LucyXpher

Lucy Leitner Passing 46 --> 40 * Can it go below 40? If so, make it 36 plz

What a melancholy but beautiful piece. Congrats on a great career with Vandelay! And here's to the next one

Great biography! I liked how you kept the story progressing forward, touching on important elements, but not getting stuck in the weeds anywhere. It made for a smooth, entertaining, and engaging read. I like the way you went with your player story, which is a little different than most. Your player finds the game later in life after being committed to academics and studies first. It's an interesting road with lots of potential for further story development throughout your player's career. I also quite like the "Shadow Woman" nickname and the playstyle you described for her, being a smooth skater that skulks around the ice like a shadow, slipping through defenders almost like they're not there. Again, it's something that you can continue to play with as your player develops and progresses and gives your player a bit more character, a nickname to remember instead of just a name-- very fun! I also liked the incorporation of Arthurian lore and the creativity you approached the story with in that respect. Well done on this biography and best of luck to your player! I look forward to seeing where the Shadow Woman lands in a few seasons! For now, though, the Marlins are a rival so I'll see you on the ice! Rating: 9/10 02/11/24

This is a really great idea for a VHL All Star event that could actually be done, I think, without too much difficulty. I think you're right that it would give more reason for players not in the VHL to pay attention to that league if you could earn a little TPE, and it would just be a fun way to honor the top players every season and an interesting sim loaded with some high end talent. The only issue I could potentially see is that there would possibly be bots filling in the empty rosters spots? Maybe not? Idk lol. I suppose that would be the same for every entry, but ideally we could put together full rosters without bots, but maybe that's too much to ask of entrants and simmers. I think your All Star picks are good as well-- Vandelay is a good pick, but I'd personally have Ash Sparks as the top goalie, shoutout to @DarkSpyro having an incredible season. All said, this was a great post and I really liked the ideas you brought to a potential all star event. Rating: 9/10 02/11/24

1. We aren't as good as we used to be, at least in the past 10 games played. 3-6-1 through our last 10 games, what do we need to do as a team to get back on the winning track? I think we just need to stick with it, don't change too much, don't panic, don't get demoralized-- just keep doing what has worked for us and what will keep us moving toward our ultimate goal which is a Founder's Cup. I think if we do this, keep working hard to develop, the results will come. And with some new additions, I think we'll have an even better chance of that. 2. With our roster now set we do not need to add any new players to the team this season. What is the best feeling about being part of a full 12-6-2 roster? Are there any negatives you find? The best part of being on a full roster is that we have such a deep and exciting team. Even if you have an off night, you can trust that another teammate will pick up the slack. It's just exciting to think of where we could go with this roster. We've got some incredible personalities and amazing talents on this team and I'm happy and proud to be on this team. One tradeoff of having a deep team is individually we might have to give up some ice time and maybe some opportunities to score more points. I'm personally not bothered by that as the team success is more important to me, but everyone likes to play and score points so it is something you sacrifice for the greater good of the team. It's worth it 100% in my opinion. 3. Trade Deadline is here and Houston has two new faces joining us to complete our roster. @CowboyinAmerica was traded from Halifax and @KRZY signed from waivers, these two are fresh meat in the locker room. What is something these players should know about Houston and our team? Are there any cool spots in Houston you want them to know about? Every time I turn around, it seems AJ is making another roster move and making this team better, it's unreal! I'm super excited to have these new players join our team and to get to know them in the locker room. Houston is a great city and an awesome place to live. The food scene in Houston is unreal so they definitely need to try that. One of my favorite spots is the old Houston Post. There's some great food vendors in there, and you can go on the roof of the building to get a great view of the downtown. It's also next to 713 Music Hall where you can catch some live music, there's always good acts coming through. In terms of our team, if you're looking for a drinking buddy, Vencko @Mutti is the guy, lol. In all seriousness, we've got an awesome group of players who have been really supportive of one another and working together towards the same goal all season. It's a great locker room and I'm sure the new players will fit right in. 4. Playoffs are always in the back of my mind. Since drafting, trading, and signing each player this season, my goal is always to get to the playoffs. Looks like we got a good shot this season to make it! What is the one team you DO NOT want to go up against in the 1st round? VHLM playoffs take the top 8/10 teams in the league. It's gotta be San Diego. I think we're like 1-7 against them this year, they've just had our number all season long. However, we did beat them yesterday so that's a nice confidence boost to just prove to ourselves that we can do it. If we end up meeting them in the playoffs, I say, bring 'em on! I really do think we have a good shot against any team in the league. 5. I have always loved Taco Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, Freaky Fridays, etc... Which day of the week is your go to "event day"? Is there a day of the week where you have a routine meal or event? We don't have a fun alliterative name for it yet, but I go out with a group of friends most Friday nights-- Friends Friday I guess lol. We always try new places and sometimes we go see some live music. It's always something to look forward to at the end of the week and we've got a great group of friends. 6. It's GM day! I literally just made that up. For GM day you are required to give me something. This "something" can be anything! A unicycle? Sure! Some baby turtles and a tank for them to live in? Thank you very much! What is one thing you would like to give to me, your GM, if you could give me anything? I would give you a mixtape of my top 10 favorite songs that I think everyone should listen to-- yes, a literal cassette tape. I'll throw in a small cassette player so you can actually listen to the thing. It's just kind of a fun nostalgic thing I like to do, but I've got this tape recorder that I use to write cassette tapes with digital music because I just love the analog sound of cassettes and the ritual of putting it in the cassette player, fast-forwarding and rewinding, even the funny little warbles you get with warped cassettes. My parents had a big cassette collection that I listened to growing up so I've always had a soft spot for them even though everything is easier in digital.

It's a huge trade! I think Bucatini is gonna be a great fit on our team! Time to light this league on fire!

Lauren Lambert for VHL.com

With the VHLM Trade Deadline today, there are already a few big trades that have been agreed to by the party teams and are awaiting league approval. Assuming everything is above board and these trades all go through, here are the most notable players on the move at the Season 92 VHLM Trade Deadline . . . so far. Antonia Bucatini @CowboyinAmerica- Acquired by Houston Bulls The Bulls roster is full. GM @AJW has done an exceptional job of filing out the lineup with free agent acquisitions and has taken a swing for the fences with the trade deadline acquisition of Antonia Bucatini. In this deal, Houston sends Halifax Bolor Khan @Bolor Khan, a 1st round pick for S93, and a 4th round pick for S94. Khan is still a young player early in his development and will likely spend at least another season in the VHLM. The 1st and 4th round picks are a steep price to pay, but for the talent coming back and the promise of the current roster, it's easy to see why AJW pulled the trigger. Antonia Bucatini is an immense talent in the VHLM and is the current league leader with an astounding 324 shots in 52 games played. Bucatini had 32 goals, good for 6th most in the league, and 30 assists playing for Halifax who has struggled immensely this season. On a Bulls roster bursting with up-and-coming talent, Bucatini will have no shortage of quality complimentary players. Don't be surprised to see Bucatini catch fire quick playing alongside the likes of Trimiskez Artav @jake and Chris Reynolds Jr. @Crstats23on Houston's top line. Annie Oaks @Noodle Enjoyer - Acquired by Las Vegas Aces One of the VHLM's most promising rookies is headed to Las Vegas, acquired in a trade by Aces GM @McLovin with @Ricer13 of the Saskatoon Wild. The Wild have been busy at this trade deadline dealing three of their top players and committing to building for the future. Coming back to Saskatoon from Vegas is Masa Akimoto @Hokikeijot, a solid young defender who will be a quality VHLM defenseman next season, as well as a 2nd and 3rd round pick for S93. Headed to Sin City is Annie Oaks, who was second on the Wild with 31 goals and 33 assists for 64 points this season. As a RW, Oaks will likely slot into the Aces second line because Elle Aura Ashe already occupies the top RW spot. This is a shrewd move by Las Vegas to build out their top 6 with another high-end scoring forward and they definitely look like a contender coming out of the Western Conference, currently at 2nd in the league overall. Forum Content @frescoelmo and UghSike @UghSike - Acquired by Miami Marauders If AJW was swinging for the fences in Houston, Miami's GM @Tetricide may have just knocked it out of the park acquiring two of Saskatoon's top players in Forum Content and UghSike. With Forum Content currently sitting at 2nd in overall scoring with 83 points and UghSike putting up a more than respectable 46 points in 52 games, like Vegas, the Marauders have also assembled a menacing top 6 that is sure to strike fear in defenders league-wide. The idea of Forum Content playing on the same team as Matthew Highmore @NineIQ v2 and Bilbo Teebaggins @SackButter is a tantalizing prospect. The Marauders did need to give up a quality player in Leon Bruhmaninho @BigBruhman who had 50 points in 52 games, as well as a S93 1st rounder and a S94 2nd rounder to get the deal done. This move does have the potential, however, to vault the Marauders up the standings and situate them among the leagues top competitors for the Founder's Cup. With these moves already, it is clear that there is an arms race taking place in the VHLM with at least 5 teams believing they have a legitimate shot at winning the Founder's Cup this season. It will be fascinating to see how it all shakes out and which trade deadline acquisition can help their team when the playoffs roll around. Lauren Lambert for VHL.com Claimed for 02/11/24

Likewise! Vencko is a super fun personality and a great interview every single time!

There has been a whirlwind of news and controversy coming out of Houston throughout the early goings of this VHLM season. At the eye of the storm, seemingly, is Bulls' goaltender, Ondrej Vencko @Mutti. A native of Czechia playing his first season in the US, reports have linked Vencko to the arrest of Valtr Bily, a known fugitive of Czechia. Bily was arrested in the Bulls' arena parking lot in possession of one pound of crystal clear methamphetamine mere hours after Vencko's arrival in Houston, triggering a flurry of speculation tying the two together. Vencko himself seemed to fan the flames with some of his own eccentric behavior and commentary, further intensifying the media storm that began to descend on the young Bulls. Today, I had the opportunity for an exclusive interview with Vencko, hopefully to clear the air, shed further light on some of his puzzling remarks, and to give a voice to the polarizing character who has captured the attention of the Houston faithful in a short amount of time. ༺ ༻ Lauren Lambert: Hello Ondrej-- or Ondra? I've heard you prefer to be called Ondra? Ondrej Vencko: You've heard so right. You see, Ondrej is rather formal and is associated with a meme popular with millennials in Czechia. So I prefer the more "normal" form. [he chuckles] Lambert: How are you? Vencko: Pretty good, how are you? Lambert: I am doing well, thank you for asking, and thank you for giving us this time today. I understand the season is in full swing now and I'm sure you've had a lot to deal with, on and off the ice. I think this could be a good opportunity, though, for the hockey world to get to know you a little bit-- who you are as a player, but more importantly, who you are as a person. And I guess, before anything else, we should address the elephant in the room, and that is the speculation about your substance abuse-- particularly drug use, and possible connection to an arrest that was made in the Bulls' arena parking lot. So let me just ask you: Do you now, or have you ever, used hard drugs, specifically crystal methamphetamine? Vencko: I think that some fans or haters, even, will get an answer for two questions at once, that is, my personality will be viewed based on my experience with drugs. Right? Well, let's get it sorted, then. I never did hard drugs. I loathe hard drugs. If someone wants to destroy themselves with that crap, well be my f---ing guest, but I ain't joining. Oh-- sorry for the language. Lambert: No worries, now let me ask you this: Have you ever met or corresponded with Valtr Bily in any kind of capacity? Vencko: I've never met or in other way communicated with that man. It was an ugly coincidence that a fellow Czech does this insanity in the same city where I want to start my pro hockey career. But then again, there are a lot of Czechs in the States, and not only hockey players. They are trying to make a living and to leave a mark, you know, and this idiot comes and just ruins our reputation. I hope he gets deported or he rots in jail, I don't care what-- but no mercy. Lambert: Okay, and here's another one for you: Have you ever actively participated in the sale or distribution of any kind of illegal substance? Vencko: I have never bought or sold anything illegal, per se . . . if you count alcohol, well . . . I bought some beers when I was underage and I did smoke some pot. But it's nothing for me and in Czechia, no one is really stoked when you smoke weed. It's as if you were to try and flex with smoking cigarettes. You'll look like an idiot. Lambert: Have you been in contact with the authorities in any capacity regarding the arrest of Valtr Bily? Vencko: Yeah, they asked me basically the same questions as you did. They didn't find any reason to investigate me further. Lambert: It's no secret that the blowback from this speculation and controversy has resulted in some vile things being said online and I've heard some jeering and boos from the crowd at games. How do you deal with this negativity, and what would you like to say to people who might doubt your character, or who might be assuming the worst about you? Vencko: You know . . . it was really hard to deal with such accusations. My private life also suffered a bit because of all this. My girlfriend faced hostilities anywhere she went, once she was called a "hooker groupie". That was kind of a boiling point, at which I nearly killed that a--hole when I found out. Luckily, my girl always knows how to calm me down, so . . . I opted for this interview instead. Which I am grateful to be part of, so my thanks go to you, Lambie. May I call you Lambie? Lambert: That's a new one, but sure, I don't mind. And just going back to some of those comments, I must say, that's awful to hear and I can only imagine it's very difficult to deal with that, especially when it's directed at a loved one. Now, I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but I think some people will be asking the question, do you feel at all responsible for some of this negative response in light of some of your actions and comments? Do you think you could have been more tactful in what you said to the media and how you acted in public? Vencko: Of course I could have been more tactful. But my nerves aren't really . . . strong. And my patience overflows rather quickly, especially when it influences the ones close to me. That is just unfair. Lambert: You made some interesting-- some might say provocative-- comments about alcohol in the past. Maybe you'd like to just clear the air, what is your stance on alcohol usage? Do you actively consume alcohol during official team practices or games? Vencko: [laughs] No! After practice or game, sure. But not before or during-- no. I joked about it because of Czech Republic's reputation when it comes to litres of beer drank per capita per year. Interesting stats, I'm telling ya. Lambert: So this is your first season in Houston-- your first season in America-- how has that experience been so far? Has there been a culture shock at all? And how do you get along with your teammates so far? Vencko: Well, not really a shock. I mean, some things are different, sure. But I enjoy learning new stuff. Plus the chemistry we got in the team is amazing. It just strengthens your motivation and will to do your best. The US themselves . . . interesting country to live in, for sure. But Houston itself is really pleasant. Lambert: What do you value most in a teammate? And how do those values translate to how you conduct yourself in the locker-room and on the ice? Vencko: I think I value cooperation and an open mind the most. Those attributes create a thriving dynamic, which then translates into a really passionate game. And as I said, my teammates are simply the best ones I could have wished for. All of them are brave, funny, and clever guys with clear minds and uh . . . yeah. I genuinely dig this team. Especially defensemen, I mean, they are so brave, man . . . Blocking shots like lunatics! Sometimes, I feel like I am not necessary. [he laughs] Lambert: For those who may not be from here or who aren't aware, there is a fairly significant Czech community in Houston. Is this something you've been able to experience yet? Vencko: Not that much, really, no. Only a few guys from said community came to some of our practices and we had a cute little chat. I believe that this will be vastly different later on, though-- especially if we can make an impact in the playoffs. You know, you haven't seen passionate hockey fans if you haven't seen Czech hockey fans. That's something to look forward to. Lambert: In a recent article by Ben Icio del Toro, it was revealed that you may be seeing someone. Now, I obviously want to respect her privacy, and yours as well, but I do want to ask you about a comment you made in this recent article. You said, and I quote, “This girl? That’s my fortune. My secret for my agility. You know, couple of hours of 'exercise' per week does the trick!”. Maybe without getting into too much detail, would you like to clarify this statement? What does this person mean to you? Again, I'm not asking you to reveal too much, but maybe just to show a bit of your human side for those who might be reading. Vencko: Ah, Benny really released it? Nah, I'm joking, I know about it. Ahem . . . you know, it was supposed to be this over-the-top, commercial-like GF description . . . so I said something similar to the things you quoted and we had a lot of fun with Ben. But truth is that yeah, I have been seeing someone for 7 months now and I am happy as ever with her! She is really helpful when I feel down, she motivates me to move forward and to keep working on myself, and she gives me all the love and care I need. It also helps that we share our needs, as she's Czech as well. So we were "shocked" by Houston together. [he laughs] Lambert: Well, Ondra, I think it's fair to say that a lot of Houstonians were shocked by some of the early season news coming out of the Bulls' locker room, especially as it pertains to you. I think that hearing from you today will help clear the air for people and will hopefully be the end of any hostility you may have experienced online or at games. Thank you for taking the time with us today and good luck the rest of the way! ༺ ༻ After a shaky start, Vencko has been finding his game as of late. And though his numbers could still stand to improve at .885% and 3.18 GAA, his 18-12-3 record seems to be a better reflection of his ability to help his team win on a nightly basis. Going into the trade deadline, the Houston Bulls are coming off of a bit of a cold stretch having dropped 5 of their last 6 games, but are hoping that their most recent win against their nemesis, the San Diego Marlins, will be a sign of things to come. The team has never looked better on paper this season and many of the Bulls' top skaters are really coming into their own as top-flight minor-pro players. Furthermore, the Bulls boast a solid secondary scoring punch and a very deep lineup with quality contributors all the way down to the 4th line and 3rd defensive pair. It is also rumored that GM @AJW is not finished tinkering with his team yet as he looks to be wheeling and dealing at the trade deadline to strengthen his roster even further with more proven talent. With any luck, we'll have more to report on that front very soon! .·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. Lauren Lambert for VHL.com (1930 Words) Claimed by LucyXpher for 02/11/24 (1148 Words) All of Vencko's responses written by @Mutti Claimed by Mutti for 02/11/24 (782 words)

Another fantastic podcast! You do an awesome job keeping it entertaining and fun throughout so it doesn't get boring even though it's a pretty substantial length! I could have listened for another 20 minutes lol Keep up the amazing work!

This is awesome! Nicely done!

This is incredible! SOOO well done! It was funny, informative, well edited, and I love the interview you did with Vencko in the locker room. I too want to join this drawing contest to win some free signed swag!

Would be happy to do it! Maybe an opportunity to write for VSN in the future and do it a little bit more officially lol! But I had fun doing it for this theme week anyway. Thanks!

This is awesome! I love the idea and the way you presented it was fun to read! Will be watching for more from Sammy Samsquanch in the near future!

Hiya @Mysterious_Fish, can you add me to the ping list? Thanks!

This is very helpful and it does make sense! I’ve been noticing some of the wild differences in goalie performance from season to season and wondering myself how to compare, because obviously scoring seems much higher this season than it was last (22 shutouts for one goalie is wild), though the average TPA of goalies probably hasn’t changed much to account for this league wide. Thanks for the explanation and I look forward to seeing this stat applied in other articles of yours! Btw, could you share the math? I’d be interested to try this myself in other contexts. Are you just dividing an individual’s sv% by the average sv%, the higher the number the better?

You are correct! The leaders page doesn't actually give you credit for your points with Mississauga in the totals which is very strange, only for points with SDM... I have to actually go to your player page and combine them manually to get your actual point total. Sorry for missing that, adjusted the article accordingly! Probably would have considered you more strongly for 1st team honors too had I noticed that. You're having a great season, congrats!

Seriously though!

1. We have officially crossed the halfway point of this season, S92. Through a half season of play, what are you overall thoughts on our team? I think our team is in a great position! Our roster has been filled out with quality free agents and a lot of our players are still actively earning TPE and getting better. I think come playoffs, we are going to be a force! 2. It's Theme Week! This season's theme for Theme Week is "All-Star". What are you planning on doing for Theme Week? Have you already submitted a Media/Graphic/Podcast? I was able to complete my media spot for theme week already and I made my own picks for VHLM All Stars. I think it'd be really cool if the leagues all had official All Star Picks and then did one-off All-Star sims just to see what would happen when you put the top players in the league together in a game. Anyway, I had a lot of fun researching the top players in the VHLM and picking a Western and Eastern Conference team. Hopefully I didn't offend anyone by leaving them off! 3. Weekly tasks sometimes turn into a bore. VHL.com's might not be as interesting as they use to be, or you may get trivia wrong and lose all motivation... If you could choose a new way to earn TPE, what would your task of choice be? To be honest, I quite like writing articles, but I can understand why some people find it tedious. Maybe having a more specifically creative writing point task could be interesting, or bringing back the VHL Magazine. Editors and writers could receive TPE for their roles. Another one that I thought would be neat is VHL Cards, even just digital cards that could be traded between players. Maybe people could earn 2-3 tpe for every card they produce and every card is 1/1. I'm not the one to ask about logistics, but it would be cool if you could build up a virtual collection and display it somehow. Just something else to do and get involved with. Maybe you could earn TPE for every player card that goes on to become a hall of famer. Just spitballing 4. Halfway through the season is usually when players finally feel their groove. Daily games create great routines! What is your routine in order to be ready for each and every single game? I like to get my tasks and training done as early as I can so that I don't feel like I'm behind on it during the week. So far that's worked pretty well for me and I'm going to try and keep that up going forward. Plus, I've found it gives me something to look forward to on Mondays and a bit of a pop in performance when the training comes through. 5. If you had to choose between only winning team awards, or only winning individual awards, which would you choose and why? I'm not gonna lie, it would be awesome to win some individual awards, but at the end of the day, it's being part of a team that makes any kind of sport or game fun and worthwhile in my opinion. Some of my favorite memories have been collaborative successes and sharing a win with friends. Of course it's awesome to be recognized for individual achievements and it would be fantastic to be the best player in the league every season, but I'd trade that any day to win a championship with my team every year. 6. Almost February! One month of 2024 gone already, has anything cool/interesting happened to you in this first month? Maybe my life is kinda boring, but no, not really. I mean, finding the VHL community is pretty cool and has been fun getting into. But besides that, it's been back to the grind with studies, readings, papers, etc... I think the summer will have more in the way of fun, cool, and interesting, but for now it's pretty status quo.

Interesting, what is SV+? Do you mean save percentage?

1. Nothing against Mississauga, but I would relocate the Hounds to Quebec City. It's odd to me that there isn't a Quebec team in any of the leagues. Maybe they could be called the Voyageurs or something. I don't know, I probably need to brush up on my French Canadian history before I try my hand at naming a team from there. But it seems kinda silly that there isn't one yet. 2. I've been busy with school. I'm a college student so readings and papers have been occupying a lot of my time lately. Studying English literature seemed like a good idea on paper, but in practice it can sometimes make a chore out of a passion. 3. My favorite subject in school was always English/Language Arts. I always loved creative writing, especially poetry, and I was lucky to have some great teachers growing up that really encouraged that passion. I really just love being able to experiment and have fun with language, using word play, creating new worlds ands stories. The possibilities are only ever limited by your own creativity and that part of it is really liberating for me. QUESTIONS: 1. Which VHL team has the best logo and why do you think it's the best? 2. Besides playing sports, what is your favorite thing to do for fun or entertainment? 3. Your player is going out with someone for the first time, where are you going? And who is your ideal date?

Great article updating on the Nighthawks season so far! As a newbie to the forum, I appreciated how you included the context of last year's team and where they were at the same point in the season and how that all relates to the current league standings and point spread. It really helps to bring readers like me up to speed with some recent history instead of me having to look it up myself. I'd consider myself a Nighthawks fan, I really like your team/players and I'm rooting for you guys to go far this season and to win it all in the playoffs. The 24-3-1 stretch that you referenced is an incredible run of form, and the current run of 17-2-1 is almost as impressive. Again, a well written piece that informs readers of the context of stats rather than just feeding them numbers or saying Malmo is in first without contextualizing, so well done! And go Nighthawks! 9.5/10 02/04/24

Awesome article! I really appreciate you taking the time to highlight our team and actually dig into how our roster is constructed this season. AJW has done an incredible job, as you noted, of finding and signing free agents so that we can now boast a solid group of competitive VHLM players with potential to get better still. I think it's cool when people write stuff like this about other teams and players, especially when they're a potential rival or competitor, it really adds some perspective and validation to the league and it contributes to the feeling of legitimacy when your team is on a good run, or your player is popping off. I hope to write more articles like this highlighting other teams and players going forward and this is a great example of how it's done. 9.5/10 02/04/24

Earlier today I named my S92 VHLM All-Stars. In the same media spot, I also named a group of First Team All-Stars-- the top players at each position from the entire VHLM. In this short post, I want to specifically highlight this group of 6 players and add some shine to their star as they've all had exceptional seasons in the VHLM to this point. VHLM FIrst Team All-Stars (LW) Forum Content - (C) Antonia Bucatini - (RW) Yermolai Nabokov (D) Bric Sheithaus - (D) Bilbo Teebaggins (G) Jorgen Lovstrom Forum Content (LW) @frescoelmo - Saskatoon Wild: In S92 in the VHLM, Forum Content has paced the league basically from day one. With 20 goals, 41 assists, and 61 points, Forum Content has been the focal point of the Saskatoon offense all season alongside Annie Oaks. HIs league leading performance is made all the more impressive as he sits at 178 TPA with room to improve still. Eligible for the S93 VHL Draft, Forum Content will be near the top of many scouts' lists as they consider which player represents the future of their franchise. Antonia Bucatini (C) @CowboyinAmerica - Halifax 21st: The top scoring center in the VHLM, Bucatini has shown exceptional scoring prowess all season long. Selected 1st overall by Halifax in the S92 VHLM draft, Bucatini has lived up to expectations, leading their team in scoring as well as leading the league in shots on goal with an absurd 257 in 38 games! With 26 goals, Bucatini is one of the VHLM's premier goal scorers and it's scary to think of how productive they could be on a better team as Halifax has really struggled this season. Yermolai Nabokov (RW) @fonziGG - Philadelphia Reapers: At right wing, nobody has been better than Yermolai Nabokov who has 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points in 38 games. Despite what the funky names on this Reapers' roster might suggest, Nabokov is the engine of this Philly offense. With a balanced mix of passing and scoring ability, Nabokov is a threat any time he is on the ice and is a big part of the Reapers' success in S92. Like Forum Content, at 167 TPA, Nabokov has room to grow and could even challenge for the league scoring title by the end of this regular season. Also eligible for the VHL draft, it would be a shock not to see him among the top selections this coming offseason. Bric Sheithaus (D) @Oldhead91 - Las Vegas Aces: In his 3rd season in the VHLM, Sheithaus has found another level with 53 points in 38 games. He leads all defensemen in points and all players with 42 assists. Drafted 7th overall by Riga in the S91 draft, Sheithaus still has not made the leap to the big leagues and remains at 188 TPA. His performance this season, however, speaks to his growth as a player and his effectiveness as he has been a major factor in Vegas' success this season. Bilbo Teebaggins (D) @SackButter - Miami Marauders: With only 96 TPA, Teebaggins has been playing out of his skin. The second highest scoring defender with 12 goals, 34 assists, and 46 points in 38 games, he has factored into the Miami offense on a nightly basis. While there may be questions about whether he can repeat this success in the second half, Teebaggins deserves credit for his performance thus far and has the potential to be a difference maker at the next level if he can take the next step forward in his development. Jorgen Lovstrom (G) @Pifferfish - Philadelphia Reapers: Lovstrom is the best goalie in the VHLM right now and there isn't much debate. With league leading numbers like a .919%, 2.35 GAA, 1 SO, and 27 Wins, no other goalie is on his level right now. At 142 TPA, Lovstrom looks to be the top draft eligible goalie in the upcoming VHL draft and will certainly have his name in the conversation for some personal hardware if his play follows its current trend. A native of Greenland, Lovstrom has the potential to be a top goalie at the highest levels and will definitely be a player to watch in seasons to come. *Honorable Mention: At the time of writing I did not notice that Jean-Pierre Devote's @eagle_3450 points with Mississauga were not included in his total points on the leaders page. His total points would actually have him on par with Forum Content for the VHLM lead, but with 31G-30A-61P. I'm not going to change my selections retroactively, but I just thought I should acknowledge the mistake and say that he would have been much more seriously in consideration had I realized this when I made the picks. Lauren Lambert for VHL.com 02/04/24