Garsh

To be honest, this isn’t even as impactful as some Louth Rule punishments IMO. The punishment here is a slap on the wrist for a class where there’s very much a top 2. Whether that’s appropriate is up to opinion. 
 
The VHL will always have shady GM tactics, whether we’re talking this or trying to fleece new GMs or tampering or even weird borderline insider trading policy change proposals that we have to look out for in BoG. So even though not everything will be caught all the time, I’m glad that there’s some effort made to keep it in line. I’m sure that stuff happened in more places than just Seattle this season, and I’d understand if that’s a reason to keep it mild, but we as players should also be doing our best to make sure we get the playing time we deserve and speak up when necessary. 

Well, its officially the off-season for some while others still hunt for Cup glory.  The VHLE season is over, the Pro-am is gearing up, and I try and slog my way through another Around the League in 500 words segment.  
 
NINEFINGERS WINS A CUP
My player, Logan Ninefingers finally was able to hoist a Cup in the VHLE for the Bratislava Watchmen.  Logan has been in three straight cup finals starting with his re-create season (S90) with the Miami Maurauders where he lost the Cup in game 7.  
 
His next full season in the VHLM was with the Philadelphia Phantoms where he not only enjoyed a 64 goal season but his club made it to the Cup finals once again, only to lose again.
 
Finally, this season despite only decent offensive output he was able to fill a role and win the Renaissance Cup!  He will take it!  Ninefingers had a great time with Bratislava with an active LR and some fun players.  He learned one fact in Bratislava too…. That he wants to win more cups!!   
 
What’s next?  Logan is preparing his bags for the long flight to his hometown of Seattle to see family and friends for a short time before making the 2-hour drive north to Vancouver.  Ninefingers told friends that he wants to get to Vancouver early along with Riley Martin @Smarch, Guntis Gavilrovs @Girts, and fellow Watchmen teammate Vlad Von Carstein @Dom to start hitting the gym to get ready for the show.  It is rumored that he has buried the hatchet with VHLE rival and monster of a Dman, Gavilrovs.  It was scary enough to see these two play against each other, we can only imagine how scary it will be now that they play together and like each other.
 
These four rookies join a Vancouver club with some hungry young talent and one of the best defensemen in the league in Liv Slater @Subject056 and a unshakable goalie in Dalkr Vidarsson @KaleebtheMighty.  
 
HELSINKI DEFENSIVE TRIBUTE
Helsinki has come out to a 3-1 lead over a very tough London club.  London has a scary as hell offense so the fact that the Titans have been able to stop them defensively is a remarkable achievement.  Must give tons of credit to their defensive core and most notably my former teammate, Pierre Emile Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito.  PEB is 5th in scoring with 18 points and has blocked 28 shots.  This is PEB final season, and he’s had a great career.  Not only an award-winning player but a great locker room asset to any team.  Next in line is my favorite Kardashian, Kronchy @Garsh.  KK is shot blocking beast (34) and despite his small size he plays a mean game.  YaBoi Oven @Doomsday, the first overall pick in S90 can also do it all.  He’s been rock steady all season, hitting, fighting, and scoring.  He has shutdown talent that can lead the PP.  I anticipate lots of individual trophies in his future. 
 
Not to be overlooked on defense either is the bone crushing hitter Tommy Sleeves @dasboot.   Sleeves is a monster defensive defenseman that tips the scales at 250lbs.  He leads the playoff in hits (51) and has been great this playoff at shutting down opposing teams’ offense with little or no fanfare.  He shows up every night and plays a hard game for his team.  
 
Best of Luck Helsinki 

I voted 2 - I don't have an issue with multiweek claims being used across the players (ie you write a 1000 word media spot, both players can take 1 week and that is it) but job pay doesn't make sense to me.

The Job Pay one is stupid, I don't mind rewarding someone who has done double the work and done two Media Spots for the week, but as a job you are not doing double to work when it comes to recreating

1.  If you were going to put all your TPE into one hybrid attribute which would it be?
Off the top of my head it would either be DK or SH but DK gives defense so I would lean towards that.
 
2.  What is your least favourite way to earn TPE?
Clicking that pension button!
 
3.  Would you prefer longer playoffs? Only 1 simmed game a day to keep the hype going?
I honestly like how we handle it now, get it out of the way if the two teams aren't close but then string it out if there is a close fight.
 
4.  What are your favourite colour combinations? 
Not something I think about a lot, but maybe something like a bright orange and teal?
 
5.  If you could live in any other decade which one would you pick and why?
I'm not sure I really know, maybe in a future decade if we get all our shit figured out?
 
6.  What is your favourite flavor of Slurpee?
I wouldn't be able to tell you the last time I had one, ill just say like strawberry or something.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - 
 
Heads were turned in the hockey world yesterday as an old agency rumored to be defunct made the surprise announcement that they were taking on a new player. The Will Agency (WA), an old agency that represented previously a couple of high profile players before hitching their wagon to a series of relative failures, announced yesterday that they would be representing up-and-comer Tommy Shelby of Birmingham. 
 
In a statement to press, WA spokesperson Robert Roberts had this to say:
 
"We're pleased to make a return to the VHL landscape. On account of our disgust with the poor performance of our most recent client, we needed to take some time to regroup as an organization. We made the not so difficult decision to fire all of our scouts and spent the ensuing months investing heavily in AI and data analytics. Today we are confident that we are  the most cutting-edge and sophisticated agency in the market with 100% of our decisions being made by AI. We hope to make an impactful return to the league and our AI is confident that Tommy Shelby is the man to do it." 
 
While it remains to be seen what kind of an impact the 22 year-old Tommy Shelby will have, the performance of  WA's more recent clients casts significant doubt on the agencies judgement. Let's have a look at WA's previous clients. 
 
[The Original] Don Draper (S38) - A chronic underachiever that never won a cup and whose only real accomplishment was a couple of Top Leader awards, Don Draper was a stalwart force on the Helsinki blue line for a few competitive seasons. 
 
Aleksi Koponen (S45) - Aleksi Koponen was a tough 2-way forward who, unlike Draper, did manage to pick up some hardware. Koponen helped lead Helsink to back-to-back cups is Seasons 45 and 46. Later in his career, he led the league in points with Calgary in Season 51.
 
John Locke (S53) - Known for not spending much time training, John Locke somewhat ironically became WA's greatest success and racked up an impressive awards cabinet. In the VHLM he led the league in Goals, Assists and Points in a single season. He earned Top Rookie upon his entry to the VHL and went on to win 4 Continental Cups with Riga and Helsinki. He led the league in goals twice and took home an MVP and a playoff MVP. 
 
Ho Lee Fook (S54) - Ho Lee Fook had a long career, won a cup and put up some decent numbers....in the VHLM. He just never quite made it to the big leagues. 
 
Will Clarke (S69) - A low impact player, Clarke managed to ride the coat tails of better players to win 3 Continental Cups with 3 different teams but spent most of his time on the bench and contributed little.  
 
Commodus (S81)  - A total failure, Commodus played a season of VHLM in Yukon. During his time in the North, Commodus developed an irrational hatred of ice and determined he could never step foot in a rink again. 
 
In time, we'll find out if Tommy Shelby will be a John Locke or a Commodus. 
 

Lambs aren't goats, they are sheep smh.

Lambs aren't goats, they are sheep smh.

Hello and welcome to one of my most unhinged projects yet. I have scoured through the VHL archives to identify every single instance of a repeated last name in history, the sole criterion being that the players made it to the VHL (i.e. VHLM and/or VHLE lifers are excluded). This also means that whilst the list includes all active VHL players as of S92, it doesn't include anyone who is about to come up to the big leagues or has announced their draft eligibility.
 
268 repeat last names were identified throughout VHL history and then sorted to identify the most common last name in the VHL's storied past. But since the work was done to identify each name, I will make it a countdown from names used twice all the way to the all-time leader at 12. Behold.
 
 
Names used 2x in VHL history
188 names have appeared twice in the past and whilst the list is copied in below, I won't dwell on it for too long. This section contains Hall of Famers and completely forgotten journeymen, it has brothers, fathers and sons, and even families separated by multiple generations. Most frequently, it contains completely random and coincidental repeats, separated by as many as 90 seasons. There are two facts of most interest in this category:
 
Two names have a 100% Hall of Fame success rate – Sterling (father) and Alexander (son) Labatte, as well as the Clegane brothers
There has twice been a pair of Mario and Luigi in the VHL – the Linguinis and the De Rossis
 

 
Names used 3x in VHL history
55 more names added to the list in this category which doesn't really have any fun tidbits to pull out – seems to be a higher proportion of recognisable names than in the first section. What this exercise has been actually helpful in is identifying some duplicates I had in the all-time stats spreadsheet from the 60s. Not sure how those happened but they're gone now.
 
Perhaps one other thing worth mentioning is that in addition to the two Ryans in the above 2x list, there was also a man simply named Ryan in the VHL at one point. Unfortunately that Ryan counts as someone with a last name so the Ryans do not manage to make the cut for the 3x list.
 

 
The Top 24
 
We are now in the top end of the ranking, as at 4 appearances each, the pool dwindles considerably. There are 13 names which show up exactly 4 times:
The Bakers (Abel, Joseph, Patrick, and Shane)
The Carters (Alex, Donny, Jared and Jared the 2st (sic))
The Clarkes (Daniel, Dean, Jon, and Will) – two of whom, Dean and Will, are unrelated but were both of the cup-winning S70 Moscow squad
The Downeys (Bahr, Jeff (both the S1 and much more successful S68 incarnation) and the original Jeff's brother Ryan)
The Eagles (two Gregs, Henry, and Tom) – brought to us exclusively by @Greg_Di. Greg Eagleowski sadly doesn't make the cut.
The Funks (brothers and Builders Dust'n and Raymond and decades later playoff hero Rayz and the less notable Frank Jr)
The Kings (Kevin, Markus, Roctrion, and Thomas)
The Komarovs (Evgeni, Pavel, Sergei, and Vladamir) – also the sole work of one man, @Gooningitup
The Matthews (Anthony, Luke, Mitchell, and Wesley)
The Millers (Alec, Jackson, MF Percy, and Nicholas)
The Syndergaards (two Aksels, Thomas, and Tomas)
The Williams (AJ, Justin, Robinson, and Tyrone)
and the Youngs (Alex, Christopher, Naomi, and Zachary)
 
5 names then, fittingly, show up 5 times over the years:
Davis (David, Finn, Jake, Jasper, and Roque) – almost entirely hauled up the list by @Josh's obsession with the name
Hamilton (brothers Phil, Jeff, and David (Phil and Jeff making the Hall) and also the lesser-known Drew and Josh)
Knight (Blake, David, Jordan, Ricky, Steven) – remarkably only once used by either @Phil or David @Knight – the actual Knight brothers choosing to be Hamilton brothers in the VHL instead
Reinhart (Asher, Jerome, Reylynn, Tobias, and Tyler all being prominent in the 80s)
Tremblay (Dan, Danny, Pierre-Marc, Steve and the man himself (not really), Simon Tremblay)

 
Then in joint fifth place...
6 Hunters (Alyksander, Blade, Braxton, JaKobe, Jeff, and Kurtis)
6 Jokinens (Alvaro, David, Diego, Erlantz, Fabio, and Fernando) – courtesy of the Finnish fiends @Ahma and @jRuutu
6 Smiths (Cody, Jacob, Josh, Lucas, Steve, and Trevor) – all extremely forgettable just like the name

 
In joint third place we have the Wilsons (Aaron, Al, Connor, Dusty, Jesse, Josh, and Wade), 7 completely unrelated and largely irrelevant players, and the Gow brothers (@Fire Tortorella and @eaglesfan036) who have brought 7 Gows (Austin, Bernie, Jeff, Jim, Robert III, Robin, and Shayne) to the VHL before branching off into more creative names.

 
Jones is the second most popular last name in VHL history with 9 players (Bob, Casey, Dallas, Dan, Davey, Jay, Kered, Mason, and Ty) over the years. Davey Jones as part of the 30s Dynamo and Casey Jones who had a Labatte-winning rookie season in S57 and then was part of the USA's most prolific World Cup years are easily the most successful of the Joneses.

 
Clear at the top it's the Johnsons though – 12 of them specifically. We've had Bossman, Brent, Gabrial, Gabriel, Kobe, Leroy, Michael, Miles, Phil “The Rock”, Regie, Reid, and Ricky. Yes I was also hoping for a more impressive list but Michael and Phil have definitely elevated the Johnsons' profile in more recent season and Kobe is active in the VHL as we speak. Will anyone catch them? Only time will tell.

1.  Did you watch the NHL All-Star festivities?
I did not, been kinda checked out from the NHL for a couple seasons now.  I need to pick it back up here in the last bit of the season since the Avs are doing good.
 
2.  What did you think of the All-Star Theme Week?
Head empty no thoughts since I never do Theme Week.
 
3.  Should the league bring back the All-Star Game or even an All-Star Tournament?
I'm pretty indifferent, it depends on who has to run it and sim it since those types of people deserves the break that the off-season brings.
 
4.  Are you a shoe person?  Do you like to mix it up or buy 3 pairs of the same shoe cause they work?
I'm not, outside of if I am dressing up I wear the same pair every day until i get new ones.
 
5.  Do you have siblings?
Yes I have 2 sisters, well actually they are half sisters but we have never really referred to ourselves as such.
 
6.  What in general does the VHL need more of?
I'm not sure, maybe the league needs more KRONCHY!

Pitching is a baseball thing, hit up the PBE

1.  European Conference is tight, where are we going to end up in the Standings at the end of the season?
I think I see us sliding somewhere between 3 and 5.  Which is fine as long as we make it, as we showed last season.
 
2.  How many games would you want to let line changes ride before changing again?
I'm not sure, you probably need to give it a couple of sims, but there are a few things that would probably go into deciding if you want to change lines.
 
3.  Are you or would you be a trade to get your team or a draft to get your team kind of GM?
In the right spot I would take myself, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do it.
 
4.  Can you skate?  If so, when did you learn and when was the last time?  If no, what's stopping you?
I can't skate.  I think the thing that stops me is the lack of ever learning how to skate.
 
5.  Do you have cable? Why or why not?
I am assuming you mean like cable TV.  I do not because I don't watch much actual TV.
 
6.  Do you believe in ghosts or the supernatural?
I do not believe in ghosts but I am religious so yes to supernatural I suppose.

Second “fuck it” of the topic but we have a lot of new members since the holiday events and I can do what I want so here’s what’s gonna happen:
 
Any member that joined after Christmas Day and comments in this thread before noon (EST) on Sunday will get 1 entry into each of the 4 tiers! This way the new members potentially get to be involved in the raffle as well.
 
@VHLM Commissioner  and @VHLM GM if you guys could make your new people aware that would be great.

Personally, I've been happy with the hybrid system, and I believe  all of my best seasons have come under it.

Second week and I have already been told in different places that I am complete idiot and really have no clue what I am doing!! So, now with that is out of the way!! Yup, you are completely right; which is why we all enjoy reading these predictions. Either way let’s get into this week’s Review and Predictions:
 
 

Current Standings:
                          Standings                                         Record                       Points                                Last Wk                                             Prediction Last Wk.                  
1.          Los Angeles Stars                  21-2-1                     43pts                          (12-1-1)                                   🟰      1st North American Conference
2.         Calgary Wranglers                 17-5-3                    37pts                           (11-3-1)                                   🟰      2nd North American Conference
3.         D.C. Dragons                            12-9-3                    27pts                            (9-6-0)                                   🔺      5th North American Conference
4.         New York Americans             11-10-3                   25pts                            (4-6-3)                                   🔻      3rd North American Conference
5.        Toronto Legion                         11-11-2                    24pts                           (8-6-0)                                    🔺      6th North American Conference
6.       Vancouver Wolves                   11-12-1                    23pts                           (7-8-0)                                    🔺      7th North American Conference
7.        Chicago Phoenix                       9-14-1                    19pts                           (4-11-0)                                    🔻     4th North American Conference
8.        Seattle Bears                              7-16-1                    15pts                            (4-9-0)                                    🟰     8th North American Conference
 
Reason: Not bad overall as I got three of the eight correct and also determined that other could fail like New York having a tough weekend but I didn`t see D.C. Dragons making a slight run this week, or did I? Actually, I did as I assumed that D.C. could be a team to prove me wrong as they played some easier teams this week and have been award for proving me wrong by moving up into 3rd in the North American standings. The biggest surprise this week has to be the fall of Chicago but again I did predict that they could have a tough week as they played the Los Angeles Stars four times last week; maybe I should have been a bit tougher on Chicago as I tend to sit on the fence a bit too much. In the end I also didn`t see them falling that much below Vancouver at least so I would have still gotten wrong either way.
 
 
 
Next Weeks Predictions:
 
🟰          1.    
 
I just cannot see them losing that may games as Los Angeles are clearly the top team in the league at the moment having lost a whole two games. I might be doing them dirty even suggesting that might loss as much as three games this week. Yeah, I know panic!! Best offense led by six players at a point game with Todd Cooke @KRZY and Jon Webber Jr @Webberj as usual leading the way. Art Vandelay @Gustav and the best defenseman Elias Lampi @Pifferfish are leading defense to only the best in the league. Best of everything for the Stars as final march continues.
 
 
🟰         2.    
 
Calgary will try to keep pace with Los Angeles and should have a fairly easy schedule to help this week but sadly the Wranglers are locked into second in the conference until the Stars start to loss somehow. 4th best offense is much improved from last season is being led by Randy Bobandy @AJW and Rip Wheeler @ScottyP. While defensively the Wranglers are led by Merome Dilson @MexicanCow123 and Phil Strasmore @Phil.
 
 
🟰        3.    
 
D.C. Dragons will make up a group of three teams that could go back and forth for most of the week but in the end I cannot see the Dragons losing half of their games so should be able to hold onto 3rd in the conference. 3rd best offense should keep them in most game is led by league leading points scorer; The Frenchman @OrbitingDeath and top 10 point getter Vincent Laroche-Gagnier @vincentlg2007. Defensively the Dragons have to be concerned with 13th best defense and will look for more from Henry Tucker Jr @NSG.
 
 
🔺         4.    
 
As I mentioned about, I think we have a group of three teams in the middle of the conference so this team could be anywhere from 3rd to 5th by the end of the week but I am moving them up a single spot as the Legion had a better week then the last team in the group so assuming this continue means Toronto should do enough to move up into 4th at least. 10th Best defense isn`t helping the Legion with one of the best goalies in the league in Joel Castle @animal74 add in the inability to score with the 11th best offense and it should be no surprise that Toronto made a few trades this week bring in Steve Lattimer @pugsood to help the offense and Fraser Wallace @Hoopydog to help the defense.
 
 
🔻        5.    
 
Amazing how this team fell last week and I am predicting another tough week for New York as the Americans have a tough schedule but still should hover around the 500 mark. New York still loses as spot this week but should be able to stay very close to the Dragons and the Legion by the end of the week. Could also finish as high as 3rd if I am correct. FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist @STZ  and Jasper Davis @Josh struggled last week leading the offense to 15th in the league with the bright area being defensively ranked 2nd led by Rookie Goaltender WWWWWWWWW @rory.
 
 
🔺      6.    
 
Chicago is coming off a rough week that seen them go 4-11-0; which means Phoenix can only raise right? Well, I am predicting that with a slightly easier schedule that Chicago should maintain pace with the three teams ahead of them if they can play 500 hockey. With the 11th best defense and inability to outscore their issues at the moment it might be a tall ask.  Yaroslav Trunov @qripll is trying all he can; as he is currently tied for the league lead in points but only has the Phoenix offense ranked 10th. Similar situation on the defensive side of the puck as Ryan Artyomov @Enorama is trying to hold together the 11th ranked defense.
 
 
🔻      7.    
 
Vancouver is in complete sell mode as the Wolves completed a series of trades seeing Ben McLaughlin @Ben mclaughlin, Fraser Wallace @Hoopydog and Braeden Panarella @ThatCasual shipped to contending teams for picks. As the rebuild continues this wasn`t that unexpected but now means Vancouver remaining players are in for a tough ride; like losing a lot more games than they have so far this season. 12th best offense won`t be around much longer as Braeden Panarella @ThatCasual was Vancouver leading scorer leaving Nick Sansoe @Tipskid97 and Liv Slater @Subject056 to try to keep it respectable. Defensively Dalkr Vidarsson @KaleebtheMighty will need to stand on his head if he is going to keep the 14th ranked defense out of the basement.
 
 
🟰      8.    
 
The fight for last is coming and funny it is two rival teams in the Wolves versus the Bears but this time it’s not play-offs or for first in the conference but draft lottery placement. Seattle has been winning three or four games every week and I think that should continue but Seattle won`t win enough to move them out of the basement in North American conference at least this week. Offensively the Bears are not that bad ranked 8th led by Severus Targaryen @Banackock but this could change with Steve Lattimer @pugsood being sold off to Toronto. Defensively they are by far the worst team in the league with some 23 more goals against than any other team.
 
 
 
 

Current Standings:
                          Standings                                         Record                       Points                                Last Wk                                             Prediction Last Wk.                  
1.         Malmo Nighthawks                15-6-3                     33pts                           (8-4-1)                              🔺     3rd European Conference
2.        Moscow Menace                     14-7-3                     31pts                            (8-5-1)                              🔺     5th European Conference
3.        Helsinki Titans                          13-9-3                    29pts                            (6-7-2)                             🔺      6th European Conference
4.        London United                          12-8-3                    27pts                             (7-6-1)                             🔻      2nd European Conference
5.       Prague Phantoms                    12-10-2                  26pts                             (6-6-2)                             🔻      1st European Conference
6.        Riga Reign                                  11-10-2                   24pts                             (7-5-1)                              🟰      6th European Conference
7.        Warsaw Predators                  10-14-1                   21pts                              (7-7-1)                              🟰      7th European Conference
8.        HC Davos Dynamo                   7-15-3                   17pts                              (5-8-1)                             🟰       8th European Conference
 
Reason: Blame the fact that I missed the fact that Prague and Moscow would play four game series against each other this week; not to mention my predictions are based around a ten-game set not a fifteen-game set (dumb ass). Meant five more games played than I predicted but Prague going 1-3 against Moscow boosted the Menace and pushed down the Phantoms. If we switched the series this series than Prague would have been second in the standings. Instead, Moscow moves up more than expected. Moscow has now put the European Conference on notice after now beating up on Prague and Warsaw in back-to-back weeks. London United prediction is the fault of the schedule and my under-estimation of the games that would be played as London was 7-2-1 in the games that I actually predicted; would I have predicted that they would lose 4 straight games? No, but maybe 2-2 in that stretch. Either way I went 3 for 8 in the conference with Prague and London very wrong.
 
 
 
 
Next Week Predictions:
 
🟰        1.    
 
Clearly the best team in Europe right now add in what should be an easy schedule; the Nighthawks should hold onto top spot in the conference. Malmo is being led by Jacob Stone @scoop and Viktor Jensen @Advantage with a team commitment to both defence (4th in GA) and scoring (5th in GF).
 
 
🟰         2.    
 
While Moscow might have a tougher schedule, they are a good enough team to still hang onto the second place in the European Conference but could be challenged Helsinki later in the week. Axle Gunner @Steve and Left Alone @okochastar are both in the top ten of scoring, which isn`t that surprising considering Moscow has the 2nd best offense in the league. While defensively they are led by the Rookies in Olober Syko @Spartan and Leif Reingaard @Zetterberg good enough for 7th in the league at the moment.
 
 
🟰        3.    
 
Helsinki could be one of the best teams in the European conference next week with a fairly easy schedule and should put pressure on Moscow towards the back part of the week. Offensively the Titans have cooled since the first week and now sit 11th with Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh and Daryl Dixon @Ricer13 leading the way. Defensively they fair better at 6th led by Fuukka Rask @Jubisbetween the pipes.
 
 
🟰        4.    
 
After predicting this team to move up in the standing last week I am being a bit more conservative this week as the United should play around 500 hockey this week. If London isn`t lucky this week they could even start losing ground to the top three teams in the conference. With the 7th best defense led by Jesse Teno @aimkin and the 7th best offense being led by Leonard Triller @Triller, who is just outside of the top 10 in scoring.
 
 
🟰         5.    
 
Made moves this week to improve their roster after a rather disappoint week. I have lost faith in this group after my horrible prediction last week so I cannot see them playing much about 500 hockey and will continue to hang around the wildcard spot in the conference. 9th best offense team will be looking for more from John Jameson @Frank and Fred Hampton @TownBizness. Prague fairs better on the defense side of the stats at 5th led by Moritz Stauffer @GoodLeftUndone and Matt Murdock @Acydburn.
 
 
🟰        6.    
 
The young Reign team might be able to keep the pressure on Prague and London if they can play at least 500 hockey or better again this week. The 8th best defense led by Rookies Red Panda @Lemorse7 and Mina @Baozi have Riga still hanging around the wildcard but Riga will need more from the 13th ranked offense as AK92 Wit da Hoodie @hedgehog337 and Babay Shrimp @Blazzer need a bit more support on the offensive side of the puck.
 
🟰        7.    
 
What to say here, Overall, the team has struggled and I cannot see that changing. On paper the team should be challenging for at least the wildcard but that simply isn`t the case. I am predicting another tough week but if they can play at least 500 hockey they might just stay in touch of the wildcard spot. 14th best offense needs more from their younger player in Maxim Anisimov @McLovin, King Kisslinger @Kisslinger and Rookie Thor Reingaard @N0HBDY. Defensively 12th ranked defense needs more from veteran goaltender Clueless Wallob @DMaximus .
 
 
🟰        8.    
 
Locked at the bottom of the conference and cruising to the draft next season where they hope to pick a few players to help rebuild the empty cupboards. It isn`t all that bad with Lachlan Summers @kirbithan keeping the defense out of the basement at 15th. While offensively they are the worst in the league but Lorenzo Cobberson @Hendrix Cobberson is trying to retire in style with a point per game pace and David Jokinen @Ahma isn`t that far behind a point per game pace either.
 
 
 
 
 
That it for the first week review and next week’s predictions. As always tell me below in the comment section how poor my predictions are and I will make sure to read them. Either way until next week Keep the sticks on the ice and your heads up!!

Teno

Teno

With the severe drop in temperatures on the east coast this week, Jesse Teno flew home to Vermont to help their foundation set up pond hockey rinks for the locals. By repurposing old nets and boards, they were able to fashion about a dozen rinks all over southern Vermont for both kids and beer leagues alike. “It feels good to come back home once in a while and get my hands dirty for the foundation,” Jesse told us when they landed in Burlington. “I really enjoy getting out from behind the paperwork.”

Along with their families and a few players from the University of Vermont, the Teno Foundation was able to put together the rinks in no time. Each received two nets, a set of old boards, and the foundation also paid for the hiring of retired refs to help with some future games between beer league teams. In regard to using the funds for adult leagues, Teno had this to say: “I know the foundation was built with the idea of supporting kids but with the increase in cash funds for the foundation this past year, I think it’s important that we also support local adult leagues too. Not only are they also worth the effort we can put in, but some have already offered to help coach future kids’ practices. What’s the point of working with a community if you don’t help everyone?”

During the holiday season, it seems the Teno Foundation had a large injection of funds due to some anonymous donors as well as official sponsors; the largest being the VHL. While the numbers are still yet to be reported, it is believed that the foundation has a few million dollars to play with. And play with it they will. Jesse Teno informed us that the foundation is already planning its expansion into northern Vermont and New Hampshire. With that sort of spread, they will be able to help many more thousands of kids and families acquire hockey gear and lessons that they otherwise could not have afforded.

It was noted, as Jesse Teno was giving a small interview at Riley Rink where it all began, that they have two years remaining in the VHL career. The question was then posed as to whether they would then solely focus on the foundation afterwards. “I think it’s going to be a main focus, absolutely. I have no plans on walking away from or closing up the foundation just because I retire. This whole thing is my creation and I intend to see that it last for a very long time. It certainly won’t be my sole focus, but definitely a very important one.”

It's obvious that with the passion Teno has for hockey, they will continue to see that their foundation remains a successful endeavor. Time will only tell how far they will be able to expand but it would not surprise us if one day there are Teno Foundation classes and rinks all over the country. But for now, it seems the state of Vermont will do for a start.
 
514 words for week ending 1/21/2024

1.  What are you most excited for heading into the new season?
I'm excited because our team is almost identical to what we had last season, so I think we will be a team to fear this season.
 
2.  What are your expectations for your player?
Well I'm coming off an award winning season, I'm not sure that I can repeat that, but I'm expecting at least point per game again.
 
3.  How did your player's Off-Season go?
It went well, I'm getting up there in years so not as much progression as I would like, but still some improvements here and there.
 
4.  What is your favorite VHL player name that you have seen?
The first one that popped into my mind was MORPHEUS DESTRUCTIOUS.
 
5.  Now that the holidays are over, what do you look forward to next?
Just the next holidays I get off work.
 
6.  What is your favorite cartoon?
I haven't watched any cartoons for a while, I do occasionally watch anime, I think the most recent anime series I enjoyed was My Hero Academia.

Another week has gone by and I am happy to say the start of the S92 season is here!  Whether you’re in the VHL, E, or just starting in the VHLM it is without a doubt the best feeling when the scores come in after the off-season.  It also makes it easier to chat about the happenings and stuff going on Around the League.  Today I wanted to talk and compare the two top teams in both divisions.  
 
North American League (VHL).  
 The season has started off hot and the LA Stars have topped the North American league with a record of 7-1. This team looks like it has the tools to go deep into the post season with studs like Todd Cooke @KRZY who the Stars got with the 27th overall pick in S84.  Talk about a steal!  Also up front, are Larry Abass Jr @RileyL(13 pts), veteran Napoleon Dynamite @thadthrasher (9 pts), Sunglasses Joyo @JetsGoalie101, and Adam Rage (6 pts). 
 
On defense the Stars are going with only 3 which could be their greatest weakness, but maybe not.  Leading the blue-line is Jens Lekman @Bobcat who is 3rd on the team in scoring.   A proven two-way defender he can lead the power play, block shots, and crush opposing players.   Also on the backed is Elias Lampi @Pifferfish.  EL can put up big numbers too (24 goals in S89) and QB the power play with ease.  He likes to shoot the puck and when he gets hot, look out.  Rounding out their back end is Eric Queefson @twists.   Last season, on a struggling Moscow team EQ was a ray of sunshine.  He put up 14 goals and 130 hits.  Look for those numbers to increase on this talented LA roster. 
 
Now, the LA Stars biggest advantage is their net-minder, Art Vandelay @Gustav .  Now this Mr. Vandelay I simply not just a fictious character rolling in the mind of the great George Costanza but a true Hall of Fame caliber goalie who has spent his entire career with the Stars.  Through the good times and bad he has stuck with his club and it has payed off.  7—1 this season, 1 shutout, and a 1.82 GAA he is the brick wall in LA and will only add to his LA career records of wins and shutouts.  
 
Prediction:  1st in division
 
 
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE.   
 Right now, three teams are all close to the top spot but after 9 games, the Helsinki Titans are holding it down with a 7-1-1 record.  A quick look at this roster and they are deadly.  Up front, they have team scoring leader, Daryl Dixon @Ricer13. The former 3rd overall pick of the Titans is almost a goal a game pace right now and can sizzle passes to teammates just as easy, having an amazing 63 assists last season.  He shoots hard and often and plays with grit (320 hits in S89).  
 
Following Dixon on the front end is potential rookie of the year candidate, Grimgor Ironhide @FrostBeard.  With a name like that you’d expect him to be raiding the coast of England in a wooden ship pillaging villages along the way to fortune and fame.  He hasn’t done any raiding (I don't think) but he is averaging over a point per game with 5g 7a 12pts.  Alongside other contributors, Owen Lazaro @traphag, Rick Grimes @tinafrombobsburgers, Jarko Laakkonen @Xdjk93, and Chip Stone @DoktorFunk the Titans are formidable.  
 
Highlighting the defense for the Titans I can easily start with the only Kardashian I can stand, Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh.  Krochy is an absolute gem on defense.  Grit, speed, and skills Kronchy can punish teams anywhere on the rink.  13 points so far in 8 games this former 7thoverall pick amassed 31 goals last season so if he gets hot, look out.  
 
Next to him former Vancouver stud, Pierre Emile Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito.   Always in the running for off season trophies he is the consummate professional defenseman. Deadly offensively while never compromising defense he does what it takes to win and an excellent locker room presence. 
 
Finishing up with defense is third year phenom Yaboi Oven @Doomsday.  A steady giant of a defensemen I see similarities to former Davos great, Jake Thunder.  Almost a point per game I look for this to be his breakout season.  
 
Helsinki has another goalie that has stayed with the club his entire career so far in Fuukka Rask @Jubis. Drafted 14th overall in S87 he has been steady his whole career, even during the dark times.   7-1-1 this season is a 2.29 GAA he shows that even when his formidable defense makes a mistake, he is more likely than not to stop it.  
 
Prediction: 2nd overall in EU 
 
Have a great week everyone  

teno