animal74

Well deserved, @Daniel Janser! Congrats!

Congrats @Beketov and @Hogan! Beauties, the both of ya!

Congrats @MetalToday and @Kisslinger!

The goaltending duo in Toronto will look a little different in S90. After being the only netminding partners each other have known in their three VHL seasons together, Joel Castle had to say farewell to friend DJ Fire Dragon @Firekiss as he took his pads to Switzerland and signed with defending Continental Cup champion Davos to backup Lachlan Summers @kirbithan. “Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for him,” said Castle. “Lachlan is a great guy and the team there is coming of a Cup victory so Dragon will get a chance to play with a great team and I wish him well.” Not that the new backup is any slouch. Evan Bihler @Eb14 has patiently been plying his trade in the VHLM and VHLE and will finally get a chance to play in the VHL. He won a Founder’s Cup in S85 with the Philadelphia Reapers and took Istanbul to the Renaissance Cup Final last season in the VHLE. Castle couldn’t help but show his excitement at playing with his new teammate. “Evan’s a winner. He had a fantastic season in the E last year. He brings an enthusiasm that’s contagious. I like what I see from him so far and can’t wait to work together this year.”

Credit: @kirbithan With the start of S90 fast approaching, the excitement is building among Toronto fans as they wait to see if the team's bold off-season moves will translate to much longed for on-ice success. The revamped offense looks to score way more goals than last season and if the defense can stay near its stinginess of the last campaign, then that formula should equal more wins then the Legion have secured in quite a while. More wins is music to starting goaltender Joel Castle's ears as he prepares for his fourth VHL season. Having averaged only 20 wins in his previous three seasons (all with Toronto), Castle is fully embracing the challenge to be in tip-top shape to start the season and not waste the opportunity the Legion have to be one of the top teams in the North American Conference. "After working with our trainers on skills for the better part of my first three seasons, I have been working more on my physicality this off-season - flexibility, strength, footwork, etc. I need to be able to be in peak condition for the entire year," said Castle during a post-camp interview. "I can't flounder in the later stages of the season like I did the final quarter of last year (going 6-10-2 and allowing 4 or more goals in 7 of those games). That just won't cut it if we want to make the playoffs this year. And let's be real, our goal is not to just make the playoffs but be contenders. And having the new guys here who are hungry to win a Cup, that just makes all of us want to work harder and win for them, too." Castle elaborated on his training regimen which included a variety of activities such as swimming, yoga, hiking, and rock climbing – just to ensure a full-body work out and not to leave out any muscle group. “I’ve focusing on getting stronger in my core, but also staying lean and gaining explosiveness. I’ve also been tweaking my technique and working on thinking about the plays developing in front of me and then let my body and muscle memory take over and just be in the best possible position to make the save and then potentially the next one.” Obviously one of the most talented young goalies in the league, Castle hopes to follow in fellow S86 draftmate Lachlan Summers’ steps and lead Toronto to a Continental Cup while still entering his prime as Summers did with Davos last season. Summers was drafted 12th by Davos in the S86 Draft and Castle was selected by Toronto with the next pick. “I was cheering for Lachlan the whole way,” said Castle when asked about his rival and friend’s success. “And I’m so happy he won and played such an important role. He’s been an inspiration, just seeing how his game has developed and how brilliant he played last season has been a big motivation for me going into S90.” Then his face hardened and his eyes stared straight ahead. “But we’re gunning for that Cup. If Davos wants to repeat, they have to come through us. We’ll be ready.”

So good to see you back @Laine! Glad to hear you're doing well in life and school.

7!

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. What are your thoughts on the additions of Lavelle, Sogaard, and Yasilievich? 2. Based on this off-season what are your expectations for the Legion in S90? 3. Do your think any Legion players will win any VHL awards in S90? 4. What area do you hope to improve most in this off-season? 5. What is your favorite real-life hockey moment? 6. What country would you like to see produce more VHL players?

Nice recap!

The Toronto Legion mean business in S90. After another season finishing near the bottom of the VHL's standings, GM Nils Godlander has been aggressive this off-season making a couple of huge moves to fix the Legion's anemic offense. The first move was a huge deal with Moscow to bring over superstar forwards Ronan Lavelle and Tomas Sogaard who scored 98 goals together with the Menace last season. Then, hot off the news ticker, is the signing of former London defenseman Russian Siyan Yasilievich. The trio, despite nearing the end of their careers, should solve Toronto's two main concerns: goals and making the playoffs. Combined, they have ten 90-point seasons, two Continental Cups and a multitude of other awards having been among the VHL's elite for most of their careers. These moves instantly make Toronto Cup contenders - a title they haven't held for quite a while. The quest to end the Legion's Cup drought since S65 is now a reality. @Moon @Arce @Brandon @badcolethetitan

Claim 2/2

Welcome to the Legion @Arce and @Brandon! Looking forward to playing with you! Thanks for starting your careers in out system @Timmy30 and @Stroheim. Good luck the rest of the way.

Calgary had two questions!

North American Conference Seattle Bears: Still a fairly young roster. How much more magic does GM Banacock have left? Vancouver Wolves: Will Pierre Emile Bouchard and Brian Payne form the VHL’s best defense pairing and lead the Wolves to victory? Calgary Wranglers: Do the Wranglers have enough depth for one more Cup run? Will Merome Dilson improve or suffer the sophomore slump? Los Angeles Stars: Which way are the Stars trending? New York Americans: No Cup since S53! Will their young talent develop fast enough to push their stars through the playoffs? Chicago Phoenix: How will new management re-stock the team with half of the players retiring after next season? D.C. Dragons: Has D.C. stockpiled enough talent to replace an aging core? Toronto Legion: Does Toronto now have enough young talent to make the playoffs or are additions needed? European Conference Moscow Menace: The Victory Cup once again doesn’t guarantee playoff glory. Will they go one more round or dismantle? HC Davos Dynamo: First Continental Cup since S61. Congrats Davos! What a great achievement for your team! Riga Reign: Will Riga’s physical brand of hockey keep working? Will Vasile Lamb crack the Top-2 in career hits? Prague Phantoms: Can the Phantoms take advantage of John Jameson’s peak? London United: Does London have the pieces to take the next step toward contending? Malmo Nighthawks: With the addition of Henry Eagles, Malmo looks primed to roll but do they need a goalie? Warsaw Predators: How is Warsaw going to re-stock their roster? Helsinki Titans: Such a far cry from the powerhouse teams in the 50s, 60s, & 70s. Is there enough talent to get back to glory? Mentions:

Phenomenal! I love it! Thanks so much! I'm going camping so won't get it up until the start of S90 but thanks again! Great job!

S89 Team Awards Hopes were high in Toronto for S89 after bringing in some veteran players in defenseman Jimmy MacElroy and forwards Phoebe Bridgers and Weenuk Warrior to solidify the roster and provide much needed depth. Legion fans were also excited for the debut of the team’s 3rd overall pick from the S88 draft, slick Canadian blueliner Bobby Bob. Along with the assumed development of the young core, the playoffs seemed a realistic goal. Unfortunately, despite being tied for 5th in goals against and a hope-inducing 10-3 run late in the season, the Legion could not put the puck in the net and finished last in the North American Conference yet again with a record of 26-37-9 for 61 points even though that was an 11-point improvement from S88. But, the Legion hope the continued work put in through the season and new players coming up will help propel them to the next step in S91. Here are some of the individual highlights: - Bobby Bob finished 5th in rookie scoring with 36 points - Jimi Jaks led the team with 31 goals, 62 points and 6 GWG - Phoebe Bridgers set career-highs of 27 goals and 122 hits - Jimmy MacElroy led the team with career-highs of 150 PIM and 156 hits Statistical Leaders: Goals: Jimi Jaks 31 Assists: Quinn Clark 36 Points: Jimi Jaks 62 +/-: Jimi Jaks -5 PIM: Jimmy MacElroy 150 Hits: Jimmy MacElroy 156 Shots: Mac Atlas 345 Shots Blocked: Tater Tottingham 148 PPG: Phoebe Bridgers 7 GWG: Jimi Jaks 6 Fights: Jimi Jaks 5 Wins: Joel Castle 23 GAA: Joel Castle 2.48 SV%: Joel Castle 0.930 SO: Joel Castle 4 Here are the S88 Team Awards as voted by the Toronto players and management: Best Defenseman Jimmy MacElroy @Xflexz MacElroy was brought in last off-season to provide stability and championship experience (S83 & S84 Founder’s Cup, S86 Continental Cup) to a defense that allowed the third-most goals against in the VHL in S88. His defensive acumen made a difference as Toronto allowed 30 less goals in S89 as he helped his goalies by blocking 147 shots. His physical play also left a mark as he led the team with career-highs of 150 PIM and 156 hits. He was able to chip in offensively as well, ranking second among Legion blueliners with seven goals, 35 assists for 42 points. Rookie of the Year Bobby Bob @Baby Boomer As the lone rookie on the team this season, defenseman Bobby Bob may be the defacto winner for this award but he was definitely deserving as well. He was 5th in VHL rookie scoring with 36 points and he led Toronto in powerplay assists with 11, powerplay points with 15, and ice time (2155). He also played with a chip on his shoulder as shown by his 85 penalty minutes which was good for second on the team. The team had so much faith in him, he was selected as an assistant captain even though he was a rookie. Fun fact: Bobby Bob was the only Legion to score a shootout goal in S89 going 1-for-2 with the rest of the team going 0-for-24 Unsung Hero Phoebe Bridgers @PhoebeIsQueen Although originally drafted by Toronto in the 2nd round of the S82 draft, Bridgers finally played their first games with the Legion after suiting up for four other clubs in four seasons. Bringing exactly what Toronto was looking for – additional scoring punch – Bridgers ended up second on the team in goals with a career-high 27 and was a dangerous player every night. They also provided some sandpaper as they narrowly set new career-highs in PIM (49) and hits (122). Most Energetic Mac Atlas @v.2 Dens Oden @Snussu Along with having similar statistical seasons Atlas and Oden were also dually selected as “Most Energetic”. Despite scoring less than expected, captain Atlas’ motor never stopped running on the ice. He led the team in shots (345), was second in game-winning goals (5, career-high) fights (4) and blocked shots by forward (39), was tied for second in powerplay points (13), and third in goals (24), points (47), and minutes played (2125). His voice was trusted and respected in the locker room. Oden was very vocal in the locker room as well, keeping things light during a trying season with humor and encouragement. He led all Toronto forwards in ice time (2134) and was third in hits (118, tying his career-high) and shots (285). Most Gentlemanly Joel Castle @animal74 Only taking one minor penalty throughout the course of the season wasn’t the only reason Castle was named “Most Gentlemanly” by his teammates. His overall sportsmanship and kindness help set the tone in the locker room. Most Valuable Player Joel Castle @animal74 Castle won a tight vote against leading scorer Jimi Jaks for team MVP. He continued to embrace the starter’s role and posted career-high numbers (65 GP, 0.930 SV%, 2.48 GAA) as he established himself as one of the elite goalies in the VHL. His improved skills were a big reason for Toronto’s drop in goals against. A Top-3 goalie in save percentage and goals-against average for most of the year, a hard stretch during the last 11 games of the season saw his numbers drop slightly. Legionary of the Year Joel Castle @animal74 Castle enjoys helping grow the new iteration of the Legion culture and setting an example by working hard on and off the ice. But he knows it’s a team effort as other teammates also received votes for this award. He hopes his dedication to the double blue will help the young players joining the Legion to reach their full potential. 3-Stars Award Joel Castle @animal74 Although he didn’t top the Legion for 1st Star selections for the first time in his career (Jimi Jaks paced the team with 9), Joel Castle did lead the team in 3-Star points (430) and total Star selections (20) for the third year in a row. His consistency (and some nights, his utter brilliance) kept the Legion in most games and gave them a chance to win. Full 3-Star standings below: Player 1st 2nd 3rd Star Points Total Stars Joel Castle 7 9 4 430 20 Jimi Jaks 9 4 1 360 14 Mac Atlas 3 4 5 220 12 Dens Oden 2 4 5 190 11 Pheobe Bridgers 2 3 3 150 8 Quinn Clark 2 1 3 110 6 Tater Tottingham 1 2 3 100 6 Bobby Bob 1 2 2 90 5 Jimmy MacElroy 0 1 5 70 6 Weenuk Warrior 1 0 1 40 2 DJ Fire Dragon 0 2 0 40 2 Alex Bridges III 0 0 2 20 2 Congratulations to all the award winners and good luck in S90! Legion:

Congrats Davos! Great run and great job ending the streak!

My boy Summers @kirbithan coming up HUGE for Davos with 85 saves in two games to even things up!

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Vancouver and Davos will battle it out for the S89 Continental Cup! How many overtime games will there be in the Final? 2. Who will score the Cup-winning goal? 3. In your opinion, which championship trophy in any sport is the nicest-looking? 4. Summer is here! What's your favorite ice cream flavor? 5. What's the best food to throw on the BBQ? 6. Water sports: Water skiing, kneeboarding, wakeboarding or tubing?

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Which North American team with make it to the Cup Final? 2. Will that team win the Cup? If not which European team will be victorious? 3. Which player are you most interested in following in these playoffs? 4. How much time do you take off for the summer before delving back into your training routine? 5. Are you a golfer? If so what's the best course you've played? 6. If you're not a golfer, what is your off-season activity of choice and where is your favorite place to do said activity?

Hey Kirby! @kirbithan I'd love a new sig for the new season if you have time. Player Name: Joel Castle Player Render (Faceclaim): Jusse Saros - more for the #74 so if Nashville's yellow is too hard to change for the Legion blue, his Milwaukee Admiral jersey would probably work better. Team: Toronto Legion Graphic Style (OPTIONAL) (any of the styles in the thread below): The watercolor pop looks awesome Requests: A double blue theme for the team would be great but a maple leaf somewhere would rock and maybe a castle or castle-like brick work. Have fun with it. Try something new! Thanks! Look forward to what you come up with.

Welcome back!

Oh, a goalie! Let me know if you want any pointers with Pagano. Good luck, @Oatex

Good luck with Holmquist @axtron!