LucyXpher

Captains: In Season 96, the Halifax leadership includes three notable up-and-comers in the VHLM ranks. As as standout performer on the S95 Halifax roster, Steven Nichols (A) @SlyDigi returns in S96, once again in a leadership role as the 21st look to improve this time around and build for the future. Nichols was one of a few bright spots on last season's roster and the 21st will look for him to take another step forward and build on a very successful VHLM rookie campaign. Pelayo Bolivar (A) @SMYLS4 is another rookie standout who really turned heads at the Junior Showcase Tournament this offseason. The 24th overall pick in the S95 VHLM draft has been making huge strides in his development as of late and will be an important player for Halifax this season and next. The captain of the Halifax 21st this season is new acquisition, Xhekajs middletoe (C) @Xhekajsleftankle, who was traded to Halifax from San Diego in the days leading up to the draft. Middletoe, or Xhektoe, has been an incredible presence in the Halifax locker room through training camp and was brought to Halifax precisely to infuse some life in the locker room and punch to the Halifax forwards corps. Forwards: John Babydeer @Bobo Pelayo Bolivar @SMYLS4 Ty Duke @TheDuke Devin Johnson @Homealonetwo Michael Lee Jr @blueredlover Steven Nichols @SlyDigi Jay Sikes @JaySmacksss Hater Tottingham @Trunkxolotl Xhekajs middletoe @Xhekajsleftankle Defense: Boris Bone-Breaker @RileyL Cysteine @Bea Petr Novak @LastGoon007 Kazuma Satou @Spartan Mikko Tuomala @flyersfan345 Goalies: Chad Powers @Big_Dyl Jon Webber III @Webberj Graphic by @Bobo - Inspired the Halifax home jerseys this season!

1st claim - 10/20/24

Sadie, this is an incredible write up!!! You clearly put a ton of effort and research into this to be able to say something about virtually every pick and all the off-season trading. Articles like these really breathe life into the league and I think they’re really huge for newer and first gen players. I know when I joined— and even still now— I get so excited seeing articles like this where someone has clearly taken the time to learn about other players and the happenings of the league, basically like a real journalist would. It’s the kind of thing that just makes me want to dive in more and keep going. Amazing job and thank you for everything you put into this. I know I’m not the only one who appreciates it!

I’m going to love following these all season, they’re so funny

Ethan I miss you Beautiful graphic though!

This was a fun listen! I think I may have even learned something

I didn’t join because of the creative outlet, but it’s definitely been a huge part of why I’ve kept going— that and the awesome people

I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading your articles. That's all

idk hang it on your wall and remember that time we beat you in game 7?

1. Honestly, I haven't done much out of the ordinary lol. There's so much that goes on in the offseason, you kind of get busy doing all of that and maybe I should take some time to celebrate! 2. I'm not sure... I'm a pretty low-key person generally and I don't usually do any over the top partying. 3. lol nope. I'm definitely not going to stop training! There's still so much to do! 4. I think we have a great chance at repeating! Our team might even be better next season, though losing Skor McFleury is a big loss for sure. I'm pretty optimistic though. 5. Oh, you know, good game, better luck next time. I asked Skilton @ace_five_ to do a stick swap though... he said no. 6. Well the Sharks don't play til Thursday so no, probably not...

Ill do Bouchard!

Graphic by @Bobo Coming off of a lacklustre Season 95 that saw the team finish the regular season 1 point below .500, the Halifax 21st entered the offseason hoping to change course for S96 and beyond. In the week leading up to the trade deadline, Halifax GM Lexie Leitner traded the team's top two players away for future assets. The team's top scorer at the time, Mathias Gunnarsson @ThatCanadian, was shipped out to Las Vegas for an S96 LVA 1st and a S97 LVA 4th. Meanwhile, the team's rock-solid goaltender, Samuel Wazinski @samthemancub, was sent to Mississauga in exchange for fringe goaltender Gustav Larsson @azie as well as an S96 MIS 1st and a S97 MIS 2nd. Relying on waiver signings and a compliment of rookies, the 21st managed to scrape their way into the playoffs where they were dismissed in 5 games by the eventual Founder's Cup champion Philadelphia Reapers. Heading into the offseason then, Halifax had some draft new found capital to play with and a healthy fire to improve the roster for S96 and beyond. Halifax S96 draft picks at the beginning of the offseason: S96 MIS 1st (#8) S96 LVA 1st (10th) S96 HFX 3rd (24th) S96 HFX 5th (44th) S96 HFX 6th (54th) S96 HFX 7th (64th) Seemingly not content with the shape of their S96 draft prospects, in the week leading up to the VHLM dispersal draft, Halifax made seven trades, swapping mostly picks but also a few players. September 30th To HFX: S96 SDM 4th (#31) + S96 SDM 2nd (#11) To LVA: S96 MIS 1st (#8) To HFX: S96 SDM 3rd (#21) + S96 HFX 1st (#4) To OTT: S96 SDM 2nd (#11) + S97 MIS 2nd October 2nd To HFX: S96 MIA 1st (#6) + S96 LVA 3rd (#30) To SDM: S96 HFX 1st (#4) October 3rd To HFX: Xhekajs middletoe @Xhekajsleftankle To SDM: Victory Hockey League @TheHockey_pro + S97 HFX 5th + S97 HFX 6th October 4th To HFX: S96 HFX 2nd (#14) + S97 SDM 3rd To SDM: Michael Schmicael @K4L3B + S97 HFX 1st October 6th To HFX: S96 MIA 2nd (#16) To PHI: S96 LVA 3rd (#30) + S96 SDM 4th (#31) To HFX: S96 HFX 4th (#34) + S96 PHI 1st (#9) To MIA: S96 MIA 1st (#6) Okay, but after all those trades, did the 21st really come out ahead? What was the point of all that trading? Below are the total assets in and out for Halifax after all seven trades. IN - OUT S96 1st (#9) - S96 1st (#8) S96 2nd (#14) - S97 HFX 1st S96 2nd (#16) - S97 MIS 2nd S96 3rd (#21) - S97 HFX 5th S96 4th (#34) - S97 HFX 6th S97 SDM 3rd - D Victory Hockey League (171 TPE) RW Xhekajs middletoe (TPE:134) - LW Michael Schmicael (78 TPE) Looking at the revamped Halifax draft board gives a bit more perspective about what the team was going for with this flurry of trades. HFX S96 picks on draft day: S96 PHI 1st (#9) S96 LVA 1st (#10) S96 HFX 2nd (#14) S96 MIA 2nd (#16) S96 SDM 3rd (#21) S96 HFX 3rd (#24) S96 HFX 4th (#34) S96 HFX 5th (#44) S96 HFX 6th (#54) S96 HFX 7th (#64) S95 ProAm Draft pictured above - it took 6 days... Now with six picks in the first 3 rounds of what was considered to be a fairly deep draft, the 21st were poised to significantly improve their roster for S96. While a few 2nd and 3rd round picks may not seem like much to some, for GM Lexie Leitner, those picks would completely change the shape of the team's draft strategy: "I mean, most of the moves we made were manoeuvering, you know, just trying to see if we could get some picks in the range we wanted while also collecting an extra pick here or there. Through our scouting this offseason, we had a pretty significant list of players that we really liked and there were some potential gems on that list that we really didn't want to miss out on. So looking at our projected rankings for the draft, we went out and targeted picks in the range we thought we could get the players we wanted and I'm really pleased with how it worked out. We had excellent interviews with all of the players we selected in the first 5 rounds and we're really excited for the future here in Halifax!" Were there any players who you liked that you weren't able to select? "Of course! There's always great players that you miss out on and you can't realistically pick them all. Ethan Ashcroft @EthanSea611 is one that comes to mind, also Grog Strongjaw @Grog Strongjaw, Hank Smith @Jett88, and Tumbleweed Johnson @stupidtyler. There were also the players who signed with Halifax as waivers last season that we would have loved to have back like Bubbles @AJW and Ricky LaFleur @DarkSpyro." What was the strategy with the trade for middletoe @Xhekajsleftankle? Based on what you gave up, it seems that was a player you really wanted... "Well, it's always difficult trading away players from our team and we definitely don't take it lightly. We really appreciate everything Victory Hockey League did for us last season! The middletoe trade was mainly about bringing in a player that we really liked who we think can be a big part of our team culture over the next couple of seasons. It worked out for us that VHL had some family ties in San Diego so we felt pretty good about making that deal for both players and the team." Talk me through your first couple of picks. At 9th and 10th overall you selected Jay Sikes @JaySmacksss and Cysteine @Bea-- what did you like about them and why were they your top two selections? "I had excellent chats with both of them leading up to the draft and we knew going in that they were both likely to be on other teams' radar as potential high value picks in the second round. They're both doing very well in their development so far and fit well within the window of competitiveness that we're aiming for. We were very happy to reach a little bit to pick them in the first round before anyone else could. With only one defender on the roster, we also definitely needed to make sure we were able to get some good ones in this draft, so we're very excited to add Cysteine to our blueline!" At 14th and 16th you picked Petr Novak @LastGoon007 and Chad Powers @Big_Dyl. Tell me about those picks. "Novak was a player that our AGM @Oddpurplefly scouted and spoke very highly of. Needing another defender was certainly a factor in this pick, but also wanting to add more players in that window of competition who we are confident are going to be good for us on the ice and in the locker room. With Powers, we have full confidence in Jon Webber III as our starter this season, but we wanted to bring in our goalie of the future so that he can develop and be ready when this team is ready to compete for the cup. Powers was also another fantastic interview and I can't say enough good things about what I've seen from him so far!" With the 21st and 24th picks you selected John Babydeer and Pelayo Bolivar. What stood out to you about those two players? "I mean, I might sound like a broken record by the end of this, but these were players who really impressed us in the interview process and around the VHL community leading up to the draft. I was frankly shocked that Babydeer was still on the board at 21st so that was pretty much a no-brainer for us since we expected him to go in the 2nd round. Bolivar is a players I have absolutely loved so far and we even considered picking them much earlier in the draft. Of course, that would mean we lose out on one of the other fantastic players that we picked so we took a bit of a gamble that he'd still be available at 24 and it certainly paid off. This is where some of the pick trading came in since we were very intentional about gathering picks that we thought would put us in the best position to pick from our draft list. Bolivar was near the top of that list for us." After all these picks in the first three rounds, you only picked once in the 4th and 5th rounds. At 34th overall you selected Devin Johnson @Homealonetwo and at 44th you picked Michael Lee Jr @blueredlover. How do you feel about the potential of these two players picked later in the draft? "I'm ecstatic for both! Again, great interviews and both have been showing awesome signs of progress in the weeks leading up to the draft. I think both have the disposition needed to become great players in this league and I'm really excited to see how they improve on Halifax this season. Both Devin and Michael caught my eye in the Junior Showcase Tournament and I think adding them both to our locker room in Halifax is a huge positive for our team! I also don't believe in draft pedigree-- I don't care if a player is drafted in the 1st round or the 5th. If they put in the work and have the right disposition, they can very quickly become a top player in the VHLM and beyond. I still think of Dorji Khan @Oddpurplefly as a prime example of that from a couple seasons ago. He was a 6th round pick, 52nd overall, and he's now about to begin his rookie season for the Toronto Legion. Your draft number means nothing at the end of the day." In the 6th and 7th rounds you picked Jack Kidd @Jack kidd and John Giblin @Gibby28. Do you see any hidden value in these picks? "Like I said before, you really never know. We're going to work with both of them and see if we have something there. The first step will be getting them here to Halifax to see where they're at. I wasn't able to get in touch with either of them in the interview phase, but again, there's no reason they can't turn into great players if they are active and consistent in their development." And so, once the draft ended, you signed a couple of waiver defensemen to round out the roster. Tell me about Mikko Tuomala @flyersfan345 and Kazuma Satou @Spartan ? "I'm very excited about both because they're both acquaintances of players we just drafted. I'm optimistic that this will be good for team chemistry, player development, and the locker room culture since we have some built in familiarity on our team. Both also show a lot of promise and should really help us compete in games as everyone is still developing." You've spoken about this team as a developing team, so what do you think of the team's chances to compete this season? "Well, it's my expectation that we'll be at very least respectable. The goal for the regular season is playoffs and I certainly don't see that as being out of reach for us with the returning talent we have in Jon Webber III @Webberj, Ty Duke @TheDuke, Kokko Miskinen @MikkoKoskinensMistress, Steven Nichols @SlyDigi, and Boris Bone-Breaker @RileyL. Add all of our recent draft picks who we're hoping will develop well as the season goes on, and who knows what we can do after game 72. It's not hard to see that other teams might have a bit of an advantage over us on paper right now, but I think we're building well for the future and we're hoping to open a window of competitiveness that can last for multiple seasons." Halifax, Nova Scotia With 10 forwards, 5 defenders, and 2 goaltenders, the Halifax 21st have a roster that's brimming with potential. What remains to be seen is how much of that potential they can unlock in S96 and beyond. There is certainly some inherent risk in Halifax's draft choices. There were certainly some more well known players available who could be relied on to develop steadily through their VHLM career, but the team decided to go for budding talent instead, believing that by building a vibrant team culture first, they could eventually flower into a contender for the Founder's Cup. It's been well documented that Halifax is still chasing its first Founder's Cup after 33 seasons in the VHLM-- the only VHLM team yet to win it all. The journey to break that unfortunate streak begins now. There's new horizons for the Halifax 21st and the future is looking bright! ༻❁༺ LucyXpher for Halfaxa Press 10/09/2024 2100+ words

Of course! It's always fun Congrats on your trophy win!

As ever, with the MVP award handed out, we conclude our awards show with... *checks queue card* "Lucy popping open a bottle of wine and proceding to drink it straight--" Who wrote this? It used to be a spontaneous thing and now you're scripting it? People of the VHLM, this is what it's come to. Simon T. is ruining my life. Anyway, it's definitely time to call it an awards show. After a thrilling but exhausting offseason, Season 96 kicks off in a few short days and it promises to be another enthralling season of VHLM hockey! Thank you all for tuning in and congratulations to all of our award winners on another incredible season! Enjoy your night, and don't forget to congratulate your teammates! Oh-- and if you see any errors or mistakes, please yell at me! Ugh, where's that drink... --<>-- LucyXpher for VSN 10/08/2024 4700+ words

The Mitch Higgins Trophy Awarded to the player deemed the VHLM's most valuable player during the regular season "This award was renamed from the Sakic Trophy to the Mitch Higgins Trophy in S42. Higgins won the award as part of a legendary Ottawa Ice Dogs team in S23 before leading a notable VHL career and securing at various points the positions of Oslo Storm GM, VHLM commissioner, Helsinki Titans GM, and VHL commissioner" - VHLM Awards Page Here are the nominees: @WildfireMicro Inker Belle (SDM/LVA) - 48 G, 57 A, 105 P, +69, 30 PIM, 122 HIT, 33 SB Splitting time between the Marlins and the Aces, Inker Belle collected 85 points in 48 games for Marlins team that struggled mightily this season, and 20 points in 24 games for a much deeper Vegas squad. Belle's 1.40 P/20 was the highest in the league while they were with the Marlins, though that stat fell drastically to .59 with the Aces. It should be noted that Inker Belle's +69 was the highest in the league, despite playing 48 games for a last place team. @Alex Deadpanda (LVA) - 50-15-7, .924 SV%, 1.75 GAA, 9 SO What more can be said about Deadpanda's dominance this season? Vegas was exceptional in the regular season in large part due to the play of their superstar netminder. It's a bit of chicken and egg with Vegas-- what really carried their defensive dominance, the defensive skaters or the goalie? How about both. There's no denying, however, Deadpanda was the cornerstone of their back end. @Ender9511 Ender (SDM) - 42 G, 73 A, 115 P , +64, 40 PIM, 112 HIT, 41 SB With the 2nd most points in the league and the 2nd highest +/- at +64, Ender spent the entire season playing for the last place San Diego Marlins. With a total point gap of 37 between Ender and the next highest scoring player to finish the season with the Marlins, it was clear who drove the bus in San Diego. +/- doesn't always tell the whole story, but in the extreme it can be useful. Recording a +64 on a team with a -69 goal differential is certainly noteworthy. @twists Youre Not Fucking Retiring (PHI) - 58 G, 58 A, 116 P, +38, 40 PIM, 155 HIT, 43 SB YNFR appears as a nominee once again and puts forward a strong case with as the league's highest scorer, beating out Ender by 1 point. Despite having more talent around him in Philadelphia, some would argue his 21 point gap to the Reapers' next highest scorer is more impressive even than Ender's 37 point advantage in San Diego. No matter how you spin it, YNFR should probably not call it a career just yet. With this kind of production in the VHLM, it seems things are just getting started! And the winner is... --<>--

The Jack Reilly Trophy Awarded to the general manager deemed to be the best in the VHLM "This award was renamed from the Ken Holland Trophy to the Jack Reilly Trophy in S42 to honour the VHLM managing career of later HC Davos Dynamo GM Jack Reilly. Reilly was GM of the Saskatoon Wild for 11 seasons from S18 to S28, winning three Founder's Cups and a record four Top GM awards" - VHLM Awards Page Here are the nominees: @McLovin Las Vegas Aces 50-15-7 - 107 points The Prime Minister's Cup winning GM this season, McLovin's Aces had the best regular season record and the fewest goals against, putting on a defensive clinic in the VHLM this season and controllng the points race from start to finish. Though they didn't get it done in the playoffs, a strong run to the finals is still a respectable showing for a general manager who is headed to the VHL next season to take over the Helsinki Titans. @mattyIceman Philadelphia Reapers 49-20-3 - 101 points As the Founder's Cup winning GM this season, Matty's Reapers only finished 6 points behind the Aces in 2nd place and won the games when they mattered most, completing a sweep of Vegas in the finals. While the Aces were a defensive powerhouse, built from the net out, Philadelphia boasted the league's best forward corps and a great defense and goalie to back it up. Some might argue they were the most complete team and the results would support this. And the winner is... --<>--

The Mat Bentz Trophy Awarded to the player deemed to be the best two-way forward in the VHLM "This award was renamed from the Yzerman Trophy to the Matt Bentz Trophy in S42 to honour the VHLM contributions of Matt Bentz. Well-known for a Hall of Fame VHL career as a potent goal-scorer and long-time Calgary Wranglers GM, Bentz's path to the VHL pinnacle started with an Yzerman Trophy in S8. He repaid the VHLM in full by serving as VHLM commissioner and arguably pioneering the modern interpretation of the role" - VHLM Awards Page Here are the nominees: @Eb14 Clapbomb Bardownski III (MIS) - 40 G, 54 A, 94 P, +29, 61 PIM, 179 HIT, 45 SB With the 4th most hits among forwards, Bardownski III also collected an impressive 94 points, making them the 6th highest point-getter in the league. A solid 45 blocks and +29 rating also cements Bardownski III as one of the better 200-foot-players in the VHLM in S95. @barryst Jerry Box (MIA) - 43 G, 40 A, 83 P, +1, 32 PIM, 171 HIT, 61 SB Despite recording fewer points than some of our other candidates, Box had the most goals with 43 while also landing 171 hits and collecting 61 welts as a result of blocked shots. In truth, the +1 rating might hurt his chances, but his other well-rounded attributes may sway voters this time around. @Captain nugget Captain Nugget Jr (SSK) - 43 G, 41 A, 84 P, -9, 28 PIM, 160 HIT, 96 SB 96 shots blocked! That's the number that stands out for Captain Nugget Jr and it ranks him 1st among all forwards by 17. With 84 points, he also boasts the offense to back up the nomination, as well as the physical play with 160 hits. Like Box, however, the -9 is a tough look for a potential Bentz winner, though it must be noted that Nugget Jr's Saskatoon Wild finished 2nd last in the league this season. @David VanHousen David VanHousen (HOU) - 35 G, 33 A, 68 P, +25, 73 PIM, 205 HIT, 41 SB Despite being a slight 5'10, 160 pounds, David VanHousen can throw hits with the best of them as he recorded the 8th most in the league and the 4th most among forwards. A solid +25 and 41 shots blocked add to his case, though his 68 points may come up short in comparison to other candidates. @Spartakiller2 Danny Ross (MIA) - 34 G, 51 A, 85 P, +37, 82 PIM, 235 HIT, 31 SB Playing for the Marauders, Ross collected the 2nd most points among our nominees and had the highest +/- rating at +37, as well as the most hits with 235. The knock on Ross for the Bentz this season is the 31 shots blocked, the least among our candidates. And the winner is... --<>--

The Ryan Sullivan Trophy Awarded to the player deemed to be the top defenseman in the VHLM "This award was renamed from the Bourque Trophy to the Ryan Sullivan Trophy in S42. One of the greatest VHL defencemen of all-time, a three-time recipient of the Sterling Labatte Trophy, Sullivan proved his mettle in the VHLM in S28. In addition to an illustrious career, Sullivan's case was strengthened by his victorious role as Kolari Panthers GM and later becoming VHLM" - VHLM Award Page Here are the nominees: @koty_k Dog Jagr (MIA) - 15 G, 48 A, 63 P, +15, 84 PIM, 219 HIT, 148 SB Though only ranking 11th in points among defenders, Dog Jagr had the 3rd most hits in the league and the 3rd most shots blocked. Jagr played a nearly unmatched physical style while keeping the puck out of his own net. As an added bonus, 63 points in 72 games is nothing to turn your nose at. @TheHockey_pro Victory Hockey League (HFX) - 23 G, 39 A, 62 P, -5, 58 PIM, 155 HIT, 152 SB Similar to Jagr, VHL was a stalwart minute muncher for a mid-table 21st team that struggled to control the puck offensively this season. Defending his own end, VHL picked up the 2nd most shots blocked and managed a solid point total of 62 as the team's top offensive defenseman after the departure of Mathias Gunnarsson. @OblivionWalker Slava Kovalenko (MIS) - 24 G, 65 A, 89 P, +24, 54 PIM, 179 HIT, 142 SB What Kovalenko lacks in physicality with only the 9th most hits among defenders, they make up for with the league's highest point total by a defenseman with an impressive 89 in 72 games. Add 142 blocks and a +24 rating and Kovalenko makes a great case to take this season's honors playing on the 2nd place team in the Eastern Conference, the Mississauga Hounds. @Gage2 Kasper Saarinen (MIA) - 18 G, 61 A, 79 P, +28, 70 PIM, 191 HIT, 162 SB Another Miami defender-- this time with the highest shot block total in the league and the 4th most total points-- Saarinen had the highest +/- rating of our nominees, going +28 in 72 games. Collecting the 6th most hits definitely solidifies Saarinen as a worthy candidate on this season's ballot. @ThatCanadian Mathias Gunnarsson (HFX/LVA) - 19 G, 67 A, 86 P, +18, 84 PIM, 185 HIT, 100 SB Another player that had a hot start with Halifax and tapered off after being traded, Gunnarsson had 57 points in 44 games for the 21st before shipping out to Las Vegas where he finished the season with 29 points in 28 games. Gunnarsson led all defenders with 67 assists and was 2nd in points with 86, though he trailed behind in the shots blocked category ranking 15th among defenders. And the winner is... --<>--

The Benoit Devereux Trophy Awarded to the player deemed to be the top goalie in the VHLM "This award was renamed from the Sawchuk Trophy to the Benoit Devereux Trophy in S42 to honour the illustrious career of VHL Hall of Famer Benoit Devereux. The HC Davos Dynamo legend won this trophy in a spectacular S9 campaign with Toledo before becoming the first three-time top goalie in the VHL. He would have been a worthy name for that award if it wasn't for a younger generation to follow and so is at last honoured in this way." - VHLM Awards Page Here are the nominees: @Alex Deadpanda (LVA) - 50-15-7, .924 SV%, 1.75 GAA, 9 SO As the goaltender masterminding the league's top defensive team, Deadpanda was a brick wall for the Las Vegas Aces as he led the league with the best SV% and GAA, and his 9 shutouts were good for 2nd most in the league. Despite playing all 72 games for his team, he faced the 6th most shots against of all goaltenders. The combination of Vegas' stingy defense and Deadpanda's rock-solid play was the stuff of nightmares for opposing offenses. @okochastar Draw Mac (MIA) - 34-21-9, .922 SV%, 2.04 GAA, 7 SO Recording the 2nd highest SV% while playing 64 games for the Miami Marauders, Mac stakes his claim for being the league's best goalie. The 2.04 GAA is good for 4th in the league, as are their 7 shutouts. It should be noted, however, that Miami certainly didn't have the defense of Las Vegas and Mac was a big part of their solid regular season. @Xflexz Chazz Michael Michaels (MEX) - 44-23-5, .914 SV%, 1.92 GAA, 11 SO The league leader in shutouts with 11 behind a defensively optimized Mexico City team, CMM was the backbone of the team with the 2nd fewest goals against. Don't be fooled by the .914 SV% as that number is dragged down by low shot totals against-- only the 8th most in the league despite playing all 72 games. @samthemancub Samuel Wazinski (HFX/MIS) - 45-23-4, .915 SV%, 2.01 GAA, 9 SO Wazinski started the season with the Halifax 21st and was one of the league's top goaltenders statistically through the first half of the season. In 40 games, he recorded an impressive .923 SV%, 1.92 GAA, and 6 shutouts on a middling Halifax squad. Behind a better defense, his numbers took a bit of a dip as he had a .903 SV%, 2.12 GAA, and 2 shutouts in 32 games with the Hounds. And the winner is... --<>--

The Ethan Osborne Trophy Awarded to the player who leads the VHLM in points at the end of the regular season "This award was renamed from the Dionne Trophy to the Ethan Osborne Trophy in S42 to honour the VHL Hall of Fame career of Ethan Osborne. VHLM MVP and top scorer in S30, he repeated the feat in the VHL in S36, in between founding and managing one of the VHLM's most successful franchises: the Bratislava Watchmen." - VHLM Awards Page With an even goals to assists ratio, this player possessed a dynamic offensive arsenal. Capable of beating goaltenders and filling the goal, he could also dish crisp, clean passes to teammates, forcing defensive breakdowns. With 116 total points, this player won the league's scoring race by a single point and was the focal point of the league's top offensive team, beating out his next closest teammate by 21 points. He would continue this dominant form into the playoffs, leading the league in goals and capturing the Founder's Cup with the Philadelphia Reapers. --<>--

The Vladimir Boomchenko Trophy Awarded to the player who leads the VHLM in assists at the end of the regular season "This award was renamed from the Oates Trophy to the Vladimir Boomchenko Trophy in S42. Boomchenko won this award in S25 and mirrored the achievement in S29 in the VHL. A vocal member of the Riga Reign, Calgary Wranglers, and Cologne Express, Boomchenko also contributed, in a co-GM capacity or as a volunteer, to many VHLM teams and locker rooms, most notably the Yukon Rush and Saskatoon Wild." - VHLM Awards Page The S95 Boomchenko winner played for the league's last place team, though that unfortunate distinction can hardly be blamed on them. With the league lead in assists with 73 in 72 games, this player dished out 5 more apples than the next highest player while also potting an impressive 42 goals! This player also recorded the highest P/20 of any player with 1.25, the next highest being 1.14. Putting the puck in the net is one of the most difficult skills for an offensive player, doing so 42 times while racking up 73 assists on a last place team is no easy feat when the team is generally lacking for talented offensive options. --<>--

The Alexander Chershenko Trophy Awarded to the player who leads the VHLM in goals during the regular season "This award was renamed from the Hull Trophy to the Alexander Chershenko Trophy in S42 to honour the career of VHL Hall of Famer Alexander Chershenko. Though trophyless in a respectable VHLM career, Chershenko is one of two three-time winners of this award in the VHL. In addition to this, Chershenko was honoured for his contributions to enhancing the VHLM experience while VHL commissioner." - VHLM Awards Page This season's Chershenko Trophy winner completed the regular season with 58 goals and an equal number of assists. That impressive goal total was the best in the league by 10! This player also managed to outshoot all other players by 32 and recorded an astounding 502 shots over 72 games-- that's an average of nearly 7 shots per game! Shooting at an 11.55% clip, it was nearly a foregone conclusion that the puck would find the back of the net in every game he played. As the only player to cross the 50 goal plateau this season, he has well earned the crown as the league's top goal scorer. --<>--

Our next awards are all individual awards, starting with the MVP of the playoffs. The Skylar Rift Trophy Awarded to the player deemed to be the VHLM's most valuable player in the playoffs "This award was renamed from the Esposito Trophy to the Skylar Rift Trophy in S42. Rift epitomised the modern VHL by winning two playoff MVPs, in the inaugural season of VHLM expansion franchise Yukon Rush and leading the expansion Quebec City Meute to their first Continental Cup. In addition to his player achievements, Rift's role as VHLM GM and vocal member of the VHL Board of Governors had significant impact on the VHLM" - VHLM Awards Page Here are the nominees: @Alex Deadpanda (LVA) - 8-5-2, .929 SV%, 1.59 GAA, 5 SO Holding down the fort behind the league's best defense, Deadpanda put in a stellar playoff performance through the first two rounds, recording 5 shutouts and allowing only 10 goals in those first 11 games. This would be a slam dunk pick for the honors had he not struggled in a finals sweep at the hands of the Reapers, allowing 15 goals through those 4 games. Even still, his .929 SV% was the 2nd highest of the playoffs and his 5 shutouts were a league best. @BryceP Leifr Eiriksson (PHI) - 5 G, 15 A, 20 P, +18, 8 PIM, 27 HIT, 24 SB Leading all playoff skaters with a +18 rating through 14 games, Eriksson ranked 4th in the league in playoff points with 20, and 1st among all playoff defensemen. His 24 shots blocked were the second highest total in the playoffs, demonstrating his value in influencing play at both ends of the ice. @Plate Joel Jakobs (PHI) - 8 G, 16 A, 24 P, +17, 10 PIM, 30 HIT, 2 SB Jakobs was the league's leading point-getter with 24 in 14 games, collecting a league high 16 assists in the process and the 3rd most goals. A +17 rating also reflects the effectiveness of his line when they were on the ice as they dominated possession and outscored the opposition by more than one goal per game. @TenIQ Onyekachukwu Chidieber Oluwaseun (PHI) - 12-1-0, .922 SV%, 1.60 GAA, 2 SO As the Founder's Cup winning goaltender, it's hard to look past OCO for playoff MVP honors as he only lost a single game and recorded impressive statistics across the board. Though his SV% and GAA weren't tops in the league, sometimes it's the consistency and clutch factor that matters much more. OCO was stellar in the final round of the playoffs, only allowing 5 goals in the team's 4 game sweep over the Aces. @twists Youre Not Fucking Retiring (PHI) - 12 G, 9 A, 21 P, +1, 6 PIM, 21 HIT, 4 SB YNFR was the playoffs leading goal scorer, potting nearly a goal per game with 12 in 14. Compared to some of his teammates, his +1 rating seems to come up a little short, though his prolific offense and shot volume make up for any defensive proficiencies. @Quanack Bret Weier (PHI) - 9 G, 13 A, 22 P, +18, 8 PIM, 23 HIT, 1 SB Weier finished the postseason with the 2nd most goals, 3rd most points, and tied with a league best +18 rating. As a balanced playmaker in the Reapers' top-six, Weier was a consistent scoring and passing threat throughout the Reapers' playoff run and a big part of their dominant offensive performance. And the winner is... --<>--

The Founder's Cup While Vegas might have dominated the regular season, the Reapers stayed close behind and entered the playoffs with 101 points and a 49-20-3 record. And as the Aces boasted the league's best defense, @mattyIceman's Reapers were an offensive powerhouse, racking up the league's most goals. Notably, @twists Youre Not Fucking Retiring (YNFR) topped the league with 116 points in the regular season and an impressive 58 goals-- 10 more than the next highest goal scorer in he league. In the first round of the playoffs, Philadelphia would knock off an outmatch Halifax roster that managed to eke out a win in game 3 before the Reapers put them away in 5. The second round saw the Reapers take on a much tougher opponent in the Mississauga Hounds, though the outcome was the same. The Reapers opened up a 3-0 lead in that series before the Hounds scratched and clawed their way to a 3-1 game 4 victory. In game 5, the Reapers would return to their winning ways, closing out the series 2-1 on home ice. It was fitting then that the league's top two teams should meet in the finals-- the top defense against the most potent offense. In the end, the immovable wall succumbed to the unstoppable force that was the Philadelphia offense as the Reapers crushed the Aces in 4 straight games by a total score of 15-6. Joel Jakobs @Plate led the way for the Reapers with 24 points in 14 games while goaltender Onyekachukwu Chidieber Oluwaseun @TenIQ finished the postseason with a stellar .922 SV%, a 1.60 GAA, and 2 shutouts. After back-to-back Saskatoon cups, the VHLM finally has a new champion. Congratulations to the Philadelphia Reapers on winning the S95 Founder's Cup! --<>--

The Prime Minister's Cup With a regular season record of 50 wins, 15 losses, and 7 overtime or shootout defeats, the Las Vegas Aces are the winners of the Season 95 Prime Minister's Cup. From beginning to end of the season, @McLovin's team was the class of the VHLM as they recorded the league's best goal differential at +85. Their 132 goals against were the lowest total in the league and their 217 goals for were the 3rd highest in the league behind Mississauga (249) and Philadelphia (260). While they possessed a more than capable offense featuring Inker Belle @WildfireMicro, Finneas Finnean O Cleirigh @Gorth, and Mad Villain @Tate, Vegas' strength was in the defense and goaltending positions with the likes of Mathias Gunnarsson @ThatCanadian, Miles Bryant @Kendrick, Manuel Ceson @dylanjj37, and Taavetti Jokinen @Ahma patrolling the blueline while DeadPanda @Alex stood between the pipes. Winning the league's regular season by 6 points over the 2nd place Reapers, Vegas entered the playoffs as the team to beat and made a strong run to the finals before the Reaper came calling. Even still, this team has every right to look back on this season with pride as they ran teh gruelling race of the regular season and came out on top. Congratulations to the S95 Las Vegas Aces on capturing the Prime Minister's Cup! --<>--