Nyx

Being an All-Star is not easy work - it calls for intense dedication, and long hours of practice, it requires a work ethic like none other; to be named a professional athlete is no easy task. To go above and beyond and be named an All-Star is even more difficult. You have to do what no one else is willing to do, you have to outwork all of your peers and then some, and you have to consistently be the best person you know at your sport, to be better than anyone you might run into while practicing your game. It's easy for manys league that do not have the system in place to wonder 'Does All-Star Weekend Even Matter?' This begs the question -- what is All-Star Weekend? All-Star Weekend is an opportunity for players to take time off from playing hockey at the insanely high level that they do. It provides them with an opportunity to play with the world's greatest skaters and shoot around almost as if they were children again, messing around and shooting the puck at their local rink. While competitiveness is still high, there's no added pressure to be the greatest, which will often lead to more interesting and entertaining games as more flashy plays can be had without consequences. After all, it's an exhibition game - winning or losing means nothing more than that. It has no negative effects on team records, player statistics, standings, or anything of the sort. First and foremost, it's an event of fun and excitement that provides entertainment for those willing to dish out lots of money to see the best of the best altogether on the ice. With that in mind, does All-Star Weekend matter? I would argue that it does - most sports leagues around the world today use fan voting to help teams, coaches, and the league as a whole select player to represent these events. Involving the fans in that vote leads to higher involvement, and the teams with the best, largest, and most active fan bases will seemingly almost always have a player be named an All-Star. This is due in part to the efforts of the players, as well as the fans backing them and providing their support for the team. The All-Star Game is a showcase of talent, it attempts to assemble the world's greatest ice hockey team regardless of differences in nationality, language, and any different factors - it looks past all of that and looks to promote teamwork and provide an amazing game. Hockey is a sport that breaks through the language barrier, with tons and tons of people who enjoy and support the sport worldwide. The same can be said about its players, and through hockey, or any major organized sports really, I think the All-Star game can do a great job of promoting diversity. When it all comes down to it, it's about putting the best players on the ice -- whether those players hail from Canada, Kazakhstan, or be it Brunei, the All-Star Game is a chance to put aside all of your differences and play to the best of your abilities. It's a chance to put on your best performance for all of the fans. I think All-Star Weekend is important, and a staple of any sports league. It recognizes the hard work of those who have devoted their lives to their sport, and it allows for a pick-me-up for incredible players in unfortunate team situations. It's the end-all-be-all that signifies you are one of the best players in the world - you're being recognized for all the long hours after school spent practicing your craft, all the early morning practices, or your first time on the ice when you realized that this was what you wanted to do - regardless of the moments that it may bring to mind for you, it will bring moments to mind. In that moment, when you're reflecting on everything you've done to make it this far, all the hard work, through the trials and tribulations, you'll know that it was all worth it the moment you see your name on that flashy billboard, or on that post on social media, or maybe through a flurry of notifications as your phone buzzes non-stop. You'll know it was worth it when you're named an All-Star.

Claiming week 3

Really cool of you to do something like this, best of luck to everyone involved. Joined after Christmas Day so using this comment as my entry lol

Tyler Lawson, the Houston Bull's recently acquired center, is reportedly 'very grateful' for his position with the team as of late by Terrance Williams • Jan 22nd, 2024 Hoping to snag an interview from a Bull's team that's looked extremely tuned in as of late, we were very fortunate to grab Tyler Lawson as he was caught exiting the locker room for a few questions. "Well, Lawson, I think it's fair to say you've made a solid impact on this team as of your signing. Five points in eight games isn't bad at all; as a midseason signing for the Bulls, how do you feel about the role they're playing you in at this point in the season?" "Well, err, I think they're definitely utilizing me properly - ah, they've got me playing big minutes in my primary position, I mean, that alone is a pretty great spot to be in as a young player I feel like," he said with a laugh before continuing, "Nah, but really, I'm very grateful for this squad and, ah, them taking a chance on me. I scored quite a few times on the second line - err, I feel like I must've shown them something as I've been moved up to first line recently, which I think is so huge for me and it's going to be awesome. I know for a team that's really been in a groove as of late, I'm honestly quite honored to be considered for first-line minutes. I think this team has something special going on, and to be allowed to and, uh, to be given the chance to be in the heart of it all, it's awesome. Yeah, it's just been really cool, man." "What a wonderful story, thank you for providing your insight on that, Tyler. I know you've probably got places to be - so one last question, if you will. Houston seems to be sitting pretty comfortably within the standings even if you all may not be where you currently want to be or feel like you deserve to be. Going into these games, what would you say has been the team's approach?" "It's cliche, and uh, I hope you're not angry with an answer like this one, but we're just taking it one game at a time, truthfully. In a position like ours, down from second by what - one, two points? Um, we're very close to where we want to be, and if we keep winning the way we've shown the ability to, uh, I think we'll be just fine." "Thank you, Tyler, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. Always a pleasure," the reporter said before shifting their attention quickly to the camera in front of the pair as Tyler thanked them and moved on, his gear bag slung over his shoulder as he exited the facility. The anchor continued droning on about the state of the team and the standings, hoping for another lucky interview to fall into their lap as the crew sat outside the locker room.

1. Probably some kinda pop-punk/rock/alternative music from the 2000s. Something like Blink-182 (whom I was very fortunate to see live over the summer haha), Brand New, or Deftones. If I had to pick, I think I'd have to go with 'Damnit' off of Blink-182's Dude Ranch or Deftone's cover of 'The Chaffeur' by Duran Duran. 2. I can't really remember, unfortunately - I've never very been really into hockey prior to the VHL so this league, for the most part, is my most recent exposure to hockey in general. However, I did attend a Washington Capitols game! Though, that was probably closer to a decade ago now so no real memories from that, unfortunately. 3. I chose the number 4 - it means a lot to me as I wore it in real life when I played travel soccer as well as in high school, and it also just fit with my render - Cole Sillinger, who I intend on using for a graphic eventually. Everything happened to work out well for me in that regard! 4. Wow - tough one. Well, I might have to go with the easy answer and say maybe Forum Content considering they're leading the league points-wise, I think that would be a fun pair for me. On the flip side, though, I'm very happy with the Bulls so I think it's safe to say anyone currently playing for them would work greatly too. 5. I'd probably go for the movie - I love to read, but in the car (or team bus in this case) is far from my favorite spot to read. I might go for the Star Wars prequel trilogy granted the ride is long enough to get through them. 6. Oh, definitely skateboarding. I used to skate all the time with my friends when I was younger - not so much anymore. Some of my favorite memories are skating with my friends, so that'd be really cool to perfect as a skill.

Claiming week 2

+ 10 Tyler Lawson

Truer words have never been spoken - what a squad. On another note, what a shame I didn't get picked up around here sooner. Looks like I missed out on A LOT of drama with this team. Really fun article, it was definitely a good read! Looking forward to the next one (hopefully with less espionage though?)

Thank you, that means a lot! I'm definitely looking forward to it - all of the media spots and writing I can do for my characters and whatnot is a big part of what drew me into these sim leagues, so I really appreciate all the high praise, lol. I've read a few of your pieces as well, big fan of what I have seen of your work! I'm excited to see how this team turns out - our group has got a ton of potential!

Tyler Lawson was born in Poway, California to two loving parents. Tyler, from birth, always seemed to have a stronger bond with his father than anyone else in his life, while his two siblings tended to gravitate towards their mother. Tyler from a young age was much taller, and much more athletic than most of his other peers -- and due to his large advantage, he found himself falling in love with the art of sport. The competitiveness was something that called out to him, and while he tried his hand at many sports, he never seemed to find one that stuck with him. He started with soccer - which he had much enjoyed, though he felt was a bit bland at times despite his natural talent. Tyler, to this day, believes had he wanted it hard enough; he would've been scouted by professional youth academies everywhere. He tried football for a while too, usually playing at quarterback because he could see over his line so easily when most others around him could not. He found football to be a bore, as he stood around throwing a ball, he felt that he himself wasn't accomplishing much, but rather, his team was. He even tried basketball for a year or so, thoroughly enjoying it. He played the point, usually running the floor and facilitating the offense. That was until middle school, when his coach forced him to play center, again, because of the size advantage he posed amongst his peers. Quickly, he found himself getting burnt out from sports entirely. He had loved the competitiveness, but none really called out to him at all - he was skilled but didn't have the desire or drive to be good at any sports that he had tried. Just when he felt like giving up, his father took him up into the attic where he would show him his old hockey stick and all of his accomplishments for UCLA -- what would later become Tyler's alma mater. "You . . . you played hockey?" Tyler would ask enthusiastically, with stars filling his eyes. "Woah . . ." He exclaimed, his eyes resting upon multiple awards hung up. His father chuckled, and explained to Tyler how he had at one point considered going pro overseas -- but that starting a family with his mother had stopped him. Tyler's father continued to play for UCLA, setting records and obtaining an engineering degree in the process. That would be the day that Tyler decided he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and learn to play hockey. Now, Tyler was terrible -- no, horrible at first. He could hardly stand on his own two feet while on the ice, which angered him deeply. It lit a fire beneath him, and between that, and the training of his father, he was rapidly improving. He quickly became one of the most talented players in his age group across the country, and it was clear that he'd have a future in hockey, should he want it. When Tyler's father noticed his improvement, he realized that he had exceeded even his talent by the time he was a junior in high school. He decided from then on, he'd call up a favor from an old trainer of his from his time at UCLA - the trainer had worked with various universities during his years, and even worked with a few VHL players in the off-season when they had time. Under the new guidance of said trainer, he would go on to have his best two seasons ever - winning a State Championship in both his junior and senior years, and making All-American honors his last two years in high school. He'd leave high school as a five-star prospect, deciding to sign on to UCLA on a full-ride scholarship. Forming a dynamic duo at UCLA with one of his former high school teammates, they seemed nearly unbeatable to start the season as Tyler Lawson scored a hat trick in his debut game against their biggest rivals, the USC Trojans. For months, the rising star who'd seen his success nearly everywhere as his hype had been growing online since high school, it was all reaching a peak as he proved he could do it at the next level - college. Questions were quickly starting to arise, and with how good he appeared now, people were starting to wonder if he could perform at the NEXT, next level. However, in a game mid-way through the season against Arizona State, disaster struck on the ice. Lawson was putting on his usual fiery, competitive performance - all of his family in attendance, as he had one goal on three shot attempts early in the first period. With the puck tucked away firmly against his stick, he fancifully danced on the ice, making defenders as he looked for another goal. Putting himself in position to score, he winded back his stick and -- WHAM! He instantly felt a sharp pain in his knee as he got checked low by one of his opponents, a dirty move, and he felt himself drop to the cold ice, searing his face against its icy hot touch. He tossed his stick aside, the pain taking over all of his thoughts, as he quickly yelled out in pain gripping at this leg mercifully. He begged, a cold sweat coming over him, pleading that he'd be alright. Despite his cries, though, Tyler knew all too well what had happened the second it had. He knew that this very well could be the end of his hockey career. Two days later, Tyler was lying in a bed at Dignity Health, a hospital center not too far from his home (or his campus, for that matter). He felt sick constantly, as he refused to eat, his mind racing and stuck solely on the thought of if he'd ever play again. Every single time the doctor would come into his room, it was the same thing: "Will I ever play again?" to which the doctor seemed to shrug off, claiming that 'it's not my place to tell you at this moment,' or 'we don't know'. After some time had passed, he'd asked again to which he replied, "You will not play hockey again." He was devastated, though, he also refused to take it for an answer, no matter what his doctor would say. He performed rehab on his MCL, and he recovered quicker than anyone had expected. Before he knew it, he was walking around back at campus. He felt uneasy being back -- many giving him sympathetic smiles or averting his gaze, and his phone was constantly chiming with messages to 'get well soon', and he couldn't put up with it anymore. When Tyler decided enough time had passed, he called his agent, pleading with him to find him a job - any job with any team anywhere. He had failed to get selected by anyone in the VHL Draft after his injury and was desperate for a job. Granted, he had done a little bit of skating - for rehab purposes, not in playing any intense games or whatnot, but he could tell he was a totally different player than before. As he took to the ice and donned in his gear, he got back into the rhythm of playing the game, refusing to let it all end there. His agent advised him strongly against this, though there was no way he'd let that get in the way of his dreams. Luckily for him, roughly 50-60 games or so into the season, he got a call from someone representing the VHLM Houston Bulls, to which he instantly found his heart racing. Would this be his second chance? He thanked the man for his time, and forwarded his number to his agent to handle the proceedings. Tyler's injuries had seemed to have had healed over, and his rehab had gone perfectly. The same doctors that said he'd never played again - well, cleared him to play. He was ecstatic and couldn't believe the news. While he may not have felt quite as skilled as he once was, he was more fired up than he had ever been before, and he knew deeply that would be enough to lead him to success. With a new, unbreakable spirit and resiliency, he would be suiting up for the Bulls and playing hockey once more. And off to a hot start, he was. He scored two goals in his first two, and with lots of games left in his career for him to play, he couldn't wait to get started. He had finally gone pro.

"Well, some exciting news tonight, Jeffrey, with newly signed centreman Tyler Lawson joining the Houston Bulls -- I'm with Jeffrey Douglas and I'm Martin Prince," he started with a large smile facing the camera for the live segment of a popular sports news hourly show before turning back to his co-host, "I'm sure we've all heard the story of Tyler Lawson, haven't we? Social media sensation who went down earlier this year with a gut-wrenching injury with the UCLA Bruins, really, it was a tragic and horrible, horrible injury for a guy we were all sure was going to get drafted to the VHL." "Oh, certainly, Martin - it's safe to say that he was a lock before that dreadful MCL tear he got, really tough injury to come back from, that it is, but two games in and it's safe to say he's on a mission to prove everyone wrong -- two goals in two games, he is off to a strong start if I've ever seen one." "Most definitely, Jeff, it's easy to see why he was so highly touted as a prospect during his collegiate days -- one thing I did notice out there is he does seem significantly slower than he did back at UCLA, though that's to be expected after such an injury. Sources tell us that he is completely healed and his injury isn't plaguing him any longer, but dare I say it looks almost as if he's scared to re-injure his MCL despite still playing with the ferocity we know him to play with?" "That definitely seems to be a concern of his, he is playing at a pace that is historically one of his slowest yet, I'll even go as far as to say he played at a quicker level in high school." "Right, right, well, for the few who are unaware, at this point of the season every year, we tend to start breaking down the upcoming talents and we introduce a new scouting profile for top guys once a week, and with this guy," Martin exclaimed, pointing at a backdrop image of Lawson, "Well, we're going to base a scouting profile off of what little footage we do have -- we managed to snatch some exclusive practice footage as well as the footage compiled from his two games in order to compile a set of strengths and weaknesses for the centreman. I think we've spent enough time dodging the subject," He nodded, shuffling some papers in front of him, "so let's just go ahead and get started, shall we?" Tyler Lawson Houston Bulls Center 6'2 || 201 lbs RH STRENGTHS + Heavy believer in self-betterment. He often indulges in various forms of yoga, self-care, as well as cryotherapy to take the best care of his body possible. He eats healthy and gets a good night's sleep, always. Has shown potential to be a star. He loves flashy play and big goals, which can be a turn-on or a turn-off depending on how you look at it. Loves to put on a show, which has given him a large adoring fanbase to this point in his career. Lawson has showed significant skill at deking (DK) during his short tenure in the VHML, and it comes as no surprise as it was an elite skill of his back when fans were watching the talent at UCLA. He's fairly elite for a minor leaguer, and even more so than players at such an early stage of development like himself. He shows extraodinary promise and potential to grow this skill further. Lawson has shown lots of talent with his slap shot (SS) - it's become a bit of a go-to move for him whenever he has possession of the puck. When he's on, you can almost just expect him to make just about any slap shot. Shows extreme talent and shines when put in a position to put his slap shot on display. Shows promise in further improving this talent down the road. Likewise, his wrist shot (WS) is just as elite, if not slightly worse. Again, put him in position while he's on a roll, and he will make the shot. Incredible form and very beautiful and almost elegant to watch the way his shots on goal fly through the air. Incredible shotmaker. His offensive vision (OV) has been something to behold as he always seems to have his head up, looking for the next play and to get his teammates involved [granted a position he is unable to score, of course]. Tyler has a large talent for analyzing the rink, almost if he had a bird's eye view, watching the whole thing from above at all times. Almost like magic at times. Pretty agile guy out there, especially considering how he went down at UCLA with a tear in his MCL. Still manages to push through regardless, and loves to use his speed (SP) to his advantage when he can. Much prefers to sling a shot into goal if he can, or set up a pass leading to one, but he can use his feet to make space if need be. Stick handling (SH) is something he's been practicing since he was young. His father, a wealthy man who learned business in college while on a hockey scholarship himself, always tried to get Tyler involved with the sport of hockey. It quickly became his first love, and he hasn't put down a stick since. He's been working at his stick skill since elementary, so needless to say, he's pretty talented in that regard. WEAKNESSES - Truth be told? Everything else. Granted, he's been in this league for all of - what, a couple days? He will have lots of time to develop other aspects of his game - after all, that IS what the minor league system was designed for. However, it's been reported that even though he completely lacks any defensive coverage (DC) at the moment, it remains a key point of focus for him going forward - and he's very much so excited to improve in that regard. A big point of contention that scouts have feared as they look into Tyler Lawson is his attitude. He has come off as a bit of a, well, fiery hot-head - and often can seem condescending and snobbish even if only by complete accident. Perhaps because of his wealthy upbringing, he often subconsciously believes that he is better than those around him, which screams a big resounding 'no' when it comes to scouting talent. However, surprisingly, he seems to always get along well with his teammates despite his personality flaws. Wow. Alongside his defensive coverage, he really hopes to improve upon (despite his current inepitude and lack of skill in this regard) his poke checking (PC), something that he's refused to do up 'til this point due to greed and always seeking out goals. Now, making the minor leagues, he's finally agreed to play the game the right way and play by the rules, and so he has to erase his bad habits and learn how to properly poke check, or how to properly play defensive cover now that his opponents are tougher than ever. Some may deem this a bit, err, 'too soon' given how huge it's impact was on his career thus far - very damaging, of course, but a big question with Tyler is his durability. Given his MCL tear at UCLA, and a few records for minor injuries back in high school, it's very worrying whether or not Tyler will stay healthy enough to develop in this league. Granted, he seems very eager to be back playing the sport he loves - and I'm sure he won't let anything (including injuries) get in his way. As for the rest of Lawson's skills, he'll improve upon them one day for sure - however, they remain at the back of his mind as he's decided to chase other avenues. "Well, ah, that's Tyler Lawson for you. A load of talent with a load of weaknesses - that'll do it, yeah. Looking forward to see what he does in his career, we're going to look at some more highlights before we pass the show on to our partner . . . " The show drowned on and on, before Tyler turned off the TV, refusing to watch to rest of the broadcast. "They really think I'm that bad at defense? . . . " "Am I . . . bad at defense?"

I'm ready to get to work! Excited for what this season has in store for us

1. Houston after 1 week: 4-4-2, 4th in the Western Conference. Does our current record reflect the rest of the season? Seeing our record as what it stands at now, I'd have to say not even a little bit lol 2. How has your player performed through these first 10 games? Late addition, so I've only played in one sim thus far, but a goal in both showings! Fair to say I've enjoyed my . . . well, my first and only day on the squad 3. Team Bonding Opportunity!: Ondrej Vencko @Mutti is our well known drug addict. We need to hop the border from Texas to Mexico, what vehicle are we cruising in to partake in illegal activities? A septic tank cleaner truck - or as an alternative, a garbage truck. I don't think anyone is gonna want to get too close to either of those . . . perfect to hide our nefarious acts! 4. @Nathan_8 was announced this week as Houston's newest AGM. Do you have any words of advice for Nathan? Anything you would like to say? Congratulations! I'm very new here (to be fair, I'm newer to the team than you are, lol), so not much to say, but very awesome to have you! 5. Our captain Trimiskez Artav @jake and our assistant captain Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23 lead the team with 7 goals each. In a 72 game season, how many goals will the two end up with? My guess is around 45-50 goals for each of them. How many goals will your player end with? Yikes, I don't know all too much about hockey, truth be told. In a 200 something game season, though, where the two have 7 already . . . assuming a that many games per season with that many goals, I'd have to guess roughly 28 given the same production? Yeah, probably a terrible guess - but I suppose I'm no mathematician and I know very little about hockey However, I'm positive the two players will continue to develop over time and continue to score even more, so I'll go ahead and take your guess of roughly 45-50 goals each. 6. I am deciding to drop everything I have and run! The mafia has caught up to me and Houston needs a new GM now. You have been chosen to fill my spot! As GM of the Houston Bulls what is the first thing you do? Immediately retire and appoint someone else. That, or let it ride - this team is beautifully orchestrated and I'm sure the team would be just fine letting it coast after all the work you've put into the team. Though, with your efforts, we'll be even better than 'just fine' I'm sure lol

After the Bulls made a move many have called controversial taking Tyler Lawson, the former UCLA stud who unfortunately suffered from an MCL injury - ultimately, leading to him going undrafted after entering his name into the VHL Draft, Lawson was left to fight for his spot in the world of hockey. He struggled, finding that getting a roster spot on even the most trivial of teams to be a daunting task as he's recalled, "Nobody wanted me," said Lawson. It wasn't for a lack of trying, no, teams simply refused to take a chance on the talent after suffering an injury that has ruined many athletes' careers. "It really amazed me that Houston was the only squad willing to take a shot on me." The Bulls, however, didn't let that stop them from picking up the talent of waivers just some days ago, and since then, he's already yearning to make an immediate impact. Tyler, in his first two games of VHLM action, has already picked up two goals in two games - one goal a piece, much to even his own dismay. We sent a reporter down rinkside to speak with Tyler on his thoughts after such an extraordinarily hot start for him. "It feels great," recalled the Houston centreman, "I mean, I've already got the match puck [from his first goal back in Phillidelphia] sitting up, y'know, kinda like sitting up on my bookshelf with the rest of my hockey accolades, and uh," he said through gasps for air - the energy in the arena, his physical exertion, and the butterflies in his chest all adding up to leave him lost for words, "It's really been a miracle, almost like a, uh, storybook. I couldn't have hoped for a better start than this, and I'm excited to see what this season holds for me. I feel like I'm just getting started." "Thank you for your time, Lawson," the reporter said with a curt smile, turning to face the camera as the 19-year-old centreman skated off to celebrate the win against Halifax with the rest of his teammates.

With the addition of Tyler Lawson, has Houston found the solution to their center woes? Stay Tuned for an Exclusive Interview! by Josh Harrison • Jan 18th, 2024 Coming into this season, the Houston Bulls could've never predicted this turn of events. With one of their important centerpieces in Deez Nutz (who has since been let go) underperforming to their expected standards, and two crucial forwards retiring, it was back to the drawing board for the staff down in H-Town. Despite becoming pretty well known for their intense training regiment, allowing for a handful of homegrown talents to blossom into very strong players with the quick development of their recent prospects - Lucy Leitner, Nathan Ecker, Benjamin Abenduct, and lastly, their captain Trimiskez Artav to name a few - they found themselves seeking a new centreman or two. After a long, thoughtful review of the list of talents available, the team decided to outsource their centers from the free-agent pool. Two of them had caught their eye -- one of whom being Tyler Lawson, a center who last played for the UCLA Bruins of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, with the other being Murray Connolly. Lawson redshirted as a freshman, then came out and dominated the competition in his collegiate debut his sophomore season, scoring a hat-trick against the rivaling USC Trojans. He was raising the eyebrows of many scouts and fans alike for his ability to play with such smooth play, he made it look easy out there. Some compared him to a human highlight reel, as many big hockey pages on social media were drawn to his play, sharing clips of his outstanding in-game achievements very frequently. Unfortunately, after what was looking like a very strong start to Tyler's collegiate season, he suffered an MCL tear and both fans and analysts alike seem to think Lawson never quite fully recovered from it - after he rushed through his recovery at UCLA, assuring coaches and teammates that 'it was fine', and 'they were overreacting' to his injury, his performances plummeted and it was hard to tell that he was the same stud who had been killing it all season long, scoring a hat trick early on in his debut against a rivaling school. This was an extremely rough patch for Tyler as many sources claimed at that time, as they held the belief that after the incident on the ice, he simply was not the same player following his return. Despite this, it seems to be that despite the adversity he has faced to this point in his career, the UCLA standout is getting a second chance at redemption. A media member close to both the Houston Bulls of the VHLM, and Tyler Lawson recently admitted that there had been some 'growing mutual interest' brewing between the two parties over the past week or two as the Bull's situation grew dire at the loss of so many center forwards. Lawson, the centreman with a tarnished reputation - fighting to prove he's still got it, and the Houston Bulls - a team growing so fast that it's, quite frankly, unbelievable could be a combination that leaves our mouths watering at the possibilities. On paper, it seems a match made in heaven between a young talent hoping to rise to his former glory and a VHLM team on the verge of contention. It should be noted that if Tyler Lawson gets healthy and finds his return to form, and thus rejuvenating his career, it could cause a complete shift in the team's dynamic as well as strengthen the position of the team. With such an already strong and dominant team around him, his filling in at such a pivotal position such as the center, whether or not he's able to successfully gel with his teammates and provide wins for the franchise very well could decide how the rest of this season goes for this young squad - and adds an interesting element to the Bull's narrative this year. Lawson has also added that he's excited to see how his new teammate, Connolly, can contribute to the team as well. He states that he's been a fan of Murray's game for awhile now, and to be playing on the side as him is something that he is grateful for. With this recent signing, though, it begs the question - does the addition of Lawson and Connolly add enough for this team to make the next step? The Bulls, as of the time of writing, are sitting pretty at 8-6-2, third in the VHLM Western Conference. With a young developing team like the Bulls, they wholeheartedly believe that as their talent continues to develop throughout this season, they could find their way into the playoff race. The running for third is tight this year - as both the Houston Bulls and the San Diego Marlins share 18 points a piece. With the addition of two young centers, alongside an already talented, growing, strong team, the Houston Bulls have no reason to believe this isn't their year. Much to his own dismay, analysts and doubters alike will likely find themselves watching closely over Tyler Lawson - all over him, scrutinizing his every mistake and missed opportunities, finding any reason to claim the prospect as 'washed up' - though, due to his internet stardom and 'wunderkind' status, he will undoubtedly be a fan favorite amongst those who have followed his career up until now. His contribution to the team going forward will be something that Bulls fans will likely find themselves discussing amongst themselves in anticipation as they await his first few games, making for a hot topic of discussion. Fans remain optimistic, while naysayers will advise against playing the prospect and giving him minutes due to his challenges thus far in his career. In such a drastic and dire situation such as the one recently forced upon the Houston Bulls, the strategic thinking to take in a player like Lawson, despite his complicated history with the sport, definitely shows the unconventional means by which Houston will take in the pursuit of success - not shying away from decisions that would make put other GMs on the hot seat, their comfortability determined solely by results. According to various sources, Houston did not inquire about his injury at all aside from necessary documentation and evidence that the prospect had healed entirely and was currently good to go, shifting the focus instead from his past to the future of the team - something other GMs thus far had refused to do, as they believed Lawson's career was tarnished -- ruined, even as the media had portrayed him out to be. We have a reporter who is close to the Bulls organization and was able to get a brief interview with Lawson before entering the facility for his first-ever practice. Caught in his street clothes, we asked him for his time in answering a few questions - to which he obliged. The reporter would start off with an easy question, asking how it feels to join a squad like Houston - and whether or not he'd watched them as kid, as well as regarding how he's feeling starting his season at this stage of the schedule and in suiting up for the Bulls. "Well, ah, firstly - it's been great I have to say," he started, taking a small sip from his water bottle, raising it to his lips, "It feels really nice to feel, err, appreciated, I suppose. When everyone's sort of counted you out the way I've been, ah, it's not a very good feeling, is it? I'm just grateful for the opportunity and that I'm here at all. If you'd told me a couple of months ago I'd be suiting up here for the Bulls, I'd have thought you were pulling my leg. I would've definitely called bullshit on that one. No, but I'm happy to be here despite everything I've had tossed at me. I love hockey, and so I'll play just about anywhere that'll have me. Big thanks to the front office here in Houston for giving me a shot. Oh, and uh, it's a bit embarassing," he starts, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "but, ah, I never watched much of the minors, really. I've always been a huge fan of the Los Angeles Stars, as I'm sure many of you know," he spoke to the camera. "As a kid, I never thought I'd make the minors - what kid truly believes they'll go pro, y'know? I mean it's always in the back of your head as a child, but you never really believe it, yeah? And as I suppose as I got older, I still didn't think I'd be making the minors, it didn't seem like it would be the path for me," [Lawson believed he would be selected during the VHL Draft], "but it looks like it's the next step for me, and I'm happy to be in Houston. I think it'll end up being a perfect stepping stone for my career, and I'm eternally grateful for the GM of Houston for taking the time to reach out and approach me in these difficult times of my life. I'd probably be moping at home, playing Be A Pro in VHL 24 or something had he not," he joked. The reporter gave a nod and a small smile, before continuing on. "Right, right, nice - that's very nice to hear, Tyler, I'm happy you're enjoying it here in Houston. Great city, huh? No, but seriously, have you got anything in particular to say to any of the teams that may have passed on you? I'm aware that just half a year ago you were at UCLA, hoping to be selected in the VHL Draft and now, here you are as a walk-on for the Bulls. When you think of the situation you're currently in, do you ever question if maybe you should've stayed at UCLA and pursued your degree? If I'm not mistaken, you were a law major, yes? Big money in that - why keep chasing hockey?" "Well, um, I'd just like to say that feels like sort of an odd question you've just asked me," he sort of laughed, though he was clearly uncomfortable with the question posed, shifting from leg to leg as he spoke, "I mean, why would I not continue after hockey? It's been my life's dream for, well, forever now - just as it was for anyone else in this league. And to be quite honest, no, I don't regret signing with the Bulls. Even if worst case scenario, I'm out of the league in a month, I have a contract and a guaranteed salary, and going back to school will be of no issue to me. I don't see how you could possibly ever conclude that - I'm someone who lives and breathes hockey, so I'm not sure why you'd ask me that. What if I asked you why you took up reporting? You'd feel pretty awkward, yeah? And as I said before, I'm overjoyed to be here in Houston, and I'd appreciate it if you could stay on topic," the center forward hissed, "or are we done here? Is that it?" He looked around with no response before continuing, "I guess so. Thanks," he spat bitterly, making his way into the arena. Tyler Lawson certainly is fiery, and he's been that way since high school. Many of his former teammates, coaches, and reporters have always made him out to be a hothead - and after that exclusive first look, I think it's safe to say that it's alright to assume that as true of the 19-year-old forward. Some call him toxic and a locker room cancer, while others believe that while fiery - it's more of a competitive spirit and is heavily dramatized by the media. We'll let you be the judge of that. A huge thanks to Phillip Waters for attending the Bull's practice facility and getting himself an interview with Tyler Lawson, the Houston Bull's newest acquisition to the team, and the rest of our team and sources who were able to give us sound and exclusive information on all the details pertaining these moves including Lawson. Connolly and Lawson are both expected to play in the Bulls upcoming games after their signing on the 18th. For more Houston Bulls' coverage, check out the Bulls' official tab on our website, TheHoustonTribune.com/Bulls. * Bit hard to write without having playing any games yet - hoping the quality will increase a bit as I get some PT lol 2000+ words Will be using and claiming this media spot for the weeks ending Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4th, and Feb 11th.

Player Information Username: Nyx Player Name: Tyler Lawson Recruited From: SisterLeague Age: 19 Position: C Height: 74 in. Weight: 201 lbs. Birthplace: United States of America Player Page @VHLM GM

Player Information Username: Nyx Player Name: Travis Sanchez Recruited From: SisterLeague Age: 19 Position: RW Height: 75 in. Weight: 201 lbs. Birthplace: United States of America Player Page @VHLM GM