VHLM

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

 

I won`t lie I am having a hard time trying to figure out what I want to write about when it comes to the VHLM as I am sure most of the basic and easy topics have already been discussed. I thought about doing a jRuutu, sexy lady or waiting to eat a hot dog type article but we will leave those for him since he is so good at them. I guess I am going to follow a tend a look at the VHLM as what it has meant to me and my players as I have gone through the league each time.

 

 

Robert Bouchard - Minnesota Storm/ Philadelphia Reapers - Drafted 7th 

After a season with Minnesota Storm, where I played being inactive players down the line-up on the second or third line as my brain deleted that part of my VHLM experience. I was excited and nervous heading into not only the VHL but also the VHLM draft. I had a chance to be a large part of a team’s success and if I remember correctly three team look like they would be loading up for championship run, San Diego Marlins, Mexico City Kings and Philadelphia Reapers. I wanted to be drafted by the Reapers so I was surprised when I was over looked by Mexico and fell to Philadelphia at 7th in the draft, but a head of other players I expected to be selected. I was confused but it didn`t matter I was on the team that I wanted to play for and was ready to help them with the Championship. I don`t remember the rest but we dominated with Bouchard playing the lead role with 46G, 63A and 109pts while leading the team to Founders cup. Only to be disappointed come award season when Bouchard was over looked for every single award also not understanding the awards either played a huge role. I than found out I would be joining the Prague Phantom followings season, which kept me from rage quitting in the self-center way that I went about business back in the old days!! To only be buried as third liner and killing any chance, slim that Bouchard would end up in the HOF. Experience was mixed with high and lows, joys and disappointments.

 

 

Pierre Emile Bouchard – Saskatoon Wild – Not drafted

Welcome to the start of hybrids, after watching Vancouver Wolves creative working their way to three straight championship the league said enough is enough so hybrids killed the Wolves chance to continue to dominate the VHL but brought a new challenge that I was considering being part of, yup, the nine season career. First recreating at the trade deadline and wanting a chance at a Championship I signed with Saskatoon Wild, riding the coat tails of all the great players on the team to my second Founders Cup in two ties at the VHLM level. But next came a much longer off season than I think most wanted or expected I was offered to sign in the VHLE with any team that hadn`t signed another VHLM Skipper. I skipped due to the fact that I was already at the cap 200 TPE and I didn`t want to take a spot away from a new player and give them a chance at playing a large role in their team possible winning the Founders Cup. I had won my cup so it was time to move on. Experience short, sweat and to the point.

 

 

Pierre Marc Bouchard – Saskatoon Wild / Halifax 21st – Drafted 2nd

Having spent a ton of time in the lead up to recreating my player writing for the VSN and AGM with the rebuilding Vancouver Wolves, my focus was never on Pierre Marc Bouchard also hurt by the fact that Pierre Emile Bouchard was still finish up his career in Helsinki, who had a really good chance to win a championship. Saskatoon didn`t and the new Bouchard was following a similar path as the first Bouchard, with no expectations until the following season when drafted 2nd overall by Halifax. A bit surprised to have my player taken second overall but also not completely since I wasn`t really paying attention to the VHLM at this point. Call this a bit of a wakeup call as now Bouchard had pressure to lead a team to a Championship but I had made build mistakes since as mentioned I wasn`t paying attention to my player. In the end, the season end early as I sort of expected but it was still disappointing. Experience sadly wasn`t really active as much as I would have liked and not really engaged. Not sure I would have preferred to skip or not but having to bank for a full season played a role in my disengagement as I was drafted at 189TPE and was 200TPE before the week ended.  

 

 

I guess when I look back on my experience in the VHLM it has been rather mixed but due to different reason. First signing with a bad team is never going to engage a manager to his fullest extent so my time with Minnesota Storm and Saskatoon Wild would be consider the low points of my experience but two Championship with Philadelphia Reapers and Saskatoon Wild are highs of all highs but in the end, they don`t compare to winning a Championship in the VHL.

 

 

I feel like I should be making a point here somehow and someway but I really don`t think I have one. What drove my experience I guess could be the point I am trying to make and most would see that I valued Championship based on what is wrote above but that doesn`t tell the whole truth. It was actually locker room engagement from all players on the team, including myself; showing at least to me that it is a two-way street when it comes to engagement and enjoyment of the league at all levels be it the VHLM, VHLE or VHL. I guess I hope more engage or have the ability to engage in whatever league that they are as it makes the whole VHL experience just a bit easier and enjoyable…

 

 

1030 words (June 23rd & June 30th claims)

[Thunder 1,168]

Bouchard pedigree.  Only gets better …. Smashing the E right now.  Keep it up.

[Gaikoku-hito 2,089]

June 30th Claim