DizzyWithLogic

MacBurn has played most of his games with Ottawa, so he won't end up breaking any Hounds records this season unfortunately.
 
Also

Nice article. This team is easily the best as a whole out of the three that I've been able to manage so far.

Sauga has has an impressive season thus far, coming into the league looking like the underdogs and now harboring one of the best rosters in the league on paper. However the team (and its individual players) are seeking to shatter franchise records, and shatter may well be an understatement. Here's a look at how the S68 Mississauga Hounds stack up against their previous franchise records.
 
SKATERS
Goals
Before:
 
1. Callum MacElroy (53)--S66
2. Cody Smith (45)--S66
3. Dan Gles (34)--S66
Projected:
1. Jerry Wang (~75) -S68
2. Balentine Kidd (~60)-S68
3.Callum MacElroy (53)-S66*
 
     The team-dubbed Kidd's Wang line has been explosive for the Hounds thus far this season. At the 47 game mark they have a combined 162 points, and 75 goals. There is however a caveat to this projection, and that caveat is the best defenseman in the league, Brock Louth. Louth has 28 goals and 70 points thus far, making him a highly possible candidate for number 3 on the Hounds single season goals leaders.
 
Assists
Before:
 
1. Hulk Hogan (77)--S66
2. Dan Gles (62)--S66
3. Callum MacElroy (54)--S66
Projected:
1. Balentine Kidd (~90)-S68
2. Finnegan MacBurn (~80)-S68
3. Brock Louth (~80)-S68
 
     An absurdly high amount of Hounds players are on pace for well over 100 points, and it shows in the assists category, where Kidd, MacBurn, and Louth have all already passed the 40 assist mark. 2 of the 3 are in the top 10 league-wide while Louth is 1 assist out of the running at the moment. At this pace the single season assists records will be completely wiped with members of the S68 squad.
 
Points
Before:
 
1. Callum MacElroy (107)--S66
2. Dan Gles (96)--S66
3. Hulk Hogan (94)--S66
Projected:
1. Balentine Kidd (~150)-S68
2. Jerry Wang (~150)-S68
3. Brock Louth (~130)-S68
 
     So remember when we were talking about how many players were on pace to surpass 100 points? They pass that mark and then blow it out of the water. MacElroy could slide all the way down to 6 all-time. He'll likely only fall to 5th but it's absurd nonetheless that in one season 4 players could surpass an all-time record, regardless of how young the Hounds are in the league.
 
Plus/Minus (+/-)
Before:
 
1. Callum MacElroy (+40)--S66
2. Berocka Sundqvist (+34)--S66
3. Dan Gles (+32)--S66
 
     Okay projecting +/- is too much work for me to want to do right now, but actively Balentine Kidd would take that 1st spot without playing another game, and odds are that number will climb. Wang has already surpassed Berocka Sundqvist, although as an offensively minded player his +/- could fluctuate wildly. 3rd on the active roster is Guy Saskamoose, who very well could push his way onto the list as a true rookie.
 
Penalty Minutes
Before:
 
1. Jacob Perry (122)--S67
2. Hulk Hogan (118)--S66
3. Danny DeYeeto (97)--S66
Projected:
1. Jacob Perry (122)-S67
2. Hulk Hogan (118)-S66
3. Brock Louth (~95*)-S68
 
     Louth is the only active Hound with a shot at breaching the PIMs single season record list. He sits at 52 PIMs after 49 games played. It is unlikely that he pushes Danny DeYeeto off the board here, but if anyone from S68 is going to make a dent on this record, it will be him.
 
Hits
Before:
 
1. Jacob Perry (186)--S67
2. Hulk Hogan (181)--S66
3. Cody Smith (172)--S66
Projected:
1. Brock Louth (~190)-S68
2. Jacob Perry (186)--S67
3. Hulk Hogan (181)--S66
 
     This list is much more feasible for Louth to break into. Louth actively sits at 113 hits through this season, and that number will only continue to climb. He may not make number 1, but I can confidently say Brock Louth will find his was into the top 3 of all-time.
 
Shots? (Gustav why do you have shot records.)
Before:
 
1. Callum MacElroy (486)--S66
2. Cody Smith (356)--S66
3. Dan Gles (292)--S66
Projected:
1. Callum MacElroy (486)-S66
2. Jerry Wang (~480)-S68
3. Balentine Kidd (~475)-S68
 
     They shoot a lot, nice. This is a stupid record.
 
Shots Blocked
Before:
 
1. Hulk Hogan (128)--S66
2. Jacob Perry (106)--S67
3. Vuuna Haaka (80)--S67
Projected:
1. Brock Louth (~155)-S68
2. Hulk Hogan (128)-S66
3. Finnegan MacBurn (~120)-S68
 
     Louth was expected to be a dangerous force when he entered the league, and has shown his mettle across the board, whether it be with offensive production or defensive prowess. He establishes himself again in the shot blocking category, blowing Hogan's previous record of 128 out of the water and setting a new bar for future Hounds. MacBurn comes close to upsetting the reigning champ as well, but falls just short. His numbers are nothing to shake a finger at however, with 120 blocked shots still being a very impressive mark to hit.
 
Game Winning Goals
Before:
 
1. Callum MacElroy (11)--S66
T2. Cody Smith (6)--S66
T2. Scott Greene (6)--S66
Projected:
1. Jerry Wang (~20)-S68
2. Callum MacElroy (11)-S66
3. Brock Louth (~8)-S68
 
     MacElroy's 11 GWG's from S66 was an impressive bar to set, and Wang's absurd season sets to destroy that mark. With 10 game winners so far, Jerry Wang has been able to bury the puck when it mattered all season long, securing 1/3 of the Hound's wins this season. Louth is actively tied with left winger Patrik Tallinder for GWGs, but Louth's substantially higher production pushes him into the more likely candidate.
 
     I would go into goalie stats but the Hounds have had a goalie carousel this season, with Lukas Schweitzer, Nicolas Fomba, and Aleksandr Aleksandrov all stepping up to the plate at various points throughout the season. This makes it seem unlikely that any of them would take a record from one of the previous holders. If I'm mistaken someone feel free to correct me and I'll have .com content.
 
951 words
 
EDIT: I made this article based on an 82 game season because I'm big stupid

This past week, rosters for the World Juniors were unveiled, and I was delighted to see that Hounds players and alumni are present on every roster. Since this is a .com article that will be way longer than a .com article, I won't get too wordy with my intro, so let's get on with it.
 
 
Team Canada (GM: @MexicanCow123)
 
Nate Telker (@Telkster)--Telker signed with the Hounds last season as one of three final signings we made just a day or two before the trade deadline. While he wasn't impressive on the stat sheet with the Hounds (just 6 assists and no goals in 32 games), his build has greatly solidified since then, and with his passing rating of 75, good defensive attributes, and the fact that he's managed over a point per game this season, figures to be a star for Canada. He'll be quite valuable build-wise if utilized correctly.
 
Brock Louth (@Beaviss)--While on paper, Louth was the second-overall draft choice, he was really the first player off the board, as his draft stock took a hit as a result of a meme trade between the Hounds and Mexico City. Like any other player Beaviss has created, Louth looks like a future star and a future franchise player for Vancouver (and as the GM player, he'd better be). Between Telker and Louth, Canada seems to have lucked out big-time in terms of builds, as Louth brings a defense rating of 80, as well as a scoring rating of 75 and a solid build otherwise, to the table. Look for Louth to be a huge factor in Canada's offensive gameplan and a dominant force on the power play.
 
 
Team USA (GM: @Berocka)
 
Aamon Grim (@aCrypticPancake)--Grim, a part of the original Hounds squad (and, in fact, a former teammate of his current GM, and my current AGM, Berocka), is an SBA guy by trade, but that hasn't stopped him from creating a solid hockey player as well. Starting out with the Hounds, he played 12 games at the end of S66 and was there for our (short) playoff run against Ottawa, putting up marginal but respectable numbers, rookie status considered. Since then, he's become quite the formidable VHLM player, and with defense at 80, scoring at 75, and puck handling at 76, he's a monster on both ends of the ice, with the ability to shut down plays as well as make them. He'll likely be at or near the top of the lineup, and there he should be, as here we see a legitimate competitor for Louth.
 
Finnegan MacBurn (@DizzyWithLogic)--MacBurn is one of the newest Hounds, having made his way in the league after being stolen 62nd overall in the dispersal draft by Ottawa last season. I gave up two draft picks, one being a first-rounder, to get him, and I couldn't be happier with the choice--right away, he's fit into the lineup very well, and presents a legitimate two-way threat with defense and passing both at 80. He'll be a wonderful linemate for Grim, being a pure passer, and with their combined defensive abilities, Team USA's penalty kill figures to be dominant. 
 
Jaxon Walker (@hewasajazzman)--Walker joined the Hounds last season (you know, the season we sucked), as a fifth-round draft choice, and I ended up shipping him off later in the season at the deadline for a second-round pick. While, with the Hounds, Walker's numbers weren't great--with Mississauga and Minnesota combined, he only put up 30 points--he's since developed into a defensive coach's dream, with some of the best defensive attributes of any VHLM forward. With defense and puck handling at 75, skating at 70, and strength at 65, he'll be near-impossible to knock off the puck, and his offensive attributes aren't too shabby either--he's over a point per game this season with the Storm.
 
 
Team Europe (GM: @Elmebeck)
 
Balentine Kidd (@TukTukTheGreat)--I'll never figure out how Kidd, an almost-capped, active center, fell to the end of the first round, but I'll take him. He's already broken the point-per-game mark for the rest of the season, even if he mysteriously disappears in the back alleys of Halifax one night and doesn't play another game. While helped out by Jerry Wang (see below), there's no doubt in my mind that Kidd would be a premier player anywhere, WJC included--his strengths include 75s for scoring and defense, making him a force to be reckoned with in either zone.
 
 
Team Asia (GM: @Greg_Di)
 
Jerry Wang (@ColeMrtz)--Wang has been the unfortunate one to trail Kidd in points by just a few all season long, and for this he gets far less credit than he deserves. He's also exceeded point-per-game status for the season already, and his capped build is nothing to shake a stick at--his 80s for scoring and skating have propelled him to almost goal-per-game status so far, and if he can score game-winners like he does with the Hounds (9 of them so far), Asia will be propelled to an upset or two.
 
Keven Foreskin (@Esso2264)--Now, Foreskin never played a game for the Hounds, as I yeeted traded him for a couple draft picks before last season started. He was our second-round choice, though, and part of the team, if only for a bit. Foreskin is one of the tournament's top defensemen, and you can't get much better--at 337 TPE, he's just under the cap, and his 85 defense and 80 passing and puck handling are there as hard evidence of Esso's good build work. So, even if Asia is forced to play defensively (and, with their strong team, they shouldn't be), they'll be very strong in that regard as well.
 
Jacob Perry (@Liberty_Cabbage)--Perry was an early waiver signing last season and managed to stay with the team the whole way, even surviving the mass exodus of almost every active player on the team. With 32 points and a -41 in his first season, Perry wasn't much to look at on the offensive side of the puck, but managed to take the Hounds' single-season hits record and is working on a strong season in Philadelphia. He recently capped, too, and a defense rating of 80 will make him a tough matchup and a deadly combination with Foreskin, Palazzo, and company on the penalty kill.
 
Lukas Schweitzer (@GlowyGoat)--Though Schweitzer, recently retired, never got anywhere earning-wise or points-wise, I can't say enough about @GlowyGoat as a wonderful, crazy-loyal person and a great locker room guy. Schweitzer was my goalie until just recently, but due to retirement I cut him for the sake of roster space. Though he's only at 60-some TPE, he's got a solid base build, and can always step in to clean up if starter Clayton Park isn't doing well.
 
 
Team World (GM: @Motzaburger)
 
Khalabib Stiopic (@SweetMike666)--Stiopic is a bit of an infamous name in Mississauga. After I drafted him with the last pick in the 7th round in S66, he earned 2 TPE and then went inactive until the trade deadline, when I threw him in as a "meaningless" addition to a trade for a higher-TPE defenseman. Since then, he's taken off, and currently sits at 200 TPA in Houston, under the member who initially recruited him in Frostbeard. While his stat line isn't the most impressive, his build is formidable, and with 80 defense and 77 scoring, he'll help World greatly on both ends of the ice.
 
Block Buster (@Banana2311)--Buster was yet another waiver signing made last season, and did surprisingly well considering the circumstances--Buster's save percentage with the Hounds is only 5 points back of rising VHL star Rayz Funk, and the Hounds were much worse as a team in S67 than in S66. While Buster is the second netminder on World's roster, this placement is only on paper, as #1 goalie Virgil Ligriv sits at 200 TPA, a mark which Buster should match in good time. There's certainly a case to be made for giving Buster some starts, too--all of the Yukon goalie's primary attributes are over 70, and with upgrades to skating and agility, there's nothing stopping Buster from blocking quite a few.

I'm not sure why people are even wasting their time with this "tournament".  Honestly, why bother?  Do y'all like to watch yourselves get beaten up by every aspect of life, even these "sims".  I don't even know if I would call it sims for this tournament.  Really why bother with it?  You know USA is going to win.  We're better on offense, we're better on defense, even our mother likes us better than you.  Don't think we're cocky.  It's not boasting if you back it up.  We do, we're the best.  We have the 2 best junior goalies.  Look at our team full of Ottawa Lynx alumni.  Look at what we did in the playoffs.  See?  We are better.  We know it, you know it, even Stevie Wonder can see how great we are.  Why even bother with this farce?  Give us the trophy.  Also to everyone else, good luck with the battle for silver.  Maybe next year.

Name a better WJC goalie tandem. I'll wait

How did I get here? Did all the other goalies die?  

TEAM USA
 
Hello one and all, for what you have all been eagerly awaiting for this is the announcement of the greatest team that Team USA has ever put up. This team will be the one to bring the Gold home back to the great United States of America. This will be the team to Make America Great Again At Hockey. Let me hear it MAGAAH!
 
Without further ado the team for Team USA in alphabetical order:
 
Aamon Grim                 @aCrypticPancake Benny Graves               @STZ Chad Gilbert                 @Fire_In_Babylon Erik Draven                   @Jbeezy76 Finnegan MacBurn      @DizzyWithLogic George Washington    @Enorama Gert B Frobe                 @NumberJ5 Jason Connors            @Klrpizza Jaxon Walker               @hewasajazzman Koda Adok                    @trevmi Raymond Bernard       @Mr_Hatter Samuel Ross                @Brrbisbrr Tony Bolonee               @Tbeez99 Willie Dredge                @sjs88speed Zeno Miniti                   @Zeno
Invites will be out shortly for the Locker Room. I hope all that are tagged are ready for greatness, apologies to those that were not picked but there are too many great Americans in this sport.

 

1. The Hounds committed themselves to buying this week, spending two picks in S70 for defenseman Finnegan MacBurn. Is this a good move? Do we have what it takes to win it all?
A great move, although I do admit to being biased. I believe the move just might be enough to take us to the promised land.
2. Speculation about team management has escalated this week, with @GlowyGoat making his nickname "berocka is a racist" and "gustav is a stalinist" on a couple separate occasions. Who's a bigger concern, myself or @berocka? Who gets overthrown first?
I believe Gustav will always be a bigger concern. However it's commendable how berocka has been making a name for themselves. Overthrown? Or did you mean eliminated?
3. Which team would the Hounds beat easily in the playoffs?
I'm going with any team we face in the second round. Yukon I guess.
4. Which team would you least want us to face in the playoffs?
Houston perhaps? I know it's the easy answer.
5. You have to describe hockey to someone unfamiliar with the sport in 10 words or fewer. What do you say?
Ice surface skates sticks flat ball nets fast pace hitting.
6. Pick any VHL player whose build you'd like to emulate and tell me who it is and why (if you don't know your VHL players, now is the time to do some research!).
Jeff Hamilton is the closest probably. Similar to Black Velvet with a little less checking and a little more passing. I would love to get the Alexander Beketov Trophy as a defenseman.

This past season and offseason the VHL has seen a number of high profile players switch positions for various reasons.  In an attempt to see why this trend was set and whether this is something we can expect more often going forward, I am taking a look at five players who recently made these changes.  Of the five, two made the switch from the wing to defence, one from defence to wing, and two from defence to center.  
       The reoccurring theme here was they made these changes with team inspired aspirations though some had some personal gain to make from the change as well.  With the increase in teams and GM’s getting creative in order to maximize their team’s potential the position change route seemed like a good alternative to acquiring players via trade or free agency.
Further in this article, I break down each player, the change they made and why, and provide an outlook on their season ahead as they acclimate to a new position.

 
Leph Twinger @DollarAndADream
Position Change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
         Leph Twinger is playing in his seventh VHL season already. Leph began his career filled with certain promise and generational talent. His first season in the league was a massive one as he scored 116 points. Unfortunately for Leph, his career faltered from there. Though he has still had a solid career up until now, Leph surely knows it wasn’t what it could have been. This is one of the reasons why he was willing to make this switch to defence when he was asked by his team to fill a hole in their roster.  
      As we look to this upcoming year, Leph will be coming into it on the back end of a declining career.  He will be fighting depreciation so will struggle to develop any current areas of concern. Thankfully, his build is quite solid making his transition game his weakest point. His passing sits at just 81 which is average at best. His defence sitting at 94 - which is respectable, won’t be high enough to make him an asset here and so he will resort to skating the puck out often. The problem there is any good checking team with speed will give him fits all night long.
      Leph will be getting top line minutes alongside Brady Stropko Jr as they anchor a contending Calgary team. The potential is there that the two of them stabilize the defence enough to lead the team deep into the playoffs, potentially ending as champions.  This is where we will be able to determine how successful his transition was.
     
      “Since my rookie season, it has been no surprise that my career has not gone the way that I wanted it to. I spend countless hours in the training room, but it just doesn't seem to pay off during games. I have only ever had a point per game season once in these last 5 seasons since having 116 points as a rookie in S62. The Calgary Wranglers had the option for me to switch this off-season, and I jumped right on that. I think I have been great defensively through hitting and shot blocking, and taking me away from the forward group should be fine as well. I cannot wait to help on the back end to finish off my career these next 2 seasons.” - Leph Twinger

 
Ryan Sullivan Jr @Advantage
Position change - D to LW
Team: Malmo
 
      Ryan Sullivan Jr is entering his fifth season in the VHL and has made a curious switch to forward after playing his entire career on the blue line up until now. Ryan is in his prime and is coming of a Jake Wylde trophy year as defensive player of the year.  It sure looks like Ryan is not settling for a good career but wants to push himself to be the best player he can be. This, along with team fit, are clear determining factors in making this switch to forward.
      Sullivan Jr has the capabilities and all around skills to transition smoothly to forward. Though he looks capable in all areas, his weakest would be in his puck handling abilities. He is better than league average but if left to face strong opponents he may have his hands full trying to keep the turnovers down to a minimum. With that said, Sullivan Jr has no real glaring weakness and so the question will be how he develops his chemistry and finding a fit for him with players that complement his style.  
      Sullivan Jr will start the season on the second line wing on a line centered by sophomore phenom Phil Marleau. Look for Ryan to be an offensive force playing again secondary lines while picking up his fair share of power play minutes as well.  If he develops his chemistry and gels with his new line mates, expect a big year out of him. If not, this switch may just be a big mistake in the prime of his already successful career.
     
     “I felt that my offense wasnt as effective from the back end and I always felt I could impact the game more around the net and while my defensive game has always been a huge strength for me, I feel like I can now develop into a well rounded talent rather than a more one dimensional one.” - Sullivan Jr

 
Cody Smith @cody73
Position change: LW to D
Team: Calgary
 
      Cody Smith is entering just his second season and is making a career altering decision to move to the back end.  Cody is still growing his skills and so is trying to make this change before he is fully developed as a VHL player. Will this be the right direction his career should take? 
      Being a young player in this league, Cody’s talents are still quite raw. Despite this, Cody has actually developed himself into a promising defender. There is one area however that he will realize he needs to grow in - strength. Cody will be bullied on the ice in his second year unless he hits the gym with renewed vigour. 
      Cody has secured a spot on the second defence unit and is sure to get his share of minutes here. Cody should receive power play time as well and so should see a nice amount of offensive output this season although he may struggle on the defensive end as he continues to develop there. Expect a season of growth for Cody as he adjust to this new position. 
 
      “I made it (the switch) in the middle of last year (Just as the WJC was going down) as my team had made a trade which left us short on defence and given my player's flexible build and lack of TPE, I fit best on the blue-line. I was willing to take one for the team as I felt I was versatile and could do great things as a defenceman.” - Cody Smith

 
Ryan Kastelic @Enorama
Position change: D to C
Team: Riga

 
      Ryan Kastelic was a prolific defender who is now entering his 6th season in the VHL. While Ryan has not won any individual awards, he has been a star for a while now.  As he enters his final stages of his career, Ryan felt a team need for a true number one center and the best option to acquire one was for him to make the switch.
      Ryan Kastelic, like many defensemen, doesn’t have much face off experience and so we can expect him to struggle here as a top flight center. This will cause him and his line to struggle a bit in the puck possession department. Ryan will have to improve in this area if he wants to ensure his success with his transition from the back end to the middle. 
      Kastelic has all the makings of a superstar forward. Elite passing, skating, puck handling along with an obvious talent on the defensive side. With an improvement in the face offs Ryan could quickly transition into an elite, pass first, two way center. Coupled with the elite skills, Ryan will be handed the number one pivot duties this season. Expect big things from Ryan as he enters the final stages of his career.
 
      “I did it mid-season last year because we were faltering with 4 good-decent dmen but no clear #1 C. I was the only one with the TPE to pull it off.” - Ryan Kastelic

 
Maxim Kovulchuk @Banackock
Position Change: D to C
Team: Seattle
 
      Maxim is the only player from this list that also purchased the reroll allowing him to identify as a completely new player. Maxim has struggled against depreciation as he enters his 7th season in the VHL. Seattle, in an attempt to expedite the rebuild, has taken their veteran defender and turned him into a center with the hopes he can add some star power to the top line. How much star power is left in him is questionable, however. 
      As Maxim fights against depreciation it will be interesting to see just how much he struggles against other top lines in the puck possession area, specifically in puck retrieval. Maxim’s defence is decent but not by top line standards, he doesn’t check anyone and his face offs are again average at best.   
      Maxim looks to get a boatload of minutes as he anchors the top line as well as the third line, getting 60% of ice time! The sheer amount of chances should bode well for his standard statistics but what quality of play he gives in those minutes is less of a surety.  The best thing he has going for him here is his build type. Maxim has all but forgotten about learning how to pass, which is by design, in an attempt to be decisive with his decision making as well as have one less area to try maintain this late in his career. Expect solid numbers from Maxim, but he won’t be the number one center that brings Seattle back to glory.
 
 
      So we see these five players and the career altering changes they have made in an attempt to revive their careers or help their team achieve a new level of greatness.  Will this be a trend going forward? Not likely. More likely this a fad that we see now as GM’s balance out their rosters which is something that may not be needed as much each and every season.  
      We will continue to watch these players adjust as the new season gets underway. Whichever way this works for these players, we give them respect for making their team priorities higher than theirs. These will be storylines to follow for all players as these five set the precedent for the future.
 
      Until next time, on behalf of VSN and all the great writers there, my name is Trevor Van Lagen and I look forward to providing you more articles and insight in the future.
 

Dang not a Kopitar fan but this is pretty cool with the effect and lighting.

So I got to thinking recently (shocker, I know), and came to the realization that, due to quite a few striking similarities, @DMaximus must be my alt, and that I have written articles, GMed Philly, and even talked to myself in Discord without knowing it all this time. Here's what I'm talking about:
 
-We're from the same city and came here on the same day, from the same Reddit thread.
-We both made defensive defensemen who were drafted late in the VHLM Dispersal Draft, played for VHLM expansion teams and were selected with back-to-back picks in the VHL Entry Draft.
-We are both VHLM GMs. 
-And, to top it off, we're the league's resident Dead Heads.
 
Therefore, I'd like to ask that all Reapers business go through me, as I am DMax and I control Philadelphia.
 

VHL S68 Advanced Metrics
 
One of the frustrating things with STHS is that it doesn’t really provide much information to create advanced statistics that are all the rage in sports today. I took matters into my own hand and created a script that counts all of the events in the full play by play reports of games. That information allows me to then tabulate some advanced metrics. I’ve been running the script for the team I’m on for the last couple of seasons. Now, I’ve finally been able to expand it to run on all games.
I’m going to focus on 3 advanced metrics in this article, Corsi, Fenwick, and PDO.
Corsi counts the number of shot attempts for compared to the number of shot attempts against (including shots that miss the net and shots that are blocked). Note that this is shot attempts, not just shots on goal. This stat is useful as it has been proven to be a better predictor for success than goal differential or shots on goal. Teams with positive Corsi numbers generally have more possession of the puck, which can ultimately lead to more wins.
Fenwick is the same thing as Corsi, but it does not count shots blocked. The thought process being that shot blocking can be a skill that teams should receive credit for. If your team blocks a lot of shots it will lower your Fenwick Against number and increase your total Fenwick %.
For both Corsi and Fenwick if a team is over 55% they are considered elite.
To get the PDO value, you add your team’s shooting percentage and your team’s save percentage together. In general, this is considered a measure of luck. The norm is to be at 100, if your PDO is over 100, you are considered to be “lucky” (Specifically 102 or higher is seen as being lucky more than good), if it’s under (98 or lower), you’re “unlucky”. I use quotes here because this number can be influenced by good goalkeeping, which means a higher save percentage and a higher PDO.
If you wish to read more about these metrics, there’s a ton of information out there, including https://www.si.com/nhl/2014/09/28/fancy-stats-primer-advanced-analytics-corsi-fenwick-pdo-qualcomp
 
So without further ado, here’s the stats so far for the VHL S68. When I ran this, all teams have played 15 games, roughly 1/5 of the season.
 
Corsi
CorsiFor is the shot attempts taken by your team
CorsiAgainst is the shot attempts allowed by your team
Corsi is CorsiFor minus CorsiAgainst. A positive number means you’ve taken more shot attempts than allowed. Negative means you’ve allowed more than taken.
CorsiForPct takes your team’s CorsiFor number and uses it to make a percentage of the total shot attempts in the game. A CorsiFor% of over 55% is elite.
Team Name
Average of CorsiFor
Average of CorsiAgainst
Average of Corsi
Average of CorsiForPct
Calgary Wranglers
72.313
52.750
19.563
57.559
D.C. Dragons
41.600
94.400
-52.800
30.089
HC Davos Dynamo
66.563
58.188
8.375
53.273
Helsinki Titans
71.500
55.571
15.929
55.806
Malmo Nighthawks
52.533
59.600
-7.067
47.002
Moscow Menace
72.800
68.867
3.933
51.075
New York Americans
66.200
68.067
-1.867
49.353
Prague Phantoms
59.333
85.667
-26.333
41.141
Riga Reign
65.071
57.857
7.214
52.973
Seattle Bears
68.625
64.938
3.688
51.074
Toronto Legion
70.000
63.400
6.600
52.415
Vancouver Wolves
76.929
53.143
23.786
58.604
League Average
65.256
65.256
0.000
50.000
 
Fenwick
The exact same as Corsi, just that shots that are blocked are not counted as an attempt.
Team Name
Average of FenwickFor
Average of FenwickAgainst
Average of Fenwick
Average of FenwickForPct
Calgary Wranglers
59.938
45.000
14.938
56.825
D.C. Dragons
35.800
81.733
-45.933
30.015
HC Davos Dynamo
56.438
49.813
6.625
52.956
Helsinki Titans
62.429
47.500
14.929
56.318
Malmo Nighthawks
45.733
51.133
-5.400
47.351
Moscow Menace
62.200
59.000
3.200
51.123
New York Americans
56.267
57.200
-0.933
49.657
Prague Phantoms
50.600
72.933
-22.333
41.141
Riga Reign
55.071
50.214
4.857
52.328
Seattle Bears
58.813
54.688
4.125
51.264
Toronto Legion
58.533
53.933
4.600
51.843
Vancouver Wolves
66.643
44.214
22.429
59.664
League Average
55.656
55.656
0.000
50.000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PDO
Row Labels
Average of PDO
Calgary Wranglers
100.329
D.C. Dragons
99.372
HC Davos Dynamo
102.777
Helsinki Titans
98.711
Malmo Nighthawks
101.191
Moscow Menace
101.064
New York Americans
97.583
Prague Phantoms
97.156
Riga Reign
100.294
Seattle Bears
101.042
Toronto Legion
100.463
Vancouver Wolves
99.651
Grand Total
100.000
 
 
Since we’re only 15 games in, all of this is with a very small sample set and could be heavily skewed by strength of schedule. Because of that, I’m not going to analyze this data.
 
Some other things I’d like to call out. Many times Corsi, Fenwick, PDO are only counted during 5 v. 5 play because power play and penalty kills can skew the numbers. I am not doing that. I am counting every shot attempt regardless of the on-ice situation. Hopefully future enhancements to my script will be able to just count 5 on 5 play. For now this is what I have.
Enjoy!

Hey @Parani, 
 
Welcome to the VHL, I am the GM of the Ottawa Lynx. We won the Founder's Cup last season and are looking to make a run at it again this season! We're in need of a starting goalie and that can you be you if you stay active! If you would like to be a part of the Lynx dynasty just quote this post and say Accepted!
 
Even if you choose another team, I wish you luck in your career! 

nah jk I'm picking Finn Davison
 
And we're done!

a quote sends a notification too haha
 
I'm picking Jake Davis
@Juddy OTC

Las Vegas Aces

Overview
The Aces have one of the most interesting rosters in the VHLM. With ten picks in the first four rounds of the most recent VHLM dispersal draft, the Aces have put together a very exciting young group. Lead by a handful of veterans, this young team has a bright future in the coming seasons. The biggest question mark on Las Vegas's roster is in the net. Bruce Grimaldi, their only goaltender and third round draft pick, may be headed off to Prague to play for the newly-created Phantoms. This would leave a huge hole in the Aces' roster and cast serious doubt on their playoff chances this season.
 
Stand-Outs
Benny Graves - Benny was picked up by the Reapers two thirds of the way through S67, and was never able to produce a lot there. However, he trained a lot in the off-season and is looking to be one of the Aces's top recruits. This towering center could potentially see a point-per-game season this year and will be very exciting to watch.
 
Cinnamon Block - I'll put it this way. Cinnamon Block hits like a truck. Forwards that find themselves playing against the Aces this year are going to find themselves in a lot of pain the day after, that is for sure.
 
Blacker Velvet - Velvet and Block are such different players that it is hard to believe that they play the same position. While Cinnamon puts the hurt on opposing team's bodies, Blacker will be menacing goalies throughout the league. I think there is a good chance that Blacker Velvet may lead the Aces in scoring this year.
 
Prediction
The Aces are likely a playoff team and may even be a Founder's cup contender if they can get their goal-tending situation ironed out. Otherwise, it is going to be a long season of high-scoring nail-biters for Vegas's fans.
 
Halifax 21st

Overview
There isn't a lot of good things your can say about the Halifax 21st this year. Halifax has an impressive run in the playoffs last season, but almost every piece that got them there has moved up to the VHL. Combined with their lack of draft capital in this year's draft, the 21st's roster is looking pretty thin. This looks to be a rebuilding year, but I few it may take more than just one season to put this team back together.
 
Stand-Outs
Anton Edvin - The one bright spot on an otherwise decimated roster. Anton has been a leader on this team for many seasons, and it looks like he will be their leading scorer again this year. The biggest question for the aging Estonian is likely whether or not he will be able to continue at his peak performance long enough to see the Halifax 21st return to relevancy.
 
Prediction
Tanking for the lottery, baby! But in reality, I expect it to be a couple of seasons before we see Halifax return to the playoffs, let alone being talked about as serious Founder's Cup contenders.
 
Yukon Rush

Overview
The Yukon Rush made one major pick-up in this season's dispersal draft. The string-bean goalie, Block Buster, was one of the oddest players on the draft board this season. This 6'7'' giant is nearly invisible when he stands sideways, but he is poised to be an effective keeper this season. The offense, however, is a deep concern. The Rush have been lead for several season by veteran defenseman, Titus Stone, but Stone seems to have fallen off a cliff in S67. If he continues his drop-off, the Yukon defense might struggle to give their rookie goaltender a fighting chance.
 
Stand-Outs
Andrej Petrovic - The Serbian defenseman is going to have a lot of responsibility in both zones this seasons. The Rush are going to look good when Petrovic is on the ice, but his workload is going to be excruciating if they don't find some defensive support for him.
 
Justin Rushmore - The Rush's star left-winger scored 26 goals last season and he is likely going to lead Yukon in scoring this year. If this team is going to be able to mount a successful offense this season, it is going to heavily depend on this young American.
 
Block Buster - A rookie goaltender, Block is going to be see a lot of action this season. Although unproven, Buster looks to be a future star and we are excited to see how this season pans out for this freakish-looking goalie.
 
Prediction
With the infusion of talent in the goal, I expect the Rush to compete for a playoff spot. I think Yukon's fans are going to be in for a lot of low-scoring slug-fests, but I simply don't see them being able to pull together enough offensive production to make a deep run into the playoffs.
 
Ottawa Lynx

Overview
There is nothing more intimidating in the VHLM than the defense of the reigning Founders Cup Champions. There seems to still be some question about how many members of the Lynx's stunning question may get called up to play in the VHL, but as it stands, they look to continue their defensive dominance. Aamon Grim and Finnegan MacBurn both are looking at potential jumps to the major league, so Cody Parkey may have to make a return to his position in their top pairing. The biggest concerns facing Ottawa are their goal tending situation and their depth. The roster is extremely limiting and the workload is going to be very heavy on Ottawa's stars. However, if the team stays healthy, they look poised to make another good playoff run.
 
Stand-Outs
The Defense - It is honestly astounding what Grim, MacBurn, Parkey, and Amberback have been able to accomplish. Last season's Founders Cup success can be laid directly on the shoulders of this defensive core. However, with the potential losses this season, it stands to be see whether this team will be able to put up the same shutdown performance as last season.
 
Hunter Wagner - Ottawa's star winger actually took a bit of a step back last season offensively. However, I think the German is prepared to have a return to his previous form and put up forty to forty-five goals this season.
 
John Perdue - Perdue didn't have an impressive year in S67, but he is going to have to step up and lead this offense if the Lynx are going to be able to continue their success into the future.
 
Prediction
It would appear that Ottawa are going to be losing too many of the key pieces that brought them success in S67 to continue their dominance into S68. However, I do think they are going to pose a tough challenge for any team seeking to take the cup in the coming season.
 
Mississauga Hounds

Overview
Mississauga had a rough time in S67, but they made some key improvements in the recent dispersal draft. It is yet to be seen which league Balentine Kidd will be playing in this year, but if he stays with the Hounds, their offense looks set to do a lot of damage this season. Mississauga's largest hole in it net (pun intended). Any team is going to have a hard time putting together a successful season with Schweitzer in net. However, if the Hound's GM is able to sign a reasonable goaltender and add some extra depth, especially on offense, then Mississauga might just be able to look like a playoff contender.
 
Stand-Outs
Brock Louth - Brock played twenty three games with the Reapers last season and made a pretty good showing there, scoring ten points and putting up solid defensive stats. The Canadian defenseman is positioned to be a team leader, in the locker room as well as on the stat sheet.
 
Jerry Wang - Wang spent half of S67 in Halifax. His production there was decent for a rookie, but Mississauga is hoping to see a lot more production out of the winger this season. If Balentine plays for the newly formed D.C. Dragons this season, Jerry is going to have to lead the Hounds in scoring. Hopefully, he is up to the task.
 
Guy Sasakamoose - Paired with his fellow Canadian in the the defensive zone, Sasakamoose is a strong candidate for having a breakout season. If the Hounds are going to have a successful year, they are going to need guys like Guy to really shine.
 
Prediction
The Mississauga Hounds may be able to put together enough of a roster to make it to the playoffs and win a few games, but it looks like they are still a few key pieces short of taking a real shot at the cup.
 
Saskatoon Wild

Overview
There isn't a lot to say about Saskatoon. They missed the playoffs in S67, and with only one major acquisition in the recent draft, Ferdando Jokinen, it doesn't look like they will improve in the coming season. It is unclear what the plan is for the future in Saskatoon, but it looks like the Wild are praying for a good lottery draw in the next draft to begin their rebuild. We are only a few seasons removed from a Wild team in their prime. Hopefully it will not be long before we can see this storied franchise return to it's former glory.
 
Stand-Outs
Ferdando Jokinen - The young shutdown defenseman, this Finish rookie is looking to make a splash in the VHLM. He is likely to be the brightest spot on this otherwise dim roster.
 
Ondrej Ohradka - Ondrej led the Wild in scoring last year, and will likely reprise that role this season. He is going to get a little more support from the newly acquired Telker, so he may actually see his production increase slightly this season.
 
Nate Telker - The Canadian center may end up playing for the Moscow Menace before the season is over, but he is the one positive piece that Saskatoon has added to their offence this year. 
 
Prediction
Another team that is liking tanking for the lottery this season. The Wild will likely be looking to trade off some of their aging pieces to a team making a cup run in return for picks in the S69 or S70 dispersal draft.
 
Mexico City Kings

Overview
I can only say, I called it. Mexico City had the first pick in this years dispersal draft and they used it to fill their biggest weakness. Solomon Crawford, an American goalie, had a 0.885% save percentage in his 15 games with Las Vegas last season, but he has only continued to improve. Now, with solid defensemen, like Alyksander Hunter, in front of him, he should be setting his sights on Goalie of the Year for S68. The offense is a bit of a concern for the Kings, but with a couple of good additions from trades or waivers will make this team a real cup contender.
 
Stand-Outs
Alyksander Hunter - Another great Canadian defenseman, Alyksander lead the San Diego Marlins defense in S67. His continued improvement is one of the biggest factors that will elevate the Kings from being a playoff team to winning a cup.
 
Ryan Busser - Mexico City may lose Busser to the Riga Reign before the season ends, but hopefully, for the Kings' sake, he will chose to stay down until the end of this season. Ryan is the key to this team offense and losing him would be a major damper on the hype going into this season.
 
Solomon Crawford - Man, I just can not say enough about how good of a pick this was. Any success the Kings have this season should be credited to the expert management and talent scouts of this organization.
 
Prediction
I expect the Mexico City Kings to make a deep playoff run and, if they are able to fill a few key holes, might even be among the top contenders for the Founders Cup this season.
 
Minnesota Storm

Overview
The Minnesota Storm were unable to make any meaningful additions in this seasons draft, but they have maintained a strong core that nearly won the Founder's cup last year. Their success in S68 will depend heavily on which piece of last year's core stay in the minors and which ones get called up to the big leagues. One of the most important pieces that the Storm's coming season truly rests on is the goalie Virgil Ligriv. If Minnesota is able to talk him into staying in the minors, or talk the Helsinki Titans into leaving him in Minnesota, this brick wall of intimidation might just carry the Storm to another cup final.
 
Stand-Outs
Danny DeYeeto - One of the only defenseman in the VHLM to average a point per game in S67, DeYeeto uses his oppressive defensive prowess to set up much of Minnesota's offensive success. Though rarely scoring himself, he is responsible for more goals than anyone else on this roster.
 
Ryo Yamazuki II - If Danny is the most important part of the Storm's offense, despite being a defenseman, then Ryo is the most important part of Minnesota's defense, even from the offensive zone. The way these two players play off each other is a thing of beauty.
 
Virgil Ligriv - .902% Save Percentage in the playoffs. There really isn't much more you can say. That says it all.
 
Prediction
All three of my picks for the stand-out players on this roster might not spend the whole season in the minors. With them, the Storm are among the favorites for this year's Founder's Cup. Without them, they will be hard pressed to win a playoff game.
 
Houston Bulls

Overview
Now, I may be a little biased, but I truly believe that the Houston Bulls have one of the best rosters in the VHLM. It was a disappointing show for the Bulls in the S67 playoffs, but Houston scored big in the recent draft. The biggest piece of Houston's new roster is like going to be Soren Jensen, but they added a lot of gritty position players in both the offensive and defensive zones. The biggest need on this young roster is a strong shot, so you can likely assume that scoring will be a focus of this seasons practices.
 
Stand-Outs
Sean McGee - McGee had a great year with Houston last year, and although Riga claimed his rights in the recent draft, it looks like he will be spending another year with the Bulls. Given the additional support he will be getting from the newly added defensemen, the American goaltender should be able to build on everything he accomplished in S67.
 
Soren Jensen - This newly added winger was the one bright spot on an otherwise abysmal Mexico City roster at the end of last season, and, as it stand, he is going to be the Bulls' main source of offense early this year.
 
Khalabib Stiopic - Khalabib has a lot of new, young talent joining him this season. He is a bit of a veteran comparatively on this roster and he is going to have to be a leader in the locker room to cement this blue line as among the best in the league.
 
Prediction
As it stands, the Bulls have a top three roster, and if they are able to make a few trades or waiver acquisitions, they should be a favorite to win the Founders Cup.
 
Philadelphia Reapers

Overview
On paper, the Philadelphia Reapers have a top-three roster. Where some other teams have star power or flashy play makers, the Reapers boast an excess of depth at every position. You can expect Philadelphia's third and fourth lines to put up big numbers against outmatched opponents that have little to offer that deep on their rosters. I expect this team to see a lot of moves throughout the season as they try to sure up their few weak point by trading off some of that deep talent.
Stand-Outs
All of It - You really can't just pick one or two positions on this team. It would be a much shorter list to point out the weak spot than the strengths. You can expect Lindberg, Perry, and Jeffers to make it hard on opposing forwards while players like Bud Knight and Case Martell are what goalies see in their nightmares.
 
Prediction
As much as it pains me to say this, the Reapers are the only team that I fear might have a better shot at the cup this year than the Bulls. In the end, what decides this year's playoffs may be the moves these two teams make in terms of acquisitions throughout this season.
 
San Diego Marlins

Overview
Oh the Marlins. After getting swept in the first round of the playoffs last season, San Diego has nuked their roster and started with a ton of fresh talent. Well, fresh faces at least. Many of the Marlins recent pick-ups are largely unproven. This makes San Diego my pick for the biggest wildcard of the season. I lean towards believe that this team will have an almost carbon copy repeat of their S67 performance, but they could just as well miss the playoff entirely or end up in a cup final without shocking me. It will largely depend on their training staff's ability to cultivate this huge crop of youth.
 
Stand-Outs
Chad Gilbert - San Diego's first round pick in the recent draft is the only player I'm sure enough about to call a stand-out. The Marlins really liked what they saw from the American center last season, and rightfully so. If this team has any success this season, Chad Gilbert will be playing a huge role it making it happen.
 
Prediction
Roll a D20, 'cause I have no idea when it comes to this team.
 
 
 
 
 
I will be claiming this for the next four weeks. (Word Count: 2937)
 
6 TPE for the week ending on 9/15
6 TPE for the week ending on 9/22
6 TPE for the week ending on 9/29
6 TPE for the week ending on 10/6

S67 Commissioners Cup 

 
"What is this?", you're likely asking. Over the last season, @diamond_ace and myself have spent quite a lot of time looking at and talking about how we can improve the VHLM. During our tenure as commissioners, that's always been our goal. Making the VHLM move enjoyable, more meaningful to a player and more efficient with key things like retention and development. This past season, we talked about a lot of things structurally/rule wise that are either ready to be announced or in the final stages of being what we believe to be a system we're confident in. One of those changes is going to be the Top Prospects Game. Last season, it was the first one in a very, very long time. I'm sure it was a thing once upon a time, but I can assure you it's never been this. S66, we quickly put together a roster that we felt was going to be fairly even and extremely competitive. They only played one game. It's a Top Prospect GAME. 12 F, 6 D, 2 G. It was your normal all-star/prospects game. So, whats the change? 
 
Firstly, the name. We present to you the Commissioners Cup. This event will be held during the off-season - every off-season. The event will be the ultimate battle between the two who hold the most power in the VHLM - Team Diamond VERSUS Team Bana. Unlike the past where one person quickly threw together a competitive roster for each and the other said "yep", we actually stayed up late last night doing a 40 pick draft - drafting some of the best the VHLM currently has to offer and putting together two extremely solid teams. The roster sizes are the same (we'll be using the last file of the regular season for attributes etc), but the amount of games played will be different. Instead of 1, you're going to see 3 games. ITS A BEST OF 3 SHOWDOWN. A fight. A BATTLE.... to the death... ULTIMATE GLORY... K, maybe not death - but it's ultimate shit. The battle and intensity is real. The rivalry is real. 
 
WHO WILL REIGN SUPREME? LET THE BATTLES BEGIN!?

With that being said, I guess it's time to release the draft results of the draft, as well as the rosters for the very first ever "Commissioners Cup". Awesome effort this season one again bye everyone involved in the VHLM. This season has been extremely busy for myself and DA, but also a very good one. Thanks!
 
S67 Commissioners Cup Rosters:
 
 
S67 Commissioners Cup Draft:

With his duties in the VHLM coming to a close after the draft last night, I'm happy to welcome @McWolf as the new AGM in Washington. He'll be especially helpful to me in the coming months as I finish up my degree and need to prep for a couple more very important drafts for the brand new franchise.

I don't know about these other guys, but I can offer you homemade boiled peanuts, stories about 3rd shift at a gas station and school cafeteria recipes.

Good luck to everyone about to be drafted! Hoping someone takes a chance on me as well!

Look at all those Lynx, it brings a tear to my eye.

S67 VHLM Awards 

 
We'd like to congratulate the Ottawa Lynx on a successful campaign - hoisting the Founder's cup. It was a team, over the course of the regular season and playoffs, that overcame a lot and was guided in an extremely efficient direction to dominate most portions of the year. Probably a lot of other people had other teams picked? Maybe? Anyway, congrats to them. Another big congrats to all of the players who are making their ways to the VHL and were drafted the other night to their new VHL organizations. We wish you all the best of luck. Next, thank you to everyone who runs the show. From my trusty partner D_A, le bluez, to the people who make the lines and simulate for us season after season, the updaters, the recruitment team and every other staff member and normal member we have that makes the VHLM such a stronger, more enjoyable league. 
 
We will have some small changes coming in the near future that we feel are strongly going to improve the VHLM and all those involved. All rules will take place immediately if ready, however, the entirety will not be announced until a later date.
 
 And with that, I'd like to congratulate this seasons Awards winners. 
 
If you won an award you can claim 2 TPE. All co-winners can claim 1 TPE.
 
Team awards do not count as TPE. 
 
S67 VHLM Awards
 
Championship - Founder's Cup: Ottawa Lynx
Best Regular Season Record - Prime Minister's Cup: Ottawa Lynx
Leading Points - Ethan Osborne Trophy: Zeno Miniti (OTT)
Leading Goals - Alexander Chershenko Trophy: Thorny Underyew (OTT)
Leading Assists - Vladimir Boomchenko Trophy:  Zeno Miniti (OTT)
 
Regular Season MVP - Mitch Higgins Trophy: 
Zeno Miniti @Zeno
 
Playoff MVP - Skylar Rift Trophy: 
Thorny Underyew @jack

Top Defenseman - Ryan Sullivan Trophy:  
Kafka Palazzo @diamond_ace
 
Top Goaltender - Benoit Devereux Trophy: 
A Red Guy  @.sniffuM
 
Top Two-Way Forward- Matt Bentz Trophy: 
Anthony Hawk @ahawk2191
 
Top Executive - Jack Reilly Trophy: 
Minnesota GM @Rayzor_7
 
 
Merci,
@VHLM Commissioner
 

S67 ALL-VHLM TEAMS 
 
 
 All-VHLM First Team - May Claim 2 Uncapped TPE 
 
F - Zeno Miniti (OTT) @Zeno
F - Thorny Undertow (OTT) @jack
F - Anthony Hawk (OTT) @ahawk2191
D - Kefka Palazzo (MIN) @diamond_ace
D -  Hugh Chan (MIN) @HughJas_
G -  A Red Guy (YUK)  @.sniffuM
 
 All-VHLM Second Team - May Claim 1 Uncapped TPE 
 
F - Dalton Wilcox (HOU) @Dalton Wilcox
F - Berocka Sundqvist (MIN) @berocka
F - Alex Pearson (PHI) @Jayrad28
D - Brandon LeBlanc (PHI) @Psanchez55
D - Pierre Persson (HFX) @Dominus89
G - Raymond Bernard (OTT)  @Mr_Hatter
 
Congrats to those named and best of luck moving forward in your careers.
@VHLM Commissioner

Thanks for the recognition. Congrats to @.sniffuM for beating me out 
 
And congrats to all the winners, especially my Ottawa boys!