SlapshotWrangler

Classic…. Well written

TORONTO - After the festivities of the NHL All Star Game and recovering from the sheer damage those no-name brand nameplates did to my psyche, I walked around the city to take in the atmosphere. Seeing the best players from all of the NHL’s teams (save the Calgary Flames), I couldn’t help but notice the vibrance and extra warmth the city seemed to have. The players, even if some did cancel planned vacations, looked relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Some creative and top-tier hockey was displayed.
 
Now, the VHL has its own All-Star game. It was all the same things; maybe even better! Seeing the game's biggest stars from all over the WORLD gather in one game (they don’t have a skills competition like the NHL and they choose only two teams… very pro bowl-esque) to display how awesome they are. It is always a super fun event and a way for players to let loose and show off some creativity.
 
However, some of the most underrated staples of a team have never had a chance to participate in one of these, which is quite interesting.
 
Bot players have been around in this league for years and continue to step up their game. It still feels like they are heavily disrespected by the entire league from management and fans to award selection committees. Heck, their stats aren’t even kept and their player pages are non-existent. However, they are the longest tenured players of their team, having played since the team’s inception.
 
We had an interview with one of these bot players, long-time defensemen for the Seattle Bears, B-SEA D4, the best bot player in S91 in terms of VHFL points. B-SEA D4 had 0 goals and 2 assists but that made sense as he has always been more of a defensive defensemen. 134 hits was the count for him that season and with a somewhat tidy -17, he was a standout defender among bot players. Here is what he had to say about a bot All-Star game.
 
“49,20,74,68,69,6E,6B,20,61,6E,20,61,6C,6C,20,73,74,61,72,20,67,61,6D,65,20,77,6F,75,6C,64,20,62,65,20,61,77,65,73,6F,6D,65,2E,20,42,65,65,70,20,62,65,65,70,2C,20,62,6F,6F,70,20,62,6F,6F,70,2E” *translated to hexadecimal code for interest of space
 
Another Seattle Bears bot defensemen, B-SEA D10 heard the conversation and we also got some words from him. He was also a pretty nifty bot player for Seattle Bears with his 2 goals and 2 assists securing his spot as one of the top offensive bot d-men. A tidy +5 to boot.
 
“49 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6E 20 6F 6E 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 61 6D 20 66 6F 72 20 6D 61 6E 79 20 73 65 61 73 6F 6E 73 2E 20 49 20 61 6D 20 65 61 73 69 6C 79 20 6F 6E 65 20 6F 66 20 74 68 65 20 6C 6F 6E 67 65 73 74 20 74 65 6E 75 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 65 2E 20 42 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 74 69 6C 6C 20 64 6F 6E 27 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 6D 65 20 74 68 65 20 43 2E 20 53 6F 20 70 6C 65 61 73 65 20 61 74 20 6C 65 61 73 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 6D 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 6F 74 20 61 6C 6C 20 73 74 61 72 20 67 61 6D 65 2E”
 
The influence of these bot players continues to be overlooked and I will not stand for it. I demand that the VHL create a bot all-star game. Many of these players are leaders, even if they don’t make the lineup every night.
 
“B-CGY G1 taught me everything I know. He was our third-string goalie when I was backing up and our third-string goalie when I was starting. However, he was always very vocal about what I needed to improve. I think it’s about time we show these guys the recognition they deserve. I think we need to get over our pretenses and realize that these bot players CAN rise up to the occasion and that they DO.” said former Wranglers goalie Jacques Lafontaine.
 
VHL, it’s your move.

TORONTO - After the festivities of the NHL All Star Game and recovering from the sheer damage those no-name brand nameplates did to my psyche, I walked around the city to take in the atmosphere. Seeing the best players from all of the NHL’s teams (save the Calgary Flames), I couldn’t help but notice the vibrance and extra warmth the city seemed to have. The players, even if some did cancel planned vacations, looked relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Some creative and top-tier hockey was displayed.
 
Now, the VHL has its own All-Star game. It was all the same things; maybe even better! Seeing the game's biggest stars from all over the WORLD gather in one game (they don’t have a skills competition like the NHL and they choose only two teams… very pro bowl-esque) to display how awesome they are. It is always a super fun event and a way for players to let loose and show off some creativity.
 
However, some of the most underrated staples of a team have never had a chance to participate in one of these, which is quite interesting.
 
Bot players have been around in this league for years and continue to step up their game. It still feels like they are heavily disrespected by the entire league from management and fans to award selection committees. Heck, their stats aren’t even kept and their player pages are non-existent. However, they are the longest tenured players of their team, having played since the team’s inception.
 
We had an interview with one of these bot players, long-time defensemen for the Seattle Bears, B-SEA D4, the best bot player in S91 in terms of VHFL points. B-SEA D4 had 0 goals and 2 assists but that made sense as he has always been more of a defensive defensemen. 134 hits was the count for him that season and with a somewhat tidy -17, he was a standout defender among bot players. Here is what he had to say about a bot All-Star game.
 
“49,20,74,68,69,6E,6B,20,61,6E,20,61,6C,6C,20,73,74,61,72,20,67,61,6D,65,20,77,6F,75,6C,64,20,62,65,20,61,77,65,73,6F,6D,65,2E,20,42,65,65,70,20,62,65,65,70,2C,20,62,6F,6F,70,20,62,6F,6F,70,2E” *translated to hexadecimal code for interest of space
 
Another Seattle Bears bot defensemen, B-SEA D10 heard the conversation and we also got some words from him. He was also a pretty nifty bot player for Seattle Bears with his 2 goals and 2 assists securing his spot as one of the top offensive bot d-men. A tidy +5 to boot.
 
“49 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6E 20 6F 6E 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 61 6D 20 66 6F 72 20 6D 61 6E 79 20 73 65 61 73 6F 6E 73 2E 20 49 20 61 6D 20 65 61 73 69 6C 79 20 6F 6E 65 20 6F 66 20 74 68 65 20 6C 6F 6E 67 65 73 74 20 74 65 6E 75 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 65 2E 20 42 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 74 69 6C 6C 20 64 6F 6E 27 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 6D 65 20 74 68 65 20 43 2E 20 53 6F 20 70 6C 65 61 73 65 20 61 74 20 6C 65 61 73 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 6D 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 6F 74 20 61 6C 6C 20 73 74 61 72 20 67 61 6D 65 2E”
 
The influence of these bot players continues to be overlooked and I will not stand for it. I demand that the VHL create a bot all-star game. Many of these players are leaders, even if they don’t make the lineup every night.
 
“B-CGY G1 taught me everything I know. He was our third-string goalie when I was backing up and our third-string goalie when I was starting. However, he was always very vocal about what I needed to improve. I think it’s about time we show these guys the recognition they deserve. I think we need to get over our pretenses and realize that these bot players CAN rise up to the occasion and that they DO.” said former Wranglers goalie Jacques Lafontaine.
 
VHL, it’s your move.

TORONTO - After the festivities of the NHL All Star Game and recovering from the sheer damage those no-name brand nameplates did to my psyche, I walked around the city to take in the atmosphere. Seeing the best players from all of the NHL’s teams (save the Calgary Flames), I couldn’t help but notice the vibrance and extra warmth the city seemed to have. The players, even if some did cancel planned vacations, looked relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Some creative and top-tier hockey was displayed.
 
Now, the VHL has its own All-Star game. It was all the same things; maybe even better! Seeing the game's biggest stars from all over the WORLD gather in one game (they don’t have a skills competition like the NHL and they choose only two teams… very pro bowl-esque) to display how awesome they are. It is always a super fun event and a way for players to let loose and show off some creativity.
 
However, some of the most underrated staples of a team have never had a chance to participate in one of these, which is quite interesting.
 
Bot players have been around in this league for years and continue to step up their game. It still feels like they are heavily disrespected by the entire league from management and fans to award selection committees. Heck, their stats aren’t even kept and their player pages are non-existent. However, they are the longest tenured players of their team, having played since the team’s inception.
 
We had an interview with one of these bot players, long-time defensemen for the Seattle Bears, B-SEA D4, the best bot player in S91 in terms of VHFL points. B-SEA D4 had 0 goals and 2 assists but that made sense as he has always been more of a defensive defensemen. 134 hits was the count for him that season and with a somewhat tidy -17, he was a standout defender among bot players. Here is what he had to say about a bot All-Star game.
 
“49,20,74,68,69,6E,6B,20,61,6E,20,61,6C,6C,20,73,74,61,72,20,67,61,6D,65,20,77,6F,75,6C,64,20,62,65,20,61,77,65,73,6F,6D,65,2E,20,42,65,65,70,20,62,65,65,70,2C,20,62,6F,6F,70,20,62,6F,6F,70,2E” *translated to hexadecimal code for interest of space
 
Another Seattle Bears bot defensemen, B-SEA D10 heard the conversation and we also got some words from him. He was also a pretty nifty bot player for Seattle Bears with his 2 goals and 2 assists securing his spot as one of the top offensive bot d-men. A tidy +5 to boot.
 
“49 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6E 20 6F 6E 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 61 6D 20 66 6F 72 20 6D 61 6E 79 20 73 65 61 73 6F 6E 73 2E 20 49 20 61 6D 20 65 61 73 69 6C 79 20 6F 6E 65 20 6F 66 20 74 68 65 20 6C 6F 6E 67 65 73 74 20 74 65 6E 75 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 65 2E 20 42 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 74 69 6C 6C 20 64 6F 6E 27 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 6D 65 20 74 68 65 20 43 2E 20 53 6F 20 70 6C 65 61 73 65 20 61 74 20 6C 65 61 73 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 6D 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 6F 74 20 61 6C 6C 20 73 74 61 72 20 67 61 6D 65 2E”
 
The influence of these bot players continues to be overlooked and I will not stand for it. I demand that the VHL create a bot all-star game. Many of these players are leaders, even if they don’t make the lineup every night.
 
“B-CGY G1 taught me everything I know. He was our third-string goalie when I was backing up and our third-string goalie when I was starting. However, he was always very vocal about what I needed to improve. I think it’s about time we show these guys the recognition they deserve. I think we need to get over our pretenses and realize that these bot players CAN rise up to the occasion and that they DO.” said former Wranglers goalie Jacques Lafontaine.
 
VHL, it’s your move.

Greetings, citizens of the Victory Hockey League!
 
It is I, Jarl Doomsday, General Manager of the Stockholm Vikings of the VHLE and the newly appointed General Manager of Team Scandinavia. While today is as good as any other day to die gloriously in battle and join our fallen brethren in the halls of Valhalla, that is not what we are here to do today. Instead, I am here to announce the roster for Team Scandinavia, to recognize our finest warriors, our very best men, women, and reptiles. Scandinavia has a proud tradition of producing both hearty warriors and elite hockey players, and the players that make up our roster fall into both of these categories as the very best that our countries have to offer. Without further gala pageantry... the Season 92 edition of Team Scandinavia!!
 
Our axe...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our shield...
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our indomitable will.
 
 
 
Our warriors are assembled, the faith of our nations behind us. Now, we embark on the journey to the Season 92 World Cup, a long and arduous voyage by sea to a strange, foreign land called Portland, Oregon. No matter how difficult the trials of our journey may be, we are prepared to arrive stronger than we were when we left, more determined and focused to return from our quest with the plunder of gold around our necks. Be warned, those of weaker body and mind, for we are coming.
 
So sayeth Jarl Doomsday.
 
      
 
If you would like to join us on our journey and support Team Scandinavia or (foolishly) some other nation on Discord, you may do so here.

CALGARY - Being from Finland, Raimo Tuominen is no stranger to the cold. He was somewhat pleasantly surprised when he saw how long the snow lasted here in Calgary. It was an interesting reaction from the young Finn.
 
“Yeah, I heard my fair share of stories about the weather here and how inconsistent it is. I mean I had my expectations but I was still surprised by how true it was. We had below -40 temperatures earlier in the season and then we had a few weeks of sun and temperatures that weren’t absolutely frigid. I mean we definitely haven’t gotten back to that point now but the snow’s returned.”
 
It’s not a bad thing according to Raimo. In fact, he’s quite the fan of the snow. Winter, as predictable as this next part may seem, is his favourite season.
 
“It’s nice in Calgary. Many outdoor rinks that are managed by volunteers in the community, you have the olympic plaza one, outside hockey can be found everywhere; heck, I am considering making and putting up a public outdoor rink of my own for people of all ages to enjoy hockey outside… or even just skating for that matter. Snow also means you can ski, it makes saunas that much more enjoyable…”
 
“...only thing that sucks about the snow is everything else. I need to start investing in a pickup truck or I’ll never make it through these snow covered roads… thank goodness we have people who remove the snow from the streets.

Review:
 
Super clean graphic, the overall minimal gradient background with the star in the middle showcasing the cities skyline really encapsulates this years host city.  The motion blur behind the goalie adds a nice little "action shot" effect to the piece, and the "DILSON" text is bold and at the forefront so its impossible to miss who the graphic is highlighting.  Only thing im not a big fan of is the "All Star Action" font.  A little to script-y for me but overall amazing job this theme week! 9/10

1. Okay, I'm very biased. Currently, it'd be the Wranglers followed by the Prague Phantoms. Wranglers because I have a lot of memories with that logo and I just think the horseshoe and horse arrangement is so cool. But my goodness do I think the Phantoms have such a clean logo. The team colours look excellent with it. It's got some EDGE and I love that.
Of all time? I really miss the Reign's old logo. I loved that logo. The new one is really good too. It's cool that the Reign probably have two of the cleanest logos in VHL history (imo)
2. Oh jeez, I just realized that I have like no hobbies. I'd probably say playing the piano, drums, and just hashing out music in general is probably my next favourite pasttime. It's really fun, especially with others.
3. Seeing that Raimo is in Calgary, they are NOT going to the stampede... instead, Raimo and his date are going to The Living Room Restaurant. For Raimo, his ideal date would probably be somebody who else who is interested in sports.
 
1. If the VHL were to bring back the all-star game, should it be done by draft or conference?
2. Who do you think you would say your player's biggest rival is? (Can also do former players if that helps)
3. They just released a VHL video game! What did EA get wrong about your player? Which ranking did they screw up the most?

CALGARY - Raimo Tuominen has slotted quite comfortably into the second C role behind Randy Bobandy. Raimo holds Randy in especially high regard considering that he has been a mentor for Raimo personally both in and outside of hockey as well as a leader for the team as a whole.
 
“We have a really strong leadership core. The veterans have all been very vocal and have helped all of us improve our games exponentially. It’s a really neat experience playing on the same ice as these grizzled vets. They tell us all the little things we can do in order to succeed more. They also give us tips and don’t get enough credit for how good their hockey IQ is. Randy has been a great mentor. Helped me settle into Calgary and also just helped me settle into my role. It’s kinda funny. One second he’s sorta like an older brother and the next, he’s sorta like an on-ice father or something.”
 
One moment in particular stood out for Raimo and also stood out for fans watching the game.
 
“So I got into it with Mason Rice. I remember our time together in Calgary. He’s always been feisty. But I’m not exactly liking the cut of his jib. So he used that cut to sock me in the face. Then we get into it more and fight; I lose miserably. Randy comes in later and basically asks Ricer for round two, this time with him. Randy definitely wins that one. I still owe him a good Albertan steak dinner for that. He cares. He’s fun and he acts pretty weird sometimes. But he cares. He’s a smart player, he’s a heart player, he’s a skill player, he’s a leader. What more could you ask for?”
 
@AJW