JB123

LET’S GO!

My First and Second-Team VHLM All-Stars - S79 VHLM first and second team all-stars were named once, in Season 62. Today I will be bringing them back, unofficially for Season 79, even if it is while the season is still going. I will be as objective as possible, and don't sweat it if you didn't make it, there were a lot of great options! *Quick note: In parentheses is the player's ranking, for forwards it is among all VHLM skaters; for defenders it is just among defenders. S79 VHLM First Team All-Stars LW Duncan Montana @124715, Saskatoon Wild: 51 GP, 39 Goals (T-4th), 65 Assists (1st), 104 Points (1st), +38, 6 GWG (T-8th), 9 PPG C Bryn Yrwy @dylanjj37, Halifax 21st: 52 GP, 44 Goals (1st), 51 Assists (T-5th), 95 Points (2nd), +25, 7 GWG (T-3rd), 13 PPG (T-4th) RW Mikey Markov @JetsFan81, Miami Marauders: 51 GP, 43 Goals (2nd), 45 Assists, 88 Points (4th), +22, 4 GWG, 7 PPG D Zdeno Chara @Agito, Las Vegas Aces: 52 GP, 30 Goals (1st), 50 Assists (2nd), 80 Points (1st), +3, 139 Shots Blocked (2nd), 127 Hits D Pistol Pete @PistolP, Las Vegas Aces: 52 GP, 26 Goals (T-2nd), 43 Assists (6th), 69 Points (3rd), +4, 114 Shots Blocked (4th), 134 Hits G Luke Spinelli @Lspinelli, Mississauga Hounds: 40 Wins (1st), .896 Save Percentage (10th), 2.79 GAA (5th), 6 Shutouts (1st), 2 Assists (T-8th) As you can see, two Aces defenders made the First Team, Zdeno Chara and Pistol Pete. Chara is a frontrunner for the Ryan Sullivan Trophy for best defender this season. If they end up winning it, they'll become the 2nd Vegas defender to win the award in the past three seasons (Shaggy Tipton won it in Season 77). Among the other selections, the league leaders in goals (Yrwy) and points (Montana) both made it, as well as Marauders star forward, Mikey Markov. Luke Spinelli earned the goalie spot in his second stint with the league-leading Hounds. Now, onto the Second Team! S79 VHLM Second Team All-Stars LW Zach Kisslinger II @Kisslinger, Halifax 21st: 52 GP, 29 Goals, 61 Assists (3rd), 90 Points (3rd), +18, 3 GWG, 7 PPG C Nathaniel Minion @Minion, Mississauga Hounds: 52 GP, 24 Goals, 62 Assists (2nd), 86 Points (T-6th), +42 (T-7th), 6 GWG (T-8th), 6 PPG RW Baby Bob @Baby Boomer, Mississauga Hounds: 52 GP, 27 Goals, 50 Assists (T-9th), 77 Points, +45 (T-4th), 2 GWG, 10 PPG (T-8th) D Rhys Trenton @DeeGoat, Mexico City Kings: 52 GP, 26 Goals (T-2nd), 48 Assists (T-3rd), 74 Points (2nd), +29, 74 Shots Blocked, 101 Hits D Corey Kitson @Nykonax , Mississauga Hounds: 52 GP, 26 Goals (T-2nd), 39 Assists (8th), 65 Points (4th), +47 (2nd), 98 Shots Blocked (7th), 32 Hits G Bastian Greiss @ThatsGreissy, Mexico City Kings: 36 Wins (2nd), .902 Save Percentage (5th), 2.57 GAA (4th), 3 Shutouts (T-2nd), 4 Assists (T-3rd) For the second team, we have three Hounds and two Kings, as well as a 21st. Zach Kisslinger, Nathaniel Minion, and Baby Bob lead the team up front. Rhys Trenton and Corey Kitson grabbed the two D spots, and Bastian Greiss got the nod in goal. Congrats to all the players who earned a spot! Now, time for arguments in favor of and against. Argument in favor of All-Star Teams: It is a unique honor in that it recognizes the top players, regardless of team. If one team is stacked, multiple players can still be selected. Another positive is that while only one player can win each award at the conclusion of the season, several can be awarded a spot here. This way, more great players are recognized, yet there isn't too many, honoring the integrity of it. Lastly, why not? The VHL names all-star teams, so why shouldn't the 'M too? Argument against All-Star Teams: They only further reward the cup contenders. A handful of teams have excellent rosters top to bottom in any given season, while others may be in a retool. Not every team will have a player selected. Although it's possible since there are twelve total spots and twelve teams in the 'M, it is not as probable or required. They make the awards show too busy. Players who win an award will likely earn an all-star team selection too, which isn't necessarily bad. However, it can make the presentation very repetitive and is one more thing to be determined in an already tight schedule. My Opinion While I do think All-Star Teams would be a cool addition to the VHLM Awards, there are negatives too, mentioned above. I trust the VHL Staff to do what's best, and whatever that is, I am on board with. So, what do you think? Should the VHLM bring back All-Star Teams? I hope you enjoyed reading, and as promised last week, I will be doing an article next week about top defense pairings across the VHL, followed by the best goaltending tandems. Word Count (excluding All-Star Teams): 530

Welcome to the VHL @adamcouser! I’m JB, AGM of the Ottawa Lynx . We would like to offer you a contract. We are currently retooling for next season’s cup run, but as a result lots of ice time is available and who knows, you could help us make a run this season too! We can offer top six minutes and will help you learn the game. Quote this post with #GOLYNXGO to join us in Ottawa! I wish you the very best, JB

I’ll apply :)

OTTAWA LYNX PRESS CONFERENCE Week Ending August 22, 2021 Answer for 2 capped TPE. 1. What do you think of the theme week topic for this season (awards)? 2. Are you satisfied with your player's performance as of late? 3. What's the best place to play in the 'M when we're away? 4. Would you rather play for one team your whole career, or bounce around the league? 5. What's your favorite sport to play? How about to watch? I know for me I like to play certain ones but cannot watch them on TV for a second. 6. What is your favorite month or season of the year? 7. (Optional) Do you see Jack Eichel getting traded relatively soon? If so, to which team, and what type of return does Buffalo ultimately get? @bRaidsz@ThatCanadian@Austin18@Domino Draws@Habs fan@BigHunky@SteveBrooks@Jaxon Seltenrich @Mattylive3k@Lilmar@Joker_TM@gh0st15 #GOLYNXGO

Look for more partnerships with similar games? I know some members here from another game and vice versa. This could potentially help with recruitment. Track more advanced stats, possibly the location of where a player scores their goals, or where a goalie gets beat. Not completely sure, since it is more random but just a thought. Display Jersey Numbers on player pages. Kind of like how Hockey Reference does with the team colors and number? All of these are just suggestions and I think the VHL is doing a great job

The Prague Phantoms have lost four in a row. The HC Davos Dynamo have taken over fourth in the European Conference. Prague defenseman Nathan Powers had this to say about it: "We've faced adversity all season long and right now is no different. We will overcome this and get back on track. We have to, as a team." Prague has scored 158 goals, while also giving up 158. Centers Robert Bouchard and Venus Thightrap lead the Phantoms in goals (24) and points (56), respectively, and form a dynamic one-two punch up front. Defender Battre Sandstrom leads the team in assists with 40. "Management has assembled a great team, one that has been in the making for a long time. It's up to us now to perform. Everyone has been doing their part, it's just about upping our game as a whole to the next level. We're not far off at all from competing with the big guns in this league." Only time will tell if Prague succeeds in getting back to its winning ways. But for now, Powers left us with a parting message. "We're in this together, as a team."

Review: Great recap of Malmo’s season so far. Format is good, like how you labeled each section of the article and alternated team colors. Stat references give it depth and make for a better read. 10/10

First lines in hockey are key to a team's success. They can make or break a team, and they are counted on night in and night out to deliver against top competition. Today we'll be taking a look at the best in the VHL, here we go! Prague Phantoms Dominic Gobeil - Venus Thightrap - Dan Baillie Jr Goals Scored: 53 Points Scored: 136 Shots Blocked: 83 This trio has been solid at both ends of the ice, blocking the second-most combined shots among first lines this season. They have also scored the 7th most points. Venus Thightrap, who centers the line, leads Prague in points among forwards with 52, while left wing Dominic Gobeil is tied with Robert Bouchard for the team lead in goals (20). The Phantoms are currently in fourth place in the European Conference. Vancouver Wolves Tyler Reinhart - Jivere Zolnek - Jerome Reinhart Goals Scored: 65 Points Scored: 159 Shots Blocked: 43 The first line of the Vancouver Wolves, featuring breakout star Jivere Zolnek and two candidates for rookie of the season, the Reinhart brothers, has been very good. They have scored the third-most points among all first lines this season. Zolnek leads the team in goals, assists and points. Both wings on this line are in the top three in terms of rookie scoring. With all three not even in their prime yet, this line should be together for a long time. Seattle Bears Jungkok - Valtteri Vaakanainen - Timothy Brown Goals Scored: 70 Points Scored: 165 Shots Blocked: 55 This season, Seattle is led up front by three veterans, all in their final season. Even so, they seem nowhere close to retirement on the ice, putting up some excellent numbers. They have scored the second-most points of first lines and blocked the sixth most shots on the best team in North America right now. Vaakanainen is tied with center Andrew Su with 24 goals, most on the Bears. Vaakanainen also leads the team in points with 59. Toronto Legion Lester Green - Asher Reinhart - Vick Fairchild Goals Scored: 66 Points Scored: 150 Shots Blocked: 104 Toronto's first line is arguably the best two-way line in the league this season. Blocking the most shots among top lines and scoring the fourth most points, they have been a major bright spot on the rebuilding Legion. Fairchild leads the team in goals (26), while Green holds the lead in points (55) and is tied for first in assists (38). Malmo Nighthawks Druss Deathwalker - Jakob Sosa - Gunnar Odinsson Goals Scored: 73 Points Scored: 189 Shots Blocked: 37 The top three of the league-leading Malmo Nighthawks have been unstoppable on offense this season, scoring the most points by a first line by a wide margin (24 points). Right wing Gunnar Odinsson leads the league in goals (37) and points (87) through 41 games. Sosa is second on Malmo in assists (40), behind Odinsson. Druss Deathwalker is in the midst of a breakout season, scoring at a point-per-game pace. Deathwalker, Sosa, and Odinsson are in the top six in the VHL in terms of plus/minus. There you have it! Tune in next time for best top D-pairings and soon after for best goaltending tandems! Hope you enjoyed! Word Count: 532

Thank you @Alex_J32, glad we were able to get it done. Best of luck to Calamari, Waffles & the Reapers in their quest for the Cup!

Welcome to the league @TreLow315! I’m JB, the AGM of the Ottawa Lynx . We would be very happy to add you to the team. While we’re not a top contender this season, we have a great locker room environment and lots of ice time available. Who knows, we may even make a surprise run with your help on the back end! We can currently offer second pair minutes, with the opportunity to move up as you develop your player. Quote this post with #GOLYNXGO to join us in Ottawa! Have fun in the league above all else, JB

Welcome to the league @LJFalcon15! I’m JB, the AGM of the Ottawa Lynx and we’d like to offer you a contract for this season. We’re a team that is retooling for next season, but we still would like to be in the hunt for a wildcard spot this season, and you can help us! The locker room is awesome, with lots of people willing to help, including myself and my GM, 16z. We can offer you middle six minutes, with a chance to move up as you develop! Quote this with #GOLYNXGO to join us! Good luck, JB

Welcome to the VHL @JayJay1227! I’m JB, AGM of the Ottawa Lynx and we would like to offer you a contract. We have a great active locker room with lots of help available to build your player. This season we’re not a top contender but you’ll have increased opportunity as a result. You can even help us grab a wild card spot! We can offer you middle six minutes, but that’s guaranteed to improve as you grow your player. Ottawa has a long history of developing elite talent, and YOU can be next! Just quote this post with #GOLYNXGO to join us here in Ottawa! Best of luck, JB

OTTAWA LYNX PRESS CONFERENCE Week Ending August 15, 2021 Note: You only have to choose 6 to answer for 2 TPE, but you can answer all 7 if you want. 1. We recently dealt John Baard and New Player, as well as a 4th, to San Diego for a 1st and 2 2nds. What are your thoughts on this trade? 2. What’s the best logo in the VHLM, in your opinion? 3. What notable city should have a team, in any of the three leagues? 4. If the NHL does go to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics, who do you expect to be selected from your favorite team? Or any players you want to be picked in the league overall? 5. Where do you want to be come the end of the season? 6. Would you rather win games 10-9 or 1-0? 7. Which NHL team will surprise everyone this season? @bRaidsz@ThatCanadian@WildfireMicro@Domino Draws@BigHunky@SteveBrooks@Lilmar@Edustava@Joker_TM@gh0st15

Glad you got a job and are enjoying it @osens!

Thanks Juice, it was a great ride. Great to see that the top 3 rookies in terms of scoring are all Rush alumni!

Review: Fire graphic. Background is good at not taking away from sig, as it’s lighter and blurred, in a good way. Also like how the VHL logo is included. Font looks great in cursive too. This is minor but it’s cool how your player and their render have the same initials. Very good job, only thing I might suggest would be a logo shoulder patch but doesn’t apply since the player isn’t on a team just yet. 10/10

A lot has happened this week, including a blockbuster deal that sent two mainstays out of Ottawa. Prague went on a surge before losing the last three games. Lastly, the first VHLE GMs were named as well. Lots to discuss. First, about the Lynx. Mired in mediocrity for the most part this season, we were faced with the decision of buying or selling. This was especially difficult because we really like the group we have, unfortunately there were just too many teams that had built for this specific season. We ultimately decided to think of next season and beyond, by trading two of our best players to the San Diego Marlins, left wing John Baard and defender New Player. In return we got a 1st in the upcoming dispersal draft, a 2nd, and a 2nd next season while also giving up a 4th next. Again, this was no easy decision but one we felt was necessary if we want to have a shot at bringing the cup back to Ottawa in the near future. Now, onto Prague: We have gained ground in the playoff race, climbing to fourth in the European Conference as of late. We have lost the last three though, so we need to make sure we don’t let it slip. Battre Sandstrom has further proved the ability to be a franchise defender, averaging over a point per game this season. Venus Thightrap and Dominic Gobeil lead Prague on offense, followed by solid depth scoring. Grekkark Gyrfalcon has been great in goal, maintaining a .922 save percentage. Finally, onto the E. GMs have now been named for ‘The Original Six.’ All very well deserved, I wish them the best and look forward to keeping a close eye on the league even though I’m not playing there. That’s it for this week, who knows what we’ll have to talk about next! Word Count: 298

Review: Great analysis. I like how you came up with a way to rank players using a combination of stats. Format is good, with bolding and logos used as well as clear dividers. Everything is very clear, well done. 10/10

Thanks for your time in Ottawa @Birdmanand @I'll change this later, you’ll do great in San Diego! Thanks @thadthrasher and best of luck!

Welcome to the league @EdwardTheSniper! I’m JB, AGM of the Ottawa Lynx and we would like to offer you a deal. We can offer third line minutes, with much opportunity to move up in the lineup as you develop your player! We have remained in the playoff hunt the whole season, and you can help us achieve big things! We have a great active locker room too and TPE guides to help you. Just quote this post with #GOLYNXGO to join us in Ottawa! Best of luck, JB

Welcome to the VHL @BITBYBIT21! I’m JB, the AGM of the Ottawa Lynx. We have an active locker room and our GM 16z is great. We can offer you 2nd line minutes for our playoff push. Quote this message with #GOLYNXGO to join us in Ottawa! We wish you the best no matter what, JB

OTTAWA LYNX PRESS CONFERENCE Week Ending August 8, 2021 Answer 6 for 2 TPE 1. What do we need to do to get back on track? We have lost five in a row, but are still in this at 7th place in the league. 2. Are you interested in playing in the VHLE in the future? 3. Any NHL free agent signings or trades that surprised you or you agree/disagree with? If you don’t watch hockey closely, what do you like most about this time of year? 4. What player build are you striving for? 5. Would you rather a TV series or a movie? 6. Salt water or fresh water? @bRaidsz@Birdman@ThatCanadian@WildfireMicro@Domino Draws@BigHunky@SteveBrooks@Lilmar@Edustava@I'll change this later @Joker_TM@gh0st15 #GOLYNXGO

The season is well underway now. It also happens to be Nathan Powers’ rookie season in the VHL. Powers is a defenseman for the Prague Phantoms of the European Conference. Currently Prague has a 7-9 record, 6th in their conference. They have allowed a respectable 55 goals compared to scoring only 48. Powers has scored three goals, and has added five assists for eight points. “Obviously if I could produce more consistently and help generate more scoring chances, that would help. We’ve been alright defensively as a team, everyone doing their part. Grekkark has been great in goal too. I think our main weakness right now is goals, and I need to certainly do my part to improve that.” The Phantoms look to win some tough games, including versus the HC Davos Dynamo and Riga Reign this week. “My goal is to get better each day, each week, and learn from every game. We may not be off to a really great start, but this isn’t over yet. There’s a lot of hockey left to be played.” Word Count: 177

Review: I like how you made this look like a press conference. Podium with Americans logo is a nice touch. Blue background fits and you not only included the NY logo but also the VHL one and alternated them. You cut him out well and layered accordingly to make the image look authentic. Great job, title really catches your attention too. 10/10