Garsh

Prague 4-2

The VHL's seventh decade saw much positive change from the top down – starting from the remnants of Project Player Two and the original S31 expansion to abolishing second (and GM) players entirely and ending with 12 teams, more than ever before. There's a separate article which could be written just on the upswing in the league's fortunes on its own but how were the 60s on a team-by-team basis? Ignoring the new expansion franchises (so a third of the league), I've delved into all eight “original” franchises and tried to put this decade in the context of where they were at the start of it. Overall, most teams had some highlights with a fairly even spread of Continental Cups throughout the league. However, because no one had a terrible time, everyone has a few regrets.
 
---
 
Calgary

The Wranglers had reached an all-time low point in the 50s. They had already made a bit of a living off past glories, trumpeting left, right, and centre about their proud lineage dating back to that 69-3 season in S1, but then it was all cut away in contraction in S57. That place in VHL history ultimately saved Calgary, hence they picked up the assets and GM of the cursed Stockholm Vikings instead, but it was still a humbling moment. With just one championship since S30, would the Wranglers ever reach their former heights again?
 
That GM, Tyler Barabash, is an interesting case study on his own. Like Calgary, he had something to prove, with inactivity tarnishing his legacy in his previous two GM jobs, even as his teams won the cup right after he was replaced. You could see an improvement – the S31 Davos squad was almost handed to him but S43 Seattle was Barabash's own creation – and it went up a further notch with early 60s Calgary, arguably the most star-studded roster of the decade. With two Hall of Famers and playoff greats in Mats Johnsson and Norris Stopko, as well as three current ballot members in Jasper Canmore, Keaton Louth, and Oyorra Arroyo, three straight finals in S61-S63 was almost a foregone conclusion and the only regret is that this team won just one Continental Cup.
 
Things have soured a bit as the decade has gone on, however. Where Stopko and co's Calgary was the biggest fish in a pretty small pond, the rushed mid-60s rebuild meant the Wranglers had to contend in an increasingly competitive top end of the VHL. The result: just one playoff series won by the new generation, a reset of the rebuild, and some assistant GM and retirement/unretirement controversy. The back-to-back-to-back Game 7s against Vancouver will live long in the memory, and Brick Wahl will go down as a Calgary legend, but it has been far from smooth sailing for the historic franchise.
 
---
 
New York

If you had to rank the eight franchises profiled in this series by their success this decade, it would be hard to argue against the Americans coming rock bottom. This is not just a boring look down the cup winners list and seeing everyone but New York got one in the 60s. It's a reflection of the fact that their last finals appearance was in S60, meaning New York is now on one of the all-time long finals droughts, and they've not really come close in the years since.
 
That S60 team had potential, was unlucky to lose that season, but was torn apart shortly after for reasons out of their control. GM Vince Wong resigned abruptly, taking franchise goaltender Ike Arkander with him, while star forward Chase Keller also retired young. The talent that remained, led by defencemen Casey Jones and Colton Rayne, was traded off to kickstart the rebuild. The odd thing, however, is that the rebuild went pretty much the same way – GM Colton Rayne went inactive, with a knock-on effect on franchise goaltender Ismond Kingfisher, and a few key pieces also didn't reach their full potential. Those that did, like Joseph McWolf and Dan Wilinsky, were sold off by the team's third GM of the 60s, Joel Ylonen.
 
It's a bit early to assess the latest rebuild as it was built primarily around the S67 and S68 drafts, but the signs are again hopeful. If the VHL went defunct today though, the Americans would have an interesting arc though, from the late maiden cup in S14, through the four straight lost finals until the floodgates opened in S32, before accumulating more dynasties than most in the ensuing years and yet somehow ending up where they started. New York will be hoping the trend turns around going forward.
 
---
 
Seattle

By this point, we can safely say GM Blake Campbell knows how to navigate his way around a rebuild. You would certainly hope so after 20 seasons on the job, but it's certainly reassuring that they have also gotten better over time. Campbell came into the decade on the back of his first Continental Cup as GM, and Seattle's first since S43. The feeling though was that the Bears couldn't sustain prolonged success, certainly not like in their glory days of yore. In that sense, they're still not quite at “dynasty” level, but fitting two separate genuine contenders in the space of 10 seasons is an impressive feat and Campbell can rightfully claim the Bears team that ends the decade is the best he's built.
 
Up until the cup in S68, it felt like the 60s were going to be another “what if” in recent Seattle history. With some of the best attacking talent of the decade, led by Matt Thompson and Vyacheslav Smirnov, but also guest appearances from Gabriel McAllister, Veran Dragomir, and Sebastian Ironside, the Bears were a fun watch and deserved better than three first-round exits in a period they were a top two team in the league (S63 to S65). Ultimately, they were let down by a defence more focused on scoring than preventing goals and a goalie in Roger Sterling who never became consistent enough.
 
To Seattle's credit, the plug was pulled at the right time to initiate another quick rebuild. With enough pieces to sell in a seller's market, Campbell stocked up on S67 draft picks, which turned out to be the best draft to stock up on all decade, resulting in a young team which developed quicker than anticipated and won it all with only a couple veteran pieces. Even after back-to-back cups, it's too early to properly assess this young Bears team and what they might achieve but it's certainly an optimistic outlook and in the most simplified view it's quite amazing what an impact the franchise goalie has on a team, as seen here in the contrast between Sterling and Rayz Funk.
 
---
 
Toronto

The Legion came into the 60s fearing the worst. An ambitious move which sent a future first overall pick (Matt Thompson) to bitter rivals Seattle secured a place as the on-paper favourites going into S59, but Toronto would be shocked by the Bears in the first round and could only watch as they secured the Continental Cup instead. Cue a firesale and a rebuild slow out of the blocks due in part to that lack of the first overall pick and then trading another future first overall (Ryan Sullivan Jr.) even more inexplicably for the inactive Aksel McKnight. The halcyon days of the threepeat seemed much longer than 10 seasons ago.
 
Toronto responded by hiring the VHL's ultimate short-term fixer: Ryan Power. Power's aversion to drafting and reputation as wheeler-and-dealer preceded him, but even by his standards this Legion tenure has gone above and beyond anything seen before in terms of laughing in the face of VHL team-building convention. Yet it's worked and the Legion end the decade with the joint-most championships. It took an odd combination of some genuine stars (Norris Stopko, Sebastian Ironside, Oyorra Arroyo) and some players playing out of their skin (think not just the heroics of playoff MVP Johnny Havenk Carison but also timely goals from Evan R. Lawson or defensive sacrifices of Lespineau-Lebrunette), but Toronto secured back-to-back cups in S64 and S65 in the most unexpected fashion.
 
It wasn't vintage Toronto by any means and no one will put that team on the same pedestal as the threepeat or even the class of S9 or S21. However, the Legion won't care. They remained competitive for most of the decade (a Victory Cup followed after more free agency coups in S67), put behind the demons of the late 50s, and only need to worry about how this high-risk strategy affects them for the next decade.
 
----
 
That's all for now, Vancouver, Helsinki, Davos, and Riga to follow in a couple weeks' time. Have I forgotten about my alphabetical list of every nation's greatest ever VHL player? God no, the timing for this is just perfect as we are literally at the end of the 60s (and yes, decades run from 60 to 69 or 2010 to 2019, unlike centuries, because decades are named after the years while centuries are just a number. Fight me on this).

Results:
Game 40: Minnesota Storm
Game 41: Philadelphia Reapers
Game 42: Houston Bulls
Game 43: Ottawa Lynx 4-3
 
These following can claim 2 uncapped:
@Nykonax
@PadStack
@Krice13
@Peace
@leafsman
@Dil
@LittleRiDog
@Kendrick
@Spaz
@Garsh
@Capsfan18
@ChaceT
@Spade18
@NyQuil
 

Great job @Berocka and @DMaximus!

Hi VHL,
 
So I have a lot of these upcoming so I don't want to sit on them for too long. I hope all the Philly guys enjoy this one as you have a great GM.
 
@DMaximus thank you for joining me in the podcast and as previously said it is 60+ minutes long so feel free to claim for 2 weeks.
 
Thanks all please enjoy.
 
- Berocka
 
 

Got you

Enjoy!
 
Halifax 21st


 
Houston Bulls


 
Las Vegas Aces


 
Mexico City Kings


 
Minnesota Storm


 
Mississauga Hounds


 
Ottawa Lynx


 
Philadelphia Reapers


 
San Diego Marlins


 
Saskatoon Wild


 
Yukon Rush

Grats Gustav

S69 Commissioners' Cup

 
Game #1
Game #2
Game #3
 
 

VHL Top 25 Players
Part 3: 15-11
 
With the usual suspect @McWolf unable to post this, I am here to do the thing. Part 3 is here for you lovely people and our list is coming to closer to the final 5 with each day. So let's look at those who nearly crossed the Top 10 mark. Just chill back and relax reading through praises that our writers give to players ranked from 15 to 11.
 
 
15. Joseph McWolf
 
The second overall pick in the Season 63 VHL Entry Draft, Joseph McWolf is hoping for a storybook ending to his storied VHL career as he returns to the place it all began, the New York Americans, for the final season of his career. Although he was a member of the Season 62 Ottawa Lynx that brought home the Founder's Cup, he has yet to hoist the VHL's ultimate prize in the Continental Cup. After making the VHL, McWolf quickly established himself as one of the league's best offensive defenseman and a dangerous threat on the power play. After four seasons in New York, in which he never scored less than 60 points and won the Sterling Labatte Trophy as the VHL's top defenseman in Season 64, McWolf was traded to the Riga Reign following Season 66. He proceeded to score a career-high 27 goals, 16 on the power play and tacked on 50 assists for a 77 point season. It would prove to be the most decorated season for McWolf, as he won a second Sterling Labatte Trophy and the Alexander Valiq Trophy as the VHL's top offensive defenseman. After another solid season in Riga, McWolf was traded to Malmo. Although he only scored 11 goals, 10 were on the power play, his third consecutive season scoring at least 10 goals on the man advantage. It was also his seventh straight season recording at least 50 assists, giving him 61 points on the season. Joseph McWolf may be at the end of his career, but he remains among the league's best blueliners and power-play specialists, landing him at #15 in our rankings. 
Doomsday

 
14. Rayz Funk
 
Rayz Funk has been one of the more consistent goaltenders over the past few years, which is impressive, considering he is going into only his fourth season in the VHL. A clutch performer, Funk has backstopped his Seattle Bears now to two straight Continental Cups and has earned two Daisuke Kanou trophies for his efforts as the playoff MVP. Funk is only improving, and as the highest TPE goalie in the entire league, one can only assume he will dominate this era’s goaltending awards. Despite his consistency and spectacular playoff performances, there are still some questions surrounding his regular-season form, as he has so far failed to win the prestigious Aidan Shaw for top goaltender during the regular season. However, when so much is expected of him, it is easy to look past some truly incredible performances from a goaltender that has yet to cross his halfway mark of seasons in the VHL. His first Kanou and Victory Cup in only his sophomore season showcased his potential, with a .935 SV% and 1.79 GAA. The hockey world is waiting to see if he can keep up such numbers throughout the length of a season, and it would be unwise to count him out just yet. 
Mr_Hatter

 
13. Acyd Burn
 
Acyd Burn likely takes the title of “Most Successful S67 Player” also known as “The Player That Was Lucky Enough to be Drafted by Seattle”. However, Acyd has contributed heavily to Seattle's success, taking the role of powerplay specialist in S69 with 13 PP Goals. Interestingly enough, a typically disciplined player, sitting in the box for only 17 minutes in the regular season, almost matched that number in the postseason with 11. With Wilinsky and Frostbeard moving on to other teams, Acyd Burn will likely take the role of top scorer for Seattle. It is going to be a tall order to try to replicate the success he has seen in his first three seasons, but that responsibility now rests firmly on Burn’s shoulders.
Erik Summers

 
12. Mikko Aaltonen
 
From there, we continue our list to the weird case that is Mikko Aaltonen. Last season’s sole representative of the D.C. Dragons in the Top 25 list definitely was the main beneficiary of the team’s lack of depth at the front, as he scored north of 35 goals in each of the last two seasons, adding over 30 assists on both occasions, a clear upgrade from the numbers he set in Riga during his rookie and sophomore campaigns. Now entering their third season since their foundation, the Dragons should be better than ever, especially after adding two-time Continental Cup winner John Frostbeard from the Seattle Bears, a much-needed support for Aaltonen, who’s mainly been playing with younger players since joining the expansion team. Both players should benefit from playing with another solid player, though it’s hard to say if the Latvian winger will be able to score as many goals since his new teammate is also a shoot-first forward. Therefore, he might lose his signature high goal totals, but there’s no doubt in our mind that he’ll still score enough points to justify him placing this high on our list.
McWolf

 
11. Apollo Hackett
 
A player that becomes better and better with each season, a player that has been a huge part of S68 and S69 Riga Reign playoff runs? Yes, it is Apollo Hackett, an S66 draftee selected 16th Overall. Apollo has been playing lights out past 2 seasons and considering that he just recently entered his prime it is scary to think what this beast of a defenceman can become. With 68 points last season and +34 rating, Hackett is going to be an important piece for Riga this next season when the most consistent playoff team will return and try to add another Continental cup to their name. After adding goal-scoring ability to the repertoire, Hackett will clearly be an even bigger threat this season because if last season’s goal totals were anything to go by, we are looking at one of the better offensive defenceman in the league currently. The big question will be about Hackett’s ability to play high-quality defence when his main role will be to carry the blue line offensively. Still, 11th best player rated by VSN? Not a bad place to be for anyone. 
FrostBeard

 
 
What do you guys think of this part? Who do you think is ranked too low or too high? Gives us your opinion and be sure to predict who is taking the 1st spot on our list!
 
People mentioned: @McWolf, @Rayzor_7, @Acydburn, @GRZ, @FrostBeard, @oilmandan, @Renomitsu

Grats Gustav

Vancouver Wolves Defenseman Jeff Downey Changing Up Game
 
Vancouver, British Columbia – It is no secret that this past season ended in large disappointment for the Vancouver Wolves. After finishing the season first in the league they managed to squeak by the Toronto Legion in the first round before being knocked off by the eventual cup champions in the Seattle Bears. We caught up with the team’s second pairing defenseman Jeff Downey about his season and his plans going forward.
 
‘It really was a difficult end to an otherwise great season for this squad. I think I improved fairly substantially from my first year and hope to do so going forward here into season 70. For the first two years of my career I have mainly been a defensive guy with a penchant for getting into passing lanes and using my positioning to make some defensive plays. Going forward I am going to be putting my large frame to work much more often. I am going to be adding a physical piece to my game that hasn’t been seen before. I think it will greatly improve my usefulness on the ice and should actually lead to more offensive production as well.’
 
Downey has definitely bulked up over the offseason so it should be interesting to see what his physical game looks like in season 70.

Season 69 ended in disappointment for Reaper fans and players as they lost in the 1st round of the playoffs to Halifax 21st.  They’ve used the offseason to let go of the past and focus on the upcoming season. We had an opportunity to sit down with the Reapers’ GM, Domini Maximus, to find out her thoughts on her tenure and what she hopes Season 70 holds for the Reapers.
 
Q: What was the mood of the team like in the locker room after the Game 6 loss to Halifax?
A: I think we were all shocked more than anything. We were confident in our abilities, we had a strong team, we expected to win. I mean we had an excellent record against them in the regular season. Having all that come crashing down was a shock to the system to say the least.
 
Q: A 2nd straight season ending in disappointment for the team. Are fans losing patience with you?
A: I’m not sure I can speak for all the fans. I think it’s natural for fans to want us to win immediately and consistently so I get where they’re coming from. I want the same thing myself. 2 seasons ago we missed the playoffs, last season we made the playoffs. There’s clear improvement there and based upon the buzz this team is creating around the city, I think fans are really excited for what’s to come.
 
Q: Talk about that buzz, why is there excitement?
A: Just look at the roster. We’ve got stars like Bud Knight @Dilly Dilly, Griff Manzer @Garsh, Richard Fitzwell @Tomato Soup, Kyle Andersen @Cusemode, Jack Russell @quanack, and of course our fantastic goalie Isak Sjostrom @Austin2997, all returning. We had a great draft where we were able to pickup an absolute gem of a player in Jared Spaz @Spaz and we were able to draft fan favorite Derek Eriksson @DirtyDerek back to our team. He’s poised for an all-star year. We were also able to add talent in the later rounds, like Xavier leFlamant @BarzalGoat, who I think will be called a huge steal of the draft in any historical review. And we got up and comers in Justin Goatman @Goatman and Xavier Hills @inflastud.
To add to that, we were able to make a trade for Damien Wolfe @Laflamme. He’s shown he knows what it takes to win it all in his last season with Saskatoon. We’re glad to his experience and proven toughness on our team.
And we just completed a free agent signing of defenseman Aamon Grim @aCrypticPancake. Adding Aamon to our team gives us amazing depth at defense, a position most in need in the league. With Aamon’s addition, I think we’re going to have the greatest defense in the history of the VHLM.   
 
Q: The greatest defense ever? That’s a bold statement.
A: Without getting too into the numbers, last season was the first season the cap was raised in the VHLM. Saskatoon has a great defense, but it was primarily 3 players, all who were at the cap for most of the season. We’re starting the season with 4 defensemen over the previous cap. By the midway point of the season we’ll hopefully have all 4 D men capped. That makes for the greatest D of all time, on paper at least. I’m sure the numbers will prove it out by the end of the season.
 
Q: After all that, what are your expectations for the team?
A: The way I look at it is, there’s things you can control and things beyond your control. I can’t control the way that other teams play. I can’t control the random bounces or outcomes we see over the course of a season. What we can control is how we operate. We control us showing up every day, working hard, and working together as a team to achieve a championship. I think as long as we focus on that, we’ll have a really good season.
 
Q: Anything you’d like to say to Reaper fans?
A: I’d like to thank everyone who supports this team. I think the fans already know we have a great roster made up of great players whom everyone can support. I’d say grab your friends and get ready to enjoy a fantastic season! Go Reapers!

VHL Top 25 Players
Part 2: 20-16
 
Day 2, part 2. It’s day 3, actually. Sorry about that, this offseason is moving fast and it’s tough to keep up. Anyway, we hope you all liked the first part, in which some players probably surprised you a bit. Let’s keep it up today with part 2, in which you’ll find one player who fell a lot from last season’s ranking and four who are new to this list. Enjoy!
 
 
20. Gritty
 
One of Moscow’s proud free-agency signings Gritty is here. Selected 4th Overall in S65, Gritty hasn’t been the highest-earning player but he surely has been an amazing addition to Moscow’s high-flying squad. Last season, Gritty finished almost point per game with career-high 68 points in 72 games played. A great showing for a player that wasn’t really able to shine that much in both Vancouver and Davos. With 7 points in 11 playoff games last season, Gritty showed the ability to be there when star players like Jet Jaguar might not have the best time on the ice.  Some might argue that Gritty doesn’t have a huge technical prowess to be the best player on the ice all the time but he has the willingness and the mind to be there and support his teammates day in and day out. Added to that, while in Moscow, Gritty has slightly turned his aggression down and who knows, maybe next season because of that he will be rated even higher in this Top 25 list. 
FrostBeard

 
19. Ryan Sullivan Jr
 
The first overall pick of the Season 64 Entry Draft, Ryan Sullivan Jr has been a bit of a journeyman, which you rarely see from a top pick. Originally drafted by the New York Americans, he was moved to Toronto, then again to Malmo. A Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy winner in Season 64, Sullivan also won the Jake Wylde Trophy with Toronto in Season 67 as the league's top defensive defenseman. A switch to left-wing after being traded to the Malmo Nighthawks resulted in an offensive explosion, a career-best 33 goals and 70 assists for a staggering 103 points. However, just as quickly as the offensive prowess came, it vanished. His production in Season 69 (nice) was cut by more than half, scoring just 48 points. Sullivan's prime may be past him now, but he still remains a dangerous player, especially with Malmo loading up for a serious push at the Continental Cup, which places Ryan Sullivan Jr at #19 on our list.
Doomsday

 
18. Guillaume Fontenette 
 
This French defenseman is ready to step into the forefront of the Helsinki Titans organization as their top defenseman by TPE, as well as the fourth-highest overall. A true steal, Guillaume Fontenette was drafted at 30th overall in the S66 VHL draft. Fontenette struggled to make his mark in his first year on the Helsinki roster, only managing a total of 14 points. However, in an era dominated by offensive defensemen, it is difficult to stand out when you focus on the defensive aspect of the game. Fontenette proved this faulty in season 69, as his 166 shots blocked was the best in the league, in addition to improving his offensive output significantly to 66 points on 13 goals. Fontenette is known for being a danger from the blue line, having sniped 9 of his goals from the power play. It will be interesting to see how the Frenchman handles the step up to the first defensive pairing; odds are he’ll do just fine. 
Mr_Hatter

 
17. Pat Svoboda
 
Pat Svoboda is a true 200 ft. player who is just as visible on defence as he is on the points sheet. Pat came up just short of a point per game in S69, but he had 39 shots blocked, which is impressive for a forward. After four straight seasons in the playoffs, it looked as though he might finally raise his first cup. Riga came up just short, but it is arguable that they got even stronger over this offseason with the acquisition of another top-level goaltender. Expect Svoboda to rack up assists this season with the addition of a couple of high-quality offensive prospects that he will likely share ice time throughout the season.
Erik Summers

 
16. Shawnomir Jagr
 
Following the release of last year's list from which he was left out, Shawnomir Jagr promised he would enter this edition straight at #1. We hope he is satisfied with entering it at #16 instead. He truly showed the full extent of his skills during this past season, as he broke out and scored 33 goals and 50 assists, for a total of 83 points, good for 8th in the league in points. The Vancouver Wolves forward's previous career high was 45 points, which might earn him a consideration for the Dustin Funk Trophy, though the sudden upgrade might be largely due to the fact that he now shares a line with two elite goalscorers in Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Julius Freeman, when he was limited to second-line minutes in the previous campaigns. Still, as long as the three play together, we can expect all of them to appear near the top of the goals and points leaderboards at the end of the season, which is a testament to how good each of them is individually and a proof that Jagr deserves to finally appear on our Top 25 Players list.
McWolf

 
What do you guys think of this part? Any of you want to predict they should be #1 next season? It worked for Jagr, as he made it into the list for the first time straight after saying it. What’s the saying? If you believe it hard enough, it might become real? Something like that, anyway.
 
People mentioned: @eaglesfan036 @gorlab @Advantage @okochastar @StamkosFan @TheLastOlympian07 @Beaviss @rjfryman

Could be worse, I did do them and got as many points as you did.

As is League tradition, every off-season the VHL presents it's Hall of Fame induction. This season the BOG has decided to go back to it's old method of inducting 2 players per season and we welcome 2 first ballot players in the same season!
 

C - Podrick Cast, S61-S68 
RS: 576 GP, 379 G, 467 A, 846 P, 345 PIM, 487 HIT, 222 SB, 59 GW
PO: 35 GP, 8 G, 24 A, 32 P, -4, 19 PIM, 24 HIT, 17 SB, 1 GW
 
S61 Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy (Top Rookie)
S62 Scotty Campbell Trophy (Most Valuable)
S62 Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding)
S62 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S62 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals)
S64 Scotty Campbell Trophy (Most Valuable)
2x All-VHL First Team (S62, S67)
2x All-VHL Second Team (S63, S64)
One Continental Cup (S63)
 
@Victor's pedigree in the VHL Hall of Fame is nothing to scoff at and today he adds yet another player to the already impressive list. Drafted 3rd overall in S61 Cast made it his mission immediately to prove that the two selections before him were mistakes. He went to work immediately with 97 points in his rookie season, more than enough to nab himself the Stolzschweiger Trophy as the league's top rookie. From there Cast refused to slow down, scoring 174 points in his sophomore season; a point total unheard of in modern day VHL standards where scoring in general is on the downturn. This season would prove to be his best but by no means did Cast slow down. He would amass 846 points in total, the most of his draft class, as well as 1635 TPE, also the most in his class. One of the most prolific players the VHL has seen in 69 seasons Cast enters the Hall of Fame as a first ballot choice with a near unanimous vote.
 
LW - Matt Thompson, S61-S68 
RS: 576 GP, 422 G, 403 A, 825 P, 769 PIM, 1,827 HIT, 446 SB, 74 GW
PO: 65 GP, 45 G, 53 A, 98 P, +7, 71 PIM, 254 HIT, 31 SB, 4 GW
 
S62 Scott Boulet Trophy (Top Two-Way Forward)
S62 Dustin Funk Trophy (Most Improved)
S64 Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding)
S64 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S64 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals)
S64 Scott Boulet Trophy (Top Two-Way Forward)
S65 Scott Boulet Trophy (Top Two-Way Forward)
S66 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals)
S66 Scott Boulet Trophy (Top Two-Way Forward)
S68 Scotty Campbell Trophy (Most Valuable)
S68 Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding)
S68 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S68 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals)
4x All-VHL First Team (S62, S64, S66, S68)
2x All-VHL Second Team (S63, S65)
One Continental Cup (S66)
 
Throughout 8 seasons playing together it was rare to see mention of Cast without comparing him to the other inductee for this season: Matt Thompson. The 10th player from the @Beketov agency, Thompson was drafted first in S61and the rivalry with Cast was instantaneous. Like Cast, Thompson's strongest season was the high scoring S62 where he managed 150 points after having a mediocre rookie season in S61. Unlike Cast Thompson preferred to score rather than pass and amassed 422 goals over his career, good for 4th place all-time with only S10 and below players having scored more. Thompson also made it his goal to play both sides of the puck resulting in 4 Scott Boulet awards including 3 consecutively from S64 to S66. Despite never winning the Kanou award for playoff MVP it was also Thompson's playoff performances where he truly shined, even with only 1 continental cup. With 98 playoff points in only 65 games Thompson managed an astounding 1.5 PPG in the playoffs. 400+ goals, 800+ points, and an award cabinet that would make almost any player jealous made Thompson an easy and unanimous choice for the Hall of Fame this season and he once again does something alongside Cast as they both enter the Hall of Fame. 
 
Vote
Matt Thompson - 12/12
Podrick Cast - 10/12
Sebastian Ironside - 2/12
Tyson Kohler - 0/12
Jakab Holik - 0/12
Astrid Moon - 0/12
Keaton Louth - 0/12
Jasper Canmore - 0/12
Oyorra Arroyo - 0/12

Bek right now:
 

This is not a test. This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge sanctioned by the VHL Commissioners. Attributes of class 4 and lower have been authorized for use during the Purge. All other attributes are restricted. VHL officials of ranking admin+ have been granted immunity from the Purge and shall not be harmed. Commencing at the siren, any and all rule violations, including tampering, will be legal for 12 continuous hours. Mods, BoG, and @Josh will be unavailable until tomorrow morning, until 7 a.m., when the Purge concludes. Blessed by @Beketov and the VHL, a nation reborn. May Buff Beav be with you all

Julian Borwinn - Hunter Hearst Helmsley - Randoms
 
Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen - Diljodh Starload
 
Kallis Kriketers
 
Congratulations @Jubo07, @Beaviss, @hedgehog337
@flyersfan1453, @Dil
@hedgehog337 (again)
 
 

Well, that just about does it for the S69 VHL Awards! Thank you all for tuning in to our coverage this evening. We look forward to another season of fantastic hockey. Thank you to our voters, as well as all members of the VHL community.
 

 
Good night!
 

The things I do to not have to send one of my guys to Davos...