v.2

Possibly the most important award we will discuss this evening, the Fredrik Elmebeck Memorial Trophy is sometimes referred to as the ‘top member award’ as it is awarded to the member that goes above and beyond each season to make the league a better place for everyone involved. This season we had 4 nominees;
 
@Gaikoku-hito - VSN, engagement with league, AGM, helpful and friendly
@Jason kranz - fantasy zone, active around various Discords, AGM, helpful and friendly
@Subject056 - face of recruitment, good work there
@Zetterberg - recruitment/retention efforts with individuals, GM
 
 
The winner of this season’s Fredrik Elmebeck Memorial Trophy is…
 

CONTINENTAL CUP
 
The Toronto Legion were just built differently in the playoffs this season on route to their first Continental Cup since S65! After finishing the season with a 46-24-2 record, the 2nd place team in the North American conference faced a surprise Chicago team in the first round, taking on the 3rd place team, as they pulled out the brooms and swept the upstart Phoenix! In the second round D.C. came up against Los Angeles who was coming off of an interesting series against the D.C. Dragons, they made it past them in only 5 games. In the finals the Toronto Legion faced their biggest challenge in Helsinki, who after dropping the first 2 games, stormed back to win it all in game 6 overtime to capture their tenth Continental Cup in franchise history! Congratulations!
 

Good evening and welcome to the season 91 Victory Hockey League Awards show! Over the course of the next hour we will reveal the winner of each and every VHL awards winner. This season saw several storylines come up, with Toronto’s remarkable Continental Cup run, Helsinki stunning everyone in the post-season, and Scotty Sundin dragging Chicago into the playoffs. 
 
Tonight we will celebrate and reflect on season 91, as we award the league's biggest hardware and players, they become recognized as S91 legends and a few may even build their case for The Hall of Fame. I hope you’re ready, Let’s get this thing started!

@v.2
 
Hey everyone, and welcome to the S91 VHL awards! I hope you’re all ready, I would like to just start off by congratulating all the nominees. We will be starting at 9 PM EST, hope you’re all ready to earn some prediction TPE!

dil's fault

Abel Jinn (OscarTheSwagDude) has announced their retirement.

Hello @Members!
 
I'm excited to announce that we have made our charitable donation for the year of $1656 to Doctor's Without Borders!
 

 
Additionally you all donated $1804 separate from the league bringing our total for the 2023 Holiday Charity drive to $3540! I'm always amazed to see the league come together and make such a difference in the world, it's great to see.
 
You all want some rewards I imagine though don't you? Well it was close but thanks to being $40 over the $3500 threshold we have once again hit every community goal which means every member of the community can claim 20 uncapped TPE and a PT Doubles week! It also means all our community items were met which means:
 
@twists will stream a declaration of his love for everyone that's been active in the past week.
@DarkSpyro will perform some Christmas themed metal songs
@Grape will do a full stream of all the Five Nights at Freddy's games.
@Acydburn will stream something, he just hasn't decided what yet.
@Beketov will once again stream Zoo Tycoon 2 Ultimate and name animals after VHL members.
 
As mentioned in the OP, unfortunately to keep things fair and not have a bunch of future creates claiming this: Rewards may only be applied to players created on, or before, December 25th, 2023
 
We'll get that stuff all scheduled as well as the raffle draw scheduled soon so keep an eye out for that and, once again, thank you all for making this time of year in the VHL so special!

WOOOOO!! 
 

 
GG Helsinki, all the games were super close and you had me shook from the start.

@hylands and @MubbleFubbles, welcome to the updating team!

V.2 approved this after I posted and went to bed. Thanks for looking into it for me Spartan!!

Who has held the record for the most TPE in VHL history?
 
A little bit ago I was thinking about articles that might be interesting for any sort of VHL 100 series coming up here not too far from now, and there was one topic that really peaked my interest: the all-time TPE leader. It’s a title that’s gone back and forth over the years as TPE has inflated, and I think it’d be a lot of fun to interview people who had that title.
 
This isn’t that article. But with Enorama entering the HOF as a builder today, it did give me some inspiration to see who’s actually held that title. Info from the early days of the VHL is tough, but this thread with Victor’s list dating from I believe S35 was a huge help. With that, I was at least able to put together a list that I think is accurate from the first player to hit 1000 TPE. (At the very least, Victor's tagged here and will correct me if I'm wrong.)
 
Seasons 17-24: Grimm Jonsson - 1008 TPE, Active S10-17, @sterling
Seasons 24-30: Lars Berger - 1104 TPE, Active S17-24, @Victor
Seasons 30-34: Benjamin Glover - 1269 TPE, Active S24-31, @scoop
Seasons 34-35: Alexander Chershenko - 1273 TPE, Active S27-34, @Victor
Seasons 35-38: Alexander Labatte - 1300 TPE, Active S28-35, @sterling
Seasons 38-48: Tuomas Tukio - 1400 TPE, Active S31-38, @Higgins
Seasons 48-63: Lord Karnage - 1561 TPE, Active S42-49, @boubabi
—--- The weekly TPE limit increased from 9 to 12 in S59 —---
Seasons 63-64: Gabriel McAllister - 1613 TPE, Active S56-63, @CowboyinAmerica
Seasons 64-69: Mats Johnsson - 1674 TPE, Active S57-64, @Quik
Seasons 69-88: Ryan Kastelic - 2000 TPE, Active S63-70, @Enorama
—--- Career lengths increased from 8 to 9 post-draft seasons in S80 —---
Seasons 88-89: Xavier Booberry - 2104 TPE, Active S80-88, @CowboyinAmerica
Seasons 89-Present: Nico Pearce - 2206 TPE, Active S81-89, @Spartan
 
(I’m not actually claiming this for TPE, just thought this forum would be a good place for it and allow some discussion if people want it. I know it’s a goal that some people are shooting for in the near future.)
 

1. We did it!! Toronto Legion, S91 Continental Cup Champions. How does that statement make you feel?
I'm pretty impartial, to be honest. When I was growing up, Toronto was definitely a punching bag there for a little while, always stuck behind Vancouver and Seattle. Being European, of course I'm always cheering for that conference to take home the cup, but congratulations are definitely due, good for them for sure. 
2. What was your initial reaction when you found out we had won the Continental Cup?
Again, I was more focused on our own playoff run, as we were playing the finals around the same time. I actually didn't see they had won it until a few days later due to all the partying we were doing over here in Saskatoon.
3. Who would be you pick for MVP of the S91 playoffs?
It's hard... I don't want to default to winning goalie, but man are Castle's stats good. But then again, Atlas almost averaging 2 points/game all playoffs long? It's next to impossible to make a choice, but one of those two. BOG voters will probably go with someone out of left field though.
4. What do you think our biggest need going into the off-season is?
Rest. My dad, who was a pro in Slovakia, always said that long playoff runs were the main reason he didn't play as long as he would have liked. It's hard on the body and mind, so take the shortened off-season, party hard the next few days here, and then try and rest up for the repeat. 
5. Former Legion (for his final season) Ronan Lavelle @Arce has been inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame. What words do you have for him?
Many congratulations to him. I owned a Lavelle D.C. Dragons jersey growing up, so that's where I'll always remember him. But being inducted is a great accomplishment, and I can't even think of what that honour must mean.
6. What's your drink of choice to celebrate New Year's?
Depends where I am. Out, probably vodka and 7up, but if I'm at home I'd probably prefer a rum and coke.

1. It still feels pretty surreal! I know that a lot of players go an entire career without winning a Championship, so to win one in my rookie year is very fortunate.
 
2. I was watching the stream when it happened, so there was a good bit of hooting and hollering when I saw the result pop up on the screen. Even cooler that it ended up coming in overtime.
 
3. I'd have to go with co-MVP's for Captain Mac and the brick wall in net Joel. They both deserve the MVP honours, it should be shared.
 
4. I think we're a bit thin on the blueline at the moment, that would likely be my first priority. It looks like we're getting a good chunk of the forwards back though, save for Tomas Sogaard's retirement.
 
5. I missed getting to play with Ronan by a season, but it was an amazing final year in Toronto, and an end of a phenomenal career. The deserving induction to the Hall of Fame is a perfect capper to a great career.
 
6. My favourite drink is Disaronno mixed with some Dr. Pepper, so that's as good a drink as any for me to celebrate with!

I was just lighting a fire under the GM bums to get them to start signing players!! LOL!! As more than 50% of the list has been re-signed!! LOL!
 

I apply

WOW!!!  What a huge honor, especially with so many deserving people. Thank you so much!  I am so happy I clicked the "create a player" link after surfing the forum for so long back in the day.  What a great community and I am honored to be a part of it.  

Harry Callahan has accepted a Signing Offer from Toronto:

S92: $3,500,000

S93: $1,000,000

S94: $1,000,000
Option: Mutual

Let's go Legion!! 

'tis a wonderful time, the week between Christmas and New Year's, and I am pleased today to announce the induction of two wonderful S83 draftees into the VHL Hall of Fame.
 
LW - Ronan Lavelle, S83-S90 
RS: 576 GP, 322 G, 417 A, 739 P, +175, 686 PIM, 1,473 HIT, 303 SB, 47 GW
PO: 70 GP, 44 G, 51 A, 95 P, -3, 93 PIM, 212 HIT, 37 SB, 8 GW
 
S84 Dustin Funk Trophy (Most Improved)
S85 Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP)
S88 Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding)
S88 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S89 Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Most Points)
S89 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Most Goals)
2x All-VHL First Team (S88, S89)
3x All-VHL Second Team (S84, S85, S90)
One Continental Cup (S85)
 
We've seen some big blasts from the past return to the VHL recently. v2's comeback with Tui Sova was a huge success, making the Hall of Fame some 80 seasons, over a literal decade, after Josh Vestiquan's induction. Sova's last act, captaining D.C.'s maiden championship was in part made possible by playoff MVP Ronan Lavelle, a return to glory for one Zach @Arce who himself was last inducted around the same time as Vestiquan. For Lavelle, that playoff run in S85 was just the start of a dominant run, one of the finest forward careers we have seen in the 16-team era. He led the league in points twice and notched 7 consecutive seasons of 90 points or more, an unprecedented feat in the modern day. A guaranteed scorer wherever he went, Lavelle is a fine addition to the Hall and a great return to form for a VHL legend.
 
 
 
D - Brian Payne, S83-S90 
RS: 576 GP, 147 G, 476 A, 623 P, +184, 1,684 PIM, 2,064 HIT, 1,326 SB, 26 GW
PO: 72 GP, 17 G, 46 A, 63 P, -2, 227 PIM, 260 HIT, 184 SB, 4 GW
 
S85 Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defenceman)
S85 Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defenceman)
S86 Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defenceman)
1x All-VHL First Team (S85)
4x All-VHL Second Team (S86, S88, S89, S90)
One Continental Cup (S84)
 
Lavelle looked like a star from the start, but Brian Payne simmered under the surface. Warsaw located an uncut gem at 26th overall, because he worked his way to the top through grit and stayed there through sheer consistency. Payne started to become noticed when he would without fail end up in the conversation for at least one defenceman award each season. He was no slouch offensively with 6 straight 80-point seasons, but it's the all-around game where he stood out. There's only 1 previous Hall of Famer, Patrice Reynaud back from the VHL's first decade, with more than 1,300 blocked shots, because very few can combine that with over a point-per-game pace. When you add 2,000+ hits, Payne stands in a league of his own. No wonder @Scurvy stood out even on a star-studded Warsaw team, one of the most recognisable of the decade.
 
 
Voting results
Brian Payne - 14/16
Ronan Lavelle - 13/16
---
Kristof Welch - 1/16
Papa Emeritus - 1/16
Nico Pearce - 1/16
Hammar Voss - 1/16
Oskar Lingbergh, Zach Kisslinger II, Bo Johansson - 0/16
 
---
 
And that's not all, this season we are back with a Builder induction. S91 has seen a whole generation of players retire who have played since the player build changes of S83, as well as one season removed from the 10-season anniversary of the VHLE. So what better time to recognise the man who played an integral role in the testing and refining of the new attibutes and is one of the current VHLE commissioners? @Enorama has been actively involved in two of the biggest novelties of the 80s and it's no surprise he's carved out such an impressive legacy. To me, it was obvious he would have a big role to play in the league from Ryan Kastelic's impressive pre-draft performance when in S61 he became the 1st first-gen drafted 1st overall in 30 seasons, but a trend-setter for several of the subsequent drafts. Kastelic didn't make the HOF and I hope Eno's hard work is rewarded at some point with a player induction, but he was the first (and only, before 9-season careers) player to earn 2,000 TPE. Plus, a Builder induction without HOF players only says more about the extracurricular work Eno's done. Founder of the aforementioned D.C. Dragons, guiding them through a few seasons of bad luck to finally get the Continental Cup nearly 20 seasons later (feat. the aforementioned Sova and Lavelle), Enorama has also been a productive long-term member of the BOG and this doesn't feel like the end of the story yet.
 
 
Congratulations all!