Rōnin

They’ll probably reveal some of it, but listen, I spent more time on my scouting report than I did my bio because I had a vision for it. I spent probably two hours going over it and I was still editing it after I posted it. I was excited to be back. I want to believe the updaters are sincere because I like a lot of them, and I do trust their integrity. However, what can I do with 97%? I would have to galaxy brain my PTs to make sure I don’t do a good job. No thank you. Also, Fong is straight up lying and is taking an opportunity to take a shot at me. First chance he had, he took it. That’s an angry person at their core. No ifs ands or buts about it. He can say what he wants to say, but I see who he is, and so have many who have left this league. Maybe one day the people upstairs will finally do something about it.

For those who believe he is being sincere, he wrote his comment before I finished mine. That means that word of what happened with me traveled behind the scenes (likely on discord) and he found out that I had been denied. So, the first thing he did was come and leave a sarcastic remark above (which is exactly what that was) knowing full well what had already happened behind the scenes with me. This test I have just completed now determines that Fong is an asshole, a bully, and just about the worst person to have ever been appointed moderator of this site. You can kindly go fuck yourself, friend.

Bullying is a great look for you and your role.

For those who will wonder, the updaters say that the above is written 97% by AI. Now, they might respond to this and show you that they ran a test to determine that the 97% was true. I’ve been told that my test was the highest score they’ve ever encountered when running their test to track AI. I find that to be an incredible discovery. I know a few of the updaters, especially some who I suspect reviewed my post. But 97% is a slap in the face, and your test is broken. If they had told me that mine was flagged and showed a reasonable percentage, then I might have bothered arguing with them. But 97%? I don’t care what you post below - I wrote the above, and I was really proud of it. I take pride in what I do, and I’m going to leave my glorious 97% here for all to see what I did. Take care, and thank you for calling me a robot. Adieu

Disregard the above, but you could have imagine what could have been? Take care Phil!

And so here we are, my second week back, and things seem to be going quite well. I’m on Halifax because they had no defensemen when I recreated and so I thought, “Why the hell not?” I am pleased with how my player has been playing in that I seem to be racking up the assists, and I’d love to see that trend continue. I do want Milo to be an offensive contributor and I’m hoping I can achieve that consistently throughout his career. I’ve been getting more into graphics lately and I have a debate in my mind on whether I should put work into another player card today. The reality is that I can spend about an hour trying to make a card for 6 TPE or just hit that welfare button and claim 5 TPE. Good lord, what shall I do? I’ve always been a TPE hungry player, but it is tempting to take the easy way out this week. 163 words

1. Did you know I recreated? 2. What VHL team should draft my player? 3. Should I record a Beketov diss track? 4. What sort of backing beat would you place on such diss track? 5. How can you tell the difference between a good and bad watermelon? 6. Who would your VHL valentine be this year?

I’ve just started to dabble and I’m desperate to learn more. I’m very interested in figuring out how some of you incredible artists do what you do! Way too kind! lol but thank you and I look forward to more attempts. I like the idea of hockey cards for the site so I’m going to try and make them as often as I can.

In a darkened pub in rural Iceland, an old and haggard man sits down alone. The bartender approaches him and as they make eye contact they exchange a head nod between them. (All spoken words in Icelandic) "What'll it be?" The bartender asks him. "Anything heavy," the old man says, "I don't plan on eating today." The bartender gives him an understanding nod before he turns and pours what appears to be black sludge like beer into a tall glass, "This will fill you up," the bartender tells him as he places the glass in front of the old man. "Thank you," the old man says as he drinks long from the glass before he places it down and belches a deep and obnoxious burp. "Everything all right these days?" The bartender asks, doing his duty as the server and spending time with the only patron here. "All right?" The old man asks with a sarcastic tone, "Is life ever all right?" "Sure it is," the bartender begins to say. "Don't be so quick to say what is and what isn't, boy," the old man is not so much rude in his tone as he is cautionary, "Every confident man holds a foolish boy inside. This life is not meant for confidence, it's a sin you know?" The bartender remains silent as he listens to the man, and the old man takes it as a cue for him to continue, "I can tell you a story, one that will make your confidence disappear. It will take away and never give it back, but you wouldn't want that, would you?" The bartender shakes his head, "No," and then smiles, "But I'm not sure such a story exists." A slow smile creeps along the sides of the old man's face, "Well," he looks the bartender dead in the eye, "Let me oblige you if you are so sure." "My story is of another confident and foolish boy, Milo Fox, a young lad from Iceland, who at just 21 years old left his homeland to travel south. People 'round here call him a prodigy, and no doubt, he had natural talent for the game, you know? He played with offensive instincts that'll leave you breathless, and that was for a defenseman. But, he had his flaws too. Wasn't much of a leader, and he was as skinny as a twig. Could've use some beefing up, if you ask me, especially before he took on the great unknown. But Milo, he was always been fascinated by the lore of our land. You should know it, Iceland's got tales as old as time, stories of gods and monsters, all wrapped up in the icy winds that blow across our home. Milo, he ate that stuff up like candy. Spent all of his free time outside of hockey reading about old sagas and listening to the whispers of the northern lights. And that - that's where there's a darker side to Milo's story. When he was just a wee boy, barely old enough to lace up his skates, he had a close call. Nearly died, he did. Something to do with the ice, they say. No one knows the full story, but it left its mark on him, that's for sure. Ever since then, he's had this... connection to the cold, like it's a part of him. But despite his near death experience, Milo never lost his love for the game. He spent hours out on the frozen ponds, practicing his shots until his fingers were numb. And let me tell you, it paid off for him as the kid had a shot like a cannon, and he wasn't afraid to use it. But, like I said, Milo's had his weaknesses too. He was too much of a loner, always kept to himself. Didn't have much to say, unless you got him talking about hockey or the old tales of Iceland. Despite his flaws, though, Milo had potential. With a bit of guidance and some time in the weight room, he could've been a force to reckon with. And who knows, maybe one day he could have fulfilled his dream of playing in the VHL. But that never happened, he let his ego get the best of him - he thought he knew what was right, and he didn't want to listen, and look where it got him." The bartender replaces the old man's now empty glass with a freshly poured black brew, "So, where did it get him?" "What?" the old man asks as his glass eyes look back toward the bartender, "Where did it get who?" "The kid from your story," the bartender says, "Milo." "Oh," the old man looks down and away, "Here," he tells the bartender mildly, "Right here." "What do you mean?" the bartender asks him. The old man looks up at him again, and somberly tells him, "Because I'm Milo," the old man looks away again, "I'm Milo Fox." The bartender replaces the old and frail Milo Fox's drink for a third time, and it is with this drink that Milo has begun to sway - but he finds the glass and he touches it once again to his cracked and course lips. "What if you could change the past?" the bartender suddenly asks him. "You can't," Milo practically spits out the words, "You can't change the past, that's why they call it the past," Milo is drunk, "It's gone, boy." "I am as much of a boy as you are," the bartender says as he leans into toward Milo, "Now answer my question, what would you change?" Milo turns his head abruptly to face the bartender, "Everything," he says with honesty, "I'd change everything." "How could you be sure?" the bartender smiles, "I thought confidence was a sin." Milo smiles before he finishes his third glass, "Good point." "What if I told you that you could have a second chance?" the bartender places a fourth glass down. "What's the catch," Milo goes to reach for the glass and as he does the bartender places his hand on Milo's forearm, stopping him. "No catch, so long as you're sure you'd change everything." They held eye contact for what felt like a minute before Milo finally says, "I'm sure." "Finish that glass, and when you wake up tomorrow, you'll be twenty one years old again," the bartender tells him with such confidence that at first Milo believes him. Milo laughs out loud before he grabs the glass and downs in one long gulp. He smacks the glass down on the bar before he stands up from his seat, "Well my boy, this was a good chat," Milo is dizzy and nearly falls over. "I told you already," the bartender begins to say, and as Milo starts to drift into sleep he can hear the bartender tell him, "I'm about as old as you." (1152 words)

Name: Milo Fox Age: 21 Nationality: Iceland Position: D The 21 year old prodigy hailing from Iceland, has swiftly emerged as a rising star in the world of professional hockey. Born amidst the frosty fjords, Milo's passion for hockey ignited at a young age when his natural talent and determination emerged the moment he stepped onto the ice. Since then, Milo's journey to and from the rink has been nothing short of remarkable, and his rise to extreme heights has been a pleasure to watch. Now that Milo has made the move to North America, it remains to be seen where he will land when it comes to both the VHLM and VHL draft. For now, his destination resides on the coast of Eastern Canada, Halifax. But Milo does not worry about the transition, he's used to the cold. Pros Slapshot – Fox possesses a slapshot that strikes fear into opposing goalies. With explosive power, his shot blazes toward the net and can be both precise and unstoppable. Milo's slapshot is a weapon on the ice that leaves defenders trembling in their skates. Decision Making – Fox's decision-making prowess on the ice is high, as he regularly displays a high IQ for the game. With the keen instincts of a seasoned veteran, he anticipates plays before they unfold, orchestrating plays with finesse. Whether it's choosing the perfect pass or seizing scoring opportunities, Milo's mind is consistently leading his team to victory. Speed– Fox's powerful strides propel him effortlessly past skaters, leaving opponents in his wake. With his agility and explosive acceleration, Milo's speed makes him a force to be reckoned with. Cons Leadership – Fox's leadership skills are a work in progress. As he matures, fostering better communication and leading by example will enhance his effectiveness. By inspiring teammates and making decisive decisions under pressure, Milo can evolve into a formidable leader both on and off the ice. Checking – Fox shows promise, yet refinement is needed. By mastering timing and positioning, he can deliver checks with a greater effect while minimizing any penalties he might take. Developing physical strength and honing his awareness will elevate his checking game, transforming him into a force on the ice. Strength – Fox's journey to the highest level of competition faces a hurdle if his current lack of physical strength remains the same. Milo will need to dedicate himself to rigorous strength training and conditioning programs, so he can bridge the gap, and compete against the strongest opponents the VHL will have to offer. (414 words)

So, I decided to come back and recreate for a number of reasons. I’ve debated whether or not to cover my thoughts on a podcast, but I am not sure yet when/if I’ll do one. I’m sure at some point it will happen, but I’ve gotten into trying to work on graphics, so this is a good way for me to practice and get better at it. I saw the recent article Gustav wrote about how defense is not a high need and we’ve got a chance to fall in the draft. That is something I don’t mind as it’s always better to have intrigue heading into the draft rather than knowing already where everyone is going to land. I decided to go with defense on a whim and didn’t bother to scout the league on what position(s) were needed. I prefer the position overall and feel as though it will be a good fit for me, so time will tell if the league feels the same way.

1. How big of an immediate impact adding more defender would have on this team? Huge, especially when his name is Milo Fox 2. What team do you feel is the best match up for Halifax in the playoffs? I would like to see us take on the most dominant team so we can prove all the doubters wrong. 3. What has been your favorite moment of the season so far? I just got here, so that part. 4. What is your ideal team bonding activity? Icecream and romcoms, anyone else in? 5. What would you change about the league aside from deleting the VHLE? Making the VHLE somewhere you can play for your 9th season 6. Will Salt Lake City get their NHL franchise? I hope so, just so I can see a new brand and jersey design

Player Information Username: Tate Player Name: Milo Fox Recruited From: Returning Age: 21 Position: D Height: 75 in. Weight: 212 lbs. Birthplace: Iceland Player Page @VHLM GM

My final press conference for 1 TPE. 1. Do you like pumpkin spice lattes? 2. How do you feel about pumpkin pie? 3. If you were going to carve a pumpkin, what expression would you give it?

It's mostly music, but somewhere in the middle is me.

Brandt Fuhr - AG

Brandt Fuhr - RT

Assistant to the assistant director.

Thank you to those who voted, and congrats to all winners and nominees.

I could not have said it better, and I do hope that the staff reads your response because it is spot on. Thank you again for being such a great teammate and friend, take care!

I appreciate all that you said above, and also agree with what you’ve said, your civilized and thorough approach in acquiring feedback was well done and effective. We all bring unique skills to the table and I would say the impact you’ve had since coming here is immeasurable. You rock, Gustav. I’ll elaborate more on this below but my focus on retention isn’t as much to do with the VHLM. I have always found my experience in the M to be positive, even as a veteran player. My first time around in the M was extremely positive, and this is where I disagree with the common belief that retention lives and dies in the M. I just want to give one last shout out to the GM’s of the M for what they do. I see two significant benefits to your first run in the M, and that is: 1. Understanding how to build a player and earn 2. Fun environment built on a draft year and usually an opportunity to meet some vets. Beyond that my retention focus is on what happens next. One of the best ways to maintain retention is to place attention and praise on your active members. Some ideas on that would be to: 1. Reward content creators with capped TPE boosts. For example an awesome PT could be featured on the portal and the member rewarded with 8 TPE instead of 6. It’s the little things and acknowledgements that give people a boost, and you’re not giving them extra TPE but you’re making their workload smaller while also praising them. 2. Look for opportunities to grow non content creators (and content creators). But maybe you have some quiet people and who don’t like to do media but do like to hang out in Discord. They can help Moderate or act as mentors to help aid new people as well. Acknowledge their work and literally feature them on the site/portal. I know Builders are a part of the HOF, but we’ve got Builders here like @a_Ferk @Garsh who may not create as much media but do so much to benefit the league. That is in no way to suggest that Ferk or Garsh are in any risk of leaving or in need of retention, but imo you need to keep giving love to those who stay and help. This is where I don’t fault Bek for having trouble in doing this, because he is but one man. Retention continues all the way through your tenure here, and there are steps along the way that if people just got a little more encouragement or respect then the end result might be different. I have more ideas of course, it’s just about creating a more open, positive environment. No lines drawn in the sand. By no means should people be forced to participate in anything they don’t want to. It’s more of opening up a conversation and making sure we’re on the same page if someone crosses a line. There should always be a bridge back. One that people can see. I agree with you that there are those who listen, and such is why I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. Take care, good sir

For my final VHL podcast, I'm going to do what I never do, and add timelines below: 0:00 - 3:52 : Purposely long and self-indulgent opening 3:53 - 5:16 : My typical intro involving a rambling conversation about something happening in my personal life 5:17 - 14:35 : @jRuutu's questions 7:37 - 9:37 : Challenge to @Beketov 14:36 - 37:18 : @Gustav 's questions 37:24 - 40:47 : @Thunder's questions 40:48 - 41:42 : Shoutout to @OrbitingDeath 41:43 - 48:47 : @Phil's questions 48:48 - 54:30 : @JardyB10's question 54:31 - 54:55 : Special Guest's closing comments Thank you to all that listen, much love to you.