dogwoodmaple

With the season unfortunately over for the 21st in Halifax, Maple Dogwood sat down with News Channel 10 to discuss his offseason plans before it's yet again time for training camp.
 
"Well I'm obviously disappointed with how the season ended, but I try not to dwell too long on that sort of stuff.  We gave it everything we had but just came up short in the end. I'm still proud as heck of my teammates for what we did out there.  But!  Moving on to the offseason, the first order of business is my cleanup project over at Panuke Lake.  Panuke is just around the corner from Halifax and there's been some reports of trash washing up on its shores and that just doesn't sit right with me. So me and some of my teammates have decided to head over there on Sunday for a massive cleanup. I'm talking about the shore, the water, cleaning up anything and everything we can get our hands on," Dogwood said.
But that wasn't the only community project Maple plans on doing this offseason.  He's also set his sights on something a little bit closer to home here in Halifax.
 
"I remember one of the first days I was here in Halifax, we had a light day of practice and some of my teammates took he out to the Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area.  It was incredible - great views, incredible weather, and a wonderful way to actually see one of the high points of this city that I'd be living in.  I decided that once the season was over, I'd help sponsor and build some additional picnic tables, a gazebo, and to help renovate the rest area there.  There was just something about seeing those views for the first time that really stuck with me and made me want to help provide that opportunity for someone else.  So in two weeks, we're all heading over with our tools, supplies, and a major league work ethic to get the job done," Dogwood explained.
 
But that doesn't end the offseason for Halifax's rookie forward.  In addition to the service projects in and around Halifax, he will also be taking some vacation time.
 
"I'm thinking of renting out a cabin in the woods for a week, just to get my mind right.  Somewhere by a river or lake up here where I can wake up, enjoy my coffee with a great view and some privacy.  I need to decompress for a bit after the way the season ended, but I've always enjoyed the outdoors.  There's just something about nature and the quiet that I've loved ever since I was a kid. Throw in some long walks, some steaks, maybe a six-pack or two, and it's a great way to close out the offseason," Dogwood added.
 
When asked what his lasting memory of Halifax was, Maple was quite complimentary of the 21st.
 
"I just can't say enough about this wonderful team, the locker room, and all the front office staff. They welcomed me with open arms and truly made me feel like a member of the team from day one. Not just that, but they were gracious hosts when it came to getting me acclimated to Halifax in general.  It's the kind of franchise you'd love to play for your entire career," he ended.

1. I definitely think so, but I have a bad feeling about the semifinals...
2. Step one this offseason is some rest and recouperation with the family. I'm thinking the Caribbean 
3. I eat the same meal before every game - Waffle House All-Star Special!
4. I always try to keep a close eye on the league happenings, gotta stay in touch
5. Next year, that's what my Magic 8 Ball says
6. Never!

With the season unfortunately over for the 21st in Halifax, Maple Dogwood sat down with News Channel 10 to discuss his offseason plans before it's yet again time for training camp.
 
"Well I'm obviously disappointed with how the season ended, but I try not to dwell too long on that sort of stuff.  We gave it everything we had but just came up short in the end. I'm still proud as heck of my teammates for what we did out there.  But!  Moving on to the offseason, the first order of business is my cleanup project over at Panuke Lake.  Panuke is just around the corner from Halifax and there's been some reports of trash washing up on its shores and that just doesn't sit right with me. So me and some of my teammates have decided to head over there on Sunday for a massive cleanup. I'm talking about the shore, the water, cleaning up anything and everything we can get our hands on," Dogwood said.
But that wasn't the only community project Maple plans on doing this offseason.  He's also set his sights on something a little bit closer to home here in Halifax.
 
"I remember one of the first days I was here in Halifax, we had a light day of practice and some of my teammates took he out to the Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area.  It was incredible - great views, incredible weather, and a wonderful way to actually see one of the high points of this city that I'd be living in.  I decided that once the season was over, I'd help sponsor and build some additional picnic tables, a gazebo, and to help renovate the rest area there.  There was just something about seeing those views for the first time that really stuck with me and made me want to help provide that opportunity for someone else.  So in two weeks, we're all heading over with our tools, supplies, and a major league work ethic to get the job done," Dogwood explained.
 
But that doesn't end the offseason for Halifax's rookie forward.  In addition to the service projects in and around Halifax, he will also be taking some vacation time.
 
"I'm thinking of renting out a cabin in the woods for a week, just to get my mind right.  Somewhere by a river or lake up here where I can wake up, enjoy my coffee with a great view and some privacy.  I need to decompress for a bit after the way the season ended, but I've always enjoyed the outdoors.  There's just something about nature and the quiet that I've loved ever since I was a kid. Throw in some long walks, some steaks, maybe a six-pack or two, and it's a great way to close out the offseason," Dogwood added.
 
When asked what his lasting memory of Halifax was, Maple was quite complimentary of the 21st.
 
"I just can't say enough about this wonderful team, the locker room, and all the front office staff. They welcomed me with open arms and truly made me feel like a member of the team from day one. Not just that, but they were gracious hosts when it came to getting me acclimated to Halifax in general.  It's the kind of franchise you'd love to play for your entire career," he ended.

Game 73:
 Seattle Bears vs. D.C. Dragons 

This one was lopsided from the opening puck drop as Seattle came out firing on all cylinders.  In the first period, Severus Targaryen cashed in a powerplay opportunity to start the scoring and was followed by Sadie St-Louis just a few minutes later. The Dragons never got their offense going and Seattle continued to absolutely pour it on. They scored twice more in the second period thanks to the exact same pairing who lit the goal light in the first.  With Targaryen and St-Louis doing their damage to extend the lead to 4-0, it was all but over for D.C. They managed to cobble together two goals in the final period, but never came close to threatening the Bears in any meaningful way. Final Score: 4-2.

im coming back to take the rest of dogwoods shoes.

Season 93 featured a Halifax team that managed to achieve the 5th best regular season record and point total in their 31 seasons of history.  With 51 wins and 106 points, the 21st finished 2nd in the VHLM, only 3 points behind the 1st place Ottawa Lynx, and were one of the deepest teams in the league.  At the time of their elimination from the playoffs, the 21st had 15 players with over 120 TPE earned and 8 players with over 190.  Over the course of the season, each and every member of the team exhibited exceptional growth and dedication to give Halifax the best chance to win.  Though the 21st suffered an unfortunate loss to the Saskatoon Wild in the Founder's Cup Semi-Finals, there is so much to be proud of for this team and some particularly special performances that need to be acknowledged.  So without further ado, here are the Halifax 21st Season 93 Team Awards!
 
༻❁༺
 
The Most Improved Player:
This award is for the player who makes the most significant individual improvement over the course of a single season. 
Of all the players on the Halifax 21st roster that haven't yet reached the 200 TPE cap, this first gen player earned the most talent points and really demonstrated his investment in the team and desire to improve every single week.  Beginning the season at only 55 TPE, he currently sits at 166 TPE having earned 111 since his draft day when he was picked 52nd overall.  The Halifax 21st are thrilled to welcome him back for a second season with the team in S94 and are excited to see his development continue!
 
 
The Most Creative Player:
This award is for the player who consistently demonstrates a high level of creativity throughout the season with written media spots, graphics, podcasts, or other creative endeavors around the team.
This season's winner is a first gen player who consistently impressed and surprised with new ideas, fantastic graphics, and some fun creative ideas within the team locker room.  Even before the season began, this player was designing jerseys and uniforms for the team.  Throughout the season, they produced high quality graphics, each one better than the last, often with fun and humorous details hidden within them.  These graphics weren't only for their own player, but for teammates as well.  They also initiated a creative poll to rename the team's arena which will be decided in time to begin our next season of play. This player will also be returning to the team next season and we're excited to see what new ideas they come up with next!  
 
 
The Leadership Award:
This award is presented to the player who demonstrates qualities of leadership and teamwork throughout the season, building up their teammates in the locker room, posting quality team-related content on the forum, and leading by example through individual dedication and consistency.
This season's recipient is a first gen who impressed many GM's in the VHLM before he was even drafted.  Demonstrating first a commitment to his own personal growth, he quickly exhibited an aptitude for leadership through a high level of activity both on the forums and in the locker room, often looking for ways that he could help improve the team and taking personal interest in the team's overall success.  Throughout the season, he remained very active on the forums, consitent with his updating and personal development, and was a positive force in the locker room-- supporting and ecouraging teammates, congratulating them on their individual successes, and showing interest in all activity around the team.  Though he'll be moving on to the VHLE after only one season with the team, he made a significant impact on the team culture in his time in Halifax and will always be a welcome presence around the team in the future.
 

Top Defender:
This award is presented to the defender who demonstrates excellence at their position, contributing to the team's success through a strong well-rounded game.
This season's recipient was the 3rd highest scoring defender in the VHLM and was 2nd on the 21st with 75 total points.  He was 4th in the league with 58 assists and finished the season with a +25 rating in 72 games played.  And while he was an incredible driver of offense from the defensive position, he also contributed 135 hits and 86 blocked shots.  He played significant time on the team's top powerplay unit while also being an effective penalty killer and was never a defensive liability on the ice.  After a single season with the 21st he is expected to be a highly sought after player in the upcoming VHL and VHLE drafts. 
 

Top Forward:
This award recognizes the team's top offensive player.  Like the top defender award, it is presented to the player who plays the strongest and most consistent all-round game at the forward position, contributing to the offensive and defensive success of the team.
This season's recipient finished with the 4th most individual points in the VHLM with 85.  He finished 7th in goal scoring with 35 and 8th in assists with 50 across 72 games played.  He led the team in both the points and goals categories and continually drove offensive production with 385 shots on goal-- more than 100 more than the next highest shot producer on the team.  He led all Halifax forwards with 25.67 minutes of icetime per game, 14 shots blocked, and 141 hits over the course of the season.  With his solid two-way game, he was a highly effective contributor for the 21st on both special teams units and could be relied upon in all situations, evidenced by his time on ice.  After a single season with the 21st, he will be eligible for the VHL and VHLE drafts and will likely be taking his talents to Europe next season where he is expected to continue his meteoric rise.  
 

The Bryn Yrwy Award:
Named after Bryn Yrwy, the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 405 points in 288 games with the Halifax 21st, this award honours a player who has played parts of at least two seasons with the franchise and has exhibited a high level of play throughout their time with the team.  
This season's recipient played for the 21st in both S92 and S93 and racked up 104 points in 144 games as a defender.  Announcing his retirement at the trade deadline this season, his contributions to the franchise and in the locker room will be greatly missed as he pursues other gainful endeavors.  Finishing his career with the 21st, he ranks 6th in franchise history with 268 blocked shots and was a stalwart defender for the team throughout the past two seasons.  Though he leaves a hole in the Halifax roster for next season, he will always be welcome around the team-- provided he returns at least one pair of shoes to the GM before he leaves!  Congratulations on a great career and best of luck in the future!
 
 
Season 93 SuperSailor:
This award is like the weekly SuperSailor honor, but is presented to a player who best exhibits SuperSailor qualities throughout the full campaign.  A SuperSailor is involved not only in the locker room as a good teammate, but also on the forums as an ambassador for the team, and also demonstrates effective play on the ice.
This season's SuperSailor finished the season with 73 points in 72 games and ranked 2nd among the team's forwards in scoring.  He was the league's top centerman with a 58.84% win rate across 1990 faceoffs, and contributed balanced offense with 31 goals and 42 assists.  And while he had a strong season on the ice for the 21st, this player was also active in the locker room daily, interacting with teammates (even with a significant time zone difference) and was consistently active on the forums throughout the season.  In many ways he was an unsung hero on the team, at times overshadowed by the weekly accomplishments of his teammates.  Despite not being named as a weekly SuperSailor this season, he was a worthy candidate each and every week and was a positive contributor in every respect.  As a draft eligible player, he may be among the first names called in this offseason’s drafts and will be an important member of any team he joins in the future. 
 
༻❁༺
 
Before concluding, I'd like to extend a special thank you to our outgoing AGM, @Will3.  He has contributed so much to the team in his role over the past few seasons and was particularly instrumental in helping put together such a great team this season.  I was very fortunate personally to have his help as AGM this season as he very reliably and effectively continued his tasks week after week to help the team improve and was always a pleasure to interact with.  I wish him all the best as he continues to seek out new management opportunities around the VHL world!  
 
And that concludes the S93 Halifax 21st team awards.  Congratulations to all of the award recipients for their significant achievements this season and contributions to the team, and a heartfelt thank you to all Halifax players for making Season 93 such a success! It has truly been a pleasure to have each of you as members of this team in my first season as GM and I look forward to seeing where the VHL takes you next!
 
 
 

Though it was an unfortunate end to the season for the Halifax 21st, there was lots to remain positive about  as the team clawed their way back into the series after being down 2-0.  A huge part of that resurgence by the 21st was owed to the play of Maple Dogwood @dogwoodmaple, who claims the SuperSailor honor for the second time this season.  With 8 points in the series against the Wild, including 6 points in Halifax's game 3 and 4 wins, Dogwood was an offensive force.  Though he was held off the scoresheet in the opening two games of the series, he arrived in style with 3 points each in games 3 and 4, while recording a single point in games 5 and 6.  Ultimately, the 21st would succumb to penalty  troubles, allowing 5 powerplay goals on 14 penalties in games 5 and 6.  For his part, Dogwood once again led the team in points with 13 through the first two rounds of the playoffs (6 goals and 7 assists).  He also led the team with 61 shots on goal.  

For the 21st who came into the season with great optimism for a chance to win their first ever Founder's Cup, their unfortunate playoff exit stings.  The team had strong belief in their group to go all the way and with the mix of talent they had, it was one of their best opportunities in recent memory to capture the league’s top honor.  With potentially 6 players returning next season, including goaltender Jon Webber III @Webberj (who set a new franchise mark for playoff shutouts) and up-and-comers Dorji Khan @Oddpurplefly, Robin Sierra @ethanjaeda, and Ty Duke @TheDuke, the 21st have the potential to be back in the hunt next season.  The draft cupboard isn't exactly stocked to the brim for this offseason's redispersal draft, but with the availability of players through waivers, the opportunities could be there for the team to ice a contending team for a second straight season.  
 
For Dogwood, the next stop will likely be the VHLE as he expects to be drafted this offseason. Look for Dogwood to be among the top wingers taken in the S94 VHL and VHLE drafts as he had an outstanding regular season and playoffs for the 21st and projects to be a reliable and dynamic offensive player for seasons to come.  Though it's a bitter loss and a season cut short, the Halifax 21st are proud to once again announce Maple Dogwood as their SuperSailor. 
 
༻❁༺

It was quite the eventful evening for Maple Dogwood and the Halifax 21st, full of highs and lows.  The highest high was their Game 5 victory over Philadelphia, which clinched the quarterfinal series and advanced them in the postseason.  The lowest low was the disaster that befell the Halifax home arena just a few hours after their victory. 
 
"So we win Game 5, which was awesome.  The home crowd really carried us through a hard fought game and we were just thrilled with the outcome.  But our coach always tells us to not linger on a victory too long because there's still work to be done. So we celebrated for a bit but I knew we needed to improve our play if we wanted to keep winning in the postseason, so I immediately got some rehab work in.  Did some stretching, some cold tub dips, and finally I headed over to the sauna like I do after every practice.  But I noticed the sauna wasn't hot at all. It just felt like a normal setting, which was really weird, so I found the control panel and jacked that thing up. The screen displaying the numbers was all cloudy so I couldn't really see what it was reading, but I just cranked it up as high as it would go.  It definitely started to feel a little warmer, so I just figured I was still amped up from the game and running hot," Dogwood said.
 
It turns out that the star forward for Halifax was so exhausted after Game 5 that he actually fell asleep in the sauna.  Now, I know what you're thinking - he'll get heat stroke! He'll need medical attention!  Well that's not where this story is going.  After a 45 minute inadvertent nap, Dogwood awoke and noticed his feet were wet.
 
"I looked down and saw that my feet were in a puddle of water, which is weird because this sauna has never had any issues with leaks or anything.  But I realized it wasn't just a little puddle - it was a lot of standing water. I immediately opened the door and raced out and stepped into ankle deep water in the entire locker room. What's worse, I went out to the arena itself and could not believe my eyes," Dogwood explained.
 
It turns out that the control panel the rookie forward turned the temperature up on wasn't the sauna - it was for the heating and cooling element that controls the ice temperature.  In the time he fell asleep, the entire rink had melted into a giant swimming pool.
 
"Apparently I was the only person in the building, which is why nobody stopped it. I guess that's a lesson to my teammates that they shouldn't have been out celebrating, they should've been working or rehabbing like I was.  When you think about it, this is really their fault as much as anyone," Dogwood told the media.
 
To make matters worse for Halifax, they have a home game in the Semifinals scheduled for just a few days away and they're frantically trying to either flash freeze the rink or find a new arena to play in until the problem gets fixed.  
 
When the Halifax head coach was asked for a comment, he only said that Dogwood better score the game-winning goal to win the title this year with all the trouble he's caused off the ice.

It was quite the eventful evening for Maple Dogwood and the Halifax 21st, full of highs and lows.  The highest high was their Game 5 victory over Philadelphia, which clinched the quarterfinal series and advanced them in the postseason.  The lowest low was the disaster that befell the Halifax home arena just a few hours after their victory. 
 
"So we win Game 5, which was awesome.  The home crowd really carried us through a hard fought game and we were just thrilled with the outcome.  But our coach always tells us to not linger on a victory too long because there's still work to be done. So we celebrated for a bit but I knew we needed to improve our play if we wanted to keep winning in the postseason, so I immediately got some rehab work in.  Did some stretching, some cold tub dips, and finally I headed over to the sauna like I do after every practice.  But I noticed the sauna wasn't hot at all. It just felt like a normal setting, which was really weird, so I found the control panel and jacked that thing up. The screen displaying the numbers was all cloudy so I couldn't really see what it was reading, but I just cranked it up as high as it would go.  It definitely started to feel a little warmer, so I just figured I was still amped up from the game and running hot," Dogwood said.
 
It turns out that the star forward for Halifax was so exhausted after Game 5 that he actually fell asleep in the sauna.  Now, I know what you're thinking - he'll get heat stroke! He'll need medical attention!  Well that's not where this story is going.  After a 45 minute inadvertent nap, Dogwood awoke and noticed his feet were wet.
 
"I looked down and saw that my feet were in a puddle of water, which is weird because this sauna has never had any issues with leaks or anything.  But I realized it wasn't just a little puddle - it was a lot of standing water. I immediately opened the door and raced out and stepped into ankle deep water in the entire locker room. What's worse, I went out to the arena itself and could not believe my eyes," Dogwood explained.
 
It turns out that the control panel the rookie forward turned the temperature up on wasn't the sauna - it was for the heating and cooling element that controls the ice temperature.  In the time he fell asleep, the entire rink had melted into a giant swimming pool.
 
"Apparently I was the only person in the building, which is why nobody stopped it. I guess that's a lesson to my teammates that they shouldn't have been out celebrating, they should've been working or rehabbing like I was.  When you think about it, this is really their fault as much as anyone," Dogwood told the media.
 
To make matters worse for Halifax, they have a home game in the Semifinals scheduled for just a few days away and they're frantically trying to either flash freeze the rink or find a new arena to play in until the problem gets fixed.  
 
When the Halifax head coach was asked for a comment, he only said that Dogwood better score the game-winning goal to win the title this year with all the trouble he's caused off the ice.

1. Main thing is to just enjoy this run with my teammates!
2. One horse race, baby!  HALIFAX!!!
3. I'd say the most underrated has been myself, while also being the most overrated because some say I'm the greatest of all time, but that's clearly not true.  Yet.
4. All of them. Bring me a bunch of teams to eliminate
5. Probably reading - I love a good book.
6. Let's go with the Avalanche.  Always liked them growing up

It was quite the eventful evening for Maple Dogwood and the Halifax 21st, full of highs and lows.  The highest high was their Game 5 victory over Philadelphia, which clinched the quarterfinal series and advanced them in the postseason.  The lowest low was the disaster that befell the Halifax home arena just a few hours after their victory. 
 
"So we win Game 5, which was awesome.  The home crowd really carried us through a hard fought game and we were just thrilled with the outcome.  But our coach always tells us to not linger on a victory too long because there's still work to be done. So we celebrated for a bit but I knew we needed to improve our play if we wanted to keep winning in the postseason, so I immediately got some rehab work in.  Did some stretching, some cold tub dips, and finally I headed over to the sauna like I do after every practice.  But I noticed the sauna wasn't hot at all. It just felt like a normal setting, which was really weird, so I found the control panel and jacked that thing up. The screen displaying the numbers was all cloudy so I couldn't really see what it was reading, but I just cranked it up as high as it would go.  It definitely started to feel a little warmer, so I just figured I was still amped up from the game and running hot," Dogwood said.
 
It turns out that the star forward for Halifax was so exhausted after Game 5 that he actually fell asleep in the sauna.  Now, I know what you're thinking - he'll get heat stroke! He'll need medical attention!  Well that's not where this story is going.  After a 45 minute inadvertent nap, Dogwood awoke and noticed his feet were wet.
 
"I looked down and saw that my feet were in a puddle of water, which is weird because this sauna has never had any issues with leaks or anything.  But I realized it wasn't just a little puddle - it was a lot of standing water. I immediately opened the door and raced out and stepped into ankle deep water in the entire locker room. What's worse, I went out to the arena itself and could not believe my eyes," Dogwood explained.
 
It turns out that the control panel the rookie forward turned the temperature up on wasn't the sauna - it was for the heating and cooling element that controls the ice temperature.  In the time he fell asleep, the entire rink had melted into a giant swimming pool.
 
"Apparently I was the only person in the building, which is why nobody stopped it. I guess that's a lesson to my teammates that they shouldn't have been out celebrating, they should've been working or rehabbing like I was.  When you think about it, this is really their fault as much as anyone," Dogwood told the media.
 
To make matters worse for Halifax, they have a home game in the Semifinals scheduled for just a few days away and they're frantically trying to either flash freeze the rink or find a new arena to play in until the problem gets fixed.  
 
When the Halifax head coach was asked for a comment, he only said that Dogwood better score the game-winning goal to win the title this year with all the trouble he's caused off the ice.

It was quite the eventful evening for Maple Dogwood and the Halifax 21st, full of highs and lows.  The highest high was their Game 5 victory over Philadelphia, which clinched the quarterfinal series and advanced them in the postseason.  The lowest low was the disaster that befell the Halifax home arena just a few hours after their victory. 
 
"So we win Game 5, which was awesome.  The home crowd really carried us through a hard fought game and we were just thrilled with the outcome.  But our coach always tells us to not linger on a victory too long because there's still work to be done. So we celebrated for a bit but I knew we needed to improve our play if we wanted to keep winning in the postseason, so I immediately got some rehab work in.  Did some stretching, some cold tub dips, and finally I headed over to the sauna like I do after every practice.  But I noticed the sauna wasn't hot at all. It just felt like a normal setting, which was really weird, so I found the control panel and jacked that thing up. The screen displaying the numbers was all cloudy so I couldn't really see what it was reading, but I just cranked it up as high as it would go.  It definitely started to feel a little warmer, so I just figured I was still amped up from the game and running hot," Dogwood said.
 
It turns out that the star forward for Halifax was so exhausted after Game 5 that he actually fell asleep in the sauna.  Now, I know what you're thinking - he'll get heat stroke! He'll need medical attention!  Well that's not where this story is going.  After a 45 minute inadvertent nap, Dogwood awoke and noticed his feet were wet.
 
"I looked down and saw that my feet were in a puddle of water, which is weird because this sauna has never had any issues with leaks or anything.  But I realized it wasn't just a little puddle - it was a lot of standing water. I immediately opened the door and raced out and stepped into ankle deep water in the entire locker room. What's worse, I went out to the arena itself and could not believe my eyes," Dogwood explained.
 
It turns out that the control panel the rookie forward turned the temperature up on wasn't the sauna - it was for the heating and cooling element that controls the ice temperature.  In the time he fell asleep, the entire rink had melted into a giant swimming pool.
 
"Apparently I was the only person in the building, which is why nobody stopped it. I guess that's a lesson to my teammates that they shouldn't have been out celebrating, they should've been working or rehabbing like I was.  When you think about it, this is really their fault as much as anyone," Dogwood told the media.
 
To make matters worse for Halifax, they have a home game in the Semifinals scheduled for just a few days away and they're frantically trying to either flash freeze the rink or find a new arena to play in until the problem gets fixed.  
 
When the Halifax head coach was asked for a comment, he only said that Dogwood better score the game-winning goal to win the title this year with all the trouble he's caused off the ice.

1. Their exciting attitude and willingness to help us improve on the ice.
2. I think so!  It helps make sure we are in a good position to continue to contend with elite depth in the future.
3. We're in prime position and I feel really good about our chances.
4. Hard to say who made the biggest moves, but I think ours will have a really big impact in the future.
5. I jumped off a parked boat trying to dunk and fell.  Broke my ankle
6. NONE OF THEM!  Let them sleep in the streets for all I care

A big fan of musicals, Maple Dogwood was excited to finally have a few days off before the postseason started where he could cross something off his bucket list.  He'd seen "Come From Away" numerous times on and off Broadway and has always enjoyed the story.  For those unfamiliar, it tells the story of the September 11 attacks and how after United States airspace was effectively closed, more than 7,000 passengers were forced to land at Gander Airport in Newfoundland.  The town itself only had a population of 9,000, so this wasn't some big city taking on thousands of strangers on one of the more frightening days in modern North American history. It was a tiny town who fed, clothed, and kept safe thousands of people and did it with a smile and open heart.
 
"I remember the first time I saw 'Come From Away' and how taken I was with the music and the story. That caused me to do what I always do when I learn about something for the first time - head to Wikipedia. I read up on Gander, on Newfoundland, and on the incredible actions of the locals on the days following September 11th. When I found out I was headed to Halifax I realized that I wouldn't be too terribly far from Newfoundland and made plans to visit the town of Gander whenever I had a few days off," Dogwood explained.
 
Determined to see some of the countryside, Dogwood endeavored to make the trip to Gander without flying, much to the chagrin of his coaching staff.  Numerous members of the Halifax front office cautioned against this tactic, worried that Dogwood would be too exhausted to do well in the playoffs, but his mind was set.
 
"First thing I did was rent a car and got on my way. I drove through the wonderful towns of Middle Musquodoboit, Elmsvale, and Greenwood, as I meandered towards the coast. I stopped for lunch in New Glasgow and had a wonderful cup of soup and sandwich. After, it was on to Port Hawkesbury and eventually to North Sydney where I caught the ferry to Newfoundland.  After landing at Channel-Port aux Basques, it was back in the car for the winding drive to Gander," Dogwood said.
 
When he finally arrived at his destination, Dogwood checked into his hotel, got a very good night's rest, and planned on going to his number one site first thing in the morning.
 
"The only piece of steel from the Twin Towers outside the United States is right here in Gander, as a part of the Compassion Monument. That's the first thing I saw that first morning and it was incredibly moving.  This entire community has an openness and resolve about itself that is striking.  Everyone I've encountered here was gracious and felt like I'd known them for years.  And to actually meet some of the people who were part of Operation Yellow Ribbon, as it was called?  I can't even describe how the felt," Dogwood explained.
 
After three days in Gander where Maple saw all of the sights, met loads of new friends, and spent more than a few hours in pubs, it was time to head back to Halifax and prepare for the postseason. Fully preparing to get back in his rental car and make the long journey home, he got a knock on his hotel room door as he was about to leave.
 
"So I open the door and it's someone from the Gander Airport. They told me that they have a private plane just for me, heading back to Halifax if I wanted to take off from that fateful runway where so many stranded planes were parked on that infamous day. I almost broke down in tears and before I could answer someone whisked my bags away and I was on my way to the airport.  To say that this trip had an impact is selling it short.  What a wonderful story, what wonderful people, and what a wonderful way to spend a few days, honoring all those who helped in that time of crisis," Dogwood concluded.
'

A big fan of musicals, Maple Dogwood was excited to finally have a few days off before the postseason started where he could cross something off his bucket list.  He'd seen "Come From Away" numerous times on and off Broadway and has always enjoyed the story.  For those unfamiliar, it tells the story of the September 11 attacks and how after United States airspace was effectively closed, more than 7,000 passengers were forced to land at Gander Airport in Newfoundland.  The town itself only had a population of 9,000, so this wasn't some big city taking on thousands of strangers on one of the more frightening days in modern North American history. It was a tiny town who fed, clothed, and kept safe thousands of people and did it with a smile and open heart.
 
"I remember the first time I saw 'Come From Away' and how taken I was with the music and the story. That caused me to do what I always do when I learn about something for the first time - head to Wikipedia. I read up on Gander, on Newfoundland, and on the incredible actions of the locals on the days following September 11th. When I found out I was headed to Halifax I realized that I wouldn't be too terribly far from Newfoundland and made plans to visit the town of Gander whenever I had a few days off," Dogwood explained.
 
Determined to see some of the countryside, Dogwood endeavored to make the trip to Gander without flying, much to the chagrin of his coaching staff.  Numerous members of the Halifax front office cautioned against this tactic, worried that Dogwood would be too exhausted to do well in the playoffs, but his mind was set.
 
"First thing I did was rent a car and got on my way. I drove through the wonderful towns of Middle Musquodoboit, Elmsvale, and Greenwood, as I meandered towards the coast. I stopped for lunch in New Glasgow and had a wonderful cup of soup and sandwich. After, it was on to Port Hawkesbury and eventually to North Sydney where I caught the ferry to Newfoundland.  After landing at Channel-Port aux Basques, it was back in the car for the winding drive to Gander," Dogwood said.
 
When he finally arrived at his destination, Dogwood checked into his hotel, got a very good night's rest, and planned on going to his number one site first thing in the morning.
 
"The only piece of steel from the Twin Towers outside the United States is right here in Gander, as a part of the Compassion Monument. That's the first thing I saw that first morning and it was incredibly moving.  This entire community has an openness and resolve about itself that is striking.  Everyone I've encountered here was gracious and felt like I'd known them for years.  And to actually meet some of the people who were part of Operation Yellow Ribbon, as it was called?  I can't even describe how the felt," Dogwood explained.
 
After three days in Gander where Maple saw all of the sights, met loads of new friends, and spent more than a few hours in pubs, it was time to head back to Halifax and prepare for the postseason. Fully preparing to get back in his rental car and make the long journey home, he got a knock on his hotel room door as he was about to leave.
 
"So I open the door and it's someone from the Gander Airport. They told me that they have a private plane just for me, heading back to Halifax if I wanted to take off from that fateful runway where so many stranded planes were parked on that infamous day. I almost broke down in tears and before I could answer someone whisked my bags away and I was on my way to the airport.  To say that this trip had an impact is selling it short.  What a wonderful story, what wonderful people, and what a wonderful way to spend a few days, honoring all those who helped in that time of crisis," Dogwood concluded.
'

When looking around the league for possible rebrand options, there's one grouping that sticks out like a sore thumb.  Looking along the west coast, it's clear that there are just too many teams on that side of the continent.  In order to continue to grow the game and keep interest from fans all across the country, we need to move one of those franchises.  The easy selection is one of Vancouver or Seattle because, while it makes for a nice rivalry, that's just too much hockey for that close of quarters.  Because I once played for Vancouver, I'm letting them stay put and moving the Seattle Bears to Atlanta.
 
Why Atlanta, you might ask?  Well in the interest of full disclosure, I'm born and raised here.  But more than that, Atlanta has everything you want in a major sports city. We have the world busiest airport which is more than capable of handling the fan and team traffic, in addition to thousands of hotels in and around the city to accommodate the gargantuan needs of a franchise.  When you look at what other major institutions call Atlanta home, it's a no-brainer. World headquarters of Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and a slew of other Fortune 500 companies are all here, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, and Centennial Olympic Park. For rabid sports fans, there's the Braves, the Hawks, and the Falcons, as well as the numerous other sporting events Atlanta hosts, including the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and College Football National Championship.  
 
Now that we've established that Atlanta can physically do the job as a major city, it's time to talk about geography. There is a massive hole in the league for teams in the Deep South which needs to be rectified. I know hockey may not be a traditionally popular sport, but the love of the game has grown exponentially in the last decade with more and more professional hockey players coming out of the Peach State and surrounding areas.  For the actual branding, my first gut has to be the Peaches.  Georgia is the Peach State and the city of Atlanta has something like 125 different roads with the words "peachtree" or "peach" in the title.  If we go with peach, I'm envisioning a light peach colored peach with green stem, with some dark red accents on the fruit itself.  Across the peach would be two hockey sticks pointing in opposite directions at the bottom of the logo.  We could even go with Georgia Peaches if the league wanted to, as that's what we're quite famous for.  Another option would be the Atlanta Grits.  With the prominence of Waffle House in the Deep South, I could see a logo of a plate of buttered grits with two hockey sticks acting as fork and spoon on the plate.  This would be a great link to the cuisine and culture of the region and highlight one of the many delicious things that makes the South the South.  We could even partner with Waffle House as we'd have a natural strategic partnership to help market the brand and grow the popularity.
 
Regardless of which brand the league would decide to pick, two things are quite clear: first, Atlanta needs a team, and second, the league needs Atlanta.
 
552 words
'

When looking around the league for possible rebrand options, there's one grouping that sticks out like a sore thumb.  Looking along the west coast, it's clear that there are just too many teams on that side of the continent.  In order to continue to grow the game and keep interest from fans all across the country, we need to move one of those franchises.  The easy selection is one of Vancouver or Seattle because, while it makes for a nice rivalry, that's just too much hockey for that close of quarters.  Because I once played for Vancouver, I'm letting them stay put and moving the Seattle Bears to Atlanta.
 
Why Atlanta, you might ask?  Well in the interest of full disclosure, I'm born and raised here.  But more than that, Atlanta has everything you want in a major sports city. We have the world busiest airport which is more than capable of handling the fan and team traffic, in addition to thousands of hotels in and around the city to accommodate the gargantuan needs of a franchise.  When you look at what other major institutions call Atlanta home, it's a no-brainer. World headquarters of Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and a slew of other Fortune 500 companies are all here, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, and Centennial Olympic Park. For rabid sports fans, there's the Braves, the Hawks, and the Falcons, as well as the numerous other sporting events Atlanta hosts, including the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and College Football National Championship.  
 
Now that we've established that Atlanta can physically do the job as a major city, it's time to talk about geography. There is a massive hole in the league for teams in the Deep South which needs to be rectified. I know hockey may not be a traditionally popular sport, but the love of the game has grown exponentially in the last decade with more and more professional hockey players coming out of the Peach State and surrounding areas.  For the actual branding, my first gut has to be the Peaches.  Georgia is the Peach State and the city of Atlanta has something like 125 different roads with the words "peachtree" or "peach" in the title.  If we go with peach, I'm envisioning a light peach colored peach with green stem, with some dark red accents on the fruit itself.  Across the peach would be two hockey sticks pointing in opposite directions at the bottom of the logo.  We could even go with Georgia Peaches if the league wanted to, as that's what we're quite famous for.  Another option would be the Atlanta Grits.  With the prominence of Waffle House in the Deep South, I could see a logo of a plate of buttered grits with two hockey sticks acting as fork and spoon on the plate.  This would be a great link to the cuisine and culture of the region and highlight one of the many delicious things that makes the South the South.  We could even partner with Waffle House as we'd have a natural strategic partnership to help market the brand and grow the popularity.
 
Regardless of which brand the league would decide to pick, two things are quite clear: first, Atlanta needs a team, and second, the league needs Atlanta.
 
552 words
'

When looking around the league for possible rebrand options, there's one grouping that sticks out like a sore thumb.  Looking along the west coast, it's clear that there are just too many teams on that side of the continent.  In order to continue to grow the game and keep interest from fans all across the country, we need to move one of those franchises.  The easy selection is one of Vancouver or Seattle because, while it makes for a nice rivalry, that's just too much hockey for that close of quarters.  Because I once played for Vancouver, I'm letting them stay put and moving the Seattle Bears to Atlanta.
 
Why Atlanta, you might ask?  Well in the interest of full disclosure, I'm born and raised here.  But more than that, Atlanta has everything you want in a major sports city. We have the world busiest airport which is more than capable of handling the fan and team traffic, in addition to thousands of hotels in and around the city to accommodate the gargantuan needs of a franchise.  When you look at what other major institutions call Atlanta home, it's a no-brainer. World headquarters of Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and a slew of other Fortune 500 companies are all here, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, and Centennial Olympic Park. For rabid sports fans, there's the Braves, the Hawks, and the Falcons, as well as the numerous other sporting events Atlanta hosts, including the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and College Football National Championship.  
 
Now that we've established that Atlanta can physically do the job as a major city, it's time to talk about geography. There is a massive hole in the league for teams in the Deep South which needs to be rectified. I know hockey may not be a traditionally popular sport, but the love of the game has grown exponentially in the last decade with more and more professional hockey players coming out of the Peach State and surrounding areas.  For the actual branding, my first gut has to be the Peaches.  Georgia is the Peach State and the city of Atlanta has something like 125 different roads with the words "peachtree" or "peach" in the title.  If we go with peach, I'm envisioning a light peach colored peach with green stem, with some dark red accents on the fruit itself.  Across the peach would be two hockey sticks pointing in opposite directions at the bottom of the logo.  We could even go with Georgia Peaches if the league wanted to, as that's what we're quite famous for.  Another option would be the Atlanta Grits.  With the prominence of Waffle House in the Deep South, I could see a logo of a plate of buttered grits with two hockey sticks acting as fork and spoon on the plate.  This would be a great link to the cuisine and culture of the region and highlight one of the many delicious things that makes the South the South.  We could even partner with Waffle House as we'd have a natural strategic partnership to help market the brand and grow the popularity.
 
Regardless of which brand the league would decide to pick, two things are quite clear: first, Atlanta needs a team, and second, the league needs Atlanta.
 
552 words
'

When looking around the league for possible rebrand options, there's one grouping that sticks out like a sore thumb.  Looking along the west coast, it's clear that there are just too many teams on that side of the continent.  In order to continue to grow the game and keep interest from fans all across the country, we need to move one of those franchises.  The easy selection is one of Vancouver or Seattle because, while it makes for a nice rivalry, that's just too much hockey for that close of quarters.  Because I once played for Vancouver, I'm letting them stay put and moving the Seattle Bears to Atlanta.
 
Why Atlanta, you might ask?  Well in the interest of full disclosure, I'm born and raised here.  But more than that, Atlanta has everything you want in a major sports city. We have the world busiest airport which is more than capable of handling the fan and team traffic, in addition to thousands of hotels in and around the city to accommodate the gargantuan needs of a franchise.  When you look at what other major institutions call Atlanta home, it's a no-brainer. World headquarters of Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and a slew of other Fortune 500 companies are all here, as well as the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, and Centennial Olympic Park. For rabid sports fans, there's the Braves, the Hawks, and the Falcons, as well as the numerous other sporting events Atlanta hosts, including the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and College Football National Championship.  
 
Now that we've established that Atlanta can physically do the job as a major city, it's time to talk about geography. There is a massive hole in the league for teams in the Deep South which needs to be rectified. I know hockey may not be a traditionally popular sport, but the love of the game has grown exponentially in the last decade with more and more professional hockey players coming out of the Peach State and surrounding areas.  For the actual branding, my first gut has to be the Peaches.  Georgia is the Peach State and the city of Atlanta has something like 125 different roads with the words "peachtree" or "peach" in the title.  If we go with peach, I'm envisioning a light peach colored peach with green stem, with some dark red accents on the fruit itself.  Across the peach would be two hockey sticks pointing in opposite directions at the bottom of the logo.  We could even go with Georgia Peaches if the league wanted to, as that's what we're quite famous for.  Another option would be the Atlanta Grits.  With the prominence of Waffle House in the Deep South, I could see a logo of a plate of buttered grits with two hockey sticks acting as fork and spoon on the plate.  This would be a great link to the cuisine and culture of the region and highlight one of the many delicious things that makes the South the South.  We could even partner with Waffle House as we'd have a natural strategic partnership to help market the brand and grow the popularity.
 
Regardless of which brand the league would decide to pick, two things are quite clear: first, Atlanta needs a team, and second, the league needs Atlanta.
 
552 words
'

@dogwoodmaple

In a developing situation around Halifax, rookie winger Maple Dogwood is under suspicion by federal authorities for being involved in a cryptocurrency scam.
Against his attorney's advice, Maple agreed to talk to the media about the current allegations.
 
"Look, I have no clue what this is about.  I'm told that there is some sort of cryptocurrency trend right now involving names of fruit products.  Something like the hot new coins have fruit names - applecoin, orangejuicecoin, stuff like that. The coin at the heart of this whole mess is apparently "jellycoin" which I have never even heard of.  What I think happened is that it was my sister's birthday two months ago and she is obsessed with obscure fruit spreads.  Y'know, jams and jellies of the world.  Not the kind you buy in the grocery store, I'm talking about exotic stuff from all over the world.  So I start doing some internet research and I come across a Jelly of the Month type of website that offers to send someone one random jar of jelly each month for a year, or so I thought. I probably had 50 tabs open on my laptop and I was exhausted, so I thought I was putting my information and credit card number into the site for the Jelly of the Month, but apparently I had clicked on some sort of pop up site that has ties to this jellycoin. I inadvertently purchased $10,000, which I didn't even realize until my business manager called me the next day," Maple told reporters.
 
When he was told the unbelievability of that story, he said he understood how it sounds.
 
"I know, I know.  But that's the honest truth.  I have zero doubt that the authorities are going to determine this was just an honest mistake.  I even put a cancellation on the payment the next day when my business manager called me asking about ten thousand dollars. I thought it was $100, but we had just played two games and I was absolutely exhausted and just wasn't thinking straight.  I hate that this has caused an unnecessary distraction for Halifax and my teammates, but I'm hopeful there is a swift resolution right around the corner," Maple said.
 
The federal prosecutors have a different take on this developing story.
 
"Are we prepared to say that Maple Dogwood is a crypto kingpin who has used his celebrity status as one of the league's top rookies to bilk unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned retirements money?  No.  But we aren't not not prepared to say that," Oakton Catstone told the media.
 
When we reached out to Halifax for a comment on the situation, they simply responded that because this was a pending matter, they are unable to comment and forwarded all inquiries to their in-house legal department. 
 
Many across the league have called for a suspension, but the VHL commissioner has been clear that right now there is no action they can take.  It has impacted attendance at various Halifax games, however, as it's been standing room only just to have a chance to boo Maple every time he steps on the ice.
 
One fan tossed a plastic jar full of soil at Maple as he entered the Halifax arena yesterday, calling him "lower than dirt".
 
Maple continues to vehemently declare his innocence.
 
553 words

john season has always been suspicious of @dogwoodmaple and will be happy to assist the investigators with any and all inquiries 

In a developing situation around Halifax, rookie winger Maple Dogwood is under suspicion by federal authorities for being involved in a cryptocurrency scam.
Against his attorney's advice, Maple agreed to talk to the media about the current allegations.
 
"Look, I have no clue what this is about.  I'm told that there is some sort of cryptocurrency trend right now involving names of fruit products.  Something like the hot new coins have fruit names - applecoin, orangejuicecoin, stuff like that. The coin at the heart of this whole mess is apparently "jellycoin" which I have never even heard of.  What I think happened is that it was my sister's birthday two months ago and she is obsessed with obscure fruit spreads.  Y'know, jams and jellies of the world.  Not the kind you buy in the grocery store, I'm talking about exotic stuff from all over the world.  So I start doing some internet research and I come across a Jelly of the Month type of website that offers to send someone one random jar of jelly each month for a year, or so I thought. I probably had 50 tabs open on my laptop and I was exhausted, so I thought I was putting my information and credit card number into the site for the Jelly of the Month, but apparently I had clicked on some sort of pop up site that has ties to this jellycoin. I inadvertently purchased $10,000, which I didn't even realize until my business manager called me the next day," Maple told reporters.
 
When he was told the unbelievability of that story, he said he understood how it sounds.
 
"I know, I know.  But that's the honest truth.  I have zero doubt that the authorities are going to determine this was just an honest mistake.  I even put a cancellation on the payment the next day when my business manager called me asking about ten thousand dollars. I thought it was $100, but we had just played two games and I was absolutely exhausted and just wasn't thinking straight.  I hate that this has caused an unnecessary distraction for Halifax and my teammates, but I'm hopeful there is a swift resolution right around the corner," Maple said.
 
The federal prosecutors have a different take on this developing story.
 
"Are we prepared to say that Maple Dogwood is a crypto kingpin who has used his celebrity status as one of the league's top rookies to bilk unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned retirements money?  No.  But we aren't not not prepared to say that," Oakton Catstone told the media.
 
When we reached out to Halifax for a comment on the situation, they simply responded that because this was a pending matter, they are unable to comment and forwarded all inquiries to their in-house legal department. 
 
Many across the league have called for a suspension, but the VHL commissioner has been clear that right now there is no action they can take.  It has impacted attendance at various Halifax games, however, as it's been standing room only just to have a chance to boo Maple every time he steps on the ice.
 
One fan tossed a plastic jar full of soil at Maple as he entered the Halifax arena yesterday, calling him "lower than dirt".
 
Maple continues to vehemently declare his innocence.
 
553 words

I don`t think the fans would boo you for something like that but rather think they would make Maple Jelly Coins (Donuts)  as side joke and sell them at the games. As long as the funds either goes to bailing you out of jail or charity than it is all good, right?
 

1. Honestly for me, the main highlight has been the off-ice stuff!  Great locker room and I'm pumped that things are going well for us.
2. Good luck, great teammates, and a fantastic gameplan from our coaches!
3. The rest of the league!  It's trophy time or bust for Halifax.
4. The Georgia Bulldogs - proud alumnus and love all of our sports.
5. March Madness takes the cake.  How about NC State?  What a story
6. Honestly, I love a good home cooked meal!