Toast

STEEL REMAIN HOT AS CHURCH HEATS UP The Junior Showcase is wrapping up, and it seems like the Brigade are in for a challenge tonight against the Steel in elimination games SASKATOON, SK -- A story from the Junior Showcase this off-season has been the quick development of Center Wesley Church with the Brigade team, but that story may be coming to a close tonight with the Brigade facing elimination in the semi-final against the Steel. The playoff round has seen the VHLM prospect move up to the second line unit and has seen double the amount of time on the ice for the Brigade. This has been a welcome change after being at the bottom of the ice time for the team through the round robin. "I want to show that I have a lot to give out there," said Church after the team's morning practice. "I want to be someone that the guys can rely on and in these important games it's important to keep that mindset. I'm just going out there tonight with the idea that we're going to stay alive." Church's optimism is going to definitely be needed with the team currently being down 3-1 in the series. The Steel team has been phenomenal through the playoffs so far and with the momentum siding with them, it will certainly be a challenge for the Brigade. Church has added two important goals for the team through the four playoffs games so far but has yet to put up any assists. Regardless, the performance so far has been enough to rank him in the top few forwards for the team which is a nice change from the round robin where he was struggling to get minutes. With the VHL Entry Draft coming up in just over a day and the VHLM Dispersal Draft to come shortly after, Church knows this is the opportunity to show general managers that he is putting in the work and wants to be a successful pick for any team willing to let him pursue his career. There have been many VHLM scouts in attendance for the games looking to find their next star to build around. "My current focus is on this tournament and doing whatever I can for the Brigade," said Church. "I have had some discussions with teams during the off times but I'm going to handle those things only when the time comes. I know that I will have a strong chance of hearing my name called at the Dispersal Draft and I'm ready to give everything I've got to that franchise. For now though, I need to make sure we beat the Steel." There is a challenge ahead for the Brigade if they intend to win three in a row to advance in the tournament, but if the confidence of one of their stars in Church is enough to inspire the rest of the team then maybe a church declaring a new pope won't be the biggest thing a Church does today. Be sure to catch the remaining games as the Junior Showcase heads towards the final round tonight!

Classic week of other sim leagues not lining up perfectly means that I have to make my return to the .com articles! I'm sure I have a few dozen topics in here through the years but I can't tell you the last time I had to do one. For this one I thought I would highlight the forum. No matter how long I'm away from the league or bouncing around on other hobbies, I always remember how fantastic this forum is to bounce around on. Everything responds so quickly and the customisation to make it whatever colour I'm feeling is great. Other places have the limited skin options that sometimes make things not ideal for my sensitive vision so I really appreciate the simplicity for this one and letting the user decide whatever they want. I know this has been in place for years now and there may be some desire for change but I do love the current set up. Hunting for trivia answers is simple since everything is well organised on the forum. Digging through history isn't a wild goose chase of having no idea where to look and I really appreciate that since trying to get the 2TPE from questions every week can get stressful. Anyways, thanks to all who put in the work here to make this forum accessible!

1. Hockey is my favourite sport. Baseball has been climbing in my personal rankings over the years but nothing is like the first love! 2. I'm not really an avid reader or podcast listener. I enjoy following Kinda Funny for entertainment purposes. Haven't read a book in a bit now but have been meaning to get back into dedicating a set amount of time for a screen break. 3. I've left the league and have come back a few times now! All you can do is focus on the effort you're putting in for this player and show you're ready to give it your all. ~~~ 1. What is your favourite Entry Draft memory with the off-season upon us? 2. Which VHL team do you think is going to have the biggest change through off-season moves? 3. What's your go-to karaoke song?

CHURCH WANTS MORE As Junior Showcase Tournament approaches closing, Wesley Church hoping to make more of an impact for Brigade SASKATOON, SK -- While lots of eyes were on the VHL and VLHM Finals, the Junior Showcase Tournament has been well underway to give S100 prospects a chance to "showcase" their skills ahead of the VHLM Dispersal Draft. One of these players, Wesley Church, is hoping that making the most of limited time on ice is getting that attention he needs. Church was one of the last additions to the Brigade's tournament roster and because of that has only played an average of 12 minutes through the team's 26 games in the tournament so far. That doesn't seem to have limited the upstart's performance though as he has been all over the ice trying to make the most of every single shift. While his overall point production has kept him near the bottom of the scoring for the team, he has also shown signs of defensive play with several hits laid out on the other teams and even a couple fights. "I just want everyone to know that I'm taking this opportunity seriously," said Church in a post-game interview. "I was late to declare into the VHLM Dispersal Draft so I have to work harder to make up for the time lost." Church is the most recent player sponsored by the Toast Player Agency, an agency that was prominent decades ago in the VHL but had a recently impressive recruit in Lloyd Braun. Due to the prominence of the player agency representing the player, it seems that there is some anticipation that Church will develop into a star center for any team that is fortunate enough to draft him at the Dispersal Draft. With the Draft quickly approaching and the tournament approaching its end, Church was asked about preferred destinations for where he'll likely spend the next couple seasons. "I just want to play somewhere that wants me as part of the system," said Church. "The goal of course is to end up a big name in the VHL but I'm very excited to get to the ice for a VHLM team soon. There isn't a team that I would prefer to play for or one that I don't want to play for. I just want this waiting out of the the way so I can get to know my teammates and decide on the best path forward for my development and goals." For now, Church and the Brigade will need to focus on the next few games that are still to come in the tournament. After a rough start filled with a few overtime losses, the team was able to battle back and finds themselves tied for first in points with 30, but two more games played total than their rivals. With a very close competition it's going to be important for the team to not drop any more points. "While everyone is thinking of the future, we're not losing sight of the last few games here," said Church. "We're going to do what's needed to make sure that we get the job done."

1. I love dill pickle chips! I don't know what it is since I don't like whole pickles at all but that flavouring on a potato is elite I guess. 2. Funny enough, I usually bring the chips to the pot luck. I'm not confident in my cooking/baking so I opt for the chips/drinks/cutlery/whatever type thing. 3. I haven't been taken in either yet! I'm hoping to go high and live up to the expectations though. -- 1. Who was the MVP for Houston in their journey to the Founders Cup? 2. Was there a moment this season you're particularly proud of for your player or team? 3. What's your favourite way to pass the time during a day where you have no plans?

1. I'd love to see the Sens go on a Cinderella run but my actual prediction is the Jets. 2. Taking a look at the VHL so far, it seems Anisimov would be a strong candidate if New York keeps advancing. 3. I can't stand the Summer. Looking forward to the Switch 2 coming out in June though. -- 1. What has been your favourite moment of the season for your team/player? 2. Who is the unsung hero of the playoffs so far? 3. Where would you like to visit on your next vacation?

#BrigadeFamily Thank you for the opportunity!

Hello all! For my first media spot back involved in the league I figured I would just offer some low-quality word vomit to talk about how excited I am to be back and what I plan on with Wesley Church. It's so nice to see familiar faces and some new excited users since my last run here! I'm Toast, someone who has been back and forth on VHL for over a decade now. I recall being a teen posting in the general chat asking for help finding a job and I remember spending countless hours on the forum instant chats with some beloved people. I'm a little older now with a lot of life experience under my belt. I've had a few players come and go here with the most recent being Lloyd Braun from a handful of seasons ago, but even then I was just coasting on welfare and getting trivia wrong every week. This time around I want the triple digit player to be something special and that's why I'm going to make sure that I give it my all this time around. My favourite VHL memories come from my time GMing Riga where Simon was more than generous and the Reign saw a miracle run go to a championship win. This was somehow 50ish seasons ago already but I still remember the excitement I had waiting for the sims to be revealed and anxiously scrolling slowly to reveal the scores. I met some really great users through those teams and was able to live a nice piece of the fantasy of GMing a team to the championship. Other than that though, there were definitely a lot of roles I probably could've given more to but didn't due to a lack of maturity or responsibility at that age. That's part of something I want to change with this new attempt to come back to VHL. I've had some free time come up and I know that I can commit to making sure I'm earning the TPE. I may be a little old for trying to figure out the new building system that is here to make updating in STHS a little more interesting, but I have the experience that can be used to pick up whatever information I need to succeed. I want to see Wesley Church end up in the hall of fame here, which isn't something I've accomplished as a player or user. While I've had many great memories on the league, it seems that I haven't been able to make that player that gets everyone buzzing. I've always said that I will be a team player and I want to be a leader for any team that is willing to give me a shot, but my goals this time around are going to be selfish. I want to be one of the best that the S100 class sees from sim performance. I'll say my prayers to Simon and take my TPE vitamins to make it happen. This time around, I'm going to be a star. guaranteed sths is going to absolutely ruin me this time 520 words claiming for W/E 04/27

wtf that was so quick

Player Information Username: Toast Player Name: Wesley Church Recruited From: Returning Age: 18 Position: C Height: 72 in. Weight: 165 lbs. Birthplace: Canada Player Page @VHLM GM

Thanks for the TPE!

Lloyd Braun - OV

1. I think everyone expected that Calgary was not going to be a threat as they went into the rebuild and that's where they sit right now. Seems to be according to plan for me. 2. It might be a step up for the team but I'm expecting that it's going to be a lot of the same for the Wranglers. 3. It will be a crime against the hockey gods if Calgary doesn't find a way to get another Janser in the system. 4. More picks could never hurt but Calgary has done a fantastic job to move the pieces to bring in future picks already. 5. I have three pets. A grey tabby cat name Mew and two miniature schnauzers, Dorian and Lexie. 6. Winter! I'm not a fan of the heat but perfectly okay with the cold weather and snow.

1. Yeah, I don't have an issue with it. It's the natural cycle of a team and one that is pretty dang successful as long as the manager is on top of things. 2. Dilson is standing on his head out there with how the team is performing overall. That is a crazy good save percentage. 3. The team was probably hoping for a better performance from the likes of Vinny hoping that older players would lead the way. 4. Old man Phil has been a tough sumanagun this season. Not afraid to make a point with his hits and fists. If it's legal or not is another discussion. 5. Dragon Ball binge on repeat. My childhood and comfort show! 6. I mean they're essentially confirmed to be real right? What is our leadership hiding from us?!

1. The season is well underway at this point we're starting to see some teams getting a good start. Calgary seems to be solidly in the middle of the conference! 2. Either Vancouver or Chicago seem to be the two teams that are closest to Calgary and should make for some interesting games this season. 3. I like the offence Toronto and D.C. are showing so far and could see one of them pull it off. 4. Defensive defender. 5. Penalties should be served on on the other team's bench to listen to be chirped. 6. Put on some noise cancelling headphones and listen to some jams to get in the right head space.