Banackock

The New York Americans will face off against the Seattle Bears for the second straight year in the VHL's 2nd round of playoffs. Last year, the Bears had a dominant regular season, however, fell extremely short in the playoffs losing to the Americans in 5 games to watch them go all the way to be crowned the champions. This year, the season was a little tighter and everyone was a little closer. The Bears have a different roster and we see a couple other teams competing who were nowhere near the mark last season. With the games likely to be simmed today, VHL Media approached GM of the Bears, Blake Campbell, to discuss the upcoming series. Likely will be another good match up. They're a heavy team upfront so we're going to be tested in that aspect. Our defense needs to stand strong and Holik needs to have the best games of his career coming up. We've pushed for a couple seasons to get to where we were last year and where we are this year. Could be the last year with all things considering so to go out on top is a huge goal of ours. Most of these guys have been on the roster for quite a few years and are deserving to bring a cup home to Seattle. 4 wolf

Sven Wolf +4

This is why Parechkin did not get an "A" . Damn. I think I picked him too, lol. @sterling

I'm in love with your sig.

BUT.. name it after a senior seeing as you'll be... retired..

Aleksei Federov - Defense Points Assists @Kendrick Thanks!!

Grats @Smarch

My passion for the VHL is strong and if not for the Bears, I'd likely be pursuing another VHLM job. Retention is a big thing and I'd like to join the team to find ways to make the VHLM a better, stronger and more enjoyable league. Throwing my hat in!

Real monies or play for tpe? VHL Poker Tournament!

Poker night ????

Shit. Didn't know SEA G was playing #risky GG guys

At the start of the season, we carried on what we had been rolling with for the last few seasons. Bogdan Podarok wore the "C" for us, while Rodriguez and Petenis wore the "A" for us. Podarok was one of the biggest contributor to the locker room, once of our strongest pieces on the ice and one of the most loyal players to ever be under me. I GM'd him in the juniors, made the jump up to Seattle and got to lead him here too. We entered a rebuild and not only did he want to stay, but he signed a long term deal. I may have a different style of building a team, running a team and managing a VHL organization. We all have different personalities and we all have different values when it comes to players, assets and other things. I think we could all agree though that Podarok was highly deserving of wearing the "C" on his chest for the Bears organization while he was here. When I found out he had retired, I of course was frustrated and annoyed by the situation. He was one of the guys who disliked when other players had done it previously, then he went and did it himself. He could of just left the site and not touched his player, or he could of done welfare while he sorted his life out. Yet, I'm thankful he was a Bear and he was apart of the ride. No hard feelings, only best wishes. With that said and with the Bears finishing off the season to win their second straight Victory Cup, It's time to make some changes to the organization. Seattle has been amazing for me, to me and has seen a lot of success. When I got the job, I couldn't have been more excited to lead the team. I may not always be perfect or even good. Sometimes I got a big mouth, overreact or whatever it may be, but I lead with a huge heart and put a hell of a lot of work into the team and making my players have big years and to enjoy themselves. Every single day, I will put my guys over myself. I have no problem playing second line to Rodriguez if that means he's happy, he kicks ass and he stays. Seattle has seen such strong loyalty and commitment from each player that we brought in and saying thank you would simply not be enough. I couldn't have done it without you guys and I owe it all to you. Hopefully we end this year out with a huge bang and get you all what you've deserved for some time now. As we round into playoffs, we sit and wait for Quebec and New York to find a winner in the first series. However, I feel as though change is important and needed and simply put. very deserving in this situation. I've decided to make a late seasonal change to the Seattle Bears captaincy. Without further blabbing and delay, your S53 Bears Captains... Guntis Petenis - @hedgehog337 Similar to Podarok, Petenis was loyal from day one. Throughout his time with Seattle, he followed the rest of them and signed a long term deal with the team. When we first picked him up, his player was a slight gamble but has truly turned into a big-time dman for us who has helped us hugely throughout the last couple seasons. Additionally, he's one of the strongest members in the locker room and league and has been recognized for it by receiving a VHL GM job. Though we may be opponents and potentially a friendly rivalry in the standings, and whether Petenis follows you to Riga, you will always be a Bear, mate. Very deserving "A" and a very easy choice. Thanks for helping make Seattle what it's become. Jeff Hamilton - @sterling May surprise some, while it may be expected by others. Was tough between Parechkin and Sterling as Parechkin may be more vocal in the locker room, but we're paying tribute to an old time Bear who came home to finish his career here. Thus, we plan on doing it right. Hamilton was and is a huge part to this team and unfortunately, I sent him packing back in Season 49 (though, it was to fulfill his wishes as he wanted to compete). The day we found out he was signing with us this previous off-season, it was a huge boost to us and our momentum heading into the season. One of the best dmen to lace up the skates and a very iconic Seattle Bear - we're happy to have Hamilton pay tribute to such an elite talent in their final playing season. Cheers, Sterling. AND now... For your S53 SEATTLE BEAAAAARS CAPTAIN.. Filipe Rodriguez - @evrydayimbyfuglien He's one of the biggest reasons we are where we are right now. He made the swap from playing defense to playing forward and while being skeptical on the center position, he made the swap to it. With a little extra pocket change in the bank, he made it all happen for the Seattle Bears. He teared through the season and got us 115 points individually and has gone on one hell of a tear the last little stretch here. Maybe wasn't thrilled about leaving Quebec, but let me tell you, he's become one hell of a fucking Bear and if we win the cup this year, he's going to be a huge reason as to why we did. Way too many reasons for this guy to wear the "C" for us now and a very fitting season and scenario for him to be putting it on his jersey. (For Federov)

Sweet!

4 for Wolf

The Bears lost out in the playoffs last season in 5 games to the New York Americans. It was quick, but unfortunately not painless for the team. With a lot of build up in the season and an impressive regular season performance, the team was expecting a lot more come time for playoffs. Though the quick loss happened in the blink of an eye, a good thing the team can take out of the season if you're the "glass half full" type of guy is that they walked away with the victory cup. In my mind, you can keep the Victory Cup if you don't win the cup itself. While it is a great accomplishment to be crowned champions of the regular season, the big goal is to win the playoffs and be crowned the overall champions. To each their own. Yet, we find the the Bears in a similar position as last season. The Bears have a 6 point lead on the American's with 112 points/106 points and are looking to claim their 2nd Victory Cup in a row. Though a great accomplishment, the Bears are hoping to have the season play out a little different than it did last season as they're more than likely to face up against the American's in a rematch for the ages. Clocks ticking. Guess we'll find out soon. (Wolf)

fuckin locke.

Couple assists and the W. Noice!

nice!!

Aleksei Federov has come a long way since he first entered the VHLM. Going from a one dimensional defensive player to an improving two-way defender, he's making it easy to have all VHL scouts eyes on him. While their is potential risk of his trainer burning out from the excessive amount of work he puts in each week, scouting reports like to think the risk is minimal. Though, this is common when it comes to trainers who heavily work and have more than one player on the go. For Federov, it is no different but has consistently and continuously shown that he is able to handle the level of effort and determination to build himself up to make him an elite, young, defensive prospect in the VHL's upcoming entry draft. With the playoffs only a short while away and the draft slowly creeping up on his, we figured it would be a fitting time to shine some light on one of the top prospects in the draft and see where his mind was at heading into the tail end of things. With a brief Q and A over some coffee and donuts, Federov cracked out some informational answers for General Managers and the league. First question should relate to what's closest. How excited are you for some Brampton playoff hockey? Really excited. For starters, @Beketov Sokolov is playing amazing, as is @Pandar and the rest of the boys. While we're not sitting in first, we have the defensive depth and guy between the pipes to (I believe) truly put us on top. @Kendrick has stood tall for us and really helped the team out huge. He's posted some pretty damn good numbers and while it is easy to beat up on the lower teams in this league, still wouldn't be where we are right now without an elite, young goalie like that. The boys just click and I have full faith in @Smarch to lead us into battle and shed some blood against the other teams. I'm sure there's the odd team who are going into it thinking their names already on the cup but I hope they know it's not going to be that easy. Great. Next one: What would you say about your season? Have you reached your goals or pushed through them? Honestly? Was hoping for more shots blocked. That was expected, but I've blown way passed my expectations for power play production and my point productions is exceeding expectations as well. I was more so thinking I'd be bumping uglies with the point per game mark this season, but finishing well above that mark is a good feeling. Hopefully I can continue and/or improve this style of play heading into the playoffs. Yeah, yeah. Now, heading towards the draft. Have you heard anything? Not a single thing. No one has come towards me yet, but maybe it's not super expected at this point. Still lots of hockey to play and not much has been figured out when it comes to who is drafting where. I have an idea of where I'd like to play and an idea of where I wouldn't want to play. The list for where I wouldn't is much smaller than where I would. Pretty much only includes 2 or 3 teams and the only reason one is there is because I don't know who the GM is. We've heard that a certain team may be closing in on a rebuild. Not too hard to guess which. What are your thoughts on you going there? Well, we won't totally blow their cover but if you're talking about who I think you are, wouldn't be an issue. I'd love to play there. Not sure what kind of career my player will hold, but maybe with the right team I'll stick around for quite sometime. That, or I could be an FA bug as I haven't gotten that too much during my time here. @BobertZ seems to have that thing figured out, so maybe I'll contact him and see how to handle FA like a professional. (thats 600+ words, for Federov)

Aleksei Federov entered the VHLM and when doing so, boasted that he was a shutdown defenseman - who was loyal and the stay at home type. He cared about keeping the puck out of their own end, but more importantly, their own net. He was prided on his stronger defensive style and didn't care nor comment too much on his offensive style. Each time it was brought up, he merely shrugged it off as it's not his current worry or style of play. In his scouting report, it was something very similar. "A dman who excels at a high level of defensive play who is currently working on becoming a stronger, two way option for any organization". This is exactly what he's doing and becoming. Federov has made excellent improvements and gains when it comes to his offensive side of the game and it's been noticeable on the ice. When looking at his stats from the year prior (less developed, but still more defensive than anything), he's made huge leaps in becoming a "two-way" threat. Another perk, he's a more balanced out guy so you get a little of this and a little bit of that - not one or the other. He currently has 17 goals, 62 assists and 79 points through 64 games adding that onto his 86 hits, 53 shots blocked and team leading 36 power play points. (Federov +1)

Thank you. It's really, really difficult and time consuming to make sure my goalie plays 8 games of the 72 game schedule.

Which is agree with. I don't like the back up rule overly, but it's still a rule. Clearly it benefits us to play a 700 tpe goalie over our back ups, but rules are rules.

I was joking, lol. Either get rid of the back up rule and let me play the guy I want to play every game, or as we have it now... keep the back up rule back actually enforce the rules. If that means te playoffs get fucked up, who gives a shit? That GM should have made sure the simple task of making sure their back up is in net for 8 of the 72 games. Why have the rule of 8 games if nothing happens if a GM doesn't do their duties?