Kairi

1: With the season starting this week, how do you see the Reapers shaping up against the rest of the league? I think we're looking pretty solid. Of course there are some holes like an open slot for another defenseman and goalie, giving us a little disadvantage in terms of depth, but it looks like the team's going to perform well. Only time will tell though. 2: Do you have a team you wish to play for in the VHLE/VHL in the future? If so what team and why? A little biased, but I'd like to play for Geneva and Prague in the VHLE and VHL respectively since they drafted me. 3: Which team has the best logo in the VHLM and why is it the Reapers? It's a tie between the Reapers and Marauders. The way they get their point across through being rather simple but having enough intricacies to make them intriguing is what makes them the best. 5: Do you like the new addition of being able to review games as a supplemental point task? Yes or No? I think it's pretty cool. Especially since it gives more opportunity to make narratives between players and teams. 6: How do you think your player will do in the first couple of games for the Reapers? Do you have any goals you wish to reach in the first few games? I'd like to hit the floor running. Some points and a good showing on the defensive end is what I'm hopeful for. 7: What is your favorite NHL team and how did they come to be your favorite? The Ducks. I grew up in Japan so I didn't really have a way of watching hockey often, but my dad lived in the States and had a gorgeous Paul Kariya jersey he'd bring out from time to time.

With the VHL drafts for S82 finished, Bobby Rockwell finds himself in new territory as he gets drafted in all three leagues. While he most likely won’t be playing for the Prague Phantoms in the VHL just yet, there are rumours around his potential home in either the VHLE or VHLM. In the VHLE draft, Rockwell was selected 39th overall by the Geneva Rush, being reunited with former teammates defenseman Nagy AL from his time in Halifax and ex-Las Vegas Aces goaltender Thomas Price. Seeing as the Rush only have five defensemen on their roster currently, there is a chance Bobby Rockwell could sneak into that final spot. It’ll be a new level of competition for him, but he’s shown he can play in new environments with last season’s rookie campaign in the VHLM going well with Halifax and Vegas. On the other hand, Rockwell was also drafted by the Philadelphia Reapers 9th overall. This was a team he faced off against regularly last season and did push him and the Las Vegas Aces to a six-game series in the Founder’s Cup semi-finals where the Aces eventually came out on top. In Philadelphia, there are plenty of familiar faces. Curtis Crumb was a member of the Halifax 21st last season when Rockwell was on the team, both Budnik McDangle and Orr were teammates with Rockwell in Vegas, and Siyan Yasilievich played on the Yukon Steel with him during the Junior Showcase Tournament. His performance last season in the VHLM was solid and if he were to remain in the league for another season, there is no doubt he will have an exceptional season ahead. Only time will tell where Bobby Rockwell will end up, but wherever he goes, it’ll be an exciting season. 293 words

1. From 1 to 10! How did you find this year's draft? Well, I was drafted so I'd give it a 10! Of course, having the first overall pick helps a lot too! 2. Do you agree with the position you were drafted to? If so, why? I'd say being drafted in the fifth round is right around where I was expecting. Everyone in the round was in the same ballpark in terms of TPE and I didn't have the greatest season in the VHLM so it makes a lot of sense. 3. Are you happy that you were selected by our team? Feels fantastic! There are a few familiar faces on the team and a lot of potential in each player! 4. If you had an improvement to make in relation to the VHLE draft! What would you do? I haven't been around long enough to have changes in mind. 5. What is your goal as a player for Geneva Rush? The goal is to grow into a dependable defenseman teams can rely on. It might take a season or two, but I'll get there! 6. Following the official retirement of Willie O'Ree! Who is your favorite NHL player? In terms of past players, it's Paul Kariya. Among active players, I'm a fan of Kris Letang, though Makar and McDavid are probably two of the most entertaining players to watch.

It was an honor to be a part of such a great team! Everyone performed amazingly and I couldn't have asked for a better place to call home!

Claiming for Jan 30th

With the VHL and its affiliated leagues have concluded for this season, we got to watch teams and players grow. While some grew to unexpected highs, others faltered and got left behind. One of those players that rose to the top was a fresh face in the VHLM not too long ago. We got to speak with Irish defenseman Bobby Rockwell at the beginning of the season and after a taxing 72 games, he’s shown he has what it takes to play. There were a few offers for him when he stepped onto North American soil for the first time. San Diego, Houston, Saskatoon, and the team he ended up going to, the Halifax 21st, were interested in his services. He took some time to make his decision, but before long, he was dressed in the blue and white. Hailing from across the pond, Rockwell took some time to get accustomed to the league and get his feet under him. The play was faster than he was used to and while he claimed he wasn’t too nervous back then, he admitted that it was mainly a façade. “Yeah. To be completely honest, I was terrified. I was sweating buckets and my stomach was in knots. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and while I knew my play on the ice would be the main thing keeping me here, I was horrified by the idea of falling to the wayside. I just wanted to play hockey, but my mind was fighting me.” Eventually though, it was clear that there were no worries whenever he stepped onto the ice. While the team did have its struggles, Bobby Rockwell kept pushing himself. He improved massively and it looked like he was getting more and more comfortable as the days went by. He started becoming a lot more productive on the defensive end and while his main focus wasn’t on the offensive side, he still put up a goal and two assists in 24 games. His position as the third line defenseman seemed to be secure and it was only a matter of time before he would be a certified marquee player in the VHLM. Though he wouldn’t be the star player of the team he had signed with at the beginning of the season. On December 6th 2021, Bobby Rockwell would be dished out to the Las Vegas Aces in a one for one trade and it would be another city he would have to get climatized to quickly. Luckly for him, he’s done this before and before long, he was out on the ice and comfortable in the black and green jerseys. While his defensive play was still strong, it was his ability to aid his teammates on the offensive end that seemed to improve when he arrived on the west coast. His eye for finding the open mark on the ice was crucial to his success on his new team since the Aces were already boasting a formidable defensive core. “Joining a new team was a little daunting at first, but we meshed well pretty quickly. The people in this organization are fantastic and opened up new doors for me as a player. I’ve never been much of a shooter, but being able to play quarterback on the opposing end of the ice wasn’t something I felt comfortable with until I swapped teams. In Halifax, it was all about getting my fundamentals down and becoming a defensive rock but here, I’m starting to branch out a little more. It’s been a really helpful experience.” Putting up six assists in 48 games doesn’t jump off the score sheets, but it was clear Bobby Rockwell was starting to find other ways to help the team out. The metamorphosis he was undergoing on his new team was a welcomed one and building on his play in Halifax with his 46 blocked shots and 92 hits, the Irishman joined his teammates to a ride into the post-season. The playoffs were something Rockwell was accustomed to, but it was an environment he was about to enter. Many players say the post-season is a whole different beast and for Rockwell, it was one he was ready to face. “Of course there’s pressure to perform at the top of your game once the playoffs start, but that’s the kind of environment I thrive in. It’s the perfect mix of fear and excitement.” Las Vegas dispatched their first series with a clean sweep against the Saskatoon Wild and snuck past the Philadelphia Reapers in a 4-2 series win but failed to beat the dominant Ottawa Lynx in a series that went six games. Through all of this, Bobby Rockwell found himself near the top of the statistic leaders among rookies in the playoffs, ranking first in plus-minus with a +21, second in hits averaging three hits a game, and fifth in shots blocked with 15 in 16 games. A lot of this had to do with the fact that the management in Las Vegas put faith in the Irishman and he was ultimately promoted to playing on the top paring as well as the penalty kill, boosting his ice time significantly. The production he had shown in the playoffs were head and shoulders above what he had done in the regular season, boasting eight assists in the 16 post-season games. The biggest downside of his game so far are the penalty minutes, which he averaged just over a penalty a game in the playoffs and 64 minutes in 48 games with Las Vegas during the regular season. Especially when he’s a member of the top group for penalty kills, the Aces had to find other pieces to put in for shorthanded situations and sometimes put them on the back foot. If he were to cut down on the time spent in the box and become more disciplined, his statistics will most certainly grow and future teams in the higher levels of the VHL would take interest. Overall though, Bobby Rockwell’s rookie season in the VHLM was a bright spot in the league and shows good potential going forward. His play on the defensive end is rather solid and his ability to aid teammates on the offensive end is starting to improve. Before long, the Irishman may become a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. With the upcoming drafts, we will be interested to see where he lands and where he will be spending next season. “There are a few teams I already have an eye out for and a handful who I’ve already spoken to before the draft. Everyone seems like a fantastic choice and I don’t think there’s a place I don’t mind going to. Of course, it would be nice to play in the VHLE next season, but I think that’s a decision teams will have to make, not me. No matter if I play for a team in the E or remain in the M, I know my play won’t change and I’ll continue to improve.” 1177 words (Claiming for Jan 23rd and 30th)

1. Las Vegas lost in the Founder's Cup Finals in a 4-2 series. What is your review on this playoff run? No matter how we did, I'm still proud that we made it to the finals and almost pushed Ottawa to a 7 game series! They've been the team to beat so pushing them as far as we did deserves a job well done. 2. How did your player perform during these playoffs? I'm surprised with the point production with 8 assists in 16 games, but I think he could have played a little better on the defensive end and helped squeak out an extra win somewhere along the line. 3. What are the next steps of your player's career? Moving up to VHLE? Returning to the VHLM? It would be nice to get a shot in the VHLE, but staying in the VHLM wouldn't be bad either. Watching this team grow would be an enjoyable experience! 4. How was your time in Vegas this season? I personally had a blast with y'all. I only came in halfway through the season, but it was a great run! Happy to have met everyone on this team! 5. Are you watching the NFL wildcard series? Do you have a team you're routing for? I'm just glad my Eagles made it to the playoffs after struggling last season! 6. Tell me something that's on your bucket list. Norway is a place I'd love to travel to one day.

1. BIG SWEEP! First round resulted in a sweep against Saskatoon. What has been our success so far through these playoffs? The biggest factor is probably scoring. Our forward lines have turned it up to 11 this post season. 2. How has your player been performing? There are some good aspects and some bad. He's made a few too many visits to the box, but I'm liking the defensive stats and the 4 assists are nice to see as well. 3. We're 2-2 against Philadelphia this series, what can we do to win and move onto the finals? Just gotta step up on the defensive end. We haven't been able to support our goalies and the high scoring games are getting a little tight. 4. If you could, which NHL player would you choose to be your player in the VHL? I would choose Alex Ovechkin, 99 scoring attribute for sure. A guy I enjoyed watching in his prime was Letang, so I'd bring him into the VHL and make him a two way threat. And also bring that gorgeous flow with him. 5. What is your favourite sport besides hockey? I love football (American football). Also do love soccer. I played a lot of sports in high school, so I like everything. I played baseball my whole life so that's probably my favourite sport to play, not to watch though. For watching, I love volleyball since it's always fast and the athleticism the players show is fantastic. 6. Out of these three meats, you have to choose one to never eat again for the rest of your life: Chicken, Steak, Pork. I love all of them, but if I had to give one up, it'll probably end up being pork since it's the one I eat least out of the three.

1. Happy New Years Aces!! How was your New Years, what did you do? Ended up spending most of the night monitoring a concert so it was a little hectic but fun nonetheless. 2. With playoffs around the corner, how do you think the team will perform? With this team, we can definitely take it all the way to the top! 3. In our first series against the Saskatoon Wild, how will we do? Sweep? Get Swept? etc. At most, we might drop one game but there's a solid chance we're gonna sweep them! 4. Do you have any goals set for your player for playoffs? If I can keep the opposing teams under 2 goals per game, I'll be happy. 5. With Mubble taking over as GM, what is one piece of advice you could give him? You'll be fine! Just keep an eye out for any suspicious people lurking in the GM's office. They're friendly until you turn your back to them! 6. Tell me your favourite animal! Hamsters/guinea pigs don't count, they're gross. Red pandas. There is nothing else.

1. First and foremost, welcome back from the Christmas break! Did you have a good Christmas? Christmas was great! Got time to relax and spend time with family and friends! 2. Alex TheGreat has had a tremendous season for us thus far, with only two players in the VHLM being within 20 points of his 114 points scored to date. How do you rate his award chances heading into the final stretch of the season? Alex is a legend and has to be a front runner for many awards. No matter if they win or lose them, they'll be MVP in my heart! 3. Thomas Price has also been one of the best goalies in the league this season, sitting second in the league in save percentage and GAA. How much confidence does it give you heading into a game knowing that we have a goalie like Price between the sticks? It definitely makes my life a lot easier knowing Price is in the net. As someone who's looking to prevent as many goals as possible, I know he's got my back every game! 4. We've recently had to release a couple of players for reasons beyond our control, but if you could name one VHLM player you would have loved to replace them, which would it have been? Nagy AL's a teammate I had during my tenure in Halifax and is a fantastic guy and an even better player! He contributes in both ends and is a fun guy to have in the locker room! 5. What is your VHL New Years resolution? VHL New Years resolution will be to continue making media spots for that delicious weekly TPE! Gotta make Bobby Rockwell the greatest defenseman in the league! 6. What is your real New Years resolution? I haven't really thought of one, but the first thing that comes to mind is to rest a lot more. I've been getting next to no hours of sleep this whole year and it's an issue that's been plaguing me for quite some time due to the amount of work I put on myself on a weekly basis. I'd like to get more than five hours of sleep every week in 2022.

Claiming week of Dec 26th.

1. If you got a Christmas present of getting an automatic upgrade of one of your VHL attributes to 99, which one would you want and why? I'd upgrade defense to 99 immediately. Gotta be as solid as possible on the blue line to bring home the win! 2. We're almost in the final quarter of the regular season now, what are your thoughts on how the Aces have done as a whole this season? The team is looking mighty! We beat Mississauga twice in a row now and they've been a nagging pain in our sides so I feel like we aren't going to be losing to anyone now! 3. What are your thoughts on your players performance this season? It's the first season for Bobby Rockwell and I didn't get off to a great start, I'm happy to have put up a handful of points! It's only looking up from here! 4. Name a player on the Aces who maybe doesn't get much attention on the forums but who you think does a lot of good work for the team, either in TPE earning or performance in the sim. I'm pretty new to the forums so I'm not really sure how active they are, but Girts is up to 146 TPE and averaging 10.4 TPE per week so that's pretty mad. The nearly point per game is also amazing! 5. If you were to make a player in the VHL with a Christmas-themed name, what would you call them? 'Hole'y Night (in reference to Silent Night) and they'd be a goalie. An absolute sieve in the net and would be better if you put a pylon in net. Unless that pylon is Dion Phaneuf in which case they'd be equal. Maybe if you put in Double Dion the net might be a little safer. 6. Since this press conference is (depending on when you do it), either the last one before Christmas or the first one after it: i) (If you're answering these before Christmas) - What are you hoping to get for Christmas? There's nothing I'm really wanting for Christmas tbh. Though I have finished my Christmas shopping pretty early since I wanted to get it over with asap so I guess my wish for Christmas was to get the shopping done quick and it came true.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Claiming week of Dec 19th.

1. Theme Week is upon us this week, which allows you to double a Media/GFX/Podcast if it fits the theme selected by the league Since I have already written a media spot that I will be claiming from for the next two weeks, it would be nice to be able to use it for double TPE. If it doesn't it would be nice to make the theme around Christmas. 2. The Christmas Charity Auction Drive is live this week, which of these do you think is the most interesting items up for auction? I'm probably most interested in getting a graphic done for myself since I'm rather new to the forum and don't really have anything that differentiates myself from others. That and the fact that I don't have any skill with Photoshop and other programs like that. 3. As for Vegas, we're currently tied on points for first place in our conference, which player do you think has been the MVP for the Aces this season? It's a tight race between Alex and Twist, but it's Patric Twist in my books. Putting up the second most points on the team and being a solid defenseman is a big plus to me. 4. Who would you say your favourite member or player outside of the Aces is and why? The recently traded Nagy AL is just such a character and I got the chance to play with him in Halifax. He got moved to Philly and while they aren't a powerhouse or anything, seeing him on the top defensive paring is nice. 5. What would you say is the best thing about being a member of the Las Vegas Aces? It's gotta be the shenanigans that go on in the locker room. I don't speak much in there, but it's fun to see what goes on every minute of the day in there. 6. They aren't doing this, but if the league were to offer you one of the Player Store items for free this Christmas, which one would you want? I would like another First Gen Doubles since I've got two weeks worth of capped TPE sitting in the waiting and I could definitely use another Doubles so I can gain some more TPE faster.