LucyXpher

1. I think we can be pretty confident about making the playoffs since we have a 13 point lead on our closest playoff competitor in Ottawa, and we have a game in hand. I don't see Ottawa closing that gap over the next 7-8 games so I think we can be optimistic about our postseason chances! And as we've seen in previous seasons, anything can happen once you get there 2. I'm super excited about our recent signings! Bubbles and Ricky have brought some wild energy to the locker room, Neutron has been a solid player on our blueline so far after we traded Gunnarsson, and Trunov is a brick wall in the net (even if he doesn't have a winning record yet-- which is not his fault imo). I think with our new additions, and possibly another one or two, we could be primed to make some noise in the post season! 3. I think our biggest strength is that we'll be underestimated and have a potential to overdeliver. All of our players still have room to grow and will improve over the next couple weeks and I don't think our record necessarily reflects the current quality of our roster. I'm not saying we should over rate ourselves, but I just think we might be able to surprise teams that take us lightly. 4. Well maybe it's recency bias, but I'm going to go with the new Linkin Park song "The Emptiness Machine". Tbh, they're not a band I listened to a lot of growing up-- they had some songs I liked, but I just didn't always vibe with their sound. This new song is hype though and I really love how Emily Armstrong sounds singing for them! My answer will probably change in a week, but right now I'm happy with it lol 5. Does Macklin Celebrini count? What about Will Smith? Tbh, I think Askarov is a season or two away from a breakout since the Sharks will probably still be bad this season overall and that won't look good for a goalie. William Eklund, final answer. Eklund had 45 points in 80 games last season, but being the oldest of their young core now, I think he could take a big jump this season with a bit more talent around him. My guess is 75 points this season if he plays 80+games again. 6. Spending time outdoors is something I look forward to in the fall-- going for walks, longboarding, sitting outside at a coffee shop. Summer in Houston is usually too hot to want to be outside, so the fall is kinda perfect for those outdoor activities before it gets cold-ish (Canadians will laugh at the idea that it gets cold here, but it's not pleasant, even if it's barely freezing. It's a humidity thing I think.)

Great podcast! Nice to see you’re having a lot more individual success this season! Best of luck in the last few games and into playoffs!

3rd claim - 09/15/24

Same! Michkov will be super fun to watch I think, and I think it’ll be a great rookie class around the league in general so the Calder race will be exciting!

Another week down and Season 95 continues to be a mixed bag for the Halifax 21st. The team started fairly strong and put together a winning record through the first half of the season on the back of standout performances by Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub and Mathias Gunnarsson @ThatCanadian, both of whom were traded away in the week leading up to the deadline. In the week since then, Halifax's record as a team has taken a turn for the worse, dipping again below .500 and the team's goal differential has dropped from a +12 to a -14 in that short span. There are causes for hope, however, as the team recently signed some quality players off of waivers, most notably 160 TPA goaltender Vladimir Trunov @qripll and 85 TPA defenseman Hugh Neutron @Corco. With these two new additions, the 21st will be hoping to shore up their defense in time for a final push for a playoff berth and a chance to compete past the 72 game mark. And while the team has seemed to be in flux throughout the season, they've leaned heavily on the stability of players like Kokko Miskinen @MikkoKoskinensMistress. Considered by some to be the potential steal of the draft, Kokko Miskinen was selected by Halifax at the end of the 4th round, 40th overall. While Miskinen might've been overlooked by managers due to perceived developmental stagnation, this has not been an issue for Miskinen so far in Halifax. Through 4 weeks of the season, Kokko has developed into a 153 TPA player-- the highest rated skater on this Halifax roster-- and is the team leader in points through 56 games with 26 goals and 32 assists. For a player who's consistency was in question at the time of the draft, ironically it's been their consistency that has made them such a valuable player for Halifax this season. Miskinen has been highly active for Halifax offensively ranking 7th in the league with 338 shots on goal and has been a clutch contributor with the 2nd most game winning goals in the league this season with 9 so far, one less than the league leader Jacob Longstreet @Dynamicmlb_42. Though perhaps not the most active player around the team or in the locker room week to week, Miskinen is a player that has quietly gone about their business, earning consistently each week and continuing to develop and put in clutch performances for a Halifax team that will take any spark it can get. "Not all players need to be max earners or locker room wildfire. Of course, it's awesome when people are able to give that level of commitment to the VHL each week, but with the business of life it's not reasonable to expect that from everyone. In my time as GM of Halifax so far, I've come to really appreciate those players who do what they can each and every week. I know for myself, life can get in the way and pull your attention in many different directions so having players that remember to check in at least once a week and keep chipping away is fantastic and I'll never knock anyone for clicking welfare every week or choosing to be a forum only user as long as they keep coming back! Without those players, I don't think we have a VHL." - GM Lexie Leitner Congratulations to Kokko Miskinen on being named our Halifax SuperSailor this week! ༻❁༺

1. I've been pleasantly surprised by how well my player has done this season! The main thing for me is helping the team win games, but I can't lie, it's nice to be putting up points 2. I'm not sure there is any one thing we can do to stay on top, but just need to keep building as a team and hope Simon favors us to stay on top! 3. Speaking of people who are cooking this season, Anand has been incredible and probably our MVP this season! I think he gets to 60 with the way things have been going-- that's the hope anyway! 4. Nope, not really. Just chilling:) 5. Wait, like a full year for a full season? I'm not sure anyone would finish a career if they were 9 years-- like, it would be interesting, but probably a bit too much commitment realistically. Sign me up? 6. Absolutely loved that trade for the Sharks! They basically gave up Tomas Hertl for Askarov since they basically gave Nashville the exact assets they got from Vegas + Magnus Chrona (A.K.A "Big Time" lol-- best name in hockey). I think it's fair value though for a potential franchise goalie and I'm super excited to see how he works out in SJ! I don't think I've ever been this excited for an NHL season since I've been watching hockey and as a Sharks fan there's so much to look forward to. We'll probably still finish last though lol P.S. Not sure why I went with a Hunger Games theme here, it kinda just happened. It's been ages since I watched the movies / read the books

oh well, thanks for checking. I swear I did, but I guess not

Did I not submit picks for this week? I’m almost certain I did @youloser1337 or maybe I just picked so badly I didn’t get any points…

2nd claim - 09/08/24

After back-to-back seasons where the Halifax 21st were in a prime position to contend for the VHLM's Founder's Cup, Season 95 has seen the team take a step back in order to restock the cupboards and prepare for another window of contention. In the S95 draft, Halifax lacked the early round picks to bolster the roster with talent that could help the team in the near term, however the team was able to stock up on later round picks with the opportunity to select potential hidden gems in the draft. One player who was taken with one of these later picks is left winger Steven Nichols @SlyDigi. Drafted in the 4th round, 34th overall, Nichols has been a bright spot on the Halifax roster and a sign of hope for the team going forward. Though Nichols-- who currently sits at 56 TPA-- has plenty of room to grow before reaching the league's cap of 200 TPE, he hasn't let that stop him from being a highly effective player on the ice. In 44 games for the team this season, Nichols has collected 39 points and has flirted with the point-per-game mark all season long. Despite shooting at a pedestrian 7.05%, Nichols shows great promise of being a future VHLM star as he's buried 13 goals in spite of some poor puck luck thus far. His 13 goals ranks 3rd on the Halifax roster and he's remained very active offensively with 185 shots on goal. As the bounces begin to go Nichols' way, he should find the scoresheet with more consistency. Continued development will furthermore help the 6'0", 155 pound winger come into his own as a threat in the 21st's top six. His current total of 26 assists is also nothing to sneeze at as most players at his point in development struggle to contribute offensively in such a meaningful way. A plus 7 rating on this middling Halifax team also speaks volumes about his dedication to two-way play as well. Off the ice, Nichols has been a regular contributor around the team's locker room and has remained engaged in the development process as he gets his feet under him. With ample playing opportunity all but guaranteed for the young winger throughout this season and into next, all indications point to him being an important piece on the team going forward. His drive weekly to stay involved in team activities and interest in continuing to improve also bodes well for his future in the VHL one day. Congratulations to Steven Nichols on being named the 18th Halifax SuperSailor and our standout performer this week! Notes: With the team struggling to separate themselves from the group of teams that comprise the middle of the table, Halifax GM Lexie Leitner has elected to trade players for future assets. While the team still sits above .500 with a 24-19-1 record and a +9 goal differential, vaulting into the upper tier of contenders this season wasn't on the cards as the team lacked the assets to responsibly improve the roster now without compromising the future. The team still remains in a good position to qualify for the postseason, even without the likes of star goaltender Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub and workhorse blueliner Mathias Gunnarsson @ThatCanadian. Down the stretch, the team will be hoping for key players to step up and keep them in a position to fight for wins past the 72 game mark. The team wishes all the best to Wazinski and Gunnarsson as they join bona fide contenders Mississauga and Las Vegas respectively. On their new teams, those two incredible players should have every opportunity to cap their VHLM careers with some hardware to add to the trophy cabinet. Going forward, the team's success will be left to players like Nichols, Victory Hockey League @TheHockey_pro, and Kokko Miskinen @MikkoKoskinensMistress to take their game to another level. Trading away players is always one of the difficult realities of the cycle of competition in any league, though the VHLM is it's own animal in this respect as teams age out and turnover very quickly! ༻❁༺

As Season 95 crosses its midway point, the Halifax 21st are proud to announce the hiring of a new AGM, @Oddpurplefly! With former AGM @ace_five_ moving up to take over the Mississauga Hounds GM role this season, Halifax had a vacancy to fill at the AGM position. While the team was not actively looking to fill the role necessarily, an opportunity arose to bring back a former player in a management role and it was a chance too good to pass up! As captain of the team last season, @Oddpurplefly (Dorji Khan a.k.a. the Mongolian Stallion) was an exceptional leader in the locker room and around the team. He brought real life to the locker room on a consistent basis and did well to encourage activity from his teammates. And despite moving up to the VHLE this season to play for the Bratislava Watchmen, Louh has continued to be active around Halifax, clearly showing his loyalty and love for the team and that's exactly the kind of individual the team would want in the AGM position going forward! Congratulations and welcome back to Halifax! I can't wait to begin working with you towards future success in Halifax! ༻❁༺

Likewise! Best of luck to @samthemancub with Mississauga! We would have loved to keep you around, but I think you'll have a good shot with Mississauga this season! @azie Welcome to Halifax, hope to hear from you soon!

Since this season's theme week is rookies, I'm excited for the opportunity to tell you about three rookies (one in each league) that have really left an impression on me and who I think will continue on to have fantastic VHL careers! I'm very proud to be able to say that all three were-- or still are-- members of the Halifax 21st and it was in my capacity as GM of the team that I got to know them. Each has had a unique path to where they are currently, but all three show incredible promise and have been a pleasure to have around the team both because of their production in the sims and their personality in the locker room. So without further ado, here are three rookies you need to know about! VHL Rookie - Andrew Skilton @ace_five_ In the S93 Draft-- my first as Halifax GM-- we were lucky to have the opportunity to select at 2nd and 6th overall and it was with our 6th overall pick that we selected Andrew Skilton. As a first gen player who joined the VHL in the offseason, Skilton was a bit of an unknown quantity for GMs scouting for the draft, though he certainly impressed early on with high quality forum posts and regular activity. During my scouting for the draft, I had the opportunity to chat with Skilton a fair bit and it was his great personality and desire to jump into the league with both feet that really sold me on him as a player and as a person. While there were a lot of other great established VHL users available at 6th overall in that draft, I have no regrets about selecting Skilton there and he went on to have an excellent season in the VHLM with Halifax as the team's captain, collecting 54 points in 72 regular season games as well as 12 points in 11 playoff games. In the S94 drafts, Skilton went 7th overall to the Bratislava Watchmen in the VHLE and 11th overall to the Toronto Legion in the VHL. For Bratislava in Season 94, Skilton had a monster season racking up 27 goals and 58 assists for 85 points in 72 games which ranked him 3rd among all VHLE defensemen that season. After another strong earning season, Skilton would be called up to the VHL for S95 where he is currently in the midst of his rookie season for the North American Conference leading Toronto Legion. So far, Skilton has 23 points in 40 games, but don't let that distract you from what he projects to become in the future. I have no doubt that Skilton, along with S94 rookie Gul Dukat @MSouthworth, are the future of the Legion blueline when Bobby Bob @Baby Boomer eventually retires. Skilton in particular figures to be a huge part of the Legion's future as he only trails Dukat by 26 TPA, despite being drafted a season later. At 599 TPE total, Skilton currently ranks 7th overall in his draft class and when you consider the earning reputation of the 6 players ahead of him ( @leandrofg @jacobcarson877 @JCarson @Gaikoku-hito @Thunder @Frank ) it's obvious to see that Skilton is in good company. Five of those six players rank in the top 13 on the all-time TPE leaderboard for a single career and the 6th has a previous hall-of-fame career to his name. I have no doubt that if Skilton's development continues on its current trajectory, he too will rank among the VHL greats someday. VHLE Rookie - Dorji Khan @Oddpurplefly As a 6th round pick at 52nd overall, there wasn't a whole lot of fanfare around Dorji Khan when he was selected by Halifax in the S93 VHLM Dispersal Draft. Khan played part of S92 with the Philadelphia Reapers and actually won the Founder's Cup with the team before having his name called at the VHLM draft. In that first stint with Philly, Khan had 2 points in 5 regular season games and 1 point in 16 playoff games, and by the time he was drafted he had collected a modest 55 TPE. By his own admission, the VHL took some time to figure out early on and it would take Khan A.K.A. the Mongolian Stallion a bit of time to build up some momentum. In his first full VHLM season with Halifax, Khan produced 18 points in 72 regular season games, albeit playing on a very deep 21st team that finished 2nd in the VHLM. In the playoffs, he would record 3 points in 11 games as the 21st would lose to the eventual Founder's Cup Champions in the second round. It should be noted that his point totals don't tell the whole story, however, as partway through Season 93 Khan would go from earning an average of 6 TPE weekly to over 12 on a consistent basis. Once he had the league figured out, there was no stopping him and Khan would earn his way quickly to 200 TPE in order to be a capped player for one more season with Halifax, his sights set on helping the 21st capture their first ever Founder's Cup. In Season 94, Khan would finally have his VHLM breakout with 83 points in 72 games as the captain of the Halifax 21st, leading the team to a 1st place league finish and the 2nd best season in franchise history. Unfortunately, Halifax would again fall to the Saskatoon Wild, this time in the Founder's Cup finals, though the Mongolian Stallion lit up the postseason scoresheets with 17 points in 15 games. Funny enough, just like Skilton, Khan would be drafted to both Bratislava and Toronto going 24th and 22nd overall in the VHLE and VHL drafts respectively. At the time of those drafts, it was already clear to see how his stock had risen from 52nd in the VHLM draft to 22nd in the VHL draft. Clearly, GMs around the VHL world were taking notice-- though it's hard not to notice the 6'8", 240 lb monster when he's on the ice! At 429 TPE, Khan has climbed up the leaderboard to rank 18th among all S94 draftees. This is no small feat as he featured in the same draft class as Skilton which was full of high end recreate talent. Among first gen players selected in the S94 draft, Khan ranks 4th behind Skilton, Matteo Stefano @mmrs617 and THE MIGHTY ICE WIZARD @Royski. Now in the VHLE playing his rookie season with Bratislava, Khan is 5th in the VHLE with 52 points in 38 games while also ranking 2nd with 22 goals and 6th with 30 assists. He also leads the league with 2 hattricks so far! Known for his two-way game with Halifax, Khan has continued that with the Watchmen as he boasts a +22 rating which is the 3rd best in the league. VHLM Rookie - Steven Nichols @SlyDigi Selected in the 4th round of the S95 VHLM Dispersal Draft at 34th overall, Steven Nichols had the 2nd lowest TPE total of any player in the draft class, but that certainly hasn't stopped him from making a great impression in his VHLM rookie season! Nichols currently has 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points in 40 games so far this season which is an impressive total so far for a first season player with so much TPE to gain! The way I see it, starting his career with Halifax at 32 TPE, Nichols has huge potential to be an important part of this team for at least this season and next before he reaches the 200 TPE cap. My first interaction with Nichols was while scouting for the S95 draft and I was initially impressed with how he conducted the draft interview. He was very personable and went over and above the samey boring answers that interviews sometimes elicit. As Halifax had mostly later picks in this past draft, Nichols was near the top of our draft board and when we had the opportunity to take him with one of our 4th round picks, there was no hesitation. Since joining the team, Nichols has shown qualities similar to Skilton and Khan before him. He's reached out personally to see how he can improve his player development and take his game to the next level, and on top of that has actually followed through and begun completing extra weekly point tasks starting with press conferences. In the locker room, he's one of the players who remains most consistently active an that kind of activity and leadership is not only inspiring and encouraging for other teammates, but also for management. It's exciting to see players who care and want to be involved in the league and that gives me a boost to keep on in my role. So far, Steven Nichols has been everything you could ask for from a player who is new to the league and the sky is the limit for where he can take his career! VHLE and VHL GM's take note: this is a player you don't want to miss! ──•❉᯽❉•── In my first 3 seasons as a GM in the VHLM I've learned that there is no particular box that you can fit all successful players in. Sure, there are tell-tale signs that give you an indication of how effective or active a player will be in the long run, but sometimes the most exceptional players are those that are overlooked or maybe take an extra season of conditioning before they're ready to take the VHL by storm! My favorite NHL player of all time is Joe Pavelski, who was a 205th overall pick in the 7th round of the NHL draft. In my opinion, he was the greatest Sharks captain ever and is undoubtedly one of the top American-born players in NHL history-- he didn't earn the nickname Captain America for nothing! I'm including this anecdote only to say that a player's draft position doesn't always tell the whole story. Of course, 1st round picks are very valuable as evidenced by the trajectory of Skilton, but there is plenty of electric talent to be found later in drafts and it's one of the most rewarding things to see a player develop far beyond their draft projection, as in the case of Khan. Going forward, my hope as a GM is to be able to continue to support players-- especially first gens who are learning the VHL ropes-- so that they can experience the same enjoyment in the VHL that I have had to this point. LucyXpher 1700+ words 1st Claim for 09/01/2024

No one-word answers!

Back in Season 93, Halifax acquired goaltender Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub from the San Diego Marlins for a S94 3rd and a conditional 5th round pick (the conditional 5th became a S94 6th). Wazinski would start the season with the 21st as the team's starting goaltender, backed up by Halifax goaltending legend Jon Webber III @Webberj, however after a handful of games Wazinski was released to the inactive list as he took some time away from the VHL, opening the door for Jon Webber III to take control of the Halifax crease. Between the remainder of Season 93 and Season 94, Webber III would rack up a franchise leading 91 wins and by almost all metrics is the top goalie in franchise history. This opportunity might never have come if not for Wazinski's departure in Season 93-- and now, after a hiatus of a season-and-a-half, Wazinski is back between the pipes for the Halifax 21st and has been playing incredible hockey as of late! Since his return to Halifax this season as a free agent, Samuel Wazinski has played all 28 of the team's games, racking up 15 wins (6th in the league). Wazinski ranks 1st in the VHLM with a .918 SV%, 2nd with a 2.07 GAA, and 1st with 3 shutouts. Though Halifax currently ranks 6th overall in the league, the team has allowed only 60 goals (2nd fewest in the league), but has only scored 64 goals (also 2nd fewest in the league). It's plain to see that Wazinski has been a huge factor in the team's record being above .500 so far this season with a +4 goal differential as he's routinely stolen games for a team that might very well be lost without him. With more goal support, Wazinski and the 21st could have a shot at climbing the league standings by the season's end. As a teammate, Wazinski has brought positivity and activity to the locker room so far this season and has done more than his part on the ice for the team. For his incredible contributions, Halifax is proud to announce Samuel Wazinski as our weekly SuperSailor-- congratulations! Our honorable mention this week is Stephen Nichols @SlyDigi who leads all Halifax forwards so far with 28 points in 28 games and has also been active in the locker room and looking for ways to grow every week! Note: For some reason, Wazinski's player page doesn't show him playing any games in Season 93, though I am positive that he did. I believe it was about 18 games or so for Halifax to start the season, but I can't find record of it anywhere now and I'm really not sure where that info might have gone? ༻❁༺

2nd Claim - 8/25/2024

If you have any questions on how to claim your press conference TPE, please let me know and I'll be happy to walk you through it!

Um, should I be afraid?

Amazing article! Well done!

After a Prime Minister's Cup winning Season 94, the Halifax 21st lost all but one player from their active roster to the VHLE as players aged out of the VHLM and moved on with their careers. It's a bitter sweet feeling to see such an incredible team dissolve before your eyes-- not only because they were fantastic players, but first and foremost because it was such an amazing group of people! On a personal level (and this isn't usually where I would include this kind of sentiment) it's been a bit tough for me watching that team be dismantled so quickly and it's one of the challenges of being a VHLM GM. Competitive windows are narrow and you only have a couple short seasons at most before new friends and teammates move on. It doesn't get any easier when you fall just short of your collective goal of a league title. C'est la vie, I guess... There is on one player, however, from the S94 Halifax roster that has returned and that is Mathias Gunnarsson @ThatCanadian who has been absolutely amazing for the 21st to start the season. As a defenseman, Gunnarsson currently leads the team in scoring with 2 goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 14 games so far. Building upon a great S94, Gunnarsson has found another level so far in S95 and has become the de facto leader of this new-look 21st roster. With his great performance in week one of the season, I'm proud to announce Gunnarsson as our SuperSailor, though it's not only his performance in the sims that stands out. Since joining the team, Gunnarsson has been very reliable and consistent, earning points to build his player week in and week out. This example of consistency goes a long way and is one of the most important contributors to success over a long VHL career. It's easy to max earn for a few weeks-- heck, even a few seasons-- but to keep up consistent earning at any rate will really take a player far and there are many great examples of that across the league. Gunnarsson's consistency will make him a very valuable player wherever he ends up in the future and he's the centerpiece of this current construction of the Halifax 21st as the team's top skater with 194 TPE. Congratulations to Mathias Gunnarsson on being our 16th SuperSailor and on an excellent start to S95! Honorable mention: Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub returned to Halifax after a season and a half away and has been stellar between the pipes for the team. As one of the top goalies in the league so far this season, he's been a big reason why Halifax has a winning record of 8-6 and a positive goal differential of +2 with the 2nd fewest goals against in the league so far! ༻❁༺

Thanks for the shoutout! It's been a lot better for than my player than I could have expected this season so far, I'm just gonna ride the wave and see where it takes me

Nice breakdown! I think you gave a very fair evaluation of our team.

Claiming 2nd week - 08/18/2024

Congrats @DarkSpyro! This is awesome news and well deserved! The Ash Sparks cult will be in full celebration mode today!