The VHL at 15: 15 Memorable Members

[animal74 1,821]

The VHL at

 

15 Memorable Members

 

I’m proud to be able to say I’ve been a part of the VHL for as long as I have. I was there for some of the early pre-portal years (S5-S12, 2008-2009) and I thoroughly enjoyed my time then and would have loved to continue but life got busy. I would take a look at the website every once in a while and every time I would be happy to see that the league was still running. Then COVID hit and I was working from home but looking for something fun to do as well. I came back to the VHL in S67 to try it out and even though it took me a while to adjust to some of the “newer” features like the portal and Discord, am I ever glad I came back. The VHL has provided me with some of the most fun I’ve had in a while and I’ve been fortunate to be able to win some form of championship with each of my players (S12 Continental, S69 Founder’s, S79 Continental). What has made my time with the VHL so great though, is the people I’ve met. Even though we’ve never met in person, I can honestly say that almost every interaction I’ve had has been positive (maybe I just skipped the controversial years!). Everyone has been encouraging and helpful and that has made it such a great environment to hang out in. And so, I wish to say a little bit about 15 (or so) of the most memorable people/players I’ve had a chance to interact with in the VHL’s 15 years. Most of them have been teammates or GMs/AGMs but a few haven’t. If you’re not on this list, it doesn’t mean I don’t like you or remember you - I have positive memories about every team I've played for - these are just a few of the ones that I’ve interacted with the most. 

 

In no particular order, here are 15 of my most memorable VHLers over the last 15 years:

 

@Tremblay - Steve LaFramboise (Teammate, S9-S12 Seattle)
LaFramboise led the Bears to consecutive Cup Finals in S11-S12, winning the Cup in my (Gunnar-Rune Rorvik’s) final season in S12. Tremblay was a great teammate and always a happy and positive member on the forums.

 

@BladeMaiden - Brick Wahl (Teammate, S69 Calgary, S70-S71 Prague)
One of the first people to welcome me to the big league after Ohradka was drafted in S68, Blade and I were also teammates in Prague and we had some good times. I always appreciated that she was encouraging, helpful and a straight shooter.

 

@Doomsday- Thomas Landry II (Teammate, S71-S75 Prague, VSN)
One of the most genuine and welcoming people I have met in the league, he bled purple when we were Phantoms and he's always been a great advocate of the VHL. We also have worked closely at VSN. His dedication has set a high bar to follow.

 

@Dom - Dominic Gobiel (Teammate, S75 Prague), Igor Molotov (GM S81-S84, Teammate S83-S84 Malmo)
Ohradka was in his final season with Prague and Gobiel was an up-and-coming star that the Phantoms organization was really excited about. He was already active in the locker room even though he was still in the M. I kept in touch with the team over the next few years and he was always engaging and positive. When he was selected as Malmo’s GM in S81, I knew it was going to be a great fit. I’ve also had the pleasure of being linemates with Molotov over the last two seasons. Dom has always been respectful and respected and it’s been great watching him rise through the ranks.

 

@Beketov - Alexander Beketov (Teammate, S9-S12 Seattle), Mikko Lahtinen (Teammate, S69 Saskatoon, S70-S71 Calgary)
Long before he was league commish, Beketov was a slick Russian player who set VHLM records and became known for his dazzling passes. We won a Continental Cup in our final season with Seattle. Then we ended up in Saskatoon together in S69 this time winning the Founder’s Cup before struggling together in our rookie seasons in Calgary. Although we haven’t chatted a ton, He’s been one of the few constants during my VHL tenure and he’s helped keep the league reaching new heights.   

 

@Seabass - Seabass Perrin (Teammate, S71-S73, S75 Prague)
One of the “Big Three” in Prague during my time there, Perrin and I got along great and also had the connection of playing against each other back in the day in the Cup Finals in S11-S12, each of us winning a Cup.  

 

@Jubis - RJ Jubis (Teammate, S68 Saskatoon, S70-S71 Calgary)
We broke into the league around the same time playing one year in Saskatoon and then a season and a half in Calgary. He’s a guy who I’ve felt has been “in my corner” and even though we haven’t been on the same team since, he always has a nice word to say.

@Ricer13 - Kris Rice (Teammate, S70-S71 Calgary)
Another teammate from my early days with Ohradka, he stood out with his team-first attitude and was very friendly during my short time in Calgary and the years since.

 

@v.2 - Josh Vestiquan (Teammate, S10-S12 Seattle), Tui Sova (Teammate S78-S80 Malmo)
One the few players I had vivid memories of from my early days, I was pumped when v.2 returned to the VHL to be drafted by Malmo. It was fantastic to catch up and win another Cup with him in Malmo - 67 seasons between championships!

 

@diamond_ace - Jason Glasser (GM S71-S75 Prague), Dagmar Havlova (Teammate, S69 Saskatoon, S71-S74 Prague)
Another player from the Wild’s S69 Founder’s Cup team, he later traded for me in Prague and he was one of the main reasons that Prague team was so close - he treated the players so well that we really did feel like a #Phamily. 

 

@Peace - Rylan Peace (GM S67-S69 Saskatoon)
Really the guy who gave me my first real shot. Although Ohradka was drafted by Minnesota, Peace traded for me early on in S67 and let me grow to help Saskatoon win the Cup in S69. He stuck with me and helped me navigate those first few seasons and was always very helpful.

 

@tcookie - Addison McLaren (Teammate, S82 Malmo, VSN)
A great writer and teammate, tcookie and I got to know each other a bit working with VSN and then he was a teammate in McLaren’s last season in Malmo. 

 

@Telkster - Brendan Telker (Teammate, S77-S82 Malmo)
Even though we didn't really know each other from our previous players, Telker and I became close teammates after being drafted six picks apart by the Nighthawks in the 1st round of the S76 Draft. We were the beginning of a new era in Malmo which resulted in six straight playoff appearances and a Cup victory in S79. Always energetic and quick with a kind word, Telker made everyone's experience in Malmo a positive one.

 

@fromtheinside - Scotty Kaberle (Teammate, S79-S81 Malmo, VSN)
Another VSN brother, Kaberle came to Malmo during S79 and helped us win the Cup. Just a great upbeat guy who makes the league more fun.

 

@Elmebeck - Frederick Elmebeck (AGM/GM S68-S69 Saskatoon)
Elmebeck was one of the first people I interacted with after a 10-year absence from the league. He was the AGM with the Wild and reached out right away and was helpful and encouraging (as I’m sure he was to everyone) and even asked me to try my hand at AGMing when he became GM. His passing was a blow to the league and the BOD did the right thing by naming an award in his honor. RIP

 

And just because I can’t just name 15, I wanted to give a shout out to some who’ve helped me a lot during my time with VSN and have made it a wonderful community to write with: @Victor, @Mr_Hatter, and @Advantage - thanks for everything so far!

 

If you didn’t make in on this list, I still appreciate all the teammates, managers, and members I’ve interacted with. Thanks VHL for such a wonderful 15 years. Here’s to 15 more!

 

~ @animal74

 

[Bojovnik 487]

I might have to renew this feud after being left off this list.

[fromtheinside 1,290]

ayyy Im humbled to be on this list Animal! That team on Malmo in S79 was so special, great group of people we had that year. I hope you're doing well buddy, all the best.

[Beketov 9,033]

8 hours ago, animal74 said:

Then we ended up in Saskatoon together in S69

Man that team was fucking NUTS.

[animal74 1,821]

5 minutes ago, Beketov said:

Man that team was fucking NUTS.

Indeed it was! #SaskyBois

[animal74 1,821]

8 hours ago, Bojovnik said:

I might have to renew this feud after being left off this list.

 

You have been a worthy adversary on the ice and a good chap off of it! 

[animal74 1,821]

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