LucyXpher

Glad to see Halifax turning it around after a slow start. The M is a better league with more competition!

1. We are on a hot streak, 10-3 in our last 13 games played! What has been the strengths of our recent success? Has any player stood out? Lately, we've been playing more of a team game and that's a testament to our increased depth. Both of our goalies have been playing much better recently and we've had more scoring up and down our lineup. If I was going to highlight anyone, I'd probably say Filip Zinek @FiZi. He's really underrated in my opinion and has quietly done an incredible job all season adding offense on the second line. 2. Houston is currently 4th seed in the Western Conference battle, 5 points behind the 1st seed Las Vegas Aces. What will be our ranking by the end of this week? Will our success continue or fall apart? As much as I'd like to say we climb to 1st place this week, realistically, I think it's more likely that we make up a position or two. We've got some tough games coming up against some solid opponents so it'll be a good test for us to try and get some wins against the top teams. I do think our team game has improved a lot since the beginning of the year so I really believe we can keep this run going and continue picking up wins. 3. What has your player been up to recently? We only see each other so much at the rink, what does your player do in their leisure/free time? Away from the rink, I've been doing a lot of reading. That's something I enjoy quite a bit, just curling up with a good book and escaping to another world for a while. Besides that, though, I've been able to go out with some friends here in Houston this past week to try some new restaurants and see some live music, so that's been fun. 4. We win some and we lose some, centers that is. Tyler Lawson @Nyx, Murray Connolly @Blakemac22, Micah Cederbaum @MicahC, and Bolor Khan @Bolor Khan join the team all so suddenly to fill out our forward core. With 4 full lines, lines seemingly become more competitive for the forward core. What are your thoughts towards sharing ice time fairly and competitively? Obviously, having more players means that ice time needs to get shared. At the same time, I think we all have the same goal here, and that is to win the title this season. Everyone wants to have a good individual season and rack up the points, but I think if we're going to be a real competitive team, that has to be a secondary priority to securing wins on a nightly basis. I think everyone is excited, though, to have a well rounded and filled team roster. AJ has done a fantastic job building this team, basically from scratch this season. 5. Lucy Leitner and Benjamin Abenduct @Schnee continue to dominate on the blueline. Both defenders currently sit equal at 4 points above their own games played. How many points do you think they will finish with by playoffs? I'm hoping one of them can crack the 90 point milestone. Abenduct has been playing unreal lately and it's awesome to get to play with a guy of his caliber on a nightly basis. I'm pretty happy with how things have gone for me personally this season, but I'm definitely more invested in the team's success. Of course, I would love to score over 90 points. That would be a pretty cool accomplishment. I'm also happy doing whatever this team needs me to do to win. Points don't mean much to me at the end of the day if our team doesn't go anywhere, so of course I'm doing my best to contribute offensively, but the main thing is playing my role to the best of my ability. Right now I'm very happy to be playing a lot of minutes, especially on the powerplay, but if the team ever needed me to play only PK and second pairing minutes, then I'd be open to it 100%. 6. Speaking of playoffs, how much TPE do you think your player will have by then? What build are you hoping to achieve by the first round? I think I'll be right around 200 TPE by the time we get to playoffs-- close, anyway. I'm working on my skating and puck handling right now, and I'll continue to add to my defensive play. I also want to add a bit to my shot if possible, being called a muffin factory is not ideal.

Great answers! I'm gonna have to look up Narco 'cuz I've never seen that video. I really enjoyed your story about watching the Northstars, getting a jersey and a stick! Really cool and it's amazing how experiences like that stay with us! I guess I should have included video games as a third option, huh?

Congrats! That's awesome to hit 100 wins at exactly the 200 game mark with the team, like, what are the odds?!

Great job with this interview! You did well to give your host a voice that fits the role. I liked the question about how Machado might have had other fellow rookies to find comradery with in his first season, and I appreciate the fact that you addressed the suspension. I think it's a good show of character to admit a mistake and move past it, so congrats on that! Overall, I found this interview to be compelling and quite realistic! In the spirit of doing an honest review, I think there are a few places where some punctuation or small grammatical errors could be fixed, but it didn't really detract much from the reading experience. Well done and thanks for sharing this! 9/10 01/28/24

Great interview! I liked the questions you asked and I thought you really captured the voice of your player in a realistic way. He seemed to do well answering the questions with enough honesty and candor to be interesting, but not so much that he's giving up too much. I thought your media personality made sense as they were trying to make drama out of Kisslinger's struggles, while the player remained pretty even keeled about the whole thing. Overall, it came across like a realistic interview and does well to draw intrigue to your player. My only criticism is I wish the interview was longer, haha, but well done! 8.5/10 01/28/24

Awesome! Love the song choices, can't really go wrong with Blink for a goal song imo. Cool that you used to skateboard! I always wanted to skate but ended up getting into longboarding, still do some dancing when I can get out. Great answers!

Getting a goal AND an assist? I'm not even sure if that Matrix tech can help u...

1. You get to choose your own goal song that will play whenever you personally score. What song are you choosing and why? I'm choosing "My Name Is Dark" by Grimes. It's probably not a typical hype song and maybe it'd be weird as a goal song, but if I could choose anything I'd want to hear when I scored a goal, it'd be the ending of that song from the 5:17 mark on. 2. What is your first hockey memory, either playing or watching the game? My first hockey memory is putting on a San Jose Sharks jersey that belonged to my dad when I was about 4 years old. It was so big on me that I was swimming in it and it dragged on the floor. I just remember being taken by the colors and the logo and pointing at the shark biting the hockey stick with a weird combination of fear and curiosity. 3. What is your jersey number and why did you choose it? My jersey number is 89, which is not my first choice. I would have taken 9 as that is my favorite number, but when I joined the Bulls it was taken. To be honest, I'm starting to think that I should just make 89 my first choice any time I'm asked what number I want because 9 never seems to be available when I want it. I have these weird reasons why 9 to me is a perfect number and I chose 89 as a backup because I think it looks good on a jersey and because 8 before 9 to me represents a sort of perfecting of something that's already good. I probably make it deeper than it is, haha, it's just a number at the end of the day, but those are my reasons. 4. You can select any player on any team in the VHL, VHLE, or VHLM to play on your line, D-pair, or be your tandem backup if you're a goalie. Who do you choose and why? I think I'm breaking my own question with this answer, but I think I'd choose to share the ice with Ash Sparks, the goalie for the Malmo Nighthawks. Sparks has been unreal this year and has had an incredible career. Not that I don't like our goalies on Houston, I do! I just think it would be unreal to play defense in front of an incredible goalie like Sparks for an amazing team like the Nighthawks. Also, @DarkSpyro has been so kind and welcoming to me since joining the league and I'd love to be teammates someday. 5. You're going on a long road trip with the team and you can bring either your favorite book or your favorite movie, not both. Which one do you bring? And what is your favorite book or movie? I'm a bookworm, even though I love movies, so I'm bringing my favorite book which is Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson. I love the Sprawl Trilogy and as good as Neuromancer is, MLO is my favorite. I just really loved the cast of characters in this novel, especially the relationship between Molly and Kumiko. Highly recommend it! 6. You get to learn any skill in the world the way Neo learns Kung Fu-- it's instantaneously uploaded into your mind and you can perform it flawlessly. What skill would you learn and why? If I could learn any skill in the world instantaneously, I would want to boost my artistic skills. I do a lot of drawing and visual art, but there are styles and skills that I still find very difficult. I would love to just instantaneously have better art skill so I could better realize some of my creative ideas.

1. You get to choose your own goal song that will play whenever you personally score. What song are you choosing and why? 2. What is your first hockey memory, either playing or watching the game? 3. What is your jersey number and why did you choose it? 4. You can select any player on any team in the VHL, VHLE, or VHLM to play on your line, D-pair, or be your tandem backup if you're a goalie. Who do you choose and why? 5. You're going on a long road trip with the team and you can bring either your favorite book or your favorite movie, not both. Which one do you bring? And what is your favorite book or movie? 6. You get to learn any skill in the world the way Neo learns Kung Fu-- it's instantaneously uploaded into your mind and you can perform it flawlessly. What skill would you learn and why? Feel free to answer any or all of the questions, or choose your 3 favorite and add 3 more!

This is really cool! Thank you for the shout out! This has been a fantastic community so far which has made it a lot of fun and easy to engage and get involved.

Last week, we looked at three VHLM players who might be flying under the radar in the early goings of the seasons. This week, I'll be highlighting three VHL Draft eligibles who have produced at the highest level at their respective position. If the season were to end today, these three players would most likely be frontrunners for individual accolades and a high draft position. Forum Content (LW, Saskatoon Wild): Currently leading all VHLM players with 44 points in 24 games, Forum Content @frescoelmo lives up to their name as arguably the top VHL Draft eligible player. With good skating, great puckhandling and passing, and a decent shot, this is a player who has become the focal point of the Wild offense. Forum Content is the only player on the Wild with more than 2 games played to have a positive +/- rating. Content has taken 108 shots and has 12 goals to go along with an impressive 32 assists. This is certainly a player who has been thriving within their team's system, benefitting from a wealth of opportunities and management's trust, though it hasn't exactly translated into consistent wins for the Wild so far this season. Saskatoon will hope that Forum Content can continue to produce at a high level to help ensure a playoff berth come season's end. Bilbo Teebaggins (D, Miami Marauders): On paper, Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter is not a player that would stand out to most scouts. Sure, he's got decent skating and puck handling and is a solid defender, but the eye test doesn't exactly scream top scoring draft eligible defender in the VHLM. With 8 goals and 24 assists for 32 points in 24 games, Teebaggins trails only Bric Sheithaus, a Riga Reign draft pick, for points by a defenseman. Though his deployment has been favorable and he's had the benefit of playing on a well-rounded team that currently sits 1st in the VHLM, Teebaggins has proved doubters wrong so far this season. It remains to be seen if he can stay effective as the year goes on and the competition becomes more fierce. For now, though, Miami will have no complaints with Teebaggins' play and he is in line to be a coveted prospect in the next draft. Jorgen Lovstrom (G, Philadelphia Reapers): The top goalie the VHLM right now is Jorgen Lovstrom @Pifferfish. A native of Greenland, Lovstrom leads the league in wins with an impressive 17 in 22 starts. He also has the highest save percentage of all goalies with more than 10 games played at .918, and has the second lowest GAA at 2.31. Lovstrom has been a huge part of the Reapers' success so far this season as they currently hold the 2nd spot overall. With 1 shutout, Lovstrom is one of only three goalies to have blanked an opponent this season and as the year goes on, don't be surprised to see Lovstrom continue his goaltending dominance. Philadelphia has a well rounded roster with defenders who defend the net well. It's an ideal situation for one of the top goalie prospects in the upcoming VHL Draft. Lauren Lambert for VHL.com Claimed for week of 01/28/24

I'm not going to lie, it is kind of strange not having anything controversial to carry this article, though I suppose that's a good thing. Maybe this week I can actually just write about the team-- ooh, or how about some Houston weather? This past week saw a cold front move through Houston, causing temperatures to drop below 32 F. It's a rare occurrence in this part of the country, to be sure, and this reporter spent the better part of her Tuesday snuggled under a cozy blanket, drinking hot tea, and watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Many of our northern readers, especially those in Canada, will probably scoff at the notion of shutting down a city because of a little bit of cold. Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds weak. Y'all drive on snow-packed roads up to 5 months of the year. You plug your car in overnight hoping it will choke to life in the morning at the fifth time of asking. You've used your arm as an ice-scraper. You hit the ODR when its -20 C. You wear shorts and a t-shirt in January to take out the trash. As someone who's lived in Alberta for some time, I get it, I do. Just keep us Houstonians in mind when your mild summer rolls around and you're out enjoying the beautiful weather. By mid-August, Houston will be hotter than the ninth circle of hell and we'll all be swimming-- yes, swimming-- through suffocating humidity. Sounds nice? Come on down to experience some real warm southern hospitality, and bring some of the cold with you. Where was I going with this? Oh, right-- in the midst of a cold snap the Houston Bulls are hot! 9 wins and 2 losses in their last 11, hot! After a slow start to the season with an inexperienced roster, the Bulls have started to turn the corner. The first of the Bulls' two recent losses came at the hands of the Philadelphia Reapers, who took a 7-3 victory. The final score, however, doesn't tell the whole story as the Reapers were trailing the Bulls 3-2 after two periods of play. An explosive 5-goal third period powered the Reapers to a lopsided result that betrays the competitive action of the first two-thirds of the game. The Bulls' only other loss during this 11 game stretch came against the lowly Mississauga Hounds a couple nights ago, who currently hold a record of 3-21-0 with only 6 points on the season. It's a game the Bulls would have wanted to win, and as an observer, I can't help but think that the Bulls played down to their opponent's level in this one. Perhaps this is still a sign of the team's lack of experience and killer instinct. To their credit, the Bulls came back the next night and earned a convincing 3-1 win against those same Hounds. Despite the Bulls doing everything in their power to keep Houston hot, even through some chilly weather, they've failed to make up much ground rank-wise. Sure, the points in those wins have helped them close the gap to first place overall as they currently sit only 6 points back of the 16-4-4 Miami Marauders. In terms of standings, however, the Bulls remain in 6th place through 24 games, holding an record of 14-8-2. Unfortunately for the Bulls, the teams that they're chasing in the standings have traded wins and losses recently, resulting in a shuffling of the top teams since this time last week. The Las Vegas Aces have fallen from their top spot after a scorching hot start and are now losers in their last three games, slipping down to 3rd overall. Meanwhile, the Reapers and Marauders have been able to move up to 1st and 2nd respectively, and San Diego and Mexico City have been able to do enough to stay just ahead of the charging Bulls at 32 points apiece. In a season that has been filled with all kinds of drama for the Bulls, their recent record has to be a positive sign that things are trending in the right direction. With the various early season controversies beginning to fade in the rearview, perhaps there are signs of growth on the horizon. Early power rankings have not favored the Bulls so far this season, but if they can continue to string together wins with regularity, it will only be a matter of time before the league takes notice. Lauren Lambert for VHL.com Claimed for week of 01/28/24

Thank you!

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your review! I definitely wish I could have worked the team logo in somewhere, it just wasn't going to fit on the jersey with the way the player is turned. Anyway, it's something I hope to have visible in the next graphic I make.

"Concussion prone"

Stay strong, Pope Francis, don’t let the forces of evil corrupt you!

He’s now affectionately known as BensonGPT

NY just got themselves an awesome AGM! Congrats @jake

Thanks! But you started it...

Praying for good news stories from here on out

Thank you! And we're glad to have you join us when you did! Still lots of season left, god knows what'll happen...

Thanks AJ! This is all you being the best GM in the league!

Fair enough and glad to hear it! Good luck to y'all next time we meet

Just when I think things are quieting down around the Houston Bulls, a spicy new controversy rears its head, dragging me back into the fray once more. This time it involves a precipitous chain of events-- players leaving and joining the team, a revolving door at the center ice position, and an imposter-- all culminating in speculation of locker-room espionage. I hope you've got your tinfoil hat on for this one, 'cause it's a doozy. Tinker: The Bulls' GM, @AJW, has been busy tinkering with his roster lately. It all began when the Bulls' number one centerman, Nathan Schwartz, retired suddenly and departed the team. The reasons for his untimely disappearance are still unknown, and are quite frankly, his own personal business. What's important here is the gaping hole at center ice that was left in the wake of his departure. AJW needed to act quickly to fill the hole as the team had only one other centerman, fringe roster player Deez Nutz, who has since been released from his contract with the team. Within hours of Schwartz leaving the team, the Houston front office had found a replacement: SID THE FREAKING KID GOAT CROSBY. In his first game with the team, he appeared on the scoresheet, potting a goal to help the Bulls tie the game against the Ottawa Lynx. His time in Houston would be short lived-- only 2 games, in fact, before he would become the center of a controversy that would see his dismissal from the team. Tyler: After the short lived stint of SID THE FREAKING KID GOAT CROSBY, GM AJW and AGM @Nathan_8 were thrust back into action, tasked with finding not one, but two new centers. Once again, AJW delivered, welcoming new additions Tyler Lawson @Nyx and Murray Connolly @Blakemac22. How the GM managed to pull this two-headed rabbit out of a hat is nothing short of a modern miracle and should earn him league-wide recognition if the Bulls can deliver on their potential. Without missing a beat, Houston was able to ice a complete 3 line roster in their very next game against the Philadelphia Reapers. Despite losing this game, the hard work of recruitment had once again been accomplished, setting the team up for long term success. Tyler Lawson impressed in his Bulls debut, scoring the first goal of the game against the Reapers, and matching the feat by scoring first again in the next game, a 4-1 Bulls win against the Halifax 21st. With Connolly and Lawson in the lineup, the Bulls are a certifiably deep team, albeit a young team with plenty of potential for growth. With nearly two thirds of the season remaining, it's an ideal situation for a club that has had belief in themselves since the beginning of training camp. Sidney: So what ever happened with SID THE FREAKING KID GOAT CROSBY? Well, it turns out that SID THE FREAKING KID GOAT CROSBY, is actually Landon Flatt, a defender currently under contract with the Mexico City Kings, a conference rival of the Houston Bulls. Spy: While his motivations are still unclear, what has come to light is the nature of his disguise. Flatt, wearing Groucho Marx glasses, infiltrated the Houston locker-room, gaining access to the Bulls inner circle. How it took two games for anyone to notice the shoddy disguise is a mystery unto itself, though I will give the benefit of the doubt to Bulls management who were under the gun to fill holes in their roster. Was Flatt trying to gain insight on the Houston systems in order to give the Kings an advantage in head to head matchups? Was he trying to sabotage the Bulls with mediocre play? Was he betting on games and fixing results? Speculation of inter-locker-room espionage has been running wild since this news broke. Though nothing concrete has surfaced yet, it's safe to say that the Bulls are feeling violated and betrayed. After dealing with their own controversy within the squad through the first two weeks of the season, the appetite for drama is dwindling-- especially from an outside source. Assistant captain, Lucy Leitner, was not mincing words, "Look, maybe instead of corny costumes and cringey names, just come out and say it-- you wish you were a Bull. I mean, who wouldn't want to be in Houston right now? Just own it and stop playing games." It's a valid question: Who wouldn't want to be in Houston right now? Things are definitely looking up for the Bulls, having weathered the storms of another controversy and emerging stronger. This is a tight group of players who are, dare I say, bull-ish on what the can accomplish by season's end. Notes: - After my last article, which highlighted a quote from an anonymous scout who referred to Lucy Leitner as a "muffin factory", there were rumors that Little Bites were looking to sponsor the smooth skating defender. It seems, however, that the deal is off the table as Leitner potted 3 goals in her last two games. It seems that muffins are off the menu at the team picnic-- at least for the time being. - Ondrej Vencko @Mutti is in love?! A new article by Ben Icio del Toro, of the Houston Gossiper, has some stunning new revelations about the personal life of the polarizing Houston netminder. Perhaps his drug of choice, after all, was love? More to come... Lauren Lambert for VHL.com