Moon

Player Information
Username: Langostine
Player Name: Lightning Mcsnipe
Recruited From: Member (Friends told me about this)
Age: 21
Position: C
Height: 74 in.
Weight: 207 lbs.
Birthplace: Canada

Player Page
@VHLM GM

Just you wait Spraytan, just u wait

After Team Canada failed to defend their World Cup gold, losing to Team USA 4-3 in the semi-final game and instead settling for bronze with a gutsy 4-2 win against Team Nordic, the various media outlets, YouTubers, podcasts and pundits started whispers about a potential goalie controversy that may have cost Canada a chance for three-peat gold medal.
 
After starting the first four games of the World Cup round robin, last tournament's gold medal game starter, Joel Castle had been looking on from the bench. Despite sparkling numbers (1.97 GAA, 0.939 SV%, 1 shutout), Team Canada only scored five goals in those four games to start the tournament with a less than inspiring 1-2-1 record. Merome Dilson started the remaining six games and won all six as Canada finally found their scoring touch, lighting the lamp 22 times for 3.56 goals/game compared to 1.25 in Castle's games. Dilson was still great (2.26 GAA, 0.925 SV%, 1 shutout) but he didn’t need to be quite as stingy as the players in front of him scored almost triple the rate they scored with Castle in net.
 

Joel Castle backstopping Team Canada
 
Obviously looking at win record and not stats, Canada chose to start Dilson in the semi-final which ended up backfiring on the Red and White. Canada lost 4-3 to USA – who Castle had shutout in his final appearance. Now, the loss was definitely not Dilson’s fault. After Canada took a 1-0 lead into the second period, USA scored on three of four power play opportunities in the middle frame to take a 3-1 lead that Canada never recovered from. Dilson’s effort was valiant stopping 42 of 45 shots, but as the critics wondered after, would the knowledge that they hadn’t beaten Castle perhaps played a critical mental game with the American players as they had scored five times on Dilson in their meeting, a 6-5 shootout loss to Canada. Either way, having already beaten the USA twice in the round robin, losing to them in the medal round was especially bitter for the defending champions.
 
When asked about the decision on a podcast days after the World Cup had ended, Joel Castle gave his typical professional answer.
 
“As a competitor, you always want to play, but to be fair to Dilsy, he had a better season than I did leading up to the World Cup and he played fantastic in the round robin. I feel the team as a whole kind of played a little too loose in that second period against the States and we got into penalty trouble and they capitalized. It could have been way more out of reach but Dilsy played out of his mind really. We got outshot 26-10 in the second and 36-16 over the last two periods. You don’t win many games when you get outshot like that. And we made a push but in the end, it wasn’t enough and we had to play for bronze.”
 
Asked if he thinks he’ll be able to play in the S94 World Cup, he just shrugged and said, “Hopefully, I’m still playing a level that allows me to play for Canada one more time. Dilson will probably be the starter again but I’d love another chance to get another gold medal. Time will tell. I have to stay in shape until then.”
 
Castle’s record in two World Cups for Canada, including medal games, is 9-3-2 with a 1.72 GAA, 0.945 SV% and 2 shutouts for one gold and one bronze.

Done @Moon

Recruitment Update S92
 
Hello, VHL. I hope everyone is doing good and that you're enjoying the VHL. I know there's been lots of opinions about how the recruitment team has been doing (or not doing) in the past and because of that, I'd like to shine a little light on how things have been going recently. As you all know this season, the VHL recruitment team made significant changes and moves to bolster recruitment efforts league wide. They started off by saying farewell to amazing members like @Subject056 and @N0HBDY who put in time and effort into bringing members into the place. I'd like to thank them for their time and effort. It's a lot of work and it's often thankless. The amount of hours I've put into it each week since joining is fairly high and it's all in hopes to spread the word about how fun the league is and to get members to join. With them saying good bye, @Moon and whoever else was involved in the process ended up bringing in myself and @dlamb. Following our hirings, magic started to happen. Some of it was planned already, some of it wasn't. At the end of the day, I think we've done a great job so far with lots of work and fine tuning left to do. So, what's been done and what's coming?
 
YOUTUBE ADVERTISEMENT. Unless you are living under a rock, you know by now that the VHL took part in a league advertisement through Youtube. You can take a look at the video and advertisement HERE! It happens slightly after the 4 minute mark and has brought in a lot of members. The advertisement went live 4 weeks ago, specifically on January 7, 2024. The video has received over 109,000 views at this time - which is exceptional for the VHL. We've also seen a greta amount of members join since then! Let's take a look at some of the stats:  
User joined from YouTube since then: 
my numbers are likely slightly off. 192 members since then! We've had a few from TikTok, Sister Leagues and all of that fun.
 
REDDIT. A few members have also joined from Reddit and while we've hit a unique snag (apparently you need to talk a SHIT TON on /hockey), we're still on the search and have had some members join the league. @dlamb has been one of the mains attacking Reddit right now and has done a good job doing so. Furthering, I think because of their activity and account on there, they're also one of the most equipped to do so. As the seasons go on, we'll be looking at ways to make sure we're making the most out of the Reddit Hockey and more community.  
TIKTOK. The VHL is on the Tiktok and this has kind of become my baby. While we've only seen 2-3 members join from Tiktok so far (which I'm honestly pumped about), for me right now it's all about growing the followers at the moment. Every day it seems as though we're growing quickly. As I look right now, we're sitting at 438 followers - most of them being hockey related accounts and few of them being recognizable from the VHL. Every day I'm on there, mass following those who follow hockey, NHL 24 or anything somewhat similar in hope they'll follow us back. @Triller has been making those neat videos you seen on there and we hopefully will have more in store in the future. If you can make videos and want to be part of this, hop on board and reach out to me. I'd love to see what we can do here. The platform is huge and the sky is the limit. It's free for us! This is our community and it's a growing one!  
WHAT IS TO COME?
A lot is in store. We're thinking about a few things that we can do to have a constant stream of members coming in but as some of us know, in order for them to be consistent, we have to always be consistent. Again, it's often a thankless role but I've been very appreciate of those who have offered words of support, kindness and even help with retention. Afterall, as you can tell, retention might now be part of the issue. I've said it in the past and will continue to echo it. People complain about recruitment, but when it happens, very few of those who were crying were nowhere to be seen when it came time to retain these members - welcome them, help them and fire them DM's. It seems if you don't reach out to them while they're initially on, they're most likely gone. Some have no hope in hell. It's not their thing or whatever, but as we've learned from the amazing members who have stuck around, it's possible. 
 
HELP WANTED, APPLY HERE!

We've gotten some awesome standings content on tiktok but are wanting to diverse what we post and really show people what the VHL is all about. If you have any ideas about videos or content we can create and post, please throw a comment below. The think tank is working behind the scenes in the recruitment discord, but we'd appreciate all the help we can get. ALSO, if anyone has video creating skills and can make content for us on a weekly to every so often basis, please let me know. It can count towards you 6 weekly and all of that fun jazz for start and maybe we can talk other things. I'm not the one to hire or pay TPE etc, but surely you'd be able to submit it (if good enough) as a weekly graphic etc. 
 
I'm sure there's some things I'm missing, but that's kind of been what's going on right now for recruitment. The activity and discussion in there is almost daily, certainly every week a sufficient amount of effort is going into things. I can't speak for anyone as I don't know what they're doing behind the scenes, but I'm daily on the TikTok and retention grind and have seen awesome efforts from the teams through discussions and posts from them! 
 
Claiming weeks:
Ending 11th (double week, player store purchase)
Ending 18th
 

1: I don't have anyone specific I'd want to play aside, but being able to play with and meet new people is always my goal.
2: Hockey weather! There is a pond near me that freezes over and a bunch of my friends go skating on it.
3: I have one dog. Her name is Chelsea and she is a German Shepard.
4: As of right now, I feel like my player is a two-way forward, but they will eventually become a sniper.
5: I think when I started ice skating and watching hockey on TV, I wanted to get into it.
6: @Moon, it's got to be him. BEAVSSSSSSSSSSS

thats AI

@pugsood welcome to Toronto!!

Thanks for the trade talks @Banackock

Glad I could help you out @Moon
 
@pugsood enjoyed our chats and you as a member. @Daniel Janser was not wrong   with where you are, just made sense to help ya win on a good team. Win/win/win imo. 

Ottawa had some GOATED GMs
 

“And the winner of the S91 Daisuke Kanou Trophy, for leading the Toronto Legion to their first Continental Cup in 26 seasons, Joel Castle!”
 
Shaking my head in bewilderment, I slowly get to my feet and make my way to the stage. I get high-fives and a few hugs from my Legion teammates as I cross the floor. I’m in shock, my brain racing through the last five seasons. From my first start for the Legion in S87 to our first playoff game in S90 and the thrilling series win against Vancouver to the crushing defeat at the hands of Los Angeles. Knowing of all the adversity we faced this season, the struggle to get back into the playoffs but just having that confidence in one another and using the lessons learned the last few seasons to march through each series and finally finish our comeback in Game 6 of the Final. The memory of hoisting the Cup and skating around the rink followed by my Legion brothers is bright in my mind as I accept the beautiful Kanou Trophy from the presenter.
 
Emotion welling up inside, I simply say: “Thank you. Thank you. This is a dream come true, an honor and a day I didn’t know if it would ever come but I kept working toward it anyway. Thank you to our GM Moon for assembling us together and believing in us even when the critics didn’t. Thank you to our captain, Mac Atlas, who could be up here instead of me after his incredible run and breaking the Legion single playoffs points record. Thank you to all the rest of my teammates, Jimi – you were awesome and if Mac hadn’t broken the record, you would have. Dens and Tomas, you both fought until the bitter end and now you retire as champions! Bobby and Jimmy were solid all playoffs in the back end and Burnsy came up big when needed. Our Toronto Trio of rookies, Diego, Harry, and Walter – you guys played like vets – don’t ever forget these moments. And finally, but not least, my brother in pads, Evan you helped keep me focused and loose throughout the whole playoffs. You always kept cheering us on, pushing us to be better. And not to forget, a huge thank you to our fans in Toronto and around the world who have stayed with us for the long haul and now we’ve been able to bring a Cup to TO. You guys are the best fans in the VHL and we love you all! To all the goalies I faced this season – you guys made me push myself to be the best I could be. I look forward to facing you next season.”
 
I turn shake a few hands then grab the trophy and lift it to a round of applause. As I make my way backstage, the announcer says, “This is Joel Castle’s first Kanou trophy and the first individual trophy of his career.”
 
The rest of the night is honestly a blur. There are pictures, more hugs and handshakes, poses and parties. But I can’t stop thinking about the trophy shining in the lights and what it means. Now, I have to be ready even more for next season. We are the defending champs and everyone in the VHL will be gunning for us. And it’s a great feeling. I’m ready for it.
 
 

Congrats @dlamb!

Warsaw will not be in the playoffs until probably S199

@badcolethetitanALL MY FELLAS

gg Toronto

Congrats Toronto and @Moon. Enjoy the win. Glad the cup is where it belongs - NA! 

Fuck it, tis the season and we're trying to do a good thing here. Charity has been quiet this year so the few of us can keep auctioning our hearts out.
 
$1/1 ticket entry for @Kisslinger (good luck with quitting, maybe you can win and this will help with that)
$1/1 ticket entry for @Berocka I appreciate you as a pal. Buy the little one some Maccas if you win (or some sweet swimmers for the pool). Love, uncle bana.
$1/1 ticket entry for @Moon I love you long time, buddy. Thanks for being you. 
$1/1 ticket entry for @Esso2264 Sorry for being overly verbal about your managing when you were a gm. I was a dick.
$1/1 ticket entry for @v.2 for being the best of all versions
$1/1 ticket entry for @qripll because I'm a fan of their player
$1/1 ticket entry for @Smarch Congrats on the news in October! Maybe could go towards some Amazon diapers???  
$1/1 ticket entry for @Lefty_S because I seen you in #gaming-kranchland or whatever on Discord and you seem to like to game !
 
= $8 and 8 entries, 1 for each member tagged. CHEERS!

Hello VHL,
 
This post serves as my announcement of my resignation from Recruitment, GM of the New York Americans, Board of Governors, and as one of the VHLE Commissioners. Allow me a moment to explain:
 
On October 8th, 2020, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I was working part-time and earning my Master's degree while living in a world that was dictated by COVID. I saw an advertisement on one of Thrash94's videos for the VHL and I quickly joined. I came in eager to learn, eager to earn, and eager to make Hall of Fame-worthy players. I dove headfirst into the VHL community and loved every minute of it. Eventually, I applied to be a GM for Team USA in the WJC and since then I've managed in one way or another. I became a GM for the San Diego Marlins, then the Stockholm Vikings, and finally the New York Americans. In all of that, I helped manage various off-season tournaments as well. That escalated to me taking a position on the Recruitment Team, and being asked to work as a Commissioner for the VHLE, which I happily accepted.
 
While all of that was going on, my personal life and career were taking off. My wife became pregnant, we moved back to our home state, and our family grew. I finished my Master's, and started working full-time, and the time that I had to devote to the league dwindled more and more over time. This year though has been a tipping point. As some of you know, my mother struggled with addiction my whole life, and in April that struggle caught up to her and she passed. Then, my wife and I endured the hardship of losing two children through miscarriage. Those events led us to grow much closer, and it made me realize just how precious the time I have with my family is. It's only here temporarily, and it can vanish in the blink of an eye.
 
Those hard moments were, well, hard. But, there have been so many good things to happen in my life this year, most of them revolving around increased work responsibilities. While I love my work, I don't have the luxury of a job that runs 9-5 and is off on the weekends, so the free time I do get is rather limited and decreases more and more. 
 
All of that being said, I want you to know that I am not making this decision because I'm burnt out, nor because I've lost interest in the VHL. It comes down to the fact that I just don't have the time I used to when I first started, and I can't devote the way I want to the thing that I seem to be lacking. 
 
My goal, at this time, is to finish out my career with Dynamite and then...well, who knows? Maybe I'll take a season or two off completely and lurk every once in a while, or maybe I'll make another player and ride the pension/welfare train for a while. I don't know. What I do know is that I'm thankful for the time I've had here, and for the friends I've made. 
 

@roryIs a really good friend

Sorry it was all supposed to be read in sarcasm. I didn't realize how much shit Moon and others had been getting. Bad timing, and I'm sorry @Moon

@Moon

Hello @Members!
 
Last week was Halloween and you can't tell me otherwise! I feel like I blinked and we're basically into December, wild! That does mean that the holiday season is nearly upon us which for the VHL means our annual charity drive!
 
For those who haven’t been around, a quick recap: Every December in addition to Christmas festivities we hold a charity donation drive to help out communities beyond our own. This will be our fifth year doing the charity drive with previous drives donating thousands to the Make a Wish Foundation, Food Banks of Canada / Feed America, the Red Cross, and the SickKids Foundation / St. Jude's.
 
But it's not even December yet, why do I bring this up? Because we need your help deciding a charity of course. As always you’ll be able to donate to any charity you wish and have it count but the league matching donation and any donated through us will go to the charity that’s chosen.
 
In an ideal world that charity fits a couple of criteria so if you can try to keep them in mind for your suggestions that would be great:
 
1. Should be something that accepts PayPal donations since all league funds run through that.
2. Should be something with a wide reach and ideally international or at least having Canadian / American equivalents we can split donations between.
3. Nothing political or divisive.
 
So let’s see what you can come up with! Feel free to also discuss your favourites in here if someone suggests something you feel strong about but try to keep it as on topic as possible. Here’s to the start of another VHL holiday season!

Given the state of the world, I'd vote Refugees International.
 
and https://idrf.ca/

https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are#:~:text=Established in 1863%2C the ICRC,that protect victims of war.
 
 
With everything going on in the world with all the horrible events, would be nice to support those affected by war etc.