VSN Presents: Beketov - An Old Fart

[Alex 3,247]

@kirbithan

 

Hi everyone! Welcome to the first of 2 articles coming out of the Holiday Auction, specifically @Baozi's winning bid! In this first article I have gone ahead and re-wrote @Beketov's HOF article, so here it is:

 

Joined: July 21, 2007
Member Number: 25
Positions Held: Graphics Grader, League Skinner, VHL Commissioner, BOG, Simmer, VHLM GM

Very few members of the VHL have been around from Season 1, fewer yet without taking a break from the league at some point. While today there is a few members that we’re here at the start of the VHL, Beketov is the sole individual who has persevered through 92 seasons and 16 years and counting. Having been inducted in originally in Season 42, Beketov has been a crucial part of the league for over 75% of it’s existence and the VHL likely doesn’t exist today without their continued commitment to the league.

While throughout the early seasons of the VHL Beketov never held a leadership role with the lone exception being a 2 season VHLM GM stint, it is somewhat well documented that he didn’t aspire for those leadership positions at the time, and much preferred his role in the burgeoning VHL graphics community. In the early years, Beketov was very representative of the average VHL member, consistently doing their tasks, and just chipping away at making their player as best as they could. While Beketov’s start in the VHL was a little controversial, starting with the surprise selection of Robert Sharpe first overall in the Season one draft, best described in in the sixth edition of the 20 in 20 series. Sharpe would retire in season four, with that Beketov adopted the new name ‘Beketov’ and became the member that leads the VHL today.

One of the VHL's earliest and most respected graphic makers and continues to be a positive influence in the field, while he isn’t making graphics as frequently anymore, when asked they are happy to provide advice to graphic makers both young and old both in conversation and through grading and reviewing graphics. Additionally, it has been previously mentioned that they have provided countless members with photoshop earlier in VHL history. The VHL's graphic community is thriving, and with that being said, would be a very different place without Beketov, through both their prior work as a grader, being one of the early go-to people for VHL skins, and more recently always being willing to give a helping hand and provide advice and encouragement when needed.

 

While Beketov never really showed much interest in league leadership early on outside of a brief stint at the Saskatoon Wild GM from S15-S16, in which the team failed to make the playoffs. However, just prior to S57, everything changed as Beketov was appointed VHL Commissioner, a position he still holds today, 6 years later. Since becoming commissioner Beketov has been at the forefront of multiple major league decisions. Most recently, they played a major role in the introduction of hybrid attributes and the league response to STHS exploits. Additionally, they are a one of the main reasons the VHLE exists. Beketov has also played a role in restructuring TPE claims (multi-week claims, introduction of game reviews, etc…) Lastly, Beketov has continued to foster the growth of league partnerships and has been a key decision maker in VHL GM appointments for some time.

 

While Beketov has typically been against expansion typically because of how messy contraction can be, the VHL has grown by leaps and bounds under Beketov. The VHL has doubled in size with the introduction of Moscow, Malmo, D.C., Prague, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Warsaw. The VHLM has also grown considerably going from five to 12 (and then back to 10), while Beketov isn’t directly involved with the VHLM, it is a testament to their league wide leadership. As previously mentioned, Beketov is a main reason why the VHLE exists, as with the massive recruitment through the COVID-19 pandemic, the VHL as a while grew quickly, and a creative and appropriate solution was found.

 

Another one of Beketov’s largely unsung responsibilities goes back to his roots as a graphic designer early in the league’s history as Beketov has been involved in many of the recent logo redesigns through discussions with artists, with GMs, and with BOG. Beketov also creates all the championship banners for the Hall of Fame, and jersey retirement banners for the team pages.

 

Beketov’s players have had a lot of interesting careers, from the first ever VHL draft pick Robert Sharpe (who we won’t talk about much); the monumental success of Hall of Famer Alexander Beketov, the namesake for the VHL trophy for the most assists; and countless solid role players. While many of Beketov’s players haven’t had incredible careers multiple have gone onto make the Hall of Fame, with those being Alexander Beketov, Matt Thompson, and Mikko Lathinen. Thompson served as a star forward for all of Seattle, Helsinki, and Malmo, during which they won a remarkable 13 individual awards and Beketov’s most recent Continental Cup in S66 with Helsinki. Lathinen was the most dominant forward both physically and on the scoresheet for several seasons, winning three consecutive Scott Boulet Trophies, and a total of 11 individual awards! Goaltending wise Bektov has had a pair of successful goaltenders with Jakab Holik who won the S53 Aidan Shaw Trophy, and more recently Papa Emeritus, who was the backbone of a Moscow team that constantly fell just short of the Continental Cup, Emeritus won the Shaw and Clegane trophies in S84. Currently Mark Calaway is an elite defenseman for the D.C. Dragons with their best seasons ahead of them.

 

 

It is difficult to put what Beketov has done for the league into words, we can safely say that the VHL likely doesn’t exist if it weren’t for him. So, I think I can speak for everyone when I say thank you for all your hard work and dedication over the years!

[Banackock 8,134]

[Gaikoku-hito 2,133]

[Beketov 9,100]

 

About time this doesn’t say “he hasn’t held any major positions” when give been blue longer than anyone; even if I still don’t remember that VHLM GM stint haha.

 

Whoever made the choice to use Papa Nihil for the graphic was a genius, kudos.