Nathan_8

Here we go again, another season means another captains announcement. I would like to congratulations the three players that will lead the Rome Gladiators this season!
 
C - Petit Hughie @Sen
A - Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8
A - Gul Dukat @MSouthworth
 
Congratulations again and let's have a fun season!!

FR

Flying over the Atlantic to start my career in the VHL Europe league I was very nervous. When I got to Oslo, Norway and my lodging for my Europe career it finally set in that I made it up a level in the journey to the VHL. Once I arrived, the staff for the Storm helped get me situated as well as showed me the facilities as well as places of interest around the area. I had made sure to come early so I could explore Oslo more to get a lay of the area and just enjoy.
 
Going into the offseason from VHL Minors, I worked on shoring up my defensive skills as well as puck handling. I did a lot of skating around the rink trying to get better at my motions so I can adjust on the fly better during a game. I also did some strength training to help take hits and keep the puck in my possession so I can keep the play going for the team.
 
I have no expectations for this season, my goal is to learn as much as possible from my teammates and other players in the league. I had a good season in VHL Minors, and I do want to continue it but I understand that this isn’t the minors anymore and the talent level is even better.  I would like to average at least half a point a game this season, maybe even get enough to finish top 5 in points for all defensemen. Even if I don’t achieve those as long as I learn and keep improving my game and myself the season will be a success in my book.
 
For the team, we have a talented group of players anchored by the #1 pick of the VHL draft Antonia Bucatini. Antonia Bucatini as well as Chris Reynolds Jr and Miner vHLer, a great leader in the locker room, join me from the VHL Minors from the team I was on, Houston Bulls. I believe the talented group of players the Storm has assembled will work well together and we can get the Storm back to the VHL Europe playoffs and hopefully a chance for the championship. In my mind if we give it our all then we can’t be ashamed of however the season goes.
 
I am excited to play against my fellow teammates in VHL Minors as well. On top of that I and two other defensemen have entered a little rivalry on who will score the most points this season between the three of us. Lucy Leitner (@LucyXpher), Gul Dukat (@MSouthworth), and I decided that we will rank each other in Hits, Shots Blocked, and Points. Whoever has the best average ranking will be declared the Top Amigo of the Trio.

It is almost time to get ready and have some fun. Going to be a great season.

The font is called "Black Junkiest" btw
 

The simming team for S93 is:
 
VHL: @Josh
VHLE: @MexicanCow123
VHLM: @N0HBDY
Backup: @Beketov
 
@VHL GM @VHLE GM @VHLM GM

🔥 HELLO HOUSTON FANS!! 🔥
 
Just recently the S93 VHLM Dispersal Draft wrapped up. Last weekend before this one, the VHL and VHLE completed their S93 entry drafts as well. Houston was VERY excited to watch the big screen for all three drafts and see the S92 Bulls roster flying off the boards! Here is a recap of our squad and where their futures will lead:
 
 
(C) Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica
 Davos - 1st overall
 Oslo - 1st overall
 
(D) Lucy Leitner @LucyXpher
 Riga - 3rd overall
 Vasteras - 2nd overall
 
(G) Ondrej Vencko @Mutti
 Prague - 8th overall
 Vasteras - 26th overall
 
(D) Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee
 Moscow - 9th overall
 Oslo - 5th overall
 
(RW) Nathan Ecker @Nathan_8
 Seattle - 10th overall
 Rome - 9th overall
 
(LW) Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23
 New York - 11th overall
 Oslo - 11th overall
 
(C) Tyler Lawson @Nyx
 Helsinki - 14th overall
 Rome  - 21st overall
 
(LW) Miner vHLer @Rhynex Entertainment
 Calgary  - 17th overall
 Oslo - 31st overall
 
(G) Herald Benson @Benson
 D.C. - 19th overall
 Cologne - 22nd overall
 
(D) Cody Toland @ctoland102
 Warsaw - 25th overall
 Cologne - 19th overall
 
(RW) Jack Dickins @Mystery_boy98
 Prague - 28th overall
 Oslo - 49th overall
 
(LW) Filip Zinek @FiZi
 Seattle - 32nd overall
 Bratislava - 41st overall
 
(C) Micah Cederbaum @MicahC
 Chicago - 46th overall
 Cologne - 54th overall
 
 
I'm pumped! We smashed these drafts and it literally felt like my birthday when I saw 4 Bulls get drafted in a row in the first round of the VHL draft. Makes me feel like I actually did something as a GM to see all these players getting drafted so high, it motivates me to want to do it again every season! The VHLM Draft ended yesterday and Houston has some new AND familiar faces to introduce:
 
(D) Billy Joel @The goat of hockey

27th overall / 24th overall / 16th overall
 
The name just checks out. If you didn't know, The goat of hockey is my new AGM in Houston! I was really hoping their player, Billy Joel, could drop to 16th since for 1. they are my AGM and 2. I was hoping to draft a defender with our first pick. Joel has a solid build and should be our #1 guy to rely on when it comes to the blue line. It is always fun playing for the team you manage so I think this is a perfect home for Billy Joel.
 
(LW) Filip Zinek @FiZi

32nd overall / 41st overall / 32nd overall
 
A familiar face! Filip Zinek was part of the Houston Bulls' roster last season and I was SHOCKED to see them still available at 32. Zinek isn't the loudest in the locker room or forums but is always a pleasure to have a conversation with 1 on 1 so I really wanted them back! Zinek will be our top offensive threat heading into the start of this season.
 
(D) Wladyslaw Mintus @mintusaurus

37th overall / 37th overall / 36th overall
 
Wladyslaw Mintus may have been surprised to come to Houston. As draft day was approaching I was sending out last minute interviews and wanted to send one Mintus' way in case I could take them at 16th overall. Fast forward to 36th overall and they were still available! The Oslo-Calgary chain line caught my eye as well (my current player is playing for Calgary and played for Oslo) and I am really excited to get to know this first gen more as the season rolls on.
 
(RW) - Cole Stermer @Bazeus

57th overall / 53rd overall / 51st overall
 
As the draft was winding down I saw Cole Stermer still alive on the board. Stermer has been consistently earning weekly and I wanted to take a gamble, so I traded up to pick 51 to draft them! Las Vegas received Houston pick 56 and 66 in return. There is a lot of potential to come from this prospect I feel, with time and teaching I am hoping to make Cole Stermer a VHLM graduate! I know with Rory and Bana also in their DMs that this should be a fun player to work with.
 
 
It was definitely a slim draft for Houston as I did trade Houston's 1st and 3rd round picks away earlier last season. With that in mind I also made a trade so our capped goaltender could get some depth shooters in front of him to start the season (Benson was the only player on our roster before the trade). Here is what our roster looked like before the 4 draftees walked in:
 
 (G) Herald Benson @Benson

19th overall / 22nd overall / 25th overall
 
(C) Charlie Klepacki @chuck.hockey7

40th overall / 64th overall / 34th overall
 
(LW) Elf Shoes @ELF_SH0ES

54th overall / 60th overall / 37th overall
 
Herald Benson played the backup role for Houston heading into S92 playoffs last season. With the crease fully under his control now, I am really excited to see what kind of numbers he can produce! I just needed to figure out how to put a team in front of him. Not many defenders were on the trade block heading into the draft but forwards were, specifically from Miami. Charlie Kelpacki and Elf Shoes are two very consistent earners who I hope can have some fun with us this season. I traded away our S94 1st round pick for these two forwards but if you know me then you know that I am allergic to owning 1st round picks. Hopefully these two new prospects, our capped goaltender, and the four new draft picks from this draft can start our season off strong! Everyone is currently 100+ TPE which is nice to see, but we have lots of work to do still if playoffs are going to be in the question.
 
 
Lastly, the magician @Triller made a beautiful graphic last season and I am going to try my best to make one half as good this season! Graphics have always been something I have tried to get better at and Triller made it nice and easy PNGing the Filip Zinek #88 jersey you see below. I'll need some more jersey numbers first before I attempt creating graphics, but also below is the list of numbers we have so far:
 
  
 
S93 Houston Bulls Jersey Numbers
 
#14 Herald Benson 🇨🇦
#69 Billy Joel 🇨🇦
#88 Filip Zinek 🇨🇿 
#98 Wladyslaw Mintus 🇺🇸
 
Charlie Kelpacki 🇨🇦
Cole Stermer 🇨🇦
Elf Shoes 🇺🇸
 
 
That's all for now. I hope everyone is enjoying their St. Patty's today 🍀🍻

I'm only here to be helpful and friendly! ❤️
 

It has to be Erik Thorvaldsson. He doesn't look anything like a Commodore. Except for the afro maybe. 🤷

No thats Erik Thorvaldsson

As our flight touched down in Stockholm, I couldn’t help but be reminded that I was a long way from home. Having spent most of my life and professional career as a writer in Houston, the prospect of crossing the pond and living in a new country for any extended period of time was admittedly quite mystifying.  Opportunity calls-- or at least that's what I told myself as I disembarked the aircraft and began making my way through the terminal.  After a nearly 12-hour flight, my destination was still an hour's train ride away-- Vasteras, one of northern Europe's oldest cities, approximately 100km west of Stockholm.  Stepping outside, I found myself instinctively buttoning up my coat and folding my arms.  In contrast to the humid heat of Houston, even in the month of March, the air here in Sweden tasted fresh, brisk even, if not a little chilly.  It's a change, no doubt about that, though not an entirely unwelcome one.   
 
Last season, writing for VHL.com, I covered the story of the Houston Bulls, chronicling their rise from an early season underdog to a playoff favorite.  Having privileged access to the locker room, the players, and staff, I grew quite fond of the team, experiencing the excitement of their first-round playoff victory, as well as the pain of their semi-final defeat.  The loss was made to sting all the more as I knew that I would be moving on from coverage of the Bulls at the conclusion of the playoffs, not unlike the players who would be moving on to new teams for S93.  Only yesterday, my next assignment was confirmed-- the Vasteras Iron Eagles of the VHLE.  I had known I'd likely be heading to Europe to cover the E, but the city I'd be calling home for the duration of this next season remained a mystery until what seemed like the final hour.  When I finally got the call on Monday evening, my bags were already half packed and I scrambled to put the rest of my life together in short order—coat, scarves, boots, hat... I don't live in the real world and my life is chaos, though I suppose that's half the fun.   
 
And while I could go on about my hectic travel schedule, my lack of sleep, or prepping for a feature interview while on an intercontinental flight, this piece isn't about me so I'll spare you my melodrama.  Suffice it to say, the whirlwind that was my weekend surely cannot compare to the experience of recent VHL and VHLE draftee, Lucy Leitner.   
 
I had the opportunity to follow Leitner's first professional hockey season in Houston and was impressed with her level of play and commitment to development on and off the ice.  She got off to a flying start, quickly dispelling any doubts that her success at the junior level wouldn't translate to the minor pro ranks.  Finishing the season with 76 points in 72 games, collecting 60 assists in the process, Leitner impressed scouts enough for Riga to select her 3rd overall in the VHL draft.  In the VHLE draft, it was Vasteras that collected the smooth skating defender with the 2nd overall pick.  Notably, in both drafts over the weekend, it was Leitner's Houston teammate, Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica, who was selected 1st overall, completing a trifecta of 1st overall selections in the VHLM, VHLE, and VHL.   
 

Vasteras, Sweden
  
I slept through the hour-long train ride from Stockholm to Vasteras and, groggy-eyed, I caught a cab from the train station to the hotel and turned in early (it was only 4pm local time).  The next morning, I met Lucy in the hotel lobby at 9:00.  She was in a chipper mood, almost glowing as she crossed the lobby and greeted me warmly.  She had arrived in Vasteras the same day as I had for a short visit and already had plans to leave in less than 24 hours to fly back to the US—to Salt Lake City, for the World Junior Championships.  Today, she had the morning free to explore the city and I was more than happy to tag along.  
 
Unlike Houston, Vasteras is a walkable city. In Houston, if you don’t have a vehicle, you’re not going to get far. If you want to get anywhere, you’ll need to put on your game face, grit your teeth, hit the freeway, and hope to hell you don’t encounter the infamous Houston driver. Sure, there are bike paths down by the bayou and the city has got some nice parks, but it’s hot, horrendously humid, and sweatier than hyperhidrosis if it isn’t one of those precious few temperate weeks in the middle of February. Sound like your cup of tea? At least make sure it’s iced and unsweet, you psycho. By contrast, Vasteras has a beautiful historical district called Bondtorget. With quaint and colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, outdoor markets, a picturesque plaza, and bridges that cross the Svartån river, it doesn’t feel like life is coming at you a million miles a minute. In the chaos of the last 48 hours, taking in these relatively quiet streets with Lucy was a breath of fresh air—and I mean that literally. Back in Houston, it’s muggier than a stein of bulldog-branded root beer... Look, I’m tired and I’m trying, do with that odd analogy what you will. 
 
Walking through the narrow streets, we stumbled upon a small bridge over the Svartån with hundreds of locks hooked on the railings. I had seen bridges like this before in Europe and in North America, but Lucy seemingly had not.  
 
“Why are all these locks here?” she asked, curiously. 
 
“They’re called love locks,” I replied, “Look, you can see the initials inscribed on them. Couples leave them as a sign of their unbreakable love.” 
 
Leaning in closer to examine the locks, Lucy had an air of fascination about her, like a kid in a candy shop, a youthful curiosity. I had to remind myself, she was still only 18 and this was the furthest she’d ever been outside of the US. For all of her maturity and composure on the ice and in the locker room, this was all still new to her. Europe was a new world. Moving on from the lock encumbered bridge, we continued picking our way through the winding streets and found ourselves a quiet coffee shop where we could sit and chat. And while I fought back yawns and gulped my coffee down, fiending for caffeine, Lucy apparently had all the energy in the world.  
 
“Are you sure you only got here yesterday?” I asked, marveling at her excitement. “How are you not exhausted after all you’ve been through this past weekend? I mean, you were just drafted to the VHL and the VHLE, you’ve been playing in the Junior Showcase Tournament, you’ve flown across the Atlantic to a place you’ve never been, and you’re flying back to Salt Lake in less than a day to play against some of the best young players in the world—what's your secret? How are you not crashing?” 
 
Lucy laughed, “I don’t know. I guess I never really thought about all that. I’m just taking it all as it comes and it’s all been so much fun!” 
 
“Tell me about that experience, though-- the VHL draft was on Saturday and you were selected by Riga. Did you expect to get picked 3rd overall?” 
 
“Not at all! If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t even know Riga was in Latvia until after I got off the phone with the GM when I was drafted. I was just like, ‘where on earth is Riga?’ I guess I had it in my head that it was in Switzerland or something.” 
 
Amused, I asked, “Did you know Vasteras was in Sweden?” 
 
“Yeah, I knew that because I had a couple of former junior teammates who had been here, actually, for a tournament.” 
 
“So how do you feel about Riga? Is that where you would have hoped to get drafted?” 
 
She shrugged, “Honestly, I didn't really have any expectations, I was just happy to get picked. The organization has been nothing but great to me so far. I mean, I kind of knew they were interested because they interviewed me before the draft, but so did a bunch of other teams so I was totally shocked when I heard my name at 3rd overall with all the other great players that were still on the board. I’m just super honored more than anything else.” 
 
“No, that’s so great to hear,” I say, drinking in her luminous demeanor—and another slurp of my coffee, “And so you were picked 2nd overall by Vasteras in the VHLE draft on Monday, tell me about that experience.” 
 
“Honestly, I was still on a high from the VHL draft and when they picked me at 2nd, I couldn’t believe it. It was just such a surreal moment realizing that I could kind of see my future, like, where I would be playing next season and for, hopefully, many seasons after that in Riga.” 
 
“What does your family think about you moving to Europe? I’m sure there’s a bit of mixed emotion seeing you move so far away to play hockey.” 
 
“Yeah, definitely a little bit, like you said, obviously they’re all super supportive, but, you know, obviously, there were some tears when they dropped me off at the airport. I’m sure I’ll be able to see them a fair bit if they travel here for games. They’re already planning on coming to my first game here in Vasteras so we’re all super excited for that.” 
 
“What will that mean to you—your first game in the E with your family in attendance? I remember last offseason we spoke about you making the jump up to the M and I think you proved pretty quickly that you belonged in that league. Do you have any nervous energy going into this season?” 
 
“It’ll mean the world to me to have my family there. They’ve been with me throughout the whole journey so having them there for the first one will be super special. Like, I guess I’m maybe a little bit nervous, but, like, nothing crazy. I mean, a little bit of nervousness is good, right? Like, it kind of gets you going and I think it really helps me focus. Like, if I’m not nervous, maybe I’m not taking it seriously enough. So, yeah...” 
 
“Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself to perform at a high level?” 
 
“I guess, yeah, I definitely have high expectations for myself, but I also just love to play, so I obviously want to be at my best and I expect to play well, but if things are kind of off, I guess I don’t beat myself up over it too much. At the end of the day, I’m just so lucky to be playing this game.” 
 
“I think that’s a great mentality to have. Just take it as it comes and enjoy every moment.” 
 
“Exactly!” Lucy smiled brightly. 
 
“I wanted to ask you about your new teammates—particularly, an old teammate who will be playing with you in Vasteras. Ondrej Vencko @Mutti was also selected by the Iron Eagles, as well as a couple of rivals of yours from the Reapers, Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish and Yermolai Nabokov @fonziGG. On top of that, another high VHL draft pick in Gianfranco Del Rocco @Victor was also drafted by Vasteras. What do you think of being teammates with all of them now?” 
 
“I can’t even tell you how happy I am, honestly! I’m so glad Ondra is here. He’s just such a funny and amazing personality and an incredible player, and to have Lovstrom too? Like, our goalies have to be the best in the E, right? I also heard that they’re kinda drinking buddies in the offseason when we’re supposed to be in ‘training camp’, so maybe now that we’re all teammates they’ll let me join them! Nabokov, I don’t know too well, but I’ve heard great things about him too, and he was obviously incredible last season so I’m super excited to have him on the team.  We were actually both drafted to Riga as well, so I’m sure I’ll get to know him pretty well in future. —And Del Rocco! I was honestly surprised Vasteras didn’t take him at 2nd overall, what a player!” 
 
“It must be nice that you’ll have at least one other former Houston Bull on Vasteras with you after so many were picked in these drafts.” 
 
“Absolutely! I was honestly hoping that there would be more, but of all the people it could have been, Ondra is the best—no offense to anyone else! I love them all!” 
 
“What do you think of the team’s chances to compete for the VHLE championship this year?” 
 
“I mean, with all the talent that Z @Zetterberg brought in with the draft, plus the players we already have on the roster, I really like our chances! It’s obviously a long season and a lot can happen, but right now I absolutely believe we have a chance, and talking with some of the others, we’re all really excited to get started!” 
 
“Yeah, so with the season starting in less than a week, how are you preparing for the start of the VHLE season? I know you’ll be attending the World Juniors for Team USA, but do you think you’ll be prepared once the regular season starts?” 
 
“Definitely, I’ve been training all offseason to get better, really working on my defensive game and trying to play bigger. I’m obviously not the biggest person on the ice, but I know the levels go up in the E, including physicality, so I’m just trying to do everything I can to be ready for that. But I’m feeling really confident that my game is in a much better place now than at the end of the playoffs. I’m just feeling ready.” 
 
“And what about the World Juniors, how do you feel about your chances in that tournament? It must be an honor being able to wear your country’s colors, right?” 
 
“Yes! Oh, I can’t wait. I’ve wanted to play for the national team my whole life, so this is like a dream for me. It’s gonna be so cool putting on those jerseys and skating out against Canada in game one—like, I just can’t wait. I think we have a good chance in the tournament too, like, we’ve got a solid lineup and it’ll be great to be on the same team as Abenduct again for this tournament. I think he and Gul Dukat are going to be a monster pair if the coach puts them together!” 
 
We continued our chat for a while longer. I ordered a second coffee in the meantime, still trying to keep up with Lucy’s energy, though it seemed no amount of magic bean juice was going to get me to that level. Just before we concluded, I asked her, “Now that you’ve finished your first full season of professional hockey, have your goals changed at all? When we spoke in the last offseason, you were focused on helping the Bulls win. I know it was a disappointing end to that run, but do you feel you accomplished what you set out to do? And what is your goal for this season?” 
 
Lucy seemed to think for a few moments before answering, “Wow, yeah, I’m definitely still getting over that loss to Philly. It was heartbreaking, honestly. I mean, we didn’t get the Founder’s Cup like we all wanted—like I had hoped, I guess, but I don’t think the season was a failure. Just seeing how far we came is so incredible to look back on and I think it’s really kind of changed my perspective. I still want to win— I want to win this season, of course, but I kinda feel like how we came together as a team was even more important in the end. I’ve never had a season quite like that run with the Bulls and I really hope it’s not the last. It would have been so much sweeter if we had won, and I’m not satisfied with losing, but that’s the game, I guess. So, like, not much changes this season really, but I feel like maybe my first goal is bringing the same team energy that we had in Houston here to Vasteras. I really think if we have the whole team on the same page that way, the sky is the limit to what we can accomplish, and a championship will kind of take care of itself. I don’t know, it’s a good question.  
 
“Last one, where do you see yourself in five years?” 
 
“That’s easy,” Lucy smiled, “I’m having my day with the Continental Cup in Riga.” 
 

Riga, Latvia
 
For a player with only one season of pro experience, her goals are lofty, but her self-expectation is higher. Certainly, the road to a Continental Cup in five years will be a difficult one.  Still to play her first game with Vasteras, Leitner has a long road ahead of her just to get to that opening faceoff as she heads back to the US for the World Juniors this week. While she exudes the energy of someone who takes every minute as it comes, allowing the moment to shape her experience, her long-term goal is set in the stars. Whether or not she reaches it remains to be seen. 
 
Saying our goodbyes, I caught myself exhaling tiredly. I think Lucy noticed it too as she flashed me a knowing grin, leaving the coffee shop for a waiting cab. 
 
Light travels fast. 
 
──•~❉᯽❉~•──
Lauren Lambert for VHL.com
3/14/24 - 2938 words

Amazing article also @AJW I thought you were better than this man just respond.

I was last to the party 😭 L Houston GM

Amazing article also @AJW I thought you were better than this man just respond.

Amazing article also @AJW I thought you were better than this man just respond.

From being undrafted to signing a contract with the Miami Marauders, Oliver Loo, a 5’10 and 153lb forward had the pleasure of experiencing his first instance of pro hockey when he first entered the VHL scene. To be frank, we suspect that he didn’t know what he was doing half the time, he was all over the place with a goal here and an assist there, even going into a slump for games on end. However, instead of focusing on that, let's look at his performance in the Junior Showcase Tournament. Although he wasn’t consistent, Oliver Loo impressed us when he ended his time in the tournament with 30GP - 11G - 9A - 20P. A better performance than when he was playing for Miami and something that could potentially be overlooked.
 
-
 
Pros;
 
   - He continues to grow, taking notes of where he failed and improving upon them. Even if he falters for a moment, it doesn’t take him long to get back on his feet and keep trying.
   - A potential Two Way Forward, trying to excel in both an offensive and defensive skill set, something that could add depth to a team.
   - He is not afraid to sacrifice his body for the game, dishing out as many hits whilst blocking as many pucks with his body as he can.
 
Cons;
 
   - An anxiety-riddled introvert, a quiet one in the locker room until he gets to know you. Although he tries to push past this, he still finds it difficult at times.
   - He’s his own worst enemy, often not pushing himself in fear of pushing himself too hard. He struggles to find that line of pushing himself just enough to succeed.
   - Although he doesn’t get in his own head for long, when he does for that brief time it has the potential to affect his play.
 
-
 
Oliver Loo excels at passing the puck, getting it tape to tape pretty well. Along with his puck-handling abilities, he has a pretty sharp shot and is quick to release, although not entirely accurate he does manage to get it into the net. However, his slapshot is terrible, often going wide and missing the net entirely. From one end to another, his skating ability can be brought into question as well, struggling to stop when he’s going too fast which can result in him running into other players by accident.
 
All in all, Oliver Loo has a promising future if he can keep a steady head, stay on that grind to be the best, and continue to improve. Coming from small-town Star City, a settlement nestled in the heart of Saskatchewan's great North-East and playing for the Melfort Mustangs prior to being signed to the Miami Marauders, the young right winger has some promise in the years to come.
 
459 words
 

With the VHLM draft quickly approaching, I spoke with the VHLM GMs and asked them a few questions about their thoughts and goals for the future. 
 
 
1. What are your goals for the upcoming draft, and the season beyond?

Miami’s GM @Ricer13 is looking for long-term success. To do that he is looking to build his asset pool to gain future assets. With nine picks in the draft, four being in the first two rounds, there will be plenty of assets to work with. 

@Dadam30, GM of the Saskatoon Wild, hopes to put together a contending team this season. They are poised for the future as well, with plenty of draft picks to work with. With 10 picks in the S93 draft, there is plenty of capital for both the present and the future. 

The San Diego Marlins would love to draft players who are active and willing to learn. GM @Mysterious_Fish is looking for someone who can contribute in the locker room as well as on the ice, with a willingness to develop being a key to their success. The Marlins only have one early round pick and five total, so it seems development for the future is the key goal going forward.

@Grape's Ottawa Lynx want to compete now. They have 12 total picks in the upcoming draft and are looking to make some splashes that will help this season and extend beyond S93. The goal for the Lynx is to cultivate a consistent competitive mindset for seasons to come.

S93 is GM @JCarson first draft as Mexico City King’s GM. He told me that his goal for the season is to build a balanced team in the draft. He wants to be able to compete early on, but also be developed to be stronger in the playoffs. Mexico City holds a pick in each of the seven rounds of the draft so they can most certainly build a well-balanced team with those options.

For GM @LucyXpher and the Halifax 21st the goal is simple, use their early picks (two first rounders and two seconds, nine total) to select players who can play at the top of the lineup now. Halifax is looking for players that are reliable to compete for the full 72-game schedule but is hoping to find some late round talent with potential that can be fostered for seasons to come. They are not only looking for the obvious talent but also the diamonds in the rough who are really pushing to make a name for themselves in their early career. 

The Mississauga Hounds GM @Nathan_8's goal in the draft is simple: build a good team with the picks available. There is potential to also move down in order to grab more picks. He believes with the draft capital at his disposal he will be able to do just that. 

After a heartbreaking loss in the finals, @McLovin and the Las Vegas Aces are gearing up for a long and hard rebuild. With more later picks than early ones, the Aces will have to get lucky with a gem in the later rounds to kickstart the rebuild process.
 
Next is last season's Founder's Cup champs, the Philadelphia Reapers. GM @Lemorse7 is planning on making a splash in the draft to keep the Reapers' winning ways going. Although they only have five total picks, they have one in each of the first two rounds and have retained three players from last season so it isn't totally out of the question. Seeing as they need a decent goalie to make sure that happens, I expect a possible focus on doing just that.
 
Last but certainly not least, GM @AJW with the Huston Bulls. He believes the success of a team is built from within. With so much uncertainty throughout the VHLM season, the Bulls look for a winning mentality over pure skill. If the players they draft are active and willing to put the work in, he thinks anyone can come out as a champion. Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly) AJW was quoted saying "Rebuilding/waiting for the future is BORING!!!!", so I think it's safe to say he's planning for the present above all else.

2. Who do you think will be the #1 pick and why?

It seems the GMs of the VHLM don’t have a consensus pick for #1 in the draft. Some names were thrown around, but they all seem equally likely to be picked first overall. Of the names mentioned, there were:

Felicia Hardy @JCarson - There was a gut feeling behind Hardy being the first pick in the draft. The big defenceman played 20 games with San Diego last season, shelling out 16 hits and blocking 28 shots.

Tyler Lawson @Nyx - If he chooses to stay in the VHLM, Lawson is one of, if not the best centre in the draft. He has a big shot and “high offensive upside” as quoted by one GM. A point-per-game player last season with 56 points in 56 games, any team would be ecstatic to have the offensive prowess of Lawson. 

Jillian Woods @jacobcarson877 - Jillian Woods is one of the only players remaining in the VHLM who has 200 TPA. A two-way defenceman, Woods can be effective at both ends of the ice.
 

3. What do you look for in a potential draft pick? What are your intangibles?

What the GMs are looking for in a potential draft pick is fairly consistent across the board. First and foremost, activity in the forums and on the Discord is completely necessary. They recognize that without this, there is little to no improvement. Staying active will show the GMs that you’re willing to put the work in to earn that precious TPE every week. Most are compassionate, understanding there is a world outside of the VHL that takes priority, but when building a team to win, activity is the highest indicator of an up-and-coming star. 
The next most important piece of the puzzle seems to be attitude. GMs want to see that a potential draft pick can fit in with their team in the locker room. The goal ultimately is to have fun and create an atmosphere that encourages that. Players that exude that energy are generally gravitated toward because they improve the experience for the others around them as well. While the process to earn the TPE to be a star can be a long one, players who understand that and embrace it will catch the eye of GMs throughout each of the leagues. 
Lastly, what players do to earn TPE and how they go about it is significant to the GMs that I spoke to. They want to see a variety of point tasks attempted to see that all avenues are being used to improve their players. A player who participates in trivia and press conferences each week is much more valuable to a GM than one who ignores them or completes them sporadically. It is understood that every player doesn’t inherently know how to do everything on arrival in the VHL, but it is recognized when an attempt is being made to take the initiative and learn. This tends to be a good indicator of what they’ll become early on in their career.
Overall, this is shaping up to be an exciting draft! I had multiple people tell me how deep it is and how likely it may be to find a diamond in the later rounds. For all the draft hopefuls, whether you’re the first pick or the last, keeping up with your point tasks and staying active will most certainly make a name for yourself quickly in this league. Even if you can’t tell, the GMs are keeping a close eye on everyone and making very informed decisions, so keep up the good work!
 
EDIT: I would like to source that I took some of my research from @Grape's article overviewing each team leading up to the draft so I'd like to give him credit:
 
Good luck to all the players and GMs participating in the S93 VHLM draft!
 
(1345 words)
Claimed week of 03/17
Claimed week of 03/24

Team World
 
Forwards
🇨🇱LW - Forum Content @frescoelmo
🇬🇱LW - Behrens Minion @UnknownMinion
🇳🇬LW - Olumide Anderson @Theory
🇬🇱C - Theo Allard @InstantRockstar
🇲🇭C - Walter Jinn @Adrest245
🇦🇶C - Piston Maicupp @MandyManiac
🇬🇱RW - Trimiskez Artav @jake
🇬🇱RW - Dietrich Reingaard @JigglyGumballs
🇰🇲RW - Xiver Jinn @inflastud
 
Defense
🇰🇲D - Magni Jinn @DontCallMeCarson
🇬🇱D - Hezeus Ohmonteque-Steinhardt X @Sisyphus
🇮🇲D - Sunset Moth @McWolf
🇰🇲D - Pinn Jinn @Eagle Eye
 
Goalies
🇻🇦G - Pipo Poppa @npuBeT
🇬🇱G - Jørgen Løvstrøm @Pifferfish
Discord https://discord.gg/saHqvxpg

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