animal74

The captain sat alone. Only hours before, he had played in his final VHL game. He scored his final point, an assist on the game’s first goal in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Wranglers. At the game’s final buzzer, he was mobbed by his teammates but he quickly pushed through them toward the Calgary player leading a line of Wranglers to shake his hand. He and former Nighthawk teammate Brendan Telker embraced at center ice and then stood together to shake the hands of players from both teams. Drafted by Malmo only six spots apart in the acclaimed S77 Entry Draft, the two friends played in 432 regular season and 55 playoff games together, and helped Malmo win the Continental Cup in S79. As this was Deathwalker’s final game (Telker would continue to play in the playoffs with Calgary), everyone then vacated the middle of the ice and the Scottish giant then took a lap around the rink and waved to the standing and cheering crowd. Now, the locker room was empty except for the hulking hunched figure sitting by his stall. The dim moonlight hazing through an above window faintly illuminated the green jersey that had been his life for the past eight seasons. The sweat on his face dripped to meet the tears from his eyes and continue down his beard to the large “C” over his heart. This was it. The end of the line. But he couldn’t bear to take off the Nighthawk crest and leave the locker room. Not after all the hard work, the time, the blood, sweat, and tears. All the tears of joy and celebration after winning the Cup, all the tears of realization and resignation that trickled down his face right now. And so the captain continued to sit alone with his thoughts. Even though he hadn’t been the most productive offensively as some in his draft class, that was never his role or his goal. He was a physical specimen and a warrior. Someone who led by example, with heart, determination and no fear. He paved the way on the ice for his teammates through physicality, grit, and intimidation. He wanted the rink to be a hostile environment for the opposition. And in the blink of an eye, his career was over, but his influence will be felt in Malmo and the VHL for generations to come. He truly is a Legend. Select accomplishments of Druss Deathwalker: League VHL’s All-Time Leader in Hits (2882) S79 Continental Cup winner Only player in history with eight VHL seasons of 300+ hits (plus one in the VHLM) One of two players to finish careers Top-15 in Hits and Penalty Minutes (Edwin Encarnacion) One of four players with two 400-hits seasons (Simon Valmount, Phil Marleau, Theo Axelsson) Top-7 in Hits every season Led the VHL in Hits three times Led the VHL in PIM, GWG once each, Tied for lead in SHG and Hat Tricks once each One of six players to be named team captain 7+ consecutive seasons Team Longest serving captain in Malmo history Tied with Condor Adrienne for the most games played with Malmo 1st in Malmo franchise history in playoffs penalty minutes and hits 2nd in Malmo franchise history in regular season goals, penalty minutes, shots, and game-winning goals 3rd in Malmo franchise history in regular season assists and points and playoff goals Six consecutive playoff appearances (S77-S82) In a schedule post-game press conference, Deathwalker read from a prepared statement to the gathered media: “As you can imagine, this has been an emotional night. It has been an honor to play in the VHL and for the Malmo Nighthawks for the entirety of my career. The game has given me so much and I look forward to giving back in the near future. I would like to acknowledge how proud I am of my team and individual accomplishments especially our Cup win in S79 and more recently, becoming the VHL’s all-time leader in career hits – both goals I worked extremely hard for and ones that I will remember for the rest of my life. I would like to thank and acknowledge my fellow S77 draftees for the inspiration and competition they provided for me over the years. It was a historic class of world-class players and I am proud to be part of this group. Special kudos to those drafted ahead of me and were on my infamous Hit List: Paul Atreides @Mr_Hatter, Reylynn Reinhart @Ricer13, Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeath , Zeedayno Chara @Jubis, Brendan Telker @Telkster, Asher Reinhart @rjfryman, Roll Fizzlebeef Jr @TacticalHammer, Jan Hlozek @Bojovnik, Aurelien Moreau @Frank, and That Dude @Cornholio I would also like to thank the management of the Malmo Nighthawks for taking a chance on me and allowing me to grow and lead and a HUGE thank you to all of my teammates throughout my career. It was an absolute and unforgettable honor to be your captain for the last seven seasons. First of all, that special S79 team that won both the Victory Cup and Continental Cup, a truly fantastic group that worked hard, fought for each other, made history and reached the ultimate heights together: Artem Tretiak @Molholt Arthur Dayne @Infernal Brendan Telker @Telkster Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877 Jakob Sosa @TMGSosa JaredN Jr @jared Kevin Wu @kevinscix Kirishima Wakaro @Snussu Muffbeav @.sniffuM Scotty Kaberle @fromtheinside Taylor Mourning @scoop Tui Sova @v.2 Tyler Steel @tylerwest Viktor Alexei Kamenov @BigTittySmitty Zeljko Ranogajec @ColeMrtz All my other teammates that made playing in Malmo such a pleasure: Nathaniel Minion @Minion Miroslav Tsarov @PadStack Carson Walkers @Cwalker Dabnad Shaw @Dabnad Igor Molotov @Dom Kevin Sterk @M1nT Obi Adesanya @atw2592 Randy Marsh @oilmandan Steve Eso @Eso Woody McPine @HearnNation67 Addison McLaren @tcookie Barry Taffe @Barry Boris Tsezar @comrade cat Bradley Buzzer @WereBuzzing Chris Hylands @hylands Eddie Dams @Eddie Dams Eeli Rantanen @Jolline Gino DiGiannantonio @pennypenny Harkat Mulds @hylands Kaladin Kvothe @DangerGolding Kristof Welch @Juice Marshall James Frostbeard @FrostBeard Mason Jones @Masu Chan Matt thunder @Matt thunder Morgan Karlsson @Erik Nikolas DAndrea @Nikdandrea34 Poopy Peepants @JardyB10 Rhys Trenton @DeeGoat Sven Reikkinen @Devise Thomas Price @Thunderidge And the managers who believed in me: @hylands @STZ @Dom @Lemorse7 Thanks to the VHL for providing opportunities for people like me to play the game I love. And perhaps my biggest thank you and all my gratitude to the fans of Malmo who cheered myself and the Nighthawks on night after night. You are the best fans in the VHL. To the relief of VHL players everywhere, the Legend, Druss Deathwalker finally hits retirement." #NighthawksRising

You've been great for Malmo @Dom! Thanks for everything.

Good luck, @Cornholio!

1. Two games left and we sit at 121 points, need two wins to beat it. The last game against Mississauga will be the deciding factor as they've beat us the last three games. Something needs to change so we can get the Hound off our back so to speak. 2. We have a lot of depth which definitely important. The Hounds may be our only real challenger but we have what it takes to beat them. 3. That's a tough choice. Just based on stats, I'll guess Larry Abass Jr goes first. 4. He's now down by .001 so he needs some great performances the last two games to retake the lead. 5. Knowing next to nothing about Ceson, I have no comment on the matter. 6. I was involved in the IHL (GMing with NHL players) but it shut down a few years ago. I've been involved in a few leagues over the years, including helping Simon with his STHS documentation way back in the day. I would love to start up a league with fake players that runs like the NHL.

Joel Castle Acing His Starts Rookie goalie Joel Castle has been solid if unspectacular in his five starts so far for the VHLM-leading Las Vegas Aces. Although he’s faced limited rubber due to Vegas’ top defense, Castle has provided quintessential backup duty by stopping enough shots to win against the VHLM’s bottom-feeders which is all the Aces need right now as they give No. 1 netminder Cory Evans @orbit some much-needed rest going down the stretch. The diminutive Canadian puckstopper made his debut against the lowly Saskatoon Wild in the first of a home-and-home series stopping 18 of 20 shots in a 4-2 win. He would win the next game as well stopping 16 of 18 shots for the 5-2 victory. He played well in his next three games in wins against Ottawa (6-4), Miami (10-3) and San Diego (3-2) maintaining a perfect 5-0 record with a Top-10 2.60 GAA and a 0.862 save percentage. It will be interesting to see how he does against stronger teams and if he will get the opportunity this season or if he will have to wait until a tournament or next season.

Joel Castle Joins Las Vegas The Animal Sports Agency announced that their new client, Joel Castle, a goaltender from Langford, BC, has been signed by the VHLM’s Las Vegas Aces for the remainder of their season. Castle finished up his season with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals and shortly thereafter was approached by Las Vegas’ Anthony Pratt @Shindigs about backing up Aces’ starter Cory Evans @orbit. Castle quickly accepted the offer. “I’m really excited about getting my feet wet in the VHLM,” the 5’ 10” goalie said in a news interview. “I didn’t play much this year with the Caps and Mr. Pratt said I would definitely start some games to give their starter some rest going into the playoffs. I’m fresh and ready to show what I can do.” The Aces are the top team in the VHLM and the addition of Castle give them the one thing the team was lacking – depth in net. It is expected that Castle will get his first start tonight against the Saskatoon Wild.

#Castle is All In! @Shindigs

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Great career! Will miss our little rivalry. Until next time...

Great career, Idaho! It will be shame not to see each other on the season Hit leaders anymore. But we'll share space in the Top-5 All-Time! Good luck!

Player Information Username: animal74 Player Name: Joel Castle Recruited From: Returning Age: 20 Position: G Height: 70 in. Weight: 185 lbs. Birthplace: Canada Player Page @VHLM GM

There is no "A" in Moscow - only "C".

Love the name!

Thanks for the mention @Scurvy!

You have been a worthy adversary on the ice and a good chap off of it!

Indeed it was! #SaskyBois

Hopefully this year....

Well, folks, here we are in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, where a sell-out crowd just witnessed VHL history being made! The Malmo Nighthawks came to play the Wolves and the last few games have been much-watch television as Malmo power forward Druss Deathwalker crashes his way toward the league record for career hits held since S53 by Zach Perechkin @DollarAndADream with 2769 hits. Deathwalker entered the game with 2767 hits, needing only three to break Perechkin’s 31-season old mark. Deathwalker really wanted that record because he came out skating like a man possessed! He tied the record before the game was five minutes old with a hit on Wolves’ winger Brian Schmigel @Bigb33 and then broke the record with his 2770th hit on Ryan Li @Ryan Li. But Druss was not done. He had six hits in the first period alone and finished with a game-high of eight to set the new record at 2775 with 21 games left to play. He would also score his 30th and 31st goals of the season, add two assists, and lead all skaters with 11 shots making him the easy selection as the games 1st Star. So, there you have it. The Hit List has been completed. There is a new Hit King in the VHL and his name is Druss Deathwalker. Long shall he reign!

#Phamily

The VHL at 15 Memorable Members I’m proud to be able to say I’ve been a part of the VHL for as long as I have. I was there for some of the early pre-portal years (S5-S12, 2008-2009) and I thoroughly enjoyed my time then and would have loved to continue but life got busy. I would take a look at the website every once in a while and every time I would be happy to see that the league was still running. Then COVID hit and I was working from home but looking for something fun to do as well. I came back to the VHL in S67 to try it out and even though it took me a while to adjust to some of the “newer” features like the portal and Discord, am I ever glad I came back. The VHL has provided me with some of the most fun I’ve had in a while and I’ve been fortunate to be able to win some form of championship with each of my players (S12 Continental, S69 Founder’s, S79 Continental). What has made my time with the VHL so great though, is the people I’ve met. Even though we’ve never met in person, I can honestly say that almost every interaction I’ve had has been positive (maybe I just skipped the controversial years!). Everyone has been encouraging and helpful and that has made it such a great environment to hang out in. And so, I wish to say a little bit about 15 (or so) of the most memorable people/players I’ve had a chance to interact with in the VHL’s 15 years. Most of them have been teammates or GMs/AGMs but a few haven’t. If you’re not on this list, it doesn’t mean I don’t like you or remember you - I have positive memories about every team I've played for - these are just a few of the ones that I’ve interacted with the most. In no particular order, here are 15 of my most memorable VHLers over the last 15 years: @Tremblay - Steve LaFramboise (Teammate, S9-S12 Seattle) LaFramboise led the Bears to consecutive Cup Finals in S11-S12, winning the Cup in my (Gunnar-Rune Rorvik’s) final season in S12. Tremblay was a great teammate and always a happy and positive member on the forums. @BladeMaiden - Brick Wahl (Teammate, S69 Calgary, S70-S71 Prague) One of the first people to welcome me to the big league after Ohradka was drafted in S68, Blade and I were also teammates in Prague and we had some good times. I always appreciated that she was encouraging, helpful and a straight shooter. @Doomsday- Thomas Landry II (Teammate, S71-S75 Prague, VSN) One of the most genuine and welcoming people I have met in the league, he bled purple when we were Phantoms and he's always been a great advocate of the VHL. We also have worked closely at VSN. His dedication has set a high bar to follow. @Dom - Dominic Gobiel (Teammate, S75 Prague), Igor Molotov (GM S81-S84, Teammate S83-S84 Malmo) Ohradka was in his final season with Prague and Gobiel was an up-and-coming star that the Phantoms organization was really excited about. He was already active in the locker room even though he was still in the M. I kept in touch with the team over the next few years and he was always engaging and positive. When he was selected as Malmo’s GM in S81, I knew it was going to be a great fit. I’ve also had the pleasure of being linemates with Molotov over the last two seasons. Dom has always been respectful and respected and it’s been great watching him rise through the ranks. @Beketov - Alexander Beketov (Teammate, S9-S12 Seattle), Mikko Lahtinen (Teammate, S69 Saskatoon, S70-S71 Calgary) Long before he was league commish, Beketov was a slick Russian player who set VHLM records and became known for his dazzling passes. We won a Continental Cup in our final season with Seattle. Then we ended up in Saskatoon together in S69 this time winning the Founder’s Cup before struggling together in our rookie seasons in Calgary. Although we haven’t chatted a ton, He’s been one of the few constants during my VHL tenure and he’s helped keep the league reaching new heights. @Seabass - Seabass Perrin (Teammate, S71-S73, S75 Prague) One of the “Big Three” in Prague during my time there, Perrin and I got along great and also had the connection of playing against each other back in the day in the Cup Finals in S11-S12, each of us winning a Cup. @Jubis - RJ Jubis (Teammate, S68 Saskatoon, S70-S71 Calgary) We broke into the league around the same time playing one year in Saskatoon and then a season and a half in Calgary. He’s a guy who I’ve felt has been “in my corner” and even though we haven’t been on the same team since, he always has a nice word to say. @Ricer13 - Kris Rice (Teammate, S70-S71 Calgary) Another teammate from my early days with Ohradka, he stood out with his team-first attitude and was very friendly during my short time in Calgary and the years since. @v.2 - Josh Vestiquan (Teammate, S10-S12 Seattle), Tui Sova (Teammate S78-S80 Malmo) One the few players I had vivid memories of from my early days, I was pumped when v.2 returned to the VHL to be drafted by Malmo. It was fantastic to catch up and win another Cup with him in Malmo - 67 seasons between championships! @diamond_ace - Jason Glasser (GM S71-S75 Prague), Dagmar Havlova (Teammate, S69 Saskatoon, S71-S74 Prague) Another player from the Wild’s S69 Founder’s Cup team, he later traded for me in Prague and he was one of the main reasons that Prague team was so close - he treated the players so well that we really did feel like a #Phamily. @Peace - Rylan Peace (GM S67-S69 Saskatoon) Really the guy who gave me my first real shot. Although Ohradka was drafted by Minnesota, Peace traded for me early on in S67 and let me grow to help Saskatoon win the Cup in S69. He stuck with me and helped me navigate those first few seasons and was always very helpful. @tcookie - Addison McLaren (Teammate, S82 Malmo, VSN) A great writer and teammate, tcookie and I got to know each other a bit working with VSN and then he was a teammate in McLaren’s last season in Malmo. @Telkster - Brendan Telker (Teammate, S77-S82 Malmo) Even though we didn't really know each other from our previous players, Telker and I became close teammates after being drafted six picks apart by the Nighthawks in the 1st round of the S76 Draft. We were the beginning of a new era in Malmo which resulted in six straight playoff appearances and a Cup victory in S79. Always energetic and quick with a kind word, Telker made everyone's experience in Malmo a positive one. @fromtheinside - Scotty Kaberle (Teammate, S79-S81 Malmo, VSN) Another VSN brother, Kaberle came to Malmo during S79 and helped us win the Cup. Just a great upbeat guy who makes the league more fun. @Elmebeck - Frederick Elmebeck (AGM/GM S68-S69 Saskatoon) Elmebeck was one of the first people I interacted with after a 10-year absence from the league. He was the AGM with the Wild and reached out right away and was helpful and encouraging (as I’m sure he was to everyone) and even asked me to try my hand at AGMing when he became GM. His passing was a blow to the league and the BOD did the right thing by naming an award in his honor. RIP And just because I can’t just name 15, I wanted to give a shout out to some who’ve helped me a lot during my time with VSN and have made it a wonderful community to write with: @Victor, @Mr_Hatter, and @Advantage - thanks for everything so far! If you didn’t make in on this list, I still appreciate all the teammates, managers, and members I’ve interacted with. Thanks VHL for such a wonderful 15 years. Here’s to 15 more! ~ @animal74

There it is! Zach Perechkin's all-time hits record has fallen!

Also, you should make all the fields required.

Oh, I've been waiting for this! I've been accumulating questions like Idaho accumulates Boulets!