animal74

Super sick!!

Typically a slow starter, Legion goalie Joel Castle has started to play better as of late. After going 6-3-1 with a 3.27 GAA and a 0.898 SV% in his first 10 games, he has settled down and in his last 12 starts he has gone 8-4 with a 2.38 GAA and 0.918 SV%. He also picked up his first shutout of the season recently against Riga while helping Toronto win their last five games. Although his 14 wins are tied for 4th in the league, his current marks of 2.78 and 0.908 are still off the Top-10 leaders. He does lead all VHL goalies with 4 assists though. Eight games after passing Kyle Peace for 5th all-time on the Legion’s career goal list, Mac Atlas has moved up to 4th after scoring his 261st goal (his 14th of the season) in a win against the Moscow Menace passing HOFer and the league’s 3rd all-time leading points scorer, Kevin Brooks. Jimi Jaks’ next goal will be his 218th goal with Toronto and break a tie with LeAndre St. Pierre for sole possession of 10th on the Legion’s all-time goal list. If defenseman Bobby Bob continues his passing wizardry, he is on pace to become only the fourth recorded player to lead the Legion in assists four consecutive seasons joining Roman Sokolov (S54-S57), Sebastian Ironside (S61-S64) and Tzuyu (S65-S68). Max Moholt also led Toronto in assists four times but not consecutively.

Ah, gotcha!

1. We've started the season 8-3-0 so far. What has been the biggest contributor to that good start? The offense is clicking and everyone is contributing. 2. Who is looking like our biggest challenge in the North American division early in the season? Well Calgary has had our number early. We have to train harder in order to catch them. 3. Oilers and Panthers in the Cup Final. Who do you have winning, and in how many games? Man, that's tough. It could be McDavid's year or it could be Florida's experience in the Finals last year is the difference. Going to say Florida in 7. 4. Joel Castle is set to make his 500th appearance in net for us this week. How important has this Legion legend been to the team? Later this season. I've only played 454. Regardless, this has been a great run and I've enjoyed every moment as a Legion! 5. We've got 5 players in the top 10 in points so far this season (Jaks, 22; Atlas, 20; Bob, 19; Machado, 19; Callahan, 18). By this time next week, which player will be leading? I think Jaks will still be piling up the points like he has been for the last few seasons. 6. Who is your favourite band (or bands) to listen to? Current fav is The Warning. Those girls are just so talented. Anberlin is one of my all-time favs.

All Mac Atlas @v.2 has done since entering the VHL is score goals. The Toronto Legion knew they were getting a great player when the Canadian team drafted him 1st overall in the S87 draft after a 49-goal, 128-point campaign with the VHLM’s Ottawa Lynx, but they may not have realized they may have drafted one of the franchise’s all-time greats. Although he hasn’t quite hit the height of his VHLM numbers, he’s come pretty darn close. Atlas has scored over 40 goals three time in his seven-year career culminating with last season’s career-high of 47. That left him 7th overall on the Legion’s all-time career goals list at the end of the season and he’s picked up where he left off in S94. With a first period goal early in Game 71 against the Dynamo, his 9th of the season, Atlas broke a tie with the man he succeeded as captain, Kyle Peace @Peace, for 5th all-time with 256 career goals having already passed Bo Boeser @DollarAndADream a few games earlier. And he’s not slowing down. With Atlas being eligible to play next season as well, Max Molholt’s @Molholt franchise record of 407 goals still appears safe, two more 40-goal seasons would put him in range of 2nd on the list, Zach Parechkin @DollarAndADream with 327. The next HOFer that Atlas will catch in the next few games for 4th is Kevin Brooks @brooks.. TORONTO LEGION: CURRENT TOP-10 ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON GOALS Player Name GP G Seasons 1 - Max Molholt 576 407 S45-S52 2 - Zach Parechkin 504 327 S46-S52 3 - Peyton Nydroj 432 279 S19-S24 4 - Kevin Brooks 360 260 S6-S10 5 - Mac Atlas 515 257 S87-S94 6 - Kyle Peace 536 255 S81-S88 7 - Bo Boeser 360 251 S55-S59 8 - Matty Fire 432 233 S80-S85 9 - Lars Berger 288 218 S20-S23 10 - LeAndre St. Pierre 432 217 S47-S52

1. I'm excited although it's bittersweet being my last season with Castle. I'm going to enjoy the ride and hopefully it's a good one! 2. Continental Cup. That is the goal. 3. Busy with kids' sports, mainly basketball. Hopefully summer will bring a bit more relaxation at the trailer and we have a trip to Vancouver Island planned. 4. James MacAvoy @Enraged has brought great energy since we got him. Looking forward to seeing what he can do this season! 5. I think we can get 1st in the conference. We're deep everywhere and other teams have lost some of their depth. On paper, we have four of the best 12 players in the league and the best goalie. We let 1st slip away from us last season - we won't do that again. 6. Only the NHL playoffs when I have time, LOL. Got to finish Rings of Power too...

Is that my pre-retirement present, @tcookie? Milwaukee Saros does work perfectly. All the cards are fire. Well done!

Congrats on a great career!

I'm sad...

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Well, the off-season is upon us. What are your goals to be better for S94? 2. We say goodbye to Steve Lattimer @pugsood who scored 141 points in 126 games for us. What are your parting words for him? 3. We welcome Nils Andersson @Viper and James MacAvoy @Enraged to the team. What do you want to tell them about this team? 4. What off-season tournament/event/fantasy draft are you most looking forward to and why? 5. Who's your NHL Eastern Conference pick to make it to the Final - Rangers or Panthers? 6. Who's your NHL Western Conference pick to make it to the Final - Stars, Oilers, or Canucks?

@pugsood Thanks for being a great teammate. It was awesome having you on the Legion and seeing you post career numbers! Welcome to the Legion @Viper

Let the Pandamonium begin! Congrats @Lemorse7! Good for you dude!

Inevitable, really. You've been a huge asset to the Legion on and off the ice since you came on aboard, @dstevensonjr. Congrats on a well-deserved appointment!

1. I would have chosen London due to Teno but Seattle proved to everyone that they are still a franchise to be reckoned with. 2. I think we'll keep the playoffs. With my final depreciation, I doubt many will see us as true contenders but if we believe and keep working hard, we can make a run. 3. I'll try not to fall into a lull even though it's busy irl, but I have lots of things I want to accomplish before I retire. 4. Bringing in some depth especially on the blueline is important. Once again, the four-man defense corp proved to be the way to team build. It will be tricky under the cap but limiting Bot playing time is crucial. 5. I'm excited to see which prospects we add to the organization as we have so few currently. 6. Well, Keefe is gone. That's one. Drop Samsonov and make a core 4 change whether it's Marner or Tavares. Also, their blueline is not working. Lots of changes need to happen. Treliving will have a busy summer - or he should.

Three things are guaranteed in life: death, taxes, and Seattle hoisting the Continental Cup! How @Banackock keeps doing this will be the discussion among scholars for generations to come. Congrats Bearz!! Great to see guys like @Ricer13 and @Jubis get a Cup. London, I honestly thought you had it. Teno @aimkin is a legend. Great Finals for both teams!

Why be a Menace when you can be a Wann Kerr?

@Sjin just trouncing everyone by 40+ points...

Claim 2/2 (1000 words)

TEAM AWARDS A lot of pressure followed the Legion into S92. They were now the defending Continental Cup champions and the target was squarely on them as they prepared for life without Dens Oden and Tomas Sogaard, two key members of their Cup run. The core remained the same with rookie Kobe Johnson and mid-season acquisition Steve Lattimer brought in to bolster the roster. Despite down years from Mac Atlas and Joel Castle, Toronto made the playoffs as the 4th seed in the North American Conference with continued solid production from Jimi Jaks and Bobby Bob and strong sophomore campaigns from Harry Callahan, Diego Machado and Walter Fitzroy Jr. After defeating New York in the first round, the Legion shocked the VHL by taking out top-seeded Calgary in six games to make their third straight Conference Final. Their luck ended there, however, as they lost in five games to the eventual Cup champs, the D.C. Dragons. Here are some of the individual highlights: - Jimi Jaks was T-10th in the VHL in goals with 38, T-2nd with 3 hat tricks, and 10th with 487 shots - Jaks was also 5th in playoff scoring with 5-16-21 in 15 games. - Bobby Bob’s career-high 71 points were T-6th among defensemen and his 56 assists were T-11th - Harry Callahan was T-2nd with 9 GWG and 9th with 489 shots - Mac Atlas set career-highs with 96 PIM and 207 hits - Jimmy MacElroy tied his career-high of 10 goals and set highs of 142 shots and 6 PPG in his final season - Evan Bihler set career-highs in games (14) and minutes played (648) and SV% (0.938) in his final season - Joel Castle co-led the league with 6 shutouts and was 8th with 32 wins and a 2.56 GAA Statistical Leaders: Goals: Jimi Jaks 38 Assists: Bobby Bob 56 Points: Jimi Jaks 83 +/-: Jimi Jaks 30 PIM: Jimmy MacElroy 107 Hits: Mac Atlas 207 Shots: Harry Callahan 489 Shots Blocked: Walter Fitzroy Jr 146 PPG: Jimi Jaks, Steve Lattimer 7 GWG: Harry Callahan 9 Fights: Diego Machado 6 Wins: Joel Castle 32 GAA: Evan Bihler 2.04 SV%: Evan Bihler 0.938 SO: Joel Castle 6 Here are the S92 Team Awards as voted by the Toronto players and management: Best Defenseman Bobby Bob @Baby Boomer For the second straight season, Bobby Bob lead the Legion in assists with 56 and also led Toronto defensemen with his career-highs in goals (15), points (71, tied for 6th among VHL defensemen), and shots (172) and led them in plus/minus (13). His continued excellence in all three zones was a reason why he was also a major contributor on special teams. Rookie of the Year Kobe Johnson @Vkobe-v It’s been a long journey to the VHL for Ukrainian winger Kobe Johnson. Drafted with the first of Toronto’s three 2nd round picks in the S86 Draft, Johnson has continued developing throughout two seasons in the VHLM and five in the VHLE before making the cut in S92. The only rookie on the Legioni roster, he had a solid campaign scoring 9-13-22 showing skill and versatility. He potted 3 PPG, 2 GWG, and even scored on his only shootout attempt of the season. Unsung Hero Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr Although only in his second season, Callahan quickly cemented himself as an integral part of the Legion’s offense. He was second in team scoring with 75 points and third in goals with 30. But he also showed how he was willing to sacrifice his body with 36 blocks and also shone in the clutch by leading Toronto with 9 game-winning goals. Most Energetic Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr Someone would see Callahan’s team-leading shot totals (489) from S92 and assume he was all over the ice and they’d be right. A seemingly endless motor helped him to improve on his rookie campaign by 20 points and 70 hits (180, 4th on the team). His increased performance and energy was even more evident in the locker room as he became one of the Legion’s most vocal players. This is his second consecutive Most Energetic award. Most Gentlemanly Joel Castle @animal74 Although a fierce competitor, Toronto’s veteran goaltender is known also for his sportsmanship and gentlemanly demeanor on and off the ice. Never one to let a milestone go by without kudos, Castle keeps spirits high and encourages dedication and buy in. This is Castle’s fourth Most Gentlemanly award. Most Valuable Player Jimi Jaks @ke1vi On a team that finished in the bottom half of the league in scoring, Jaks’ 38 goals was very significant for the Legion and was tied for 10th in the VHL. Not only did he lead the team in scoring for the second time in his career with his 2nd straight 80+ point campaign (a career-high 83), he also lead Toronto in plus/minus with +30 which was 11 more than the next player. He was tied for 1st with 7 PPG and second in shots (487, also a career-high). His commitment to detail has allowed him to improve his point total for the fourth straight season and his all-around game helped keep Toronto in the playoff hunt. 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, strong work ethic, 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 thus making an easy vote for his second straight Legionary of the Year award. 3-Stars Award Jimi Jaks @ke1vi Jaks contributed on the scoresheet most nights and when he didn’t, he did the little things that win hockey games. The Legion’s most valuable player led the team in goals, points, and plus/minus and that led to also leading the team in total 3-Star selections and points. He also led the team in 2nd-Star selections with 11. Full 3-Star standings below: Congratulations to all the award winners!

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. Does it concern you that we went 2-6 in our last eight games to not only lose the Victory Cup but also the Conference title? 2. Which North American team do you think will be our toughest test? 3. What defines a sports dynasty for you? If we win another Cup this season or next would you consider this Legion team a dynasty? 4. Who will score the Legion's first playoff goal? 5. What part of VHL history would you like to know more about? 6. Do you have a video game recommendation for your teammates?

The creation of this award continues to be one of the best decisions the league has ever made. #RIPElmebeck

Toronto Legion veteran Joel Castle became the first VHL goalie to reach 40 wins tonight after a 5-3 victory over the Moscow Menace reaching the milestone for the second time in his career. The last time Castle reached 40 wins was in S91, the year the Legion last won the Continental Cup. Castle hopes the milestone is a good omen. “Obviously, we want to win every game but that’s impossible so to win as much as we have this season has been great. I haven’t been as sharp as I’ve wanted to be so most of the credit goes to the rest of the team as they’ve been scoring at a phenomenal rate.” To Castle’s point, Toronto has been the league’s highest scoring team (249 GF) and is on pace to score the franchise’s most goals in a season since S81 with they poured in 279. They currently have four 40-goal scorers and could finish with five by the end of the season. Castle’s 40th win also kept Toronto’s slim lead at the top of the VHL with 96 points, two ahead of the red-hot Malmo Nighthawks who have beaten Toronto handily in all four of their meetings this season and have a game in hand. The Nighthawks netminder, Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro, who led the league with 46 wins last season, is second in the VHL with 39 wins and it won’t be long before he get his 40th win as well. It will be a close race between the two former Geneva Rush teammates for not only the wins title but also the Victory Cup.

Toronto Legion Press Conference (2 TPE for answering all six questions) 1. We are currently hanging on to the top spot overall in the VHL but a few teams are close behind. Can we hold on and capture our first Victory Cup since S67? 2. We're on pace to have our best offensive season since S81 (279 GF). How many goals will we have by the end of the season? 3. Which do you think will happen first in the VHL: The next 70-goal scorer or 100-assist scorer? 4. If Toronto used a third color to accent the double blue jerseys, what color do you think would look good? 5. Diego Machado is on pace to become Toronto's first 50-goal scorer since Paul Atreides in S83. Will he make it and how many goals will he end up with? 6. Which NHL playoff matchup intrigues you the most? Which matchup could you care less about?

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Truer words have never been written.