Dream Team: Father and Son Duo’s

[Hogan 1,339]

 

The VHL is a league rich in family history, with tons of second generational players following in the footsteps of those who have raised them. But the VHL has lacked one thing, a father-son duo playing actively at the same time. The true dream team isn’t a powerhouse, it’s not a showcase of the league's best. Instead, it is a showcase of what matters the most and what has never happened, family playing together.

 

The Lines

 

Shawn Glade - Shawn Glade Jr - Shawn Glade III

Dan Baillie - Jordan Tonn  - Dan Baillie Jr

Brady Stropko - Hulk Hogan 2  - Ryan Sullivan Jr

 

Shawn Glade IV- Shawn Glade V

Hulk Hogan - Hulk Hogan Jr

Ryan Sullivan- Brady Stropko Jr

 

Jacob Tonn

Jordan Tonn Jr

 

The Glades

 

The Glade family line is deep in the VHL. All five members of the family have been defensemen, but to maximize their playing time together they will need to have the first three switch to being forwards. Across the five, they have accumulated 500 total points with daddy Shawn Glade leading the way with 379 points and 3 cups. Shawn Glade Jr had a much less impressive career, playing three seasons, averaging 10.3 points each. This trend continued amongst the rest of the family. Glade IV never made the league while III and V finished with a combined 80 points. Shawn Glade V is currently a free agent, unlikely to get signed. The Glade family is one of the largest in VHL history, seeing all of them play together could unlock potential we didn’t know they had.

 

The Baillies

 

The Baillies were a powerhouse of a father-son duo. Dan Baillie stood at an impressive 6’3” 220 LBs while his son was an extra inch taller and packed on five more pounds. Baillie, entering the VHL in season 65 made an immediate impact on his team. From season 65-70 his lowest scoring season was a 57 and his highest went up to his career high of 77. Baillie was an extremely consistent player who, up to his final two seasons, averaged 67 points. His son was very similar to him. Across seven seasons Baillie Jr averaged 58 points. Both men were incredibly consistent and reliable on their teams. Perhaps both of them playing together would unlock a father son connection to elevate their games.

 

The Tonn Family

 

The Tonn family showcases the most diverse family, featuring a goalie, defensemen and winger. The father, Jordan Tonn was a defensemen who played a short career. He finished with 263 points in 360 games before an early retirement. His son Jacob was the most successful of the three. As a goalie, Tonn had a record of 200-104-31. He won a continental cup in season 73 with the Seattle Bears. He also won back to back to back Greg Clagane trophies from season 76 to 78. Jordan Tonn was a winger who never made it to the big leagues, he will be switching from forward to goalie to back up his brother in the net.

 

The Hogans

 

The Hogans are the most decorated family in this team with nearly 800 total points across the three Hogans and 4 continental cups. Hogan 2 is actually a clone of Hogan, making him the closest relative to anyone on the team. As the youngest member of the Hogan name, Hogan 2 will be switching to become a center while Hogan and his son Hogan Jr play on the second line.

 

The Stropkos

 

The Stropkos are the highest scoring duo on this team with 935 combined points. Stropko led the way with 550 points in the early days of the VHL, he also won in season 43. It took over 20 seasons to see his son Stropko Junior enter the league. Unlike his father, Stropko Jr played on the same team for the majority of his career, the Calgary Wranglers. Stropko Jr had 385 points, still a solid career but not as much as his father. Seeing this big of a generational difference on the ice would surely be interesting.

 

The Sullivans

 

Ryan Sullivan was so good they named a trophy after him. His son was also a solid player. Many see Sullivan as the greatest defensemen to ever play, which slots him on this team's third line under Hogan and Glade. Sullivan Jr didn’t follow in his fathers footsteps, instead, he played as a winger. Sullivan Jr had over 450 points, was named the rookie of the year, named the top defensive defenseman once and won two victory cups.

 

Seeing father and son duos is something that will most likely not happen in the VHL. It would be interesting to see the clashes between generations as these families tried to gel together and create a super team.

 

 

 

 

Shoutout to @Victor for this article;

I didn't realize it existed until I hit Stropko in the lines so I then tried to avoid writing too much about what he wrote about but really good article 

[Victor 10,563]

Pleased to be a source of inspiration-ish.