OBrian Young

Miami Marauders vs. Saskatoon Wild – Game 200 The Marauders and the Wild provided a clash of styles that saw the Wild come out on top with a score of 4-1. The Wild were leading 3-0 after the 2nd interval before the Marauders were able to score at the 11:29 mark in the 3rd to keep from being shut out. The Wild scored in the waning seconds of the game to preserve their 3-goal margin of victory. The Marauders outshot the Wild by 8 shots, but were only able to find the net on with that single goal. Even with the Wild being outshot 30-22, they were able to score 4 goals on those 22 shots. This astounding shot-to-goal ratio of almost 20% towers over the Marauders of 3% ratio. The Wild have shown this level of success in other games this season and with their surgical approach to shot placement, don’t be shocked if they make a deep run in the post season championship. Word Count: 157

Las Vegas Aces vs. Ottawa Lynx: Game 230 Sadly, the dire play of the Las Vegas Aces has continued as they fell to the Ottawa Lynx by a score of 6-3. The score reflected the 55 to 29 shot advantage enjoyed by Ottawa. The 1st period ensured that Las Vegas was going to be in for a struggle as they gave up the 1st goal to Ottawa 53 seconds in to the game. Before the 1st interval Trapstove Boutin scored 4 goals for Ottawa, with 2 of them only 11 seconds a part from each other. With the score 5-0 at that 1st break, it was clear that this was going not be the Aces day. They were able to score 3 goals to make the score respectable, but none were scored by recognizable players. For the players on the Aces, this is just another loss in a season that brings frustration to a new level…and they are looking forward to starting with a clean slate next season. Word Count: 160

Thanks for the explanation! This has cleared things up, plus the restriction on waiver players joining teams that already have 2 full lines will be HUGE! I completely agree that trading pick is a great tool...and the previous model was completely unrealistic. It is great that a middle ground may be found and that it will lead to more parity in the league moving forward.

So how has the season going so far for the Mississauga Hounds? 51 games in and it looks like, at least for right now, they have a solid hold on 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points, as compared to 29 points for the 4th place Philadelphia Reapers. Unless there is a massive shift, the Hounds look like a lock to make the playoffs. The Hounds are led by the scoring trio of Left Winger Clapbomb Bardownski III with 76 points, scoring 23 goals and 53 assists; Right Wing Konstyantyn Shevchenko who also has 76 points with 36 goals and 40 assists; and Center Ozzy Batty who has 84 points with 35 goals and 49 assists. This trio are currently ranked 4th (Ozzy), 5th (Clapbomb) and 6th (Konstyantyn) in total points for the league. Ozzy is currently only 8 points behind league-leading Jacob Longstreet’s 92 points. The trio is joined by Right Winger Anthony Simmons II, who has played 16 games and has added 21 points from 8 goals and 13 assists. Left Winger Laimdots Sarkanis has played in 12 games and has gotten 12 points through 6 goals and 6 assists. Right Winger Cody Cobberson has played in all 51 games has helped the team by scoring 17 goals as well as 19 assists to earn 36 points. The lone defender, Donald Carlson has played in 14 games so the hope is his impact will continue to improve. There are 2 goalies on the roster, Lane Ellis, who has played on 31 games with a record of 11-16-4 and Otto Wolff who has a record of 7-12-1 in the 20 games he has played in. This lack of defensive support has definitely had a negative impact on the Hounds. The challenge of not having defenders on the roster at the beginning of the season and hoping to lure free agent/waiver players to join a team that is mired in the lower half of the league standings presents a unique challenge for the team management. They cannot actively “recruit” the players since there are “no-tamper” rules. So how does a struggling team entice new players to become a part of their organization without the ability to approach them? Now that is the million dollar question! If I had the answer to that then I think we could build a record breaking franchise. There has to be a middle ground, where the team management can be allowed to interact with the new players and try to “sell” their organization without it coming into the realms of “tampering”. The ability to evaluate each team’s roster as well as the limited information that is provided in the “signing pitch” paired with the fact that newly created players are unsure of how the league works (well, most of them) can set up a recipe for the rosters to become completely unbalanced. Would a new player rather join a team where they are on 3rd, maybe even 4th line but who is leading the conference or get 1st or 2nd line team but with a team that is in the bottom half of the conference tables? That is a personal decision and who can blame someone from wanting to have a great chance of winning a championship? As long as players are allowed to select who they want to join and the team management adheres to the tamper rules, then it will be a tough challenge to build a powerhouse team with limited draft picks and a core of roster players already in place. Word Count: 591

1. I think the excitement of creating the player and going thru the 1st draft. Since I signed as a waiver pick, I havent gotten to experience the draft yet, but I am looking forward to it! 2. I think just reach out and try to engage with them. The toughest thing about joining a set team is trying to find your place...so I would do what I could to tell them that we will allow them to have the experience they want to. 3. To be honest, I think it would need to be a full re-allocation of the players to balance the teams out. Then have a system where waiver players are added to a team and not allowed to select where they go. Most people want to join successful teams. If that team happens to have a solid set of draft picks as well, then they just continue to reload...while everyone else is trying to rebuild... 4. Can I have a mix? I think someone who is too involved in the planning and not engaging the players can lead to a disconnect between management and the players. But a passionate firebrand can turn off the team because not everyone wins every game. 5. Bath, England!! Why not???? 6. Start the day out with a good ole English fry-up...spend some time listening to some music, Ozzy and AC/DC of course...and focusing on the upcoming game.

Another series of games, another 2 losses. What does that make it, 4 in a row now? The fans at Mississauga are trying to continue to fill the stands for the home games, but even they are starting to worry that the Hounds may miss out on the playoffs. They have dropped to 4th in the conference, the last of the playoff spots…and they only hold on to that spot with a slim 1-game lead. As the players headed home after their last defeat, there doesn't seem to be any letdown in their determination, but we cant help but wonder if the lack of depth is going to hinder them as the season progresses. The active players on the roster continue to hold onto their spots on the league stat leader boards, if not improving it. But having 3-4 players who come to every practice, stay late to work together and are willing to do whatever they can to help the team, well, will it be enough when the team could have a maximum of 15 players? Only time will tell if the Mississauga hounds can hold on to that final playoff spot, but if recent results are anything to go by, then it appears their chances are 50-50, at best. Word Count: 211

1. Whichever helps us win!! I like to see both tbh, it shows we are scoring, which we need to do more of. 2. I think it is a catch-22 with the team we have right now. With so few active players on the roster, we could go with more defensive strats to keep the forwards closer to the net, but then that would decrease our chances to score. I think the best option would be to recruit more defenders 3. This is a tough one because no one likes empty rhetoric. Those rah-rah speeches work in the short-term, if they work at all. At this point I would focus in on checking in on everyone. The worst thing we could do is start withdrawing and fighting the battle in our own heads as well as on the ice. 4. I think Halifax. Their goal difference of 81 shows that they can not only score, but protect the net as well. 5. At this point in my life, with all of the injuries I have sustained...channel surfing. Is that a sport? If not, it should be... 6. Gotta agree with Shevchenko, the Malamutes...

Mexico City Kings vs. Las Vegas Aces – Game 139 The Las Vegas Aces earned their 2nd victory of the season behind the strong play of their goalie, B-LVA G1 as they stopped 40 out of the 41 shots they faced. The 3-1 victory was even more impressive given the fact the Aces only took 10 shots on goal. Scoring for the Aces was B-LVA C1, Miles Bryant, scoring his 5th goal of the season and Finneas Finnegan O Cleirigh getting their 12th goal of the season. Miles and Finneas also got 1 assist each as they aided each other in their goal-scoring. The fact the Aces scored on 30% of their shots confirms the Aces were really working the puck and decided that well-placed shots were better than just smacking the puck at the net when they felt there was an opening. This strategy will not always be effective, but in this case, it was able to be that missing piece for the Aces to get the victory. Word Count: 159

There have been 26 games played so far in the VHLM and the Mississauga Hounds are holding onto 3rd place in the Eastern Conference by the slimmest of margins. A mere 3 points separates them from the Philadelphia Reapers and Ottawa Lynx, who are tied on points with 15. A slip-up by the Hounds could see them easily fall out of the playoff spots . While everyone knows that hockey is a team sport, the Hounds have 1 player who is starting to catch the eye of reports and scouts alike. The youngster from Bath, England, Ozzy Batty, is slowing working his way up the leader boards as he continues to display his ability to see the openings before his teammate’s arrive and to perfectly place his passes to allow them to score those vital goals. Ozzy currently has 44 points, with 16 goals, which puts him 2nd on the team goals list, and 28 assists. His point total has him 5th on the overall list and 4th on the assists list. Many thought that Ozzy would be looking to score first as he had spent countless hours skating around the ice and making shots from every angle. But over the last few games, Ozzy has seemed to develop the uncanny ability to pass his teammates open, therefore allowing them to take advantage of their superior positioning and score. The Assistant General manager for the Hounds was overhead telling Ozzy after a recent practice, “You're killing it so far! Nice job!” Ozzy turned his head and with a small smile said thanks and headed to the bus. The combination of Ozzy’s hard work and the guidance of the Hounds management seem to be setting the foundation for a long and successful career for the youngster. When Ozzy was asked about his future, he had this to say…”Life is now, not in the future. Yea, I want to be the best, but I want that for my team, not just me. So we only deal with the game that is tomorrow, work as hard as we can and let the future sort itself out.” So, the Mississauga Hounds have a youngster that seems to be more interested in being a part of a successful team rather than gaining personal accolades. But is that enough? Ozzy seems to think so as he lists off the teammates that he openly admits he thinks are better players than him… Winger Clapbomb Bardownski who has 22 assists; Winger Cody Cobberson with 14 goals and 11 assists; Defender Connor McHuey who has 7 goals and 9 assists as well as his 45 blocked shots; Winger Konstyantyn Shevchenko with 18 goals and 17 assists as well as Winger Anthony Simmons II who has 8 goals and 13 assists. Ozzy also said that no team could be complete without a solid goalie, and the Hounds have Otto Wolff and newly signed Lane Ellis. The Hounds have a good core of players but the lack of depth is obvious and the team is going to have to continue to improve to help to help increase their chances of making those much sought-after playoffs. But Ozzy is right, no one can say for sure what the future is, but from our perspective, it looks pretty bright for the Center from Bath and his teammates on the Mississauga Hounds. Word Count: 557

Saskatoon Wild vs. Ottawa Lynx - Game 122 This closely fought contest was decided on the quality of the shots on goal versus the quantity, with the Lynx coming out on top of the contest with a score of 4-3. Ottawa started off the scoring with Kevin Oconner scoring in the 1st period and then doubling their lead in the 2nd period before the Saskatoon offense was able to find the net. Captain Nugget Jr got the Wild on the scoreboard with Jerry Box leveling the game up 5 minutes later. Trapstove Boutin scored his 4th goal of the season for Ottawa on a powerplay with 2:53 gone in the 3rd period. Jerry Brace got his 2nd goal of the contest for the Wild to level the game once again before the Lynx scored on another powerplay to secure the victory. The Wild were much more active in front of the net, making 40 shots, but only scoring a total of 3 goals. This gave them a scoring percentage of 7.5%. The Lynx, on the other hand, took 27 shots on goal and scored a total of 4 goals. This gave them a scoring percentage of 14.8%, almost double that of the Wild. When this contest is played again, it is very possible that the Wild will win, if all the stats remain the same…if they are able to match the scoring percentage of the Lynx. Word Count: 298

Ozzy Batty is a 6’2”, 205 pound Center from Bath, England. Ozzy is currently a member of the Mississauga Hounds as a waiver signing so he knows that this may be his only season as a Hound, but he wants to make the most of it. But how did this youngster find his way to Canada and become the offensive presence that he is displaying on the ice? Ozzy is a complete unknown so everyone is desperate to find out more about the silent scoring machine that is quietly making a name for himself in the VHLM. Ozzy Batty is the middle child of Wally and Nora Batty. He has an older sister named Harriette and a younger brother named George. The whole family enjoys watching Ozzy on the ice and has enjoyed his continued success. Ozzy, whose real name is Oswald, started skating not long after he started walking. He started on roller blades and quickly moved to ice skates since there was an ice rink close to their home. Nora, a secondary school English literature teacher, and her husband, Wally, who taught world history in the same school, raised their children to know the value of an education. But young Ozzy would hit the door and head to the rink as soon as his studies were finished. He would stay there on the ice until the rink closed and Wally would come to pick him up. Even though the family home was just 4 blocks from the rink, Ozzy’s parents didn’t want him walking home after dark by himself. One afternoon when Wally had taken Ozzy to the rink since it was raining very hard out, a man approached them and introduced himself. His name was Fred McBurny and he was the coach of the local youth hockey team. He had seen Ozzy on the ice and wanted to know if he was interested in joining for the upcoming season. Ozzy looked puzzled, he had never played ice hockey, let alone any organized sport, so he was not sure why this guy wanted him to join the team. See, Ozzy just wasn’t very talented when it came to sports. He had tried out for the local football team and the coach was heard to say the boy could trip over a blade of grass. He then gave cricket a whirl, but ended up batting himself out by hitting the wicket. He like to skate, but to play on a team? Play a “sport”? Ozzy just wasn’t sure. Wally said they would talk about it and as Fred went to leave, he handed the Battys a hockey stick and a puck. He told them the net was set up on the other end of the ice and told Ozzy to give it a go as he headed out the door. He turned and told Ozzy, no hard feelings if you don’t want to play, but no harm in trying it out. Ozzy took the stick and headed to the ice after lacing up his skates. Wally tossed the puck onto the open ice and Ozzy took a swing at it…and missed it completely. He hung his head and the 8 year old got that same old feeling, that sports just were not for him. But as he started to skate towards Wally to give him the hockey stick, he stopped. Wally later would say that he saw a change come over his young son that day. He saw his son turn from a boy into a young man. Ozzy lifted his head, set his chin, and headed back towards the puck. He took a swing, and missed again, then another swing, another miss, this went on for about 10 minutes and then he made contact and slammed the puck into the far wall. The grin that spread across his face could have been seen all of the way to London. Ozzy spent the rest of the night, until the rink closed, practicing with the stick and puck. He even hit the net a time or 2. When they got home that night, Nora saw blisters on her son’s hands and glared at Wally. Wally nodded and told her to put some plasters on them and to not worry. So Nora treated the blisters on her son’s hands but deep inside she knew that this wouldn’t be the last time she would bandage her son up. Ozzy kept practicing, joined the team and was on the 4th line. The small firecracker was still known as Oswald. He quietly carried out his duties on the ice, but the drive and focus in the youngster were hard to ignore. Oswald stayed on the team and each year he moved up a line and each year, he got a little bit better. By the time he was 12 he was the captain of the team and Oswald still was known for his passion and, well, to be honest, his quietness. That is, until the final game of the season. They were on the verge of breaking the record for the most wins in a season. They had already won the league cup so really there was nothing to play for, except the record. And the team was playing that way. They were getting manhandled off of the puck, their shots lacked any fire and it seemed like they were just going through the motions. Ozzy had changed his look over the years on the team, the young ruddy-faced 8 year old with the crew cut and glasses had become a lanky, muscular picture of stability, except for his long hair (he refused to cut it) and the 3 earrings he had decided to wear. He normally wore his hair pulled back during the games as he didn’t like it getting in his face, but as the team headed into the locker room for the 2nd period break, down 0-3, Ozzy was seen to be pulling the tie out of his hair as he went down the tunnel. Ozzy walked into the locker room, sat in his normal spot and starred at the floor. Fred was trying to fire the team up, talking about the record, about their parents, but nothing seemed to phase them. That is, until Ozzy stood up, a fire in his eyes that no one had ever seen before. The buzzer had just gone off for the team to head back out to the ice and Ozzy let out this scream that echoed off of the concrete walls of the locker room, as his voice faded into the quiet it had created, at the top of his voice he yelled, “Let me hear you scream!” It seemed to do the trick, the team came out for the final period with the fire that Ozzy had lit in them and they went on the win the game 5-3, sealing the best record in the history of he youth league. The legend of Ozzy had been born. Ozzy continued to grow, not only physically, but also as a player and a leader. By the time he was 18 he had amassed a wall full of medals and trophies. He knew that this is what he wanted to do. After convincing his parents that he could make it work, he spent the summer earning money to pay his way. He talked to his uncle Otis and he headed to Canada to join the Mississauga Hounds. What the future holds for Ozzy, no one knows, but where ever he goes he will take this history with him and will forever been known as Oswald “Ozzy” Batty, the Wildman of the ice! Word Count: 1277

Game Review for Houston Bulls and San Diego Marlins, Game 104 The Houston Bulls faced the San Diego Marlins and even though the shots on goal were close, the final score wasn’t. The Marlins won the contest 5-0 behind an outstanding effort from the defenders, and especially goalie Kendra Cavill who stopped the 27 shots faced. Bulls goalie Zaps Cat was able to stop 26 shots, but faced 31, and those 5 goals that were let in decided the final score. The Marlins scoring attack was led by Nicholas Sunderbruch Jr who had 1 goal and 2 assists. He was added by Meghan Dancalot with 1 goal and 1 assist, as well as Seto Kaiba who had 1 goal. Inker Belle and Ahsoka Tano both increased the score line by garnering 1 goal and 1 assist each. Ender and Justin Rike finished the point total for the Marlins by getting 2 assists a piece. The Marlins seemed to have refined an effective offensive strategy that ensured the goals and points were spread around the team as they cruised to an easy victory over the Bulls. Word Count: 174

Game Review for Las Vegas Aces vs. Halifax 21st, game 109 The final score of this game was 0-9. The Halifax 21st took an unbelievable 56 shots on goal, with them taking 11 in the 1st period, more than the Las Vegas Aces took during the whole game (8). The 21st had 3 players score 2 goals in the game, Anthony Simmons II, Dorji Khan, and Ty Duke. Simmons also had 3 assists for a total of 5 points earned in this single game. The game was, for all intents, over by the end of the 1st period. The 21st had scored 4 goals on their 11 shots and, even though the number of shots increased each period (18 and 27) the number of goals decreased (3 and 2) but with that number of shots, it was a forgone conclusion who would win the game. Las Vegas Aces starting goalie was pulled at 0;42 of the 2nd period after giving up 6 goals out of 13 shots he had faced. The backup goalie faced an onslaught of 43 shots during the rest of the game and saved an outstanding 40 of them, but by then, the damage was done. Word Count: 188

Way Too Early Predictions! With 20 games played (for 8 of the teams) what are my Way Too Early Predictions for the finishing order of the 2 conferences of the VHLM? To set this up, lets review the current order: Western Conference Mexico City Kings: 20 GP, 16/2/2, 34 points. Goal Difference: +23 Saskatoon Wild: 20 GP, 13/5/2, 28 points, Goal Difference: +28 Houston Bulls: 19 GP, 13/5/1, 27 points, Goal Difference: +12 San Diego Marlins: 20 GP, 11/8/1, 23 points, Goal Difference: +7 Las Vegas Aces: 20 GP, 1/17/2, 4 points, Goal Difference: -71 (yes, that is correct -71 goal difference!) Eastern Conference Halifax 21st: 20 GP, 18/2/0, 36 points. Goal Difference: +53 (yep, PLUS 53!) Miami Marauders: 19 GP, 12/4/3, 27 points. Goal Difference: +30 Mississauga Hounds: 20 GP, 7/12/1, 15 points. Goal Difference: -16 Philadelphia Reapers: 20 GP, 4/15/1, 9 points. Goal Difference: -32 Ottawa Lynx: 20 GP, 4/15/1, 9 points. Goal Difference: -34 So how will they finish? Western Conference 1. Mexico City Kings 2. Houston Bulls 3. Saskatoon Wild 4. San Diego Marlins 5. Las Vegas Aces Eastern Conference 1. Halifax 21st 2. Miami Marauders 3. Mississauga Hounds 4. Ottawa Lynx 5. Philadelphia Reapers What is this based on? Research? Nope. In-depth player analysis? Nada. Looking at the rosters for player counts? Not on your life! So what is this all based on? Who the hell knows! It is the way too early prediction for a reason! It is not really based on anything!! Now, let's go enjoy the season and play some hockey! Word Count: 255

Love this! Great write up @der meister

Ozzy Batty, a name that more and more people are starting to recognize. The 6'2" 205 pound Center joined the VHL as a relatively unknown. He joined the Mississauga Hounds as a waiver free agent and has slowly been moving up the leader boards as the VHLM season progresses. Ozzy was asked what he thought of his success and replied with clipped words, "What is our record again?" It was obvious that he knew the team's record, 4-10-1 and technically in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference due to them having a better goal difference. Ozzy however refused to answer any questions concerning his personal success on the ice and pointed to the team patch on his shirt. So what is Ozzy doing that is starting to catch the attention of the reporters back home in England? The VHLM has played 15 games so far and as was stated earlier the team doesnt have a good record, but that hasnt stopped Ozzy from creeping up the leader boards. Thru these 15 games Ozzy is currently: Points: 4th, with 26 Goals: 6th, with 10 Assists: 5th, with 16 Shots: 8th, with 92 Hits Taken: 4th, with 62 Power Play Goals: 5th, with 3 That last one is a little concerning because of the beating the body can take. Hopefully Ozzy can bulk up his frame to help absorb that punishment. Ozzy has refused to discuss his success but his coaches are quick to comment on the work ethic of the youngster. When asked to name his strengths, they quickly reply that he is a student of the game and pushes himself to improve; that he is more concerned about the success of the team over any personal accolades; and how he is the ultimate teammate and is there for his teammates. The obvious question has to be then, what are his weaknesses. Once again, the coaches respond quickly and in unison that he has high standards of himself and wont accept when he doesnt achieve what he feels that he should; he doesnt know how to disconnect from the game; his nature can come across as dismissive or even arrogant and that can give others the wrong idea about him. They followed that up by saying once people talk to Ozzy they realize it is just because he is so intense and focused, but not in a bad way. Ozzy's uncle, Otis, was called to see if he could answer some questions and he deflected all but one. Since Ozzy was signed as a waiver selection he will be entering the rookie draft at the end of the season. Otis was asked if anyone had talked to him or Ozzy about the draft. He smiled and said, not yet, but the season is still young, so just because he has been having a good start to the season, it doesnt mean he will have a good end. But no matter what, it is apparent that Otis is enjoying the success of Ozzy and the constant reminder is there of just what might have been for him....but now...it is Ozzy's time. Word Count: 519

1. Sadly, yes. But I did see some positives for sure. I think the lack of an actual roster was very apparent in those games. 2. Yea, I am really shocked to be honest. While I like seeing us doing well as individuals, I would love it more if we were getting more victories. 3. I actually prefer both. I think they provide different insights and I like to see the approach the people take to displaying their player's talents. 4. As I am a Forward, yea, let me deke them out of their skates! 5. I never really followed hockey until I found these leagues. I do have one tho that didnt happen to me. Back in high school (the early 80s) a friend of mine went to a hockey game in Ft Wayne. While he was there the puck flew over the plastic wall and hit him in the top of the head. I guess it knocked him out and he was taken to the ER. They stitched his head up and sent him home with a concussion. He came back to school a couple of days later with a huge patch of hair missing from the front of his head and like 10 stitches in it. No one wanted to laugh at him, but yea, he looked funny. 6. Since I dont watch it, lets go with Edmonton for something different!

Sim leagues are a great way to take your gaming experience to a new level. There is the community that you become a part of; the teams that you join; and the legacy you create, both on and off the ice. The leagues can suck you in and before you know it the aspects of the league become more of a focus that real life. So at that point, the challenge becomes how to maintain a balance? How to embrace the league and still do what needs to be done in real life? Sometimes, the league can even consume more of your time than real-life tasks can. For some, these are a great escape from the reality of life, for others, it is a chance to achieve the glory that was not possible during their real-life sports experiences, but at the end of the day, it is an online experience that becomes a part of who we are. What happens when you have to leave though? We all know that real life is more important, but at the same time, an abrupt departure can cause ripples throughout the sim league. What happens if you are the main player on the team? Or a manager/owner who is control of the careers and experiences of others? How does it change their experience? Does the departure cause hard feelings? Is there resentment because of how the abrupt departure derailed their experience? The obvious answer is no, everyone understands that real life comes first. But at the same time, it is understandable when their is hesitation when the player returns. It makes sense that the league and team management is unsure. But the fact the player is welcomed back, no matter how long it has been since they left, shows the true nature of the league. It answers that question, how leagues and players feel when life actually does come first and we understand the role of sim leagues in our lives....and that is pretty damn awesome. Word Count: 333

Ozzy Batty missed the opportunity to be drafted for the current season so he had to join a team as an undrafted free agent. Ozzy knew that he had the freedom to join whatever team he wanted to and that it would probably be just for 1 season as he will become a free agent and in the next draft. There is a chance he could be drafted by the team he signed with, but that is a 50-50 proposition, at best. So where did he decide to go? Ozzy spent hours looking at each team. He texted, called and even video conferenced with his uncle Ozzy to figure out what to do. He looked at the roster for each team and tried to figure out where he would be in the team's scheme. After weighing it all out Ozzy chose to join the Mississauga Hounds. Why did he chose a team with no Centers? Well, that is the answer where they didnt have any Centers, so he knew he would get some ice time. He also felt like it was an opportunity to develop his skills and refine his ability to find the back of the net. The season has started and 6 games that have been played and sadly the Hounds are struggling to find their rhythm. Ozzy has been trying to help them get those elusive victories, but the team still cant find out how to put the whole game together. Ozzy has 6 goals (out of a team total of 20) and 4 assists for a total of 10 points and 1 game winner. He also has an impressive 13.64% on shots. But, as stated before, these just have not been enough. Ozzy has been seen hitting the ice early in the morning and staying late at night, trying to get better at what he does. We have seen him skating back and forth, trying to build up more speed, trying to hit the net from all over the ice, just doing everything to get better. We caught Ozzy after one of his late night sessions to ask what his thoughts about the season so far. "We are 1-5, so not much to hang our hat on. I need to figure out how to be able to win more games. Yes, we need more firepower, but we also need more help in from of our net to keep others from scoring. Until we do that, I dont see how things can improve." He was shocked to learn that he was doing well in the league scoring and point leaderboards. "So, I really dont care about that until we are winning. Single accolades dont mean much if we cant back it up with team success and hardware." The youngster headed up the stairs to his 2nd story room as his day ended, the focus and drive is apparent on his face. How high this young man will go, who knows? But he knows that to get there will take hard work that he is willing to do. There are alot of positives and possibilities for this youngster and the sky is the limit of what he can achieve. Word Count: 531

1. Hitting the ground running and not being overwhelmed in the games. I feel like it would be even more successful if we can get more waiver signings. 2. People who will hang around thru the tough times. 3. Anything my wife makes. She is a wonderful cook and knows what I like 4. Passing. I know I need to be able to set up the other players as well as knowing how to score myself 5. Well, I am a retired high school history/civics/economics teacher, so I have that in my wheelhouse. But my expertise is WW2, specifically the Holocaust, so I would feel really good with that. 6. Gotta go with the Hurricanes! Wait, are they still in it? HAHA

Thanks. Life has finally decided to stop throwing "crazy" at me...well...at least it is on a scale I can handle now, haha. I need to figure out what team to join so I can hit the ice, easier said than done that is for sure! Plus I need to get the Player Name updated....

Player Information Username: Otis Boudreaux Jr Player Name: Ozzy Batty Recruited From: Returning Age: 18 Position: C Height: 74 in. Weight: 205 lbs. Birthplace: United Kingdom Player Page @VHLM GM

I will throw my hat into the ring for both roles. I have enjoyed my experience as a GM and hope to be able to give more back to the VHL

Team Europe Roster Forwards Maxsim Anisimov Raimo Tuominen BjorkaBjorn BjornaBjorkson Catia Gonclaves Jarmo Ruutu Otis Boudreaux, Jr Ronald Johnson MacWallace III Tullermore Dew David Rashford Defenders Yaboi Oven Obuz Schneider Eurydyka Sklodowska Dudzinska Callum Gary Yannick Janser Goalies Karl Herzlich Clark

Lets go Europe!!