TheFlash

If you use it in a derogatory sense, as in a substitute for the word stupid, it’s not okay to say. Bottom line.

SBA sucks anyway

If you use it in a derogatory sense, as in a substitute for the word stupid, it’s not okay to say. Bottom line.

If you use it in a derogatory sense, as in a substitute for the word stupid, it’s not okay to say. Bottom line.

If you use it in a derogatory sense, as in a substitute for the word stupid, it’s not okay to say. Bottom line.

If you use it in a derogatory sense, as in a substitute for the word stupid, it’s not okay to say. Bottom line.

SBA sucks anyway

SBA sucks anyway

SBA sucks anyway

SBA sucks anyway

SBA sucks anyway

SBA sucks anyway

Well folks, we’re officially at game number 28 for each team, and only a few days from the halfway point of the 71st VHL season. As many predicted, Calgary and Moscow are leading the charge at the top of the standings. Harder to predict is the teams who fight for those middle of the pack spots. One such team that many had penciled in to be one of those teams were the New York Americans. Last season, the Americans had a respectable season, finishing 6th overall with a record of 36-28-8. The team you see this season is largely the same, losing just veteran Joseph McWolf. Obviously that was a big loss, McWolf was the team’s leading scorer with 70 points. But with each player growing and improving, the general consensus around the team was they would compete at or above the level they were at last season.
 
Thus far, to say the season has been a disappointment for the team would be an understatement. The team currently sits second last in the league and seven points behind the 8th place team, a gap that has grown in the past few days. They have the 2nd most goals against, and just the 7th most goals for, a combination that doesn’t usually lend well to victories. The team just hasn’t been able to find a rhythm, only having won more than two games in a row once (and that was just three wins). Their season has really taken a turn for the worse, and looking at their roster that’s a big surprise. This is not a bottom on the barrel team. They have good depth throughout their roster but are playing as if they have a bunch of 300 TPE players. Let’s have a look at their players performances so far this season and try and find out exactly why this team is taking a step back this year. 
 
OFFENSE:

As mentioned earlier in this article, the team lost their top scorer Jospeh McWolf to retirement. Replacing a near point per game player is always a challenge. The team didn’t have any major additions to the offensive attack, using their only draft pick to chose defenceman Hugh Jass (tough in Jass’ Defence, he was a fantastic minor league offensive defencemen and has a ton of potential). One positive that the team does have is Kevin Foreskin. After a 58 point sophomore campaign, Foreskin scored only 26 points in his third year. Though this year, he has taken that next step forward, scoring 25 points in the first 28 games and leading the team. If you look at the team in terms of TPE, their lack of scoring is a surprise. With Boris leading the way with just over 1000 tpe, they have four other forwards between 700-800 tpe. That is very solid depth up front. In terms of offensive defensemen they have recently acquired Michael Gary Scott, a dman who ranks 6th in the league for TPE defensemen. They also have Lance Flowers, a player who is closing in on 900 tpe.
 
DEFENSE:
 
On the backend, this team is also strong. Their top pair is MGS and Flowers, the 6th and 17th ranked defencemen in terms of points earned. MGS was recently acquired from Vancouver. The team gave up another defender in David OQuinn, along with their S72 1st rounder for the top tier defender. It’s a trade that hasn’t really worked out yet for the Americans, as Scott struggles to find his way early on and that 1st round pick looks more like a lottery pick everyday. Fred Elmebeck and rookie Hugh Jass round out the defence. Elmebeck has been having a great season, scoring 19 points and adding some great depth scoring. 
 
GOALTENDING:
 
In net, the team has A Red Guy. Guy has been the backstopper for this team for the past three seasons, his last two being top tier. Unfortunately, he has suffered from the teams poor play. It seems that whenever he plays well, the team in front of him can’t score. It’s hard to pin the struggles on Guy, as he still sports a 92% save percentage. Though the team could need him to step up and play even better, stealing some games down the line for his club.
 
 

 

Hugh Jass was drafted 7th overall by the New York Americans in the most recent VHL draft. He was selected with the intentions that he would fill the hole left by retiring Joseph McWolf, and also with the hope that he would blossom into a similar player, one that would play at a high level at both ends of the ice. Well this past Wednesday, Jass took a step in the right direction in his first taste of VHL action. 
 
In game number one, New York took the win against Toronto. Jass didn’t add anything on the scoreboard, but he did block two shots in just over 26 minutes of play. He also played a key role in penalty killing situations. 
 
In their second game, the Americans fell to the Wranglers, but Jass saw an increase in ice time and was able to notch his first (and second) career VHL points. Both of New York’s goals came in short handed situations and Jass assisted on both, in over seven minutes of penalty kill time and over 27 minutes on the ice total.
 
Jass definitely has impressed in his first two games, but for Jass to really make an offensive impact, he’ll need to earn his way onto the powerplay, a situation in which he excelled in his VHLM career, when he lead the league in power play goals in his final season. 

1) The VHL Offseason coupled with a global pandemic has spawned a multitude of game threads recently, ranging from Town of Salem to MMA. Which, if any, is most interesting to you?
 
None! Just give me hockey! Offseason has been looooong
 
2) In recent tradition the VHL Heavyweight Belt will be back in contention on Wednesday when the season kicks off again. Do any of the Americans grab it, and if so, who?
 
Boris? Seems like the name of a heavyweight champ kinda guy. I don’t even know what it’s for. Fighting?
 
3) Being locked in is a good a time as any to experiment in the kitchen, what dish have you always wanted to try and make yourself?

Made a mean PB and Cheez Whiz sandwich the other day 
 
4) In that same vein, which player is the best cook on our roster?
 
its definitely not me! Lance maybe.
 
5) How have you been killing the time lately?
 
Bit of PS4, lots of being quarantined with my girlfriend. Send help
 
6) With the Gutzweiler brothers coming up, which NHL (active or historic) brothers most closely represent them?
 
Brent and Wayne???
 

1) The VHL Offseason coupled with a global pandemic has spawned a multitude of game threads recently, ranging from Town of Salem to MMA. Which, if any, is most interesting to you?
 
None! Just give me hockey! Offseason has been looooong
 
2) In recent tradition the VHL Heavyweight Belt will be back in contention on Wednesday when the season kicks off again. Do any of the Americans grab it, and if so, who?
 
Boris? Seems like the name of a heavyweight champ kinda guy. I don’t even know what it’s for. Fighting?
 
3) Being locked in is a good a time as any to experiment in the kitchen, what dish have you always wanted to try and make yourself?

Made a mean PB and Cheez Whiz sandwich the other day 
 
4) In that same vein, which player is the best cook on our roster?
 
its definitely not me! Lance maybe.
 
5) How have you been killing the time lately?
 
Bit of PS4, lots of being quarantined with my girlfriend. Send help
 
6) With the Gutzweiler brothers coming up, which NHL (active or historic) brothers most closely represent them?
 
Brent and Wayne???
 

1. NY is set to pick at #4, what do you want to see come from this pick?
A little late on this one, but I think the trade back worked well. With so many S73 seconds it should kick off a potential rebuild in grand fashion, plus we still got who we wanted.
 
2. Who's the most exciting prospect in this draft?
Hugh Jass, of course! Seriously, I think he'll be an impact player on our blue line right away, and similar to past players like myself and Jensen could very easily be in the ROY mix.
 
3. How have you spent your offseason so far?
Hanging out. I've done some cap work for the team to make sure we can fit everybody, but in general seems a bit sleepier than last offseason. Figure that may pick up when the World Cup starts.
 
4. After a disappointing finish last year, what do you expect to see from us this year?
The playoffs is an obvious answer, but I really expect to see New York as a championship contender this year. We've got the depth, got the hunger after last year, and all we need is the gameplanning.
 
5. Any hot takes for the upcoming season?
My hot take for about three years running now is that Boris the Forest is going to transform into an MVP contender. I'm not going away from it now.
 
6. NYA Longest Drive Competition, who wins?
I do, of course. Come on now, you thought I'd pick somebody else? I'm made for the game of... (what sport is that? oh, ok)... golf. I'm made for golf.

1. NY is set to pick at #4, what do you want to see come from this pick?
 
2. Who's the most exciting prospect in this draft?
 
3. How have you spent your offseason so far?
 
4. After a disappointing finish last year, what do you expect to see from us this year?
 
5. Any hot takes for the upcoming season?
 
6. NYA Longest Drive Competition, who wins?
 
1. Love that we got Flash. Excited to skate with him.
 
2. Last name Jass, first name Hugh.
 
3. Canned spam. Lots of canned spam.
 
4. Exploding fireworks.
 
5. New York Americans are going to the finals.
 
6. Prob either Bird Dad or Bird Son since they can drive from the sky.

G- Raymond Bernard
 
@Mr_Hatter

I'm confused as to why we are doing a "job audit" where we look to penny pinch on members who are actually contributing to the league, while we have some affiliate program which allows members to not contribute anything and claim the max cap. Not a knock on anyone, but I think we should have our priorities in line before we start some witch hunt.

Congrats though to my man Josh

Robbed but k

Suggestion: Give 1 Experience Point to VHLM Players for a season played.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuu

This week’s draft saw many talents get selected to the VHL. Hugh Jass was one of these talents, getting snagged 7th overall by the New York Americans, after the team traded with DC to switch positions in the draft. Jass has a fantastic season in the ‘M last year, scoring over 130 points while blocking a ton of shots. Jass, like most rookies, will have an interesting transition. He’ll go from the top dog in Houston to a young player trying to earn his ice time in New York.  It’s unclear where Jass will play, though it’s safe to assume that New York will look to groom him and use his offence abilities. He plays behind up and coming defenceman Lance Flowers, who is entering his 4th season and is posed to take his game to the next level this year and join the top tier of defenders in this league. He also has David O’Quinn and Fredrik Elembeck ahead of him, two defencemen who are each over 500 tpe. The kicker with O’Quinn and Elembeck is that both players are in their final year of their deal, so depending on how their contract negations go, there’s a chance Jass could see himself moving up the chart quicker than expected.