JCarson

Molly the Cat has a crystal ball. No really they do. Season 88 has finished, and I don’t expect that I need to tell everyone that it was a predictably wonderful season. My guess is that some of you are taken aback by my use of the word predictable. However, all you had to do was look at my beginning of season predictions and you should have known that London United were going to win the VHL Continental Cup. Honestly, I wrote it down for everyone to see. Then when we got to the playoff fantasy zone, I again documented in writing for anyone who wanted to pay attention that London United were going to be the VHL champions. I know some of you are thinking at this very moment, this individual is full of (Enter your chosen noun here). Perhaps you are right. All I know is that these are true statements. (I also know I just wrote 150 words for a media spot and have not really said anything yet have said everything at the same time.) With Season 88 being completed, that brings me to the offseason. Now the thing about offseason is that I do not generally get to use my talents of prediction for much of anything, except this year I am involved in 2 offseason tournaments, so I figured I would try to extend my record of guessing champions in those tournaments as well so that I can keep a keen eye on things. I need to ensure I am in top shape for when predictions come around again for season 89. Now the ProAm is already underway and if anyone is paying attention (I wasn’t as I just realized that it was in its’ third day of Sims) the Babylon Wonders are being completely obliterated. I this instance I am not going to make any predictions, the result for the Wonders is more than likely a last place finish. Sorry VLG we are trying, honestly what can be said, you did not draft VHL champion and playoff MVP Jesse Teno. When you are required to face such talented goaltending, game in and game out you need to expect to lose. The second tournament is the World Cup, now the world cup is an exceptional tournament where the best player in the world gets to show what they can do. This is a tough tournament to win. Yet my crystal ball is quite clear on this tournament. Team Canada, the team Molly the Cat is playing for, will be the eventual tournament champions. Now just a couple points of clarification, and this should not come as a shock to anyone, but Molly the Cat is Canadian (which is disclosed on their player profile) and this is Molly the Cat’s first World Cup which obviously means that they will win. So, there you have it folks, Molly the Cat pulls out the crystal ball and makes more predictions, Babylon Wonders will lose the ProAm and team Canada will win the World Cup. Sit back and watch and see that the Crystal Ball is right.

week of June 11 1) Landon Wolanin is currently resting by doing some camping, do you like to go camping 2) Off season tournaments happen frequently, do you take part in off season tournaments 3) What is the best part of off season tournaments for you 4) I've heard rumor that Triller is on the search for onions, do you think he will find them 5) What is the best part of offseason for you 6) What is the worst part of offseason for you

Article Review, another great article about the Janser Brothers. Marcel had a fantastic season this year in London with it being topped off by another VHL championship. Daniel seems to get more recognition for being a high offense forward but Marcel is as steady on defense as there can be. He makes everyone else around him better and makes the tough job of keeping pucks away from the net seem like an easy task. It should be interesting to watch the Janser Brothers over the offseason and into Season 89. Great article, 9/10 keep it up

Article Review: Great Article, the breakdown of London's progression through the finals detailing out the fantastic play by an amazing young goalie. Definitely deserving of playoff MVP honors. Keep up the great work, keep building your player, keep writing fantastic articles. Yo have many seasons ahead of you to establish yourself as one of the best in the league. I give this article a 9/10, only because you didn't mention Molly the Cat

Molly the Cat, we are glad that we can sit with you today and get your thoughts. You have had a busy last few days, as you have been celebrating your recent victory. I will start there, how are you feeling now that you are the Season 88 Continental Cup Champions? Thanks for having me, yes it has been a whirlwind of activity the last few days. Between celebrating with the team, contacting family and friends, and taking part in various media engagements organized by the team and the league, it has only left enough time to eat and sleep. Yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. Winning a championship of this nature is an extremely exciting opportunity, to be acknowledged as the best players in the league, in the sport, is something that most people only dream of. Molly the Cat, I remember early on in your career we had the opportunity to sit and talk about the goals you wanted to achieve while you were in the league. Now that you are several seasons in, I would like to go back and get comments on how you think things are going. It has been a wild ride for sure. Obviously winning the VHL championship was the largest of the goals and now that it has been completed, I will be focusing on the other aspects in greater detail. The other aspect that has already been completed was winning the rookie of the year award. I think at this point in my career those are two great accomplishments, but I am not done by any stretch. My continued focus will be on achieving greater productivity, with the hope of achieving the recognition of being one of the best and most consistent scorers in the league today. The end goal is to be inducted into the VHL Hall of Fame and recognized as one of the best players in this era of the league. I know it is going to be a challenging task, this league is filled with amazing talent and to be one of the best takes dedication and consistency. I am doing everything I can to do that. Molly the Cat, can you tell us anything about what the London United will look like next season? We are lucky to have many of our players under contract and returning next season, which is great to know. We will unfortunately be losing Nalwa as they are retiring so we do expect to be replacing them. Other than that management hasn’t brought me into any discussions as of yet. I do know that we will be keeping our eyes and ears open, listening to various offers. That can be said of any team, with a league as good as the VHL you always need to be considering ways to improve. I know that if any changes are made then management will be transparent about it. In the meantime, we would like to thank Nalwa for the great years they have had with London. You are a tremendous player which is evident by your multiple VHL championship wins. Thank you for your leadership, your experience, and your friendship.

As Captain of the London United, Season 88 VHL Champions I get the distinct pleasure of making this press release. First, we would like to acknowledge players from other teams in the VHL, especially those we faced on our journey to the championship. The VHL has the most talented hockey players on the planet, which was evident in our series versus Riga, Davos, Prague, and Seattle. The Continental Cup is only as prestigious as it is due to the league's competitive nature. Each of you deserves to be recognized for your accomplishments this year. Second the players of London United would like to thank all those who contribute to the operation of the league. The dedication you show in making sure the league runs smoothly is much appreciated. Without you we could not have achieved this level of success. Third we would like to show our appreciation for our Management Team, your continued support, encouragement, and your dedication to bringing the team together is a major factor in us achieving this goal. We continue to look forward to working with you over the next few seasons to continue building a culture of success in London. Lastly but most importantly we would like to thank our fans. The fans of the London United have been a driving force in our success. Your loyalty and excitement are amazing. We look forward to sharing this experience with you. In the coming days we will be announcing a series of celebrations within the city where the players will meet with fans, this will allow fans access to the Cup and an opportunity to take pictures with their favorite players. United We Stand

For week ending June 4 1) What is one thing you would like to say to the London Fans 2) How are you feeling right now? 3) What will you do with your day with the cup 4) What is one thing you will do during the offseason 5) Should Jacob win GM of the season 6) Who was our most valuable player in the regular season and in the playoffs

This is my favorite part of the entire season.

Molly the Cat, you have just beaten Davos in seven games to win the European Conference Championships, how are you feeling? The simple answer is we are feeling great. Everyone on the team stepped up and contributed to all areas of the game. We played a tight defensive game, giving limited chances. We played a strong offensive game that saw all our lines contribute on the scoresheet. Our role players did their part, and the big guns came out swinging, most of all our goaltending kept us in every game and in all honesty stole games for us. This is truly a team win. Molly the Cat, is there anything you want to say to the management and players on Davos? Honestly, I have nothing but the utmost respect for all of them. They played a strong series and could have won; it was that close. But what I admire most about them is that they played the game with sportsmanship and respect for the game. They played good tough physical hockey, but it was always clean. I have played games against teams willing to take every cheap shot they thought they could get away with to try and win. That was not Davos, and they earned my respect. Molly the Cat, you are about to face a Seattle Bears team that has easily pushed their way into the VHL Championships. How do you think you will fair against them? I am glad that we had some adversity as we played through our conference. It is only by facing adversity that you gain the experience you need to face harder challenges. No that may not be the best way to word that. I don’t believe that Seattle will be a harder challenge than what we have already faced. The gauntlet of Riga, Prague and Davos has taught us that it doesn’t matter the challenge, adversity comes, and you face it, you face it head on and you give everything you have. The thing is London has everything we need right now to be VHL champions. We pursue the end goal, and we plan to take it. Now do not get me wrong, Seattle is a talented team and has every piece needed to win as well, which honestly is why we are both sitting in the finals. From what we hear, they may be a little overconfident, expecting an easy matchup, and that is not what they will get. This London team has claws, and we are not afraid to use them. Moly the Cat, when one looks at the league leaders in playoffs, it is littered with London players in every area. What can you say about that? That goes back to my first comments, we are pulling together as a team in all areas, our team scoring is up, which drags up our assists. Our rookies are following the team leaders and are contributing as well. Forwards, defense but most of all our Goalie. Teno is easily the best goalie in the playoffs, they have been a literal wall for us. Everyone is putting everything they have into this.

As many people have pointed out, London United have never won a playoff series since they entered the league. Some have even come to talk about some curse that hangs over the team’s collective heads. But this year is different. I say is, because as of right now London is sitting in the VHL championship finals. Three series have been completed and London has been victorious. Any curse that may have existed is broken it is history. What exists is the present, the now. It has been a long road so far for London and they have faced three extremely talented teams. Riga, Prague, and Davos as all exceptional teams that deserve to be congratulated on the fantastic job all season. Each of them puts forward an extremely talented group of players and could have been the eventual VHL champions. They are all that good. It is this long road that has prepared London for its’ next challenge, Seattle. Seattle is a talented team; nobody will deny that. Yet London has knocked down three talented teams already, one more will just be another normal day in these playoffs. London looks forward to the road ahead, it may have twists and turns but for sure it will take us to our destination. We look ahead at what is to come with anticipation and excitement, at the end of the road is the VHL championship trophy and as far as London is concerned it is ours for the taking.

Article Review: The playoff finals just beginning there is a certain level of anxiety for those sitting on the sidelines waiting for what comes next ,that has to be even more so for those looking to face free agency. Formal conversations can't happen yet but I bet there is a level of informal chit chat mulling around to see where people are sitting. I think it helps everyone when players know exactly what they are looking for in a team, and a team knows what they are hoping for in a player. Great article, hope you find a great place to land and have a great season next year. I give this article an 8/10

Article Review: The saga of the Janser brothers is always a great read. It is always well put together and provides a small amount of additional detail about the players lives that make it more than just a review of stats. It is nice to see thee story focus a little more on Marcel and his recent accomplishments. London is happy to have Marcel on the team, his leadership, experience and dedication are inspiring. Kep up the great work, 9/10 on this article.

Week of May 28 1) What are your plans for the offseason 2) What nickname should we give our GM 3) If we win the VHL championship what should our GM have to do, with picture posted in Discord? 4) Random Question: What is your favorite Breakfast 5) If your player had to champion one cause, what would it be 6) Your player has been suspended for 1 game, what did they do

I have had the privilege of being the captain of the London United this season. I do not say that lightly, it has been a privilege. This team has been brought together by a GM that is not only new to London but to the League itself. It is made up of fresh faces, new talent, and team veterans. And now we stand in the payoffs preparing for the conference finals, waiting for the knowledge of who we will play. We understand that you, the fans of the London United, stand with us. That you collectively hold your breath as we do, waiting to see if it will be Moscow or Davos. The collective excitement creates a stir within. We appreciate that you stand with us, as excited as we are to take the next step, to face the next challenge, to overcome. And so, we make our loyal fans this promise, we will enter this next series and give everything we have. As players we promise to earn your loyalty, to prove to the entire VHL why the London United fans are the best in the league. This is our time; this is your time. United we stand.

The London United experienced a reasonable season, they played well throughout and as a result earned a position in the play in round against Riga. Looking back on it all there were times when players excelled and times when players struggled. Of unique interest is that the constant back and forth of player performance happened at various times for everyone allowing for some players to excel while others fell back. This created a level of balance in the team. Then we came to the playoffs, and it has been an extremely different story. Early against Riga, the team exploded into full performance mode. Jesse Teno became a defensive wall, making saves that they maybe shouldn’t have. The defense stole pucks, blocked shots, and started the advance unlike anything they had done in the regular season. The forwards cycled the puck, got themselves open, and with the help of passing sensation Siyan Yasilievich bombarded the net with shots, powering an offensive onslaught on their opponents. The story of London United’s payoffs has been one of coming together at the same time. Timing is everything. Timing is everything, and London has used this to their full advantage. London stands United, Goaltender, Defense, Forwards, all moving in unison. That level of precision is hard to attain, but when it is achieved it is something to behold. I take nothing away from the teams that have fallen to the onslaught that has been London’s playoff push. Riga and Prague are both very exceptional teams who deserve a great amount of respect. But season 88 was London’s time to step forward, to shatter the curse that has haunted it. It is London’s time to prove who they are. Timing is everything, and now London sits waiting for their next opponent. Moscow and Davos continue to play, continue to push, to struggle for the goal of moving on. London sits. Rest is good but will the rest bring an end to the time that London has enjoyed? Will the rest be the end? The end of the increased performance, the hard-fought defense, the mastery of the net. Will this rest mark the end of the timing? Maybe, or maybe not, time will tell. Timing is everything, will the rest be just that, a rest, a rejuvenation, a new empowerment for further success. Will the rest be a time of reflection on the successes currently achieved a motivation for more, a lull in the physical aspect of the game to increase and ignite the mental aspect of the game even further. Timing is everything, a new GM, a cast of fresh players, a reinvigorated locker room, a new belief. Potentially it is less about breaking the curse and more about forgetting if it ever existed. Timing is everything, and it is London’s time to shine, it is time to write the names of the London United Player into the annals of VHL History. It is time for hockey heroes and legends to be born, it is time for the league to start taking notice. Timing is everything, and this time belongs to London United.

Article Review, looking back on this article after game 5 which resulted in another shutout for goalie sensation Jesse Teno it truly speaks to the hard work that the London United have put in to get to where they are. The entire team has picked up the pace which has allowed for a complete domination of a excellent Prague Team. Teno's new nickname may just become Ghostbuster as they disposed of the Phantoms quickly. Great article, I give it a 9/10

Great article, London has really found themselves this playoffs. The forwards are finding the back of the net, facilitated by Siyan's amazing passing talent. The defense is keeping the scoring chances to a minimum and Teno is in position to get everything else. The entire team is playing their best hockey exactly when it matters most. The curse, if there ever was one is not just broken, it is obliterated. Keep up the great work on these articles. I give this a 9/10.

The regular season for season 88 has come to a close so we are going to have a Press Conference on how it went 1) Did you player do better or worse than you expected 2) Did you earn the TPE you were hoping to 3) Best part of Season 88 Regular season 4) Worst part of Season 88 regular season 5) Who was the best contributor to the locker room 6) Who was the funniest contributor to the locker room

A review of season 88 Molly the Cat has finished another VHL regular season which means it is time for another analysis of how the season went. We are going to look at several factors which will include a statistical review, impacts made as captain of the team and a review of off ice activities. We will then look at how Molly the Cat is positioned going into the playoffs and what we can expect. Overall, Molly the Cat had a better season than they did in season 87. Goals and Assists were higher, Game winning goals, PPG and SHG were all reasonably strong. Molly the Cat has a drop in hits but also had a significant decrease in Penalty Minutes. The only major issue was that season 88 was the first time that Molly the Cat had a negative +/-. Outside of the numbers Molly the Cat is starting to feel comfortable as Captain of the team. Being able to provide leadership and insight to other members from a place of experience as opposed to a position of youth and excitement. Being able to mentor younger teammates on and off the ice, helping them navigate the intricacies of the VHL has been a fulfilling experience. Beyond the game Molly the Cat has kept up their charity work with the Litter Box program. If you remember this is a program Molly the Cay started in Season 86 where they bring children to a special designed viewing box, the children selected have undergone some level of hardship in their lives. This past season Molly the Cat was able to work with the Cancer foundation, the Acquired Brain injury foundation, and several other charities to bring this special experience to a variety of individuals. Molly the Cat is excited to continue this program into Season 89. Also, during season 88, Molly the Cat settled permanently into London by purchasing a house. They look forward to getting better acquainted with the city and enjoying life. This new property has allowed Molly the Cat to invite several of the current draftees that are playing in the VHLE and VHLM to the city to enjoy time with the team. Molly the Cat is looking forward to seeing how these individuals continue to grow and develop and hopes that Moly the Cat can provide mentorship to them as they further their careers. Looking ahead Molly the Cat is excited about Season 88 playoffs, the London team pulled together in the latter half of the season and are entering the playoffs playing some of their best hockey. Molly the Cat specifically has had an upswing in points production which they hope to carry into the playoffs. This added push for the team could be the deciding factor as to whether London moves past Riga in the play in round. The goal of London is to make a later stage playoff push, getting past the play in round and the first round. They know it will be tough but that is only adding motivation.

The London United are playoff bound in season 88. This is a step up from last season where they shit the bed and lost 5th place on a tie breaker. So, what can we expect from London in the playoffs? The expectation of London is that they will take the play in round, beating Riga. Now let’s be totally honest there are no guarantees in the VHL, every team has a good chance of beating another on any day of the week. Riga is a good team, has some talented players and may be able to upset London, however, London isn’t going to sit idly by and let that happen. So, as I said, the expectation is that London will take the play in round against Riga. After Riga, London expects to put together a strong push, they have been training for this, and are mentally prepared. The focus is a long push into the playoffs. We all know that every team wants to win the championship but honestly not every team has that chance. London knows it would be a long shot to win this season, we aren’t planning a parade, but we are looking at taking steps forward, and a long push into deeper rounds is the goal. So, there you have it, London is playoff bound. London is focused and gunning for the deep rounds of the playoffs. Good luck to everyone else this offseason but those of you that stand in London’s way prepare yourself for a hard-fought contest. We are coming. United we stand, and you are going to fall.

Article review: A a SDM alumni I love to catch up on what is going on. It is even better when the news is positive. Looking forward to seeing how these 3 progress through their career and see what they can do in the VHL. Keep up the good work SDM. Well written article, would love to see a small series talking about how the players do in the playoffs. I give this article an 8/10

Article review: I always love an article that doesn't focus on the top performers. We all know who carried the team, who scored the most or who had the best GAA, but do we ever stop to look at the rest. The grinders, the playmakers, the teammates that show up game in and game out to be the support that they need to be. Not everyone can be the top goal scorer, someone needs to flll in the gaps. Great article, keep up the good work. I give this article a 9/10

Week of May 14 2023 1) If you had to pick a most valuable player for London, who would it be? 2) How many members of London will have point per game seasons? 3) What position will London have in the conference by the end of the season? 4) What team would you prefer to play against in the first round of the playoffs? 5) Do you think we will get past the first round this year? 6) Who will have the most points for London in the playoffs?

It is a rainy afternoon in London, the coronation of King Charles III now completed the city is now getting back to normal. I am sitting with VHL star, Molly the Cat to discuss the goings on around London. Molly the Cat, did you watch the recent coronation of King Charles III? What were your thoughts? Thanks for having me on your show this week, I am not sure that there was an individual in London that missed the coronation. The royal family is an important thing in these parts, probably the only thing that is bigger than London United. All kidding aside, the royal family is a symbol of the United Kingdom and everything good that it stands for. For many, it will be a historical moment when they remember where they were and who they were with. Molly the Cat, London United has had an up and down season this year but somehow finds themselves in 3rd in the tough European conference, can you tell us about some of the things that are going right for you? We have had many important things happen this year, but the most impactful has been our focus on the defensive side of the game. As a team, from the GM to the coach, right down to the players, we have committed to playing a defensive style. Many teams focus on being an offensive powerhouse, following the philosophy of outscore to win. The problem with that is only 1 to 2 teams each year have the talent to pull that off, that leaves most other teams being uncompetitive. By flipping the script, we have been able to manage games and take some key wins against some of these powerful scoring teams. Molly the Cat, you are having one of your lowest production years since you entered the VHL, are you happy with your play? That is a very vague question. I have had an extraordinarily strong season within our current defensive system. But if you are talking pure production, then no it has been a slightly less than stellar year. I would love to see more puck going into the net, supporting my teammates on their goals, sure that would be fantastic. You could ask that question of the top producer in the league, and they would say the same thing, there is not a player who would not like to be more productive. Fair enough answer. Let me get a bit more specific. I know that at one point you discussed wanting to hit 100 points in a season and putting in a push to reach the Hall of Fame. Do you expect that to happen if you keep up producing at your current pace? Reaching the Hall of Fame is still a goal, one that I work towards every season. Yes, having a higher level of production would help with that but there are also other ways of making it. The first goal is the team award, these days it is exceedingly difficult to make the Hall of Fame without having a championship trophy. After that I can focus on the individual accolades that I will need to add onto the Rookie of the year honors I achieved. Rome was not built in a day, and a Hall of Fame career was not decided in one season