animal74

G - Art Vandelay F - Nezuko @scoop

He's retired.

Joel Castle Rookie Experience Position: Goaltender Nationality: Canada Drafted: 1st Round / 13th Overall / S86 Rookie Year: S87 Team: Toronto Legion I had a lot of different thoughts when I first landed in Toronto to join the Legion for the S87 season. I was excited to play in my home country again after two seasons away, even if I was going to be playing in the Eastern Time zone. I knew coming into Toronto that the team was under new management and most likely rebuilding. I (thought I) knew that I would be the backup to the underrated Oskar Lindbergh, but that assumption dissolved when Lindbergh was traded to the Calgary Wranglers shortly after I arrived. That was a bit of a shock – now I was going to be the defacto starter! I was nervous but also thrilled as this was the opportunity that I had been working for my whole career. My first game was against the Los Angeles Stars. I was super nervous and although I stopped four LA shots before allowing my first VHL goal at 4:07 of the first period on a power play. I was determined to shake it off and refocus and I did for the most part stopping 28 of 32 shots in a 4-2 loss. My (and the team’s) first win didn’t come until the eighth game. We were playing the 5-2 Moscow Menace and I was feeling it that night. We were up 1-0 and I had stopped all 30 shots over two periods. We were pushing in the third but Nico Pearce was buzzing, had a few chances that missed and then snuck one by me. Tie game. Overtime solved nothing so we went to the shootout. Moscow’s first shooter was Nico Pearce. This time I stopped him. Then came Tomas Sogaard. I stopped him too. Then we scored. And the legendary Ronan Lavelle skated to center. He came at me with speed, did a head fake and snapped a shot – right into my glove. We had won! I had stopped three of the most dangerous goal-scorers in the shootout for my first career win and it felt awesome. I would get my second win two games later against Malmo where I saved 51 of 52 shots in a 3-1 victory. It was then that I knew I could play in this league. Castle celebrates his first VHL win against Moscow. I played 60 games during the season and won 19 games – 7 in either overtime or a shootout. I only got pulled three times although I did have some bad games. I cemented myself as one of the better 1-on-1 goalies in the league winning my last four shootouts (although I had lost the four before – three of those to Seattle). We also finished the season on a high note going 5-3 in the final eight games. One thing that I appreciate the most about my rookie season with Toronto was the comradery in the locker room and the transparency management had with the team. Everyone on the team seemed to understand that it would be a rough season in the standings but we all just had fun with it and tried to instill a hard-working yet laid back culture where we could make mistakes and be helped up not beat up. I also am indebted to GM Nils Godlander @Moon for first of all drafting me, but then also including me in the leadership group even though I wasn’t a captain. And I am thankful to the captains (Kyle Peace @Peace, Mac Altas @v.2 , and CDS Leb @CDS_Leb) for letting me tag along and find my voice. I’m looking forward to the next few seasons. I know there will be some challenges but I expect that the young core will grow together and build a long-term contender that will eventually bring a Cup back to Toronto.

D-Callum Murray F-Ronan Lavelle @scoop

Holy Shizzle, I had the most right?!?

S87 Team Awards For a team under new management that was going through a rebuild, S87 couldn’t have gone much better for the Toronto Legion. Secure a high draft pick? Check. Bring in some of the organization’s highly-touted prospects and get them acclimated to the VHL? Check. Still have some fun along the way? Check. This season may not have been deemed a success by someone looking at the win column but it is a big step forward toward making Toronto a contending team long-term. The young players that have already made their mark on the team (some by winning these awards) and the culture that is being instilled are the future in Toronto. Here are some of the individual highlights: Kyle Peace continued to climb the ranks of Toronto’s all-time goal scorers moving into 6th place (248) only two behind 5th place Bo Boeser. After being selected 1st Overall in the S87 Entry Draft, center Mac Altas finished the season 5th in rookie scoring with 46 points. Defenseman Quinn Clark led rookies in power play goals (10) and finished 2nd in rookie defensemen scoring with 40 points. Rookie goalie Joel Castle led all starters in saving 88.5% of the 26 shootout shots he faced. Statistical Leaders: Goals: Kyle Peace 29 Assists: Sting Chameleon 55 Points: Sting Chameleon 67 +/-: Harry Hagel -3 PIM: Cadmael Ixazaluoh 142 Hits: Babushka 175 Shots: Kyle Peace 345 Shots Blocked: Sting Chameleon 162 PPG: Quinn Clark 10 GWG: Quinn Clark 4 Fights: Cadmael Ixazaluoh 6 Wins: Joel Castle 19 GAA: DJ Fire Dragon 2.63 SV%: DJ Fire Dragon 0.930 SO: Joel Castle 4 Here are the S87 Team Awards as voted by the Toronto players and management: Best Defenseman Sting Chameleon In his fifth season, all with the Legion, Sting Chameleon continued his rise as a star defenseman with a career year setting career-highs in shots (155), assists (55) and points (67) – of which the latter two stats led the team. He also led the team in blocked shots with 162 proving his acumen at both ends of the ice. The first defenseman to lead the Legion in scoring since Erik Killinger in S74, Chameleon’s 67 points ranked 13th among VHL defensemen as he provided a veteran presence on a young blueline. He also led the team with 12 power play assists and played more minutes than Toronto’s other defenders. Rookie of the Year Mac Atlas The 1st Overall pick from the S87 Draft didn’t disappoint as he quickly became a key cog in the Legion’s offense and locker room. As highlighted above, the American center had 46 points (third in team scoring), including 23 goals, good for second on the Legion, and also led the team in shooting percentage (11.0%) and ice time (2181 minutes). Along with a number of other rookies who starred for Toronto this season, Atlas will undoubtedly look to take the next step on and off the ice next season to help the Legion get to the playoffs. Unsung Hero Joel Castle Toronto’s 1st rounder from S86, Castle debuted as the starter when Oskar Lindbergh was traded to Calgary in the off-season. The lightning-quick Canadian stepped in and stopped a lot of rubber for the rebuilding Legion, helping them stay competitive each night despite icing such a young lineup. He managed an impressive 0.915 save percentage, 19 wins, and was among the league leaders with four shutouts. Where he really shone was in the shootout, pacing all VHL starters by stopping 88.5% of shooters he faced. Most Energetic Quinn Clark If Chameleon was the wise old wizard on the back end, Quinn Clark was the magic cauldron that never stopped bubbling. He led Legion defensemen in goals (13), and was second in minutes played, shots, and blocked shots. His non-stop motor helped him lead the team in game-winning goals (4) and was especially on display on the power play where his skating and playmaking ability enabled him to lead the team in power-play goals (10) and points (19). Most Gentlemanly Joel Castle Even though just a rookie, Castle's friendly, easy-going Canadian personality reverberated through the locker room and kept his teammates calm on the ice. He stayed competitive and optimistic while facing upwards of 35 shots a night but never got frustrated or let the losing get to him. He was always positive and edifying and that rubbed off on the team. It was heard that he would even complement players in the shootout on their dekes after he stopped them. Most Valuable Player Kyle Peace Legion legend Kyle Peace led Toronto in goals for the second straight season with 29 and led the team in shots with 345 – 132 more than the next closest teammate. Among Toronto forwards, he was first in assists, points, and blocked shots and was one of only two Legion players to score short-handed. He showed a young roster what it takes to play in the VHL night after night especially all the little details necessary to play an excellent 200-foot game. Legionary of the Year Kyle Peace With such an inexperienced roster taking to the ice each night, lifetime Legion legend Kyle Peace provided the veteran skill and presence that the team desperately needed. The grizzled captain was vocal in the locker room providing encouragement despite a losing record and direction when needed. Since he has spent his entire eight-season career in Toronto, he is one of the most recognized athletes in the city and his ever-increasing community ventures and charity work continue to enrich his legacy. Captain Kyle Peace 3-Stars Award Joel Castle Although they were the second-worst team in the league, there were still some bright moments and more often than not, Joel Castle was one of the players shining. He led the Legion with 10 1st Star selections (more than double the next player), 410 points and 16 overall Star selections. He was named the 1st Star in each of the four shutouts he posted and proved he may be the franchise goaltender the Legion were hoping for when they drafted him in the first round in the S86 Draft. Full 3-Star standings below: Player 1st 2nd 3rd Star Points Total Stars Joel Castle 10 5 1 410 16 Kyle Peace 4 6 4 280 14 Sting Chameleon 2 3 4 160 9 Dens Oden 2 2 5 150 9 Mac Atlas 3 1 2 130 6 Quinn Clark 1 2 3 100 6 Babushka 1 1 1 60 3 Ryan 0 0 4 40 4 CDS Leb 0 1 2 40 3 Cadmael Ixazaluoh 1 0 1 40 2 DJ Fire Dragon 0 1 1 30 2 Alessio Simeoni 1 0 0 30 1 Deron Nesbitt 0 0 1 10 1 Harry Hagel 0 0 0 0 0 Congratulations to all the award winners and good luck in S88!

D - Siyan Yasilievich F - Vinny Detroit @scoop Back atcha

What if the dollar amount (TPA) of the player increases over the course of the season? @Spartan

Nice to see you around again @Zetterberg!

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. How many goals are you expecting from yourself in S88? 2. Who is one of your favorite players on another team? 3. Which player do you hate to play against the most? 4. Joel Castle is redesigning his mask - what are your suggestions for him? 5. We added McDonalds BigMac and BK Whopper in the draft. What is your favorite fast food burger? 6. Today is Eiffel Tower Day. Have you ever been? If yes, how was your experience. If no, do you plan on going?

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Yoga training in the off-season. Yes or no and why? 2. What would you like to see added or changed to the TP earning point tasks structure? 3. Which VHL/E/M logo is your favorite? 4. Early prediction: Who will lead the Legion in scoring next season? 5. Gaming question: You and your posse are going on a dungeon raid. What is your melee weapon of choice? 6. You're going on a zoo trip. Which animal is your first stop?

@Hybrid1486 you were a productive player for the Legion for five seasons. Good luck chasing a Cup in Vancouver! @Trunkxolotl welcome to Toronto! @Frank Thanks for the easy talks.

Top 10! Getting better at this!

Thanks @AW13 for your brief time with the Legion. Good luck with the Phantoms. @Acydburn thanks for the talks.

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. What is a memory you have from being drafted? 2. What are your thoughts about fighting in hockey? 3. Which stat would you like to improve most next season? 4. Former Toronto goalie Oskar Lindbergh just won the Continental Cup with Calgary. What do you think he'll do with his day with the Cup? 5. What would you do with your day with Cup? 6. What do you do to honor St. Patrick's Day?

I just wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate the fine folks in the Calgary Wranglers' organization on their Continental Cup win over the HC Davos Dynamo. GM @Ricer13 has been around about as long as I have and the victory couldn't have gone to a nicer guy. There's a locker room full of character players and it's fitting that they were able to break Calgary's 24-season Cup drought. Five players recorded over a point per game and after losing the first game in overtime the Wranglers buckled down and dispatched Davos by winning four straight with my former Vegas Teammate Larry Abass Jr @RileyL scoring only his second goal of the postseason at 18:14 of the third period to win the Cup for Cowtown in Game 5. Most of all I want to congratulate my buddy Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday. We toiled together for years in Prague to no avail and then he stayed loyal to Toronto for a long time before getting his chance with Calgary and showing the league what he could do and dominated in the playoffs. In the final game Calgary was outshot 33-19 and stopped all but one goal in a clutch performance to help his team become champions. Great job Calgary! Perhaps Cowtown should be renamed Cuptown.

Congrats Calgary!! And you're welcome for Lindbergh!

Congrats, guys! Well deserved promotions.

As someone who's been part of the early days, left, and come back, you have been a constant in my VHL experience Beks and we've even won a bit together. You've done a terrific job and thank you for all the time and effort you've put into this league. I'm proud to be a part of this community.

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Depending on the results of the Lottery Tournament, Toronto should have a Top-3 pick in the S88 Entry Draft. What position should we draft or should we trade the pick? 2. Quinn Clark @axtron led all rookies with 10 power play goals which also led the Legion. Who will lead the team in power play goals next season? 3. Do you think Toronto has a realistic shot at making the playoffs in S88? 4. What should management's primary goal be as we continue to rebuild this off-season? 5. What is your go-to shootout move? 6. What's your all-time favorite board game?

Proud to win the Poke Check Award! Thanks!

@MexicanCow123 When do you need the lines in by?

Good to have you back @Advantage!

Joel Castle looks on in the season's last game against Calgary. Toronto Legion rookie goaltender Joel Castle is sitting in his stall, jersey and top gear off, but still wearing his pads as he answers questions from the media scrum following the Legion’s final game of the regular season, a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Wranglers. Finishing with the second-worst record in the league means there will be an extra long summer for the boys in blue, although it was assumed as much at the beginning of the season in what was known to be a rebuilding year for Toronto. Reporter #1: “You were fantastic tonight, Joel, stopping 48 of 52 shots against a good Calgary team. How was it facing against Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday again?” Joel Castle: “It’s always fun to face Oskar. You always know you have to be at your best because he’s so hard to beat and you have to match him save for save. Even though he got the win, I can say my save percentage was better.” Reporter #1: “The two of you met at center ice at the end of the game. What did you say to him?” JC: “Oh, I just said great game and wished him luck in the playoffs. I told him we’ll be there next season.” Reporter #2: “Do you really think this team has a chance to make the playoffs next year? Or do you think another year of rebuilding is needed?” JC: “You never know what happens in this league, there’s a lot of upheaval every off-season and we have a hard-working group of guys here and some exciting young players coming up. We’ve really gelled and played well the last little while so, you know, anything can happen. We’re all going to go into the summer with the goal of making the playoffs and that might seem a bit optimistic but we believe in each other.” Reporter #3: “How hard was it after coming from Geneva last season to come to an obviously rebuilding team in Toronto and know wins were going to be hard to come by again?” JC: “Well, I had more wins this year than last so I’ll take it! I mean, obviously, we knew this year was going to be about building for the future. Getting to know each other, working with the new coaches and management and all of us focusing on a common goal. Yeah, it’s not fun to loose so much, but I feel that we were actually pretty competitive and we had fun out there every night.” Reporter #3: “Who do you think has helped you the most with the transition to the VHL this season?” JC: “Every one in this locker room had been helping each other out from the get-go. It’s a close group. I mean, a veteran guy like Peace @Peace, you watch how he works, you learn how to be a pro from him and he’s given me lots of advice everything from living in TO to shooter tendencies, you know, a guy like him you just soak up whatever hints he gives you. Having Mac Altas @v.2 come in the same time as me has been great because as the rookies, we hang out and stuff. He’s been a good friend. And even someone like Oskar, even though he’s on another team, he helped me out a lot before he got traded and we’ll still text each other and congratulate each other on good games, stuff like that. He’s been kind of a mentor for me.” Reporter #4: “So what’s next? How do you push reset for next season and get ready?” JC: “I think I just reflect on what I’ve learned, continue to believe in myself. I’m taking a training schedule from the training staff home for the summer and I’m going to work a lot on just getting stronger, quicker, more flexible. I feel my technique is really strong but being in the VHL every night just showed me how much better physically I need to be to be my best.”

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. With five games left in the regular season, how will we do in these last five contests? 2. Mac Atlas @v.2 is currently 5th in VHL rookie scoring with 46 points. In what place will he finish in the rookie scoring race? 3. Babushka @BrutalBoost, Ryan @freezyeh and CDS Leb @CDS_Leb all sit at 8 goals. Who is most likely to reach double-digits by season's end? 4. How would you design a potential third jersey for the Toronto Legion (pattern, colors, logo, etc.)? 5. What's one deal you would want your favorite NHL team to make by the Trade Deadline? 6. If money and era were no object what would be your dream car to drive?