Banackock

Good work ! making it look ez

I'm fine with a little break and a tad longer one. Lots of work this off-season. No point busting ass just to burn out our guys.

You pretty much heard it all in the last article unless you did a quick skim or something without really reading. In which case, buckle up. The season was a big one for us Bears in Seattle and while I had a huge part to play in it being the GM and all, a lot went on behind the scenes that a lot of you don't know about. No, not me writing countless bio's, rookie reports and media spots - not even donating my own dollars, but something (and more) from each of the guys that are on the team right now. It's stupid to say because, well, no shit sherlock, but I couldn't have done it without these guys and all the help and sacrificing they made for the team this year. This is the furthest we've ever made it and as sad as it may seem to some people, it's the best season I've had yet as a manager. Pretty sad hey? Finals loss to Riga being the best. But hey, it is what it is and at the end of the day, the entirety of the season was awesome and fun. Without further a delay, let's get a little passion and mushy feelings flowing up in here. @BluObieZ Firstly, thanks for the advice you gave this year. You set a brother straight sometimes and despite being a the beautiful dick you can be, I mean, fuck what some say. You're an amazing person to have on a team and the only ones who shit probably are the ones who haven't got to have it yet. He posts in every game thread, he's a team guy and he's a riot in the locker room. This season wouldn't have been as close to as fun without Robbie. Another thanks to showing your belief in the team, myself and wanting to be here by signing on. I appreciate it, dude. @tfong You were a gamble that we took in a trade with Quebec. When I first had you with Kyanon, I really liked you on the Bears and really enjoyed what you brought to the team. The same shit applies here but you went above and beyond this time around to really help us out. Swapping to wing is something I can't really ask someone to do. It's your player after all, but you did it for us and it really went the extra mile in helping us. Moving your TPE around and blah blah - it helped huge. Also, for being a welfare player, you're not that bad. Ruutu may need to lay off a bit. @jRuutu We've spoken in LR already and have brought he mushiness up a level in there, but for the sake of it all, thanks dude. Leaving Quebec, a place you were so loyal to, that's big. Coming to Seattle, a mysterious place that the select few like to always shit on around the boards - that's maybe tough too. But you came in with open arms and I think based off our talks, your eyes opened to the fact that maybe people like Ahma, who log on once a blue moon, are maybe wrong. You added great advice to my crazy, over flowing mind - but you added so much to the locker room as well. I knew you from over in the GOMHL too, but not a whole lot. After this season, you became one of my favourite guys on the site. Thanks a lot dude for coming in, helping out and making Seattle a better and more fun place to be this season. @Laflamme We'll keep it short and sweet. We talks privately a fair amount, but thanks for what you do. I know I'm your bitch with writing and all, but at the end of the day, it's worth it to have you pop in and be a part of what we got going on here. It's a bitch sometimes, so whenever you wanna surprise a brother with your very own media spot, fuck man I'll sleep good that night, lol. Joking aside though, fuck what people say. You're a Bear and I'm happy to have you here and to have you pop in when you can. That means more to me than most on this site, dude. @Dangles13 hi. shall we say we've helped you rise from the grave? or not yet? @CowboyinAmerica My best player. My Connor "McAllister" McDavid, if you will. I'm sorry I'm such a shit GM. I try - if that matters. I've written thousand and thousand of words in rookie reports, bio's media spots just to help our boys. We almost made it all the way and just missed it. You though, without you, maybe we'd be fuck sooner. Throwing in lines for the team when I couldn't (bless shitty mac's and not being able to do the client), hell man, you saved our ass. Again, lots goes on behind closed doors that people don't know about. You post in every game thread - just like every captain around the boards - but this season, you stepped up huge (beyond anyone I seen) for us and to me, you're captain of the year. Thanks, man. You saved my/our ass! @Green You're another one I talk to time from time behind closed doors and outside of the LR. Despite not being "best friends", I feel like I've known you for ages. I think it started in S15 or 16 of the SHL with the Hamilton Steelhawks. All those finals we almost won as me in lead.. and here we are once again - losing together in the finals just like old times. You lead a busy life, got your plate full and somehow still find time to come on and deal with my dumbass on the daily basis. I admire your strength and appreciate the time you bring to the site and to the team. We love you Green and are always here for you. @Banackock thanks for scoring some guls and playing some ok defence @TheLastOlympian07 Saving the best for last? It was pure luck bringing you in, but I figured round 2 with one of the legendary "Shawns" wouldn't be a bad thing. You've always not minded Seattle and always seem to fit in here. Don't know if it's me or Robbies Cocaine. Once again, you show loyalty to me and the bears by signing a longterm deal and I appreciate it that you find pity in your heart to help me, haha. Hopefully this time around we can find a cup together but you're tagged in the same boat as CBIA. I respect your guys thoughts a hell of a lot and have appreciated your thoughts and advise to this point -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outside of that, I'd like to thank @Will for simming and somehow always finding a way to kick ass for the league, the rest of the blue team @Beketov and @Devise for putting up with my passionate ass, the updaters throughout the year @Kendrick @TheLastOlympian07 @CowboyinAmerica and whoever else for all the work they put in and everyone else that makes a strong difference around the site. The recruitment team has done a really good job thus far in bringing in some new members and with all the strong changes discussed in the BOG and league, the league is starting to maybe show some life again. HIP HIP HOORAY. Keep up the great work VHL. TWO WEEKS for FORSBERG Feb 5th to 11th Feb 12th to 18th

At the start of the VHL season, the Bears seemed to be tearing things up. They were letting lose on any organization that came in their way and they were really showing true form. Win after win, strong performance after strong performance, it really looked like the Seattle Bear organization finally found what they'd been looking for after all these dark, blue years of building their vision. Despite the amazing start, the Bears seemed to simmer down mid-way through the season and some losses started to pile their way. Without panicking, the Bears made some line changes and started to once again find some nice form - but it seemed to be a little too late. As they proceeded into the final few stages of the playoffs, first seemed to be a tighter fight than ever as Riga and Toronto were always their in a 3-headed race for the top of the VHL regular season throne. When the season officially finished, the Bears finished with a record of 53-14-5, good enough for 3rd place in the league sitting 2 points back on 2nd and 6 on the first place Riga Reign. At the end of the day though, a lot had been accomplished and the Bears didn't feel any sort of negativity or such. "We came into the season very strong. We made some solid off-season moves and had some fortunate luck in the dispersal draft that seen us bring in an elite, all-star defender in Fabio Jokinen and an amazing centre in Shawn Gretzky. These 2 players brought in so much for the team and really pushed us forwards in terms of contention. Rolling out of the gates hot was an amazing feeling and the guys were really loving the moments, but it came to an end and reality started to set in. Luckily, with such an experienced and great group of guys, we all came together and found a way to put our heads together and overcame some of the hurdles we were facing in the season. We seen such strong performances from everyone of our players and we seen them in so many diverse situations and ways. From McAllister and Gretzky truly dominating for us offensively, to Fook Yu swapping and rerolling his TPE and being that pivotal, vital winger on whichever line we needed him on, to the strong and seemingly never ending work load that both Federov and Jokinen carried on their back being the only 2 defenders. V2A was always a good presence in and out of the LR and as time has gone on, we've seen him turn into a pretty solid guy. Development is a tough beast with goalies and it's a tough position to play, but we're very lucky to have him. Then, for Green and LaFlamme, both guys live busy lives and just like anyone, have their own personal hurdles standing in their way. Yet, they found a way to come and be a part of the team and run - so much that we seen Green every single day. This season was amazing leading up to playoffs and honestly, more so in them. It was a really great ride to be going through with this group of guys." Now as the playoffs started and the seeding was determined, the Bears and Legion soon learned their fate that instead of a slightly easier ride like New York had, the path to the finals wouldn't be so simple for either of the 2 teams. Likely the first of two series where eyes were all on and that were "series" to watch, Toronto and Seattle laid it all out to dry. The amount of overtimes in the series was absolutely crazy and except for maybe the odd game, any game could have been any teams. Each team seen dominance form their players and it also seen shaky, weaker times as well. One thing we could say about the series is, even with the Bears prevailing at the end of the day, it could have gone either way and it deserved to go whatever way it went. Both were solid teams, led by solid managers with a solid group of great people and players. Both showed heart, a lot of it, and played withe everything they had and that's why it ended up being likely the best series to watch in the Season 58 playoffs. "I can't say enough about the series. I'd be lying if I told you the moment we found out Toronto would indeed be the team we're playing, I didn't shit my pants and panic a little. Over my time as manager, playoffs hadn't been my forte and as Eaglesfan always loves to remind me, neither is winning a playoff series. Again, I'd be lying if the thought "great, another playoff series loss in the 1st round" didn't cross my mind at times in that round. They're a great team, and with every game being so close, man - clicking those links and looking at the games was nerve racking. I remember checking at work, never knowing when Draper would sim and then the moment you get home your balls are all twisted just waiting there. Talk about VHL Crack! Every time we needed to change lines I sat their, looking at the line up, the lines, the strategies and thinking "fuck, is this going to work?" and being so unsure because no matter the moves myself or Dollar made, the series was tight, man. It meant little then and means nothing now as it's very tough and discouraging to lose out. I thought I knew this when we couldn't even make it a round deep, but nothing stung worse than what happened this year. To Toronto though, great group of guys and good effort. You came together, a strong group of players, and were led by an exceptional person and manager and you really did deserve all the success you guys had this year. It's a shame some teams have to lose I guess, it is the nature of the game, but you still had an incredible season full of much to be proud of on both levels of a player and manager" And with that, the Seattle Bears likely fucked a majority of award predictions on this specific award and were heading into the finals against the Riga Reign after a huge victory in game 7 against Toronto. Again, the Seattle Bears were walking into a series with confidence but also a level of uncertainty. Maybe nobody showed it but I mean, it's Riga Reign. The team of the year, who has GMoTY thanks to their huge performance in the regular season (please people, his cup win means diddly shit), who had the two luckiest mother fuckers in John Locke and Fredsomethingorother Krigars. The odds were once again stacked. Now, after losing game 1 and 2, and not just a little bit but by a lot, the team was likely thinking " fuck, here we go". I think it's safe to say that the next sim, no one was expecting. I'm sure most people, if voted at the time, would have said game 3 and 4 would be the sweep that saw Riga hoist the cup and destroy the Bears - but they'd have been wrong. In fact, the Bears once again fucked up everyone fantasy playoff stuff which was amazing to see. Fast forward to games 5 and 6 and you now have a crowned champion in the Riga Reign - a deserving team to say the least. The first 2 losses had me shitting my pants. I really was thinking we were fucked and were going to get steam rolled. I remember coming on, looking and just thinking "fuck, now what? what kind of rabbit do I have to pull out of my ass to make this a series again". We made some major line changes - I was thinking it was a do or die moment, and then game 3 and 4 were simmed. I open game 1 and seen the results and was surprised honestly. Then game 4 followed and I thought "no way, we have a real shot at this". Let's fast forward now to the displeasing and irritating feeling I felt after losing game 5 on a score of 6-2. Ball busting, heart dropping and once again having the same panic as I had after games 1 and 2. Really, the game 3 and 4 feeling was a nice break from all this craziness we had going on. Again we made big changes and truly, you seen the difference in game 6. We went from allowing 6 goals, to 2. The game was a solid one and would have been nice to get a long-term look maybe at those lines, but it is what it is. It was probably the shittiest feeling. Then you write the congratulations while trying to maintain yourself, but it's tough. You just want to type the words "fuck off riga", but it's not their fault they're a solid team that works well together. It's hedgehog's. He put together a team that he visioned. Maybe it was lucky - who knows. Everyone expected more from Locke, but the fact he's a lower player destroying like this (and Krigars) is amazing and lucky all at the same time. But really, is it luck? One season like AK-47's goal totals and sure, but they've been doing it now for a while. Obviously they found something that works for them. Despite the hard loss and it being difficult to swallow and see passed right now, Riga played strong all the way through and because of that, as much as I hate to say it, they deserve it just as much as anyone else and maybe a tad more. We had a great season too, but they truly triumphed. Now? We gotta get through it as a team. Thankfully, the league gives nobody a break and we're right into the off-season after such an overwhelming season. Tough moves lay ahead for the Bears, so I guess we'll see what happens. 3 Weeks for Federov Feb 5th - 11th Feb 12th - 18th Feb 19th - 25th

Welcome, man. Something like a PBP would be really neat in the playoffs. @Beketov@Will I know the SHL does it - but usually there's tons of people watching and commenting.. we typically have -what? 4-7 comments on a playoff game as if no one cares? I don't think anyone except @hedgehog337 posted from Riga in games 3/4 - where 99% of Seattle was in every game. Could be a cool concept. +3 UNCAPPED bonus for a PBP. May bring more people into watch and add excitement!

100% solid hiring.

#1

At least you know what's what.

To S59 SEA 2nd To Otto Axelsson (S58) Accepted @Bushito. Welcome to the team once again @Dangles13

Awe... shit.. Good game and series, Riga. You had strong chemistry all throughout the season and some nice depth. Happy to have come come this far with some pretty great guys - just a shame we couldn't grab the cup together..

Noice. Gem in the making!

Pssht. I'll make you my bitch on the ice! Looking for a Federov V Finscéal fight to the death in the near future!

So you're the better half to the Kellers? @Jepox

@Polygeekism take me a read here.for the most part, he's right. http://www.ynohtna.com/bfhl/?q=node/849

@Spade18 GJ. Welcome again, man. What kind of player you thinking of making? @Polygeekism

gg for king!

ah. back to the nerves

After next season, NYA may be in an interesting situation and will potentially be similar to mine this off-season!

A cap increase would be beautiful - just saying! Especially with the contraction of 2 teams, plus newer members and systems put in place. Would allow potentially deeper roster - whichever i feel we'll be seeing soon-ish and will allow for some form of organization stability. Ill crank out finances a little deeper tonight and send it your way @Beketov - though it's not quite set in stone with updates still likely to come in and I'm just talking off the top of my head!

Woo

Little bit longer of an off-season! Nice. I'll need it with the heavy lifting that'll be coming for myself and GM/financier etc.

Oi. welcome. Feel free to PM me if you need anything (help, advice or dirt on someone)! good luck!

Doesn't he have a gaming comp? If a long sig slows down the comp he needs to go buy a new one

And wot I don't see sigs on mobile lol