AwfulHomesick

Take your pick...

I actually didn't watch Raw last night. I was planning on skimming through the important portions of it right after I finished this media spot. I kinda spoiled it by going on the WWE website and seeing the headline. But in terms of Bryan, I'm glad they're giving him a story with the Wyatts. The Wyatt/Punk+Bryan angle was pretty directionless and with their focus solely on Bryan to feud with, it makes them a bit more menacing and hopefully they're taken a bit more seriously as how they were intended to.I wouldn't worry too much on D-Bry. He'll have his real title reign very soon.

After listening to the Rift Pajodcast and hearing some of the discussion about Bad News Barrett, that immediately threw the idea at me that I should combine two of my favorite things in the entire world: hockey and professional wresting. What I'll be doing here is a two part series on the VHL team's current performance this season and maybe their past performances, taking that, and picking a WWE counterpart based on their gimmick, how over they may be (popularity), and other variables. Now, bear with me, I've only been in the league for a month so some of my depictions may be a bit cloudy and questionable. But I couldn't hold off this opportunity until I was familiar with the rest of the league. This first part, I'll be working on the North American Conference, followed by the European Conference next week. Now, without further ado... Quebec City Meute: 17-5-1: 35 pts Clearly, the Quebec City Meute are the team to beat this season. They're currently the defending champions and are well on their way of getting their second Continental Cup in the team's very short existence. The team itself does not consist of one sole star but a collection of team players helping each other throughout the season, getting their W's at an alarming rate. Nonetheless, the Meute are 3rd in goals for in the entire league. The team's backbone is arguably Skylar Rift, one of the best VHL goaltenders to ever put on the pads, so despite being a team-first team, there's always the one guy that gets more attention than others. They are considerably the most feared team to play against this season with the Valiq's on the blueline. Quebec are quickly on their way to be a very dangerous franchise. WWE counterpart: The Shield Calgary Wranglers: 3-19-1: 7 pts The Calgary Wranglers last season were possibly once what the Quebec City Meute currently are. With the likes of Vlodymyr Rybak (oh, the irony) and Michal Wozniak enjoying their retirement, the city of Calgary are calling for one more season for the duo to come save the Wranglers out of the hole they've dug for themselves. With their only decent offensive firepower coming from Henrik Larsson this season and being back stopped by Rock Star after Alex Labatte left, the Wranglers are very early in their stages of rebuilding. With only 33 goals for and 110 goals against, there's aspects that Calgary could be reworked on. But for this counterpart, I'll have to be using the glory days that the Wranglers franchise once lived through, winning Continental Cups at least once in every decade season. They're still one of the most storied franchises the VHL has ever seen with a record of 7 cups. WWE Counterpart: Ric Flair New York Americans: 10-12-1: 21 pts The New York Americans are the team that could possibly be the only team on the outside of a playoff spot that could turn things around any time during the season. The team could shake things up with a trade, signing, or even from within with the determination to win more games. Keiji Toriyama once leading the league in points is the one upside the Americans currently posses in offensive zone, with rookie Brick Wahl surprising his naysayers putting up a respectable save percentage but a below average goals against percentage. Connor Low and Xin Xei Xow are well on their way of being stars in the league and this team could be very good by next season. WWE Counterpart: Antonio Cesaro (oh the irony) Seattle Bears: 9-10-4: 22 pts After their decent start to the season, teetering back and forth from under and over .500, the Seattle Bears look to be crashing down back to Earth. Offense doesn't look to be a problem for the Bears, with at least 5 players having 20 points in 29 games played so far this season. Their flashy offensive players have been making great plays all season long and always make it to the arena to perform at their best. It looks to be their defensive side of the game that could be stopping the team to be the playoff contender some may have predicted them to be at the start of the season. Steven Smyl has a 8-10-4 record that could be deemed respectable with the defense that's in front of him. They have the tools to be one of the better teams, they just need a few more kinks and tweaks in order to reach that level. WWE Counterpart: Dolph Ziggler Toronto Legion: 16-6-1: 33 pts Being a hockey team of any level in Toronto, there's a certain amount pressure that amounts to the team and management to perform at a high level every game, and they're doing just that. Being backstopped by the legendary Remy LeBeau, the Legion are also lead by a collection of European players this season like Lindberg, Kjellberg, and Lebedev. Currently sitting second in both the North American Conference and in the league behind the currently tied Wranglers and Dynamo, the Legion have been making a name for themselves over the past few seasons. Now they are seen as one of the best in the league and could be on their way to their first Continental Cup in over 7 seasons. It seems as if the strong Legion core we're aware of today are here to stay, despite taking the backseat to Quebec in North America. They know what they want and they'll work relentlessly until they have it. WWE Counterpart: CM Punk NEXT WEEK: European Conference

Had to raise the exposure because it's pretty damn dark in my room even with the light on.

Paging Mr. Wahl.

20 or so games into the season, Blaine Olynick has been nothing but short of spectacular in terms of developmental progress. From being a nobody a month ago to the top rated goaltender and being thrown around as one of the top 3 in this year's VHL Draft, Olynick has been turning heads in Bern. His goals against average and save percentage are nothing to brag about, but so far he has been getting the W's for the Royals. All the mock drafts that have been drawn up lately have Blaine wondering about where he'll call home for the start of his VHL career when called upon to start in net. One mock had him in his hometown of Toronto, another currently has him taken by Cologne. When asked about where he'd like to go, Blaine said "Toronto would be a dream come true. My whole family are Legion fans and they love Remy LeBeau. I look up to him in terms of the kind of goalie I want to be in this league. The kind that always gives his team a chance to win. Even if I may not start games and play in the minors in favor of LeBeau, just learning from him first hand would be a dream come true. It would be an honor to be the successor to Remy in net. Taking over in Quebec after Rift is retired would be an honor as well. They're both spectacular goaltenders that I would love to learn the game from." Keeps your eyes peeled out for Olynick at this upcoming draft.

Nah, not arrogant at all. I'm just glad to get a win over you guys because you guys are the team to beat this season with all the firepower and the stonewall of Brookside in net. You're tearing up the league, and as a rookie it was just a little cool to beat "the guy" of this season. All in friendly competition, mate.

AwfulHomesick. If I'm ever needed just PM me here in advance. Never really on Skype unless necessary.

Titans Meute Dynamo Iron Eagles

2-1 Legion

Holy crap I got a win over Brookside. Holy crap we got a win over the Watchmen.

Something about a Russian and Ukrainian on the same line sounds dangerous to me.

I got 75 TPE in a month's worth of activity here. Not sure if you can consider that as "not having the best work ethic", but oh well.

A big picture of a sheet of ice could look pretty cool as the background.

I'll be surprised if I get taken by Cologne. Chekov still has a few more years in him.

4-2 Gladiators

151: Watchmen 152: Royals 153: Outlaws 154: Iron Eagles

That's right, let's keep getting those W's, boys.

Haha loved that last bit. Glad to have you on the Royals!

It doesn't, but all the conversation about it made me wonder how could some guys think the VHLM is in a state where it can pick up 5-6 more guys like it has the past few days if we can't even sim the games that these new guys want to play in?

I figured, I just thought it would've been a better idea to say it on the forum in case anyone else had the same thought.

I've seen that they're being simmed. Just at a very slow rate, and not as many games are being simmed as the VHL. Not everyone knows this which is why I asked so they're aware.

really seems pretty unnecessary if VHLM games aren't being simmed/posted to the site, meanwhile the VHL season has been simmed daily. I get it that people do have lives outside of this site but it's only another reason to give new members to stop coming. Did I miss something where there was going to be a 3-4 day halt in the VHLM season?

With Barkov in Florida, it'll be pretty hard to put up points as it is.

Nice to see another Devils fan here! Welcome to the VHL. I too grew up with the EGG line. Never really got to see Stevens play in person but my first game ever was his jersey retirement night.