Spartan

You know why.
 

 
 

1)      The players may be enjoying the city more than they should be.

2)      It takes time to build up a good relationship, once that’s there I feel the defense will get better.

3)      I feel if we try our best we will finish in the top half of the conference.

4)      It would be nice to have a big win streak, but we just got to play good hockey and the wins will come.

5)      I think the team can rally behind him, but as I say if we give it our all the wins will come.

6)      I am not in VHL yet, but I am having a decent season in VHLE and I am enjoying my player.

1. Moscow looks to be in a potential 5 way race for the top of the conference, how will we do?
I think we will end up top 3, we have had a bit of a slide with the roster changes but I'm confident we can move back up.

2. What team is our biggest threat in your opinion?
EU is so tight that any of the competing teams are a threat.

3. The lines have seemed to settle down a bit and sim more stable, do you agree?
At this moment we seem a little volatile i think.  Again, I think this is because of the recent change and finding the new chemistry.

4. Have any ideas about any changes the team should look at?
The team needs to shore up the Def...wait a minute they did that.

5. Syko has shown some elite skills in recent games. Can he lead us to the promised land?
You never know with goalies, when they get hot they can win a series by themselves.

6. If you could have one league related change, what would it be, if any?
I don't know, there is nothing really gnawing at me at the moment.

Playoff are right around the corner and the VHL in both conference as a ton of developing story lines; Could we see a three way tie at the end of the week and maybe the season in the European conference title? It might just happen!! Toronto Legion has the North American Conference all but locked up right? Nope, Watch for the Seattle Bears to make a late season push to catch Toronto, which could set up a fantastic finish for the North American title between the two teams in the final week. Is six points up in the final wildcard race enough? Chicago hopes that it will be as they try to hold off Vancouver and Calgary to claim the final wildcard spot in the North. Some team are also looking a head to the end of the regular season and what they hope will be a turn around off season through the draft, free agency and management changes. Either way lets get into this week.
 
 

 
Current Standings:
                    Standings                                        Record             Points                   Last Wk                          Prediction Last Wk                       
1.     Toronto Legion                                  39-11-1           79pts                 10-3-0                       🟰         1st North American
2.     Seattle Bears                                    31-17-4           66pts                  9-3-2                       🔼        4th North American
3.     New York Americans                       28-16-9           65pts                  7-5-3                       🟰        3rd   North American   
4.     D.C. Dragons                                    31-18-3           65pts                  4-8-2                       🔻         2nd North American  
5.     Chicago Phoenix                              21-21-10          52pts                  4-7-3                       🟰         5th North American 
6.     Vancouver Wolves                           20-26-6           46pts                  5-7-2                       🟰         6th North American 
7.     Calgary Wranglers                           20-29-3           43pts                  4-8-2                       🟰         7th North American  
8.     Los Angeles Stars                             3-48-1              7pts                  2-12-1                      🟰         8th North American  
 
 
Next Week Predictions:
 
 1.    
Toronto really pulled away during this past week from the rest of the North American conference so should easily walk to the NA title, right? Nope, the Legion will be watching over their shoulders this week if I am correct as the fast-charging Seattle Bears should get close to them in overall points and might just pass them but since the Bears are so far back, I am not going to be that bold but should set up an interesting finish as Toronto and Da bears play twice in the final week of the season. Why has Toronto been so dominate so far well look no further than 204 GF; which is 15 more than any other team. The Legion are head by a three head monster of Diego Machado @Dadam30(35-47-82pts), Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr(25-57-82pts) and Jimi Jaks @ke1vi(37-41-78pts) all top three in the league in scoring. Which is only telling part of the story.
 
 
2.    
Trade swung the standings for the Seattle Bears last week as they climbed to second in the North American conference and add in  a weaker schedule this week could see the Bears actually go undefeated this week but that might be a bit bold since they play the Dragons three times but that could only slow them down. By the end of the week the Bears led by new tender Fuukka Rask @Jubis(6-2-1, 2.50ga & 0.918%) should be charging down Toronto and clearly second by the end of the week.
 
 
3.    
Pretty much the same for New York this week playing a few games above five hundred and secure in the third or fourth spot within the conference. FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist @STZ(28-22-50pts) has really fallen off lately and will need to be better down the stretch if New York is going to be a concern for any of the top three teams in the conference. 36W @rory(25-25-8, 2.44ga & 0.929%) has clearly been a bright spot again this season for New York but can he steal a playoff series or two for the Americans?
 
 
4.    
Well, I guess my kiss of death is still working as I didn`t foresee the Dragons falling out of the sky with an 4-8-2 record this past week. Can the bounce back? This will really depend on the three-game series against Seattle this week; if they lose all three games then they will back and clearly be looking at playing in the wildcard round but if they can beat Seattle than they will put some thoughts into the Bears heads as it could be a first round preview. Henry Tucker Jr @NSG(27-15-2, 2.82ga & 0.919%) will need to lead the charge of the Dragons.
 
 
5.    
Are the Phoenix playing with the chasing Wolves? It seems that way since the Phoenix are doing just enough to stay a head of the Wolves only dropping a single point this past week to chasing team from Vancouver and at the current pace should be enough to secure the final playoff spot. Overall, the team needs just a bit more from Yaroslav Trunov @qripll(36-31-67pts) just behind his 94pt pace from last season and Ryan Artyomov @Enorama(15-21-7, 3.29ga & 0.912%) if Chicago is going to claim the final spot.
 
 
6.    
The wild dogs are chasing but how much do they have left as I think I am starting to see the tongues starting to hang? Can Vancouver make up the six points to the Phoenix? Yes, but I think they will need some help if they are going to actually pass them and make the playoffs. First Vancouver need to worry only about what they can control and that is winning game that they need to win. Vancouver will need Liv Slater @Subject056(20-37-57pts) to regain the former from last season an one of the two offensive rookies to take the next step in Logan Ninefingers @Scurvy(19-20-39pts) or Riley Martin @Smarch(18-16-34pts).
 
 
7.    
Calgary has been rather disappointing since they trade for Larry Abass Jr @RileyL(12-10-22pts) and Jens Lekman @Bobcat(5-9-14pts) since I expected them to move up the standings. For whatever reason the trade just hasn`t worked and is most evident by Larry Abass Jr @RileyL struggles since joining the the Wranglers since he had 33pts in Vancouver in 22 games and now only has 22pts in 30 games with Calgary. What has gone wrong other than the fact that the team just cannot find any goal scoring with a defender leading the team in scoring in Phil Strasmore @Phil(9-40-49pts). Nine points back of the final wildcard spot with 20 games remaining; likely means season done and dusted.
 
 
8.    
The season cannot end fast enough for this team but some hope last week as the Stars up ended Warsaw and HC Davos giving some sign of hope and more important fight from a team that will be dusting off the golf clubs in next two weeks. Draft is coming and so should some more help.
 
 
 
 

 
Current Standings:
                    Standings                                        Record             Points                   Last Wk                          Prediction Last Wk                       
1.     Malmo Nighthawks                           34-13-4           72pts                 10-4-0                      🔼       3rd European Conference
2.     Prague Phantoms                             34-14-4           72pts                 10-4-0                      🔼       4th European Conference
3.     Moscow Menace                              33-16-3           69pts                   7-7-0                      🔻        1st European Conference
4.     London United                                  32-15-5           69pts                   8-5-1                      🔻        2nd European Conference
5.     Warsaw Predators                            33-16-3           69pts                  11-3-1                      🟰        5th European Conference
6.     Helsinki Titans                                  28-22-1            57pts                   9-4-1                      🟰        6th European Conference
7.     Riga Reign                                         18-29-5            41pts                    7-6-1                      🟰        7th European Conference
8.     HC Davos Dynamo                           10-40-2           22pts                    6-8-0       　           🟰       8th European Conference
 
 
 
Next Week Predictions:
 
1.    
Can I throw my hands up and say I don`t know!! I have a possible three way tie happening for first in the European Conference this week so will have the Malmo remain at the top of the standing as the Nighthawks could be either first or third by the end of the week. Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro(33-12-4, 2.41ga & 0.925%) has been unreal this season for Malmo as he was last season; the question now is can he carry them in the playoffs? Malmo continue to play the team game with no one near the league leaders in scoring. While Jacob Stone @scoop(15-45-60pts) should have his name mentioned again in the Jake Wylde conversation.
 
 
2.    
Again can either be first or as low as thrid in the standings, it is too early to judge the LeBen Aky @Ben_Reformed(0-3-3pts) trade but should help the team as they move towards the playoffs. Still expected to see a bigger move by Prague but it is what it is at this time. Likely it will cost them in the playoff unless John Jameson @Frank(35-54-89pts); Nikolas Kauppi @Tetricide(41-40-81pts) and Skor McFleury @Alex(16-58-74pts) can continue to carry the team with Matt Murdock @Acydburn(29-11-4; 2.55ga & 0.934%). Go time is right around the corner for this team!!
 
 
3.      
Average hockey last week cost me and this team in the standings. Kiss of death is still real it seems but I am going to double down and see this team with a bounce back this week. First or third is my prediction in the really tight European conference. Huge trade see Moscow also get better at the back end with Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh(1-9-10pts). Which is looking good through ten games. Will it be enough to push them toward the Continental Cup at the end of the season? We only have a few weeks to find out!!
 
 
4.    
With the leading goal score Wann Kerr @VattghernCZ(38-55-93pts) on your team, you would expect to be higher up than a wildcard spot but European Conference has been that tight this season that a team that could have easily won the conference is likely playing in the Wildcard game against Warsaw. Can one line drive this team high up the standing and to the Continental Cup? I am not so sure but after the trade deadline that is what they are planning to do!!
 
 
5.    
It will be close with London for home ice advantage during the Wildcard round and I am not sure who is going to finish where. Warsaw has been the surprise team of the season in my eyes with King Kisslinger @Kisslinger(28-54-82pts) breaking out and clearly a Dustin Funk leading candidate; not to mention Thor Reingaard @N0HBDY(37-42-79pts) and Maxim Anisimov @McLovin(34-42-76pts) taking another step this season. Easy when you have an elite goaltender allowing you to cheat towards the offense end as Lachlan Summers @kirbithan(31-16-2, 2.56ga & 0.935%) has been this season.
 
 
6.    
Well, that wasn`t what I expected from Helsinki when I was looking for them to make a trade last week to push them back towards a playoff spot. Gone is star goaltender Fuukka Rask @Jubis(13-18-0, 2.81ga & 0.923%) traded to the Seattle Bears and out goes former Alexander Valiq Trophy winning Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh(12-27-39pts) to Moscow; all but giving up on the season? But than why haven`t they traded aging Daryl Dixon @Ricer13(30-40-70pts) or Michael Shotter @TacocaT9(8-38-46pts)? Twelve points out of the playoffs so it is very unlikely they will make the dance this season as the window of contention is clearly closing for the Titans; if not closed already!!
 
 
7.    
Interesting off season lay a head for the Riga Reign as I look at the team as if they are at a cross road with a new management team expected to take over but also just not good enough to really push forward with the current roster. The roster is lacking star power and with one pick this off season; it is likely that even if they pick star player is going to be enough to push this team towards contending. It will be interesting how the new management views the teams current assets and how aggressive they will be trying to turn this team into a contender. Left in better shape than most teams when changing management so the new managers should have some ability to make changes if that is the direction that they look to head.
 
 
8.    
How long will the rebuild last? Davos looks set to pick another solid three players this off season with what should be at least top three pick with a bit a lotto luck should be top two and two early second round picks at 18th and 19th or 20th. Add in the prospect that the team drafted last season and they should be much better next season but still clearly needing time for the prospect to develop. So how much longer is this fan base going to put up with losing?
 
 
 
 
Final Thought:
10/16 this week or 62.5%. Worse than last week thanks to Moscow and D.C. or the kiss of death; not to mention early pay-off of some of the trade completed last week ahead of the trade deadline. A bunch to still watch for as any of the top five team in the European conference can place 1st or 5th. While in the North American conference the Bears are charging hard for the top spot while Chicago will try to hold off the Wolves and Wranglers for the final playoff spot.

1. The players seem to be inactive in the locker room, why?
Dog days of the season, just waiting for playoffs.
2. Our recent upgrade to defense hasn't panned yet. Any ideas what is going on?
Spartan is just an awful GM and can't see team fit.
3. Although we were on top of the EU world, we have fallen lately. Where will we end up?
Honestly it's totally up in the air, could be anywhere from 1st to 5th.
4. As a whole, the team looks strong and resilient. Are you looking for that big win streak that I am?
As long as it comes in the playoffs!
5. Our tender is doing a good job when you consider this is season two for him. Can the team rally behind him and push us to glory?
He'll be even better by playoff time so I'm looking forward to seeing him carry us to victory.
6. Overall, not counting this last week, are you happy with your player?
No complaints at all - leading the team in +/- and still putting up the points. I'm honestly just happy to be on the team having fought for a roster spot. Hope it continues for many seasons.

1. Moscow looks to be in a potential 5 way race for the top of the conference, how will we do?
We are going to win, if not, we will have BIG problems, GRIMGOR WILL BE ANGRY!
2. What team is our biggest threat in your opinion?
Ourselves, if we can contain that crazy Syko guy, we will be victorious, strong, da biggest of da strong. 
3. The lines have seemed to settle down a bit and sim more stable, do you agree?
Waaagh, not sure what is happening but Grimgor is not super happy with the sim, he feels weak.
4. Have any ideas about any changes the team should look at?
Make Grimgor captain, that is the one change you need to make.
5. Syko has shown some elite skills in recent games. Can he lead us to the promised land?
Bwah, he is still young, no experience makes him an easy target by all them weaklings on other teams, but he has some strong players behind to support him. He won't lead though, he is a goalie. 
6. If you could have one league related change, what would it be, if any?
Relocate Vancouver to Quebec City. Done. Thanks. 

1) It's not THAT bad, just a small slow down is all
2) Might just need some more time
3) Top 3 for sure, would be nice to finish first though!
4) I don't need to see a big win streak but consistency would be nice.
5) Yeah I was checking out his stats a couple days ago, he's doing pretty good!
6) I'd say so. I wish I had realized I could use PBE tasks towards the vhl.com replacements earlier. Could have used that a lot over the last few seasons.

Presser for the week ending 4/21

1. The players seem to be inactive in the locker room, why?
2. Our recent upgrade to defense hasn't panned yet. Any ideas what is going on?
3. Although we were on top of the EU world, we have fallen lately. Where will we end up?
4. As a whole, the team looks strong and resilient. Are you looking for that big win streak that I am?
5. Our tender is doing a good job when you consider this is season two for him. Can the team rally behind him and push us to glory?
6. Overall, not counting this last week, are you happy with your player?
 

WAAAAGH! Or at least that is what Grimgor Ironhide would say to introduce himself. 
 
That said, here is my Theme Week submission. 
 
To start this off, I decided to take 3 teams and move them to Warhammer Fantasy universe, teams chosen are for a reason as I do believe 3 teams require a strong rebrand. Those would be Warsaw Predators, Vancouver Wolves and London United. Of course I would love to see Warsaw moved to Munich, Vancouver to Quebec City and London moved to.... London, just with a different name, United doesn't work for a hockey team. 
 
When it comes to Warhammer Fantasy, I will only focus on Locations in the Old World. 

And we are first moving to Parravon...


 
So, for the Warsaw Predators, they would be moved to the great Brettonian town of Parravon, and be officially called Parravon Royal Hippogryphs. We all know that Predators is an absolutely horrible name for any sports team so we take something that the great Grey Mountains of the Old World are known for, the magestic, mighty and gorgeous beasts - Hippogryphs. Parravon, being a city carved into the mountain range, not too far off the Grey Mountains, is a perfect place to create a backstory and a reason for a team like that to exist. 

Now for the 2nd team team, we are moving to Barak Varr.



The great dwarven stronghold and the largest Dwarven port in all of the known world, the most maginificent underground caverns, the most beautiful dwarven carved waterfalls that create ripples of sunlight reflecting from the pools of water that sometimes seem to be cascading down. For Barak Varr, being a true dwarven stronghold there is a certain charm to have a hockey team based there. This team should be called Ironclads, the one thing that Barak Varr produced to the highest quality (Not counting the Dwarven ale which is of course the greatest of treats). So from now on, Vancouver Wolves will be called "Barak Varr Ironclads". I think it is perfect. 

And finally, we are moving to the great city of guns, artillery and gunpowder - Nuln. 



This is an absolutely easy choice, sure, I wanted to first go to Averland and focus on Averheim but in the end went with Nuln. After all, Wissenland is the greatest provice of the Empire. It is the home to Imperial Gunnery School, which trains all the great sharpshooters of the Empire armies, College of Engineering, known for it's technological advancement and development of different cannon and rocket artillery. It is a place where a single matchstick could destroy half of Wissenland. And for that, we need to move London away to Nuln and create the beautiful team called Nuln Hellblasters, named after their local and brutal invention, Hellblaster Volley guns. 


Warsaw Predators become Parravon Royal Hippogryphs
Vancouver Wolves become Barak Varr Ironclads
Lodon United become Nuln Hellblasters
 
Overall, I am personally quite happy with this and will keep this going even after Theme Week as I have plenty of ideas, you just have to wait and see which of the VHL teams could become Skavenblight Warpgrinders...

I keep looking at him in that lens but then the counterpoint is 215 of his 730 points came in his rookie and sophomore seasons (meta). Don't think he'd have those totals if he started 2 seasons later.

Moscow Menace was one of the best teams in the first parts of the season with free-flowing offense and solid defense, but in the last 15 or so games The Menace has been struggling. Rumors coming in from Moscow suggest that, unlike those sailing on Titanic, players in Moscow have spotted the iceberg and are now wondering whether to jump off the ship now while they still can without getting their feet wet.
 
Against all odds, Moscow made it into the playoffs last year, which only increased the expectations for the young and talented roster for the ongoing season. Moscow is currently 5th in the EU division with 8 points more than the 6th placed Helsinki. However, in these hectic TikTok times, giving the playoffs one or two tries might be considered enough and fair before a new rebuild is seen as a viable option. When you also consider the fact that only a few players in Moscow have a clause in their contracts that prevents them from being traded, these rumors could very well end up being more than just rumors.

Claim 1

1. Sidney Crosby no doubt, just the best all around player in the game and would be an elite player to add to Moscow's forward core.
2. I imagine Leif Reingaard has decently style, could envision @Zetterberg and his creativity with graphics translating over to fashion.
3. Yotes bc they're gone already pretty much lol
 
1. Who's been your favorite GM during your time in the VHL/E/M? Why?
2. What do you think makes a LR fun in the VHL?
3. What's the best method you've seen that keeps a LR active?
 

From Vancouver Wolves
 
to
 
Vancouver OJ's
 



Because they also got away with it
 

Jesse Teno woke up to the sound of a door closing in their dark London flat located deep within the city. They were on their couch, head pounding, and their hands wet. No. Not just their hands. Their clothing too. It was sticking to their skin and felt thick. Jesse sat up slowly, wanting to rub what felt like sleep from their eyes but their hands stopped when the wetness smelled metallic. They finally stood, feeling wobbly on their feet, and made their way towards the bathroom. They stumbled on furniture that had been moved out of place. But finding the bathroom light was easy; just reach around the wall and slap the button. The light stung, telling them that they had been in darkness for quite a while. When their eyes finally adjusted and they looked up into the mirror, they were shocked to see themselves covered in blood. 
 
Fresh. Blood.
 

152 words for week ending 4/14/2024

Maybe just shorten your name to Jcarson?

Player Information
Username: NickSunderbruch
Player Name: Nicholas Sunderbruch Jr
Recruited From: YouTube
Age: 18
Position: C
Height: 76 in.
Weight: 215 lbs.
Birthplace: United States of America

Player Page
@VHLM GM

To decide what franchise is most in need of a rebrand it makes the most sense to look at how old each team's logo is. After nearly a quarter-century of VHL seasons of teams slightly modifying and re-using existing logos from other leagues and sports, since S24 all logos have been original, some designed by the VHL's own graphics community, and most of the more recent ones being purchased from third-party designers. Quite a few continue to stand the test of time. Let's count them down.
 
S81: Riga

The newest logo in the VHL belongs to the Riga Reign who avoided a rebrand for nearly 60 seasons beforehand and are only on their third logo overall (all variations of the orange lion). I think this one got quite widespread approval and is certainly an upgrade on the previous version so it would be unlikely to be changed any time soon, even as a big change is about to take place in Riga's GM position.
 
S75: Calgary

Another long-awaited change to an old franchise's appearance took place just six seasons previously, as the beloved derp horse was retired after 50 seasons to make way for a more imposing stallion. The Wranglers have also only gone through three variations of the red horse and the current version is likely here to stay for a while.
 
S73 expansion teams: Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Warsaw
S68 expansion teams: D.C. and Prague
S65 expansion team (Moscow) and S66 expansion team (Malmo)


                                                       
I am grouping all the expansion teams together (which is actually half of the league) for a specific reason: unlike the rest of the teams' logos, these were purchased using the league's donation money with the thought process that these were long-term investments and won't be replaced on a whim in the short-term. Of course, these expansion teams have all been around for at least 20 seasons now but as we have seen with Calgary and Riga above, and indeed many more examples to come, this is far from a long time in VHL terms. Just as importantly, these are actually a solid set of logos, most of which I think there is no great clamour to replace. The exceptions might be LA and London and purely on a personal level I think LA is the franchise most in need of a fresh start but I'll let someone else dive into that topic in more depth.
 
S53: Helsinki

The Titans aren't far off from being joint-oldest on this list as their logo change in S53 was only a cosmetic one really, polishing up and slightly recolouring the version they got in S24 when all teams rebranded to in-house made logos. However, given Helsinki did give themselves an uplift 30 seasons later, they fall in the midtable of this list. There's nothing that needs improving for them but maybe they'll want another small makeover in the near future.
 
S52: New York

The next three logos are a tale of how logo changes can sometimes seemingly alter history. The Americans had lots of success following the S24 rebrand and were arguably the league's most successful franchise in the following 30 seasons. However, just before their back-to-back championships of S52 and S53 they swapped to this logo and after that initial short-term success.... well you guys probably know most of the story. One finals appearance has followed in the 40 seasons since, so if there's any franchise that needs a rebrand just to dump their loser era it's New York.
 
S47: Toronto

In a similar vein to the Americans, the Legion's logo swap immediately led to threepeat, the first of its kind. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster since but Toronto's logo just seems to work for them and also harks back to the version they used in the league's first decades. In fact, the S47 rebrand replaced a very unpopular logo so this change was welcomed and despite being one of the oldest ones in use now, it doesn't feel like there is much clamour for change at the moment.
 
S44: Davos

Until the recent renaissance under Alex, this, even more than New York's, was the league's most cursed logo. The Dynamo were definitely the league's most successful franchise before S44 and then they just stopped being that. I also personally preferred the logo they replaced, although I am biased as I was the team's GM just 5 seasons previously. Davos has turned things around a bit now but it's the third-oldest logo in the league so I say get them to switch it up and leave that cup drought firmly in the past.
 
S31 expansion team: Quebec, now Vancouver

Funnily enough, given what I said about the “new” expansion franchises above, it seems to be the fate of expansion teams in the VHL that they are stuck with their logo for life. Cologne never replaced theirs and have been resurrected with in in the VHLE, the Quebec's was considered so good that it survived the move to Vancouver (more of a translation rather than a rebrand). In fact, not touching the logo was one of the conditions for the move being allowed to go through. It is still unique in being a logo designed by the team's GM, in this case founding GM Pavel Koradek. What has changed over time is that this is now the second-oldest logo in the league so perhaps popular opinion could be swayed towards a change. It is such a simple yet effective one though.

S24: Seattle

Fittingly, the oldest logo in the VHL is in Seattle, also home to the league's (soon to be by far) longest-serving GM. The Bears logo does predate Bana's reign (yes there was such a time) and is the only logo to survive from S24, when all eight franchises at the time got custom-made logos, having survived until then on versions ripped from existing teams. Seattle until then (ignoring their 1-season stint as the Everblades) had used the Hershey Bears logo, swapped to fairly similar one in S24 and haven't looked back since. Time for a change? Maybe under a new GM...
 

Cheers man, has always been a pleasure to work with you and compete against your teams. Hope you get that sim league interest again in the future!

“Tfong” has not been a member of our league for years at this point. Yet to me and many others, “Baozi” is not a member of this league. For years, our head moderator was known in the league as Tfong, making the switch over to Baozi seemingly in late 2021. I have been in this league for nearly 5 years and have shared more time with Baozi then I have Tfong, yet I will always know the head moderator to be Tfong. 
 
I believe this is the case for many older members, and a cause of confusion for the younger ones. This week is all about rebranding, and I think rebranding yourself is the hardest thing you can do.
 
TXC is a name that I used in the VHL for a brief period of time. I coined it after less than a year of joining and its original intention was to draw away from Hogan. Hogan was meant to be my player and I didn’t exactly know what I was doing when I created my player. I did actually receive many people calling me TXC, but as you can see, I’m Hogan again. Hogan never left people's minds, many still referred to me as it and I think now if I was still TXC many still would call me Hogan. 
 
In response to me telling Gorlab my name is no longer Hogan.
 
Gorlab- “it is to me…and it always will be”
 
N0h- “Calling you txc is just weird”
 
As I learned from Gustav’s most recent 30 for 30. Instant Rockstar once tried to rebrand as “Goonie”. This was a few months before my time but it seems as if the Goonie name was shed very early, but late enough for him to get a VHLM GM job. 

Diamond Ace- “@beketov just so you know, the new member was actually ir the whole time”
 
I believe the VHL’s most notable rebrand was one done by Kachur. Many know the legend of Horcrux, and those there to experience it know that the legend lives up to the stories. For those who don’t know, Kachur was an old member who was banned and generally not heard from in a long time. On the other hand, Horcrux was a huge piece in the current landscape of the VHL and the moderation team .Horcrux presented themselves as a queer woman, which we now know to not be anywhere close to the truth. Horcrux was only in the league for 2 months, Oct-Dec 2021. 59 Days in the VHL with 323 posts equally out to about 5 and a half per day. This number does not include the discord which would bring our totals up immensely. Around the middle of Horcrux’s time in the league, there was a large change in the COC, while not directly caused by them I believe they had the second largest hand in that whole scenario. But not all things last, shortly after Horcrux was found to be Kachur and was rightfully banned. 
 
I don’t want to bring up the specifics behind everything. Kachur was a horrible member who caused a lot of pain for numerous of our members and I do not wish to bring it all back up. 
 
In the end, rebranding yourself in the VHL is something that is so incredibly hard to do. Once members know you as one name or character, it will stick. But with true dedication I am sure it’s possible. Or in the case of Horcrux, pure delusion.

The very first messages in the Hounds server.
 
 
There's a gap in my message history on the forum between April 3rd and 7th, 2019--that unfortunate period of time I described in my last article where I was busy being nonexistent as a GM in the World Juniors and not having access to my computer. Having things go the way they did might lead many people, myself included, to believe that I wasn't quite cut out for a job as GM. And as justifiable as that may have been, it didn't stop me from applying for a real GM job just four days later on the 11th. Fortunately for myself and others, the league was at the start of a massive period of growth, and jobs were available. In this case, three new teams were being added to the VHLM--the Hounds, Marlins, and Kings.
 
Lots of first-timers had applied for the job, many deserving, but I'd point to a bit of unintentional campaigning as something that made the difference. I'd been into the VHL Discord server a handful of times before, but hadn't gone too deep on a leaguewide basis and didn't have a whole lot of personal interaction that would have made people outside of Houston know me and like me. That would change, though, when I opened up the server to some "getting hired" talk featuring a member named Goonie, one of the other applicants.
 
Goonie was nice. We spent some time talking about our interests in the league, what we intended to do with a team if we got one, and all that. I learned that Goonie was an alias of an older member who wanted a bit of a fresh start, and so it meant something nice to me when we agreed to promote each other in the quest for a job--in the simplest of ways by my posting #hiregoonie and his replies of #hiregustav. We were serious about it, and it's also important to note that when you're active and interacting with others in a positive way, the league will notice. In the end, both Goonie and I got a team. Goonie was hired as inaugural GM of the San Diego Marlins (and just about immediately after ditched the fake name for his old one, @InstantRockstar), and I was brought on as the one who would kick off a legacy in Mississauga.
 
There were a few things I knew I valued from the start. Every GM wants an active server, but I saw how much @Rin had tried with us in Houston and wanted to give that back to my own team. In fact, I loved the Houston server so much that the first version of the Hounds server was almost an exact carbon copy of Houston--the only channel I remember adding on my own terms was #music-sharing, an extremely minor change that just served as my outlet for dumping things I wanted to share on people. I immediately hired @Radcow, a friend of mine from Houston, as my AGM, and we went to work going over the draft lists and getting ready for our first draft in league management.
 
And what. a. draft. that was for us. We took care of goaltending right away by selecting @Rayzor_7 and Rayz Funk 3rd overall, and then turned around and picked @Hogan and his namesake player Hulk Hogan at 22nd. Both eventually spent the bulk of their careers with Seattle and made the Hall of Fame. Our third pick (33rd) featured Cody Smith and @cody73, who would turn out to be a solid VHL-level depth piece as a player and an AGM in a couple different places as a member. Way later on in the draft, too, we were fortunate enough to select Scott Greene, yet another longtime Bear, managed by one of my favorite members of all time in @DoktorFunk. Though I would only invite a few people in from elsewhere, we had way more than enough to keep our server popping, and it positively popped all season long. This didn't even stop at the draft, either--someone you may know as another-future-Seattle-Bear @Berocka joined us through the waiver wire (and I had to send a second DM to get him in our server because he thought I was a bot or something at first). Perhaps the most telling with respect to servers popping was that Seattle GM and VHLM Commissioner @Banackock had access to our server through his role--and you may have noticed a certain VHL team in common among my three most distinguished picks and my most distinguished signing. 
 
I won't act like I wasn't lucky to stumble upon such a great group of new members so early on, nor that this wasn't most of the reason our server was as active as it was. But for all Houston was, and for all we heard Philadelphia was, in S65, I like to think that Mississauga was the place to be in S66. Constantly active, overflowing with much of the league's next generation, and even free of the drama that had plagued those other two places a season before and in article #2 of this series. 
 
The first Hounds team wouldn't go too far. We were led by VHLM MVP (and S65 Bull) Callum MacElroy, had developed our picks like no one's business, and firmly established ourselves as a competitive playoff team, but just didn't have the resources to spend that teams like (ugh) Philly did and got smacked around in the playoffs. I'd accomplished something big nonetheless by leading a team--this time the right way--and served the actual purpose of the VHLM by showing people a good time and helping them make it big on the next level. And, more importantly for me, I now had people who looked up to me and I felt respected as a more "established" member of the VHL. For all intents and purposes, I'd accomplished what was on my mind for myself.
 
 
Read my other articles for the full Gustav experience:
#1: Lightning Glory Gonna Be My Name
#2: Can't We All Just Get Along?
#3: Who Needs Cybersecurity Anyway?

You asked, and you shall receive

Back when I was on Warsaw with my first player Girts Galvins we had a big rivalry with Moscow and I always referred to them in articles as the Moscow Meanies, so this was an easy rebrand choice for me! @Spartan
 
 
 
 
 

1. Moscow looks to be in a potential 5 way race for the top of the conference, how will we do?
The way I see it is there are 5 teams and Moscow is one of them. We want to finish first but so does everybody else.

2. What team is our biggest threat in your opinion?
I will say Malmo because they are a good away team.

3. The lines have seemed to settle down a bit and sim more stable, do you agree?
We have been solid defensively especially, couple shutouts in the last three games for example.

4. Have any ideas about any changes the team should look at?
Travel more via bus or train, so we don't get too comfortable out there.

5. Syko has shown some elite skills in recent games. Can he lead us to the promised land?
I think so, most shutouts in the league, best GAA number!

6. If you could have one league related change, what would it be, if any?
Force everybody to create one 2 TPE point task with AI each week, so we can all learn together to cheat the system.

4. Have any ideas about any changes the team should look at?
A new GM would be great but that's a pipe dream
5. Syko has shown some elite skills in recent games. Can he lead us to the promised land?
Absolutely, kid's got elite talent and is going to win many trophies starting this season.
6. If you could have one league related change, what would it be, if any?
Different updating system (not realistic given SimonT's limited build model)