Ty343

It’s been some time. After I retired from the SBA I decided that I would retire my VHL player as well and take a break from sim leagues. I did some impressive earning and enjoyed the league my whole time, and being back in the SBA for what is now my second season, I am announcing that I am ready to recreate in the VHL.
 
I am not sure what position or build I going for, but all I know as of right now is that I will be creating at next month's trade deadline and looking to be a top earning prospect. I am unaware of anybody else who will be creating during that draft class but know that there will be a recreate better than so I’m not expecting to be the best prospect around. Even when I was maxing, I wasn’t the most discord or forum active as I preferred to stick to SBA functions and then claim welfare plus my VHL.com article, so I want to warn all my future coaches not to expect a lot of talking from me. I’m excited to see what happens and hope I fall in love with the league more than I already am.

It’s been some time. After I retired from the SBA I decided that I would retire my VHL player as well and take a break from sim leagues. I did some impressive earning and enjoyed the league my whole time, and being back in the SBA for what is now my second season, I am announcing that I am ready to recreate in the VHL.
 
I am not sure what position or build I going for, but all I know as of right now is that I will be creating at next month's trade deadline and looking to be a top earning prospect. I am unaware of anybody else who will be creating during that draft class but know that there will be a recreate better than so I’m not expecting to be the best prospect around. Even when I was maxing, I wasn’t the most discord or forum active as I preferred to stick to SBA functions and then claim welfare plus my VHL.com article, so I want to warn all my future coaches not to expect a lot of talking from me. I’m excited to see what happens and hope I fall in love with the league more than I already am.

A young season has just started. We have done decent, but I think that we can do even better. Luke is a complete beast, Nathan and Eso are developing really well, Asky is holding down the fort in goal, and Su is a great addition. I know that I can play better than what I have shown the world this year and I will keep on working. I'm in a weird spot as I have experience now, but I'm still so young so I still have a long way to go. My youth is why I'm lucky to be in a locker room with such great guys who I can pick their brains and learn how they ended up so good. The addition of the league was a welcome sight and I look forward to seeing how it goes. Maybe in future I'll be able to know a player who goes through the VHLE. The playoffs should be coming back to Calgary, and I will do everything in my power to get us there.

Being a rookie in any professional sports league is not easy. Not easy at all. After playing amateur and minor for my whole life until now, I have played in a good number of VHL games. The minors were so much easier than the VHL, and I don't know how dudes like Red Lite were able to adjust so quickly. Everyone is bigger than me, stronger than me, and has more experience. I wish at least one of my brothers made it past the VHLM because I would've been more prepared for the VHL if I could ask my brother questions, but I have to work with what I got.
 
I love the VHL facilities and all that and they make it easy for me to spend an unholy amount of time working on my game. I want to be a great player in this league, and of course I need countless hours on the rink refining my skills and Calgary has really given us a good training staff. I started off the season on the second line which surprised me a lot, then I started to move back forth between the second and third lines, and after out most recent trade, I managed to get on the first line for the first time in my VHL and VHLM career. After I left the NTDP I did not really get as much first line experience as I would have liked, so playing first line for the Wranglers is amazing, even if I don't get a crazy amount of ice time.
 
I have been slightly streaky this season as there are times were I'll go two or three games in a row with points, and then the next 3 I'll get like one only. It's frustrating, but we are working to improve this and make me have as few low performance games as possible. The team has gelled really well together and see us making the playoffs in no time. The last thing I would like to talk about is how the locker room presence is much different in the VHL. In the the VHLM we are mostly full of young players, maybe some alumni and the coach, but in the VHL, everybody is older. You get to spend more time around veterans, stars, learn from champions and players from famous agencies, and it's extremely easy to get better by just being around them. The VHL takes some to get used, but it pays off in the end.

1. Getting to know my teammates and playing in the VHL for the first time ever.
2. Making the playoffs.
3. Not really, but Ravenskill looks cool.
4. We are good all around and our biggest weakness at goalie is much better now.
5. I wouldn't really do anything different, maybe add more passing and defense earlier.
6. Well I am Harris myself and I'll say my point scoring was a major part of why I was important.

The trade deadline has passed, and thankfully I am still on the team. We had to trade someone else which is sad, but this business can be tough at times. The season has been a good learning experience for me and I hope to keep on learning and improving. The team is still very young and while we have the lowest point total in the VHL, we are not discouraged and we are playing every game as hard as we can. A lot of our losses have been tough, with overtime losses coming at us too much and some close games with our backup in at goalie. Goalie is a position that we really need to work on, because even though our starting backstop is great, once you get past him, there is nothing there. Hopefully we can find a good netminder in the draft and continue to build from there. The team is very exciting and as we keep on improving and getting better, the more wins we’ll string together and more excitement we can bring into the lives of our fans. 

Well it's a good thing I didn't come into this season with crazy expectations. The learning curve is tough. The VHL is no joke. Everyone is faster than me, bigger than me, a number of them shoot harder that me, and they all hit harder than me. They experience and have learned a lot of things over their seasons playing, which as of right now, I still have not learned yet. All of these guys are so much better than VHLM guys though. You go in expecting everything to be a lot harder, but wow, these guys are good. Calgary is a fun team to be on and locker room is great. I wish I was more open and talked to my teammates more, but I'll be working on that as much as possible. Compared to the minors, I am very pleased with my plus minus, and I have showed off my ability to get it done in the passing and goal scoring game so far. Getting my first multi point game has been the best moment of my career so far, and I hope to get new moments that trump that memory. Peace out.

Mikey could not sleep. It was finally time. He had reached the start of his VHL, and in a few hours he would be on the ice. Both of his brother failed on the way to the bigs, but Mikey kept his head up and never stopped believing. He is hoping to leave a positive impact on the game and not get in over his head. The VHL is a whole different world with brighter lights but the rewards are endless. Even though he is still only a teenager, he feels that he is ready for this new challenge and the team is confident. The locker room is fun to be in, management is great, and he feels like he is learning a lot in Canada. All that's left for him to do now is to get onto the ice and see what he can do. Of course he will be gunning for his first career point, but he won't go all in on that one part and will be playing for the team first and foremost. Thanks reading, the VHL is going to be fun.

Mikey could not sleep. It was finally time. He had reached the start of his VHL, and in a few hours he would be on the ice. Both of his brother failed on the way to the bigs, but Mikey kept his head up and never stopped believing. He is hoping to leave a positive impact on the game and not get in over his head. The VHL is a whole different world with brighter lights but the rewards are endless. Even though he is still only a teenager, he feels that he is ready for this new challenge and the team is confident. The locker room is fun to be in, management is great, and he feels like he is learning a lot in Canada. All that's left for him to do now is to get onto the ice and see what he can do. Of course he will be gunning for his first career point, but he won't go all in on that one part and will be playing for the team first and foremost. Thanks reading, the VHL is going to be fun.

Well it's over, Mikey Harris is a VHL player. The VHLM season just ended, so it's time for him to officially move on up. He is looking to work very hard this offseason in order to be the best player he can be and get the most ice time. Coming into the league as a rookie is nerve-wracking, but everyone had to start from the bottom, and Mikey is no exception. He looks to be a point threat throughout his career, and while his VHLM weren't the best, he knows he can still show out. Coming into this new team is a change of scenery, but the lockeroom has been good so far and I love out new gm. The next step is the draft and I hope we will be able to snag a defenseman. We need to be able to stop other teams from putting up crazy amount of goals on us, and out back line is a major part of that. I have finally moved into Calgary, and I am ready to spend my career in the VHL doing the best I can. 

Losing in the playoffs wasn't fun, but it's time to move on and look to the future. I don't know what's going on with the Calgary GM spot, but whoever gets the job, I am open to working with. I spent a lot of time training this year to be able to show off my skills to the VHL fans, and now knowing that it's almost time to move up I'm excited. I've played with some great players during my time in the VHLM and I know that the VHL guys will be even better, and getting to learn from them firsthand is something not everyone can do. Calgary lost in the first round of the playoffs and they will be losing some guys to retirement which opens up some spots. Whoever takes the new gm spot will have some to work do and it won't be easy, but Calgary can be back up in the name of VHL contenders in a few seasons. We have a couple of prospects who look good and I'll be on the rink all offseason preparing for the upcoming season. Thank you Philly, but it's time to become a full fledged Wrangler, see y'all on the ice.

I have nothing but respect for the work done by both @Advantageand @InstantRockstar, but shouldn't these positions be used as an opportunity for those who haven't GM'd before? These are essentially "entry level jobs" that we're filling with individuals who have multiple years of experience.

I like this

Losing in the playoffs wasn't fun, but it's time to move on and look to the future. I don't know what's going on with the Calgary GM spot, but whoever gets the job, I am open to working with. I spent a lot of time training this year to be able to show off my skills to the VHL fans, and now knowing that it's almost time to move up I'm excited. I've played with some great players during my time in the VHLM and I know that the VHL guys will be even better, and getting to learn from them firsthand is something not everyone can do. Calgary lost in the first round of the playoffs and they will be losing some guys to retirement which opens up some spots. Whoever takes the new gm spot will have some to work do and it won't be easy, but Calgary can be back up in the name of VHL contenders in a few seasons. We have a couple of prospects who look good and I'll be on the rink all offseason preparing for the upcoming season. Thank you Philly, but it's time to become a full fledged Wrangler, see y'all on the ice.

Losing in the playoffs wasn't fun, but it's time to move on and look to the future. I don't know what's going on with the Calgary GM spot, but whoever gets the job, I am open to working with. I spent a lot of time training this year to be able to show off my skills to the VHL fans, and now knowing that it's almost time to move up I'm excited. I've played with some great players during my time in the VHLM and I know that the VHL guys will be even better, and getting to learn from them firsthand is something not everyone can do. Calgary lost in the first round of the playoffs and they will be losing some guys to retirement which opens up some spots. Whoever takes the new gm spot will have some to work do and it won't be easy, but Calgary can be back up in the name of VHL contenders in a few seasons. We have a couple of prospects who look good and I'll be on the rink all offseason preparing for the upcoming season. Thank you Philly, but it's time to become a full fledged Wrangler, see y'all on the ice.

Well the Philadelphia Reapers made the playoffs. This is a chance for them to defend the title they won last year and continue to build on the great history of this team. Mikey put in 46 points this year, getting 26 goals and 20 assists, which is much better than what he did last season. Compared to last year this season has not been easy, with the team just making it to the playoffs as a 7 seed, but all the guys in locker room continue to work and we are looking to make some noise. This is going to be Mikey's last ever games in the VHLM so he wants to make them count, and what better way to do than to win a title. The team has seen an influx of new players and we are hoping that they can give us all the help possible. We need more depth and for sure will need to work on out defense. Anything is possible now that we have reached the playoffs and I can't wait to see what happens.

Well, the Reapers have hit a weird slump. At a point losing 11 games in a row, the team has been looking answers and they cannot keep on playing the way they are. After their last game, Mikey has this to say to us in an interview.
 
"I have no idea what has been going on with the team lately. We will just continue to build up out confidence and get into practice everyday. We are still working hard and we want to make the fans happy. After winning the title last year we are currently losing a lot of games and we need that to stop. Lately in practice I have been focusing on improving my defense and positioning so I can be able to get into the best spots that I possibly can and I hope that it will show up in the games."
 
Mikey has had to adjust moving to a new team this year, but he knows that the team will right the ship and they will fight till the end.

Well, the Reapers have hit a weird slump. At a point losing 11 games in a row, the team has been looking answers and they cannot keep on playing the way they are. After their last game, Mikey has this to say to us in an interview.
 
"I have no idea what has been going on with the team lately. We will just continue to build up out confidence and get into practice everyday. We are still working hard and we want to make the fans happy. After winning the title last year we are currently losing a lot of games and we need that to stop. Lately in practice I have been focusing on improving my defense and positioning so I can be able to get into the best spots that I possibly can and I hope that it will show up in the games."
 
Mikey has had to adjust moving to a new team this year, but he knows that the team will right the ship and they will fight till the end.

About Mikey Harris
Mikey Harris is the third player in his family to play in the VHLM and second for the Reapers. As of right he has 12 points, scoring 8 goals and 4 assists and he is looking to help the Reapers win as many games as possible. He is going to be jumping to the VHL after this season so he wants to make as big an impact in his last career VHLM season.
 
Strengths
Scoring: While his scoring stats have never been that high in his VHLM career, he is scoring at a level he likes for someone on the second line. He was still chosen as a team captain which shows the trust the team has in him and he looks to continue to play at the highest level he can.
 
Skating: Mikey is also known as one of the best skaters on his team and he looks to keep on improving in that regard. His small size gives him a low center of gravity which makes it easier for him to be more agile and skate with more speed on the ice. He has spent numerous hours on ice skating from end to end waiting to show off his skills on the ice. This skill has helped him get numerous points in his career, and allowed him to get the interest of VHL GM’s.
 
Strength: Even though Mikey is 5’9 and 175 pounds, he is still very strong. He doesn’t look like it, but his strength has allowed him to hold his own on the ice and get a couple of hits. He is still spending time in the weight room trying to get bigger and stronger in preparation for the VHL next year.
 
Weaknesses
Checking: Mikey’s biggest weakness is the fact that he cannot check a player to save his life. While he has gotten a hit here or there, this has the result of his strength mostly. He will need to improve on this to help Philadelphia in the playoffs and learn proper technique to stay out of the penalty box. 
 
Passing: While Mikey has shown that he can be a playmaker, getting 22 assists in only 37 games last year, his scoring has overtaken his passing. He now looks to score first on his shots and while he still loves getting assists and he will be looking to be a guy to get 30-30 or more in his prime, as of right now he still needs to improve in this facet of his game.
 
Faceoffs: Sure Mikey is a winger, but if you ever need him to take a faceoff, don’t assume he will win it. He has never really had to work on this part of his game and he will probably keep it untouched, but maybe one day in the future something will cause him to start working on this.
 
 And that’s all we have on Mikey Harris as of right now, thanks for reading.

thoughts? 

About Mikey Harris
Mikey Harris is the third player in his family to play in the VHLM and second for the Reapers. As of right he has 12 points, scoring 8 goals and 4 assists and he is looking to help the Reapers win as many games as possible. He is going to be jumping to the VHL after this season so he wants to make as big an impact in his last career VHLM season.
 
Strengths
Scoring: While his scoring stats have never been that high in his VHLM career, he is scoring at a level he likes for someone on the second line. He was still chosen as a team captain which shows the trust the team has in him and he looks to continue to play at the highest level he can.
 
Skating: Mikey is also known as one of the best skaters on his team and he looks to keep on improving in that regard. His small size gives him a low center of gravity which makes it easier for him to be more agile and skate with more speed on the ice. He has spent numerous hours on ice skating from end to end waiting to show off his skills on the ice. This skill has helped him get numerous points in his career, and allowed him to get the interest of VHL GM’s.
 
Strength: Even though Mikey is 5’9 and 175 pounds, he is still very strong. He doesn’t look like it, but his strength has allowed him to hold his own on the ice and get a couple of hits. He is still spending time in the weight room trying to get bigger and stronger in preparation for the VHL next year.
 
Weaknesses
Checking: Mikey’s biggest weakness is the fact that he cannot check a player to save his life. While he has gotten a hit here or there, this has the result of his strength mostly. He will need to improve on this to help Philadelphia in the playoffs and learn proper technique to stay out of the penalty box. 
 
Passing: While Mikey has shown that he can be a playmaker, getting 22 assists in only 37 games last year, his scoring has overtaken his passing. He now looks to score first on his shots and while he still loves getting assists and he will be looking to be a guy to get 30-30 or more in his prime, as of right now he still needs to improve in this facet of his game.
 
Faceoffs: Sure Mikey is a winger, but if you ever need him to take a faceoff, don’t assume he will win it. He has never really had to work on this part of his game and he will probably keep it untouched, but maybe one day in the future something will cause him to start working on this.
 
 And that’s all we have on Mikey Harris as of right now, thanks for reading.

Mikey Harris is having the most fun playing hockey he ever has. After beating two really good teams in Minnesota and Houston, getting goals and assists added to his point totals, and seeing the numerous practice hours he has been putting in show up on the ice, how could he not be happy. Mikey has stepped up his practice habits lately because of his want to play in the big leagues by next year. Most of the greats only spent two years in the minors and wanting to play as many years as possible in the VHL, the move to Calgary is necessary. He has been in closer contact with the team than he ever has been lately and he is starting to get to know his future teammates better. Mikey is the second best prospect on his team for s76 draftees and is looking to form a dynamic duo with his other prospect teammates for years to come. Mikey eldest brother Josh was drafted to the Wranglers as well but retired before he was good enough to make it to the majors so Mikey feels like his family owes it to the Wrangler franchise to send one player in the family to play for team. Mikey's future is looking really bright and we can't wait to see what he does with his career.

Sounds like a decent day @Ty343🤠

Graphical guru and VHLM goaltender deliverer @Zetterberg crafted this beauty of an image.
 
July 18th, 2007. It seems like just an ordinary date, like any other in time, and perhaps it is. But for the members of the Victory Hockey League, it is the league's birthday, the day in which it officially opened its doors to the public. In a time in which sim leagues were plentiful in numbers, but short on lifespan, all the VHL has done is not only survive until the present day, but thrive. With sixteen VHL franchises, along with twelve in the VHLM, the league is bigger than ever before, with new members joining on a practically daily basis. Wrapping up our 75th season, over thirteen calendar years after VHL legends Scotty Campbell, Brett Slobodzian, and Maxim Desny first took the virtual ice, the VHL continues to produce both legendary players and unforgettable members. In commemoration of this achievement, along with a very gracious donation by @WentzKneeFan036, I've embarked on a journey to find out from longtime members of the league just what it is that keeps the VHL going, and makes it so endearing to so many. 
 
Right off the bat, one major factor for the VHL's continued success is the constant innovations made over the years. Back in 2007, many leagues made at the time were using video games as the sim engine, kind of like how the VHL All-Star Game is done using the EA NHL games currently. Except here, lines and strategies, along with player creations, updates, and edits were mainly done by a single person, with games run in real time, more often than not with results of plays and screenshots posted in a thread followed by dozens of people. I'm not going to lie, it was awesome, and incredibly engaging. But, as someone who did this for a football league, it was a lot of work, and it quickly led to burnout. Many leagues, as a result, faded away quickly. 
 
"I’m not sure a lot of people realize just how much of a trailblazer the VHL has been for its longevity," says longtime member @CowboyinAmerica. "Sim leagues had existed before the VHL started up in 2007, but they were notoriously volatile and subject to the whims of its founders/commissioners. The idea of a league going even 10 seasons would have been considered a success, 20 seasons positively ludicrous. And if you had told people at the Season 1 Draft that this thing would still be going 75 seasons later, they’d probably laugh in your face. But somehow it has, and I think that’s something to be commended."
 

At one time, your sim hockey dreams played out with the aid of graphics like this.
 
The first such innovation was the use of the text-based Simon T Hockey Simulator, as opposed to a more visual engine. With an index providing things like statistics, schedules, and player attributes in an easily accessible manner to the members that a video game simply couldn’t, it was a revolutionary change in sim leagues. However, that's not to say that STHS was unable to provide the same excitement that a more visual engine could. 
 
"I always enjoy being able to compete against others and my own expectations," continued @CowboyinAmerica. "But being able to chase what others have done for 75 seasons now really sets the VHL apart."
 
"What I enjoy most about the VHL is monitoring my player's stats and our team's success," added @flyersfan1453. "For some players, individual success was more important, and for others (most of them) team success is more important. Going for one over the other with different players keeps things fresh."
 
"When I first joined the VHL, I was very invested in tracking my own player's performance and would check every game thread to see how my team did," @WentzKneeFan036 reminisced. "Then I became a GM and at one point my favorite thing was pretty much having knowledge of every player in the VHL."
 
"I’m a huge hockey fan and always dreamed of making the NHL," @Banackock, a longtime member and General Manager with the Seattle Bears, added. "It’s cool to be part of a league with a lot of history where you can have players ranked, etc. My biggest passion in these leagues dates back to the start of the SHL and its GMing. It’s probably what’s helped me stick around these leagues."
 
Although STHS couldn't replicate watching streamed games or screenshots in game threads, it more than delivered in sparking competitive drives into the members of the VHL. However, some old hallmarks of the old leagues still existed, such as manual updating on the forums, members needing to wait until their point tasks were graded before they could be claimed, and updates only being processed once a week. However, as the members themselves can attest, the innovations didn't stop in 2007.
 
"Constant improvement has been an underrated aspect of this league's history," adds the VHL's Grand Poobah, @GustavMattias. "Internet culture has shifted more towards instant gratification and communicating solely through a forum is something that would be considered hugely outdated in this day and age. Things like the portal and (though some may not want to admit it) Discord have kept us with the times, while league policies such as an improved updating system, elimination of TPE-based grading, and a cap of 12 being reachable for all have made the league much more accessible for a newer member."
 
"At a sim level, the portal automation is such a giant relief for so many members who had to manually update everyone, manually post game threads, and all sort of work that stops members from burning out quickly," continued @WentzKneeFan036, a veteran of the VHL for many years. 
 

On an unrelated note, @gorlab's work is so profilic that it shows up on Google search results.
 
"Sim leagues have changed a lot in the last 13 seasons, the VHL included," adds Day One member @Beketov. "We’ve done our best to try and stay ahead of these changes so that we can be better off for it. Stuff like auto-6 on PT’s, the portal, etc are things we brought to the community as a whole (so far as I’m aware) and they have made multiple leagues better. You gotta evolve with the times to last this long and I think we have."
 
But, for league historian @Victor, among many others, one change stands above the rest: the Portal.
 
"The portal is the biggest change for changing the way the die-hard users interact with the league," @Victor stated, "but also making it more accessible to the more chilled members. It's one of many revolutions in the VHL's long and storied history."
 
The introduction of the VHL Portal was a true game changer. No longer did updaters need to manually scour through player threads and point tasks to approve them, all it took was the press of a button. Better yet, the TPE now went directly to the player, who could immediately apply the TPE, which now no longer needed to be manually done with the file. Trades, signings, and cuts could now be done with the portal as well, with training camp and practice facility points now claimable with the press of a button to boot. The ease of access granted by the portal was instrumental to the continued success of the VHL, but what does it take to last over 13 years and 75 seasons?
 
"The dedication of (the VHL's) core members," answered @tfong succinctly. "At one time the VHL had only a handful of members left."
 
"The members are what has helped the league survive," elaborated @sterling, an original member from 2007. "I was in charge of some of our most unsteady times and I’m very surprised how the league has evolved. The members are what make the league."
 

VHL community hockey? We'll see what the future has in store.
 
It's hardly a surprise to hear that, as without strong and consistent support from members, nothing can last forever. But, as @diamond_ace explains, what started as a hockey sim league has grown to be so much more. 
 
"Honestly, it's gotten less and less about the hockey anymore, and more about the personal relationships between the people in the league," he revealed. "There are a lot of people here I consider friends, and a few I'm even close enough to that I'll be inviting them to my wedding - you don't develop those sorts of relationships just anywhere."
 
"This is one of very few places in my life where I feel comfortable expressing my true feelings and personality, and one of very few where I feel that I will not be judged for being who I am," added @GustavMattias. "Of course, we're only talking about words on a computer screen, but my time in this league and the people I've met here have had a giant positive effect on my own mental health, and I can say entirely honestly that I have zero regrets about joining."
 
Along with the league itself, the community itself has grown as well. Digging into older posts of times' past will reveal a much different, brasher place. Many things, from many members, that simply wouldn't fly today. As @tfong attested, "Old VHL was more abrasive and insensitive." Today, however, that's not the case. 
 
"The fact that we could raise close to $4000 for charity speaks to where the league has come," says @sterling about the growth of the community. 
 
"At a community level, I don't think these donation and charity auction drives would have been so successful, say, 7 years ago," elaborates @WentzKneeFan036 on the community's growth. "I think it's an awesome thing to see now."
 
"The community comes together to find a way," explains @Banackock. "I think the best one is realizing it’s the internet, not to look into things too much and just be kind to one another. A lot of people put incredible work into this place in so many different ways."
 

Perhaps the best new tradition in the VHL is the annual VHL Charity Drive, which has been a rousing success thus far.
 
Growth in the community has also led to perhaps the secret to the lasting success of the VHL, as @Victor so masterfully explains:
 
"Longevity of the VHL is definitely the people though, not the sim. The simmers, the admins, the countless mods, GMs, updaters who put in so many hours into the league and making it better for everyone else, not just themselves, but also just everyone buying into the idea and giving their time and energy, however little or much, to this hobby. We wouldn't be here with 3-4 loyal guys, we need the 100+ and even more now to keep going."
 
"Hard work is the honest answer," replied @CowboyinAmerica when asked about the league's lasting power. "It’s worthwhile to take a step back occasionally and take a look at just how much goes into making things run as smoothly as possible. And especially given that it’s often a labor of love without getting much in return, I’m always thankful for the people who are willing to put in the time to make this place special."
 
In short, the VHL hasn't just built a successful sim league, it has also built a true community. It began as just another sim league, but it has grown to be so much more. 
 
"I think there’s a real sense of community here," adds @sterling. "I’ve seen the league change a lot through the years. Members come and go, but the basic premise of the league and the solid leadership is what makes the community. You’ve got reliable sims and good members doing their jobs to keep the ship afloat."
 
As it turns out, it's hardly a unique viewpoint around the VHL.
 
"The VHL has always been about community first for me, that hasn’t changed in 13 years," @Beketov continued. "Yeah the games are fun to look at and stuff, but ultimately they are meaningless numbers on a page. As cheesy as it sounds, I’ve made more friendships on this site than I have Hall of Fame players, and I enjoy the former far more."
 
"In a cliche," @Victor summarized, "I enjoy the people and the interactions, and that's why I keep coming back in."
 

The Victory Hockey League: 75 seasons strong, and more to come!
 
To dwell on Victor's statement… coming back. It's a common theme here in the VHL, in a variety of ways. Members coming back from hiatuses to rejoin the league. The league itself surviving the dark ages of the 50's and coming back to reach perhaps it's highest point ever. Recreating another player to come back for another career. We live in a world filled with change, the VHL itself not immune to that. Members have aged, moved on with their lives. Some return, some do not. Others have grown to become pillars of our community. But for more than one member that I interviewed, the VHL was a source of stability for them in this ever-changing world which we live in.
 
"The VHL has been a constant in my life through high school, college, and now adulting in the real word," stated the monetary funder of this article, @WentzKneeFan036.  "While I don't spend quite as much time on it as I used to, I would definitely consider it a significant personal loss if it were to just poof and vanish for some reason. That and also Gustav's Town of Salem games have been sooo much fun!"
 
Editor's Note: He's not wrong, Gustav does a phenomenal job with these games and they're a lot of fun, as long as you don't trust a word Eagles says. Consider joining the next one if you haven't played yet!
 
"It’s hard to put into words really," added @Beketov, bringing us back on topic. "The VHL has been the most stable thing in my life for 13 years, as weird as that is. I joined Day 1 as a teenager going into grade 11. Since then, I graduated high school, went to and graduated from university, moved back home, got a job, moved out of my parents place, got married, moved out of province, bought a house, and had a kid. That’s a lot of change but the one constant has been the VHL. It’s activity hasn’t necessarily been this high the entire time, though I did my best to keep mine up, but it’s always been present. The league brings a lot of people from a lot of walks of life together based on this one silly little hobby of ours and I’ve absolutely loved bringing it back from the brink to its highest point yet. I’m not saying being blue is easy, it’s often not, but helping this thing I have loved, that has always been there for me, grow into the best version of itself has been phenomenal."
 
Wrapping up, while there are many things that have made it possible for the VHL to reach 75 seasons, the biggest constant that keeps it going can be summarized in one word: community. The VHL grew to be more than just a sim league, it became a community of people across the world with a common love for hockey and bettering each other. Between growing contributions to charitable organizations and movements, increased acceptance of diversification and assisting with increasing knowledge of and helping improve mental health, this has come far beyond just ranting and raving over Simon T's Hockey Simulator, and before we all know it, we're going to be celebrating the 100th season of the Victory Hockey League. 
 
A special thank you goes out to @tfong , @CowboyinAmerica, @Victor, @Beketov, @flyersfan1453, @Banackock,  @diamond_ace , @WentzKneeFan036, @GustavMattias, and @sterling for their time and patience with completing this article, and their knowledge of what makes the VHL so special. Another thank you goes out to @Zetterberg, who made the gorgeous banner for this article. @WentzKneeFan036 gets another thank you for his donation and idda that led to the creation of this article. Lastly, a big thank you goes out to you, the reader. You're a valued member of our community, and you are a part of the biggest reason why the VHL is such a special place and will continue to be.

In today’s article I will be showing the day in the life of current Philadelphia Reaper, Mikey Harris. Today was an off day which meant that his day looked a little different than usual. Mikey woke up around 7 to get ready for some online classes he takes because he is still at the young age of 16. Before these classes start he’ll eat a big breakfast, most likely a lot of bacon or some waffles. After spending about three hours in his first part of the school day, he gets off for some time.
 
He will usually take this time to eat lunch and maybe watch some TV while he’s at it. His lightest meal of the day is usually his lunch, which is probably something like a sandwich or some soup. After he eats he’ll go back to his classes for about 3 hours and then he will be free for the day. He’ll grab a quick snack and then drive over with his brothers to the local rink. Since both of his brothers played in the VHLM they know what Mikey needs to work on and the best ways to do it. He’ll open with some sprints to get his conditioning up, then work on improving on his skating, positioning, puck handling and strength. He’ll finish off with multiple shooting drills and then play in a couple of pickup games with the locals. This can take 3-4 hours and by the time he gets home he is dead tired.
 
As soon as he gets in the house he’ll take a hot shower, and then eat a big meal, something with a ton of meat. Maybe a steak, or rice or pasta with a lot of baked chicken. His brothers will come over at this time and go over film from the last couple of games as well as watch certain VHL players that they can learn from. He spends extensive watching the Calgary Wranglers because that is the team he is hoping to play for next season in the major leagues. He knows he won’t be getting a lot of playing time in the beginning of his VHL career so he isn’t expecting to do crazy things stat wise, but he still hopes he can make a difference for the team, no matter how small it is. After this he is free for the day, and he might head out into the city, stay home and watch a movie or catch up on some shows, or maybe get some school work done early. On a game day he would usually be out of the house for most of the day which means that he would sleep as soon as he got home, but today he decided to take a drive into the city and check in with some of his friends. Mikey used to spend a lot of time with his friends before his hockey career skyrocketed so he tries to spend time with them as much as possible. Instead of coming straight home Mikey went to the gym to get some weight training in as he is currently trying to become stronger for the season. He came home around 11 and finally went to sleep, preparing for his upcoming game the next day.