AW13

Player Information

Username: AW13

Player Name: Donald Carlson

Recruited From: Returning

Age: 20

Position: D

Height: 77 in.

Weight: 225 lbs.

Birthplace: United States of America

Player Page

@VHLM GM

Deron Nesbitt - DC

Deron Nesbitt - DC

On 7/19/2023 at 1:28 AM, Gustav said:

Why did the VHL have to turn 16? Could it be to distract the rest of you from me trying to delete the E? I'm going to choose to believe that this was the case and that I am being suppressed, rather than understand how calendars work and start this article in a more celebratory manner.

 

Something that occurred to me was that it is really hard to run a sim league successfully, much less start one. And though I can't claim to be part of any of this from a VHL perspective (sure, I'm partially responsible for the M, but that's a little bit different), I've got firsthand experience being in a few other startup leagues that I think are cool to write about.

 

 

The SBL: The closest thing to a "complete" league (in terms of large community size) that I've been a part of, the SBL was mostly an offshoot of the EFL/SBA side of our affiliation and (if I remember correctly) was run primarily by @AW13. We've got the PBE out there, but they use a different earning system to ours and this was the only baseball league I've known that worked like ours does. It was fun while it lasted, and a good number of people were on board with it. I myself was an updater and ran some weekly fantasy stuff, and I was far from the most important, so looking back on it we actually had a really impressive amount of people to start it up. Sadly, the SBL would fold after just a season, maybe two--I don't remember two full ones, but I think we made it through one entirely and were at least outwardly preparing for another when the announcement hit.

 

Why this happened: I'm honestly not 100% sure and I'm kind of sad it did because I liked it while it lasted. I don't think I ever saw any SBL-specific recruits, and it was after all just everyone's affiliate league. As that stood, it was clearly an unsustainable model. Plus, things like forum updating were inconvenient, and, again, with it being everyone's affiliate, it was probably really difficult to find people willing to step up and put in effort in a secondary league.

 

 

The SFC: A very ambitious project run by @Dil and @Beaviss that was very short-lived (and also one of my fastest burnouts in any community; sorry guys). This was a UFC sim built by Dil himself--I remember getting to give my guy a nickname, and I remember that it was "The Florentine Fireball", but I don't remember what his actual name was. It was a cool concept but lots of people lost interest pretty quickly and I also remember some technical issues coming up at one point. I'm pretty sure something had to be resolved and in the short time that took, I just didn't care anymore.

 

Why this happened: Here's the first mention of a common theme: you need lots of support to start a successful league, no matter how good you are at it. I think it's fair to say that building this long-term was too much for two people, even though it was momentarily really impressive. I also remember being a bit confused by the league's structure and I think it would have needed a lot of tuning to work with expanding and contracting league sizes.

 

 

Various iterations of cricket sim leagues: all started by @Berocka and none lasting very long. We started out as a Discord server that streamed sims run on some console game whose exact name I don't remember, and eventually tried a forum built by @Cxsquared. I was the third member of our "big three" that tried to run things but did by far the least. We did run a season (I managed the Perth Challengers!) but things fell apart spectacularly after that--retention rates dropped off hard with no recruitment and we came into conflict with other GMs who really didn't want to play with the rules as written. Honestly, my favorite out of everything we tried was the first version with the streams--watching those taught me the rules of the game and that's something I've actually been able to apply as I've gotten out into the real world and played a little bit with some people who are from places that actually care about cricket.

 

Why this happened: Maybe we could have caved in and gotten a half-assed second season on the forum if we did what a couple GMs wanted, but that wasn't the reason why it didn't work out. For one, we just weren't marketing to many people who wanted to be in it past the "just trying something new" stage, and it's also fair to say that the league didn't stand a chance with no recruitment efforts. It also happened to catch all three of us at busy times, and I don't think we were collectively in the right place to start up--nor did we have much help with it. But everything that happened with this took a lot of effort to get going--mostly from people other than myself--and it's much respected.

 

 

The IHL: I really don't want to call this a "failed" community because it ran for a while and I really liked it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I had more fun here for a while than I've had in any VHL affiliate league. This was a small community founded by @enigmatic a long time ago, going through various changes in composition and leadership, and was so small that we were about 8 members strong and could directly recruit people we knew to fill openings as needed. But it was a sim league, and in fact an STHS one--each of us had a roster where we were in charge of which players were played where and how their attributes were upgraded. I ran the Nuuk Nukes (that's Greenland for you--and before you guys started creating as Greenlandic here too), and in true Gustav form never won anything. Things came to a rapid halt at one point, less over systemic challenges than in our other examples. Because of this, I don't really want to do a "why" so much as I'd like to reflect positively on the time I spent there and the connections I made with some SHLers and other "money league" people who I hope are doing well.

 

 

So yeah, I haven't seen a sim league start firsthand and actually work in all the time I've been in them in general. It takes a ridiculous amount of effort and organization to get things off the ground in a sustainable way, and I know that it takes more of the same, all the time, to keep it that way. For 16 years, no less! It's more than just an annual observance--it's an annual celebration of a legitimate achievement. Here's to many more.

Yoooooo an SBL mention!

 

Good times!

 

I am planning to bring back a baseball league of some sort shortly and would love to have you join it!

Media Spot

 

Happy Birthday VHL!!

Well Traveled Nesbitt

It has been a very interesting ride so far in the VHL career of Deron Nesbitt out of St. Kitts and Nevis and it has certainly been one that has seen him find refuge in many places around the league and around the world really. Nesbitt was drafted by the Helsinki Titans back in Season 83 but even before that, he had spent some time elsewhere, so let's start from the beginning!

 

Nesbitt started as a late addition waiver signee to Mexico City back in Season 81 starting his career down in Mexico on the North American continent and played a fraction of a season there with the Kings. Then, he was drafted into the VHLM for Season 82 by the Ottawa Lynx and stayed on the North American continent to play a season for the Lynx in the minor leagues. Nesbitt was a solid addition to the Lynx and has some solid success in the VHLM getting noticed by the teams in the VHL. 

 

In Season 83, Nesbitt was entered into two drafts, the VHL, and the VHLE where he could go on to play for either the main major hockey league or in the intermediary VHLE. Nesbitt went on to be drafted by the Helsinki Titans in the VHL and the Cologne Express in the VHLE. It was decided that Nesbitt would be suiting up for the Express for Season 83 and ended up playing for Cologne in the VHLE. It was off to Europe and Germany for Nesbitt who now had to move halfway across the world after playing most of his time around North America. In general, at this point, Nesbitt was an extreme defensive defenseman so he was not a player who added a lot of points but was fine defensively though it was not a great season for Nesbitt, but it was time for the VHL. 

 

Season 84 was the debut season for Nesbitt in the VHL with Helsinki and it was a nice rookie season for him on a really good team and was the league leader in +/i in the VHL I believe. Then, after that, Helsinki went through some big management issues and the following season, Season 85, was not a great success and would end up being the season that had Nesbitt wanting to move. His rights were traded in Season 86 to Davos where he decided to sign on and play in Season 86, staying in Europe and moving back to a German speaking country in Switzerland. He played 14 games for Davos before being shipped off to Seattle in North America again and finished his season with them. He stayed on with Seattle for Season 87 and then was traded again midseason to Toronto, I believe even being flipped to and from DC for a minute, at least still staying in North America. After that season, his rights were dealt to Prague where he played all Season 88, so he was back to Europe for Deron. It was one season and then of course, he was dealt again, this time to Moscow where he currently is. Hopefully for more than one season but who knows, maybe Nesbitt will be on the move again after this season.

 

To Recap, Nesbitt travel log:

Mexico City, MX -> Ottawa, CN -> Cologne, GRM -> Helsinki, FNL -> Davos, SWZ -> Seattle, USA -> Toronto, CN -> Prague, CZE -> Moscow, RUS

On 6/12/2023 at 9:33 AM, Spartan said:

Presser for June 12th week!

 

1. The VHL draft was Sunday night, and with our top selection, we chose RW - Jeff Lewis @nerji. What do you have to say to welcome him to the team?

2. We traded away our second first round pick to Malmo in exchange for a S91 1st and S90 2nd. What are your thoughts on that trade?

3. Is there anyone from the S90 class that stands out to you as someone you'd like Moscow to draft?

4. Training Camp is approaching a close - what skills did your player focus on?

5. The season starts this Friday. How excited are you to get going?!

6. WRONG answers only - if @AW13 was a musician that traveled the world to perform, what instrument would he be playing and why?

1. Welcome to Moscow Jeff!

2. Trading a 2nd for a 1st and 2nd sounds like a win to me assuming decent enough draft!

3. I have no clue, I am happy to play with most anyone!

4. Nothing, just trying to live till retirement!

5. I am excited. Another new place and still trying to get a cup!

6. Clearly I would be playing the electric triangle!

On 6/5/2023 at 10:08 AM, Spartan said:

Presser for June 5th week!

 

1. Moscow and Prague made a surprise trade late last week - did you see it? Any initial thoughts?

2. In the trade, Moscow added a forward, a defenseman, and a goalie. Which position do you think was most in need for the team?

3. With Kyosti Karjalainen retired, Moscow will have to choose a new Captain. Who do you think might be a good choice?

4. Moscow had 3 players nominated for the Most Outstanding Player - Ronan Lavelle, Tomas Sogaard and Hammar Voss. Do you think any of them will win?

5. I've asked this question before, but the landscape of the VHL is always changing. Which player not on Moscow would you want to play with, if there was the opportunity to team up?

6. Wrong answers only - what is @BOOM's favorite music to listen to?

1. Yes! I was involved. Glad to be wanted by someone but man I am sick of having to move Nesbitt from town to town!

2.  Of course Nesbitt was the biggest addition, he is a beast  

3. My former teammate and monster defenseman Hammar Voss!

4. No, i don't know why, but I want to complain that the league was unfair!

5. No one, I only want to play with my team!

6. Definitely yodeling music on repeat!

Deron Nesbitt - DC

Up to 4 times traded now  

I get passed around like [insert one of the many phrases here]

That was short lived

Wtf

Rip

Idk if my Auto 12 counts with this but hopefully it does! Happy birthday VHL!

G - Cole Pearce
F - That Dude

 

@Esso2264

D - Hari Singh Nalwa

F - Brendan Telker

 

@Esso2264

@Esso2264

F - Jonathan Ori

D - Tui Sova

Okay I'll sign up because @Spartanmade me

1.  What aspect of Hockey (Defense, Stick Handling, etc.) do you think is the most underappreciated?

I would have to say defense. People love scoring goals but stopping goals just as important.

2. The NHL has the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the player who exhibited outstanding sportsmanship. What should the name of that trophy be in the VHL?

Good question. Maybe name it based on a VHL contributor or even a real person like Nelson Mandela or something?

3. Who do you think deserves to win the award this year?

The season has not started yet but a lot of people put in a lot of hard work for the league and their teams.

4. Who do you think is your team's MVP this season?

Again, season has not started an I am answering an old press conference for TPE but I hope I can play at an MVP level.

5. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas is always my favorite holiday and great to be with family and celebrate the birth of Christ.

6. If the VHL has an expansion, what city would you like to see get a team?

As an Atlanta resident I would love to see the city get a team. They lost Thrashers in NHL and need some hockey!

On 12/21/2021 at 6:54 PM, Vice said:

Buenas, @AW13!

Together with my GM @youloser1337, congratulations on your recreate! Mexico City is currently the underdog for this upcoming playoffs push and we could use a player like you to help round out the team and hope for a deep push! What do you say? Want to help break some expectations? With 76 TPA and earning more, you'd be a competitor for 2nd or first line for the playoffs!

 

Just quote and reply with #HAILTOTHEKINGS to join us!

¡VIVA MEXICO!

~Vice (Mexico City AGM)

I'm down for some minutes! 

 

#HAILTOTHEKINGS

Player Information

Username: AW13

Player Name: Deron Nesbitt

Recruited From: Returning

Age: 19

Position: D

Height: 80 in.

Weight: 250 lbs.

Birthplace: Saint Kitts and Nevis

Player Page

@VHLM GM

1. Who would you say keeps the locker room motivated and who is the locker room clown?

I would have to go with Spartan, he is a solid and funny guy. So is OD though but I don't want Spartan to cut me.

2.  What do you think of your ice time? Do you have enough, not enough? And if that would to change, how would it affect your player?

Seems right. Always like having ice time but hockey is tough you can't play a full 60 minutes.

3. Where is your go to vacation for after season?

Miami beach baby! Got to love the got sun and the beach!

4. What is your ideal jersey number and why?

100 is 3 numbers were allowed and I would make the jersey number the 100 emoji.

5. What is your best moment with Moscow?

I have had some hat tricks recently so I have to say those, it is good to help the team!

6. Have you ever gone to a NHL regular season game? If, so what was your first/best game you went to?

Yes I have been to a few Bruins games in my life. First I believe was against Tampa Bay a long time ago and recent was also a long time ago against the Coyotes.

1. We've been having a pretty great start to the season. Do you think we will carry this into the playoffs and win the cup?

Yes of course! Got to have confidence!!

2. We are currently #1 in our conference. Who do you think is out biggest rival in our conference?

I would probably say Malmo is our biggest rival right now.

3. Vancouver Wolves are sitting in #1 overall rank. Do you think we will surpass them?

It will be tough but again, have to have confidence so yes we will!

4. What is your personal goal for this season, what would you like to accomplish?

I would love to finish this season with a point per game!

5.  Philip Stein @IHateBobNutting is sitting in #1 for point leaders. Do you think he will continue sitting at #1 spot or will Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeathwill catch up to him?

I think Stein keeps the lead but it will be close in the end!

6. What's your favorite movie for road trips?

I would probably say White Chicks. Most quotable movie ever!