Oatex

1. I dont know, I feel like this is a kinda lame topic. Guess ill try to make an interesting media post. 2. At this point, whatever gets me goals, thats what he likes to do. 3. Definitely important, but its not the worst thing if we dont get the top seed. 4. I think it will be an average amount of people, no more or less then expected. 5. I love the Moscow Menace, but I really wish they'd change Halifax. 6. Jean Pierre-Devote, great dude and great player too.

Burning Bridges Series One - Presented by Alex Bridges Welcome to the first ever, Burning Bridges series. This is a series ill be starting up purely off enjoyment. I will make random segments, including lots of analyzation, stats, etc. - based on whatever I want! I already have a PT for this week, but I'm doing this regardless. Without further ado, our theme this week will be: I know this only really pertains to 3 certain individuals, but I figure most will find this an interesting segment just to see the progress these 3 individuals have made throughout their VHL careers so far! The way ill do this is ill list their season by season stats, then have their career averages at the bottom. Ex. 1st Season (VHLM) - 30G 25A 55P This will provide a way to track how the player has done compared to the other 2 players on the list every year of their career. __________________________________________________________ Our first player on the list, coming in at #3 on the point list with a whopping 60 points is the Moscow Menace left winger, Pombo! [@samx] 1st Season (VHLM - LVA): 20GP - 1G - 0A - 1P 2nd Season (VHLM - LVA): 72GP - 51G - 51A - 102P 3rd Season (VHLE - ROM): 72GP - 31G - 27A - 58P 4th Season (VHL - LAS): 72GP - 30G - 32A - 62P 5th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 19G - 44A - 63P Current Season (VHL - MOS): 40GP - 26G - 34A - 60P Career AVGs: 58GP - 27G - 31A - 58P - 1PPG __________________________________________________________ Our second player on the list, coming in at #2 on the point list with a whopping 61 points is the Moscow Menace defenseman, Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage! [@Grape] 1st Season (VHLM - HFX): 72GP - 13G - 38A - 51P 2nd Season (VHLM - HFX): 72GP - 20G - 58A - 78P 3rd Season (VHL- MOS): 72GP - 6G - 29A - 35P 4th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 20G - 37A - 57P 5th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 21G - 43A - 64P 6th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 20G - 49A - 69P 7th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 30G - 74A - 104P 8th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 26G - 64A - 90P Current Season (VHL - MOS): 40GP - 13G - 48A - 61P Career AVGs: 68GP - 19G - 49A - 68P - 1PPG __________________________________________________________ Our last player on the list, coming in at #1 on the point list with a whopping 66 points is the Moscow Menace left winger, Maverick Goncalves! [@leandrofg] 1st Season (VHLM - SDM): 20GP - 2G - 2A - 4P 2nd Season (VHLE - COL): 72GP - 12G - 19A - 31P 3rd Season (VHLE - COL): 72GP - 36G - 58A - 94P 4th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 38G - 42A - 80P 5th Season (VHL - MOS): 72GP - 35G - 77A - 112P Current Season (VHL - MOS): 40GP - 31G - 35A - 66P Career AVGs: 58GP - 26G - 44A - 68P - 1.17PPG __________________________________________________________ Impressive enough, all 3 of these players are not only ALL on the Moscow Menace - but also have had a career PPG or more average! Moscow has a bright future, and they are a THREAT to the league currently. Word Count 589

1. Moscow Menace - This team has so much aura, its not even funny. Menace, the tough logo, top of the league right now. Just gravitating aura all over the place. Wow. 2. Vancouver Wolves - Solid aura, the grey and black, sleek logo. Near the top of the league. Insane high aura for this team as well. Wouldn't mind it here. 3. Prague Phantoms - This team also has an extreme amount of aura. The "Phantoms" is tough, and they have a nice overall theme, correlated to like "evil" and "death" almost. Extremely cold. 4. Helsinki Titans - This team has some okay aura, but definitely above average for the VHL. I like the blue and grey color scheme - could make some good jerseys. The "Titans" are also a tough name. 5. Seattle Bears - This team has so much aura - but not because of the team. The GM... Bana has so much aura put into this team. The win rate, playoff success, etc. Too good, way too good. Please note: Dear VHL GMs, please draft me, even if you aren't on here. I am just ranking aura, and want to go as high as possible. I love you all equally, thanks! Word Count 199

Just for you, I'll make it happen!

Alex Bridges IV was born in Milan, Italy, a city not exactly known for producing hockey players. As a matter of fact, Milan was more famous for its art, its history, and its fashion than for its hockey rinks. But to Bridges IV, the sound of skates was what paved the start to his dreams. For him, hockey wasn't a game; it was part of his bloodline. His father, Alex Bridges III, played in the VHL, one of the most prestigious leagues in the world, along with the VHLM - the minor league in his earlier years. His great-grandfather, Alex Bridges, also did time in both leagues, leaving a trail of success that loomed large over the family. To Bridges IV, the weight of that legacy wasn't just something to be proud of; it was something to live up to. To exceed. Growing up, Alex had very few of the opportunities that so many North American kids take for granted when it comes to hockey. In Milan, for example, the ice rinks were few and far between; hockey wasn't the sport of choice that packed stadiums. Instead, soccer was dominant. Still, Alex was determined to skate, to follow in his father and grandfather's footsteps, even if it meant making sacrifices. His dad, a former VHL flop, had been known for his grit and determination on the ice. But Bridges III had never forced hockey upon his son. He always had unconditional support, but had a desire for his son to continue the legacy. Alex knew what his father wanted. His father didn't care about talent; he cared about heart and passion and the will to push through. And it would be fairly obvious from day one that Alex had some fire in his belly. The rink was where he came alive. From his first time on the ice, he showed a natural feel for the game - quickness in his hands, sharp instincts, and an ability to read the play. But there came also the realization that this was never going to be easy; he had big shoes to fill - and a tough path to fill those shoes too. Most kids his age in Italy played soccer, and the hockey culture was rare, but Alex didn't mind that one bit. He spent every free moment on the rink, working on his skating, his stickhandling, and his shooting. When he wasn't at practice, he was watching videos of his dad and grandfather's games, picking apart their moves, and dreaming of one day playing at their level. "I'm not going to lie," Alex said in an interview years later, "it was tough. I didn't always fit in. I had to fight for everything I have up until this point." By his 18th birthday, Alex knew it was time to take the next step in his development. So after much contemplation—and with a little pressure from his father—he made the very uncomfortable choice of relocating from Italy to America. The VHLM was where he would go-a place that would challenge him like never before. The jump wasn't easy: hockey in Houston was a different animal altogether, with players bigger, quicker, and so much more physical. Alex was less skilled than most of his teammates and opponents, and often times, he felt overwhelmed. But he wasn't one to back down. There were days he would doubt his abilities, living in the question of whether he was really cut out for the game. But with his family's legacy weighing heavily upon his shoulders, he refused to let that history slip away. Stories from his father about hard work and making it through kept him going. He had no choice but to push harder, to find strength in continuing to improve. It wasn't long before Alex found his rhythm. He grew taller, stronger, faster. His natural ability began to shine through, and his style of play-a blend of quick skating, sharp passes, and an ability to read the game-began to turn heads. No longer was he just "the son of Alex Bridges III." He was Alex Bridges IV, a player with his own name. It was in his first season with the VHLM and Alex really found his groove. He started the season extremely hot for a rookie and was considered one of the league's top prospects. That season was the turning point—he finally felt ready for the VHL, ready to follow in his father's footsteps. While much younger than the majority of competitors, Alex began to prove himself. He wasn't the biggest fella on the ice, but quick and with hockey IQ, he did become a player to reckon with. He could move the puck with precision and read plays even before they happened, always seeming to be at exactly the right place at exactly the right time. It didn't take long for the players in the VHLM to realize he wasn't just "the son of Alex Bridges III." He was Alex Bridges IV—an emerging star. But even with success in the VHLM, Alex never forgot where he came from. Milan, his father's sacrifices, and the hours spent training-hey kept him on his feet. He knew it wasn't just about the fame of winning titles; it was about the legacy of love and passion that had driven generations of Bridges players before him. Now, as Alex skates onto the ice, he is not a young prospect but a player to watch, a force to be told. He became alive to testimony about his family's legacy and a bridge to the past and the future. And most of all, he was playing the game he loved, not for the name on the back of his jersey, but because of the name on the front. Word Count 957

Who needs scoring anyways?

1. I think just playing to our full potential, where as we weren't playing that well at the start of the season. This is the standard, the expectation, 2. Couldn't even tell you - aim for the net maybe? Pick a corner and hit it lol. Not too sure on this one. I'm the problem for this one, with my 2% shot percentage. 3. Retiring already? Haha, put some hustle into this team and lead us to a chip - only right answer! Also teach my player how to score. 4. Hes a big pizza guy, originating in Italy. Its a family tradition you could say. 5. Either visa or amazon cards. They are like unlimited and give you tons of options. 6. Honestly forgot to make one, but ill make one for you now Jacob. Im going to work out at least 4 times a week. Ill let you know soon.

Today I had the bright idea of taking teams total TPE throughout their team, and make a general power ranking off it. Ill then break it down even further and categorize them and explain them based off each individual part of their team. This is confusing to explain - so I'm just gonna start now. Team TPE Totals: (In order of current league standings) Miami Marauders - 3,181 TPE Halifax 21st - 3,284 TPE Houston Bulls - 3,537 TPE Ottawa Lynx - 2,349 TPE San Diego Marlins - 3,533 TPE Las Vegas Aces - 3,163 TPE Mexico City Kings - 1,967 TPE Saskatoon Wild - 1,944 TPE Mississauga Hounds - 1,891 TPE Philadelphia Reapers - 1,375 TPE Houston Bulls (1) - 3,537 TPE Forwards - 1,998 TPE Coming in as the #2 rated forward group, this squad is loaded with talent, and a majority of it is young talent as well. This is a dangerous group of players - and teams should be on the look out for them. Defense - 887 TPE This is the #3 ranked defensive unit in the league, which only consists of three players! This could be a problem for Houston in the future, but right now, they're dangerous. Goalies - 652 TPE The second best goalie room in the league, with a dangerous duo in net for Houston. Not sure if they'll have any returners for future seasons though. San Diego Marlins (2) - 3,533 TPE Forwards - 1,598 TPE The #4 ranked offensive unit in the league, with lots of guys in that 200-250 range currently. There's a good chance that this unit is a powerhouse next season. Defense - 1,548 TPE The BEST defensive room in the league consists of 5 different players - all over 200 TPE. This is a scary good crew, definitely one to look out for. Goalies - 387 TPE This is a single goalie room, with their one and only being Ricky LaFleur. Having a solid season so far, but what will the Marlins do in future seasons? He comes in as the #6 ranked goalie room. Halifax 21st (3) - 3,284 TPE Forwards - 2,095 TPE This IS the powerhouse offense of the league, coming in at the #1 rank. This is a scary good group of forwards, with 7 players! Defense - 768 TPE This is the #7 ranked defensive group, which is probably where Halifax is struggling this season. This is going to be a extremely different look next season though, and they should be feared. Goalies - 421 TPE The #4 ranked group in the league, with Chad Powers being a solid starter now, and then Kim Chi taking over next season. No problems there! Miami Marauders (4) - 3,181 TPE Forwards - 1,927 TPE The #3 ranked unit in the league, with 4 nearly capped out players. Problem is, most of the remaining players are inactive - not a good look for the future. Defense - 855 TPE The #4 ranked defensive unit in the league, based on 3 players. Once again, not many future prospect here either. Goalies - 399 TPE The #5 ranked unit in the league, Draw Mac the only one wearing the pads for this team. Once again, no future here either. Miami is looking like a very poor team next season. Las Vegas Aces (5) - 3,163 TPE Forwards - 1,235 TPE This is the #6 ranked unit in the league, which isn't too great. Bright spot is, tons of young talent. Definitely a dangerous crew for the upcoming season. Defense - 1,383 TPE The #2 ranked defensive core, which consists of 4 players. Future isn't too bright for this group, as they'll all most likely be off to the bigs next season. Goalies - 545 TPE The #3 ranked goalie combo in the league, with a solid starter this season, and one for next season as well. Ottawa Lynx (6) - 2,349 TPE Forwards - 1,277 TPE Ottawa's forwards are currently the #5 ranked squad in the league, with PLENTY of young talent. Bright future for these guys. Defense - 324 TPE Ranked dead last in the league, this is what's keeping the Lynx from being a great team. These guys have a bright future with a few more additions, though. Goalies - 748 TPE The BEST goalie duo in the league. Unfortunately, neither will be around next season - time to rebuild! Mexico City Kings (7) - 1,967 TPE Forwards - 1,053TPE This is the #7 ranked crew in the league, with tons of bright stars - and a great outlook into future seasons. Defense - 625 TPE Only consisting of TWO players, this is the #8 ranked core in the league. I'm assuming they'll lose one, if not both to the VHL this upcoming season. Goalies - 287 TPE Pepe Silvia ranks #7 in the league for goalies. Most likely returning next season, will become one of the top units in the league. Hopefully they can invest in a young backup. Saskatoon Wild (8) - 1,944 TPE Forwards - 870 TPE Here we have the Saskatoon forwards group - ranked 9th in the league. Not much going for them at the moment, and they'll lose one of their forwards to the VHL next season. Defense - 849 TPE A solid group currently, ranked 5th in the league. They'll lose 2/3 defenseman next season as well - not too good for the Wild. Goalies - 225 TPE Toby Bob sits in the net alone for Saskatoon - ranked as the #8 unit in the league. He can be one of the top units and core piece to this team next season. Mississauga Hounds (9) - 1,891 TPE Forwards - 923 TPE This group has potential to be on the uprise next season, with all their young talent. Unfortunately, they sit at the #8 group this season. Not much to show for here. Defense - 818 TPE The #6 ranked crew in the league, with 3/4 most likely returning for next season. This will be an upcoming group if they can get some depth at the position. Goalies - 150 TPE Embarrassing enough, this is a set of goals. Two. The starter comes in at 94 TPE, the backup - 56 TPE. Their backup is inactive, but the starter, whiteknight, can help improve this group soon. Currently ranked last. Philadelphia Reapers (10) - 1,375 TPE Forwards - 818 TPE The worst offensive group in the league - bright future if they can add some more pieces and depth to it for next season though. Defense - 398 TPE Made of two young players, this group is ranked #9, but can also have a bright future with some depth brough for the upcoming season. Goalies - 159 TPE Ranked 9th in the league as well, Louis Burley can be a core piece to their team next season, and help lead them to wins - maybe even playoffs? I hope you guys enjoyed this, as I sure did. If it gets enough traction and demand, I can also do this for the VHL? Let me know. Word Count: 1128 Claiming for weeks ending 1/19 & 1/26

In a recent discovery, Houston Bulls RW and third round draft pick, Alex Bridges IV, was found to allegedly have wrote a letter - addressed to his mother, titled "Dear Houston, I'm Sorry." The letter started off by Bridges IV stating his regret to his mother on his inability to score in the VHLM. After coming out in an interview and stating that it didn't bother him last week, this is big news. After having a 1.9% shot percentage throughout his first 26 games, clearly it has bothered Bridges IV so far. The letter continued to ramble about his personal and professional life for a few paragraphs before ending it off with the following quote: "My knees are weak, my arms are heavy, there might even be vomit already - I think its your spaghetti? Mom, I can't score." Rather confusing if you ask me - but best of luck to Bridges IV and his season. Hopefully the young bright spot can fight his way out of the current slump he's in. Word Count 169

Were about one third the way through my players rookie season, and he has a couple points to show for it. 26 games in, and Bridges IV has recorded a solid 11 points. When I said I wanted around .35 points per game this season, this is a good start. Currently exceeding expectations, Bridges IV has around .42 points per game so far. This is all fine and dandy from the outside looking in, but lets head inside and take a deeper look into Bridges IV's contribution to his teams success so far into the S98 season. In S97 at the dispersal draft for the VHLM, Bridges IV was selected in the third round - 23rd overall in the draft. Underwhelming, Bridges IV swore to make everyone understand why passing on him was a mistake. Finally, with a chance to back it up - he has helped the Houston Bulls pave their way to leading the western conference. So far, Houston resides at an impressive record with sixteen wins (16-8-2), and has 34 points to their name at the moment. When looking at how Houston ranks amongst other teams in the league, we can say that they're doing quite well so far: Stat (Conference Rank) [League Rank] Wins (T-1) [T-4] Win% (1) [4] GF (1) [4] GA (2) [3] GD (1) [4] We can see the common pattern that obviously, Houston is in the weaker division - but overall they are doing what they need to do, thriving. When we take a deeper look into Bridges IV's season - and how that's playing out so far - we can sort of tell how he's contributing to the team, and in what ways. Bridges IV currently has 1 goal and 10 assists throughout the 26 game span. When we take that into the account of his teams success, it means Bridges has scored 1.5% of his teams goals this season, which is extremely low. He is tied for the least amount of goals on his team at the moment - which is also never great. In the assist column, he currently has 10 assists in 26 games, which is a much more presentable stat line. When we factor this in to the teams scoring, he currently assists about 15% of the teams goals so far into the season. In simpler terms, Bridges IV is active in about 16.5% of Houston's scoring plays in the current season. To put that in even simpler terms - for every 6 scoring plays that Houston has, Bridges IV is involved in one. For a third round pick, that's not too bad - but for a future star, concerning. When we look at how he ranks among his team, and other RW's drafted in S98 (5 OTHER, 6 TOTAL), he shows he has the potential: Stat (Whole Team Rank) [S98 RW Class Rank] Goals (T-11) [5] Assists (T-5) [T-1] Points (7) [3] +/- (T-4) [3] The data provided shows that although hes not the best at the moment, he definitely is one of the best right wingers in his class. His stats in his team average out to be the 7th best player on his team, and the 3rd best player in his draft class at his position. Hopefully Bridges IV can improve his stats and become the best in his draft class, although highly unlikely. Word Count 551

1. I feel like white out is just a spin off of an away jersey usually, blacked out is usually very cool to look at. 2. I like the goalie that Rory has for the Americans right now, WWW WWWWWW or whatever his name is. 3. Id hope we would buy and try and make a run, but who really knows at this point? Questions 1. Are you ready for the NFL playoffs? Will you be rooting for any specific team? 2. What’s your go to fast food restaurant, and your favorite meal? 3. Do you have any early childhood memories that you probably shouldn’t be able to remember?

Love it! Asia for the win!

1. I've been invited to a couple parties with my girlfriend, and my parents are also having one. I'm trying to go to my parents, but we haven't quite decided where were heading yet. 2. Just get some points on the board, you know. Nothing crazy, just don't do nothing the whole season. 3. Im hoping for around 15 points, maybe 20 if im lucky. Im on pace for about 24 right now, but that will most likely slow down? Ask 3 1. Hows the start to your season? Is it going any different then expected? 2. Do you watch NHL games/follow it closely? What are your thoughts on your favorite team so far? 3. What build are you aiming for your player? Do you feel youve achieved that build so far?

I was able to speak with Houston Bulls forward and S97 draft pick, Alex Bridges IV, for a quick period of time today. He is 5 games into his rookie season and has 3 points in the 5 games Houston has under their belt so far. Of those 3 points, not one of them is a goal. We briefly spoke with Alex to see how he was going to get that first goal, and if its effected him in any way so far throughout the season. I'll recap what he said below: - It has not effected him at all and he is still hungry for wins, and being a good teammate. - He knows it will come eventually and to just keep working at it. - Although he is excited, he is also content having 3 points in 5 games. I think this shows a great deal of character from the young rookie, and gives us a flash of what his future holds. Definitely a bright spot and someone to look out for VERY soon. Word Count 173

I noticed this trend for one reason, and one reason only - my player is currently listed for Italy as his birthplace. As I was doing the trivia, which involved birthplace HOF'ers, I saw some countries had very few players created for them in general. The Dominican Republic only has 7 players made for them in history. Thats equal to about one being made every 13 or 14 seasons. This brought my own selection of birthplace to my attention. I wondered how good Italy has done in the past. Lets look further into it. After doing a bit of research on my own a couple of minutes ago, I surprisingly saw that there are only 40 players who were born in Italy that are currently retired. When I looked at earning and how well they did in their career, I noticed that there were only 3 of the retired players above 1000 TPE, and 8 above 500 TPE (one being Alex Bridges III). This means that 7.5% of retired Italy players hit 1000 TPE, and 20% got over 500 TPE. I then looked at CURRENT players that were born out of Italy, and I was shocked. There were 8 players currently active since S89! This is about 1 player made every season. In comparison to the retired players, who had one player made every 2.3 seasons, this was a huge leap for Italy. I also noticed that of those 8 players, 2 of them were above 1000 TPE, this means 25% had above 500 and 1000 TPE. Its pretty impressive to see how well Italy has been doing within the last 10 seasons, and I wondered why all the sudden have they increased their performance off the boat? The next thing I wondered was, is this a trend in the VHL in general? Do people want to make better players overall? Lets figure that out too. I'm going to select a random country, Denmark, we'll go with that. Ill analyze their past and present, and compare them to see if Italy is just producing hockey machines all the sudden, or if this is a trend in the VHL in general. Starting off, Denmark has 31 retired players. The data also showed 5 of their players were above 1000 TPE, and 7 above 500 TPE. This means that 16% of Denmark players hit 1000 TPE, and 22% hit 500 TPE. This is better than Italy's stats over history, so now lets check their current players, which will prove if Italy is in its prime right now, or not. The stats showed that theres were only 3 current players born out of Denmark, and none have surpassed 300 TPE yet. This is interesting because over history, Denmark had about 1 player every 3 seasons, and there has been 3 players in the last 8 seasons for Denmark currently active. This means that my data has been accurate so far. With this data, I can come to a pretty suggestive conclusion that Italy is indeed producing a mass amount of talent right now, and are on the rise as a VHL manufacturing country. There is most likely no reason, and I can always do more data examples with new countries - so stay tuned for those. Word Count 541