joeg

+10 Joe Gainer

Hounds Victoria Weekend Parade It was to be a parade like no other. During these times of social distancing, the Mississauga Hounds decided to bring some joy to the town in the form of the first annual Mississauga Hounds March on the City to Remember Her Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The parade is also known as the “It’s a long weekend so let’s all go up to cottage country” parade. The parade started at the Hounds Arena, where they gathered into separate vehicles. Some rode in convertibles, while others rode on floats designed for the parade. The parade route went from the arena through the downtown core, before making a turn for the hospital, where the parade honked their horns in a salute to the front-line workers. This, however, was no normal honking. Instead, the cars and floats horns were synced to play the entirety of the Flight of the Bumblebee, in what will surely become a staple of the Mississauga Hounds March on the City to Remember Her Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland day parade. For the Hounds, it was a nice break from the early season, and allowed them a chance to salute all of those working on the front lines to help stop the spread. The success of the parade has prompted Hounds fans to start a petition to make the Flight of the Bumblebee the official goal song of the team. So in that respect, the parade was a success. More importantly, the hounds were able to show respect and thank the hard working health care workers. WC/275

Hounds Hopefully Hop Headfirst into Season 72 Many of us that were on the season 71 edition of the Mississauga Hounds would tell you not much went our way. If we played good defence, then we didn’t score. If we were able to score, then we didn’t play very god defence. More or less, we found ways to lose. Now however, with season 71 in the rear-view mirror, and now being 6 games into season 72, the Hounds are taking lessons learned from last season, and trying to use it to translate into success this season. Due to their misfortunes in season 72, the Hounds ended up with a bounty of selections in the dispersal draft. With their first pick, they were able to grab @FrostBeard formally of the San Diego Marlins. With their subsequent 2 picks in the first round, they were able to re-acquire @LastOneUp and @joeg, to round out a trio of wingers. In the following rounds, they were able to acquire the likes of goalie @MexicanCow123, defence-men @ShawnGlade, centre @okifenoki, as well as newer players such as @Ben Mills. Adding these players to the likes of @JBrew42, @jared and @Battlepopcorn means that the Hounds have a nice mix of young up and comers and established VHLM players on this seasons roster. That wasn’t all the work GM @ColeMrtz has done, however. He has been working the phones hard to make acquisitions to further help his squad. In trades he acquired @Walter Fizz and @KillaScrilla, while signer waiver pickup @Hpep. @ColeMrtz has bought into being a Big Baller general manager, and as the famous Lavar Ball says, “it’s already a done deal. I got the trophy already.” That’s the Big Baller mentality. All of this is not to say however, that the Hounds are taking the VHLM competition lightly, or are trying to insult them. Ask any one of them, and they know that it takes 100% effort game in and game out in order to succeed in this league. Every night, you are going to get the best the other team has, and you have to earn every win. The team is focusing on taking this season one game at a time, putting their best effort into each game. With this seasons nice mix of returning players from last year’s squad, new players from teams that tasted the playoffs, and rookies, the hounds have a nice blend to put themselves in a position for success this year, and in the years to come. It may be easier said than done to focus on one game at a time. When you get in losing streaks, they can seem to last forever. If you string together a few wins, you can feel unbelievable. It is important for the Hounds to find that balance, not get too high, not get too low. Enjoy the moment because this is the only season you’ll get to play with this exact group of players, and that is something that is something truly special. WC/503

1. I don't think it'll be too hard. Obviously it takes effort game in and game out to win in this league, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself with the small sample size so far this season. 2. VHLM Champions. Speak it into existence this season. 3. Again, small sample size, but Philly and Minnesota are looking unbeatable right now. 4. Wish I was on the score sheet a little bit more. But again, I'm not taking the results of this small sample size too seriously yet. 5. I find it very enjoyable to be in right now, so no. 6. Southern Ontario (It's hot as balls here)

Article Review: Congrats on being the first ever Miami draft pick! This article did a great job at a couple of different things. You did a great job recounting your draft day experience, especially as someone who joined the league towards the end of the season. Secondly, this will be a great piece to show free agents during the season. I know you and Bacon from Mississauga last year, but you did a great job talking about what Miami is building, and having you 2 in the room as leaders will make a great locker room. I'm sure FA will be thrilled to have the chance to join you. Finally, you did excellent setting realistic expectations for a brand new team, while still maintaining a positive attitude. I have no doubt you'll be hard to play when we meet on the ice. My suggestion for your article would be to give it a quick once over. There are just a couple of small spelling errors, or awkward phrases. In your second paragraph you have mot instead of not. Phrases such as "look at the talent in the first top ten" comes off kind of awkwardly. Removing either top ten or first will make it come off the tongue a little bit easier. "The plans for the next couple, three seasons, moving forward" could also be changed to something like, "the plans for this season and moving forward." Overall it's a great article, which has my new favourite phrase "meat and drink for a GM." We're going to miss you and Bacon in Mississauga this season. Good luck in Miami! 8/10

Article Review: This is a great article. You gave great information on how Helsinki played last season and where their shortfalls were. I especially appreciated how when you talked about some of the negatives of last year, such as losing a lot of 1 goal games, you didn't focus on it in a strictly positive or negative light. You made sure the reader understood that losing those tight games was unacceptable, the team is very close to being able to win those close games and make a run in the playoffs. I also thoroughly enjoyed how you were able to highlight the turnover of players during the offseason. Being able to share what new players bring to the team makes me able to have a pretty good picture of what Helsinki is going to look like this season. My only criticism is a couple of run on sentences, which admittedly, is something that I struggle with myself, both academically and on the forum. For example: "I mentioned my little improvements as a player earlier, there is a lot of pressure for me to play well, Vaakanainen and Rodriquez are players who are both fighting for powerplay minutes, for example, If I want to get those minutes as well I need to play at my best right from the start." Could be changed to; Earlier I mentioned how I have improved as a player. I feel as if there is a lot of pressure for me to play well. With Vaakanainen and Rodrquez both fighting for power play minutes I'll need to play my best right from the start. This is a great article. Good luck this season! 7.5/10

Gainer Prospect Scouting Report: At the beginning of season 71, Joseph Gainer’s peer review chronicled his journey to the VHLM and the Mississauga hounds. Now with both the VHL 72 entry and VHLM 72 dispersal draft complete, we would like to take a look back at Gainer’s time on the Hounds last season, and what led up to him being selected by his dream team, the Toronto Legion. Gainer came into the Hounds a 4th liner winger, playing sheltered and low ice time, as he focused on catching up to the rest of the league in terms of TPE and skill. He was able to quickly put his name on the score sheet, before coming back down to the more realistic expectations a new VHLM player would face, grinding away to get better under his sheltered ice time. Gainer as a part of season 72s Mississauga Hounds were a bad team more times than it was good. It had more than 1 multi-game losing streak, many games lost by 2 or more goals, and some pretty vicious thrashings by the upper half of the league. Add onto this the rotating door of general managers that where at the helm of the Hounds throughout the season, the Hounds emotions ran low more often than they did high. The team kept chugging along though, as did Gainer. Gainer, who was acknowledged by the Prospect Scouting Report as not missing any of the 12 capped TPE earn-able throughout the season, continued his steady rise on the Hounds. His break came when Andrew Su was traded to the Ottawa Lynx and Peace became general manager. With these changes came a change in the lineup, which saw Gainer move up to the 2nd line, as well as earn some time on the second power play. Gainer’s hard work had payed off and allowed him to put his name on the stat sheet more, although sometime this was for the worse, such as his brutal -29 plus minus. At the conclusion of the season, Gainer was contacted by a few teams how had picks around where he was going to be drafted. One of those teams was not the Toronto Legion. Gainer reached out to them, saying how much he would love to play for them. While they did not have picks where he was slated to be drafted, GM Peace made the moves to grab Gainer. Gainer’s story is only just being started. He will probably spend most of the season in the VHLM with Mississauga again, after being drafted by them in the dispersal draft. That’s fine by him. He understands hard work, and is ready to put the work in to reach his ultimate goal, raising the Continental Cup, wearing a Toronto Legion jersey. wc/460

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Gainer’s Draft Night Experience: As the VHL Season 72 entry draft on Saturday, Joseph Gainer and his family gathered together in their quaint living room to watch the draft take place. While there would be no giant gathering for the draft, that didn’t stop Gainer from looking his best. Rocking a fresh buzzcut and cleanly shaven face, he donned a 3-piece suit so white that it made Lebron James draft day suit look dark grey by comparison. Snacks were aplenty, with the ultimate chip, Doritos Intense Pickle, being a fan favourite. Also, on tap were yogurt covered pretzels, dark chocolate bark, and a lonely vegetable tray in the corner. Drinks included the finest tap water that Hamilton had to offer. The highlight of the night came when Toronto traded into the back end of the second round, which caused a roar to come from the room as Gainer and family realized what could be happening. A hush took over the room that had been rambunctious for most of the night, as the family huddled on the couch to watch the selection come in. When his name went up on the board, with the Legion logo next to it, the room erupted back into its rambunctiousness. Gainer was hit with a 4-way hug from his mother and father, older sister and younger brother, all overcome with joy! It might not have been the draft night season 72 prospects expected, but the personal touch each player was able to add, made it all the more special. WC/254

Gainer: An Open Letter to Toronto To Toronto Legion Fans, I am very humbled and honoured to have been drafted by the historic, Toronto Legion. I am especially humbled that @Peace traded up for some picks to select @LastOneUp, and myself, as well as @Kachur and @ngine4. Putting on the Legion jersey for the first time on draft night was something special that I will never forget, and I cannot wait to skate out in front of you fans when the time comes. I understand the hard work I will have put in to get there, but I am fully committed to be the best player for Toronto I can be. It’s no secret that I grew up a fan of Toronto sports teams. Being from nearby Hamilton, I always considered Toronto my hometown team. When I arrived in Mississauga early last season to begin my VHLM career, I was excited to be able to play close to home, and also get a taste of what it was like playing in front of a Toronto area crowd. This only further fuelled my drive and desire to play for the Legion. My draft day experience was like no other. I was contacted by a couple of teams, but I also reached out to Toronto to express to them my interest in playing for them, and while they couldn’t promise me anything, @Peace said he would make an honest effort, and that was all I wanted. I had done everything I could and now, it was out of my hands. While I was watching the draft (cause what the heck else is there to do right now), I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have a huge smile on my face when Toronto traded into the 21st and 22nd pics. And when my name was called, it felt like a dream come true to see my name besides the Legion logo. Now, it would have been an honour to play for any of the teams in this league, and I in no way was trying to disrespect the other teams by reaching out to Toronto. Playing in Toronto has been a lifelong dream, and now I am closer than ever to achieving that dream. I however, understand that there is still a way to go to realize my dream of skating out on the ice in Toronto, in front of the best fans in the VHL. And I am fully committed to becoming the best player I can be in the VHLM this season, so that when I do join the Legion, I will be the best team player I can be. I don’t have a picture of me in Toronto pyjamas or under Toronto bed sheets. But what I do have for Toronto is a promise. I saw that @Peace had a nice slogan on his article; WE ARE LEGION. Yes, we are legion. And I promise you, I am all in. I can’t wait to see you Toronto. Stay safe. -Joseph Gainer wc/505

Love it all! So excited to be a part of THIS team!!! Cannot wait to get started, whenever that is. WE-ARE-LEGION And I am all in!!

Hounds Last Night Out With the VHLM dispersal draft now upon us, and the player released from their teams, players have been saying their possible final goodbyes to their teammates. The Mississauga Hounds got together for one final night out together as the Mississauga Hounds of the 71st VHLM season. The Hounds headed to Captains Snooker Club towards the Lakefront for a night of snooker, snacks and spirits. While the players declined to be interviewed during their night out, other patrons of the club where able to describe to VHL.com what the players were up to that night. @LastOneUp spent the night partnered with @GrittyIsKing09, playing an intense game of doubles snooker against @Al Stoner and @st4rface. Results of the match are unclear, as different witnesses claim different victors, while @Al Stoner and @st4rface dispute a controversial shot on the solid 6 ball. Meanwhile, @Bacon spent the night coordinating the delivery of the food, which was enjoyed by everyone. @smyzees and @Battlepopcorn jumped behind the bar to show off their bar tending skills, @Matthew Cepeda and @iro723 put away the drinks as fast as @smyzees and @Battlepopcorn could make them. Meanwhile @ColeMrtz and @Zetterberg sat in the corner, muttering various expletives wondering how they would pay for it all. All in all, it was a memorable end to a memorable season for the Mississauga Hounds of the 71st VHLM season. WC/235

Thank You Mississauga Late last week, as the Ottawa Lynx hoisted the Founders Cup, VHLM players like myself were released from our teams as the focus turned from the playoffs to the upcoming season 72 VHLM dispersal draft. As my first season in the VHLM and possibly my time with Mississauga comes to an end, I would like to take this time for a brief reflection on my first season in the VLHM, my time in Mississauga, and what I believe my future may hold. On a personal level, I have participated in other Sim Leagues before, but none of them have felt like as much of a community as this one has. That is not to rag on other sim leagues, but simply to say what a special place the VHL is. When I first joined the league, within 24 hours, then Mississauga GM @Berocka with what the Hounds could offer me. They talked about what their season was looking like, and how I could benefit from joining the Hounds. Within 48 hrs, I had accepted my contract with then assistant GM @DoktorFunk. The fellas in the locker room immediately made me feel welcome and a part of the team. Through all of the highs and lows of the season, and there were certainly many of them (especially lows), our locker room full of people I had known for less than a month was always a positive place to be. On my first day on the Hounds, we chatted about my criticisms of my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. A Hounds Alumni from Hamilton was even around to bash on the city! It was neat to find out that there were people in this league from not just my hometown, but near my neighbourhood. In a league that reaches all over the world, it was funny to find someone on my first day so close to me. One of the unique things about my first season in the league was the revolving door of GM’s. AGM @DoktorFunk left to become the Ottawa Lynx GM, navigating them to a championship! Congrats friend! You were the one to help show me around the league and locker room, plan out my build, and connect me with the locker room. GM @Berocka, you contacted me within the first 24 hours of signing up, and your straightforward and honest approach was very appealing to me, helping me feel like a part of the team before I even joined. I am always happy to see you around the locker room or website. AGM @Zetterberg made a seamless transition take over for @DoktorFunk and was always counted on for a laugh. Finally, current GM @ColeMrtz, when you took over towards the end of the season you provided a steadying hand on a team in a brutal losing streak. I saw some of my best performances under you and grew as a player with you in charge. All of the folks mentioned above are just a few of the ones that have had an impact on me this season. There are far too many teammates, Hounds Alumni and league staff who have also impacted me this season. This just goes to show the family that is the VHL. To my Hounds teammates, good luck to you all wherever you end up. I could not have picked a better place to begin my VHL career. Thank you Mississauga, from the bottom of my heart. -Joseph Gainer WC/577

1. I would love to see them be in a position fighting for a playoff spot. 2. If my team wins (go WINGS) then yes. If we lose then maybe. 3. I believe that making the playoffs is going to be the minimum expectations. 4. Scoring forward 5. I'm gonna audible to my favourite food, which is peanut butter. It is the ultimate versatile food. Put it on a sandwich and you can add banana, jam, nutella, whatever you want man! Throw it on celery with raisins and BOOM, ants on a log. Slap that bad boy on a burger (don't knock it til you try it) and you've spiced up your burger life. And this all only scrapes the surface of why peanut butter is the ultimate food. Make it into cookies, add it to ice cream, eat it by the spoonful out of the jar. Remember peanut butter makes everything peanut better. 6. As a college student, I am obligated to own a betta fish. His name is Phish.

What to do Now? For Houston, Mississauga and Mexico City, their seasons came to an end at the conclusion of the regular season. There would be no further games with their teams, no more practices or team outings. This leaves the question what are the players doing now? For a majority of players, they will not be spending their time watching the VHLM playoffs. This rings especially true for the Houston players, who only missed out on the playoffs by 2 points. While it is true that the top 2 seeds have made it to the finals, it is not improbable to imagine what would have happened had Houston snuck in. For the rest of the players their attention has turned to the upcoming VHLM dispersal draft. All players are spending their time trying to earn as much TPE as they can in order to help their draft position. The rookies are wide eyed and excitedly waiting to experience their first draft night, surely keeping their eyes on their draft rankings, as they attempt to predict where they will play next season. What is all of this to say? For players who season ended short of the ultimate goal of hoisting the Founders Cup, excitement has begun to build around the draft. But don’t be so quick to put season 71 in the books. There is still plenty of great hockey to be played, especially with the Founders Cup finals beginning shortly. WC/242

1. Ottawa. They're playing so well right now that I believe they can only be stopped if they become overconfident and take their foot of the gas. 2. Do I get drafted in the VHL this year? Dang. I'd have say Toronto, as that is where my NHL allegiance lies. In the VHLM, I mean, Mississauga beens pretty cool? 3. I don't really have any good ideas. But reading what other people have said, I think having a tournament right now, even if it's a second tier one, or make one of the 2 TPE we can receive each week revolve around doing something in the discord. 4. Reddit, where all good things are found. 5. Toronto, I follow my fathers team allegiances, and his father before him. 6. Used to play football in high school, but those days have long since passed.

Many blessings as you enter your next year of life!!!

Gainer vs Gainer: The Final Chapter At long last, we have reached the penultimate moment in mascot vs athlete charity boxing matches, as the final bout in the Gainer vs Gainer trilogy, dubbed the Slammer in the Hammer, took place last night. This penultimate scrap, which was held in Joseph Gainers hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. As the one time archenemies embraced each other after the fight but this time, as friends. While beginning fights saw major hostilities between the two, they made amends before the last fight. This is not to say however, that the fight was less intense than the others. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The 8 round match saw Joseph deliver a flurry in rounds 4 and 5, while the Gopher was able to beat up on Joseph in the late rounds during a furious comeback attempt. Both fighters hit the mat multiple times, in a match that much resembled the Mississauga Hounds season, lots of offence, minimal defence. In the end, Joseph got the last laugh, catching the Gopher in round 11 for the KO. The fight was described as the most exciting of the trilogy and the fighters agreed. Joseph called it the only match he was able to enjoy, while the Gopher just emitted a bunch of high pitch squealing noises. As the fighters embraced and exited the ring with an arm around each other's shoulders, something became clear to the audience. These fights weren’t about bragging rights, becoming the ultimate Gainer, or proving who was a better fighter. They were a story of losses, redemptions, acceptance and friendships. So no longer will these fights be remembered as Gainer vs Gainer, but instead as Gainer and Gainer, not enemies, but friends, for never was a story of better entertainers than this of Gainer and his new best friend Gainer Word Count/289

D.C. 4-2

17 Calgary Wranglers @ Vancouver Wolves 18 D.C. Dragons @ Seattle Bears 19 Malmo Nighthawks @ Moscow Menace 20 Riga Reign @ Prague Phantoms

The Bobfather Bob Mckenzie's Sit-Down interview with Joseph Gainer In the latest installment of his long form sit down interviews, the Bobfather, Bob Mckenzie caught up with Mississauga Hounds Player Joseph Gainer. This is: The Bobfather. Bobfather: Welcome Joseph, and thanks for taking the time to sit down with me. I know that as the season comes to an early end for you fellas it can be a tough time to sit down and do interviews, so I really appreciate it. Gainer: Thanks Bob. Always happy to sit down with you. Bobfather: Let’s start by talking about the feelings in the locker room right now. Obviously this season has not gone the way you guys wanted and especially the last few weeks have been extra tough. How has the team handled this time? Gainer: I think it’s honestly, given the circumstances, the mood in the locker room hasn’t been too bad. We haven;t gotten high and haven’t gotten low. The mood in the locker room has not been one of pity, but an almost anger like one, wanting to go out the next period or game and prove that we are a better team than that. Bobfather: There has also been a lot of turnover on the team this year, especially at the top with the General Managers. What type of effect, if any, has that had on you guys? Gainer: Yeah, I mean, each of the GM’s we’ve had have been great. Each of them was super welcoming, especially to rookies like me who are experiencing the VHLM for the first time. @FotkerDunk was great right off the bat, and we were super happy to see him get a nice promotion. @Berocka was another fantastic guy, who always gave 100% and was beloved in the locker room. When @Zetterberg became AGM, it felt like he had been here the whole time. And @Cole has been fantastic in the short time we’ve had him. In the end I can’t say enough about how good all of the GM’s had been, and how much the guys miss them and all they did for us while at the same time loving @Cole. Bobfather: So do you think the turnover has been any type of effect on you guys as a team? Gainer: No, I don’t think so. Each has been a very steadying influence on the team and did everything they could to help our time. Bobfather: Let’s change focus to you. How has your first season in the VHLM gone? Has it been everything you expected? Gainer: Off the bat, the learning curve was not as large as I thought it would be. Perhaps the biggest thing that surprised me was the community. I figured that the individual teams would be close, but if you look at the connections not just throughout the teams, or the individual leagues, but the entirety of the VHL. The camaraderie between players, GM’s, the VHLM and the VHL, league Commissioners, support staff and more, all of it is like a family. No matter where you go, you feel welcome, even when you are with your rivals Bobfather: If we take a second and look at your journey throughout your first season. You started on the fourth line, and have worked your way up to the second line. Additionally, you are now tied as the 15th ranked player in the draft when it comes to TPE earned. How would you attribute getting to this point. Gainer: I would say just putting in the effort, and with that, having the people around me that were able to show me the way. How to maximize TPE earnings each week, where to allocate TPE were both things that teammates and other players helped me to figure out. Even just seeing other players do media spots or press conferences made me want to keep up with them and keep putting in the effort. As far as moving up the lineup, I think part of it was putting the work in. Trading players like @AndrewSu opened up space for guys higher in the lineup, and I was fortunate enough to benefit from it. Bobfather: Are there any personal concerns for you with being drafted to a different team? Having to be acquainted with a new group of players or finding yourself on a team where you will be lower in the lineup? Gainer: It will be interesting getting close with a new group of guys, be it here in Mississauga or somewhere else, but I would call it exciting more than nervousness. In regards to my spot in the lineup, all I can do is put in the work. Where in the lineup I play will be ultimately up to the GM. I will just be ready to give 100% to contribute to the ultimate goal of winning the Founders Cup. Bobfather: If you get drafted by someone other than Mississauga, what will you miss most about here? Gainer: Right now I’m just focused on finishing out the season with the fellas. Bobfather: Ok fair. Last question, you’ve become a semi-pro fighter in your matches vs Gainer the Gopher. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Gainer: Haha for sure. It actually started out pretty personal, with us trying to prove that we were the ultimate ‘Gainer”. The fact that we have been able to raise funds for charity has made it all the better. A highlight for me, besides winning the second fight, has been raising the money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is near and dear to my heart. Bobfather: Well, your bouts with Gainer the Gopher have sure added an interesting chapter to your rookie season. Thanks for taking the time to sit down with me. Gainer: For sure Bob, I really appreciate it. And make sure to keep an eye out for my penultimate fight with the Gopher later this week. You are not going to want to miss THE SLAMMER IN THE HAMMER! Word Count: 1001 Claiming weeks: 05/03 and 05/10

1. Let's say Ottawa 2. Not right now. I'm really enjoying focusing on my player and finding my way in the community! 3. Heck if I know! If I stay, I'll be ready to go, if I go somewhere else, I'm ready to get there and get going! 4. Probably would've made a more unique build. Instead of just a scoring winger, something a little bit more unique. 5. This may seem weird, but I really miss uni, so that. 6. Rock/Soft (Billy Joel etc.) Favourite song is Piano Man!!

Mos 3-2

391 D.C. Dragons @ Helsinki Titans 392 New York Americans @ Riga Reign 393 Seattle Bears @ Moscow Menace 394 Toronto Legion @ Vancouver Wolves