uphillmoss

@uphillmoss you earned this you feisty little shit
 
 

Victory Lap - Goes to the returning player who came back to dominate with the Reapers for a 2nd season! This player is the guy(or girl) who came back to take names and assert dominance on the VHLM.
 

Award Nominee :
Condor Adrienne

Dylan Doyle

Scotty Big Shotty

Brandon LeBlanc

We Have Our First Tie!!

@zepheter and @Green 
 
Thanks for coming back boys!! you really did own the league !

Arguments have been made on both sides of the case for VHLM expansion. There are currently 11 teams who can provide ice time to 20 players. Of those 11 teams there are 30+ open roster spots if each team was to ice 18 skaters and 2 goalies. It has been discussed that new recruits would not want to play 3rd or 4th line minutes, or for a goalie to play a handful of games for their first season as the backup. So how many spots are realistically available? After the announcement of two more VHL franchises it will be interesting to see how the pro league can manage having one more team than that in the minors. There are more and more 180 TPE+ players each season compared to when I joined in season 62. The issue that may become more clear is these members burning a year of their pro careers by remaining in the minors to avoid playing on the bottom six in the majors. The obvious benefit is having the opportunity to be a top line player in the minors. Will this trend bloat the minor league with maxed out returning players as opposed to new recruits? Should the TPE limit be slightly raised? I believe the answers will become more obvious next season as we observe how having a pro league of 12 teams fill out their rosters and if the roster availability in the minors experiences more of a squeeze.

Extra VHL.com article for this week. Claiming article for +1 and bonus +1 for completing both theme tasks.

What Does Expansion Mean For The League? (Blade's Thoughts)
For a site that was in in a state of declining just a little over a year ago it can be said that management had done a lot to make that something of the past. @Beaviss and his recruitment and retention team have done a great job of funneling new members to the minors where active an enthusiastic GMs pick up these new members and teach them the VHLM ropes. From there in a short amount of time these guys enter the big show, or the real deal in most people mind.
I think expansion is a great time to look at what we have done well and consider what we can do better. I have some quik suggestions on what we should investigate as the league expands to ensure a quality user experience:
1.)    Team based awards:
Now I’m not suggesting we get rid of the usual league awards I am just suggesting that GMs recognize players for their hard work and what they contribute to the team.  Unfortunately, at this time the VHL and VHLM do not have a system that reward people for being active locker room members or someone that constantly contributes content to the site. These sorts of things are for sure what will help you get a VHL job but other than that recognition for these contributions has been lacking thus far.
2.)    Engaging members in team culture.
What is the story of the team they are on, who are our rivals and what is each players place on the team. World building is always something that the VHL had great potential for but never quite just got there. There isn’t even a role play section on our discord. I feel like the VHL could defiantly use some hyping up and needs some of the energy of the M injected into it.
3.)    More team to team interaction!
There isn’t a lot of back and forth on the game pages.  And much of what is there are generic copy paste bits for the VHL Lottery.  There use to be a time where players would get invested and have fun on these threads and to be honest to some extent it does still happen. I would like to see some back and forth between the GMs. Players having some friendly banter could also be fun, after all as I have been told  many time it is a sim league, what sim league doesn’t have a little trash talk.

It wouldn’t surprise anyone that the newest addition to the Reapers Cinnamon Block has been gathering quite a lot of attention both on and off the ice from both players and fans alike. Cinna or Cin, nicknames given to her by her new teammates has been described as a caramel skinned goddess who looks as delicious as her name sounds. Her biggest fan seems to be Goalie Fang flashback, who has been seen “accidentally” entering the female dressing rooms on numerous occasions. Cinna even at one point had to ask fellow defence man Condor Adrienne if Fan was also new to the team because he seems to get lost so often. Adrienne replied by saying “Fang is just special like that and when I say special, I mean they have an alternative version of the Olympics for someone who has his level of brain damage.”
Rumor is that fang made room next to himself on the bus for Cinna but the rest of the team genuinely concerned for her safety intervened causing a bus wide brawl that left many players injured for their last game against the Yukon, wich is probably why they lost! Seems like things just goy interesting in the Reapers Crypt and playoffs haven’t even started!
(209 words)
@Patpou22

It wouldn’t surprise anyone that the newest addition to the Reapers Cinnamon Block has been gathering quite a lot of attention both on and off the ice from both players and fans alike. Cinna or Cin, nicknames given to her by her new teammates has been described as a caramel skinned goddess who looks as delicious as her name sounds. Her biggest fan seems to be Goalie Fang flashback, who has been seen “accidentally” entering the female dressing rooms on numerous occasions. Cinna even at one point had to ask fellow defence man Condor Adrienne if Fan was also new to the team because he seems to get lost so often. Adrienne replied by saying “Fang is just special like that and when I say special, I mean they have an alternative version of the Olympics for someone who has his level of brain damage.”
Rumor is that fang made room next to himself on the bus for Cinna but the rest of the team genuinely concerned for her safety intervened causing a bus wide brawl that left many players injured for their last game against the Yukon, wich is probably why they lost! Seems like things just goy interesting in the Reapers Crypt and playoffs haven’t even started!
(209 words)
@Patpou22

It wouldn’t surprise anyone that the newest addition to the Reapers Cinnamon Block has been gathering quite a lot of attention both on and off the ice from both players and fans alike. Cinna or Cin, nicknames given to her by her new teammates has been described as a caramel skinned goddess who looks as delicious as her name sounds. Her biggest fan seems to be Goalie Fang flashback, who has been seen “accidentally” entering the female dressing rooms on numerous occasions. Cinna even at one point had to ask fellow defence man Condor Adrienne if Fan was also new to the team because he seems to get lost so often. Adrienne replied by saying “Fang is just special like that and when I say special, I mean they have an alternative version of the Olympics for someone who has his level of brain damage.”
Rumor is that fang made room next to himself on the bus for Cinna but the rest of the team genuinely concerned for her safety intervened causing a bus wide brawl that left many players injured for their last game against the Yukon, wich is probably why they lost! Seems like things just goy interesting in the Reapers Crypt and playoffs haven’t even started!
(209 words)
@Patpou22

1-I would like to ask him what his first reaction was when he saw Fang slash other members of the team, specifically Condor Adrienne.
3-I don’t think the simmers make accidents like that. I think someone has it out for omg, if I was him, I would be checking my build in the sim because a 70 in leadership won’t help anyone.
4-I (Fang) noticed right away Cinna was a girl and of course I haven’t been acting any differently. I normally stumble into the back-up locker room where Cinnamon changes. I have no idea why she was angry about it I was just offering to help her put her equipment on.
5- Nobody initiates Fang, Fang initiates others! Even when I was a rookie I initiated the veteran players!
6-I was really hoping we would be getting another goalie so that I could have another slave…I mean friend do stuff for me.  I mean sunny looks pretty worn out So Benny Graves is probably my next victim!
8- Fang will be the points leader. As an offensive goalie I know I will dominate the competition!

Gold - Canada 
Silver - Europe 
Bronze - USA
MVP - Ambrose Stark

I thought it was a game!

1. I was making sure sunny knew his place. Intimidating him, Having him fetch me things, you know, typical backup goalie stuff.
2. I don’t really know. The one thing that I hate is when blade decides that everyone should play “lock fang in his cage.” It’s not a fun game. I don’t like my cage. It prevents me from slashing people.
3. I hate sitting next to sabertooth. He always gets really mad, and starts asking me why I am not the best skater on the team. Like how far away does he think the bench is?!?!
4. I wouldn’t exactly call them snacks, but Big Mac usually brings a lot of burgers and stuff. Just don’t let sabertooth catch you with them
5. Probably Sabertooth. I don’t know why, but with that kind of a name you have to have some skills. Although his back injury might cause him some problems.
6. I don’t think so. Some people tell me I am acting ridiculous, they are lying. I try to tell them how I am being perfectly fine, but they just get mad. Blade likes to break up these arguments by starting a game of “lock fang in his cage”It’s smart of her to try and distract us when we are fighting. I just wish she would chose a different game.
7. I wouldn’t try to. I just tricked Condor ( @Green) into talking to them himself. I told him to treat them like Ki. With how bigoted he is, he made such a fool out of himself.
8. I don’t really know. Management was busy managing a fire I totally didn’t set.
9. People keep telling me that bringing Dr. Duckstructicus on the bus is not allowed. I don’t know what they are complaining about. He only takes up like 5 rows!
10. Like I said earlier, as revenge for popping my ducky, I got condor to go and talk with the locals. Let’s just say he had to get out of there real quik.
11. Unfortunately not. Condor was able to out run the horde chasing him.
12. Usually we play some board and card games. The problem is that sometimes Blade doesn’t let me out of my cage when we play these things, so it is very difficult. But I can still play some card games like poker with my Dmen
 
Bonus. It should be a giant flying rubber ducky.  If we do not get this, I am quitting.

lol, that’s been me in every podcast 

Your warned the mic balances are off on these two because I rushed to get them up, hopefully you can still enjoy them.

Tales from the Crypt 3
 
@Patpou22
@uphillmoss
@BladeMaiden
( believe uphill swears in this one, you are warned ppl!)

Reaper's Summer Bash:  A Mad Goalie and a Deflated Duck
Katherine Blade the Reapers GM had seen a lot of things in her days as a VHLM GM but nothing could prepare her for what her new 6’8, 250lb goalie was about to do at the teams most important social event of the season. It’s not like anything can prepare you for when a hulking giant of a man comes running at you full speed with a deflated pool toy in his hands and rage in his eyes.
“You need to fix this!” He said holding out the deflated duck like it was a comrade that had fallen in battle. “Blade, you need to make this right.” She almost though she heard him stifle back what sounded life a sniffle.
Blade had been mingling and talking trades with a few of her GM Guests before Flashback had come on the balcony. “You can’t be serious Blade, you are going to ditch our trade talks to go fix your goalie’s toy?” said Frank Funk ( @Rayzor_7) a new GM that had recently started making a name for himself because of the numerous trade deals he made upon inheriting his VHLM franchise.  “I mean you can always just continue our chat with Jubo, I believe he is floating on his own giant ducky pool floatie on the lake. If I am correct there are a ton of floaties down there if you want to join him” and like that Rayzor took off like a flash eager to see if Julian Borwinn ( @Jubo07)would be more reasonable trade partner than Blade.
Blade turned back to Fang( @uphillmoss) and led him and the ducky inside, she went into her storage room and took out a Pool floatie repair kit that she had bought for the party. If there was one thing, she knew it was that her reapers could be a rough bunch, so she had prepared for a little chaos. She asked the young goalie to explain what happened and struggled to not laugh as he described what Condor had done to the duck. “He murdered my poor duck Blade, he ruthlessly lashed out at an innocent! He could have just flipped me, but that bastard felt he needed to take it the extra step and claim a life. Tell me you can save him Blade. He was so young; he didn’t deserve to go out like this!” It was then he heard her stifled giggle “You think this is funny?” Fang looked sad; his mood was as deflated as the duck he cradled in his arms. “You don’t know what Dr. Duckstructicus means to me…”  Blade had set up all the repair tools and  instructed fang to put him on the table, tempted to ask her hot headed goalie how the inflatable duck got his Doctorate but seeing as he was already in a bad mood she decided she would ask after she fixed the pool toy
“You ready to get the Dr. back up and in the lake?” she asked looking at the strategic cut that condor had made on the duck’s back end.  “You can save him? “ Fang asked with hope for the first time since his floaty friend was popped. “He will be better than new, I’ll bring him out to you when I am done” Fang almost skipped out of the cottage with a lightness that a 6’8 man should never possess. It was time to save Dr Duckstructicus and have a bit of fun while doing it.
After letting the patch and glue dry Blade made her way down to the lake with the giant inflated duck. She could almost see fans eyes fill with wonder as he ran up to her.  She hanged him the duck barely able to hold in the grin, she couldn’t wait until he saw it. Condor( @Green) came up behind Fang and started to practically howl with laughter. “Did you see it’s ass, the duck has a tramp stamp now. Blade this is too good!!” Condor continued to laugh as flash flipped his favorite duck around to see what had been done to him. His eyes lit up with surprise when he saw the patch on the duck’s rear “You put a giant cloud with a lightning bolt on my duck’s ass!” Blade added “I also took the time to write ‘Fang X Duckstructicus forever on the cloud. Now everyone will know of your love and that this is your duck.” Blade said with a smile “But Condor is right it looks like a tramp stamp” he said still a bit shook.  “I’ve seen the girls you hang with Fang. So it’s ok when it’s on some one night stand but not your precious duck, better learn to love it because it is there for good.” She patted his arm and turned oh her heel. He would get over it eventually. As she walked away, she could hear Fang and Condor bickering, she laughed lightly thinking how much she loved her team of miscreants. Blade went to go get a drink because man did she need one after all this and knowing her guys this was only the beginning.
-869-
*Claimed as a VHL.com week of August 25th 2019

@Quik can you undo this. @Esso2264 smells

The Flashbackian tragedy
    Two warriors stand out in the middle of a lake. They are inseparable, having been together since before they could walk. Forged in the fires of combat, their bond is stronger than the toughest steel. The world may not know their names, but to them it doesn’t matter. They have each other, and that is all they need.
    All is calm, not another person in site. Seeing that there are no threats, the two began to relax. One pulls out his waterskin, and begins to take a drink. Suddenly, something reaches out of the water and grabs him by the neck. He is stabbed repeatedly by the unseen assailant. His comrade rushes to protect him, but he is too late. The attacker has fled, vanishing without a trace. Racing back to his fallen friend, the soldier tries to assess the damage. It is clear that hi comrade is fading fast. It is clear that there is only one person who can save him. The fabled healer @BladeMaiden is their only hope. 
    Cradling his friend in his arms, he marches on to where he can only pray he finds the healer. The warrior tries to tell his friend that he is going to be alright, but both of them know it is a lie. As the soldier continues, he tries to remain strong. He knows he needs to stay firm for his friend. But despite his best efforts, a few tears escape. 
            They arrive at the healers place. He sets his injured friend down, both knowing this may be the last time they see each other’s face. The fallen man grabs his comrade’s hand, one last act of solidarity before he goes unconscious. The remaining soldier cry’s out to the healer “Please! Can you save him? I will give anything, even my life for you to bring him back.”
@BladeMaiden responds “Fang, quit being so dramatic over your rubber ducky”

 
This is the events of the  Reapers party through Fang Flashbacks eyes

In the first installment of VHLM Insight, we will take a look at the top two teams in the league, the team sitting comfortably at the bottom, and give an honorable mention. 
 
We're approaching the 30 games played mark in the VHLM, and the field is starting to take shape. The picture is becoming a bit clearer as teams that are dominating, teams that are in the middle of the pack, and teams who are falling out of playoff contention are settling in on the standings bracket.
 
The teams who make up the Top 5 are Philadelphia, Ottawa, Minnesota, Halifax, and Houston - each having less than 10 loses and coming in well above .500 in terms of wins and loses. Yukon currently sits in the sixth position, and is the only other team outside of the Top 5 to be above .500; the remaining five teams all sit well below. The exception to this is Saskatoon, who is only a few games back from evening out their average, and could potentially get it together to be above .500 at some point in the season.
 
THE TWO TITANS OF THE VHLM
 
Philadelphia currently sits on top of the VHLM with 47 points, and a record of 23-3-1. The Reapers leading scorer is Center Alex Pearson, who has 24 goals and 22 assists for a points total of 46. Pearson also leads the VHLM in goals. Defenseman Brandon LeBlanc leads the team in assists, with 33, but also currently sits 4th on the Reapers for goals with 12. LeBlanc also leads the league in assists, and is also sitting atop the league for Defensemen. Goalie Fang Flashback holds an impressive record of 22-2-0, a 2.16 Goals Against Average, with 5 Shutouts and a Save Percentage of .883. Flashback is number one in the league for wins, and has three assists, the most for any goalie in the league. With the help from their spectacular goalie, and their powerful offensive performance, it is easy to see why the Reapers are sitting atop the standings.
 
Ottawa finds themselves in second place with 43 points, two games behind the Reapers, with a record of 21-5-1. Center Zeno Minti leads the Lynx in both goals and assists, 20 and 29 respectively, for 49 points which is also the best on the team. Left Winger Anthony Hawk holds second place in points for the team at 41, and is probably one of the deadliest on the ice with his impressive 112 hits. Goalie Raymond Bernard has a record of 17-3-0, a Save Percentage of .87, 1 Shutout, and a Goals Against Average of 2.74. With the strong play from Minti and Hawk, look for Ottawa to stay on the heels of the Reapers in the coming week. 
 
STARTING AT THE BOTTOM
 
Sitting in the very last spot for the league is the Mississauga Hounds, who hold a record of 5-21-1 with 11 points. There's not a single player on the Hounds roster who has a positive -/+ rating, with the exception of one player who has only played a total of three games. You could blame the abysmal record on schedule strength, maybe. It's hard to win games when your leading goal scorer has only 7 goals in the 27 games they have played, and the rest of the offense isn't getting enough chances to help produce. Maybe some trades could help correct the ship on this team, time will tell, but
for now they looked to be destined to sit at the bottom of the pack. 
 
HONORABLE MENTION
 
It's worth noting the play from the Minnesota Storm, who currently hold the third place spot in the standings at a record of 20-6-1, sitting one game behind Ottawa with 41 points. Defenseman Kefka Palazzo leads the team with 44 points, and also leads in assists with 30. Left Winger Berocka Sundqvist leading the team in goals with 20. Goalie Justin Cole has a 20-6-1 record, an impressive 7 Shutouts, and an equally impressive .899 Save Percentage. Cole leads the league for goalies in Goals Against Average (1.91), Shutouts (7), and comes in second for Goals Against Average (0.899). Sitting one game back from Ottawa, look for the landscape to change when it comes to the Top Three Teams in the VHLM.
 
@diamond_ace @berocka @Jayrad28 @Psanchez55 @Zeno @ahawk2191 @WhiteMocha @uphillmoss @Mr_Hatter

5. I don't really care as long as it has some bite to it.
6. I think everyone except for Condor. He has some religious exception to it or something, I don't really know. I just think he is being boring.
7. I am amazed that everyone thinks I am the crazy one. Sure I slashed a couple of people, but Condor keeps saying he is from another planet. 
8.
This is my ducky. I do not care what anyone thinks of my ducky, it is mine. If you touch my ducky, you die.
9. 
@Psanchez55
10. 
@Green
11 .The narwhal is perfect for @Sharkstrong
12.
@Big Mac
13.
@Jubo07 Because of your "brilliant" southern accent on our draft night podcast. 
14. 
@BladeMaiden goes all in with her reaper persona. 
15. I am bringing my special ducky. And also something to protect my ducky.
16. No, I want to kill Condor now 
 

I would do it again. No regrets.

Don't think you are off the hook you fish! Once I get through with Condor I am coming for you. No one messes with my duck and gets away with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. I don't really care as long as it has some bite to it.
6. I think everyone except for Condor. He has some religious exception to it or something, I don't really know. I just think he is being boring.
7. I am amazed that everyone thinks I am the crazy one. Sure I slashed a couple of people, but Condor keeps saying he is from another planet. 
8.
This is my ducky. I do not care what anyone thinks of my ducky, it is mine. If you touch my ducky, you die.
9. 
@Psanchez55
10. 
@Green
11 .The narwhal is perfect for @Sharkstrong
12.
@Big Mac
13.
@Jubo07 Because of your "brilliant" southern accent on our draft night podcast. 
14. 
@BladeMaiden goes all in with her reaper persona. 
15. I am bringing my special ducky. And also something to protect my ducky.
16. No, I want to kill Condor now