VHLM General Managers

[Smarch 3,157]

VHLM General Managers

One of the most thankless but important jobs in the Victory Hockey League is being a General Manager in the VHLM and VHLE. In this month’s media spot, I would like to look at the current VHLM General Managers and bring some much-needed attention and praise their way.

 

Halifax 21^st –Lexie Leitner (Season 93)

@LucyXpher

 

Coming off her first season as the General Manager in the VHLM, Leitner is looking forward to making another big splash in the league after last season’s fifty-one-win season. In Season Ninety-Three Leitner would make six trades during the off-season and course of the season to improve the club, including trading away the clubs Season Ninety-Four first round pick for a Season Ninety-Three second and fifth round picks for the clubs’ eventual leads in points Maple Dogwood. In her inaugural season as the architect of the Halifax based VHLM club Leitner would pick up some key pieces in the Season Ninety-Three VHLM Dispersal draft selecting, Pierre Marc Bouchard second overall, Andrew Skilton sixth overall, Patrik Tallinder twelfth overall and Tommy Shelby twenty-second overall. With a good core of players assembled the team would go onto having one of its best seasons since entering the league back in Season Sixty-Two however they would eventually fall in the playoffs in the VHLM Semi-Finals in six games to the eventual Founders Cup winners, the Saskatoon Wild. Now as we sit fourteen games into Season Ninety-Four Leitners’ Halifax club currently sits with a 12-2-0 record which is good enough for first place in the Eastern Conference and second place in the entire VHLM. Hopefully for Leitner and the Halifa faithful, Season Ninety-Four will see the club win its first ever Founds Cup Championship.

Houston Bulls – AJ Williams (Season 92)

@AJW

 

AJ Willimas joined the Houston Bulls as General Manager for his second stint with the Bulls prior to Season Ninety-Two and made an immediate impact on the club, being named the co-winner of the Jack Reilly Trophy winner at the conclusion of his first season in charge of the Bulls. Since joining the Bulls, Williams has led the team to two forty plus win seasons, including a forty-seven-win season last year which tied the team with Saskatoon for first place in the Western Conference. One of the best moves Williams has made during his short tenure with the Bulls was back in his first draft in Season Ninety-Two, when he was selected as the future first overall pick in the Season Ninety-Three VHL Entry Draft, Antonia Bucatini. Last season in the playoffs the Bulls were able to push the best regular season team the Ottawa Lynx to the brink before unfortunately losing game seven in the semi-finals. Although the Bulls couldn’t bring home a Founders Cup last season, Williams still put together a team that Hoston should have been very proud of. After this first fourteen games in the VHLM this season, Houston currently sits third in the Western Conference with a record of 9-4-1, sitting 7 points out of first and only one point behind Saskatoon for second place. Williams will have a bit of work ahead of him to help the team be the team to beat in the Conference as the playoffs grow closer, as Houston is ready for the team to bring home its second Founders Cup in the teams’ history, after waiting twenty-six seasons since the first and only championship.

 

Las Vegas Aces – Ben Hafkey (Season 90)

@McLovin

 

One of the most senior General Managers in the VHLM, Hafkey has been with the Aces now going into his fourth season, after joining the club back in Season Ninety. Hafkey has been a put together very consistent teams since joining the league, as his VHLM clubs have put up two forty-seven-win season and one forty-three-win season and a forty-win season. Season Ninety-two also saw Hafkey win the Western Conference and at the conclusion of the season named the co-winner of the Jack Reilly Trophy alongside Houston’s AJ Williams. This would be the season as General Manager of the Aces for Hafkey, as the Aces made it all the way to the finals against Philadelphia however, Hafkey and the Aces were unable to bring home the eleventh Founders Cup as they would eventually fall to the Reapers. During the Season Ninety-Three VHLM Dispersal draft, Vegas was slated to pick ninth overall and with that pick Hafkey picked up one of the best forwards that would play in the VHLM that season. Hafkey picked up winger Pombo, who in seventy-two games in Season Ninety-Three would put up fifty-one goals and fifty-one assists, which was second best in the entire VHLM only behind Philadelphia’s’ second year VHLMer Walter Jinn. After a successful four year run in the VHLM it was only a matter of time before the Aces needed to rebuild to allow for their next run, and Season Ninety-Four appears to be the year for that. In fourteen games this season Las Vegas only has 1 win which puts them in last place in the entire VHLM. Hafkey and the Aces organization might be in for a very long season during the rebuild phase here in Season Ninety-Four.

Mexico City Kings – J Carson (Season 93)

@JCarson

 

Taking over the reins in Season Ninety-Three, J Carson is now in his second season leading The Mexico City Kings. In his first season as a General Manager in the VHLM, Carson took over a VHLM team that had made the playoffs in eight out of the last nine seasons. While the Kings were a mainstay in the VHLM playoffs over the last decade of VHLM hockey, they had only made the Founders Cup twice back in Season Eighty-Seven and Eighty-Eight. While Carson led the Kings to their ninth VHLM playoff appears in the past ten seasons last year, Mexico City didn’t have the greatest regular season as the team put up a 25-40-7 record. The team entered the playoffs to face-off against the best team in the VHLM last season, the Ottawa Lynx, and were bounced from the playoffs in five games. While the season didn’t end the way anyone in the organization would hope, there was more hope as the season shifted to Season Ninety-Four as the Kings were able to bring back their top scorer from Season Ninety-Three, Gavin Bebard and starting goalie from Season Ninety-Three, Connor Hellebuyck. During the off-season Carson was able to swing some deals for the other players that could possibly return this season (Anthony Simmons II, Chuck E Cheese, Felicia Hardy and French Fries) for mainly Season Ninety-Four draft picks, which allowed the Kings to be big players in the most recent draft. Those moves appear to have paid dividends so far this season as Mexico City currently sits in first place in the Western Conference and entire VHLM with a record of 13-1. With only one Founders Cup win in franchise history back In Season Seventy-Six, early indications are that Mexico City fans and the organization might be in for a treat this season.

 

Miami Marauders – Kris Rice (Season 93)

@Ricer13

 

Another member of the Season Ninety-Three management hires in the VHLM, Kris Rice is another VHLM General Manager in his second season with his VHLM club, but also his second stint with the Miami based VHLM club. Rice was previously the General Manager of Miami when they first entered the league back in Season Seventy-Two, leading the team until Season Seventy-Six. During his first stint with Miami, Rice was able to win one Founders Cup, along with two Jack Reilly awards. Most recently Rice was the General Manager of the Saskatoon wild for one season in Season Ninety-Two. Now back with the VHLM club where he started his VHLM General Manager career, Rice is looking to bring success back to Miami. While Miami won two more Founders Cups after Rice left, the team has only been in the Founders Cup once since the last time they won the Founders Cup, which was an appearance back in Season Ninety. Last season was a rough first season back for Rice, as the team was in a rebuilding stage that saw the Marauders finish in last place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 22-48-2. With a last place finish in Season Ninety-Three, Miami was poised to enter the draft in a good place and early on it appears they hit on their early draft picks. Miami was able to select Phil Sakic second overall and Tim Robinson eleventh overall, who currently sits first and second on the team in points after fourteen games played in Season Ninety-Four. The team overall has also performed well so far this season as the team has a record of 8-3-3, which puts them comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference, ten points ahead of third place Mississauga. Although there is a lot of hockey ahead for Miami, with the Eastern Conference being a weaker conference this season, Miami should see a return to the VHLM playoffs, where anything can happen once you get in.

 

Mississauga Hounds – Nathan Ecker  (Season 93)

@Nathan_8

 

Nathan Ecker is in his first ever VHLM General Manager stint with the Mississauga Hounds, where he currently is in his second season. The Hounds were able to make the VHLM playoffs in Eckers first season as General Manager, as the team posted a 30-33-9 record, which meant the team would have to face-off against the Saskatoon Wild in the first round of the Season Ninety-Three VHLM playoffs. The Hounds would eventually fall in five games to Ottawa in the Quarter Finals and Ecker and the franchise began looking towards the next season immediately. Mississauga entered the Season Ninety-Four VHLM Dispersal Draft with only one draft pick in the first three rounds, which unfortunately, did not allow the Hounds to restock the cupboards and fourteen games into the season it shows. The Hounds currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-10-1, currently tied with the Philadelphia Reapers who have the exact same record. While the team isn’t having the best season, Ecker will likely do everything he can as the season moves forward to give the Hounds the best chance at success for Season Ninety-Five and beyond.

 

Ottawa Lynx – Blake Laughton (Season 86)

@Grape

 

Laughton is the longest tenure VHLM General Manager and currently is the head man for one of the top VHLM clubs in the league’s history. Ottawa has won a league best seventeen Founders Cups, and Laughton was the last Ottawa General Manager to bring home the championship back in Season Eighty-Seven. Since Laughton took over the club back in Season Eighty-Six, the Lynx have made the playoffs six times, including three straight years from Sason Ninety-One to Ninety-Three. Last season Ottawa finished the regular season with a record of 50-13-9, good enough for 109 points and first place in the Eastern Conference and entire VHLM. Ottawa looked like the team to beat in the VHLM playoffs however, come playoff time the Lynx ran into a read hot Saskatoon Wild club who would eventually beat the Lynx in a sweep during the Founders Cup. After being highly competitive for three straight seasons that say the Lynx empty the cupboards for playoff runs, this season the Lynx aren’t expected to be very competitive, which is the normal cycle after being competitive for so long in the VHLM. Currently Ottawa sits in last place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 3-10-1. With this season likely a lost season in Ottawa, Laughton and the management team are likely looking ahead to Season Ninety-Five and beyond.

 

Philadelphia Reapers – James Rose (Season 94)

@mattyIceman

 

Since joining the VHLM back in Season Sixty-Five, the Philadelphia Reapers have consistently been one of the best VHLM clubs. Enter James Rose who is currently in the first season with the Reapers as General Manager, the person tasked with bringing back the Founders Cup to Philadelphia. While Rose is in his first season with Philadelphia, this isn’t his first go around as a VHLM General Manager as back in Season Eighty Rose oversaw the Houston Bulls. Season Eighty was a successful first season in management for Rose as the Bulls finished second in the Western Conference with a record of 38-28-6, which shows Rose knows how to build a winning club. Fast forward to Season Ninety-Four and Rose is currently leading his first rebuild of a VHLM club. The Reapers currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-10-1. While the Reapers will be a long shot to win the Founders Cup this season, Reapers fan should have a lot of confidence in the future with Rose at the helm.

 

San Diego Marlins – Eric White (Season 92)

@Mysterious_Fish

 

San Diego General Manager Eric White is in his first go around as a VHLM General Manager, currently in his third season with the California based VHLM club. Since joining the club in a management role in Season Ninety-Two, White has led the Marlins to one playoff appearance, which was during his first season with the club. Last season the Marlins went through a little bit of a rebuild as the club posted an 18-45-9 record, which was the worst record in the Western Conference and entire VHLM. One positive about being the worst team in the VHLM is if you haven’t traded away your first-round pick in the next VHLM Dispersal Draft, you will be picking a generational talent in the VHLM draft. This was the case in the most recent draft for San Diego, as they selected defenseman Ahsoka Tano with the first overall pick in the Season Ninety-Four VHLM Dispersal Draft. The Marlins were also able to pick up forward Nicholas Sunderbruch Jr. in the first round with the fourth-overall pick. Now after fourteen VHLM regular season games plated, San Diego currently find themselves in fourth place in the very competitive Western Conference but are only four points out of moving into second place.  With a lot of season ahead of them the Marlins have plenty of time to improve their game to continue to move up the Western Conference standings.

 

Saskatoon Wild – Diego Machado (Season 93)

@Dadam30

 

Likely the best VHLM playoff club, the Saskatoon Wild currently have Diego Machado at the helm for the second season. Saskatoon has appeared in nineteen Founders Cups and has won thirteen of those nineteen appearances, including winning it all last season in Season Ninety-Three. Diego put together an amazing team last season, of course winning the Founders Cup, but also took home some personal hardware as the Season Ninety-Three Jack Reilly trophy winner. Last season the Wild finished with a 47-21-4 record for first place in the Western Conference and then went on a run in the playoffs that saw the Wild only lose three games in the fifteen playoff games they played in. After an amazing run last season, the Saskatoon based VHLM club was expected to take a step back in Season Ninety-Four, but the team currently sits in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 9-3-1. With a good record and a good roster assembled again in Season Ninety-Four, Saskatoon will look to best the first back-to-back Founders Cup winners since the Las Vegas Aces in Season Eighty-Two/Eighty-Three.

 

 

2,558 Words

For the weeks of:

June 9-15

June 16-22

June 23-29

June 30-July 6

[LucyXpher 1,433]

This is amazing! Thanks so much for putting these together! 

 

[Enorama 2,038]

I must be cynical because I was 100% expecting one of these entries to just be like "he exists, I guess" and moving on.

[Grape 680]

3 hours ago, Enorama said:

I must be cynical because I was 100% expecting one of these entries to just be like "he exists, I guess" and moving on.

Maybe in the VHLE version

[Smarch 3,157]

Claiming week 2/4

Edited June 17 by Smarch

[Smarch 3,157]

Claiming week 3/4

[Smarch 3,157]

Claiming week 4/4