animal74

But it was @Baby Boomer who put him in...

After Team Canada failed to defend their World Cup gold, losing to Team USA 4-3 in the semi-final game and instead settling for bronze with a gutsy 4-2 win against Team Nordic, the various media outlets, YouTubers, podcasts and pundits started whispers about a potential goalie controversy that may have cost Canada a chance for three-peat gold medal. After starting the first four games of the World Cup round robin, last tournament's gold medal game starter, Joel Castle had been looking on from the bench. Despite sparkling numbers (1.97 GAA, 0.939 SV%, 1 shutout), Team Canada only scored five goals in those four games to start the tournament with a less than inspiring 1-2-1 record. Merome Dilson started the remaining six games and won all six as Canada finally found their scoring touch, lighting the lamp 22 times for 3.56 goals/game compared to 1.25 in Castle's games. Dilson was still great (2.26 GAA, 0.925 SV%, 1 shutout) but he didn’t need to be quite as stingy as the players in front of him scored almost triple the rate they scored with Castle in net. Joel Castle backstopping Team Canada Obviously looking at win record and not stats, Canada chose to start Dilson in the semi-final which ended up backfiring on the Red and White. Canada lost 4-3 to USA – who Castle had shutout in his final appearance. Now, the loss was definitely not Dilson’s fault. After Canada took a 1-0 lead into the second period, USA scored on three of four power play opportunities in the middle frame to take a 3-1 lead that Canada never recovered from. Dilson’s effort was valiant stopping 42 of 45 shots, but as the critics wondered after, would the knowledge that they hadn’t beaten Castle perhaps played a critical mental game with the American players as they had scored five times on Dilson in their meeting, a 6-5 shootout loss to Canada. Either way, having already beaten the USA twice in the round robin, losing to them in the medal round was especially bitter for the defending champions. When asked about the decision on a podcast days after the World Cup had ended, Joel Castle gave his typical professional answer. “As a competitor, you always want to play, but to be fair to Dilsy, he had a better season than I did leading up to the World Cup and he played fantastic in the round robin. I feel the team as a whole kind of played a little too loose in that second period against the States and we got into penalty trouble and they capitalized. It could have been way more out of reach but Dilsy played out of his mind really. We got outshot 26-10 in the second and 36-16 over the last two periods. You don’t win many games when you get outshot like that. And we made a push but in the end, it wasn’t enough and we had to play for bronze.” Asked if he thinks he’ll be able to play in the S94 World Cup, he just shrugged and said, “Hopefully, I’m still playing a level that allows me to play for Canada one more time. Dilson will probably be the starter again but I’d love another chance to get another gold medal. Time will tell. I have to stay in shape until then.” Castle’s record in two World Cups for Canada, including medal games, is 9-3-2 with a 1.72 GAA, 0.945 SV% and 2 shutouts for one gold and one bronze.

D Liv Slater @MubbleFubbles

Why no tagging? @leandrofg

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. What trophy do you think is missing from the VHL Awards? 2. Which team will win World Cup gold? 3. How would you design a Legion third jersey? 4. If you could change the overtime/shootout format, what would you do? 5. What is your least favorite part of off-season training? 6. What book/movie have you read/watched recently that you would recommend to your teammates?

Claim 2/2 (1000 words)

Stacked like a lumberjack's pancake breakfast! Pour on the (Golden) maple syrup!

Joel Castle - RT

Congrats!

Sorry, dude, it was so close. Hopefully you lift the Cup before your career is done!

After a surprise third consecutive run to the S92 Conference Final where they lost in five games to the eventual Continental Cup champion, D.C. Dragons, the Toronto Legion have lost no time resigning their core players to gear up for another shot at a Cup. The window is narrowing as star goalie Joel Castle is in the twilight of his career. One of five players needing a new contract, Castle signed tonight for two more seasons and, barring a trade, finish his whole career as a Legion. “This was a no-brainer,” said Castle in an impromptu Zoom conference right after the signing. “Everyone on this team is on the same page. We know what our goal is, we believe in our group and we feel with our talent and experience, we should have one if not two more good chances before my career is done. And I want to get another Cup more than anyone. I want to relive S91 again. That was magical.” In order to reach that goal, Toronto will have to compete against a still strong contingent of North American teams.

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. We fell short of our goal but it was a good season! What accomplishment (team or individual) are you most proud of this season? 2. What grade would you give your playoff (A-F)? 3. What skill are you going to work on in the off-season? 4. What is an individual goal you are setting for yourself for S93? 5. With our returning forward core and Bob, Fitzroy and Castle all back how many points do you think we can get next season? 6. You have a ticket to anywhere for a week to escape winter. Where are you going?

What a series!! Congrats DC on your 2nd Cup! London, you sure made it interesting! A fantastic showing by both teams! Game 7 OT Cup winner by @OrbitingDeath

S91 Toronto Legion Team Awards After failing to reach their Cup aspirations in S90, the Toronto Legion were ready to take another swing at a championship with a big injection of youth while saying farewell to a couple of their veteran acquisitions from the year before. Gone were superstars Ronan Lavelle and Siyan Yasilievich. Chomping at the bit were rookies Harry Callahan, Diego Machado and Walter Fitzroy Jr. Dens Oden unselfishly switched to defense for his last season and together the Legion entered S91 with lower expectations but with the ultimate prize still as their goal. Even after a slow start and backed by career years by many players and fantastic rookie years by the three first year players, the Legion finished second in the North American Conference and then went on a run for the ages only losing three games in the playoffs on route to a 12-3 record including coming back from being down 0-2 in the Cup Final against Helsinki to win four straight and Game 6 in overtime to give Toronto their 10th Continental Cup and first since S65! Here are some of the individual highlights: - Mac Atlas was T-7th in the VHL in goals with 46, 4th in shots (539) and T-4th with 10 GWG - Tomas Sogaard was 6th with 268 hits while posting his 7th straight 30-goal season - Bobby Bob’s 66 points were 10th among defensemen and his +37 was T-6th - Dens Oden was T-6th in the league with 19 PPA and T-9th with 28 PPP - Harry Callahan was 5th in rookie scoring (55 pts), T-6th in VHL with +37 and T-10th with 11 PPG - Diego Machado was 7th in rookie scoring (50 pts) - Joel Castle led all starters in SV% (0.938), 2nd in GAA (2.06), and 4th with 42 wins - Castle was nominated for five awards, winning the Daisuke Kanou Trophy and was named to the All-VHL Second Team Statistical Leaders: Goals: Mac Atlas 46 Assists: Bobby Bob 56 Points: Mac Atlas 88 +/-: Bobby Bob, Harry Callahan 37 PIM: Tomas Sogaard 120 Hits: Tomas Sogaard 268 Shots: Mac Atlas 539 Shots Blocked: Dens Oden 139 PPG: Harry Callahan 11 GWG: Mac Atlas 10 Fights: Mac Atlas 3 Wins: Joel Castle 42 GAA: Joel Castle 2.06 SV%: Joel Castle 0.938 SO: Joel Castle 3 Here are the S91 Team Awards as voted by the Toronto players and management: Best Defenseman Bobby Bob @Baby Boomer The silky smooth Canadian blueliner had another solid season for the Legion, taking over the number one spot from the retired Siyan Yasilievich. Bob posted his second straight 66-point campaign which led Toronto defensemen and was 10th among league defensemen. He posted career-highs in many categories and his 56 assists (5th among VHL defensemen) led the team and his +37 rating tied teammate Harry Callahan for the team lead and for 6th in the VHL. A vital part of Toronto’s special teams, Bob also was one of only four players in the league to garner three short-handed assists. Rookie of the Year Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr Toronto’s first selection in Round 2 of the S89 Draft (17th Overall), Callahan turned a lot of heads in the VHL as he immediately made an impact in the Legion’s lineup. The Canadian power forward finished the season 5th among rookie skaters with 55 points on 24 goals (4th on the team) and 31 assists. His +37 rating and 11 power play goals led or co-led Toronto and were among league leaders while his 23 power play points and 7 game-winning goals were 2nd on the Legion. Unsung Hero Tomas Sogaard @Brandon Although his offensive effectiveness slowed in his last VHL season (career-lows in assists, points, and +/-rating), veteran winger Tomas Sogaard showed his leadership by stepping up and being the physical catalyst the team needed. He led the team in penalty minutes (120) and hits (268 – 6th in the VHL) both the second-best marks of his career while still scoring 30 goals (3rd on the team) for the seventh consecutive season. His experience shone brightest in the playoffs as he led the Legion with 12 goals, including both of the team’s overtime winners, the last of which was the Cup-winning goal. Most Energetic Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr Not only did Callahan provide a youthful spark on the ice, but his enthusiasm carried over into the locker room where he quickly became one of the vocal leaders for the team. He played a prominent role on both special teams units and his infectious attitude was a big part of Toronto’s resurgence and journey to the Cup. Most Gentlemanly Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr Joel Castle @animal74 Both fierce competitors on the ice but at different stages of their careers, rookie Callahan and veteran Castle tied in the voting for the Legion’s Most Gentlemanly player in S91. Callahan was one of the least penalized players on the Legion with only 26 minutes in the sin bin and Castle only was nailed for three minor penalties. They also combined to create a friendly locker room environment. Most Valuable Player Joel Castle @animal74 After slowly working his way to elite status, Castle finally had the breakthrough season he was hoping for. Setting career-highs in wins (42), SV% (0.938 which led the VHL) and GAA (2.06), he was a finalist for the Shaw, Clegane, Campbell and Slobodzian Trophies and kept Toronto in the playoff race until their second half surge. He elevated his play even higher in the playoffs winning the Daisuke Kanou Trophy as playoff MVP. Legionary of the Year Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr As mentioned previously, Callahan burst onto the Toronto scene not only on the ice but also off of it. He quickly cemented himself in the Legion culture and his strong leadership and outgoing personality endeared him to his teammates, management and the fans. He was also selected as an alternate captain in only his second season. 3-Stars Award Mac Atlas @v.2 The captain continued to build off his career season in S90 and was even better in S91. He set new career-highs in most statistical categories and was the difference for the Legion between winning and losing many nights. He was tied for 2nd in the VHL with 13 1st Star selections which was more than double the next closest player on the Legion although Castle tied him with 22 total Star selections. Full 3-Star standings below: Player 1st 2nd 3rd Star Points Total Stars Mac Atlas 13 5 4 530 22 Joel Castle 6 7 9 410 22 Jimi Jaks 4 8 9 370 21 Tomas Sogaard 5 5 4 290 14 Harry Callahan 1 8 7 260 16 Dens Oden 4 2 2 180 8 Montgomery Burns 2 3 2 140 7 Diego Machado 3 0 3 120 6 Bobby Bob 1 2 4 110 7 Jimmy MacElroy 1 1 2 70 4 Evan Bihler 2 0 0 60 2 Walter Fitzroy Jr 0 1 2 40 3 Congratulations to all the award winners!

You guys have been on a crazy ride! Good luck in Game 7!

Teno is insane! Holy frick @aimkin!

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Here we are! Back in the Conference Final for the third straight season! How many games will the series go? 2. What has been your favorite memory of this playoff run so far? 3. Who has been our playoff MVP so far? 4. If we make it to the Final, who would you prefer to play - London United or Helsinki Titans? 5. Do you have any routines or superstitions that you're following during the playoffs? 6. Which is your breakfast cereal of choice?

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. We will be playing the New York Americans in a play-in series. We were 2-4 against them. What do we have to do to beat them? 2. Our captain Mac Atlas @v.2 scored his 200th goal in Legion blue for 10th all-time. In three more seasons, how many more can he score? 3. Who will score our first goal of the playoffs? 4. With Evan Bihler playing so well, do you think he should start in net for the playoffs? 5. Finish this Valentine's Day card: Roses are red, the Legion are blue... 6. Which teams do you think will make the next big trade in the NHL?

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. We're six points back of D.C. for third in the conference. Can we catch them with 11 games left in the season? 2. Our sophomore forwards (Callahan and Machado) have matched their goal totals from last season and set new highs in points. What has impressed you most about each one's progress this season? 3. Bobby Bob needs 11 assists in the last 11 games to become only the third Legion player to reach 60 assists in the last 10 season. Will he reach it? 4. Will one of our goalies get another shutout this season? 5. Do you have an embarrassing Valentine's Day story? 6. Who is your pick to win the Super Bowl - Chiefs or 49ers?

You're turning into a goon!

After being shut out four times so far this season, the Legion goaltending duo of Joel Castle @animal74 and Evan Bihler @Eb14 are taking matters into their own gloves and have shut out opposing teams a combined four times in the last seven games. The most recent and most impressive goose egg was posted by Bihler, who stopped 36 Seattle shots in a 1-0 victory, his third of the season. The shutout was his first this season and only second of his career. Joel Castle posted three shutouts in five games blanking Warsaw, Davos and London to help him tie his single season career-high of four which he has now reached four times in his career and which vaults him into a four-way tie for second in the league. With 20 games left in Toronto’s season, there is still plenty of time for both goalies to set new career-highs for shutouts in a season.

So I was thinking to myself: What would be a cool yet crazy idea to bring forward to the VHL’s All-Star Committee (which doesn’t exist)? An idea that give players a chance to showcase their skill and yet be a bit bizarre? So I thought about where I loved skating most and I thought of my childhood when our fields would flood and freeze and we’d have a beautiful, mirror-like 10-acre field of ice to skate on as fast as we wanted. Check. We could do the All-Star game on a huge frozen field! Bring in seating for thousands, food trucks, music, all sorts of fun activities! But then I thought, that’s a lot of ice to cover, we’d have to have more players. Why not have all the players play at the same time? What about all the goalies? Have a quadrant for each team – in fact, make it a free for all! Players could wheel around and score on any of the other three goalies! Maybe even have two, three, or even four pucks! Holy frozen chaos, Bekman! Then there’s the question of the Skills Competition. Incorporate it in the actual game! There would be so much ice, you could award extra points for speed, super dekes, amazing saves, hardest shots and put obstacles all over the ice to pass through, skate around, targets to shoot at and maybe even ice ramps to jump off! That would be crazy! Another wild idea: In a predetermined number of games leading up to the All-Star game, any player that gets a major penalty will also have to sit in dunk tanks placed all over the outdoor ice rink and All-Stars will get points for shooting pucks at the target during the chaotic gameplay and sinking the perpetrators in the “swim bins”. Now the teams, how could they be divided up? Four teams for four quadrants? Sure. Eye color? Left or right stick? Season born in? By native global region? Beauty contest? There are so many ways this could be accomplished but maybe just let the fans decide. Since we’re on a huge sheet of ice anyway, another activity I would love to see among the All-Stars is a go-cart race on an ice track around the “stadium”. Throw some hay bales or something around it for protection and let them have a four lap race around the track. Other games for cash prizes could be longest slapshot, most accurate curling throw, and make the All-Stars don speed skates and do a speed skating lap. The possibilities are endless! And of course you’d need an Alumni/Hall of Fame Game. But you would probably need ambulances stationed strategically around the rink as the older players might have trouble skating that far. It would take a lot of technology to make this happen but I think the VHL could pull it off. There would have to be sensors in a lot of the equipment and the cameras would have to be top notch. The weather would need to cooperate as well. I think it would be a monumental spectacle which is more than you can say for all the other All-Star Games.

S92 Toronto Legion Assistant Captains Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr Callahan burst onto the season as a rookie last season, placing 5th in VHL rookie scoring with 55 points, also leading Toronto in PPG and Plus/Minus. A prominent voice in the locker room, he's been selected to increase his leadership role on the team. Joel Castle @animal74 Entering his sixth season, all with the Legion, Castle rise as one of the top goalies in the league culminated in backstopping Toronto to the S91 Continental Cup along with earning the Daisuke Kanou Trophy as playoff MVP and an All-VHL Second Team nomination. Captain Mac Atlas @v.2 Voted as captain for the fourth consecutive season, Atlas had a career season in S91 leading the Legion in goals (for the third time in four seasons) and points as well as setting a franchise record for most points in a playoff season. These three will lead Toronto in their defense of the Continental Cup for S92!