Lazarus

Review: Great article. I like how you used team colors and logos to add to the look of it. Each description was very in-depth and as a VHLM player I know you had to put some time in to look at VHL team needs. I hope that what you said for the Phantoms comes true. 10/10

The S78 goaltender draft class has the potential to be one of the strongest in recent memory. Two goalies were selected in the first round followed by another six in rounds 2-4. In saying this, the S79 goaltending class could be on par with the previous draft and may even have the potential to be stronger. With the S79 draft right around the corner, here’s what teams I feel should consider selecting a goaltender to help improve the backend of their franchise in the coming years. When draft day comes, we all known trades are bound to happen however I have written this article with the assumption of teams keeping their picks where they are.
 
 
Prague Phantoms

 
After its most successful season in history, Prague will look for an important piece to become a competitive team for years to come. In S78, the Phantoms had one of the deadliest goaltending duos with Grekkark Gyrfalcon and Jacob Carson but it could be short-lived as Carson’s contract is set to expire and he will hit free agency during the offseason. However, Prague will own both their own as well as DC’s first-round selection. There is one particular goaltender that may fall to them that could change the future of this franchise for a long time. In the S79 draft, there is a goaltender that goes by the name PAPA EMERITUS. This may be a long shot but no teams that will be drafting before the Phantoms really need a goaltender of this caliber. If Emeritus is to fall to Prague, he could jump immediately to the VHL if the Phantoms don’t resign Carson or pick up another goaltender in free agency. Papa Emeritus had a strong regular season with the Rush, posting an extremely impressive .892 SV% in 69 GP. He would be able to play under Grekkark Gyrfalcon for season 79 and move into the starting role as Gyrfalcon depreciates. Papa Emeritus has already won a Founder’s Cup with Yukon so he has tasted victory and you can bet he’s hungry for the same glory in the VHL. If Prague manages to pull this off, this team will be a contender for the next few seasons as Emeritus could become the backbone that pushes them over the hump and win their first Continental Cup.    
 
 
Chicago Phoenix

 
Chicago has seen a lot of success as of late and leading that success is their Daisuke Kanou Trophy winning goaltender, Jean Pierre Camus, who is the only goaltender currently on the roster. However, Camus is coming off his 6th season with the team and will retire sooner rather than later. The Phoenix need to look towards their future in terms of their backend and luckily there are some potential gems in the S79 draft. Although Chicago may look into grabbing a goaltender in free agency, drafting a goaltender to develop will be very beneficial for the future of this franchise. The Phoenix hold their first-round selection which will be later in the round where two potential options are projected to be selected. Both Em Em Flex and Orion D H Chiester IX should fall and while activity has slowed for both goaltenders, Chicago should still take the risk on one or the other. If either of them can become consistent with their TPE earning then the Phoenix could have another franchise netminder as soon as Camus calls it a career. I feel the best option will be Em Em Flex, the young goalie played in all 72 games for Miami and will only need one more year to develop before making the leap in the VHL in S80. If all goes well, that would give Flex one year behind Camus to learn under the veteran before taking over the starting role for years to come.   

 
Malmo Nighthawks

 
The Nighthawks have one of the strongest prospects pools in the VHL which could set them up nicely for the future. Despite having a lot of young talent, they don’t have a goaltender that can step up in the seasons to come. Having said that, they have a lot of draft capital in this year’s draft that includes three first-round picks. The Nighthawks have a great opportunity to select one of the top three goaltenders in this draft and I feel they need to capitalize. Veteran goaltender Woody McPine has played his last season in the VHL which leaves a spot on the active roster. Fortunately for the Nighthawks, their starting goaltender Artem Tretiak will lead them for a while longer and can mentor a younger netminder to take over the starting role in the future. Malmo can afford to pass on Emeritus and Em Em flex as Tretiak is still relatively young. Nonetheless, Malmo can use either Seattle’s or Warsaw’s pick on Ottawa netminder, Orion D H Chiester IX. Chiester IX had a very strong rookie campaign, splitting the crease with Jacob Rask. He put up a SV% of .886 in the 30 games he played. He will most likely need only one more season in the VHLM before making the jump into the big leagues as a backup. The duo of Tretiak and Chiester IX could last them for many seasons to come.    
 
 
New York Americans

 
Like Chicago, New York has only one active goaltender, Thadius Sales and I’m sure he’ll be the first to tell you that and strong number two goaltender will have a large impact on a team’s success. In the S78 draft, New York decided to select the aforementioned goaltender, Jacob Rask with the 52nd pick. Rask was looking very promising and could have been a potential backup for the team down the road. Shortly after the regular season ended, Rask decided the VHL wasn’t for him and retired after two seasons in the VHLM with Ottawa and Yukon. This left New York back where they started with no goaltending prospects. In this draft, The Americans have a lot of options to select a potential goaltender for their franchise. New York has a selection that will land them in the middle of the second round where many options will be available for them. Now they may not find a franchise superstar in this spot, but there are three goaltenders that have the potential to become a much-needed backup in the future. Emiko Spector, Elijah Mikaelson, and Alex Parise will likely be on the board when New York makes their selection. Drafting any of these guys may be considered a reach however with very little draft capital, New York would have to wait until round 4, where all the VHL caliber goaltenders will already have been selected. My ideal selection for New York would be Canadian goaltender, Alex Parise. He has shown the most potential to become a consistent TPE earner and has had some pretty strong weeks. Parise could definitely make the VHL with a few seasons of development. Hopefully for the Americans, they can avoid another Rask situation and find someone to strap up the pads in The Big Apple.         

 
Toronto Legion

 
Toronto traded their first-round selection to Vancouver during season 77 which ruined the opportunity to select Emeritus, but they can still look for a future backup for the team. Toronto is in a rough place with very few draft picks as well as not making the playoffs. They may need a small miracle to compete in the near future. If Toronto is to go into a rebuild, then they will need some goalies that can come up in the future.  As it sits, Toronto has no goaltending prospects and one on the active roster. The Legion hold two picks in round two which will both be in the bottom half so they will have a similar pool as New York to select from. If Parise does end up going earlier then they can take a chance on either Elijah Mikaelson or Emiko Spector. Both goaltenders will likely take multiple seasons to develop but if their activity increases then Toronto could have a major steal late in round two. If Toronto decides to risk it and select a goaltender, Emiko Spector may be the best option. Spector has a major problem with inactivity but is a well-known member that could potentially come back. Should Emiko become an active member again, Toronto will have a goaltender that has the capability of making the VHL as a long-term backup. The Legion may be better off being patient until the S80 draft where there are already three highly touted goaltending prospects and they’ll have the picks to select them. In saying that, it may not be the worst thing for Toronto to gamble on a goaltender in the upcoming draft. 

 
No matter what happens in the draft, I’ll be keeping a close eye on this year’s class of goaltenders especially with the VHLE coming into play which will give more options for these prospects to carve their legacy. It’s very exciting to see the future of VHL goaltending and how these prospects’ journeys pan out. I wish all the prospects as well as team management good luck in the draft.
 
Words: 1518
Week ending 7/11 
Week ending 7/18
Week ending 7/25

The S78 goaltender draft class has the potential to be one of the strongest in recent memory. Two goalies were selected in the first round followed by another six in rounds 2-4. In saying this, the S79 goaltending class could be on par with the previous draft and may even have the potential to be stronger. With the S79 draft right around the corner, here’s what teams I feel should consider selecting a goaltender to help improve the backend of their franchise in the coming years. When draft day comes, we all known trades are bound to happen however I have written this article with the assumption of teams keeping their picks where they are.
 
 
Prague Phantoms

 
After its most successful season in history, Prague will look for an important piece to become a competitive team for years to come. In S78, the Phantoms had one of the deadliest goaltending duos with Grekkark Gyrfalcon and Jacob Carson but it could be short-lived as Carson’s contract is set to expire and he will hit free agency during the offseason. However, Prague will own both their own as well as DC’s first-round selection. There is one particular goaltender that may fall to them that could change the future of this franchise for a long time. In the S79 draft, there is a goaltender that goes by the name PAPA EMERITUS. This may be a long shot but no teams that will be drafting before the Phantoms really need a goaltender of this caliber. If Emeritus is to fall to Prague, he could jump immediately to the VHL if the Phantoms don’t resign Carson or pick up another goaltender in free agency. Papa Emeritus had a strong regular season with the Rush, posting an extremely impressive .892 SV% in 69 GP. He would be able to play under Grekkark Gyrfalcon for season 79 and move into the starting role as Gyrfalcon depreciates. Papa Emeritus has already won a Founder’s Cup with Yukon so he has tasted victory and you can bet he’s hungry for the same glory in the VHL. If Prague manages to pull this off, this team will be a contender for the next few seasons as Emeritus could become the backbone that pushes them over the hump and win their first Continental Cup.    
 
 
Chicago Phoenix

 
Chicago has seen a lot of success as of late and leading that success is their Daisuke Kanou Trophy winning goaltender, Jean Pierre Camus, who is the only goaltender currently on the roster. However, Camus is coming off his 6th season with the team and will retire sooner rather than later. The Phoenix need to look towards their future in terms of their backend and luckily there are some potential gems in the S79 draft. Although Chicago may look into grabbing a goaltender in free agency, drafting a goaltender to develop will be very beneficial for the future of this franchise. The Phoenix hold their first-round selection which will be later in the round where two potential options are projected to be selected. Both Em Em Flex and Orion D H Chiester IX should fall and while activity has slowed for both goaltenders, Chicago should still take the risk on one or the other. If either of them can become consistent with their TPE earning then the Phoenix could have another franchise netminder as soon as Camus calls it a career. I feel the best option will be Em Em Flex, the young goalie played in all 72 games for Miami and will only need one more year to develop before making the leap in the VHL in S80. If all goes well, that would give Flex one year behind Camus to learn under the veteran before taking over the starting role for years to come.   

 
Malmo Nighthawks

 
The Nighthawks have one of the strongest prospects pools in the VHL which could set them up nicely for the future. Despite having a lot of young talent, they don’t have a goaltender that can step up in the seasons to come. Having said that, they have a lot of draft capital in this year’s draft that includes three first-round picks. The Nighthawks have a great opportunity to select one of the top three goaltenders in this draft and I feel they need to capitalize. Veteran goaltender Woody McPine has played his last season in the VHL which leaves a spot on the active roster. Fortunately for the Nighthawks, their starting goaltender Artem Tretiak will lead them for a while longer and can mentor a younger netminder to take over the starting role in the future. Malmo can afford to pass on Emeritus and Em Em flex as Tretiak is still relatively young. Nonetheless, Malmo can use either Seattle’s or Warsaw’s pick on Ottawa netminder, Orion D H Chiester IX. Chiester IX had a very strong rookie campaign, splitting the crease with Jacob Rask. He put up a SV% of .886 in the 30 games he played. He will most likely need only one more season in the VHLM before making the jump into the big leagues as a backup. The duo of Tretiak and Chiester IX could last them for many seasons to come.    
 
 
New York Americans

 
Like Chicago, New York has only one active goaltender, Thadius Sales and I’m sure he’ll be the first to tell you that and strong number two goaltender will have a large impact on a team’s success. In the S78 draft, New York decided to select the aforementioned goaltender, Jacob Rask with the 52nd pick. Rask was looking very promising and could have been a potential backup for the team down the road. Shortly after the regular season ended, Rask decided the VHL wasn’t for him and retired after two seasons in the VHLM with Ottawa and Yukon. This left New York back where they started with no goaltending prospects. In this draft, The Americans have a lot of options to select a potential goaltender for their franchise. New York has a selection that will land them in the middle of the second round where many options will be available for them. Now they may not find a franchise superstar in this spot, but there are three goaltenders that have the potential to become a much-needed backup in the future. Emiko Spector, Elijah Mikaelson, and Alex Parise will likely be on the board when New York makes their selection. Drafting any of these guys may be considered a reach however with very little draft capital, New York would have to wait until round 4, where all the VHL caliber goaltenders will already have been selected. My ideal selection for New York would be Canadian goaltender, Alex Parise. He has shown the most potential to become a consistent TPE earner and has had some pretty strong weeks. Parise could definitely make the VHL with a few seasons of development. Hopefully for the Americans, they can avoid another Rask situation and find someone to strap up the pads in The Big Apple.         

 
Toronto Legion

 
Toronto traded their first-round selection to Vancouver during season 77 which ruined the opportunity to select Emeritus, but they can still look for a future backup for the team. Toronto is in a rough place with very few draft picks as well as not making the playoffs. They may need a small miracle to compete in the near future. If Toronto is to go into a rebuild, then they will need some goalies that can come up in the future.  As it sits, Toronto has no goaltending prospects and one on the active roster. The Legion hold two picks in round two which will both be in the bottom half so they will have a similar pool as New York to select from. If Parise does end up going earlier then they can take a chance on either Elijah Mikaelson or Emiko Spector. Both goaltenders will likely take multiple seasons to develop but if their activity increases then Toronto could have a major steal late in round two. If Toronto decides to risk it and select a goaltender, Emiko Spector may be the best option. Spector has a major problem with inactivity but is a well-known member that could potentially come back. Should Emiko become an active member again, Toronto will have a goaltender that has the capability of making the VHL as a long-term backup. The Legion may be better off being patient until the S80 draft where there are already three highly touted goaltending prospects and they’ll have the picks to select them. In saying that, it may not be the worst thing for Toronto to gamble on a goaltender in the upcoming draft. 

 
No matter what happens in the draft, I’ll be keeping a close eye on this year’s class of goaltenders especially with the VHLE coming into play which will give more options for these prospects to carve their legacy. It’s very exciting to see the future of VHL goaltending and how these prospects’ journeys pan out. I wish all the prospects as well as team management good luck in the draft.
 
Words: 1518
Week ending 7/11 
Week ending 7/18
Week ending 7/25

Love the message, great job man!!!
 

Good day fellow VHLers, future VHLErs, residents of the #hype channel, and everyone else. First of all, thank you to everyone who has voted in the 3 VHLE team polls over the past month or so, everyone who has contributed to the discussions and suggestions around team logos and concepts, and just generally those who have helped make the slow unveiling of the VHLE a very exciting event to be part of.
 
A special thank you as well to those who helped out with logo making, especially of course @KaleebtheMighty and @Zetterberg - we may be needing your services again in the near future!
 
We had 199 members vote in the final poll, hopefully all for 3 or fewer teams, and we got some interesting results, some expected, some less so. I can reveal that for the most part, we will be able to satisfy the majority of the population.
 
@Acydburn and I sat down, considered previous BOG discussions and the results of the vote, and have decided to start the VHLE in S80 with the following 6 franchises. Note that I am not including the logos here as these will be finalised at a later date. I expect most will look like the versions in the final poll linked above, but with some final tweaks and maybe even a different direction will be taken for one or two. It should also be said that these are just the original 6 franchises - there is a very real possibility that the VHLE will one day grow from its starting points and if your favourite team missed out, it might still make an appearance in the future.
 
Without further ado then, the 6 founding VHLE franchises will be:
 
The Berlin Steel
The Bratislava Watchmen
The Cologne Express
The Paris Revolution
The Stockholm Vikings
and of course the Vasteras Iron Eagles
 
Final logos will most likely be revealed along with the GM appointments. As for that exciting next stage of the process, look out for the VHLE GM application thread opening up very soon.
 

Hockey fans from around the WORLD, 
 
As GM of TEAM WORLD this season, I'm very much looking forward to making the formal TEAM Roster and Jersey Reveal in the coming days.  
 
May the Hockey be with you. 
 
DK Sr.

I realized deep into this graphic that Europe has an actual logo... but here u go @Matt thunder
 

Now that we officially have our 6 founding VHLE teams I'd like to put in my suggestions for what logo's we should use.

Starting with the
Berlin steel:


Yup I'm bringing this design back, I got a lot of support of it and it still fits the team name. I decided to go with orange black and gray because that seems to be the consensus pick for berlin. The VHL has only one other orange team making it an easy decision to add another.

Cologne Express:


 
Massive shout out to @KaleebtheMighty for letting me piggyback off his original design . I loved the direction he went in but felt it strayed a little too far from the original. Therefore I combined the two which I think produced an amazing logo that cleans up the original.

Paris Revolution:


 
Red, White, and Blue to represent the french tri-colour. This logo represents the French Revolution by depicting a era appropriate French soldier. Not much more to say about this one I hope you like it 🙂



Now we get to the more boring logo's, not because they are bad but because you've already seen them a million times. Why? because I'm advocating for them not to change (kinda). This one I wouldn't be necessarily against change but I think the original was very well designed and iconic. The only addition is changing the red to blue to better represent stockholm. I could get into it further but instead i'll throw it over to @dlamb who made an excellent post on the reasons why here (dlamb's post) 
 
 
Vasteras Iron Eagles:


 
Yup another original design. But why change it? It's iconic anyone who's been around for a while and is involved in the league recognizes it. I just feel that a change to the logo isn't needed when it's got a solid design. I have seen some re-designs but even though they look super well made they just feel like a knock off of the original.

Bratislava Watchmen:


 
You get the point. I love this logo it's so well made and a shame it was ever cast aside. This is a perfect example of the saying "If it ain't broke don't fix it". Personally I think it would be a disservice to replace this iconic logo and more then any other team will be vouching for it to stay.


I feel a mix of 3 new and 3 original logos fit the theme of the VHLE pretty well. Bringing back teams was partly meant for nostalgia so I believe that including nostalgic logos is a must have. That's also why the cologne logo closely represents it's original. Let me know what you think.


 

This year, Team Canada looks to reemerge as a force at the World Junior Championship.  As the GM this season I have decided to put as much thought into the meaning behind the logo and jerseys worn as I have been putting into rounding out our roster.  The objective here was to preserve the patriotism of wearing the flag, along with bringing some much needed awareness and light to the reality of the country's history.  Our players uniforms at this years tournament aim to symbolize solidarity with Indigenous communities and encourage people to learn the history of Indigenous people and the legacy and truths of the residential schools in Canada, all while building intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect as a nation.  Without further adieu, here is this years Team Canada WJC logo:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yes, we're dawning orange instead of red this year.  We are happy to have gotten Nike on board again this season to design us some brand new looks sporting the new logo, here is the result:
 
 
Hope you all enjoy the uniforms and support the decisions made.  Roster announcement coming soon! Keep 'em peeled. 👀

🔥

1. I have to go with MattyIce and Seattle... Sorry dlamb.
2. Definitely Yukon.
3. NHL 94 celebration.
4. Perogies 
5. Montreal will take it in OT again.
6. Trying to improve the TPE production so I can hopefully make the jump to the VHL next season.
7. Late, I want to go out with a bang.
8. Defense needs to go up.  

Awesome graphic, it’s super clean and simple. I like the blue in the background, as I think it makes the goalie pop more. I’m stoked to see what you did with the pads and I wish more people would add the logo to goalie pads when making a graphic. The font is nice, but maybe a little basic. 8/10

1. It's been good, I've just been watching the VHL playoffs and trying to improve myself.
 
2.  I'm still deciding between Defense or Goalie.
 
3. French toast and bacon is always good.
 
4. Andrew Su, I've always liked his game. 
 
5. I think the Lightning will take it
 
6. I collect NHL jerseys if that counts.
 
7. I'm moving, so between that and work, it's been tough to go out and have fun. 

Now that season 78 is nearing an end, many of the prospects drafted in the previous draft are looking more like future VHL Stars. Names such as Hard Markinson and Tui Sova have already graced the VHL stage and are making their presence known around the league. As of the making of this article, seven S78 draftees have made VHL rosters and many are in prime position to make the jump in S79. Among all these players are some hidden gems that teams were able to acquire later in the draft. These few players are proving to be potential steals for their teams and are putting in the work to make a VHL roster in the following season or two. 
  
 
Anze Miklavs TPE → 329  
@McKelvie
 
 
The only first-round pick to be featured on this list, Miklavs is one of the most all-around players of the S78 draft class. He was one of the top-rated right-wingers and seemed like a lock for a top 10 pick. When the draft finally came, Miklavs dropped all the way to the 15th pick and right into the waiting arms of the Riga Reign. He spent his first year on a weak Mexico team where he exploded for 87 points in 72 games. His time with the Kings was alongside the previously mentioned Sova, and the two players became great leaders to a young squad. In season 78, he was selected to the Houston Bulls and became a huge part of a season that will see them make the playoffs. It will be interesting if the young winger can handle the pressure of entering his first playoff season. Miklavs is the 8th ranked S78 player in TPE and continues to grow and caps out every week. He will fit in nicely with a young Riga team and could turn into a future star who was passed up by 9 different VHL teams.    
 
 
Jaromir Lemiuex TPE → 301   
@hockeyis66
 
 
In the S78 draft, The Moscow Menace found some of the top talents in the second round and 18th overall selection, Jaromir Lemiuex is already looking much stronger than his draft position would suggest. The dynamic playmaker has had a very strong VHLM career with the Yukon Rush and is coming off his strongest year with 108 points in 72 games which was tied for 9th in the VHLM. Lemiuex should be a good addition to the young squad of Moscow and will become a vital part of their rebuild and future success. Lemiuex could pair well with the goal-scoring center, Paul Atreides later down the road. In Terms of TPE, Jaromir Lemiuex has jumped to 11th in total earnings of all S78 players, surpassing many first-round picks and he caps out weekly. Clearly, Moscow knew what they were doing as they found a steal in the Danish right-winger, Jaromir Lemiuex.

 
Leroy Johnson TPE → 242   
@Vkobe-v
 
 
Leroy Johnson is the only goalie to appear on the list and for good reason. Johnson is another solid prospect that fell late in the second round to the Moscow Menace at pick number 29. He has made massive strides throughout the season as Moscow’s only goaltending prospect and will surely secure a spot on the final roster sooner rather than later. The goaltender out of the Marshall Islands had a relatively strong first showing as the backup for the Halifax 21st finishing with a SV% of 0.872 and a GAA of 3.52 in the 33 games he played. After being drafted by the Saskatoon Wild in the VHLM Dispersal Draft, his workload has had a major increase. Johnson played in 71 of the 72 games posting stronger numbers with a SV% of .893 and a GAA of 3.59. Both of Moscow’s goalies have expiring contracts and will become UFAs at the end of the season, leaving a wonderful opportunity for Johnson to step in for S79. He’ll be able to fill in the backup position and could become the goalie of the future for the Menace. His TPE earning has been very consistent and he caps out weekly. Johnson is the second-rated goaltender of the S78 class and has all the potential of being a star in the VHL yet almost fell to the third round.      
 
 
Darth Kaprizov TPE → 231  
@Darth Kaprizov
 
 
A promising prospect that had to wait two whole rounds before finally hearing his name called. Kaprizov was always an intriguing name, he was a waiver pick up by the Mexico City Kings where he recorded 28 points in 43 games with the team. When the draft came, the young center fell all the way to the 34th pick in the 3rd round to the Calgary Wranglers which added to their limited prospect pool. Kaprizov would return to the Kings after being selected by them in the dispersal draft where he managed to put up an impressive 62 points in 46 games. Midway through the season, he would be shipped to the Philadelphia Reapers to have a run at a Founder’s Cup where he managed a respectable 13 points in the final 24 games with the team leading up to the playoffs. During season 78, he would be traded in the VHL at the deadline. Calgary sent Kaprizov to the HC Davos Dynamo where he should fit in nicely and be a big part of an ongoing rebuild. Darth Kaprizov has been constantly improving throughout the season and is climbing the ranks as he currently sits 23rd among all S78 players and will soon make a VHL roster. There is still room for improvement, but Kaprizov will surely become one of the stories of the S78 draft.   

 
These four guys aren’t the only players that could become huge steals for their teams however, they’re the most intriguing to me. In saying that, I still felt it would be disrespectful to leave some names out of this article so I added a few honorable mentions. 
 
Name
TPE
S78 TPE Rank
Notes
Jannik Nylen
*Drafted 26th by DCD*
@DreMin15
251
19th
Even Enorama was shocked he fell to his Dragons at 26.
Roberts Stutzle
*Drafted 44th by CGY*
@Coldex
204
30th
Yet another 3rd round steal by the Wranglers.
Arvid Johansson
*Drafted 27th by LAS*
@Gwdjohnson
256
18th
Could become the steal of the draft with some hard work. 
   
 
The regular season is over and the season 79 draft is not far away. A new batch of hopeful prospects will be selected and among them, many steals will enter the league with something to prove and I look forward to writing about them next year.
 
Word Count: 1092
Week ending 6/27
Week ending 7/4

 

 

 
 

Review: I really enjoy this sort of article where someone is repping another user or their player. This particular theme hasn't been done enough, and it's a cool idea. Formatting is very good, team logos look slick, and descriptions are very detailed and full to the brim with info. My one concern is the table with the honorable mentions that doesn't seem to fit in.
9/10

Since my last media spot @Darth Kaprizov brought up  the idea of doing it for every pick number in the VHLM draft. Once I get the top 10 done I will be doing a summary so stay tuned! Here we go with the last 10 2nd overall picks in the VHLM draft!
 
S69 – Edwin THE Encarnacion  @Tagger 
Individual Accolades:
S69 – Founder’s Cup
S69 – Skylar Rift Trophy
S72 – Victory Cup
S75 – Victory Cup
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
504
106
324
430
71
1453
315
497
635
VHLM
98
39
102
141
87
296
96
197
119
 
The season 69 second overall pick had a great season with Saskatoon following the draft scoring 28 goals and 94 assists for a total of 122 points. In the VHLM they would go on to win the Founder’s Cup and the Skylar Rift Trophy as playoff MVP. Following them winning the Founder’s cup they would be selected first overall by Calgary where they would spend their entire career. Encarnacion would put up career highs in their second last season with Calgary scoring 36 goals and a total of 80 points. In the VHL Encarnacion managed to win two Victory Cups, but never took home the Continental Cup.
 
S70 – Stone Wolski  @DollarAndADream  
Individual Accolades:
S75 – Greg Clegane Trophy
S75 – Brett Slobodzian Trophy
S75 – Aidan Shae Trophy
S75 – Dustin Funk Trophy
Career Statistics:
League
GP
W
L
OTL
SV%
GAA
S0
MP
VHL
470
228
185
35
0.917
2.85
20
27261
VHLM
84
63
17
3
0.91
2.16
7
50009
 
Stone Wolski had a dominant season 70 after being drafted by Houston, with a staggering 0.91 save percentage in the VHLM. Following this performance, they would be drafted fourth overall in the season 71 draft by the DC dragons where they would spend their entire career. Wolski was very consistent through their ongoing VHL career, never having a save percentage below 0.900, including a very impressive 4 major awards. Wolski is retiring following this season.
 
S71 – Zyrok12   @Zyrok 
Individual Accolades:
None
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
360
43
146
189
-75
512
557
810
565
VHLM
143
23
148
171
26
276
161
241
243
 
The Yukon Rush’s second overall pick would put up incredible numbers specifically in their assist total following being drafted as they would score 12 goals and 105 assists for 117 points. They were also drafted 12th overall in the season 71 VHL draft to the Seattle Bears, before their first VHL game they would be traded to Malmo, they would also be traded before the start of S75 to Riga. Zyrok12’s VHL career was very lackluster consistently scoring below 50 points. Zyrok12 did have one breakthrough season as they put up 20 goals and 47 assists for 67 points during their first of two seasons in Riga. Zyrok12 is currently a VHL free agent.
 
S72 – Timothy Brown  @a_Ferk 
Individual Accolades:
S72 – Matt Bentz Trophy
S72 – Founder’s Cup
S73 – Victory Cup
S73 – Continental Cup
S77 – Continental Cup
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
424
207
245
452
86
2258
609
1433
188
VHLM
144
79
79
158
60
551
199
429
34
 
Brown was selected second overall by the Saskatoon wild, Brown would go onto have a great season during the season following their draft. During season 72 Brown would put up a total of 118 points, including 58 goals. Brown would take home the Matt Bentz Trophy on their way to winning the Founder’s Cup with Saskatoon. Brown has been an integral part to Seattle success since they made their VHL debut in S73, Brown was selected 12th overall by Seattle in the S72 draft. Brown has won 2 Continental Cups during their time in the VHL so far and has been above a point per game in 4 of their 6 seasons including this one.
 
S73 – Alec Volchenkov @SirRupertBarnes 
Individual Accolades:
S72 – Founder’s Cup
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
352
102
248
350
-47
1280
210
364
162
VHLM
132
26
81
107
26
313
79
169
46
 
Volchenkov, the season 73 VHLM second overall pick has gone on to have a formidable career. Since the season 73 VHLM draft Volchenkov would go onto win a Founder’s cup with Ottawa scoring 22 goals and 70 assists for a total of 92 points. Volchenkov would also be selected 12th overall in the season 73 VHL draft by London where they have spent their entire 5 season VHL career. During their time with London Volchenkov has been very consistent being just below a point per game for their entire career.
 
S74 – Gabriel Akerstrom   @Mason 
Individual Accolades:
None
Career statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
157
16
105
121
36
246
202
239
265
VHLM
133
19
85
104
81
191
114
191
152
 
Akerstrom is the very rare case where their production in the VHLM actually decreased from 53 to 51 points following them being drafted. Their time with Halifax was average at best as he only put up 14 goals and 37 assists in 72 games, and in the playoffs, they were even less effective in the post-season as they failed to register a point in 7 games. Akerstrom would be selected 15th overall in the season 74 VHL draft by Helsinki and would be traded to Vancouver halfway through their rookie campaign where their production would improve substantially. Following spending season 76 in Vancouver Akerstrom signed with Moscow as a free agent where they would retire 14 games into season 77.
 
S75 – Scotty Kaberle @fromtheinside 
Individual Accolades:
S75 – Ryan Sullivan Trophy
S75 – Vladimir Boomchenko Trophy
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
207
52
121
173
-27
720
185
239
410
VHLM
110
31
97
128
15
254
104
212
142
 
San Diego’s season 75 2nd overall pick had an incredible season for them scoring 27 goals, and 76 assists for a total of 103 points. Kaberle managed to earn both the Ryan Sullivan Trophy and Vladimir Boomchenko Trophy during his time with San Diego. Kaberle would be selected 11th overall in the S75 VHL draft by Toronto, where they have spent their entire 3 season VHL career. Kaberle put up career highs in goals, assists and points during season 77.
 
S76 – Pick Forfeited
Ottawa forfeited this draft pick
 
S77 – Nils Tallinder @Patrik Tallinder 
Individual Accolades:
None
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
64
11
11
22
7
137
19
30
13
VHLM
87
31
37
68
19
223
33
71
24
 
The season 77 VHLM second overall pick, during Tallinder’s season with Minnesota they scored 29 goals, and 33 assists for 62 points. Following their time in Minnesota, Tallinder was drafted first overall in the season 78 VHL draft and is off to a great start in Calgary scoring 11 goals and assists for 22 points. For Tallinder the skies the limit for the rest of their career.
 
S78 – Masami Iwasawa  @CrazyCaityCat 
Individual Accolades:
None
Career Statistics:
League
GP
G
A
P
+/-
SHT
PIM
HIT
SB
VHL
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
VHLM
72
13
24
37
13
82
58
78
54
 
Iwasawa’s career appears to have been very short lived as before making their debut with the team that drafted them second overall, they were released by Halifax due to being inactive.
 
 
Words: 1234 (Yes, that was on purpose)
 
Previous Pick Articles

 
 
 

Just like in real life, there are so many draft steals. It's all about the player's work ethic and the organization's development plan. In this virtual world however, It mainly comes down to the player's work ethic again, and how well they fit with the team they are on. Can't wait to see what these players do and if there are other draft steals. Great article!!

Took a stab at refreshing the Cologne Express logo. I think it already is a strong logo, so I didn't really want to change too much, but did alter some things compared to the old one.

THE COLOGNE EXPRESS

Jacob Rask has announced their retirement.

Shane Lazeski is a strongly touted prospect out of Alberta who has always dreamed of making the big leagues. Growing up in the small town of Wetaskiwin, all he knew was hockey. He played for his hometown team, The Wetaskiwin Icemen up until the age of 16. He led the team in points seven of the ten seasons that he was a part of the program. To this day he has the most career assists of any player who has ever dawned the Wetaskiwin jersey. 

 
His playmaking abilities caught the eye of the WHL and scouts had high praise for the youngster. In the 2017 bantam draft, Lazeski was selected in the 4th round, 71st overall by the Saskatoon Blades. Although scouts loved his skill on the ice, teams felt as though he didn’t have a high ceiling. His first season in the WHL had hockey fans worried about what he could become. He tallied 6 goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 47 games. Lazeski didn’t let the criticism affect him as he would enter his second season with more confidence than ever. He worked on his vision and hockey IQ during the offseason and his identity as a player was starting to take shape. His new set of skills took the WHL world by storm as he would explode for 23 goals and 78 assists for 101 points in 64 games. He would be named the Blades alternate captain midway through the season. The NHL became intrigued by the young right-winger however, Lazeski had other plans and decided to take his talents to the Victory Hockey League instead. The VHL was always something he was interested in, and with the talent higher than ever, it seemed like the perfect time to prove that he could compete with the best.      


 
Lazeski received a few offers from around the VHLM. Many of the teams were in the playoff hunt, but he decided to sign with the team that would give him the greatest opportunity, The Mexico City Kings. He played alongside some of the brightest young stars and while the team struggled, Lazeski flourished. He racked up 11 goals and 24 assists in 43 games with the Kings and looked poised to progress even further. At the end of the season, he declared for the S78 VHL Draft as a projected late second-round pick. Lazeski is motivated to become the steal of the draft and is confident as he’s always seen as an underdog.
 

S79 VHL Top Prospects
 
Playoffs are already underway, which means draft season is soon to follow. Many players, both first-generation and recreates, will see their dream come true and their name called by a VHL team. Today, for sake of time, we will be looking at only the top prospects as they currently stand.
 
TYLER REINHART, YUKON RUSH 
Position: RW
Reinhart began his VHLM career with the Mississauga Hounds in Season 77, notching an assist in seven games and five points in 15 playoff games. As a waiver signing, Reinhart was eligible for the Season 78 'M draft, where he was picked up at #3 by the Yukon Rush. While in Yukon, he has transformed his game. In 72 games with the Rush this season, Reinhart totaled 133 points (64 goals, 69 assists), good for third league-wide.  "Reinhart is a proven scorer who has all the looks of a #1 pick. I'd be surprised if he didn't go first. He keeps improving his game, and he is already an excellent all-around player, not just an offensive weapon."  Possible destinations: Vancouver Wolves, HC Davos Dynamo, Pretty much whoever wins the draft lottery   
PAPA EMERITUS, YUKON RUSH
Position: G 
Emeritus started in Saskatoon, appearing in four games and being credited with a 1-1 record, .915 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average. He made two relief appearances in the playoffs for the Wild, saving all 19 shots he faced. Emeritus was selected by the Rush at fourth overall in the Season 78 VHLM Dispersal Draft. He went 55-10-4 with an .892 save percentage and 2.91 GAA, with five shutouts. He led the league in wins and tied for the lead in shutouts.  "Emeritus has shown he can be a future franchise goaltender in the VHL. His development is very steady. He doesn't have an outlying weakness, which proves how legit he is. I could see him going first if the team really needs a goalie, because high-end starters don't come around all too often."  Possible destinations: Vancouver Wolves, Los Angeles Stars, HC Davos Dynamo   
TAYLOR MOURNING, PHILADELPHIA REAPERS 
Position: RW
Mourning played just two games in Season 77, unable to get on the board. However, Mourning came back strong this season after being passed on by 17 teams in the 'M draft. In 72 games with Philly, Mourning had 26 goals and 28 assists for 54 points.  "Mourning is a player that has shown the ability to prove people wrong. Solid earning power forward. They can do many things to help a team win besides just scoring."  Possible destinations: Prague Phantoms, Riga Reign, Los Angeles Stars  
POOPY PEEPANTS, MIAMI MARAUDERS
Position: D
Peepants played in four games with the Houston Bulls last season, picking up an assist and five shot blocks. In five playoff games, he had a goal and three assists for four points, and 13 shots blocked. He was drafted 10th overall in the VHLM draft this past season by Miami. In 72 games with them this season, he had six goals and 38 assists for 44 points. He also blocked 162 shots, most in the VHLM.  "Arguably the best defender in this draft class, Peepants is great at both ends of the ice. He is a warrior in the defensive zone, blocking almost everything that comes his way; but he is a terrific playmaker as well; someone who I would look to as a power-play quarterback." Possible destinations: Los Angeles Stars, Moscow Menace, Prague Phantoms   
JONATHAN ORI, MINNESOTA STORM
Position: C
Ori was a rookie for the Storm this season, posting 40 points (4 goals, 36 assists) in 72 games.  "Ori is a strong skater, someone who is hard to force off the puck. He can pass, defend, and win faceoffs. I could see him developing into a good two-way forward. His development has shown no signs of slowing down, either." Possible destinations: Malmo Nighthawks, Warsaw Predators, Prague Phantoms  
JEROME REINHART, YUKON RUSH
Position: LW
Reinhart began play this season with the Rush. In 72 games, he scored 42 goals and added 44 assists for 86 points total.  "Jerome Reinhart, not to be confused with his brother, is a great winger. Reinhart has great skating ability and excellent scoring complemented by solid defense. He continues to develop at a good rate."  Possible destinations: Vancouver Wolves (Two Reinharts like two Sedins?!), Prague Phantoms, Malmo Nighthawks   
ERLANTZ JOKINEN, YUKON RUSH
Position: D
Jokinen started off with the Rush this season. In 72 games, he scored 73 points (13 goals, 60 assists). In addition, he blocked 77 shots. "Jokinen is someone who flys under the radar in Yukon, but not for long. VHL teams should be paying attention to this great two-way talent. Jokinen's development is coming along very well. I could see the defender thriving on the top pair in the big league eventually, if not as a #1 D.  Possible destinations: Vancouver Wolves, Malmo Nighthawks, Prague Phantoms, Riga Reign  
AJ WILLIAMS, OTTAWA LYNX
Position: RW
Williams was a waiver signing by the Lynx early on in the season. He appeared in all 72 games though, and finished with 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists).  "Williams is someone teams should not look past in this draft. Although he had a late start this season, his development is consistent. He is good at both ends of the ice and a great skater. I think he will take the next step next season, whether that be in the 'M or VHL." Possible destinations: Vancouver Wolves, Malmo Nighthawks, Riga Reign, Los Angeles Stars  
BABY BOB, MISSISSAUGA HOUNDS
Position: RW
Bob began in Mexico City last season, where he played in two games, going scoreless. He was drafted 28th overall by the Hounds, and appeared in all 72 games for them. He notched 32 goals and 43 assists for 75 points.  "Bob is developing well. He is a good skater with the ability to put the puck in the net. His offensive production this season showed this. Bob's defense is improving too."  Possible destinations: Malmo Nighthawks, Vancouver Wolves, Los Angeles Stars, Riga Reign   
Good luck to everyone eligible for this season's draft. It should be an interesting one. There are certainly more great prospects in this class that I couldn't list. I am looking forward to draft day to see where everyone goes! 
 
Word Count: 1047 
 
 

:pepehype:
 

Major props to @hockeyis66 and @Vkobe-v!
 
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