Bonzaijoe

I am, actually! Just finishing up school tomorrow and can finally devote more time! I'd love to be able to take a shot at the job!

Press Conference time! 1. With the VHL draft coming up very soon, what do you have to say to VHL scouts looking at your game? 2. Were you surprised with the results of the finals for the VHL or VHLM? 3. Who surprised you the most in the playoffs? (Player or team) 4. What VHL team is your favorite? Who are you hoping to get drafted by? 5. Did you pay attention to the all-star game? What was your favorite part about it? 6. Do you wish there was a VHLM all-star game? If it happens in the future, what fun events would you add to it?

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Here's some questions for the week! 1. Aces took 2nd in the draft lottery! This spells good for the future, but what do you think about some young talent joining the team? 2. With Jubo leaving the front office, what are some parting words you'd like to say to him? 3. Welcome OilManDan back to the team as the new GM! What do you think he'll do to better the team in the future? 4. Of all the new expansion teams, which is your favorite? 5. Who are you rooting for in the VHL and VHLM playoffs? 6. As we enter the offseason, how are you keeping yourself in VHL shape? @Lightningyamasha @MexicanCow @mxld17 @Ty343 @GRZ @uphillmoss @jacobaa19 @SwagSloth @Bushito @speck1447 @Thomas Vancheck @Connor mcdavid @Antone10 @DMaximus @Benson @Tophdaddy @Puffalump @MattyG @Barracuda @Sunburst @Bandit @Dingle

If like to add my name to the mix! I’ve GM’ed for Team USA in the WJC before and I’m currently the AGM of the Las Vegas Aces. I know I haven’t been as active recently but that’s due to School winding down and finals starting. I’d like to try my hand at trying a GM position and I’d be able to give a lot of time toward it this summer!

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Here's your press conference questions for this week! 1. Do you feel like other teams play you extra tough because the Aces are defending champions? 2. Who do you feel most comfortable playing against on the ice?? 3. What city is your favorite to play an away game at? 4. Who, other than the Aces of course, has the best fans in the VHL or VHLM? 5. While sitting relatively in the middle of the standings, are you comfortable with how the team is playing or are you concerned about possibly missing playoffs? 6. Do you think you're playing better than you were earlier this season? If not, how to you get yourself back to your early season form? If yes, how are you continuing to better yourself? @Lightningyamasha @MexicanCow @mxld17 @Ty343 @GRZ @uphillmoss @jacobaa19 @SwagSloth @Bushito @speck1447 @Thomas Vancheck @Connor mcdavid @Antone10 @DMaximus @Benson @Tophdaddy @Puffalump @MattyG @Barracuda @Sunburst @Bandit @Dingle

With the WJC ready to begin, Team USA looks forward to come back after a tough loss in the Bronze medal game in Season 64. Former US GM Bonzaijoe stated in an interview today, "I worked hard with that team and I had a great group of guys who really put some magic together. I have a lot of love for them and I'm glad I got to play with them. I wish them luck going forward, and this season the new US GM has put together what looks like another really solid squad. GMing for the US is a great privilege and I hope that this team has success going forward. Playing hockey for this country and representing them was a ton of fun and I hope, going forward, they play well. Seriously, this squad looks tough as nails and I will be rooting for them. These guys look like a serious team and they're gonna compete very hard this season." WJC Indexes have been posted and the Round Robin will begin soon. Make sure not to miss when the best of the youngsters face off starting this week!

We sat down with our good ol' friend Joe Nixon amidst a long string of downward play in this VHL season. "It's tough, you know. I'm sure everyone's aware but not being able to go get the wins hurts. We've been playing solid it just hasn't been enough. Our team is working our hardest to go out there and put a good product on the ice," Nixon said this evening. "The crowds have been great and the city has supported us well, I want to let them know that we will get back in the groove and figure out the reasoning behind this slump. This won't last forever, and I promise you that." The Wolves have not been playing well after coming off an electric start early in the season. Nixon saw more starting time throughout, but is backing up Iseult on the bench more recently. Nixon said, "It's tough to know that we're in the slump. This isn't all fun for us and we're continuing to improve ourselves as players when we face this kind of adversity. Losing is hard, and our mentality behind the game is tough, but we're doing well to keep up our morale as we are trying to get back in the swing of things." Nixon said, on how he practices, "hard. It's rigorous. We want to go out and win and we have to practice as hard as possible to keep up with the best teams in this league. It means a lot to have these fans behind us and as a team, we have to help each other out just as much. It's tough to go out there and play hard and not be able to get the wins so we're working and working to make sure we escape from this." On how much time he expects in the future, Nixon said, "I'm not sure. Iseult is playing solid and I'm definitely not better. My stats were kind of inflated by some lucky early success and Tristan is 100% the person to go with going forward. My time will come, and I'll deserve more starts eventually. Right now I'm still young and I'm still working on the future to be able to play at my best. I'm continuing to work with the trainers, coaches, and the team at all times to better myself and put myself in a place I know is good for me for the future." On the future, and the new VHL expansion, Nixon answered, "I'm not really sure how it's gonna go or who's gonna be up for that," Joe laughed slightly, "I've been told that I'm a big part of the Wolves' future going forward but at the same time, if the expansion rules don't allow me to star, I'm not sure how it'll go! I'm sure the Vancouver front office knows what they're gonna do, though. They know what they want moving forward and I have full confidence in them to make the correct decisions to make the team better. Thanks to Nixon for sitting down with us yet again! Good luck to him and the wolves going forward.

1.Are you excited for the WJC? Absolutely! It's gonna be a great time and I'm unbelievably excited to represent the US of A on the ice! 2. Who are you rooting for and why? USA! USA! USA! (No bias though) 6. Do you sing your country's national anthem or just mouth the words? You don't wanna hear my singing, it's horrendous. I bow my head and focus while I mouth the words and get myself ready. I love hearing it though, every time. 9. Would you ever burn a flag if you knew you wouldn't get caught? Absolutely not, honestly. It's disrespectful to the country and I would never want anyone to burn the US flag, so I'll keep my flames away from other flags. 10. You just got a penalty for unsportman like conduct, what did you do? Sometimes I like to play around a little too much with the attackers that like to sit in my crease. My unsportsmanlike probably will come from a fight if they start to be an asshole to me. I'm sure I'll get one soon enough though haha 12. What is your fav task to gain tpe and why? Press conferences are great! The questions are fun, the answers are easy, and you don't have to come up with a topic like you do with media spots and VHL.com articles!

@BladeMaiden was kind enough to supply some questions this week about the WJC! Answer 6 of the 12 for your 2 TPE for the week! @Lightningyamasha @MexicanCow @mxld17 @Ty343 @GRZ @uphillmoss @jacobaa19 @SwagSloth @Bushito @speck1447 @Thomas Vancheck @Connor mcdavid @Antone10 @DMaximus @Benson @Tophdaddy @Puffalump @MattyG @Barracuda @Sunburst @Bandit @Dingle

USA!

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Tonight, as we usually do, we sat it again with our buddy Joe Nixon ahead of this season's World Junior Championship. Nixon, who stole a bronze medal away from the USA squad for his World team in a great performance in the playoffs, is excited to be joining the USA squad this season. "I wasn't upset last season, Mertz and Stoffiday were really really solid choices for the US GM last year and I took it to them in the competition to show them what they missed out on," Nixon said in an interview today, "No hard feelings. I love being able to represent my country this season, and Team World did great things for me last year. I'm ready to get out and put in some work to bring a medal to the US! I'm here to help stop the drought!" When asked about the team in front of him, Nixon responded, "These guys are great! They're great players and we're the best the states have to offer. I'm very excited to be playing with them and I have a ton of confidence in their abilities. This is a good team poised for a solid run this year. I believe that for real!"

Question Time! Answer all 6 for 2 TPE! 1. After a week of some more tough losses mixed in with some wins, how do you try to turn it into a positive and try to bust through to win those close games? 2. How do you think your on-ice performance has been? How do you plan to better yourself as a player? 3. Are you excited for the World Juniors? Do you think you'll make your country's roster? 4. Other than your own team in the WJC, who do you like to root for to do well? 5. Spill some tea! What team, VHL, VHLM, or World Championships do you not like the most? It can be a rival or anyone, who do you have that irrational hate for? 6. Finally, what are some of your favorite game-day routines and rituals that you have fun with? @Lightningyamasha @Brolaski @mxld17 @Adama Traore @Ty343 @SwagSloth @uphillmoss @jacobaa19 @speck1447 @MexicanCow @Thomas Vancheck @Connor mcdavid @Antone10 @Benson @MattyG @OneBuffalo1230 @Puffalump @Rykonen @Barracuda @Sunburst @Tophdaddy @Bandit @Dingle @Jubo07

Titans 3-1

170 New York Americans 171 Seattle Bears 172 Vancouver Wolves 173 Helsinki Titans

"I get recognized every once in a while, but being a rookie is probably the biggest factor in that," Joe Nixon, Vancouver Wolves goaltender, said of his side-hobby. Joe, while on the ice, is an animated and emotional player who will have fun but keep his cool in a game-time situation. Sometimes, on the internet, that animated character inside of him comes out on a webcam in front of others. Joe, like thousands of other people on the internet, has picked up livestreaming video games as a side hobby. "I'm a huge fan of guitar hero and some dumb games I like to speedrun," Joe noted when asked his favorite things to play. "I'll play just about anything, though. I know most people like to watch streamers be good at the game, but I think I talk enough to make a stream enjoyable when I'm still absolute trash at another game." Joe noted that this side hobby is his fun time when he's not on the ice. "I don't do it for the money or any possible fame that would come from it. I just enjoy spending my gaming time with others and I'm happy to play in front of an audience who thinks I'm interesting. It's fun and I enjoy it. Sometimes the boys rag on me for it, but what can I say I'm a born actor on and off the ice."

Good morning(?) VHL.com readers and welcome to "A cup of Joe with Joe" where we sit down with our favorite Joe and talk to him about his morning routine before a game. "Not coffee, to start it off," Nixon stated quickly, "I don't like coffee, never have. I get my day started with some juice or something else healthy then eventually move myself to caffeine throughout the day. I prefer the garbage sugary drinks that are definitely gonna kill me in the future, but let's be real they taste pretty damn good." "I'm a shower in the morning kinda guy. I'll shower in the morning and after practices and games. I can't stand to be sweaty but I also really can't stand waking up with that greasy hair plastered to my head and shit like that," Nixon continued about his morning routine. "As a hockey player, you have to respect the flow. If you got it though, you know the kinda grease I'm talking about it and you definitely hate it too." I asked Nixon what his favorite thing to eat in the morning was, and he answered quickly, "I'm a real grab and go eater for breakfast, but if I get a chance to make some real food I'm a slut for some breakfast sandwiches. Ham, egg, and cheese are a godly combination which has powers matched by no other sandwich in this universe." I also asked what his go-to was for a grab and go meal, and he said "pop tarts. Those things are delicious, sugary, bad for me, but most importantly delicious. Cherry and Brown Sugar Cinnamon are the best, don't at me." "I'm usually punctual to practice. I know it takes me extra time to put my pads on so I get there extra time early. Sometimes I try to get there too early and rush out of my house too soon trying to beat the rush but honestly that just doesn't work out," Joe said of morning skates, "it's my job to be there though and I'm not about to be the bad teammate who comes late. So I show up with my breakfast sometimes but I'm there and ready to roll." I asked how Joe's routine differs when the team goes on the road, and he said, "I love the traveling we do. We go to some great cities and get some great experiences. My routine stays about the same, but there's just some things, such as poptarts, that are just unavailable on that road trip. I should really start to remember to pack those soon." Nixon said of the hotels, "I don't mind them, honestly. In some cities those beds are real comfortable, get me extra rested, and I'll be refreshed for the day. Nothing compares to a home bed but honestly I don't mind an above par hotel room when we're out on the road. I asked if there were any other parts of the routine we missed during this interview, but Joe said no, saying, "I live a relatively normal life when it comes to my routine. The basics are the basics and that's all I need. I'm not much of a meditater or superstitious guy. I just like to go about my day like it was any other." Bug thanks to Joe, as always, for checking in with us. Catch you again soon!

Question Time! Answer all 6 for 2 TPE! 1. The Aces have dropped below Halifax in the standings. Has this gotten the team fired up to start performing better? How have you seen this on the ice? 2. Some new guys have signed with the team recently, how have you worked the new guys into the chemistry and atmosphere of the team? 3. Since I asked you guys some questions last week, you've gone 6-6-0 in your last 12. How do you impact this performance and try to better the team to try and go above .500? 4. Was the early season streak out-of-character or do you think you could get back into the winning swing of things soon? 5. Have there been any huge surprises with how the season is going overall? Have there been any surprising results from any teams on the standings? 6. Finally, what are some of your favorite things to do around town when you're not at the rink? @Lightningyamasha @Brolaski @mxld17 @Adama Traore @Ty343 @SwagSloth @uphillmoss @jacobaa19 @speck1447 @MexicanCow @Thomas Vancheck @Connor mcdavid @Antone10 @Benson @MattyG @OneBuffalo1230 @Rykonen @Barracuda @Sunburst @Tophdaddy @Bandit @Dingle @Jubo07

You may ask yourself, "Joe. Why do you constantly post your Media Spots and VHL.com Articles at 11PM on Sundays?" and to that I answer... "Because 11 PM on Sundays is when I should be doing homework lmao" Recently, I've gotten into the habit of checking the forums and reading good content all week, but neglecting to post my own until I sit down and think to myself... "Hmm maybe I should probably go about writing these." Today, my friends, I give you progress. The trick to ending VHL Procrastination... Is to motivate yourself to gradually end it. This week, rather than posting at 11 PM, I am currently typing these articles at 10 PM. Eventually, I'll make it to 9, then 8, then 7. At some point soon, maybe this dumb goalie brain of mine might start getting the hint to put his content out earlier in the week so more people can use it. This beautiful method of ending procrastination will work eventually, until I eventually post it at 1 AM on Mondays and have to completely wrap around the week because I'm doing it so quickly! That's the end-game in this situation. The Bonzaijoe Procrastination-Ender Method is factually proven to work, even if it will eventually take too much time and I'll be retired by then... Maybe. #EndProcrastination

As we usually do, today we sat down once again with Joe Nixon to ask some questions. This time, we focused around the team's move to Vancouver, how the fans have taken the move, and what's going on in the new big city! How have the fans taken the transition to Vancouver? "Well, I think. Of course back in Quebec there are still some fans who are upset about the move, rightly so. It's hard to take a team away from a city and I think they have a right to be angry but the new city has welcomed us with warm, loving arms and these new fans have been great to us. Quebec was an amazing place for this franchise to play, we're just sorry it didn't work out between us. Much love to that city, seriously. Vancouver has been great to us though. I love living here, it's a beautiful place, and the fans are awesome and seriously passionate about hockey, regardless of if we're new or not. With us being so close to Seattle, I expected more Seattle fans than Wolves fans, but these guys are embracing us and we're so grateful for that." Have the vets of the team shown any rough signs after the move? "Some guys were attached to Quebec, of course. But that's just bound to happen. We're here though, and the move was as a team. I understand being upset about a move, and I'm not blaming ANYONE for being upset about that, but at least it wasn't the same jarring effect that a trade has on a player? I'm just glad the transition was smooth. Some of those guys really loved that city though and you could tell. I can imagine some may go back after retiring, but for now we're here in Vancouver and we're here to play." You guys have had some early season success so far, can you attribute that to the new place? "Somewhat, yeah. For the most part, though, this team is built really well by our front office and we're seeing a lot of guys step up to the plate and it's awesome. The chemistry this team is putting together early in the season is second to none, and the guys get along so well. I'm extremely happy to be a part of this journey, and having some great guys like Iseult by my side to help me transition to Vancouver and into the VHL? This experience is truly great for me as a player. As for how the move has played in though, I can only say thank you to the fans as well. These guys are crazy about hockey, like I said earlier, and will support us every single step of the way until we can bring a championship to this amazing city! They deserve it, and they've really brought the energy we need to get it done night after night." There you have it! Some early thoughts about how the transition between cities went, straight from a Wolves player himself. As always, a huge thanks to Nixon for sitting down with us. We're just surprised he isn't tired of us yet!

4-2 Riga

94 Vancouver Wolves 95 New York Americans 96 Seattle Bears 97 Riga Reign

The Sv% Was iffy but I'll take a solid W!