DragonFire420

1. I don't really watch the world junior stuff. I guess USA cause I'm American but not really into all that.
 
2. mary jane's the gift that keeps on giving yeeee 
 
3. We had fish for christmas eve but I mostly drank for Christmas. The fish was good, we had Cod and Salmon.
 
4. Man my goalie poo. I don't know what I'm supposed to do to improve him. He just poo.
 
5. I still don't know a lot about the league I know seattle good though. Surprised but hockey alwasy has that upset match that happens so maybe not so shocking. Seattle will rebound though. Chicago whooping up on Calgary too lol
 
6. Based on the froggy picture he went hoppin in dat good shit lol probably was high and forgot to post it

1. I think we got 4th locked up.
 
2. I'm not good with that stuff but I think New York and Malmo.
 
3. Yeee
 
4. No one catching my boy. 110.
 
5. Our wins versus Mexico. Good to do well versus good teams.
 
6. USSR

1. Probably coochiman. Weiner is our best natural Center and he's the only one consistently above .500 on draws.
 
2. San Diego.
 
3. Well below average. I'm at a 30-14-2 record but my save% is ass and my goals against is worse.
 
4. yeee
 
5. I don't know lol
 
6. The gift of ganja baby!

1. I got a playlist I go to for pregame.
 
2. I think my goalie could be doing more.
 
3. I think my goalie needs to do a better job of keeping us in games that are close.
 
4. Mexico City
 
5. No. I'm staying locked down for the holidays.
 
6. Wendy's

Yo you were a cool GM I know I wasn't always the most active in chats all the time but you and mooseage did your best to make it the best introduction to the leauge possivle. Thank you for the time in San Diego. You've been through a lot in this league n I respet that. 10/10 on the feels man. 10/10

1. Yee. My goalie isn't doing great though, that's why.
2. Nah, he'll show up
3. Mooseage
4. There's a junior team?
5. Saginaw Spirit
6. Locked down

Yo you were a cool GM I know I wasn't always the most active in chats all the time but you and mooseage did your best to make it the best introduction to the leauge possivle. Thank you for the time in San Diego. You've been through a lot in this league n I respet that. 10/10 on the feels man. 10/10

That's a dope read though. I'm still learning how stuff works so I like stuff like this. I think Yukon will be better than #5 though. They got a good team. Philly is gonna struggle later in the season IMO. I think Halifax trades Sterlinf. 
 
Edit *I forgot the rating thingy. 10/10 great stuff

Yee go Sasky

In what will be the shortest ever The Long & Short of It, we cover a classic, a hall of fame worthy piece of VHL history. We've all seen and heard the joke, a timeless classic of the VHL. But for so many of us, getting fisted anally by a circus monkey is punchline without an origin, a whisper of a time yonder, a memory without context. But like all great jokes, there is an origin story to this legend. One draped in prestige from its content to the players and hall of famers it originated from. After so many seasons for some us, and uses of the phrase without true knowledge of its importance to the foundations of this community, today, through the words of @Victor, he shares the story:
 
 
Moose: @Victor. what is the actual origins of the joke in the league?
 
Victor: @Moose l Kevin King to set the scene, it's S17. A fresh faced muff (long before he was even known as muff) decided to actually give the VHL a proper go and joins the legendary S18 draft with his goalie Joey Clarence.
The commissioner of the time is a guy called Slobo (you'll recognise the name Brett Slobodzian I'm sure). An absolute joker of a guy who once recorded a drunk podcast with "Fong" and "Harvey" (the resident Dil of the day) which was just him chatting shit and every now and then playing recordings of an angry Chinese and an angry Indian man. It was hilarious and completely inappropriate.
 
@thadthrasher: Literally sounds amazing haha, any way to listen to said podcast?
 
Victor: Lol afraid not its lost to the wild now.
 
thadthrasher: Just as mysteriously as it appeared, it was gone.
 
Victor: So let's go back to the S18 draft. Aidan Shaw and Daisuke Kanou were drafted in S18. You know, two of the greatest goalies of all time. Not to mention a shit ton of other Hall of Famers. Poor Clarence had no chance and fell all the way to the 3rd round despite a very healthy amount of TPE. And he realised this early on so throughout S17, on any media spot or podcast or general league thread about the draft he would post "FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY" whenever, and quite frequently, Clarence was not mentioned. You can probably piece 2 and 2 together by this point. Slobo had a bit of fun and here we are, 60 seasons and 10 years on, Still getting fisted anally by a circus monkey.
 
 
In honor of this week's The Long & Short of It, we request that everyone comment this week with simply, "FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY"
 
 

Michael Fletcher’s official statement on joining Prague today after a rough offseason:
 
It’s official and honestly, I’m happy to be in Prague. I’ve learned a little bit about the league now and I’m super excited to try and bring a cup to here in a few seasons. I like the people there, Doom, Gobeil, brock, the GM diamond are really chill. I’m excited to be in a place where I have a chance to play one day and maybe be a starter.
 
Right now my plan is to continue to focus on the VHLM and Saskatoon where we can hopefully win a championship to. I’ve been working on my player and am super excited for this upcoming season. I think I have a real chance to be a top goalie in the minors this season and help compete. I’m lookin forward to building chemistry with my teammates and just vibing throughout the season.

We are mere days away from puck drop on our new VHLM season. It's an exciting season to be sure, with lots of teams in the mix for the Founder's Cup. With an absolutely massive S75 Dispersal draft in our rear view, we can now break down who got the best talent and which teams have best prepared themselves in the early going for season 75. Without further ado lets look at the Power Ratings.
 

Last Week: -  |  This Week: 1
The Reapers enjoyed an absolutely massive draft that secured many positions of need. They are stacked across the board with top TPE players in every position. Their probable first line consists of @tcookie25Addison McLaren, @Gaikoku-hitoRobert Bouchard and @dariusmarimotomanDarius Marimoto, all of who will more than likely be capped sooner rather than later. On the blue line they will be rolling with @DoktorFunkJolly Greene Giant and @Greg_DiTom Eagles as their probable first pairing. JGG was probably ready to take the leap to the pros. but sent shockwaves through the VHLM when he stated he was going to commit to one more season down in the M. Meanwhile, Greg Eagles is a notable recreate and it's assumed his defensemen will develop quite rapidly this season. If these 5 skaters weren't enough, they also boast a max capped goalie to boot. With the Wranglers goaltending already strong, @jacobcarson877Jacob Carson will be looking for one more season in the minors to go for broke and win a Cup.  What's even more scary is that they have solid depth to go with a very scary core. In my mind, Philly is the team to beat. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 2
This one may come as a bit of a surprise to some, but if you take a closer look at the Kings roster, there is plenty to be excited about. They will be leaning heavily on forwards @jhatty8RJ Thatcher, @FirekissChris Foley, and @youloser1337Justin Lose to carry the offensive load, however they also can ice a formidible second like that could do some damange, especially if the other forwards keep earning at a good pace throughout the season. While they don't have any studs on D, they do have two promising players of note. The first is a VHLM journeyman that goes by the name @LefLopKing Kruul. He has been in the minors since Season 69 and went inactive for an elongated stint but seems to be back. He's right under the 200 TPE mark, so if he can prove to be a steady earner for Mexico City, they will have found themselves a nice little free agent signing this offseason. His D partner will be a high profile re-create from last season, @Beaviss Hulk Hogan Jr.  The Kings know they can rely on Hogan to reliably grow thanks to the job pay Beaviss will earn, so he will be a lock to end the season close to, or fully capped. Lastly, between the pipes we have another player who is at the cap. @Xflexz Marcus Emerson Jr. Last season Emmerson Jr. posted a winning record and decent stats on a subpar Mexico City squad, I think with a much better team in front of him this season, that he could be in store for a great run. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 3
Las Vegas is one of the hardest teams for me to judge. They could arguably be even higher on this list, if not for a glaring weakness. But the aforementioned weakness may be remedied by another strength of the team. Let's break it down... on the offensive side of things @frescoelmo It's Gucci will be centering a line with @Hoopydog Artair McCloud and one of @NordinKelly Power or @SimmerDown99Connor Sim. Regardless of which line's these guys end up on, the Aces boast a great deal of players who are veteran simmers as well as newcomers such as @Hex UniverseHex Rose, who I have taken note of and think could be a standout rookie and a potential top tier pick in the S76 Dispersal Draft. Now we get to where Vegas really shines, and that's on D. The Aces will be icing 4 players on defense this season who are at 200+ TPE! @Matt thunderMatt Thunder (237) , @WreckeningChase Crosby (232), @Ledge_and_Dairy(potential best username on the entire forums) Linus Zetterstrom (223) and @Bouncyelf Joakim Lund (194) will make up the defensive core for Las Vegas and this is undeniably the best overall defense in the league, bar none. And this is where what I said earlier comes into play. Starting goaltender @matt sovick Matt Sovick Jr only sits at 148 TPE, however this may not even be that big of a deal when you have your Top 4 D all close to being capped. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 4
@Ricer13 and @Zetterberg are out to prove S74 was no fluke and there will be no Cup hangover in Miami. After pulling off perhaps the most stunning Cup run this league has ever seen, Miami had very little time to celebrate as they had a ton of work to do. Most of the core that won them their title was going into the S75 Dispersal Draft. Despite this, Miami claims the 4th spot on the Week 1 Power Rankings and here's why... the Marauders first move was to bring back their rookie sensation and playoff MVP @RedSusCabe McJake. And while they weren't able to secure his partner in crime McLaren, they went and got the next best thing in @Jayrad28Ryan Ryker. There's no doubt in my mind these two will tear it up this year. While the Marauders do also possess some nice depth at wing, one area of concern in their strength at center. The will really need to rely on @snackheroTheodore Hoffman and @Jake SumnerThe Great to keep developing this season so they can be viable options to center these incredible wingers. On defense, the Miami brass brought back another familiar face by drafting rock solid D-men @chiknChicken Wing. Chicken will be partnering up with @Martin BradacMartin Master to form the top D pair in Miami, but there isn't much depth to speak of after that, so that could be an area to address for the Miami execs later on in the season via Free Agency or trade. Last but more certainly not least, we have @thadthrasherThadius Sales manning the crease. Sales has been one of the most rapidly developing rookies in the past month and half in the VHL. He was an absolute steal at 36th overall in the draft, and he is going to prove why this season. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 5
Next on our list is the Yukon Rush. Yukon was another top tiered team last season, but in spite of that they did not mortgage their future and go all in and leave themselves destitute long-term. The Rush GM @MexicanCow123 had himself a very efficient draft and replentished the team nicely. They are very similar to Miami in the sense that they are loaded on the wings but a little weak down the middle. Returnees @NeptoMaksim Yakolevsky and @DirtyDerekDaddy Derek will be joined by a couple high end offensive threats like @fyreflySheldon Juniper and newly appointed team captain @GreenGatoVick Fairchild.  While the Rush aren't amung the top of the league in defenders, the Yukon will look to @GoliathusTee Pee E II and @greywolf139Derek Redmarsh to carry the lion's share of the minutes If the Rush are going to make a run, they'll need one of the rookies on D to step up. Another rookie notable I've been keeping close tabs on is @HoPeFuLCheWBaCCaHan Shultz II, as he could prove to be a diamond in the rough this season.  In between the pipes, Yukon will rely on @KloxifiedKloxified. Yukon will be enjoying having the services of this max capped goalie for the entire season and will need him to perform to make up for some of the missing depth on defense. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 6
After an abysmal Season 74, the Marlins look to turn the page and get their franchise headed in the right direction this season. They created a ton of hype on draft day when they traded up for the number 2 pick in the draft, giving them both of the first 2 picks to begin the draft. With those picks, the Marlins head honchos took @ProutCowboy Prout and @fromtheinsideScotty Kaberle number one and two respectively. Taking a pair of defensemen 1-2 in the draft is a risky move that could prove to pay off. It seems as though these two players are more than up to the task of proving they were worth the picks. Both Prout and Kaberle will be capped within the coming weeks, so they will be a reliable tandem on the blueline all season. Up front there are some promising pieces as well. @TateRed Lite, @Jonessee27Nero Endrizzi and @Rayzor_7 Frank Funk Jr will lead the way on offense and there are a few of other really good depth pieces to be excited about as well. However if San Diego wants to do well this season, they will really need their forwards to work hard on capping every week during the regular season in order to maximize their development and keep up with the other teams on this list. On their last line of defense is @MSO94Michael Olson who is definitely a reliable netminder and will compliment the Marlins strong D-core nicely.
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 7
Coming in at lucky number 7 is none other than the #SaskyBois! This is one of the trickier teams on the board for me. I think there is alot of room to either climb or potentially fall for Saskatoon. It really all depends on how hard their team works to develop over the course of this season. There's a lot of questions surrounding this team With Brian Strong Jr moving up to the pros, can @EsoSteve Eso and @dartFlorent Vericel  carry the offensive load for the Wild. I think drafting Miami Marauder rookie standout @coochimanVivek Wiener was a great move, and bring back @dshervillBraxton Hunter for a second stint with the Wild could also prove to be a great call. On D, the Wild will be looking for more out of returnee @GeckoeyGeckoGabriel Johnson,  and while getting @yevtySilas LaFriend back for another year was a great move, they are going to need him to return to his torrid earning pace that he showed in his rookie season in order to help lead this defensive core. Between the pipes the Wild will look to @DragonFire420Michael Fletcher to hold down the fort, who is more than capable of doing so. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 8
After going for it all last season as perennial favourites and coming up short in a shocking first round exit, the 21st will be looking to rebound this season. It's not all doom and gloom for Halifax, as they boast a very nice starting 6, however the problem is there's not alot to speak of after that, and that can be expected seeing how as they lost so many of their players to the VHL this season. The 21'st's top line will undoubtedly put up big numbers this season Led by @DolantDolant Fertitta, @StamkosFanEmpty, and @Nick Kirkpatrick(and quite possibly the worst player name in all of VHL) Theodore James St. Louis, this line will really need to produce for Halifax to see any shred of success this season. The blue line also has a nice pair at the top, featuring @dylanjj37Rick Osman and the GoDaddy himself @OscarTheSwagDudeKate Upton (giggity).  @ThranduilClinton Giftopoulos also will provide good depth on the second pairing. Rounding things out will be @SilverMikeMike Sterling who is a very serviceable tender. All things considered, I expected Halifax to have a much worse roster this season. If they can maybe land a forward or two to help out with their team depth, they could easily fight for a playoffs spot and maybe play the Miami role this time around
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 9
Despite having a rather small roster, the players the Hounds do have are formidable ones. The duo of @MMFLEXDan Dan and @Aye my name jeffJordan Tate will be heavily leaned on to provide the bulk of the teams offense. The team's real strength comes on the blue line where they boast 3 players who are over 200 TPE. That's a great thing because they will need them as their starting goalie @Lspinelli is still a raw prospect who is claiming about 2 TPE a week for the past month now. The Hounds will need Spinelli to find another gear if they want any chance to replicate the great run they had last season which saw them get all the way to the VHLM Finals. Hopefully @KylradR will mend his broken heart and find some chemistry after being broken up with his beloved partner in crime L (for now anyways).. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 10
I really feel like I am criminally underrating this Bulls team, so Bulls players and staff, please don't be insulted for coming in at 10 on this inaugural Power Ranking for Season 75. Spreadsheet God @rjfryman and VSN Scout @MattyIce are a formidible duo and have brought in a ton of fresh faces for the new campaign. Alot of these players still have quite a bit of developing to do, but their growth has already been noticed  this offseason. I am confident this Bulls squad will be an improvement over last year's team by leaps and bounds. Leading the way for the team this season will be former Wild rookie @domg5Dominic Gobeil who has had an absolutely massive offseason. Along with Gobeil, @Nope488Not A Player as well as @BrrbisbrrVladimir Minski look to be key contributors. Also, never count out @Caboose30Trent Gibson in net. This fiery netminder will continue to develop this year and should be rock solid by seasons end. Like the Wild, if the Bulls players put in the work, they could easily rocket up the Power Rankings, the only thing that truly hurts them is the lack of some veteran leadership. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 11
Getting towards the bottom of this list, things start to get ugly. Another team that is boasting a total of 9 players (4 forwards, 4 defensemen and a goalie). When you hear people say they want parity in the VHLM, ladies and gentlemen I present to you the Minnesota Storm. Look I get they have recently went all in and successfully won themselves a Founder's Cup in the not-so-distant past. But this team is not competitive in any way shape or form and I'd even go as far to say that the management hasn't really attempted to remedy that either.  While the #12 team below Minnesota is even worse off, at least I can say that their management has put the effort into trying to sign some players. This is gonna be a long boring season for the players on the Storm and I feel bad for them. I urge them not to worry so much about the scores of the games but just focus on developing their players for the future. Last year there were 3 or 4 teams like this so I guess we are trending in the right direction with only have a couple teams this season who are straight up non-competitive. 
 

Last Week: - | This Week: 12
They have 5 players and none of them are defensemen. I seriously don't understand how this happens, but I will at least say the Dok has been actively trying to recruit new members of the league to his team, so I am happy for that. But that being said, it's gonna be a rough year for Ottawa. 
 
That wraps up the Power Rankings for Week 1. If there's enough support I will make this a weekly thing. Good luck to everyone in season 75, it's shaping up to be an amazing season!

1. You guys did Gucci. Thanks for taking Dragon
2. All the goalies falling, like that was pissin me off though lol
3. I did and we all saw how that went
4. Size. I guess that's important for the engine thingy.
5. Haven't moved up yet, still in San Diego. I'm gonna miss the beaches. Do they got beaches?
6. Chicken and Feta cheese pizza. You have to try it.

For this week’s, The Long & Short of It, we take a small break from deep player dives and instead embark on a journey through the VHLM, this season 74 in review, some feedback from GMs and players, what makes the VHLM so special, and perhaps what could come in the future for the league.
 
            Season 74 was a banner year for the VHLM, covering the deepest recruitment drive some players had ever seen and rivaling the drive of season 66/67. With over 200 new recruits and recreates, the deepest pool of the 70s classes thus far kicked off with dominant performances from perennial favorites Vegas, Ottawa, and Mississauga. But all were outclassed by the juggernaut Halifax 21st, who were on the Miami of s73 road of having high value players throughout the roster. Beginning and seasoning the regular season in dominant fashion, the Halifax 21st led in every statistical category and were set to breeze on through a playoff run. On the Western side of things, Vegas had built a strong enough lead through the trade deadline but began to split games as the season wound down. The real fight was deeper in the league however, as Yukon and Mississauga fought for home ice and the right to face an Ottawa team that got hot after the trade deadline but cooled as the season ended. The tail end of the field saw the Philadelphia Reapers desperately cling to 4-point deficit over the Miami Marauders for the 8th and final playoff spot. Miami had struggles through much of the season but had formed a bond together in what we’d eventually dub the Waiver Warriors mentality. Miami after being behind 11 points following the trade deadline fought back to close the gap on the Reapers, winning their final four games of the season to overtake them and claim the final playoff spot.
 
            The playoffs immediately took on a different feel, as Ottawa pushed Yukon to seven games and the Miami Marauders who made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season downed the dominant Halifax 21st in seven games. The second round had a feeling of uneasy tension to it as the Vegas Aces went down 3-0 to Miami. Elsewhere, Yukon and Mississauga were poised to go to a seven-game series with some questionable tactics from the Hounds’ camp. Vegas would show their might however, rallying back to force a game seven but couldn’t complete the reverse sweep as Miami pushed its ticket to the Founder’s Cup. Mississauga would overcome Yukon to meet them and for Miami GM Kris Rice, the battle of his past and present set the stage for his next attempt at a championship. Miami would go on to complete a four-game sweep of the Mississauga Hounds, completing the unlikely playoff run and cementing the Cinderella story for the Waiver Warriors in the VHLM.
 
            This season also saw another round of prime directive penalties, as teams road inactive players over signing new talent, resulting in many new creates not joining VHLM teams. The offending teams this time; Halifax (deducted a 4th round pick), Mississauga (deducted a 3rd round pick), Minnesota (who’s penalty was later lessened), & Ottawa (deducted a 1st & 3rd round pick). It was and is a problem that brings out the philosophical argument of the minor league as to the balance of competition and retention with the mandate being a league about developing and retaining active members over winning as a priority. It’s a violation that plagued Mississauga, even in the playoffs as many feel they were controversially not adhering to the mandate as IA players continued to get minutes even in the Semi Finals versus Yukon.
 
            So, what is next for the VHLM? Season 75’s draft is now behind us and a loom of another possible influx has opened the VHLM Juniors, a design to help VHLM teams sign more players and give everyone a chance to play. Under the guise of the STHS farm system, VHLM Juniors could easily come to be a regular thing as the league looks for more membership. The idea behind it, coming through with a cap of half the league filling the max roster size. If that were to happen, the Junior league would open. It is our expectation that by season 77, VHLM Juniors will be a full-time league. It’s an exciting prospect for the league, who just recently expanded its major division by four teams, a design that could, if this continues, follow to the VHLM.
 
            Finally, we got to talk to some player, GMs, and even Acydburn about what makes the VHLM special, favorite moments, and what they’d love to see in the future. For our personal take, it matches much of the comments here about retention and the engagement with molding new players into long term members, those little moments in Discord chat that bring a team together, and the hopes of future expansion as when the VHLM expands it means the league is thriving. Here are some comments from VHLM GMs and players about the league:
 
 
1. What makes the VHLM special to you?
 
“The VHLM is special to me because it is the entry point into this great league. It is the first thing the players experience when they join. I get to be a part of trying to help them enjoy all the things this league has to offer and that is rewarding.” – Rice (Miami GM)
 
“Probably the engagement and excitement of the M community. it's always getting fresh faces that add to the excitement, and it's harder to maintain a dynasty here. that just ramps up everyone's competitiveness.” – Spartan (Vegas GM)
 
“I think the VHLM is special because of the role we play for the community. We’re the first interaction people experience when joining this league. We’re there for their 1st signing, their 1st game, their 1st goal, their 1st draft. Those experiences have a profound impact on their commitment to the league. If we’re not creating an enjoyable experience for everyone, we’re ruining the potential success and enjoyment of not just the VHLM, but the VHL, and the entire community.” – DMaximus (Philadelphia GM)
 
“It's a place where everyone who wants to play in the VHL gets their start. For me being in the Miami locker room this season, there was a lot of people who were new to the league coming together, putting in the work and pushing and supporting each other, and our management group did everything they could to help us get used to the VHL and develop as players.” – Trevor
 
“It obviously gets looked down upon by the players in the VHL, because it's a development league. But for a lot of guys, me included, it's our first time being part of a team on this site and it's special being in a locker room for the first time, and even though players mostly play to develop, there isn't a ton of pressure to perform and you can just have fun with fellow rookies.” – Ledge and Dairy (Vegas Defensemen)
 
“Being in the LR is amazing, I know they have them in the VHL but the vegas one has made this experience so enjoyable. Especially bc they drafted me and stuff. And also everyone is friendly in the VHLM so you can just talk to to whoever.” – Hoopydog (Vegas Forward)
 
“I guess it's like the old saying goes, you always remember your first. VHLM is everyones first. For me it was starting my rookie season in Saskatoon. And it really is a great place to start off your career. Much like real players in the minors hone their skills, I have been using my time in the VHLM to learn the ley of the land. This experience I've gained this season is invaluable.” – fromtheinside (San Diego Defensemen)
 
2. If you could see anything change/improve in the VHLM what would it be?
 
“My only critique is that it needs to become more about retention and less about winning. Winning is extremely important as it also helps with retention but the main focus is the journey along the way and keeping things fun and engaging for new members.” – Rice (Miami GM)
 
“In general, I think the league is well run and I think Acyd and d_a have shown they mean business with running the league and that’s a great thing. The primary thing I would change is I would eliminate all inactive players. The moment someone is inactive, they are removed from a roster. I think that would help all GMs maintain a strong focus on getting and maintaining active players. I would also eliminate Free Agents. I would also change the way we calculate the total number of seasons in a player’s career. It’s extremely difficult to join the league and leave the VHLM in a single season, meaning most players are going to spend more than 1 season in the VHLM. Every season spent in the VHLM is one less season you spend in the pros. I think that is unfair to most people, and we shouldn’t penalize people for growing their player at their own rate. Let them spend up to 3 seasons in the VHLM, then start their career seasons once they start playing in the pros.” – DMaximus (Philadelphia GM)
 
“The one thing that stood out to me as something I wish were different, from the moment I joined the league, was that I wish players didn't have to sign up, pick a team, play part of a season with that team and then switch to a different VHLM team at the draft. But it's a bit of a tough problem to solve. I do wonder what it might look like if players got to stick with the team they chose, if it was almost a college sports style model... I would worry that occasionally a team might find itself not being relevant for a long time though.” – Trevor
 
“Right now, expansion seems like a decent idea with all the new creates. Other than that, I think it's being run pretty well.” – Ledge and Dairy (Vegas Defensemen)
 
3. What is your favorite VHLM moment?
 
“This is a tough one because I have quite a few. Winning the S74 championship is right up there but my favorite was probably when the Marauders first joined the league and bringing in that first roster of players. That was a great season.” – Rice (Miami GM)
 
“Probably getting drafted in my first season, and also every M draft afterwards. drafts are fun, and I've enjoyed being in them and hosting them.” – Spartan (Vegas GM)
 
“I have a lot of personal favorite moments, like drafting a player in a later round and watching them grow, or seeing someone on my team write their first media spot, or having team members help out with the team like my AGM @spence king and my head scout @dariusmorimotoman. For a single favorite moment,  I really enjoyed Miami’s run this season.” – DMaximus (Philadelphia GM)
 
“It was crazy to be a part of Miami's Cinderella run to the Founders Cup this year. The moment in our locker room when we all checked and saw that we'd beaten Halifax in Game 7 was incredible. From that point on, we had a lot of belief in ourselves, but it was still surreal when we actually pulled it off.” – Trevor
 
“When I scored my first goal, and I went into my LR and everyone there congratulated me. It's really like a family, being in a LR like that.” – Ledge and Dairy (Vegas Defensemen)
 
“Well my favourite personal moment was scoring my first game winning goal of my career vs the Houston Bulls in the regular season this year. It was the first time I felt like my player directly made an impact on the team and it felt awesome. Outside of my own personal achievements though, I'd lie if I didn't say watching Miami's miracle playoff run wasn't the coolest thing I've seen thus far. Knocking off two powerhouses in back to back series and then sweeping a very sound Mississauga Hounds team was nothing short of amazing.” – fromtheinside (San Diego Defensemen)
 
Acydburn (VHLM Commissioner)
Q: What makes the VHLM special to you?
 
“It’s the first thing someone gets to experience as a new player. The M is where you learn about the league and establish those first connections. I’ve met a bunch of great people in the VHL and a lot of them started from my days back in Halifax. If it wasn’t for the M I don’t think I would be a part of this league.”
 
Q: If you could see anything change/improve in the VHLM what would it be?
 
“There are a few things that I would like to see changed in the M. You’ll just have to stay tuned for those ;)”
 
 
Q: What is your favorite VHLM moment?
 
“Not quite sure I’ve had one, they all have their moments. I think When we had the entire team all pumped up for playoffs and were all active. The locker room was really popping off and made em enjoy the league a bit more.”

Michael Fletcher has opened the SWHL on fire, posting a 4-0-1 record with a 1.80 Goals Against Average and 1 Shutout. His Bakersfield Barons are in sole possession of first in their conference and sit second in the league behind Fresno. Fletcher also boasts 2 assists on the season, an added utility that has helped Bakersfield get going on the rush, something they lacked the previous season.
 
            In his first outing, Fletcher was able to pick up a hard fought win versus the Henderson Lions in a 3-2 game where Fletcher saw 17 third period shots, stopping 16 of those and holding on for the victory. He was easily the first star after that period alone, and while the Barons were able to secure three goals, they struggled to maintain possession for much of the contest.
 
            His second outing was much better for the team, outshooting the Crush (Santa Ana) 25-6 in the final two periods of play and collecting a 4-0 victory, Fletcher’s first shutout in the league. He followed that up with another strong win, but a little rough on the scoresheet, surrounding 3 goals in 5-3 win versus Riverside and bringing him a 3-0 start to his SWHL career. Thr run would end there however as he would drop the next game 4-3 in a shootout to the Scottsdale Suns.
 
            In the fourth and as many games of the season for Fletcher, the Scottsdale Suns rolled in and put up 2 goals in the first ten minutes of the game. While Bakersfield managed to respond, even going up 3-2 with 11:06 in the third, it was a well-placed shot that beat Fletcher with 3:00 to go in the third to tie it up. In what was Fletcher’s worst game in the SWHL thus far, he did manage to keep the net clear for overtime but gave up the critical goal in round seven of the shootout to end the Baron’s run at three.
 
            Following the loss, was a back-to-back night with the second half behind Scottsdale being Tucson. Tucson scored early, putting them up 1-0 for majority of the game but Fletcher’s game would solidify there and the bleeding would end as Bakersfield rounded up the next 4 goals to win 4-1. Fletcher had an easy night following the first period and after 5 games is sitting comfortably as a top goalie in the SWHL. Fletcher would go on to talk about not only his first five games for the Barons but also the draft and his focus for next season.
 
“I’ve spoken with a few [GMs] about the draft. You try your best to focus on the games in front of you but it’s difficult. I want to give a team the best chance to win and I’m focused on building towards that.”
 
“I’m happy with the start here. We’ve got 9 out of 10 points so that’s the right way to play. These guys are at a level where you hope to get that game experience from them and we have so far. It’s a good group and I think we can go far.”

After a tough year in San Diego, Michael Fletcher will spend his offseason in SWHL as a member of the Bakersfield Barons. He officially signed on and will play in likely a starting role with the squad as they look to bounce back from a tough season as well. The second-year league will play forty games and will conclude with a eight team playoff featuring the top four teams from each conference.
 
            “It felt right to me. I spoke a lot with him [Moose] about it and he thought it would be a good way to shake off the stink from this season. There’s plenty of offseason project leagues that guys in the VHL go to when they have time and I figured I’d find mine as well. This just felt like the right move and we’ll see where it goes. I know the draft is coming and I’ll be watching what these guys do in the postseason but right now I’ve gotta be better so I can avoid a repeat of what’s happened this year.”
 
            Fletcher finished the VHLM season with only nine wins and was third worst in goals against average. He played a on a very talent deprived Marlins squad this season, being left to die on many occasions but still picked up some quality wins and three shutouts on the year. His play was visibly better towards the end of the season as a more functioning team was put around him, though they were unable to do much to climb out of the hole the season brought. Fletcher had this to say about his time in San Diego and a possible return in the Dispersal Draft,
 
            “I’d love to come back. Moose and I have been friends for twenty years or so and I’d love to come back and give him a chance to win if he’d have me. I know this was a bad year and he told me as much before I signed in San Diego so I knew a little bit of what to expect. Admittedly I thought more would come during the season but I’m just chilling, it doesn’t bother me. I honestly don’t know where I’d go if not San Diego. No one knows me and I don’t use discord enough. So I worry I won’t get to play.”
 
            Fletcher and the Bakersfield Barons will begin their regular season on Friday and will matchup with defending champions in Glendale first. They will have a roster of fifteen. Fletcher when asked about winning a championship in the SWHL had this to say,
 
            “It’d be cool. It’s a small league but anytime you win it’s nice. I just want to get better. I know it’s not the most fun answer but I’d like to get better so I’m a bigger threat in the pipes for the VHLM next season. So I’m just finding ways to do that. I know that the league is different and more unofficial but it’s content for me to deliver and get more out of my player.”

1. I stayed in cause of covid but noramlly I like to go out.
 
2. Both parties are shit but Trump is worse. Lesser of two evils
 
3. Feta. You ever had a chicken and feta cheese pizza?
 
4. Went to a game and saw Brodeur play. Best goalie in history.
 
5. Miami.
 
6. Viper does Viper things and that's very Viper of him.
 
@PatrikLaineis your favorite type of ham Spam?

After a tough year in San Diego, Michael Fletcher will spend his offseason in SWHL as a member of the Bakersfield Barons. He officially signed on and will play in likely a starting role with the squad as they look to bounce back from a tough season as well. The second-year league will play forty games and will conclude with a eight team playoff featuring the top four teams from each conference.
 
            “It felt right to me. I spoke a lot with him [Moose] about it and he thought it would be a good way to shake off the stink from this season. There’s plenty of offseason project leagues that guys in the VHL go to when they have time and I figured I’d find mine as well. This just felt like the right move and we’ll see where it goes. I know the draft is coming and I’ll be watching what these guys do in the postseason but right now I’ve gotta be better so I can avoid a repeat of what’s happened this year.”
 
            Fletcher finished the VHLM season with only nine wins and was third worst in goals against average. He played a on a very talent deprived Marlins squad this season, being left to die on many occasions but still picked up some quality wins and three shutouts on the year. His play was visibly better towards the end of the season as a more functioning team was put around him, though they were unable to do much to climb out of the hole the season brought. Fletcher had this to say about his time in San Diego and a possible return in the Dispersal Draft,
 
            “I’d love to come back. Moose and I have been friends for twenty years or so and I’d love to come back and give him a chance to win if he’d have me. I know this was a bad year and he told me as much before I signed in San Diego so I knew a little bit of what to expect. Admittedly I thought more would come during the season but I’m just chilling, it doesn’t bother me. I honestly don’t know where I’d go if not San Diego. No one knows me and I don’t use discord enough. So I worry I won’t get to play.”
 
            Fletcher and the Bakersfield Barons will begin their regular season on Friday and will matchup with defending champions in Glendale first. They will have a roster of fifteen. Fletcher when asked about winning a championship in the SWHL had this to say,
 
            “It’d be cool. It’s a small league but anytime you win it’s nice. I just want to get better. I know it’s not the most fun answer but I’d like to get better so I’m a bigger threat in the pipes for the VHLM next season. So I’m just finding ways to do that. I know that the league is different and more unofficial but it’s content for me to deliver and get more out of my player.”

That's awesome dude I like the font. Vegas is kinda becoming my favorite team so I appreciate the Vegas. 10/10 dude, these graphics are cool, I'll have to try one myself. Is there anything I have to do for them?

Hello VHL my name is Dragon. Thank you for welcoming me to the league. Moose said a good way to get an easy thing out is to introduce yourself. I’m from Michigan, when I’m not working, I like to play games and stream with my friends. We have a group called Stoners 421 and you can check us out (WhiteFire Radio or WhiteFire Radio 421). I love smoking, weed is a passion of mine. I’m actually working towards becoming a grower as Michigan has legalized it I want to make that my career because I believe it helps a lot of people in so many ways.
 
I’m not really a sports fan but I’ll watch hockey occasionally. Moose is way more of a fanatic than I am but you guys probably know that by now. I’m just chill, not really competitive. I mostly just chat and chill with my peoples and that’s it. I joined the league to help Moosage out. I’m sorry I’m not heavy into Discord but I do play Playstation, (anyone who wants to chill on some Red Dead hit me up). I don’t really use Discord cause I’m so active on Facebook and Playstation so I forget about discord a lot.
 
I’m not the best at writing long stuff so Moose said we’ll start doing podcasts cause I find it easier to talk than to write. He’s actually editing this but he wants to get us on a podcast cause he wants everyone to hear me. (Note from Moose: I want everyone to hear Dragon because I’m gonna help him with articles and media spots a lot. Mike is a good dude but he’s not gonna be into the 500 words and weekly article stuff like we are.” We’re gonna do a podcast sometime this week so we can use that multiple weeks I guess.
 
I like anime, Attack on Titan is my favorite show. Avatar the Last Airbender is another great show. I mostly just chill when I’m not working like I said. Shout out to Deadpool, demo, whitefire, all my peeps on Red Dead holding down the fort for 421. We all play Minecraft sometimes too if anyone plays that also on PS4.
 
For my goalie I just want to build him up so he’s good. I know we sucked this year cause we had no players but I hope I’m better next season. I don’t usually play stuff like this so Moose told me I just gotta earn points and the sim thing does the rest. I’d like to go the D.C. Dragons at some point, feels right lol. I want to thank Moose and Instant Rockstar for giving me a chance to play. I may not be active in Discord but I want to be a good player for them. I know this season is kinda over but hopefully I can stay next season and do more. Thank you anyone who reads through my rambles. Moose was kinda editing it and said he made it look a little better (Note from Moose: I did my best *cries*).