LucyXpher

Malmo Nighthawks GM - Lexie Leitner (Render - Jessica Campbell) Ever since I joined the VHL, Malmo has been my favorite team. One way or another, I wanted to play for or be involved with the management of that franchise and to be named the next GM is a VHL dream come true. And sure, the dream hasn't been alive for that long-- I only joined the league back in January of 2024, but it has truly been one of the most fun and rewarding things I have ever done as a passtime. School and planning for the future have always taken front and center, but being a hockey fan in Houston isn't always easy, and having this hockey outlet to be creative, stupid, strategic, and just plain silly, has been so enjoyable. At the risk of waxing poetic about a sim hockey league (why do I feel like I've done this before), I've enjoyed every minute of being a part of this community and all the interactions I've had with the people here-- even if things get spicy from time to time. Maybe people who've been around a while don't realize it, but we have a wonderful group of people here who are very welcoming, friendly, helpful, and kind, and supportive, and really make this community a place worth spending time in. So with that said, I am very proud and honored to be able to take on the role of the Malmo Nighthawks GM going forward. I'm a relatively simple human being-- I like what I like. When I was 5 years old, my Dad, for whatever reason, owned a San Jose Sharks jersey. It quickly became something I obsessed over, and from that point on they became my team. In the VHL, from day one, when I looked at the logos of the league, something stood out to me about the Nighthawks. I also happened to like and follow the Malmo Redhawks, so maybe that had something to do with it, but it was the people around the team that really sealed it for me. People like @tcookie who wrote wonderful feature on my player in my first season, or @scoop, @Pifferfish, and @comrade cat-- and then there's Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro... It was everything at once that made me such a fan of this team that it quickly became the place I wanted to be. So I sincerely feel lucky and honored to be able to take on this role as @KaleebtheMighty steps down after a great run of success! Congratulations on a wonderful career as a GM of Malmo, and I wish you all the success in the world as you continue your VHL adventure! While I had the privelege to GM Halifax in the VHLM for the past 4 seasons, there's certainly some regret that we never managed to win the ever elusive Founder's Cup-- something that's escaped Halifax since the team's origin in S62. That being said, I feel sad and excited for the team I'm leaving behind. I'm sad because it's such an amazing group of newer players that I was so excited to help develop and grow, but I'm excited for them because I know that they have everything it takes to continue their development to push Halifax ever closer to the ultimate prize. Whoever takes over that role, I sincerely hope you have as much fun as I did. I hope you find success with the team and finally bring a Cup to Halifax-- it's long overdue! Halifax was never at the top of my list of teams to GM or be involved with, but it will always have a special place in my heart as I continue on this VHL journey. More than that, the players-- the people-- that I had the pleasure of interacting with there will continue to be some of my favorites in this community and I hope we can meet again as teammates in some capacity! So as I take on this new role, there's so much to learn and very little time, but I feel excited and up to the task! The last few days I've been pouring over the VHL rules to make sure I understand what's expected, allowed, and forbidden, and I'm glad to have @AJW along with me for the ride this season! AJ was my first VHL GM in S92 and it's almost surreal that he's joined up as AGM in Malmo this season. I have so much love and respect for AJ as a person. He's a big part of why I stuck around in this community at the beginning and I could never have gotten to this point without him. To be able to share this first season of VHL GMing with him is an honor and a gift. I get it, it's sim hockey, but what always strikes me is that behind the players and GMs are real people. We're not merely playing against the AI or some passive, unfeeling, simulatory bot. These are real people with real lives, and to share this experience, to get to know them, and to enjoy this passtime with them has been a real joy and pleasure of mine these past 11 months. In particular, since I began, @samx was someone I looked up to and admired as the first female VHL GM. Sam also GM'd Halifax and I felt like I was following in her footsteps in some respects. You're a fun, funny, intelligent, strong, and amazing person, Sam, and I'm so glad to have found you here. You've been someone that I've admired in this community and I'm glad to call you a friend! More recently, people like @SMYLS4 and @Xhekajsleftankle have been so much fun to chat with-- and there are absolutely many more people that I can't realistically name. I hope to share many more VHL memories with you and I hope you can win it all with Halifax this season! Maybe we can team up again some day! So at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, there it all is. I'm incredibly grateful to this community for these past 11 months and for all the incredible people I've met here. I can't wait to see what we can accomplish in Malmo and I'm excited to be able to have some hand in the future of this team. Go Halifax, and let's go Malmo! ༺☽𖤍☾༻

@comrade cat We’re so glad to have you back for your final VHL season after being such an important player for Malmo throughout your career!

Phillip Rave and Malmo go together like Oreos and milk We're very excited to have you back @tcookie!

The value of his tenth and missing finger that I keep in my possession has gone way up with this cup win!

Thanks @Lemorse7 for being my first VHL trade partner, and for the chats. I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you the Porsche GT3 RS you initially wanted in return. Cars aren’t really my thing I loved my time in Riga and you did a fantastic job with the team these past few seasons, so thanks for that! I couldn’t have asked for a better start in the VHL and Riga will always be my second favorite team

Transaction ID: 3FY22606DS1725715 $1M Player Store Cash 5 TPE Uncapped Doubles Week

I'm SOO excited for this opportunity, and thanks to everyone for your kind wishes! Can't wait to get started Congrats also to Doug! They couldn't have picked a better person for the job!!

Lol how did that happen? I guess hockey is growing in Japan

S96 World Junior Championship General Manager Application こんにちは, Hello! This season, Team Asia will be hosting the S96 World Junior Championship in Tokyo, Japan! For this tournament, we'll be looking for 5 people to GM the following teams: Canada USA Asia Europe World This job does not require any previous GM or AGM experience and it's a great way to get started with VHL management and learn the ropes! What are the GM responsibilities: Select a roster to represent your nation Learn how to create lines and strategies in STHS Create a fun and active atmosphere around your team (very important) Spread some WJC HYPE! What are the perks of being a WJC GM? Gain experience and practice as a GM so you can apply for other VHL jobs in the future Earn 2 capped TPE per week as job pay for the duration of the tournament Lead your nation to victory! If this is your first GM experience, don't worry! You'll have someone experienced to help you through the whole process-- all we ask is that you stay committed! The tournament will end before the start of the next VHL season so it's not a long term commitment. Interviews will start right away and hirings will be made within a couple of days, so if you're interested, please reply to this thread below! (Also, make sure you can download the STHS client which you can get here: https://sths.simont.info/ Good luck to all applicants!

Ottawa REFUSED to die!

There are only 2 leagues though

S94 Halifax was better

It's a special day for the Halifax 21st as we have the opportunity to recognize the incredible achievements of a player who has been a huge part of our success over the past 4 seasons. To tell this story properly, however, we have to go back to the S93 VHLM Dispersal draft-- to the 5th round-- where Jon Webber III was selected 46th overall. Halifax acquired goaltender Samuel Wazinski prior to the draft that offseason to pair with the returning Kendra Cavill. Both were considered active at the time, though neither had yet responded to my messages when I reached out. For some reason, however, Jon Webber III stood out to me in that draft class-- which was funny because he never answered my scouting interview! In any case, when our pick at #46 came around and he was still available, I felt very strongly about selecting him-- so strongly in fact that I made a trade that I would come to regret shortly after. Because VHLM rules don't allow teams to carry 3 goalies on the roster for any extended period of time, in order to select Webber III, we'd need to move on from one of our other goalies. Having just acquired Wazinski, it was Cavill on the chopping block-- for an S93 7th round pick that became Robert Tango, a player who would never make it to the regular season due to inactivity. It was only after the trade that I finally heard from Cavill who was disappointed to be leaving Halifax and had a personal connection to the city in real life. I definitely didn't feel particularly great about this, to say nothing of the underwhelming trade return, and it would become the motivation for another trade in S94-- but that's another story. In S93 we got our goalie of the future in Jon Webber III and it wasn't long before that pick began paying dividends! By the second week of games in S93, Samuel Wazinski was on the verge of inactivity and Webber III had all but taken over the starting role for Halifax as we were in a good position to contend that season. When Wazinski was eventually dropped from the active roster, the net belonged to Webber and he played exceptionally well for us through the rest of that season as we finished 2nd in the VHLM with a 51-17-4 record and 106 points-- only 3 points back of Ottawa for 1st overall. For his part, Webber went 41-14-4 that season with a .899 SV%, 2.23 GAA, and 4 shutouts. It was still early days for him, but by season's end he was approaching the TPE cap of 200 and was one of the top goaltending options in the league. It was in the S93 playoffs that Webber III began setting Halifax records. In his first 3 playoff games, Webber recorded 3 straight shutouts, setting the franchise record for the most playoff shutouts. Sure, the bar was low at only 3 total, but to do it in his first 3 playoff games was very impressive! Halifax would fall in the 2nd round to the eventual Founder's Cup winners in the Saskatoon Wild, but the foundation was set for S94. In his second season with the team, Webber III would find another level. S94 would see the 21st record the 2nd best season in franchise history-- 58-9-5 with 121 points and a +150 goal differential! Playing 61 games for the team that season, Webber III went 50-7-4 with a .914 SV%, 1.72 GAA, and 11 shutouts, capturing the Benoit Devereux Trophy as the league's top goaltender. Though his numbers in the playoffs would take a dip, he still managed a 10-5-0 record, even as Halifax lost in the Founder's Cup Finals to the Wild once again. Finishing S94 with 91 career wins, poetically matching his jersey number and setting the new franchise mark, Webber was expected to be done with the VHLM as he had surpassed the 200 TPE cap. His 15 shutouts at the time were only 2 behind the franchise record, and with his overall record, a case could certainly be made that he was the top goalie in Halifax history. S95 would see Webber III play for the Cologne Express in the VHLE as they captured the King's Cup and the Renaissance Cup, winning both the regular season and the playoffs in what would be the final VHLE season. Webber III was outstanding as Cologne's starter and collected the Orion D H Chiester IX Trophy as the best goaltender in the VHLE with a 44-11-1 record, a .930 SV%, 1.82 GAA, and 7 shutouts. When the VHLE was dissolved at the end of that season and the VHLM was expanded to a 400 TPE cap, Webber III elected to return to Halifax for one more season-- his final season before reaching the VHL. Backstopping a very young and inexperienced Halifax team that was not expected to go far, Webber III posted perhaps his most remarkable season to date. With a team that, by all accounts, should have been fighting to stay out of the basement, Webber III put together a 32-18-1 season in 51 games. His 32 wins were the 5th most by any goaltender-- despite sharing 21 games with Chad Powers-- and he ranked 1st in the league with his .928 SV%, 2nd among starters with a 1.67 GAA, and 1st again with 8 shutouts. By all accounts, Webber III finished the season as a favorite to claim another Devereux Trophy and perhaps even more league hardware as he was definitely Halifax's MVP in S96. ༻❁༺ Webber III completes his Halifax career with an astonishing 123-39-9 record in 172 games. Among all Halifax goalies, Webber ranks 2nd in games played, 1st in wins (48 more than 2nd place!), 6th overall with a .913 SV%, 1st with a career 1.88 GAA, and 1st with 23 shutouts. His 3 playoff shutouts remain the most in franchise history, as are his 33 playoff games played and 19 wins, while at 2.24, Webber's playoff GAA is 2nd. On the VHLM all-time goalies list, Webber III ranks 10th with his 123 wins despite playing significantly fewer games than some goalies and ranking 32nd in games played. Removing goalies with 40 or fewer VHLM games, Webber's .913 SV% is 20th all-time, and his 1.88 GAA is 8th. And no matter how you filter it, Webber's 23 shutouts put him in a tie for 3rd among all VHLM goalies. Since being a member of the Halifax 21st, Webber has been a consistent and steady earner, never needing to be reminded to update or stay active. It's been a breath of fresh air as a GM to simply set him in the lineup and watch him perform night after night. With his most games played in a season being 61, Webber III has always been open and willing to share the net with the other goalies we've had during his time-- especially this past season, graciously giving way to Powers for 21 games despite the huge TPE difference. Without a doubt, Jon Webber III is the greatest goalie in Halifax franchise history and one of the top goalies to come through the VHL. Though Halifax never could complete the goal of winning a Founder's Cup with Jon Webber III in the net, we came very close and it was an incredible journey each time. Congratulations @Webberj on a fantastic VHLM career with Halifax and thank you for everything you contributed to our team! Halifax is proud to raise your #91 to the rafters-- the 4th jersey retirement in our 35 season history. Halifax Career Regular Season: 172 GP, 123 W, 39 L, 9 OTL, 0.913 SV%, 1.88 GAA, 23 SO Halifax Career Playoffs: 33 GP, 19 W, 13 L, 1 OTL, 0.893 SV%, 2.24 GAA, 3 SO ༻❁༺ LucyXpher 12/03/2024 1300+ words

Missed opportunity to tag @Homealonetwo

Well, see, I would pick Vancouver, but in my bracket I had Davos winning so I have to stick to my predictions

This looks incredible! The irony of turning an Edmonton player into a Calgary player tho

I love it! What team are you using for the player render? I don't recognize those jerseys but they look awesome!

Nice breakdown! I've got Davos in 6

Ricky and Bubbles HAVE to stay together! VHL GMs must make it happen!

ELITE prospect

1. My highlight of the season was watching this team grow week after week. I don't think I've ever been a part of a team that earned this much-- we gained 1458 TPE as a team this season, which is absolutely crazy considering we started the season at 1846! 2. My player did not reach the goals I set out for them. I was hoping to score more points personally and win another Continental Cup, but c'est la vie... 3. I need more scoring for my player I think, SC is only at 82 right now. If I can get it closer to 90 I think i'll be in good shape for S97! 4. I think Mississauga will win the Founder's Cup-- even though that will break our streak of always losing to winners lol. I think @ace_five_ has done a great job with that team and deserves all the success ever Go Hounds! 5. Elf 6. Well, my survival skills are pretty lacking, ngl. I guess I could just help keep spirits up? I mean, mental health is important to survival too, so i'll just be there for hype-- "You got this everybody!"-- basically what I do already

When the season began, the Halifax 21st certainly had their doubters-- at least for S96. While most agreed that the 21st had a solid draft and made a number of great additions for the future, how those players would perform in the short term was certainly up in the air. With the VHLM cap increasing to 400 TPE, most teams in the league boasted rosters that featured much more developed players than Halifax. It's fair to say that the Boat Gang was very green when this season began. By season's end, however, despite still being the team with the 2nd lowest average TPE per skater (only Saskatoon was lower), Halifax managed to finish 5th overall in the VHLM-- and more impressively, ahead of every team in the Western Conference. With a 40-29-3 record, 83 points, and a +3 goal differential, the 21st put together a remarkably successful season-- and the best part is that there's plenty of room for this team to improve! In the playoffs, Halifax took the team with the highest average TPE per player to 7 games and only lost by a 2-1 score in game 7, once again showcasing the team's cohesiveness and ability to hang with the best. While some of the team's exceptional waiver players will move on from Halifax this offseason as they are eligible for the draft, the future is very bright and there's much more to look forward to for the Boat Gang and their supporters. And while it was ultimately a team effort that carried Halifax this season, there were certainly some exceptional performers whose efforts will be recognized here in the S96 Halifax Team Awards. So without further ado, here are Halifax's best and brightest from this past season! The Mickey Dickson Award (Most Improved Player): Named in S96 after the first GM in Halifax history to win the Jack Reilly award as the VHLM's top general manager, this award is for the player who makes the most significant individual improvement over the course of a single season. The VHLM is a development league and every GM wants to see their players develop, not only so they can help contribute in the short term, but so that they can climb the ranks and go on to have great VHL careers as well. The winner of this award demonstrates a desire to learn how the VHL works, effort to earn consistently, and initiative to find more ways to improve their player-- all things that make a GM's life so much easier and more fun! S96 featured a bunch of Halifax players who could have contended for this honor, but two in particular really separated themselves from the rest. One of these players was selected by Halifax in the 3rd round (24th OA) of the S96 draft at 73 TPE, while the other joined the team as a waiver player at only 54 TPE. As it stands today, these players sit at 246 and 233 TPE respectively-- a 173 and 179 TPE improvement over the past 6 weeks of VHLM play! Normally, when deciding these awards, it would be simplest to choose the player with the highest total improvement and call it a day (because I don't love ties or shared awards). In this case, however, these two players have been developing in tandem, supporting each other on and off the ice. As friends before they joined the 21st, these players started the All Aboard Podcast and consistently produced episodes each week, chronicling the team's ups and downs throughout the season. Most impressively, as first generation players, they have both come so far in their understanding of the VHL as a whole and in their understanding of how to be effective players. Beyond a doubt, these two players-- a center and a defenseman-- were a huge part of Halifax's success this season and it will be a thrill to see how far they go in their VHL careers. The Ash Sparks Award (Leadership and Locker Room): Beginning in S96, the Leadership Award has been renamed in honor of Ash Sparks-- a cult icon who played for Halifax in S85 on his way up to the VHL. This award is presented to the player who demonstrates qualities of leadership and teamwork throughout the season, building up their teammates in the locker room, posting quality team-related content on the forum, and leading by example through individual dedication and consistency. Some say winning this award grants a person access to the secret Ash Sparks Cult that meets every Tuesday in Halifax... Anyone who has been around the team in S96 would notice that one player, more than others, stands out in the locker room as a team player and a leader. Acquired from San Diego in the offseason prior to S96, Halifax scouts were so impressed by his leadership and locker room presence during the S95 Junior Showcase Tournament that they just had to have him on the 21st. This player-- though not a max earner-- never missed a week of development and was vocal in bringing the team together throughout the season. He could be seen rallying the troops after wins or losses and reminding people to submit picks and votes for our team music league. While virtually every player on the team has been enthusiastic about our successes and disappointed in our failures, perhaps none were more invested in the team emotionally than our fearless leader and captain-- the recipient of the newly named Ash Sparks Award for leadership. Looking back on that offseason trade-- which some called an overpayment by the way-- it could truly not have gone any better for Halifax as they have not only an excellent player, but an even more exceptional person to lead the team on and off the ice. The Jacob Richard Award (Top Defender): Jacob Richard holds the franchise's single season assists record with 97 in S80. He finished that season with 141 total points which is the also the highest mark by a Halifax 21st defender in a single season. This award is presented to the defender who demonstrates excellence at their position, contributing to the team's success through a strong well-rounded game. This season's Richard Award winner joined the team as a waiver player just before the beginning of the regular season and went on to become one of the top players on the team. As a defenseman, he quickly cemented his spot on the top special teams units, leading all 21st players with 22 power play points and 134 shots blocked. He ranked 2nd on the team in total points with 54 on the season-- 21 points more than the next highest scoring defender. He led all Halifax players with exactly 2000 minutes of ice time and had the most assists with 41. Without the benefit of offseason training, it was impressive to see how quickly he stepped into a top defensive role for the team, and he was a big part of shutting down the top players in the league on a nightly basis. His defense never kept him from pitching in offensively, however, and the rest of the league has taken note as he projects to be a top pick in the upcoming VHLM Dispersal Draft. The Bryn Yrwy Award (Top Forward): Named in honor of Bryn Yrwy, the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 405 points in 288 games with the Halifax 21st, this award recognizes the team's top offensive player. Yrwy also holds the franchise single season points record with 167, and goals with 76-- both in Season 80. Like the Jacob Richard award for defenders, it is presented to the player who plays the strongest and most consistent all-round game at the forward position, contributing to the offensive and defensive success of the team. The team's top forward in S96 really wasn't a difficult decision-- and that's taking nothing away from the efforts of the other forwards on the team. This season's Yrwy Award winner entered the season as the team's highest rated skater and was tasked with playing against the league's top competition night in and night out. Rejoining Halifax through the VHLE redistribution draft after putting up 80 points with Stockholm in S95, he continued his consistent development and watched the rest of the team grow up around him. This player led all Halifax skaters with 29 goals, 62 points, and 270 shots on goal. His 9 game winners were also first among Halifax players and contributed heavily to the team's ability to secure wins this season. He ranked 3rd among Halifax forwards with 107 hits and 1st among forwards with 25 shots blocked, demonstrating his effectiveness as an offensive and defensive player. His 0.70 points per 20 minutes were the highest of all 21st players, and with 2180 faceoffs taken this season he ranked 5th in the entire VHLM and recorded an impressive 55.18% in the dot. While S96 saw a number of Halifax forwards come into their own, none were as effective throughout the entirety of the season as our Bryn Yrwy Award winner. The Anton Edvin Award (Top Returning Player): Anton Edvin is the Halifax 21st franchise leader in games played with 426-- 138 more than the next highest games played mark. This award honours a player who has played parts of at least two seasons with the franchise and has exhibited a high level of play throughout their time with the team. Let's see here... the Halifax 21st only had 4 returning players in S96, and one of them was traded early on in the season. While Ty Duke and Steven Nichols both contributed greatly to the team's success this season, there was perhaps no player more important to the team in S96 than the team's returning goaltender, who chose to opt in and rejoin the 21st after a season in the VHLE. Winning the Renaissance Cup with Cologne in S95, this goaltender posted an impressive 44-11-1 record with a .932 SV%, 1.82 GAA, and 7 shutouts. While those numbers are impressive, no doubt, he was playing behind the best team in the VHLE that season. In the context of this up and coming Halifax team, his S96 numbers are even more mind boggling. In his 3rd season with Halifax, this player helped the team to a 32-18-1 record with a .928 SV%, 1.67 GAA, and 8 shutouts. For comparison, that Cologne team had the fewest shots against in S95 and nearly 1000 more shots for than against. Oh, and their goal differential of +79 was tops in the league as they finished in 1st place overall with 104 points-- 12 points more than 2nd place. Halifax in S96 allowed the 3rd most shots against and it was largely due to this player that the team managed a +3 goal differential. How he managed such a strong win percentage on this team is absolutely incredible-- not to mention the league leading numbers. He was 1st in the league with 8 shutouts, 2nd with his 1.67 GAA, and 1st with his .928 SV%. Without a doubt, he was the team's MVP and could even get consideration for league MVP when awards season rolls around. Season 96 SuperSailor: This award is like the weekly SuperSailor honor, but is presented to a player who best exhibits SuperSailor qualities throughout the full campaign. A SuperSailor is involved not only in the locker room as a good teammate, but also on the forums as an ambassador for the team, and also demonstrates effective play on the ice. Truthfully, this award could go to any number of players this season, but one stands out on the basis of his contribution to the team in the sims. Perhaps more the quiet, lead by example type of player, this season's winner may not have always been particularly active in the locker room. He remained consistent, however, updating every week and continuing to develop his player. When he was drafted to Halifax in S93, he was a 5th round pick at 46th overall. No one would have guessed that playing for the team in 3 of the next 4 seasons he would cement himself as one of the top players in Halifax history, setting franchise records and climbing the league leaderboards along the way. Througout his time with the team, I've never needed to remind him to update his player and he never needed any coaching on how to build his player effectively. He's made my job remarkably simple and I've had peace of mind knowing he had his position locked down. This season was no different-- well actually, it kind of was. This season, this player carried the team to wins throughout the regular season more than he ever had before, really allowing the 21st to punch above their weight. With so much inexperience and room to grow, this player gave us a chance to win every night and was by far the most important player to this successful season. And with that, we come to the end of our S96 Team Awards. Thank you to each and every Halifax player for making this one of the most fun and engaging seasons I've had so far as either a player or GM. The fact that we had so many active players in the locker room and that everyone was so committed to building their players each and every week made my job so much more enjoyable. I was so impressed that we had all but one player update EVERY WEEK this season and we never had to drop anyone. That's a credit to all of you as incredible people who make this sim league so fun, so again, thank you all so much! As ever, keep those updates going through the offseason and keep your eyes peeled for updates on offseason tournaments which are coming up very soon-- and just around the corner is S97 which promises to be very exciting for Halifax! ༻❁༺ LucyXpher 12/02/2024 2300+ words

For the second season in a row, the Halifax 21st were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs-- but unlike last season's 5 game loss to the eventual Founder's Cup champions, this one feels different. Of course, it's never fun to lose, and watching this team find its form over the last few weeks of the season has been a real joy. Heading into a 1st round matchup against the Ottawa Lynx, while the 21st were underdogs, it felt like there was a chance that they could somehow upset one of the top teams in the VHLM-- or at least give them a good series. As it turns out, it was a great series-- a real back and forth matchup that saw the teams trade wins. Halifax started the series with commanding 5-2 win in Ottawa, but the Lynx roared back with a 5-1 win of their own in game 2. Then the Lynx stole a 4-1 victory in Halifax in game 3 before the 21st came back again to tie the series at 2 games apiece. Halifax then took a 3-2 series lead by beating the Lynx in Ottawa, 3-1, and had two chances to close out the series. In the end, it was the pedigree of the the Lynx that prevailed as they scratched their way to 2-1 victories in both games 6 and 7 to move on to the 2nd round of the VHLM playoffs. For an upstart team that was expected by many to be a bottom feeder in S96, the 21st proved that the future is for real and that the kids can play! Featuring no less than 11 first gen players, all but 3 of the team's 16 players were drafted in S96 or were waiver acquisitions during the regular season. It has been exciting to see how far the team has come this season and this loss to Ottawa in the first round is nothing to be ashamed of! Ottawa, by the way, went on to put away San Diego in the 2nd round and is now awaiting game 1 against Mississauga in the Finals. Throughout the season, this week's SuperSailor was one of the most important players for the team. Kazuma Satou joined the 21st just before the beginning of the regular season and quickly became the team's top defenseman. With 54 points in 72 games, he led all Halifax defenders in points and ranked 2nd on the team overall. League-wide, Satou ranked 6th among all defensemen in scoring and 3rd in shots blocked, showing his value at both ends of the rink. In the first round against Ottawa, Satou tied with Ty Duke @TheDuke for the team lead with 8 points. Satou also came in clutch with 2 game winning goals in the first round to secure victories over Ottawa and help push the series to 7 games. His 16 shots blocked and 17 hits were also the most among all Halifax players in the postseason, and he collected 4 of his points on the powerplay. In the locker room, @Spartan has been a model teammate-- despite having a player still finishing his VHL career with Vancouver AND managing the Moscow Menace. During the first round, he joined the All Aboard Podcast with @SMYLS4 and @flyersfan345 for a great episode-- Penguins-Flyers rivalry notwithstanding-- and has provided mentorship, positivity, and advice to players around the team all season long, even with his other league commitments taking up time and energy. As the 21st enter the offseason, it's unfortunate that Satou will not be able to continue with the team as he is eligible for the VHLM draft and projects to be a top pick. For the season and playoffs that he was with the team, however, he certainly played an important role in both the sims and around the team. Congratulations, Kazuma Satou, on being our SuperSailor in round 1 of the playoffs. While we wait for the offseason to begin in earnest, players will certainly be continuing to develop and prepare for S97 when the 21st are expected to be better prepared to contend. The sky is the limit for this team as they've already shown that they can hang with the best and there's still so much room to grow. With a decent collection of picks for S96 and S97, the team could be well postioned to reload and go for it by the drop of the puck for next season. In the meantime, let's keep the fire burning! ༻❁༺