Merica

Two weeks ago no one had ever heard of Josh Merica. He came out of nowhere, California high school hockey to be exact, and has taken the league by storm. The 19 year old American winger has been extremely vocal and confident since announcing his entry into the VHLM draft. Some of it could be taken as funny and original, or cocky, arrogant and full of himself, just depends on which side of the coin you land on. There are positives and negatives to presenting yourself as Merica has. On one hand, he is letting  prospective teams know exactly what they are getting, he isn’t hiding who he is- he is a brash, confident and overtly opinionated person. He is highly skilled, as showcased during VHLM pro day, has good size and has “star” written all over him. There is no question that he can handle the spotlight.
 

 
But some teams don’t like players who are as outwardly as he is, some prefer the quiet, reserved types who they know won’t say something stupid in the media that might reflect poorly on the organization. If you are that type, just look right past Josh Merica, unless you are prepared to change. Merica is a game changer, he will attract players to him and he will push others away, there really isn’t any middle ground in that regard. You have to ask yourself if the risk is worth the reward, it’s the most difficult question a GM must answer.
 
When you watch the tape on Merica, and listen to the scouts, it’s going to make your decision even harder, because there isn’t many negative things to say about him. For a player coming out of high school, he is very polished and talented, he doesn’t make many mistakes and he has a flair for the dramatic. He will excite the fans, they will buy his jersey and they will chant his name. You aren’t just drafting a good player, you are drafting a player with the potential to be the franchise. Merica will be the first name people think of when someone mentions your team, and it may not always be good things, either.
 

 
 
I would compare to his presence to that of LeBron James. He changes things, on and off the court. Some will hate his guts, others will go out of their way to join forces with him. Merica isn’t a cancer, not in the slightest, he is just opinionated and he will do anything in his power to win hockey games. You will always get 110% from him, he will be the first and last player at practice. I made the call to his high school coach, and the words he spoke were of the highest regard: “Josh is a fantastic person, he always looked out for his teammates, and while he can be a cocky son of a bitch, you have to remind yourself that he is your cocky son of a bitch and the last thing you want is for him to be lining up against you. He’s drive and fire is monstrous, the kid wants to be the greatest, there is no limit to his goals.  I can tell you right now that passing on him will come back to haunt you.”
 
What I gathered from that is that you are better off having him on your team than not. He might be cocky, but that just means opposing teams won’t like him, and honestly opposing teams are not supposed to like him.  General Managers have a lot of thinking to do, a lot of pros and cons to weigh, but from where I am sitting, Josh Merica is the answer to any team in need of a franchise changing force, or just a fresh face to re-invigorate the team and fans. Either way, you are getting a winner.

Fuckin steal at #2.

[
 
The Bern Royals made out like bandits today in the VHLM dispersal draft, landing American superstar Josh Merica with the second overall pick, that's right, he was still available at #2. Despite campaigning for the #1 pick and selling himself to Brampton, the Blades went in a different direction, and one can only wonder how long until they regret passing up on Merica.
 
I was able to catch up with Josh right after he left the podium, sporting the purple/black of his new team and asked him what he thought about falling to #2. "It's obviously a huge disappointment, I am the best player in this draft and to not get recognized as such is kind of disappointing, but on the bright side Bern sounds a lot better than Brampton, I'll go to Switzerland over Canada any day of the week.  I'm looking forward to working with Jala and dominating this coming season. You can just call me King Merica from now on, since royalty has to have a King, and you either give me the crown now or I'll take it by any means necessary."
 
That's all we get from him, as he was swept up by some scantily clad blonde women, who looked an awful lot like they were paid to be there for some sort of, umm, services. Needless to say, Merica may have fallen, incredibly, to the second pick, but Bern is making him feel right at home.

Should bring back Slobo tbh

You have my support.

Who here has ever heard of Minot, North Dakota before joining this league? Chances are, none of you, except a select few, because the only thing Minot has going for it is the United States Air Force base located there. It's population is less than 50k and it offers little. How Minot was allowed to have a team blows my mind, it seens like a serious oversight on the part of league management.
 
Minot is the only, I repeat that, only, American based VHLM team. That is embarassing. It's a horrible representation, there are so many better cities out there and yet here you are, stuck in Minot, North Dakota hating life. You have teams from major cities all over the world, like Moscow, Ottawa, Oslo, Bern and Bratislava. I am the most American person here, and I would rather play somewhere else because of how shitty Minot is.  No beach. No bikini clad babes. Shitty winter weather. Floods. Oh wait, I guess if you are a bird watching enthusiast, you will love it there. There is also a National Distaster resiliency competition!!
 
So, let's think about some other potential locations that could house a VHLM team.  Colorado, Minnesota, California, Philadelphia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Illinois (Chicago, anyone?)...Think of the possibilites. Colorado is a georgeous state, ever heard of the Rocky Mountains? Denver is pretty awesome too, and offers just about everything. Minnesota offers the gigantic Mall of America in Minneapolis. There are tons of places in Cali, like San Diego or San Jose. You could go with Golden State.  And think of how much more appealing that is than Minot, just think about it.
 
America deserves better.
 
 
 
 
 

Who here has ever heard of Minot, North Dakota before joining this league? Chances are, none of you, except a select few, because the only thing Minot has going for it is the United States Air Force base located there. It's population is less than 50k and it offers little. How Minot was allowed to have a team blows my mind, it seens like a serious oversight on the part of league management.
 
Minot is the only, I repeat that, only, American based VHLM team. That is embarassing. It's a horrible representation, there are so many better cities out there and yet here you are, stuck in Minot, North Dakota hating life. You have teams from major cities all over the world, like Moscow, Ottawa, Oslo, Bern and Bratislava. I am the most American person here, and I would rather play somewhere else because of how shitty Minot is.  No beach. No bikini clad babes. Shitty winter weather. Floods. Oh wait, I guess if you are a bird watching enthusiast, you will love it there. There is also a National Distaster resiliency competition!!
 
So, let's think about some other potential locations that could house a VHLM team.  Colorado, Minnesota, California, Philadelphia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Illinois (Chicago, anyone?)...Think of the possibilites. Colorado is a georgeous state, ever heard of the Rocky Mountains? Denver is pretty awesome too, and offers just about everything. Minnesota offers the gigantic Mall of America in Minneapolis. There are tons of places in Cali, like San Diego or San Jose. You could go with Golden State.  And think of how much more appealing that is than Minot, just think about it.
 
America deserves better.
 
 
 
 
 

Two weeks ago no one had ever heard of Josh Merica. He came out of nowhere, California high school hockey to be exact, and has taken the league by storm. The 19 year old American winger has been extremely vocal and confident since announcing his entry into the VHLM draft. Some of it could be taken as funny and original, or cocky, arrogant and full of himself, just depends on which side of the coin you land on. There are positives and negatives to presenting yourself as Merica has. On one hand, he is letting  prospective teams know exactly what they are getting, he isn’t hiding who he is- he is a brash, confident and overtly opinionated person. He is highly skilled, as showcased during VHLM pro day, has good size and has “star” written all over him. There is no question that he can handle the spotlight.
 

 
But some teams don’t like players who are as outwardly as he is, some prefer the quiet, reserved types who they know won’t say something stupid in the media that might reflect poorly on the organization. If you are that type, just look right past Josh Merica, unless you are prepared to change. Merica is a game changer, he will attract players to him and he will push others away, there really isn’t any middle ground in that regard. You have to ask yourself if the risk is worth the reward, it’s the most difficult question a GM must answer.
 
When you watch the tape on Merica, and listen to the scouts, it’s going to make your decision even harder, because there isn’t many negative things to say about him. For a player coming out of high school, he is very polished and talented, he doesn’t make many mistakes and he has a flair for the dramatic. He will excite the fans, they will buy his jersey and they will chant his name. You aren’t just drafting a good player, you are drafting a player with the potential to be the franchise. Merica will be the first name people think of when someone mentions your team, and it may not always be good things, either.
 

 
 
I would compare to his presence to that of LeBron James. He changes things, on and off the court. Some will hate his guts, others will go out of their way to join forces with him. Merica isn’t a cancer, not in the slightest, he is just opinionated and he will do anything in his power to win hockey games. You will always get 110% from him, he will be the first and last player at practice. I made the call to his high school coach, and the words he spoke were of the highest regard: “Josh is a fantastic person, he always looked out for his teammates, and while he can be a cocky son of a bitch, you have to remind yourself that he is your cocky son of a bitch and the last thing you want is for him to be lining up against you. He’s drive and fire is monstrous, the kid wants to be the greatest, there is no limit to his goals.  I can tell you right now that passing on him will come back to haunt you.”
 
What I gathered from that is that you are better off having him on your team than not. He might be cocky, but that just means opposing teams won’t like him, and honestly opposing teams are not supposed to like him.  General Managers have a lot of thinking to do, a lot of pros and cons to weigh, but from where I am sitting, Josh Merica is the answer to any team in need of a franchise changing force, or just a fresh face to re-invigorate the team and fans. Either way, you are getting a winner.

Isnt this also your first ever sim league championship? because I know you dont have one in the SHL.
 
Scrub.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO USA USA USA

Hey everyone, it’s your favorite American, Josh Merica!
 
I’m here to deliver my VHLM team rankings. I’ll play for whoever, I don’t give a f**k, it’s the minors and it’s only purpose is to serve as a stepping stone to the VHL, so the team I play for doesn’t matter, as long I am getting the minutes I should be getting, which is all of them. Don’t give me minutes and we will definitely be at each other’s throats.  Intro complete, enjoy.
 
#10-  Minot Gladiators
Where do I even begin? How about with the location…I am betting no one here has ever actually been to Minot, North Dakota before, because if they had they would know how absolutely shitty it is, and it’s the last place I want to spend my time.  Than, sigh, we have Blake Campbell. No thank you. Also, logo sucks. #9-  Bern Royals
Jala would probably take away my guns and not allow me to have it in my locker, because he is anti-guns and anti-freedom, so I would have difficulty playing for someone who doesn’t believe in freedom. I also don’t know anything about Bern, except that it isn’t located in the United States of Freedom. Oh I almost forgot, you won 7 games, so clearly something is amiss…Oh yeah, anti-freedom. #8-Moscow Red Wolves
I respect Putin for being a hard-ass, but he is a communist son of a bitch and I would not do very well in a communist country, I’d probably start a rebellion and go all Luke Skywalker. Nice logo, nice team name, but definitely not one of my top choices. #7-  Bratislava Watchmen
I dig the name, don’t mind the location, and Bratislava is one of the best teams, but Bratislava isn’t located in America….or even, *looks around cautiously* Canada.  KitRas is cool enough, you can be annoying at times, but who isn’t?  You’ve done a great job building the Watchmen, and I like the color scheme/logo. #6-  Brampton Blades
I remember fong from a long time ago, but that was a long time ago. Brampton, like every team in this league, could use my help and would immediately be vaulted into the Championship.  I don’t really have anything else to add, except Brampton wouldn’t be terrible, like it's logo. #5-  Oslo Storm
Norway? Now were talking. If I can’t play in America, Norway wouldn’t be a bad place to be, and I have nothing against BluesBoy.  Oslo wasn’t all that great last season, and would benefit, like every team, from my presence alone.   Not sure what the dude in your logo has to do with a storm though. #4-  Ottawa Lynx
My boy Frank, official member of “team f**k you”, one of my favorite members. Would love to suit up for you and the Lynx, and Dear God do you need the help, I mean f**k man. Do yourself a favor and let me make you look like a hockey god as we wreck the shit out of the rest of this league. Frank is the only reason Ottawa isn't last, I might add. Logo wins the award for most bland. #3-  Turku Outlaws
Max MacInnis loved it in Turku, and  I wouldn’t mind playing there myself. Well run team, made it to the VHLM finals before choking. I can assure you, Josh Merica does not choke. Add me and you will be hoisting that trophy that next season.  Plus, I am a real life outlaw, I say whatever I want and people can't stand it, like outlaws. #2-  Saskatoon Wild
Kendrick recently stepped down, but the Wild remain one of my top destinations. MacInnis was there briefly, and he loved it there as well. RiceMuncherManDude likes to eat rice and is a pretty cool guy, so I wouldn’t have a problem playing for him and the Toony Toones. Also, best logo in the VHLM. You would be wise to select me. #1-  Yukon Rush
Almost entirely because Ramicus just got named GM. We are tight and I would enjoy playing for him and the best team in the VHLM.  You need to trade up and draft me, because if you don’t, you wont be winning the championship next season, you can mark my words. You are #1 on my list for a reason, so make it happen! Just imagine all the dirty Jew jokes I will provide in the locker room. There you go. Again, I’ll play for whoever, but maybe keep this mind?  (looking at you specifically Minot) I  mean, even if you are low on the list, you would be a fool to pass me up , because I will be better than everyone else no matter what. Especially Jedediah Smosley.
 

its incredibly disappointing Minot is the sole American team, pretty poor choice.

Hey everyone, it’s your favorite American, Josh Merica!
 
I’m here to deliver my VHLM team rankings. I’ll play for whoever, I don’t give a f**k, it’s the minors and it’s only purpose is to serve as a stepping stone to the VHL, so the team I play for doesn’t matter, as long I am getting the minutes I should be getting, which is all of them. Don’t give me minutes and we will definitely be at each other’s throats.  Intro complete, enjoy.
 
#10-  Minot Gladiators
Where do I even begin? How about with the location…I am betting no one here has ever actually been to Minot, North Dakota before, because if they had they would know how absolutely shitty it is, and it’s the last place I want to spend my time.  Than, sigh, we have Blake Campbell. No thank you. Also, logo sucks. #9-  Bern Royals
Jala would probably take away my guns and not allow me to have it in my locker, because he is anti-guns and anti-freedom, so I would have difficulty playing for someone who doesn’t believe in freedom. I also don’t know anything about Bern, except that it isn’t located in the United States of Freedom. Oh I almost forgot, you won 7 games, so clearly something is amiss…Oh yeah, anti-freedom. #8-Moscow Red Wolves
I respect Putin for being a hard-ass, but he is a communist son of a bitch and I would not do very well in a communist country, I’d probably start a rebellion and go all Luke Skywalker. Nice logo, nice team name, but definitely not one of my top choices. #7-  Bratislava Watchmen
I dig the name, don’t mind the location, and Bratislava is one of the best teams, but Bratislava isn’t located in America….or even, *looks around cautiously* Canada.  KitRas is cool enough, you can be annoying at times, but who isn’t?  You’ve done a great job building the Watchmen, and I like the color scheme/logo. #6-  Brampton Blades
I remember fong from a long time ago, but that was a long time ago. Brampton, like every team in this league, could use my help and would immediately be vaulted into the Championship.  I don’t really have anything else to add, except Brampton wouldn’t be terrible, like it's logo. #5-  Oslo Storm
Norway? Now were talking. If I can’t play in America, Norway wouldn’t be a bad place to be, and I have nothing against BluesBoy.  Oslo wasn’t all that great last season, and would benefit, like every team, from my presence alone.   Not sure what the dude in your logo has to do with a storm though. #4-  Ottawa Lynx
My boy Frank, official member of “team f**k you”, one of my favorite members. Would love to suit up for you and the Lynx, and Dear God do you need the help, I mean f**k man. Do yourself a favor and let me make you look like a hockey god as we wreck the shit out of the rest of this league. Frank is the only reason Ottawa isn't last, I might add. Logo wins the award for most bland. #3-  Turku Outlaws
Max MacInnis loved it in Turku, and  I wouldn’t mind playing there myself. Well run team, made it to the VHLM finals before choking. I can assure you, Josh Merica does not choke. Add me and you will be hoisting that trophy that next season.  Plus, I am a real life outlaw, I say whatever I want and people can't stand it, like outlaws. #2-  Saskatoon Wild
Kendrick recently stepped down, but the Wild remain one of my top destinations. MacInnis was there briefly, and he loved it there as well. RiceMuncherManDude likes to eat rice and is a pretty cool guy, so I wouldn’t have a problem playing for him and the Toony Toones. Also, best logo in the VHLM. You would be wise to select me. #1-  Yukon Rush
Almost entirely because Ramicus just got named GM. We are tight and I would enjoy playing for him and the best team in the VHLM.  You need to trade up and draft me, because if you don’t, you wont be winning the championship next season, you can mark my words. You are #1 on my list for a reason, so make it happen! Just imagine all the dirty Jew jokes I will provide in the locker room. There you go. Again, I’ll play for whoever, but maybe keep this mind?  (looking at you specifically Minot) I  mean, even if you are low on the list, you would be a fool to pass me up , because I will be better than everyone else no matter what. Especially Jedediah Smosley.
 

Isnt this also your first ever sim league championship? because I know you dont have one in the SHL.
 
Scrub.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO USA USA USA

"There is nothing I love more than the 2nd Amendment, except maybe when liberals try and take away guns from law-abiding citizens and I get to shove it down their throat until they realize their fringing on my rights." Said Josh Merica, when asked about his opinion on guns, and how many people believe that tighter laws are necessary "Look, I always point this out, criminials do NOT follow laws. So the only thing you are doing by adding more laws and making it harder to acquire weapons legally is discourage the law-abiding, normal citizen from carrying and possibly preventing a shooting from taking place.  The news should focus more on those stories, because there are more of them than there are mass murders at schools.  You also can't take away our guns, do you realize how many people in this country have them? Good luck, it's a pointless venture.   I carry a gun every damn day, and I will until the day I die, because evil exists in this world, just turn on the news...I for one won't leave my life up to chance."

"There is nothing I love more than the 2nd Amendment, except maybe when liberals try and take away guns from law-abiding citizens and I get to shove it down their throat until they realize their fringing on my rights." Said Josh Merica, when asked about his opinion on guns, and how many people believe that tighter laws are necessary "Look, I always point this out, criminials do NOT follow laws. So the only thing you are doing by adding more laws and making it harder to acquire weapons legally is discourage the law-abiding, normal citizen from carrying and possibly preventing a shooting from taking place.  The news should focus more on those stories, because there are more of them than there are mass murders at schools.  You also can't take away our guns, do you realize how many people in this country have them? Good luck, it's a pointless venture.   I carry a gun every damn day, and I will until the day I die, because evil exists in this world, just turn on the news...I for one won't leave my life up to chance."

"There is nothing I love more than the 2nd Amendment, except maybe when liberals try and take away guns from law-abiding citizens and I get to shove it down their throat until they realize their fringing on my rights." Said Josh Merica, when asked about his opinion on guns, and how many people believe that tighter laws are necessary "Look, I always point this out, criminials do NOT follow laws. So the only thing you are doing by adding more laws and making it harder to acquire weapons legally is discourage the law-abiding, normal citizen from carrying and possibly preventing a shooting from taking place.  The news should focus more on those stories, because there are more of them than there are mass murders at schools.  You also can't take away our guns, do you realize how many people in this country have them? Good luck, it's a pointless venture.   I carry a gun every damn day, and I will until the day I die, because evil exists in this world, just turn on the news...I for one won't leave my life up to chance."

#FuckH1CK3Y

#FuckH1CK3Y

#FuckH1CK3Y

#FuckH1CK3Y

American>

Would greatly appreciate a sig.
 
Name: Josh Merica
Render: Tyler Seguin (preferably one with tattoos visible, doesnt have to be in uniform)
Text: Josh Merica, and "Freedom Has Arrived"

Merica >
 
Might as well put me #1 now.