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1. I actually did the same thing. It got to Wednesday and I figured it was too late so I didn't end up doing it. 2. I try and keep up to date with things going on in the league an take inspiration from that. Sometimes things just come to me though. 3. I have to move in a couple of weeks so that's my big plans. I am going to go visit my brother for a few days soon though, so that should be more fun. 1) What do you like to see in your team's locker room to keep you engaged? 2) What's a strange food combination that you like? I hear @Thunder likes spaghetti-os and baloney 3) What number do you like to wear and why?

It's been an amazing two seasons being able to play alongside you as well as manage a team you're leading. The amount of growth you've had over those two seasons has been great to see! Keep working hard and learning, and you will do great things in this league!

Well, it’s official, Simon really doesn’t like me. I don’t know how often this happens, but every team I’m affiliated with made the finals of their prospective leagues; Halifax 21st as an AGM, Bratislava Watchmen as a player, and Toronto Legion as a prospect. Amazing, fun, and so exciting to be involved in every league into the championship series. But keen-eyed readers will notice a common thread between each of those teams: THEY ALL LOST! How does this happen? How can someone get so unlucky in the span of a single week? I don’t want to say I’m cursed and for teams to be scared of me because it’s really too soon to say, but come on Simon, what did I do to you? What have I done to hurt you so? Please, if anyone knows how to cleanse yourself of all the bad ju-ju I’m carrying around please let me know before next season starts because I don’t want to infect anyone.

Happy Birthday VHL!

Congrats to Cologne on the Cup

Congratulations to the Saskatoon Wild on winning the S94 Founder's Cup!

I apply! Lot's of great choices in here

On a day like this, it’s best to keep doing everything you have been all season long. Don’t change anything you’ve been doing just because there’s a little adversity. Sure, the Halifax 21st is staring in the face of adversity, but instead of crumbling, they are deciding to fight back. There’s a reason why they only lost nine games in regulation all season. There’s a reason why they scored more goals than any other team in the VHLM, and there’s a reason why they allowed the least amount of goals too. Teamwork Every single player on the 21st contributed in some way to the team this season. Whether it be scoring goals, assisting those goals, making big hits, or putting their body on the line to keep the puck out of the net; the players on Halifax put in the work. They dedicated their season to being the best and they have the resilience to continue striving toward that until the job is done. Off the ice, conversations have been had to keep the team motivated through the ups and downs of the season and into the playoffs. Everyone is working together to achieve their shared goal. Each player on the team understands their role in the machine that is the Halifax 21st. While some players may not put up the offensive numbers or show up on the score sheet as much, they are doing the work behind the scenes and improving in order to support their teammates and contribute more in the future. Despite the season’s success, both team-wise and individually, doubt can still creep in. You know your end goal and are confident in your abilities, but when that’s challenged so intensely the negative thoughts can creep in. Yes, the team is down 3-1 against the defending Founder’s Cup Champion Saskatoon Wild. Yes, the 21st has lost three games in a row for only the second time this season. That can be scary. You wonder if what you’ve been doing is suddenly not working. You start to doubt if you are the better team. But in the most trying times, there is always a silver lining. The positive times, the times when you were successful; the multiple eight-game winning streaks, the hard-fought overtime battles, and more than half the team being above a point per game. All is not lost. Now is the time to centre yourself and remember everything that got you to this point. The Halifax 21st are in the Founder’s Cup Finals and they deserve to be there. It is time to pull together as a team, as they have been all season long, and win three games in a row to take the championship home to eastern Canada. Management, captains, first-liners, second-liners, special teams specialists, and our goalies. Everyone plays a part and everyone is equally important. Push the doubt out of your mind and remember the reason why you’re here. Let’s show the Saskatoon Wild the full wrath of the Halifax 21st and take it to them in the next three games! LET’S GO BOAT GANG!

@LucyXpher

Late week, on the go press conference! 1. We’re finals bound! How are you feeling about our chances against the Saskatoon Wild? 2. Fantasy tasks has been wrapping up this week (Super Coach, VHFL). How do you feel about your performance if you participated, and what was your strategy? 3. Which of the eliminated teams, in any league, are you most disappointed is out? 4. If we lift the Founder’s Cup, who do you think should be the first hand off from captain Dorji Khan? 5. Who is your playoff MVP to this point? 6. Question of the Week: Opposite of last week, how many goals do you think you could score in a penalty shot with Patrick Kane as the goalie in ten tries?

Amazing! The colours look like they match up perfectly and the whole thing works so well together. Thank you!

Ooh I'd really like one for my player for when he moves up to the VHL! Player Name: Andrew Skilton Player Render: Tyler Myers Team: Toronto Legion Graphic Style (OPTIONAL) (any of the styles in the thread on page 1): Watercolour Pop Thank you in advance, love your work!

@Pifferfish

This week I wanted to bring to light the incredible team management of Halifax 21st GM @LucyXpher. It’s no surprise that six months into being with the VHL, Lucy has taken charge of a team, and that said team has dominated. We have all seen the articles, the graphics, and the impact that she has had on the league since joining in January, culminating in the S93 Elmebeck Trophy, but the work behind the scenes to develop a powerhouse of a team over the last two seasons is nothing short of extraordinary. Let’s give some stats to back that statement up: First, Halifax’s record is 109-26-9 over the last two seasons, for an astounding 75.6% win percentage. That means that the team that Lucy has managed has not only won three out of every four games but has earned 227 out of a possible 288 points in the standings. These kinds of numbers are unfathomable, to say the least. Next, the goal differential in the time that Lucy has been at the helm of the 21st is +216! The next highest team in that span is the Saskatoon Wild with +172. This means that not only is Halifax winning games, they are winning them in such a fashion that none of the other nine teams can even really keep up. The reason for this success is the team that she has built through drafting, trading, and waiver pickups. Strategic trading has put Halifax in a position to succeed both in the present and in the future. Bringing in pieces that can help the current team on the ice and in the locker room has been a skill that Lucy has executed flawlessly with players like Anthony Simmons III @Starchychaff, Meghan Dancalot @diacope, and Kendra Cavill @Firekiss; all contributing to the team in a significant manner immediately. Along with that, she has built for the future by bringing in a multitude of draft picks, with Halifax currently owning 12 picks for the S95 draft. Finally, successful pitches have brought in the likes of current leading scorer Robin Sierra @ethanjaeda, high-profile free agent Blaze Thunderstrike @eaglesfan036, and support player and clutch goal scorer Brett Weier @Quanack through free agency and waiver pickups. With that being said, the influence off the ice and in the locker room has been instrumental to the success of the team overall. Interacting with all players (and visitors) to the locker room has created an environment that people want to be in. Along with that, check-ins with players in a one-on-one capacity show the lengths Lucy will go to to ensure both the team and the players as individuals, have success. This culminates in the fact that during Lucy’s tenure so far, the Halifax 21st has produced 16 capped players, resulting in an impressive 11 first or second-round picks in the VHL and VHLE in S94. I wouldn’t say that’s even the most remarkable stat to come out of this article though. With the VHLM being a development league, with many new players joining all the time and plenty of brand new users to teach, there will always be people who don’t make it through a season, or fizzle out, or who the VHL is just not for them. These players go inactive and have to be released from their respective teams after three weeks of inactivity. Over the last two seasons, Lucy has only had to release two (2!) players! This means that with all of the people coming into the Halifax system by any means, only two of them have gone inactive with Lucy at the helm. That statistic alone should show anyone the work that has been put in in every single aspect of her position. Overall, I just wanted to spotlight someone who has put so much into this league and deserves all the respect. Lucy has been one of, if not the most influential person to me in my time here so far and I felt like that needed to be touted. (607 words)

It hurts being at the top of that 1TPE list almost every week. Front and centre

I’m lovin it! Welcome!

Okay, this was amazing! I'm so happy I clicked play. So original, I can't wait for more!

Thank you! It took longer than I had hoped but I'm so happy about how it turned out. I'm always open to people asking me to make things for them if they like my work. I'm not much of a designer but I try my best and hopefully am getting better every time, so I appreciate your kind words!

1. I just made a trading card for a player on Houston and I really liked how the colours worked together, so I'll have to say Houston is my favourite. The worst has to be the Marlins. I'm not a fan of those colours to begin with, let alone together. 2. I would have to go with 8/10. 80% wins would be great and would solidify us as the team to beat for the Founder's Cup. 3. I think we can get at least half the team over 100 points. Everyone works so well together and it's shown all season long. 4. I suggested a few songs to go onto the team playlist but my favourite has to be Go Time by Down With Webster. It always gets me going and ready to play. 5. I'm going to have to go with Florida by a slim score of 2-1. The winner of the Conn Smythe has to be Connor McDavid. 6. I think we could get a logo with a little more movement on it. Something that could be a little more intimidating than the common circular theme with logos.

@David VanHousen