OBrian Young

1. What is your favourite thing to do specifically in the summer? Sit in my rocking chair, under the fan on my porch, and read a book 2. Will this be the year that a Canadian team wins the Stanley Cup? Will I be tarred and feathered if I admit that I dont really watch hockey? I think the Canes are still it so I will have to go with the local team. So my answer...after all of that...no, I dont think so 3. Would you rather have a physical defenseman that racks the hits up but also takes a lot of penalties, or one that doesn't play as physical but is also more disciplined? I actually just wrote about this. While the hits look good, the fights are entertaining for the fans...they dont really help the team much. I think the disciplined defender is going to be what I would lean towards. My 3 questions... 1. Is hockey your favorite sport? If not, what is? 2. I am an avid reader, so what book has had the biggest influence on you? If you dont read, what about podcast? 3. What advice would you give to a person who has had to leave the league a couple of times due to family issues on how to earn the trust of GMs?

So I guess the big question is…what happens next? I enjoyed my time in Las Vegas. It was nice to get on the ice. But more importantly, it was nice to get that much needed confirmation that I could, in fact, play with these much better players. I am still pretty much the biggest skater on the ice, but there are some that I encountered that were as big as me. So that took a little getting used to. I had been used to just knocking people off of the puck and having my way on the ice. Well those days are over! I found the players may be bigger than I am used to, but they are also stronger and faster! So I have a lot to learn! My coaches in Vegas really helped me out. They gave me some pointers about how to use my size to my advantage while not letting others take advantage of me. Normally, bigger means slower. Okay, yea, I may be slow still, but I am a youngster, this is something that will improve as I get older. Also, they showed me how to body-check people. There are very few people on the ice who like to get crashed into the boards by someone my size…even other people my size. I know I don’t like it, no matter how big the person is! I get asked what kind of player I want to become? I am not sure to be honest. Dad always told me be a team player first. “If you become the best teammate there is, then no one will question when you have those inevitable bad games.” He said that so many times I think it is seared into my brain. So first and foremost, I want to be the type of player my team needs, the best teammate I can be. If that means I focus on defensive skills, then I will do that. If it means I work on my passing to support the forwards and the attack more, then that is what I will put my time into. I will rely on my coaches to guide me in this. But there is one thing I have learned over the short time I have played…and was another thing my Dad used to say. “No one can help their team if they are not on the ice.” In other words, try to stay out of the penalty box. Fighting at the drop of the hat may be a good show for the fans, but getting stuck in the box for 5 minutes helps no one but the other team. So I try to fight as little as possible. With that being said, no one will be slamming my forwards against the boards like they are trying to tenderize a steak. I am a big fella, and if I need to defend a teammate, then all of my 6’8” 250 lbs frame will be making sure they think about it twice next time. I know there is a draft coming up soon. What that means for my future, I don’t know. I am excited to see what is next for me and will hopefully be able to call my family and tell them that I will be staying in North America, for at least one more year…to play hockey! Word Count: 559

Here is my best shot at answering these! 1. Yea...I read that earlier today and have been thinking about this since then. I really dont have a clue. I am still learning all of the rules we have right now. So I guess I should give this one a go in a few months when I know more. 2. Considering I am probably the newest, I think it is great! HAHA Seriously, I really like the way things are set up here and I am looking forward to seeing how we do this season. 3. Well, I just rejoined yesterday...so I have no idea on how everyone is doing...so I will say us! 4. MASH. I remember the last episode...I would love to watch the whole series...a true-binge experience without knowing how it will all end 5. Not really....but since I am from Ohio...lets say the Blue Jackets! 6. Pay off my bills. I am going to retire in a little over 2 years and I would love to start that with no bills...house paid for...car paid for...all of it

Where to start? They seem to always say…At the beginning…but where is that? I guess everyone really gets to decide their own beginning…so this is mine. OBrian Young…yea…that’s me. I was born and raised on the Isle of Man, about half way between Northern Ireland and England. When we want to “go somewhere” we can easily choose either Belfast, Dublin or Blackpool…they are all about the same distance away. Yea, I am big. I mean, really big! Why did I end up playing hockey? Well, I got too big to play football and I just wasn’t fast enough to play rugby. So besides darts, which I really like as well, hockey was it. I seemed like I was born on the ice. Teams loved to have me on their side and looked at me with dread when I was on the ice for the other team. I was always asked my age when I played in youth leagues. Yea, it was my real age…I was just big for my age! Checking was always a lot of fun…all I had to do was bump people and they fell over. It was easy when they were lucky if they came up to my armpits. My parents always told me to follow my dream. To be honest, I didn’t know what it even was. I was going through my teen years trying to figure out what was going to come next. People would suggest things and I would say, sure! But in reality, none of it appealed to me. Then one day my hockey coach asked me if I had considered going pro as a hockey player. Well, to be honest, no. The thought really never crossed my mind. There are no professional hockey teams here. So, no one to really inspire me. Sure, I had seen the VHL on the telly, but they are in America and Canada and that is a long way away from the Isle of Man! He suggested I start by putting some videos of myself on Youtube. Okay, sure. I asked my brother to record some of the games and edit the videos, he loves to do that. I posted them and after a couple of months I felt like I was just wasting my time. Dad was wanting me to get on at the shipyard. But everyone knew they were winding things down and even if I started it would not be a career. The reality is there isn’t much in the way of career opportunities for a huge bloke here. So I was starting to look in England. I finally accepted that I was going to have to move away from home. I am not going to lie….it sounded exciting…but also scary as hell! Anyway, out of the blue I got a call from a VHL scout. He asked me if I was interested in playing in their minor league. It wouldn’t be much money. But it would be a chance to showcase what I can do on the ice. He suggested that I think about it. He told me there were spots open for defenders to join teams right away. But it would require me to pick up and move…the sooner the better. I spent the day walking around…looking at the waterfront, stopping by the chippie, even went by the local and had a pint. Was I ready to leave this? What happens if I don’t make it? Would people laugh at me? What if I didn’t go? Would I regret it later on? Getting older sucks, I don’t like having to make decisions like this. Finally, I had made up my mind. I was going to go. But I told everyone except my family that I was going on a backpacking holiday in America. Then, if I failed, no one would ever know. But if I don’t even try…then I will know. Next thing I realized I was on a plane to Toronto. The scout told me he would meet me there. Man, I hope this isn’t some kind of scam…what if it is true? What if I can become a good player…even a great one? Well…the only way to find out is to take that first step! Word Count: 705

Player Information Username: Ozzy Batty Player Name: OBrian Young Recruited From: Returning Age: 18 Position: D Height: 80 in. Weight: 250 lbs. Birthplace: Isle of Man Player Page @VHLM GM

First off, let me start this off by being upfront and honest, I am going to post this in all of the sim leagues that I am a part of. I hope that doesn’t break any rules. Please let me know if that is the case. It is not my intention to do that, but sometimes, well…you can read along and we can go from there. I want to thank the people who run sim leagues. I want to thank my teammates and the friends I have made in the leagues. I want to thank everyone involved in keeping these leagues running without pay and sometimes, having to deal with disgruntled and unhappy people. I know that sometimes it is a thankless job…and I want to make it clear, THANK YOU!! Thank you for the countless hours that you have given to the league’s success. Thank you for doing everything you can to make these leagues a great experience. Thank you for giving us a place to escape from real life and just sit back and enjoy some fake sports. I don’t want to go into too much detail, so I will give you the quick-hit summary, of why I am wanting to say this. I want to provide the people who make all of this happen see how much it matters to us, the players. Over the last 3 months I have had some pretty tough challenges in my life. Some of them added unusual levels of stress in my life, while others caused outright fear….and some others were a mix of a multitude of feelings and emotions…some good….and some bad. Unexpectedly I lost my job after my position at the company I was working out eliminated my position. This was completely out of the blue….joining a virtual meeting to do a supposed “check-in” and it being over in 5 minutes after hearing that dreaded news. I knew I was going to be eligible for unemployment, but it was no where near what I had been getting paid. Ironically, this ended up being a blessing in disguise because I was able to find a job with a company that, at times, I don’t even believe is real. I was offered the new job 4 weeks to the day that I had lost my old one. But the ensuing 4 weeks were filled with anxious moments as I got rejection email after rejection email. During this 4 weeks I had a knee operation that was supposed to be pretty routine. But, as is normal in my life, nothing was routine. I had complications and ended up with a severe infection that required me to be admitted to the hospital over a long weekend to have antibiotics pumped into my system. As I will still recovering from that my wife and I took my Dad on a already-planned vacation where walking without being able to walk was in itself something interesting. I returned home and felt like life was finally going to get back to normal when my life, and the lives of my friends and neighbors here in western North Carolina were turned upside down by Hurricane Helene. What was supposed to be some wind and heavy rain ended up being a deluge of, not inches, but feet, of rain that destroyed homes, roads, infrastructure, places of employment, and sadly, even took lives. I wasn’t sure when or how life was going to return to normal after that. But the response was overwhelming as people, organizations and government agencies rushed in to provide aid and support. So what does all of this have to do with sim leagues? Throughout all of this turmoil and chaos I had one refuge…there was one place I could escape to, even if it was for only a minute or two. I was able to pop into a sim league, maybe not all I am a part of, but as many as I could. I told them I was alive. I told them that life was crazy, but I would be back. I was able to look at how the team was doing, how the league tables looked. I was able to think about something besides the never ending chaos that was whirling around me. Life is slowly coming back to normal. My participation in the sim leagues is slowly increasing back to its pre-chaos levels. My teammates are still there, my leagues are still there….my life away from “life” is still there. So Thank You for providing this refuge and doing what you do. Now, lets play some fake sports!!

Man, what a busy few weeks! I went back to Mississauga and got my old room back. I have a great view of the park near our practice arena. It is a corner room so it also is a little bit quieter than most of the other rooms in the complex. I like it that way. I like to have the time to read and unwind. I know most of my teammates like to go out at night to enjoy the nightlife where ever we may be. But for me, give me a quiet park and a good book…yea…that is what I enjoy. Leaving home was tougher this time. I had met someone, a girl named Kelly. Well, she is not a “girl” per se. She is a student at the local university. She is studying to be a teacher. She loves literature, especially Shakespeare. I am not sure what will happen in this relationship, but I like talking to her. She lets me “nerd out” and enjoys talking to me about history. So that is another reason I like the quieter rooms, I can talk to her. We try to talk every day that I can, but sometimes the internet isn’t that good, so I write to her. I think she is pretty special, so I guess we will see. But back to the hockey! Well, I am not sure about how I should feel about this season. We started off really strong. We rocketed to the top of the Eastern Conference and it looked like we had a solid hold on it as the season progressed. But then we hit a tough patch have now dropped to 3rd. Now, it is only by 3 points, yea, the top of the conference is tight, but we have still dropped. I am hoping that we continue to keep it close. I mean, yea, if we end the season in 3rd place we would make the playoffs. But I think it would be awesome if we are able to win the conference on our way to the championship. The reason I have mixed feelings about this, yea, it sucks that we have dropped to 3rd, but as the team’s position got worse, I started to get better. I didn’t want to spend another season in the VHLM to garner any personal accolades. But I am not going to lie, it is pretty cool to see your name up in the Leader Board. When it is coupled with team success, the personal success is like icing on the cake. So while I am enjoying seeing my personal success, I would gladly swap it for a couple of more team wins. I know we cant do that, but as far as I am concerned, it would be fine if that could happen. I know the season isn’t over so there is still a lot of stuff that can happen. But I would prefer to get the team back on top of the conference before the season is over and then to make a run for that title! Yea, lots of hockey left to play so let’s make the best of it!

Oh wow, so much has happened! Yea, I got really sick so I missed out on the draft and training camp, but I am back on the mend and am back on the ice. Yea, that is so crazy as well! I was told initially that I had accumulated “too many points” to stay in the VHLM, and then I was told that I was still under the point threshold so I was going to have 1 more season in the M. I know that after my career in the M is over that I will be joining the Oslo Storm for a season or 2. After that I will be heading to the Moscow Menace, so it is nice to be heading back to Europe. But what until then? Like I said, I was sick and wasn’t able to watch the M draft. I wasn’t sure where I would go and even though I had been in the M for a season, it was as a Waiver Signing, so I was going to be drafted for my final season in the M. My family decided to not watch the draft as well. They didn’t want to know where I was going before I found out. I went to bed, hoping I would feel better in the morning without any idea of what was going to happen next. I had talked to some of the teams, but I think the confusion about my eligibility made teams unsure about wasting a draft pick on me. On top of that, some of the teams had seen a turnover in their leadership, so the people I had talked to may have moved on to bigger and better things. So I really had no idea where I was heading next. I talked to my parents and they were really curious about where I wanted to go. In all honesty, I wanted to go back to Mississauga. I wasn’t sure if that was even a possibility, and even if they wanted me to come back. They were one of the teams who had a leadership change so I didn’t know the new Manager that well. Added to that is where they had their first selection in the draft. They didn’t have a selection until the 8th pick and according to all of the mock drafts, I would be gone before then. Needless to say that when I woke up the next day, feeling a little better I may add, I was so shocked to have about 15 missed calls from Mississauga Canada! I nervously called back and woke up the new manager before he excitedly told me that I was on the board when they were ready to make their selection and he told me, “We just had to bring you back.” I was so excited that I almost dropped the phone! We made arrangements for me to fly back to Mississauga as soon as I felt well enough to meet my new teammates and to reunite with my old ones. I went into the lounge to share the good news with my family. I know that all of the teams in the VHLM are good and positive environments, but there is something about being able to go back to a place that I know and feel comfortable in. Plus I get my old locker back! Now, lets win that championship!

What an off-season it has been! It feels just like the regular season at this point. I had expected to spend a quiet few weeks at home, that is until I got the call that I had been selected to represent Team Steel in the Junior Showcase Tournament. So once again I packed my bags and jumped on a plane to head off to our training facilities. I called Mom and Dad once I got there to tell them I was at the team complex and let them know that I didn’t know where we would be playing the games at. But I would call and let them know how we were doing as the tournament progressed. I figured that I would be spending my time practicing and playing the tournament games. And yes, the practices were definitely intense! Hopefully we can translate that success from the practice arena to the tournament games. The thing that I didn’t expect…well…I had hoped would happen…is to hear from the scouts for the VHLM teams. Since I was a waiver signing for Mississauga I will be entering this season’s draft. It is odd to be considered a new draftee after playing a season in the league, but that is the way things are done. I actually had played the whole season with the Hounds and actually would love to go back there, but we never know how the draft will play out do we? While I was expecting the calls from the VHLM scouts and general managers, I dint expect to hear from VHLE staff, let alone VHL scouts! But I have gotten calls from scouts and other staff from those 2 leagues as well. I guess since I can be drafted by teams in those leagues even though I will not be playing in those leagues next season makes sense. That way they own the rights to me once I am ready to move up. One of the questions I invariably get asked is how quickly do I want to get to the VHL. My answer is always the same…when I am ready to contribute and wont be a liability on the ice. I completely understand that team needs will dictate all of this. But, all things being equal, I want to stay at each level as long as I can to be able to know that I wont hurt any team that I am playing for. What does all of that actually look like? I have no idea, but I 100% trust those who are in the front offices of the various teams to know when is the best time for me to make any changes in what level I am playing at. Speaking of which, is it acceptable for me to say that I am nervous about this tournament and next season? I had a great season for my rookie season. I think I ended up 4th in total points and was amongst some league top-rated players in being there. Will I be able to replicate that success next season? Will I be able to contribute to my team’s success in the WJC tournament? If I don’t have that level of success but we are more successful on the ice, then I am fine with that. I want to improve my team’s play and want to see us succeed. But will the front office, will the fans, be okay with me not putting up the numbers I did last season? I hope so because I think it will be a challenge for me to put up those numbers again. I hope I can, especially if they translate into more victories. Everyone knows you cant win if you don’t score, so that is what it is all based on. I don’t want anyone to think that I doubt myself, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself because that can be a problem within itself… The off-season is ongoing and the fun…and work..never stops! Time to enjoy the ride!!

Happy Birthday!

I will throw my hat into this ever-growing list of applicants EDIT: I currently would like to withdraw my name from consideration at this time. Thank you

Lets Go!!

Thanks!!! Looks fantastic!!

So this is how my first season in the VHLM ended…with a whimper instead of a shout. When I left my home in Bath to seek my fortune in North America as a part of the VHLM little did I realize how the season would progress and finally end. I joined the Mississauga Hounds because I felt that I would have a great opportunity there. The team didn’t have many forwards, I don’t think there was even a Center on the team when I joined. But I feltit would be a good place to start my career. If I got lucky I might score some goals and help them win some games. Even though I had joined before any games were played, I didn’t have much of a basis to build from. But that didn’t stop me from working. I spent so much time on the ice, getting to the arena when it opened and closing the doors as it was being locked up for the evening. I had blisters on my hands from practicing so long. But over time, they turned in to callouses. I felt my legs getting stronger and my eyes, as impossible as it seems, got even a little sharper. Finally, it started to pay off. My partnership with my teammates, Clapbomb Bardownski III and Konstyantyn Shevchenko, took the league by storm as we accumulated 333 points. To be part of this scoring threat was beyond my wildest dreams. The craziest part of all of this is that I ended up 3rd on the league points leader board. I felt like we were unstoppable…especially after the additions the team management made at the end of the season. Looking back on the season, before the playoffs began…I felt we were in with a chance. The season started slowly for us. But the team started to come together as the season progressed. The team management slowly added more and more players. With each addition, we got just a little bit better. The wins started to outnumber the losses and we ended to season on a strong run of victories. The locker room was excited, we knew that we had gotten good enough to win…the question was if we were good enough to win in the playoffs. We felt we were…but we all know those questions have to be answered on the ice so we settled in to do what we knew how to do…play hockey. We sadly lost in the 1st round of the playoffs…I really felt we could pull off a 1st round shock, but it wasn’t meant to be. But for me, I ended the season with an unbelievable 114 points. I scored 43 goals, 71 assists and had 4 game-winning goals. What comes next for me, I don’t know. But for now, I will head back to Bath and spend some time with my family. I don’t know if I will ever be able to top the season I had…but it will be fun to try… They say I am a top-5 draft pick…some even say I will go 1st overall. I don’t know about all of that. There is still a lot of hockey left to be played…it just sucks we are not a part of it… Between you and me though…I would trade all of my success to win the championship…accolades are nice…but trophies are so much better. Word Count: 565

Appreciate the shout out. Im just trying to be the best teammate I can be....everything else is icing on the cake

1. Massive boost. We are trending upwards like a rocket. Hopefully that will carry over to the playoffs 2. I think we did good...but who knows...we could have done even better 3. Anything is possible...but I think a 2nd round exit is realistic 4. I think you have done great. No suggestions on how it could have gone better 5. Continuing to improve. As the saying goes....practice, practice, practice.... 6. Yes! Oh, it wasnt a yes or no question? Ah hell, I will still stick with Yes...love all kinds of ice cream, on a cone or in a bowl.

When I decided to join the Mississauga Hounds as a waiver signing I had no idea I would become part of the league’s most potent scoring trio. Left Winger Clapbomb Bardownski III, Right Winger Konstyantyn Shevchenko and myself are responsible for an outstanding 325 points! I currently lead in points with 112 (42 goals, 70 assists) with Bardownski close behind with 108 points (37 goals, 71 assists) and Shevchenko pushing us to be even better with 105 points (49 goals, 56 assists). This goal scoring trio has accounted for almost 70% of all of the points the Hounds have scored this season. I have no idea what the post-season will look like for us…I hope we can pull off a shock or 2. But no matter what, this has been 1 hell of a season to be in front of the opposition’s net. It looks like Shevchenko will be going up and that Bardownski will, more than likely, be with the Hounds next season. But for me, who knows where I will end up. But I can say that this season has been one to remember and I cant wait to see what happens next! Word Count: 195

1. Great to see the additions! Looks like things are definitely trending upwards! 2. I think all of them are. I know it wont impact our seeding, but I think the success will show that the lines and strats are our best fit 3. I guess I need to decide am I going to be a scorer, or a set-up player. I dont think this balanced mind set will be sustainable 4. I think it is a combination of things, team need, the number of players in each position, what kind of earner the person is. I dont think there is a 1 answer for all situation for this 5. I think the opportunity to discuss things...not only about the team, but how things are going with the season and stuff 6. 22. Yes. I am a vet and I try to help raise awareness of veteran suicide. There are an average of 22 vets a day who take their own lives, so I wear 22 to remind people that 22 a day is 22 too many.

Miami Marauders vs Philadelphia Reapers: Game 267 With every point needed by the Philadelphia Reapers to help secure them a playoff spot, this game was a good opportunity for the Reapers to show why they deserved a spot at the playoff table. Unfortunately things didn’t go as planned as they fell to defeat by a score of 5-1. The game was for all intents and purposes over by the first intermission as Miami had a 4-1 advantage. The fact that the Marauders were able to score 2 short-handed goals in less than a minute set the stage for the final outcome. Interestingly the fact that the 1st period saw the flurry of scoring, it also only saw 1 penalty, against Toby Cook from Miami for Holding Stick. The shots were also heavily in Miami’s favor as they outshot the Reapers 38-17. Miami took almost as many shots in the 1st period (14) as Philly did in the whole game. The Philadelphia Reapers are fighting to make the postseason, but results like this will make it more difficult for them to hold onto that vital 4th spot in the Eastern Conference. Word Count: 183

With over 50 games played in the VHLM season, who is still fighting to get into the playoffs? In the Western Conference, the Mexico City Kings, Saskatoon Wild, Houston Bulls and San Diego Marlins have secured their playoff eligibility. Houston and Saskatoon may swap places, but I think that is going to be the only possible change in the placement. The Las Vegas Aces can play spoiler for one of those teams, but they will be sitting the post season out this year. In the Eastern Conference, The Halifax 21st, Miami Marauders and the Mississauga Hounds look like they have secured their respective spots in the playoffs. But the final spot in the East is still up for grabs. The Philadelphia Reapers currently have 30 points in the 4th spot, but the Ottawa Lynx are only 4 points behind. So this battle could go down to the wire with either team having a good shot of sliding into the final playoff spot. Good luck to all of the teams as we move into that final stretch! Word Count: 176

Can I get this deleted please? I will post it next week so I can claim it then. Thanks!

Well, the season is getting ready to wind down and how do I feel about things so far? First off, I miss my family. Being able to video chat with them every day helps, but it doesn’t replace the smells that waft through the house when ma makes our tea, but I will go visit them after the season. I have to admit I am really pleased with how things have gone for me personally, not so much for the team though. Yea, it looks like we are a solid lock for 3rd in the conference, but hey, who doesn’t want to be 1st? I know the playoffs is a different thing, we all start with the same record, but that is still a ways away yet. I have been practicing…a lot. I mean, what else can I do? I can only play so much Football Manager before my eyes start to cross. Plus, there is something comforting about being on the ice. I still am not sue to all of the traveling, different hotel rooms, different meals, different teams to play against…and different arenas. But the one thing that stays the same is the ice…so that is my “quiet place”…at least for now. The General Manager and Assistant have been helping me a lot and I cannot thank them enough. They have given me advice on how to get just a little bit faster and stronger, both of which will help me win those puck battles. I have been working on my shooting (of course) but also my passing. I want to be able to get the puck to a teammate if I don’t have a clean shot…and it seems to be paying off. I am currently in the top 10 in points, goals and assists. That is just crazy! When I tell my parents, Dad always says the same thing….keep your feet on the ground but keep reaching for the stars. I know most of the time it isn’t “cool” for us youngsters to remember what our parents tell us…I mean..they are all clueless anyway right? But this, yea, this seems to be good advice. I need to get the guts to tell my Dad sometime. He needs to know that I do hear him. Someone told me that is the tagline of some dude called Kasey Kasum who used to do the American Top 40 countdown. I don’t know where Dad would have heard it, but I still think it is good advice. So what do I do with my new-found notoriety? I try to hide in the shadows, haha. I mean, this is all so new to me. I guess I have to accept that I will get noticed putting up those kinds of numbers, but I didn’t come here to win personal awards, I want to win championships…and the better I am…the more I can help my team. Anyway, I am being told that all of this means I will probably be a high draft selection in the next VHLM draft since I was a waiver signing for this season. I guess that comes with the territory…just feels odd. I think I will stay at my parent’s for a while after the season and watch the draft with them. I was told that I am going got need an agent as well…I don’t even know where to start with that! Guess it is time to talk to Dad about it…yea…he will know what to do. Word Count: 580

One of the biggest challenges with running a sim league is to find the balance between an enjoyable experience for the players while maintaining integrity in how the league operates. There are a myriad of ways to approach this, but most of the leagues I am in try to do it with a mix of encouraging players (new and old) to voice their opinions and ideas about how to improve the league. But even though this is generally encouraged, there is also a myriad of ways these suggestions or thoughts are dealt with. It is also important to understand the quality of the suggestions and feedback in how these responses are handled as well. I will be the first to admit that feedback of, “This sucks, I don’t like it, change it.”, normally elicits a response in kind. So those types of feedback are quickly ignored or some type of heated debate/argument ensues. But how are the other type responded to? That is truly a question that should be evaluated. When the feedback is not an attack, and even though I encourage people to include suggestions on how to improve things in their feedback, we all know there are times that the limited information the suggester has available makes that impossible. Or if they do attempt some suggestions, they are quickly shot down once the additional information becomes available. So where does the VHL fall into this scheme of management? I am sure if you ask 100 people you will more than likely get 100 different responses…so here is my insight to add to all of the others. I recently posted something about the disparity in the quality of the VHLM teams, not because of the quality of the players…but attributed more to the lack of players on teams. I had seen a heated discussion about this a few weeks ago, and when I was looking at my own team’s roster our lack of defenders was a glaring issue. So what had started as an analysis of how the team was doing quickly devolved into my ramblings of this issue of roster imbalance and how the limits on recruiting to limit tampering and a person’s desire to join a winning team instead of a losing effort means that the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. I mean, most people would rather be a 4th line forward on a team that looks like a lock to win their conference than join a team that is mired in the bottom of the conference even though they would get 1st or 2nd line ice time. I know, I didn’t do that, but then again, I am kind of an odd one. So back to my original thought behind this post….how would a team GM respond to a post that shows a current player thinks the current system is flawed? In a very respectful and informed way, that is how. I was told how the current system has been revised and that roster limits will be in place to keep waiver players from joining teams that are already “full” by VHLM standards. It was explained how the trading of draft picks enhances the system. I was given a response that encourages me to continue to provide feedback and share my thoughts. No one likes the “new person” to question the current state of affairs, it makes all of us feel inadequate, in a way. But everyone also knows the benefit of a new set of eyes…and a respectful conversation can improve any league….and makes the experience better for all! Word Count: 596

We are at the 50-51 game mark in the VHLM season, so as we all start to look at the post season…here is my quick take on things. Contenders: Western Conference Mexico City Kings: 78 points from 51 games. They are the leaders of the Western Conference. Saskatoon Wild: 70 points from 50 games. The Wild could make some good roster moves and flip the script on the Western Conference. But roster management will play a big part in this. Houston Bulls: 67 points from 50 games. See above, the Bulls could do the same thing. Eastern Conference Halifax 21st: 90 points from 50 games….44 wins out of 50…say no more. I think this one is a lock, unless the 21st completely implode. Miami Marauders: 77 points from 50. Could shock some people in the playoffs, but the conference is Halifax’s to lose. Pretenders: Western Conference Saskatoon or Houston: Whoever doesn’t make the right moves will be there….just not enough. Eastern Conference Miami Marauders: I don’t think anyone will catch the 21st in the East When Does Next Season Start?: Western Conference San Diego Marlins: 55 points from 50 games. Right in the middle, but just not good enough to be a threat. Las Vegas Aces: 8 points from 51 games. Yea…a season to forget for sure Eastern Conference Mississauga Hounds: 41 points from 51 games. Trending in the right direction, but the lack of defensive players will keep them from being able to take advantage of the scoring trio they have. Philadelphia Reapers: 29 points from 51 games. Looking forward to brining in the next round of talent next season. Ottawa Lynx: 22 points from 50 games. A long season will end up getting longer for the Lynx before it is all over. Word Count: 294