solas

Player Information
Username: Knight
Player Name: David Rashford
Recruited From: Returning
Age: 25
Position: LW
Height: 71 in.
Weight: 180 lbs.
Birthplace: United Kingdom

Player Page
@VHLM GM

Currently reading
Death's End by Liu Cixin (translated by Ken Liu) - Third book of the Rememberance of Earth's Past (akaThree-Body Problem) trilogy. I'm enjoying it so far, it's a slightly different format to the first two, which I kind of enjoy to be honest since there are chapters interspersed from a different perspective that provides more context for what you're reading. There are some parts that can feel a little awkward but I think a part of that comes from the fact that it's translated from Chinese to English. All in all it's a really interest approach to sci-fi that I like a lot.
 
Last three (or four?) books read
The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin (translated by Joel Martinsen) - Second book. I think this is my favorite of the series thus far? Not sure though. Goes in a really interesting direction from on  the first novel ends up. Some parts can feel a bit odd but at the same time I think there's a good combination of plot intrigue and new concepts introduced in a way that isn't quite as clunky as the first book.
 
The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (translated by Ken Liu) - Beginning of the series. I enjoyed this one too, but it's a mixed bag in some parts. I really enjoy the historical aspect of this novel, as it partially takes place during the Cultural Revolution in China and also includes a lot of footnotes which describe the aspects of Chinese culture/history that are brought up without explanation in the original book. But at the same time there's a lot of more detailed scientific parts that can feel a bit dry as I don't think I've read hard sci-fi before. But obviously it still kept me interested enough to keep reading.
 
Dune: Messiah by Frank Herbert - I believe this was the last book I read before that? I really enjoyed what I've read of the Dune series. I unfortunately fell off from it after starting Children of Dune (the one right after this) but this one I enjoy quite a bit. I really, really like the twist that this adds to the plot of the original Dune. I'm hesitant to discuss any of it for the sake anyone who may be considering reading the books and doesn't want to be spoiled, but I will just say that I honestly hope this is adapted as part three of the movie series because I think it's really important to the intent/themes of the books.
 
The only other book that I believe I could've read third was Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon, but I believe I read Messiah after it? I legitimately cannot remember, it's been months. Kinda fell off of reading for a bit there. Either way this is a really important and interesting book that I read a part of for a philosophy class in college, and is takes a good look at racism and colonialism from a philosophical and psychological perspective.
 
Up next
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky - Was browsing the library after grabbing Death's End and picked this up on a whim since the description seemed interesting. Check back with me in a month and I'll let you know if I actually read it or not lol.

I've always read it as "Leandro F.G." and I think you can't read if you think otherwise.

we won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Regular Season     goals 197 $3.94 shots blocked 649 $6.49 hits 1195 $11.95           $22.38 Playoffs     goals 54 $1.08 shots blocked 210 $2.10 hits 320 $3.20           $6.38 Combined   $28.76  
 
 
Ronan Lavelle finished the season with 358 hits, so @Arce got to choose where this donation went. He chose The Kids Cancer Foundation:
The Kids Cancer Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) foundation, established in 2001 by a group of doctors, nurses, parents and community leaders. Our mission is to provide hope and support to children and families battling cancer and/or blood disorders in our community. We work collaboratively with the medical team and we are able to coordinate local, state and national resources with our services to ensure the needs of our children and families are met.
 
Because the Dragons won this season, I rounded the total to $30. Thanks for the selection, Arce, and way to go Dragons!!!
 
I'm skipping this for next season since we'll (hopefully) be running the holiday charity drive!

cool

cool

Here we go! With another edition of Where Are they Now? We will take 3 random member player's from the past, talk about them and then we will discuss if the member is still active and on another player or has moved on.
 
(S48) Unassisted - C ( @STZ)

 
 
Unassisted is ironically a player who not only scored plenty of goals, but assisted on plenty as well throughout his career. Unassisted is a S56 HOF player by the one and only STZ, and found success greatly in the regular season, and in the playoffs which is something not many players can say. Unassisted started off their career with the Quebec Meute with an impressive rookie season. Unassisted would go on to finish the season with 36 goals, 43 assists and 79 total points, which is remarkable rookie numbers. This would be Unassisted's lowest point total in a season, and only one of two times they had under 100 points and 50 goals. After an impressive rookie season, Unassisted went on to win the Dustin Funk trophy for most improved player, recording 107 points. After S48, Unassisted would score 50+ goals every season for the remainder of his career. In S50 Unassisted captured the Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals), netting 53 goals and a nice balance of 53 assists for 106 total points. Unassisted mimicked that point total in S51, but was able to score one more goal with 54 for the season. S52 turned out to be quite the extraordinary season for Unassisted as he was able to score 57 goals, and post up a dazzling 137 points as a member of the New York Americans. This was enough to earn them the Scotty Campbell and Brett Slobodzian Trophies after an incredibly productive regular season. As if that was not good enough, Unassisted also captured his first Continental Cup and won the Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP) as he recorded 28 points in 17 games played. In S53 Unassisted captured his second Continential Cup once again with the Americans. Once again posting up a high point total of 135 points, and 56 goals. Unassisted also averaged over a point per game during the S53 playoffs. Unassisted also won two gold medals with Team Canada during the S52 and S84 World Cups. Where is STZ now? STZ is currently active with one of the most successful active defenseman in the VHL in Hard Markinson. Markinson is at the tail end of his career and has posted up HOF numbers with 694 points in 572 games played, 1807 hits, and 1191 shots blocked. This is all with the Moscow Menace, who are trying to give Markinson a cup before he goes out. Markinson has hit the 100+ point mark 3 times, and has always been a beast with passing the puck. STZ looks like they have another for sure Hall of Famer cooking, what will come after Markinson?!
 
 
(S50) Theo Axelsson - RW ( @solas)
 

 
Theo Axelsson is a Hall of Fame right-winger of the S59 class. Axelsson is a product of the member solas, who developed Axelsson into not only a scorer, but a hard hitting one at that. Axelsson was certainly a productive player, especially in his final 3 seasons, but throughout his career he posted up 330+ hits 6 times and hit over 400 in his final season, which turned out to be his best season individually. Axelsson started off his career with the Calgary Wranglers and had a very respectable rookie season. Axelsson posted up 27 goals, 29 assists for 56 points. He also finished bulldozing opponents with 330 hits. Axelsson did not throw around the body as much in S51, recording 253 hits, but scored 28 goals, 37 assists and 65 points which were all new offensive highs for Axelsson. As a narrer of fact, Axelsson's point totals went up every single season of his career. In S53 Axelsson posted up a career high of 402 hits, a career high of 45 goals and 46 assists with his new team, the Helsinki Titans. S54 would turn out to be the best year of Axelsson's career to date in many ways. First off, Axelsson became a 50 goal scorer, netting 52 goals and recording 98 total points. He also had 363 hits, continuing his reputation as a grinder. This would earn Axelsson the Scott Boulet Trophy Winner as Top Two Way Forward. He also became a Continental Cup champion and played a huge part of that with his 25 points in 18 games played and 102 booming hits during that span. Truly a year to remember for Axelsson as he became a champion and a big reason for Helsinki's success. In S55 Axelsson's hit total took a dive with 245 but he point total climbed to 104 points! Axelsson and the Titans would also go on to go on as back to back Continental Cup Champions in S55. Axelsson also won the Daisuke Kanou Trophy honors, as the most valuable player of the playoffs finishing over a point her game and delivering 34 hits. Axelsson would also go on to win two more Scott Boulet Trophies in S56 and his final season in S57. He posted up 110 points in S56, falling just short of the 50 goal mark and posted up 352 hits. In S57 Axelsson finished as a 50 goal scorer and 113 total points. He also recording a career high with 409 hits, which is a great way to go out. Axelsson recording 15 points in 9 playoff games in his final season but the Titans fell short. Is solas still around these days? He is! Milan Dvorak is currently a, S82  pass first defenseman for the DC Dragons, and is hoping to help them get into the postseason to capture their first ever Continental Cup. Dvorak joins the Dragons after a two year stint in Helsinki. Dvorak just reached the 100 point mark of his career and has 107 in 209. Dvorak may not have gotten off to a HOF career start, but he is a big part of DC's defensive core and could beat his career high of 45 points as he has 38 so far with 7 games remaining.
 
(S53) Fredinamijs Krigars - C ( @hedgehog337)
 

 
When you think of hedgehog you think Riga since he has run the show over there for quite some time now. So it should be no surprise Hall of Famer Fredinamijs Krigars spent their whole career apart of the Reign. Krigars lit up the lamp in S53 with the Yukon Rush, recording 60 goals, and 119 points in the VHLM. A confident Krigars then had their VHL stint in S54, and it was an impressive one. Krigars would go on to post up 38 goals, 45 assists for 83 points. 12 of those 38 goals were game winners as well. Riga would only last 5 games however in the playoffs, where Krigars would score 2 goals. S55 was a big regression year in total points for Krigars as the Reign took a step back. Krigars still recorded 33 goals, but just 63 points, dropping 20 from his rookie season. He did however eclipse 100 hits. In S56, Krigars would bounce back and win the Dustin Funk Trophy for the improvement. Krigars was a 50 goal scorer, and recorded 119 total points. A huge improvement, which warranted the honors. Riga would fall short in their return to the postseason, and got bounced out in 6 games where Krigars would post up 5 points. S57 would be Krigars best year of his career individually, and as a teammate. Krigars would go on to post up 66 goals, 81 assists for a stunning 147 points.  This would earn him the Mike Szatkowski Trophy for most points and the Brett Slobodzian Trophy. On top of that he would become a Continental Cup Champion. Krigars posted up 26 points in 11 games played in the postseason. The season Krigars would remember most of all without a doubt. Krigars would never fall under the 100 point mark again. In S58 he picked up right where he left off, scoring 50 goals, 76 assists and 126 total points. Another Mike Szatkowski Trophy for the Lativia forward, and adding an Alexander Beketov Trophy for most assists in the league. He also became a back to back Continental Cup Champion as the Reign were once again the top dogs of the VHL. A truly remarkable feat that is not easily accomplished. In his final two seasons, Krigars would post up 100 points in each of them. S59 would be 43 goals and 57 assists, and S60 would be 52 goals and 48 assists. This totaled Fredinamijs Krigars to 332 goals, 406 assists for 737 total points. A true Riga Reign legend. Is hedgehog still around? Not only is he GMing the Riga Reign still, he also has a defenseman for their bitter rival, the Moscow Menace! AK92 Wit da Hoodie is wrapping up his rookie season with the Menace, so far recording 4 goals, 41 assists and 45 total points. All respectable totals for a rookie defenseman Hoodie is trying to help the Moscow Menace break their cup slump and finally help GM Euron Leonidas capture his first cup? Will it be a success? We anticipate AK92 Wit da Hoodie's career as a whole will be, that's for sure.
 
Words: 1,547
Weeks Ending: 10/16, 10/23/ 10/30
 

lightning25, yeah lol
 
Pretty sure Gagnon was IR's first player, according to this thread Radislav Mjers and Mikey Blade came immediately afterwards

solas - Class of S84
 
Usernames: lightning25, solas
Joined: S20
Jobs Held: VHL Magazine Cover Artist, Graphics Grader
HOF Players (at time of writing): Theo Axelsson (Class of S59), Lukas Muller (Class of S63), Jean Pierre Camus (Class of S82).
 
solas or lightning25 as he was known as at the time is pretty much the definition of a sim league veteran, having joined the SHL as his first league back in 2010. But it wasn't always a guarantee that he'd end up in the VHL. In fact Jardy had tried and failed to recruit him. It wasn't until Spangle, who was a member of both the SHL and VHL at the time, approached him and asked him to join in 2011 that he decided to give it a shot. And the VHL is thankful that he did.
 
As solas was already going graphics in the SHL he instantly got involved with the graphics community over here and ended up as the long serving VHL Magazine cover artist, having held that position for several years and only missing a single cover in that time. That's the kind of consistency that's been the hallmark of solas' most memorable players as well as his overall league contributions as a member. Though one thing hasn't stayed consistent, his name. At first he was known as lightning25, a name he'd picked out while still young (despite not being a Tampa Bay Lightning fan). But that he didn't quite feel fit him anymore as he was becoming an adult. But he still liked the theme and so went about putting "lighting" and "light" through a translator to various languages in the search for a new name that fit him better, and eventually he translated "light" to Scots Gaelic, which is "solas". And as I've been researching this article I've found his theme of light to be a fitting one. As everyone I've talked to see him as a positive impact. A beacon of light, if you will. Not just by his amazing graphics that he's been producing throughout his VHL career, but also in his work as a Graphics grader in 2014-2015 where he helped illuminate, pun intended, areas of improvement for his fellow graphic community members. And the same also applies to those fortunate enough to have shared a locker room with him. Always a source of intelligent (or dare I say "bright") discussion, wisdom and a seemingly never-ending supply of book and song recommendations. No one's had anything but kind words for solas, be it from working with him on the VHL Magazine or sharing a locker room.
 
The 2014-2015 era is one that stands out when looking back at solas' career in the VHL. By his own recollection this was the time when he felt like he became a "significant member" of the VHL. And considering that era of solas produced two HOF players, alongside all his amazing graphics and grading work. I think it's very hard to argue against that assessment. At that time the league was a very different place to now. Project Player Two was a thing, which is why solas managed to get two HOF players with overlapping careers. And TPE was much, much harder to come by than it is today. With the cap being 9 TPE, and only if you had a league job. This was why Theo Axelsson became solas' first player to eclipse the 1k TPE threshold, which at the time was no small feat. But sadly, that era was one that was much harder than the one we play in now. Having to max earn on two players at once, while also maintaining a league job, along more pressure IRL from his college work-load and just the general inactivity of the league as a whole (imagine no Discord LRs and there sometimes being days between new forum posts) meant that solas needed a break from the VHL. Sadly the timing of it ended up being shortly after his next player, Morozov, had been drafted 1OA in a draft that would go down in history as one of the worst drafts of all time. Mostly due to the amount of members hitting burnout in it.
 
During his hiatus from the league solas still had some sim league presence, putting in 3-4 seasons in our sister league the EFL, which "accidentally" produced a HOF player over there after going IA. But even during his hiatus solas was still keeping an eye on the VHL. Checking in on the forums every once in a while, only to see an influx of new members and the league growing again. So he decided to come back and retire Morozov early to have another go at it. This newfound interest lasted for about a season or so with his player Aron Nielsen. But it just wasn't to be as it didn't quite capture his interest long term like it had before. This is around when COVID hit and solas, like just about everyone else, found himself stuck at home with a lot of time on his hands. He decided that with this time he wanted a fresh start in the VHL, another go at the kind of player career he'd proven himself capable of in the past. That's when he created JPC (Jean Pierre Camus) HOFer and Chicago legend. To say that he reached his goals with that player would be an understatement, as he absolutely smashed them.
 
Because of how long solas' career has spanned, a lot of the people you could talk to about his early days are long since retired from the VHL. But the people he shared a locker room with in Chicago are very much still here and at the time of writing this, he's just reunited with one of his good friends from that era (fishy) again on his current player Milan Dvorak. For now that's where solas' story is at. After many years in the league he's taken a less central role than he once had, but to those that share a discord server with him. He's still very much a source of light, book recommendations and will probably always be the go to guy for fishy when they need new music to listen to. Because that's just who solas is. A genuinely nice guy, with an affinity for culture who is always willing to help his fellow VHLers.

Holy shit I honestly never thought I'd be inducted as a builder, what the hell. Crazy honor. I guess they'll induct anyone who sticks around here long enough 
Thanks to everyone who voted for me and also congrats to @Acydburn and @Josh!

Congrats to all 3! Since I wrote the Camus HOF article I'm also picking up your builder article (assuming Victor okays it). So I'll probably have to pick your brain a bit about that at some point soon™

Thats a strange way of spelling Jeffrey Pines

Holy shit I honestly never thought I'd be inducted as a builder, what the hell. Crazy honor. I guess they'll induct anyone who sticks around here long enough 
Thanks to everyone who voted for me and also congrats to @Acydburn and @Josh!

Congrats @solas @Acydburn and @Josh! 🔥
 

As the summer draws to a close, it's time to shine the light on 3 fine Hall of Fame inductees.
 
D - Battre Sandstrom, S76-S83  
RS: 576 GP, 161 G, 508 A, 669 P, +144, 924 PIM, 1,428 HIT, 1,220 SB, 34 GW
PO: 71 GP, 16 G, 42 A, 58 P, -4, 150 PIM, 188 HIT, 190 SB, 2 GW
 
S82 Alexander Beketov Trophy (Most Assists)
S82 Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defenceman)
S83 Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defenceman)
2x All-VHL First Team (S82, S83)
1x All-VHL Second Team (S81)
 
The 2nd overall pick of S76 has secured his place as his draft's finest with a well deserved first ballot induction. Sandstrom may have never made the finals, but he was in the playoffs every season of his career, dragging Prague and then Riga to contention as he aged like a fine wine. A slower start as he struggled to break the point-per-game mark for a few seasons could have derailed Sandstrom's career like many promising defencemen before, but he hit another gear halfway through his VHL career and finished his career with 3 straight 100-point seasons and a slew of trophies to secure his place in the Hall. @Acydburn
 
 
 
D - Roque Davis, S71-S78 
RS: 576 GP, 144 G, 428 A, 572 P, +100, 808 PIM, 1,185 HIT, 1,133 SB, 20 GW
PO: 52 GP, 16 G, 48 A, 64 P, +18, 173 PIM, 108 HIT, 114 SB, 3 GW
 
S71 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy (Top Rookie)
S71 Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defenceman)
S76 Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defenceman)
S76 Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defenceman)
S76 Alexander Beketov Trophy (Most Assists)
2x All-VHL First Team (S71, S76)
 
Another former 2nd overall pick was on the way out just as Sandstrom entered the league, Davis had to wait longer to join the Hall of Fame, perhaps because his best achievements came before his last few seasons. His offensive stats might pale at face value, but Davis played in a much more defensive era and was probably a more clearly offensive-minded player. His rookie season included a Valiq and very much channelled the spirit of the great Alexander Valiq, as he quarterbacked a fairly lacklustre Davos team. Crowning glory would follow after a move to Moscow to solidify his place amongst the elite defencemen of the era and although he never made the finals either, it was not for a want of trying. @Josh
 
 
VOTING RESULTS
Battre Sandstrom - 12/13
Roque Davis - 12/13
---
Jakab Holik - 1/13
Erik Killinger - 1/13
John Merrick, Matty Socks, Lee Xin, Kristof Welch, Robin Galante Nilsson - 0/13
 
 
Builder Induction
After a season hiatus we also have Builder induction in S84. Some VHL members shine brightly for a brief moment and disappear without a trace, others slowly move through the positions taking in all the league has to offer. But several Builder inductions are very much lifetime achievement awards, recognising the sheer consistency of some members who have carved out a niche over many years of the VHL - and their success is in being an example of the many ways to approach the league. @solas perfectly fits that bill, coming into the VHL back in S20 with his first gen Turd Ferguson, and working his way through the decades with countless players, including the Hall of Famers Theo Axelsson, Lukas Muller, and most recently Jean Pierre Camus. Solas has never held a significant leadership position in the league and yet any of his teammates will confirm he has been an integral part of many a successful locker room, while contributing to a number of key league initiatives, including the long-running VHL Magazine and indeed some Hall of Fame articles. He may operate in the shadows often but today gets the recognition his tenure absolutely deserves!
 
 
Congratulations Josh, Acyd, and Solas!

A Career, Interrupted
 
Normally I have some sort of overarching theme to my media spots to make them more coherent. But today, I’m just going to ramble a bit. I think it’s warranted given how this offseason’s gone, and the rather sudden dissolution of the team with the third-best record in the league last season.
 
I’ve experienced a lot in my VHL career. I’ve created Hall of Famers, won titles, been a part of dominant teams. I’ve also experienced the lowest of lows, going careers without ever making the Finals, finishing as a bit of an afterthought. After being here off and on for about 50 seasons, I didn’t think there was much left to experience in my VHL life.
 
But now, I guess I can say I’ve experienced something new. I’ve never been on a team where a GM has ghosted before.
 
To be sure, a GM no longer showing up isn’t exactly a novel phenomenon in the VHL. Famously, the S43 Bears had Bushito up and leave midseason, while the team went on to win the title anyway. The practice was unfortunately common in the league’s 50s and 60s, although much less so today with so many active members chomping at the bit to take the reigns. Still, I suppose I’ve been fortunate with the GMs I’ve had in my VHL career, because there really hasn’t been much turnover when I’ve been on a team, and even when that’s occurred, there was a succession plan in place.
 
A succession plan is something that Helsinki could have used desperately. Rayz has/had been slowly fading away for a while, but for some reason, never really hired an AGM to pick up the slack in his stead since Hatter left a couple of months ago. I tried to help where I could - I’ve pretty much been posting Helsinki press conferences the past few seasons myself, and I also did all the team’s S84 Draft scouting, since I assumed it wouldn’t get done otherwise. But there’s a reason I actively avoid taking a league job: my schedule goes off and on. The last two weeks (of vacation and work) I was largely offline. For the first week, Rayz was supposed to be too - but now, as that has stretched into two weeks and now a third, there hasn’t been someone there to take up the slack. Apparently the Titans drafted people, but without looking at the portal, I’d have no idea who because there’s been radio silence on Discord. Rayz may very well come back, but there’s been no talk of how or why, and it’s clear that a clean break was not going to be in the cards here.
 
The results have been both obvious and devastating. There’s a chance that Helsinki stalwarts like Pearce, Nezuko and Nano would have stayed if they had actually been courted. Obviously, one can see from the boards that they never received an offer. I don’t blame them for jumping ship at all; I would have done the exact same thing in their situation. And what’s left are the few players that had a longer contract - myself, Boom, AW, Ledge, Zeph. Ironically, I think the bones are there for a team that can still compete, but now without even anyone to bid on inactives, the chances of full lines aren’t very good. I genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen next. I'm not confident it will be good.
 
I talked with Josh on Sunday about the situation, and my hope is that the blue team is considering its options here. I haven’t heard anything back from them, to be fair, but I can’t say I’d be shocked by some sort of takeover. I do believe time is a bit of the essence there, given that the cap is still tight across the league, and it would be tough to find worthwhile homes for the team’s remaining actives. Plus, I figure any new GM would want as many suitors as possible to try and maximize picks for any sort of rebuild.
 
Even then, though, I fear I’m going to be the one screwed by this situation the most, especially because of one big factor: the recent glut of goalies. In recent drafts, just about every team has solidified their goalie position, or at least have a plan for the next couple of years. That leaves my potential options for landing spots - not only via a trade this season, but even in free agency next offseason - very slim. It’s a bit odd that I’m going to be sitting at 1200+ TPA for the next four seasons, yet I could be left out of the general league shuffle for reasons beyond my control. It’s the way the cookie crumbles, but it doesn’t make it any more palatable.
 
I suppose my best case scenario is somebody takes over the Titans now, sees the potential and tries to cobble together a winner for the next couple of seasons. I’m curious if that ship has sailed, though. And if it has - well, I guess I’m going to keep banking a ton of TPE, and I’m open for business next offseason if somebody wants a potentially game-breaking goalie on their side. I genuinely don’t know where that might be, because I’ve done zero research on other destinations - I never thought I would have to. That’s something I’m learning comes up quickly in this situation that I’d never experienced before.
 
I really did want to see this through on the Titans, but I guess the Titans didn’t really want to see it through on their side. As a result, the ultimate trajectory of where I see my career going is changing. Especially after a Season 83 Slobo and Shaw, and a Season 84 playoff run that saw a Game 7 loss to the eventual champs, I’ll admit that I had Hall of Fame in my eyes. Maybe I still could. But that has been rapidly replaced by scramble mode, and the increasing possibility of my final season before depreciation being a complete wash. I imagine it will change how the history books remember Booberry. I know it’ll change how I remember him. Because now, it will be partially the story of the promising goalie who ran into the brick wall that he never saw coming.

 

I’d say Otto’s got a bit more Tywin vibes, but he’s definitely a scheming overreaching shithead.
 
This was such a good episode, so much tension and steady escalation. The dragons’ presence was so badass in the Dragonstone scene.
 
The character building has also been so good, you can see all the layers and layers of tragedy starting to build. I like that they decided to make Rhaenyra and Alicent besties/schoolgirl crushes for the show, I can already start to see the path of conflict between the two as they get older.
 
I’M HYPED

Player Information
Username: Bobo
Player Name: Darius Marimoto II
Recruited From: Returning
Age: 24
Position: RW
Height: 78 in.
Weight: 203 lbs.
Birthplace: Japan

Player Page
@VHLM GM

@Shindigs

@Shindigs

@Shindigs

Thanks for the mention ❤️
Also iirc Pensfan came back in the 30s or so when you were inactive. Luckily he left again before he had to see Vasteras moved.

Holy fucking shit dude, what an article.
Honored to be a named on this list as a player AND a part of the worst draft class of all time!

The VHL in 2007, As Told By Not the VHL
 
When the VHL was created in 2007, I didn’t join right away. However, I was in sim leagues at that time, because I’m old. I was in a football league called the MSFL (Madden Sim Football League), which had a couple of other members that are still around and also some of the people who would go on to found the VHL. (In fact, in the very first MSFL season, I won a close Tight End of the Year battle over founding VHL commissioner Knight.)
 
So when taking a trip down memory lane, I decided to look not only at the VHL’s history, but the MSFL’s history as well. Somewhat amazingly but also mortifyingly, the MSFL forums are still alive 15 years later, even though the league itself has been dead since 2008. It’s not difficult to find, but I’m also not linking it here, because I have thousands of posts there that I don’t feel like scrubbing to eliminate the stupid things I undoubtedly said as a high schooler.
 
But one of the benefits of the MSFL still being around is I can find contemporary posts about the VHL soon after its founding. For some reason, I think the MSFL’s Affiliate forum got nuked along the way, so I can’t actually find an explicit topic about the VHL. But here’s a few places where the league is discussed elsewhere.
 

 
I was immediately amused that the second oldest VHL mention, from October 2007, was @Doomsday being thankful that @JeffD drafted him in the VHL. At least I'm not the only old one here.
 

 
This was from a draft interest post from MSFL GM Alex Lewis. Jeff was going hard for the dual MSFL/VHL players back in the day apparently, I also genuinely had no idea Jeff was Helsinki's GM at one point until this very moment.
 

 
No idea who this member was/is, but apparently he liked the VHL a whole lot more than how the MSFL was being run in November 2007. As a commissioner I should probably take offense to this (and I literally posted in this thread two posts down actually), but I was also 17 years old and indeed a bit of a shithead. Funny enough, who he's replying to here, Irishbucsfan, would also later briefly be in the VHL.
 

 
I'll take "Posts the Internet Accepted in 2007 That Aren't Flying in 2022" for $400, Alex.
 

 
The most relevant topic in the MSFL that I can find came on December 29, 2007, when Golden asked if there were any good hockey leagues out there at the time. The first response shows that Alex Lewis still wasn't feeling the whole VHL vibe, apparently. However, that was shortly followed by:
 

 
@Cornholio coming in with the receipts!
 

 
And @JeffD still flying the VHL flag.
 

 
This was from a Grader Application thread, I genuinely had zero idea that Slobo had ever made his way over the MSFL. Judging by user permissions, and the fact the league would die a few months later, I'm going to guess he didn't get the job.
 

 
Oh damn, shade at the VHL's grading practices! Side note, I'm very happy grading isn't as strict as it used to be in pretty much every league, because I'm guessing a whole lot of people would be leaving the first time they received a 4/6 for a graphic not being professional-quality.
 

 
Alex Lewis came around by April 2008! And, was strangely prescient? At the time, the MSFL was in its death throes, but wouldn't actually die until a month or two later.
 

 
Wondering now if other meetings of this sort ever happened. I think I've only ever met one sim leaguer in real life - and that's when Quach and I randomly ended up in the same MBA program, and we definitely had that awkward talk of, "Do I recognize your name from... yes? OK then, that's out of the way."
 

 
The very last VHL-related post, on a topic asking if people still came around... in 2009. @Knight was prescient that weirdly, 13 years later, people still might be looking for a place to head. But truth be told, god help the soul of anybody stumbling across a sim league that has been dormant for 14+ years and trying to figure out what the hell is going on.