OBrian Young

Welcome back, I am a returnee as well....it is great to be a part of this community for sure! Dont hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, Jess

Welcome back. I am a returnee myself! Great to be a part of the community for sure. Dont hesitate to reach out if you have any questions Jess

Welcome! The VHL is a great place to enjoy being part of a sim league, however you want to do it! Dont hesitate to reach out if you have any questions Jess

Welcome to the VHL, hope you have a great experience in the league! Dont hesitate to reach out if you have any questions Jess

With only a week to prepare for the draft the new front office staff in Mexico were up late making phone calls and sending emails as they put their draft board together. Well, the draft is over now and the team is happy to announce the S90 draft selections with some insights into the decision. 1st Rd, 7th overall: Defender Mina @Baozi This was our top target. The team had only 1 defender on the roster and we knew with the firepower that other teams would bring we would need to provide some protection in the net. We are very happy to have this player on board and know they will contribute from day one. 2nd Rd, 17th overall: Defender Arne Holmquist @axtron Went defender here for the same reason. But with 109 TPE this one could be a 2-season player who we hope will be able to give us a great presence on the ice as well as in the locker room. 3rd Rd, 27th overall: We considered a trade offer here, but decided to pull the trigger and bring in RW Bryce Woodworth @SirRupertBarnes This is another player we had our eyes on. Yes, a team needs good defenders, but it also needs good Forwards. Bryce was very excited about the chance to join Mexico during the interview process and we were excited to see him there for us to make this selection. 4th Rd, 37th overall: Once again got a trade offer, but we had another player on our radar so went ahead and selected G Vincenzo Pagano @Oatex We felt that it would be a good idea to have our backup under contract to allow them to progress through the season and be ready to assume the starter job next season. Vincenzo gave a great interview and we are excited to welcome him into our locker room. 5th Rd, 47th overall: We went back to the well one last time to select Defender Kim Van Him @Jim Kovtrash this pick was definitely for next season. With one full season of progression under his belt we expect him to be a force next season. But by getting him under contract he will be able to build into that role. 6th Rd, 57th overall: The list of potential players had gotten very short by this round so we were looking for the best player on the board who had the most recent activity. Even though we have 2 goalies under contract, we decided to select a 3rd goalie with the intention of trading one of them. With that in mind, we selected Motionless Kleaver @Kleaver 7th Rd, 67th overall: With very few players left on the board, the decision was made to draft D Alerkiz da png. But sadly, when we attempted to reach out to him, he was no longer on the forums. So he was officially released this morning. Overall, we are pleased with the draft results, some players didnt fall to us when we wanted them to, but that is the risk of a draft. Welcome to the Kings everyone and we look forward to an exciting season!

Great experience and great bunch of GMs and players! I really enjoyed this....okay...it was made better by Team Europe winning, but it was alot of fun. Team Asia, congrats, you played us tough thru the whole tournament! Looking forward to next season, hope I can be a part of it again!

Press Conference Time Again!! 1. The draft is on Wednesday, we have all 7 of our draft picks. So if I called you for draft advice, what should I do with our 1st pick? 2. If we could magically get a player on our team from someone else, who would you want? 3. I have not selected an AGM yet, what do you want to see from the front office staff? 4. What is your hidden gem of a movie, no one has heard of it but you watch it every chance you get? 5. 1st weekend of NFL preseason is over? Super-excited for the start of the season? Or, what is the NFL? Or, somewhere in between?

(Brussels, Belgium) The qualifying rounds are over for the World Junior Championship. Team Europe made an emphatic statement as they carved up the opposition while compiling a record of 9 victories and only 1 loss. The victories were by an average of 3.33 goals per match as the team amassed an astounding goal difference of +30. The team suffered their lone loss by 1 goal to a tenacious Team Asia. Team Stats Lattimer: 11 G/12 A/23 pts Jensen: 10 G/8 A/18 pts Bala: 2 G/12 A/14 pts Jarkko: 4 G/8 A/12 pts Legacy: 4 G/6 A/10 pts Westwood: 3 G/7 A/10 pts Bjorn: 2 G/5 A/ 7 pts Turtle: 2 G/5 A/7 pts OBJ Jr: 2 G/5 A/7 pts Dudz: 3 G/2 A/5 pts RMW: 2 G/3 A/5 pts The whole team contributed on a grand scale!! But now the easy part is done, Team Europe is in the top spot and will face the winner of the Team World versus Team Asia game. Once that game is over, while we play the victor for a spot in the Championship game Team USA and Team Canada will face off for the other Championship game spot. Here are the final overall standings: 1. Europe: 9 W/1 L, GD: +30 2. USA: 6 W/4 L, GD: -2 3. CAN: 5 W/5 L, GD: +5 4. Asia: 4 W/6 L, GD: -5 5. World: 2 W/8 L, GD: -18 (please excuse my math if some of the numbers are off, can I claim "old man issues"?) It isnt over until it is over and we have 2 more games to win. If Team Europe is able to be victorious and continue the tradition of great teams to come out of Europe! No pressure, right? HAHA! Word Count: 292 Week Claimed: 13 Aug 2023

Sorry, this was supposed to be in the Media Spot forum. I claimed it as such. If I cannot do that, please let me know and I will revoke things and put in the right forum.

Yes, you better be careful what you wish for....you just might get it! Dont get me wrong, I am not complaining or anything negative because I really love what I am doing. But boy did I have to hit the ground running! Okay, I probably should explain. Recently I had lamented that I had been applying for General Manager positions and that I had not heard anything back about them. As I shared last week, I was appointed the General Manager of Team Europe for the World Junior Championship. So I had to quickly select the players for the team and figure out what lines I wanted to use. I was then given a crash-course on how to determine what strategies to use and to make sure the team was given the correct instructions. I must have done something right, we are currently 6-1 with a +21 goal difference. I think it is more that the team is so strong it makes up for any deficiencies I have as a General Manager. But I am not going to complain, they are doing a great job. As soon as I started to feel like I had that all under control, I get another phone call. I had been selected as the next General Manager of the Mexico City Kings of the VHLM. The previous front office staff have moved on to bigger and better things (we wish them well in their new endeavors!) but still poke their heads in the office door to offer advice when they can, which is greatly appreciated. So I look around, and most of the team have either moved on or become free agents. Oh, by the way, the draft is in less than a week, so I need to get ready for that! As I continue to monitor the Team Europe performance I started to prepare for the upcoming draft. I am still learning about the value of various draft picks as I respond to incoming trade requests. I have spent hours reaching out to the draft class to gauge their interest in becoming a King. Most have said yes, absolutely. Some have seemed indifferent, while I have gotten the rare rejection. I appreciate the honesty. I know the M is an entry league and my goal is to give everyone on my team the best experience I can. If they want to spend their time in the league with another team, I wish them the best! But yea, trying to filter and respond to the messages, that takes time as well. So while I was waiting to see what would happen next, wondering where my career would go, I had 2 doors open at almost the same time. I have been busy for sure! I want to thank those who have offered advice, answered my questions, and tried to make this process as painless as possible. At the end of the day, all leagues are made up of people. Those people determine if the league is a place the welcomes new people or if it operates as a closed community where positions of responsibility are passed around like a hot potato. Luckily, this is a league that encourages new people to get involved. It is a place that supports people as they learn the ins and outs of how things operate. It is a place that allows everyone to make the story theirs and can enjoy the league in whatever way they want to. That is something pretty special. So now the doors have opened, and it is up to me to make the most of it. Word Count: 603 Week Claimed: 13 Aug 2023

Sorry for getting this posted so late. I will get them out earlier starting next week. 1. It is the off-season, what are your plans? 2. What are your thoughts on last season? 3. I know most people dont read books as much as they used to, but if you would recommend 1 book, what would it be? 4. Involved in any off-season tournaments? 5. Favorite pro-sports player?

Team Europe S89 World Junior Championship (Brussels, Belgium) It only makes sense that the home of the European Union would be the location for the announcement of the Season 89 Team Europe for the World Junior Championship. Without further ado, here is the players who will be taking the ice to represent Europe in this storied tournament: Team Europe Forwards Viktor Jensen @Advantage BjorkaBjorn BjornaBjorkson @JardyB10 Legacy Gaming @Gaming Ringleader Steve Lattimer @pugsood Zyn Westwood @Sullvino Jarkko Laakkonen @Xdjk93 Ronald Johnson MacWallace III @RJMW Dank Turtle @DankTurtle Otis Boudreaux Jr Defenders Admir Bala @Tyler YaBoi Oven @Doomsday Eurydyka Sklodowska Dudzinska @diamond_ace Conference Prince-de-Galles @UnkemptCL4PTP Goalies Karl Herzlich @LastGoon007 Davis Slezak @ShawnGlade This talented group of players from represent the up-and-coming talent from Europe that will soon take the VHL by storm. The team will be coached by a name that some may recognize, Otis Boudreaux, he agreed to come out of retirement for this tournament. He is joined in the coach's corner by the well-known veteran of the VHL @Ricer13 Now, let's bring this trophy home! PS If you are not in the team channel, please let me know so I can get you added!

Thank you everyone, I am very honored by this. Now, where is my office? It is time to get to work!

Hopefully we can start to turn that around!

1. Off-season tends to be a slow time around sim leagues. What do you do to keep yourself engaged and excited for the upcoming season? I try to learn as much as I can about other aspects of the league. I know at some point I will be going up to LA so I am trying to get more comfortable in the LR there. 2. The draft is coming up soon and we have a chance of getting some really good players. Do you think we will be in a good spot for a strong season afterwards? Yes, I think we were so close in so many of the games last season so getting some new pieces in will, hopefully, get us over that hurdle to win more games. 3. How do you think the contraction from eight teams to six will affect the VHLE going forward? Is it good or bad overall for the league? I think initially it will be uncomfortable for some. But if it means there are more real players on the teams I think it will help with the league because people will feel like they are competing against real people and not just AI players. If, at some point in the future, the league finds it needs more teams in the E, then they can expand back. 4. What is your favourite two team combination for Puckdoku and why? Umm...guess this is something else I need to learn about...I have no idea what this is. 5. Does an active locker room factor into your overall enjoyment of sim leagues? Why or why not? I think so. I join sim leagues because I want to interact with other people. I guess that is one of the downsides of working from home, I dont really interact with people that much. So an active LR gives me people to talk to....even if I am damn-near old enough to be some of yall's grandfather, lol. 6. What do you think makes rory such a great GM? His humility of course!!

Congrats to both on their selections!! Wish you the best of luck!

On it, looks interesting. I followed you, I'm Jesster64

Thought I would give another team's presser a shot. 1. The Wranglers have been eliminated from the playoffs. Do you agree with GM Rice’s move to take this team into a new direction? Well of course! I have been privileged to be able to ask him questions about his decisions, and to learn alot in the process. 2. Of the four teams remaining, who would you like to see win the cup? Kind of unfair on this one, but since I cant go wrong with Davos, will go with them. 3. Daniel Janser has retired. First ballot hall of famer?!? Yes, I can see very easily that no only has he been a force to be reckoned with on the ice, but he has been one hell of a teammate. 4. Which prospect in the Wranglers system has the brightest future? I think all of them are going to have great careers, but I think RW Shubham Anand seems to be trending upward and once he hits the ice in a Wrangler jersey will make an immediate impact. 5. What’s scarier, being in a plane crash but surviving or being stranded in the middle of the ocean for 2 weeks before being found?! I was a US Air Force firefighter for over 9 years, so I saw first-hand the trauma of plane crashes. So, knowing that I would be rescued, I would choose being stranded. But yea, not a fan of either, lol. 6. Cats or dogs? Why? I have both. We currently have 1 dog, 1 cat (14 years old) and 2 kittens (5 month-old brother and sister). I think both offer me support and pleasure. So to be honest, cant really chose one over the other.

The toughest part of any journey is the first step....or say they say. But is it supposed to be that tough when you have already been on the journey to take a step along a different path? Not a different route, just another branch of the journey. But it is going to be something different for sure. I never joined the VHL to just become a GM, but once I got settled in, I figured it would be a way I could give back to the community. I know there are certain destinations that I want to get to along this journey. I wanted to become an Assistant General Manager first. I am so thrilled to be getting for my first full off-season as the Assistant General Manager of the Calgary Wranglers. I am so fortunate to be working with a General Manager who answers my questions and provides guidance, even on things I never had thought to ask. One of the things he has suggested is that I apply for General Manager positions, that I do not know what would happen. So I followed his advice and applied for General Manager positions for the World Junior Championship tournament, for the current VHLM vacancies as well as the huge reach, the current openings in the VHL. And then I waited..... I started to think that I was going to be passed over for the openings, I mean, I am still relatively new, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Then finally, I got the notification I was waiting for! Yes! I have been selected as the General Manager of Team Europe!! The first thing I did was tell @Ricer13 and told him I was going to be asking him alot of questions. He replied that he was more than willing to help me out. So yea, there is a step in a new direction, but still moving towards my final goal of one day being a VHL General Manager. But for now, I am going to take advantage of this opportunity to learn as much as I can...and who knows what will happen next? Word Count: 353 Week Claimed: 6 Aug 2023

Excited for this opportunity, thanks so much!

I need to check out Storgraph. I have never heard of it and am not impressed with Goodreads. I dont really have friends on there and I really could care less what people I dont know are saying. I like where you said it has recommendations....that is what I would really like!

I am the current AGM at Calgary, have learned alot over the past season. I would love the opportunity to apply what I have learned, and what I will continue to learn, in Helsinki or Chicago, or where ever I am needed. So I humbly submit my name for consideration.

Applying for any place I am needed

What a season!?!?! I mean, I went from being a nobody on a team that had a good history to someone who was able to help my teammates find the net. I know that I have more work to do, but I feel like this was a good start for sure. I want to continue to work on being the best teammate that I can be for sure. So what have I learned? First of, ratings matter. I mean, we all know they have an impact, but I learned how some impact more than others. I learned what kinds of ratings to concentrate on if I want to be a good passer or a good scorer. I have realized that I need to chose one or the other, I cannot be both. But I do not really want to commit to one or the other, I mean, who knows what my team will need me to be? I guess that is kind of a coward's way out, but what good am I if I continue to invest in the type of player that we have an abundance of? So while this sounds like an easy decision, it is not. I know I will have to make this decision soon, but can you blame me for trying to put it off as long as I can? Secondly, there is more to being a GM than just getting the players on the ice. I am blessed to have a great GM to work with in @Ricer13 who takes time to answer my questions and encourages me to take more chances with getting involved in the league. He offered to let me set the lines (which I missed the deadline to do) so maybe it is a good thing that I am not doing more than asking questions at this point, LOL. I have watched how he has approached the off-season, making decisions for the future of the team while demonstrating his concern for the experience of the players who are not only on Calgary, but anyone who is connected with the organization. One thing I try to do is to try to give anyone on a team that I am involved with is given the best experience that I can give them. So he and I have the same approach to team management. I know I have learned quite a bit, but I know there is much more that I need to learn. Thirdly, managing TPE/TPA is tougher than it appears on the surface. It would make sense that the objective is to earn as much as I can as fast as I can. But that can backfire by forcing me to get promoted before my player is actually ready to. These decisions need to made with planning and forethought. Thank goodness for the veterans in the league who are so willing to offer advice and input on these types of things. Lastly, what about this money????? Damn, I have $2.5 MILLION saved!!! I didnt even realize I had it until I decided to be nosey and look around some more on the website. How cool is that???? Oh, one last thing I have learned.....make sure to check the forums when you have applied for a job. I seriously doubt that it is a good look to not respond in a timely manner to interview requests. From my experience, a late response (especially when the response is sent AFTER the selections have been announced) GREATLY reduces your chance of getting selected! I mean, reduces the chances to 00000%, and that may be generous! Yes, I have learned quite a bit, but I know I have so much more to learn. Word Count: 618 Week Claimed: 6 Aug 2023

Will humbly apply. Yes, I will monitor the Forums to make sure I can respond to any messages in a timely manner!