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This was super fun, be prepared for more! The audio is not too awful, but it should be better next time. I'd be glad if you guys would give it a shot and listen!

Marshall Maxx: A Tough Stretch, But He Won't Let That Stop Him Hockey is a tough game, there is no way to get around it. Marshall Maxx has learned this the hard way, running into his first roadblocks in the VHLM this season. At the start of the season, Maxx was primed to be on the San Diego first line with Tavish DeGroot and the first line offense. However, after a teamwide slow start offensively he was moved onto the second line to try to jumpstart the team. It has been a surprising struggle for Maxx to start the season, as the ninth overall pick and one of the most hyped defenders in the VHLM has only twenty six points through twenty eight games. However, Maxx is determined to right the ship this season and continues to give it his best every day on the rink and in practice to fulfill his goal of becoming the best defender in the VHL. In the end, Marshall remarks that although the road to the best will not be the cleanest or the easiest, he is driven to get through the hardships and become the greatest player that you have ever seen.

1. I think this team needs more depth on the second line. For me, it's been a struggle to see the second line offence struggle so much this season. 2. We have to go all in on offence or I feel like the Marlins will not challenge in the playoffs. I believe in the team, but it will take more competitiveness to take the championship. 3. It is 100% Tavish DeGroot. The man is a monster and clearly the best player on the team at the moment. 4. I think that GM JB is a wizard. 5. I want him to tell them that they are fishy. 6. If you want it to, why not?

Review: I really like the intended design with the player over the logo and the font on the side, but I feel like a lot of things could be done better. I think that both the font and font color could be changed, and the blurriness feels like a rushed job rather than detailed. However, for a first graphic it is very good and shows a lot of potential. 6/10

Review: I really like the overall design of the graphic and the chosen colors. Everything comes together to create a really cool graphic that I really enjoy. The fonts are also great, and add a lot to the entire piece. If I had one complaint, it is that I thought that another color could be added to make it even better. 8/10

Who is the True #2 in the VHLM? Going into the season, the Ottawa Lynx are a clear favorite to win the VHLM after coming very close a year ago. With a stacked team and clear experience, it would be a major upset for them not to take the crown this year, but there are a couple other teams that could give them some trouble. The two main threats to focus on are the Houston Bulls and San Diego Marlins. The Bulls, coming off a strong season last year where the team was knocked out of the playoffs in round one by Halifax, have done nothing but improve. Their offensive front line including Ernie King Jr and Mikhail Lospenov is likely to be the second best in the VHLM and have a great deal of depth, but there are some concerns at both defense and goalie. On the other hand, the San Diego Marlins have a relatively weak offence, especially when you look at their depth, but their defense is on another level altogether. The Marlins first defensive line of Marshall Maxx and Tavish DeGroot is projected to be one of the best defensive pairings in the VHLM this season, and their second line of Nikita Eklund and Maxwell Mathias is nothing to scoff at either. In addition, they have one of the most reputable and impressive goalies in the VHLM in Bubbles Utonium, which in my opinion gives them an edge over a very good Houston squad. At the end of the day, how these teams develop and grow will determine who is the bigger threat at the end of the season, but at the moment I would give the edge to the defensive powerhouse that is the San Diego Marlins squad.

Maxx and Johnson: Two Defenders Entwined in Fate If you haven't heard of the dynamic duo of Marshall Maxx and Connor Johnson, it's time to learn their names. Maxx, known as the "Destroyer of Men", and Johnson, a stellar two-way defenseman, were both late season additions for the Halifax 21st last season. Both dominated in their professional hockey debuts, leading to them both being drafted by the Riga Reign in the second round of the recent VHL draft. The two couldn't be more different as players, with Maxx being a hard hitting pure defenseman and Johnson being a two-way offensive threat, but on the ice it is very possible that they will be a duo at a level the VHL has never seen before. In season 80, an unexpected story broke out late as the two Halifax 21st defensemen made a huge rise in the draft rankings. Both Maxx and Johnson were highly touted prospects coming out of high school into the VHLM, Maxx from Toronto and Connor from Detroit, but nobody expected both to grow like they did. Late in the season, both players made the decision to join a playoff bound Halifax team that had famed star Bryn Yrwy at the helm and made some impact plays as the team beat Houston in round one of the playoffs. Unfortunately, the team lost in round two to a stacked Yukon team that went on to win the championship. However, both players showed immense growth throughout their games, going from raw players to highly touted VHL prospects in a shockingly short amount of time. Many have heard of the two and the impact they made last season, but what is relatively unknown is the rivalry that drives the two to be the best. Johnson and Maxx both are determined to be the best defender in the VHL, and I wouldn't count either of them out. It is this drive and rivalry that has caused both to explode onto the scene at the rate that both have. Both Maxx and Johnson know how good the other one is and how good that they have the potential to be, and that drives both to strive to be better than the other. This coming year, the duo will be headed to separate teams, with Johnson playing in Saskatoon, taken with the number eight pick, and Maxx playing in San Diego, picked right after at number nine. Don't be surprised if both players are dueling against each other in the championship, and don't be surprised if we get a bit of friendly banter between the two. At the end of the day, the two will always drive each other to be the best player out there, and this is just step one along the way. Both players are driven to be the best defender in the VHL, and both were brought together by fate to support each other in accomplishing this goal. Only one will be able to stand on top at the end, but for now they are both helping each other rise to the top through a great rivalry that may at one point go down in history as the greatest duo in hockey history. 533 Words, Using for week of 11/28/21

Review: I really like the choice of background and picture that you used in this graphic, and I can tell you worked really hard on it! There are a couple things that I feel could have been better implemented though, and the front of that list is the photoshopped jersey that just looks plastered on. Additionally, the font choice was a big negative for me that took away from how great the piece could have been. Overall, I can tell that there is a lot of potential and hard work, but I feel that it could have been better executed. 6/10

Review: I love the overall look of this graphic. Everything together works so well and looks so smooth and slick. Additionally, I thought all of the font choices as well as the font color choices, which I am usually pretty harsh about, were absolutely perfect in this piece. I found it really hard to find a flaw in the graphic, but if I had to say something it would be how the fading worked together with everything when I looked very closely. Overall, amazing! 9/10!

Marshall Maxx: Destroyer of Men I'll begin this article with a bold statement: Marshall Maxx is the best pure defenseman in the VHLM. Background: Born in the big hockey city of Toronto, many would be shocked to hear today that 17 year old Marshall Maxx did not start playing hockey until he was 16. At age 13, he was involved in a plane crash that left the young man in the wilds of Nunavut, and came back at age 15 a massive 6'4" and 200 pounds. Since his debut in high school, Maxx's development under personal trainer Brian Wist has been unprecedented. After a stellar high school career in which he was known for knocking the opposing players out of the rink, he joined the Halifax 21st at an early age of 17 and began his professional career with a bang, quickly becoming well known in the VHL for his quick growth and big hits alongside teammate and fellow defenseman Connor Johnson. Nowadays, you can find the almost 18 year old Maxx practicing his checking and defensive skills on the San Diego Marlins practice rinks after being drafted with the 9th pick in the latest VHLM draft and the Riga Reign, alongside friend and rival Connor Johnson, in the recent VHL draft. Pros: Maxx is the human embodiment of a bear. In fact, there are stories of Maxx defeating polar bears in one-on-one combat in the Nunavut wilds. In short, Maxx is quick, athletic, and most importantly, giant. At his size, it is nothing short of a miracle of how gracefully and swiftly he can maneuver around the ice. Additionally, his passes are almost always right on the mark, which will often lead to assists on the offensive end. However, the clear and best trait of Maxx is his pure instinct. He is known for being an absolute menace on the defensive end, blocking an impressive 30 shots in only 21 games for Halifax last season. Maxx's trademark is his massive hits, which often lead opposing players to fly across the rink and in some cases, straight out of the rink. As his career progresses, I hear that Maxx plans to become the hardest hitter in all of hockey, and I definitely wouldn't count him out. Cons: While looking at Marshall, there is one clear trait that will most likely define him for the rest of his career: He can't shoot to save his life. Anyone that has seen him with a stick can tell you this, and this showed up often in his time in Halifax. Teammates recall multiple times when he tried taking a shot from right in front of the net and had it sail right over the glass, missing by a mile. Simply, giving him a shot from any further than five feet from the net is a liability, so his only real scoring opportunities will be from driving into the net, where he can often be effective. Conclusion: Maxx aims to be the best hitter, and secondarily the best defender, in the VHL, and I believe that he can be right up there at the top with his skills and clear potential. His athleticism is top notch compared to many other players at his size, and was one of the prime reasons he was drafted as high as he was. His checking and defensive skills are nothing less than devastating to opposing players and continue to grow, while his passing and puck handling are nothing to scoff at either. Marshall will never be an offensive player, but he admittedly doesn't want to be. He doesn't want the attention, he doesn't want to be the hero, he just wants to be the most impactful player on the rink... and maybe destroy some opposing players along the way. VHL teams should already be afraid of the player San Diego and Riga fans are calling the "Destroyer of Men", and with his skills and quick growth he will undoubtedly be a core of the Riga Reign team in the future.

1. This season is looking bright. I believe that with the new talent on this team, we can win it all this year. Of course, no championship run will be a walk in the park and there are a lot of other good teams out there. 2. The goal for Marshall Maxx is always the same. Hit opposing players and win games. My role is to hit opposing players as hard as possible and set up my teammates for success, and that's what I plan to do. 3. It's always the same goal: to win the championship. Being the best team in the regular season is a nice thing to do, but nothing stacks up to the big stage. 4. I have a competitive rivalry with another former Halifax 21st player and current Saskatoon player Connor Johnson, and I'd love to see Saskatoon in the playoffs and of course, win. They have a good team and should be a big threat this upcoming season. 5. I love the look of the locker room. I already see a group of players that is looking to compete on the big stage, and that's all I can ask for. 6. No, look it up.

Review: I love the smoke coming out of the back of the player and the dark background. I also really like the chosen pictures, but I feel the graphic could have been integrated a bit better. Everything looks a little bit too crisp compared to the actual player picture. The other thing I would have changed is the font, as it just seems a little out of place in the graphic. 6/10

Review: I love how this tree was set up and designed. It was all done very well, including the coloring and the spacing. I love the choice of font and line depth, but everything does get a little bit too close together, especially in the middle. One of my favorite looking graphics that I have seen. 9/10

1. It has been good. I was sick last week so not being sick has been far better! 2. My favorite color is blue and always has been. 3. My favorite fish is the whale shark. I honestly don't know a lot of fish, but that one looks cool. 4. I really liked Moscow this year, and although they didn't take it all, I would bet on them to win it for good this next year. 5. I'm not a superhero kind of guy, but out of the two I like Spiderman so probably Marvel. 6. Maybe like: How hard would you like your player to hit other players? My answer would be very hard.

Review: I really love the painting in the background and how that and the colors in the jersey work together to create a great color pastel feeling. The piece does a really good job emphasizing the player and looks very cool as a whole. A couple things that I think could have been done better is the players face (It might be a bit too uncanny), and the text at the bottom left. The text is just a bit dark to read, and I feel like it could have been better if you used some brightness to emphasize his name. 7/10

Review: I really like the gradient effect that you put over the picture, and the picture in general is very well established in the graphic. However, I feel that both the font and the font color were a bit of an odd choice, leaving the graphic with an incomplete feel. Aside from that though, the piece is really great! I love the ice chips that are coming up from the rink and the lights surrounded by complete darkness up at the top, it's a solid graphic! 7/10

Why the Moscow Menace are the team to beat: A guide to what team should be considered the favorites in the VHL Playoffs. So far in the playoffs, three teams have dominated the rest of the competition: the Moscow Menace, the Vancouver Wolves, and the Malmo Nighthawks. This is not surprising at all, as these three teams came into the postseason, in addition to Chicago, with the highest odds of winning the title. But with these teams either facing each other or coming within one playoff round of facing each other, we have to ask, is there a clear victor here? Is it the Wolves, who dominated in the regular season and were the favorites coming into the postseason? They only lost one game in round two of the playoffs, and their explosive offense was nothing less than a force to be reckoned with. But in truth, that 4-1 playoff record is not as convincing as it looks on paper. The Wolves barely edged out their opponent in round one, putting up only a 4 goal differential compared to 12 and 9 from the Menace and Nighthawks. I have concerns about the sustainability of their defense in the long term, which was questionable at best during round two. After watching their series, I have decided that the Wolves have just not looked good enough to be the championship team thus far in the postseason, so until they really put things together, I will be hesitant in picking them in any series in the rest of the S80 playoffs. In my opinion, the playoffs are decided right here in round three, with Malmo and Moscow taking each other on in a battle that may not even be rivaled in the finals with all the marbles on the line. These two teams are playing like the best teams in the VHL, but the real question is: which one is better? Both teams have swept through the postseason, going 4-0 against clearly weaker opponents, and at first glance there appears to be little distinction between the two teams, but when we take a deep dive into the core of both and the statistics they put up during the regular season and postseason, a favorite becomes clear. In the regular season, Moscow's scoring force put up more than twenty more points than Malmo, which may not seem like a lot, but is a clear indication of which offense is superior. The deadly duo of Duncan Idaho and Paul Atreides has proved far too much for opposing defenses as they put up the most points in the European conference in the regular season. Defense is no concern either, as they put up one of the most fearsome fronts in the VHL as a whole and gave up only 219 points in the regular season. However, the team that they are up against this round is no slouch either. While Malmo did score about thirty less points than the Menace during the season, their defense was even more stout, giving up the second least points in the entire league, only behind Chicago. No matter how you cut it, this matchup will be a close one and a deadly one, but comparing these teams I found a glaring weakness in one that was not present in the other. In the end, Moscow has the better defensive core in place, with a great trifecta of Aurelien Moreau, Tyler Walker, and Hard Markinson that I believe will carry them to the trophy. While Malmo is definitely good, and dare I say it great, I just don't think they can pull off the upset against a team that is as well rounded as Moscow is, and for that reason, I believe that the Moscow Menace will win the S80 playoffs. Words: 607, Claim Week: 11/7/21

Review: I love the colors that swirl around in front of the player. They really bring together the flow of the piece and I personally think it looks both sweet and clean. At the same time, there is clearly a bit of a rushed job when integrating the colors, as everything just looks a little to bright especially when compared to the black background. Overall, a good graphic and very cool, but could use some touch ups. 6/10

Review: I really like the slight grading of the player and background, it gives the whole piece a gritty feel and a strong edge. In addition, the player photos you used were just perfect, and really conveyed the scene you were trying to create. I also really like the font choice given the rest of the graphic, but personally I think it would have been better if you also added similar grading over the letters. Nevertheless, very good! 8/10

1. As round 2 has now finished, I can say that I was both proud of the teams effort and met my goals in the playoffs. It is always good and fun to go all the way, but just being able to compete is all I can ask for. 2. I obviously was hoping for the win, but Yukon was the better team and we just couldn't pull off enough to beat them. Hopefully I can beat that great team next year, but this just wasn't the year. 3. I am very excited for the upcoming offseason, as it comes with the draft and all these cool new things to experience, but nothing can match up to the hockey season. 5. I am a hitter. I hit people, and I'll pass the puck after I hit people. That's my role on the team, and I will accept it and create opportunities for my team to win games. 6. I don't usually shop, because I hate spending money. If I do decide to spend money, it will probably be games on steam or something like that, but severe buyers remorse hampers that. 7. I have not seen the newest one, but I am a big fan of the Bond movies. Out of all of them I have seen, I'd have to say my favorite is definitely Goldeneye. You just can't beat the classics.