-4 eggs, some bacon, toast, and a smoothie. Go for a pregame skate, go home/ back to the hotel eat lunch and laze around a bit. Probably play some Chel or Fortnite. I’m bad at both. Then have a nap, eat some dinner and head to the rink and pump some tunes and chill until its time to get ready.
 
Q: Any go to songs on your pregame playlist? Or just a random shuffle?
W: I start off with just a random playlist, depending on my mood, and then end with some classic pump up tunes. Some Guns N’ Roses, ACDC, Motley Crew, Crazy Frog, and Weird Al are always in there, as well as some local bangers like The Trews, Craymak, Joel Plaskett, Sloan. I always end off with the greatest Nova Scotia party song of all time, The Mull River Shuffle by The Rankin Family. Gets me amped as all hell.
 
Q: What do you do on your days off?
W: I like to sleep in and have a late brunch at little local spots. I’m a big fan of discovering new brunch places when I visit a city. Then I head to the gym for a couple hours before heading home to watch Netflix and lose at video games. After dinner I like to go for a walk around the city, get some fresh air. Sometimes I check out antique and thrift stores. I’ve got a huge pin collection back at my parents’ place, so I’m always looking to add to that. Then head home or to one of the boys’ place and have some beers.
 
Q: Now, you grew up in a small town. How has that helped you on your path to success?
W: Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money for video games and things, so I was often outside. I think that helped a lot with general fitness because there’s not a lot of sitting around when you’re outside being a little shit. We played a lot of street hockey, backyard baseball, and climbed a lot of trees. I was a bit reckless and was never afraid of hurting myself which I think is part of why I found my place on the ice as a goalie.
 
Q: If you weren’t a hockey player, what do you think you’d be doing?
W: I wasn’t a very good student in school, so college or university definitely wouldn’t be an option. I’d probably be at home working the family tree farm, on my way to co-ownership with my brother.
 
Word Count: 501

Woody McPine is a young goaltender with tremendous potential to do big things in the league. Under contract with the Prague Phantoms in the VHL, he is currently the starting goaltender for the VHLMs Minnesota Storm. Everyone knows that goalies are the weirdest players in the league, so we did a little investigating into the off-ice lifestyle of Mr. McPine.
 
Question: First off, Woody, what’s your gameday ritual look like?
Woody: Wake up, make breakfast. 3-4 eggs, some bacon, toast, and a smoothie. Go for a pregame skate, go home/ back to the hotel eat lunch and laze around a bit. Probably play some Chel or Fortnite. I’m bad at both. Then have a nap, eat some dinner and head to the rink and pump some tunes and chill until its time to get ready.
 
Q: Any go to songs on your pregame playlist? Or just a random shuffle?
W: I start off with just a random playlist, depending on my mood, and then end with some classic pump up tunes. Some Guns N’ Roses, ACDC, Motley Crew, Crazy Frog, and Weird Al are always in there, as well as some local bangers like The Trews, Craymak, Joel Plaskett, Sloan. I always end off with the greatest Nova Scotia party song of all time, The Mull River Shuffle by The Rankin Family. Gets me amped as all hell.
 
Q: What do you do on your days off?
W: I like to sleep in and have a late brunch at little local spots. I’m a big fan of discovering new brunch places when I visit a city. Then I head to the gym for a couple hours before heading home to watch Netflix and lose at video games. After dinner I like to go for a walk around the city, get some fresh air. Sometimes I check out antique and thrift stores. I’ve got a huge pin collection back at my parents’ place, so I’m always looking to add to that. Then head home or to one of the boys’ place and have some beers.
 
Q: Now, you grew up in a small town. How has that helped you on your path to success?
W: Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money for video games and things, so I was often outside. I think that helped a lot with general fitness because there’s not a lot of sitting around when you’re outside being a little shit. We played a lot of street hockey, backyard baseball, and climbed a lot of trees. I was a bit reckless and was never afraid of hurting myself which I think is part of why I found my place on the ice as a goalie.
 
Q: If you weren’t a hockey player, what do you think you’d be doing?
W: I wasn’t a very good student in school, so college or university definitely wouldn’t be an option. I’d probably be at home working the family tree farm, on my way to co-ownership with my brother.
 
Word Count: 501