The Original VHLM Part 1 Active Teams

[Will3 467]

There is much good in talking about things past. Living history can be past down to the next generation. The past can explain the present and shape the future. Great knowledge can be found in the past. This is what I am doing today. I will take my dear readers on a journey past S62 and the birth of the modern VHLM to uncover a very different league where teams could be placed in Europe and copyright infringement was the name of the game for this young league. It is time to introduce the ancient, orginal VHLM.

 

Of the eight original VHLM franchises, only three remain active in the VHLM today and they all have experience change. Of these teams, the Ottawa Lynx have changed the least. They only rebranded from the Ice Dogs in S34, making the Ice Dogs the second longest surviving original brand and the Lynx the second oldest active team. The oldest active VHLM team, surprisingly enough, comes from the shortest surviving original team. The Fresno Bulls would only make it to S8 before moving to Buffalo to become the Junior Bears which is unprecedented because the Seattle Bears were in no way affiliated with the Buffalo team, as far as I know. This franchise would move after S16  north to Canada and become the longest active VHLM team, the Saskatoon Wild. The other original active VHLM franchise started life in Toledo, Spain and was known as the Scorpions. The end of S16 would also see the Toledo Scorpions moved to Switzerland to become the Bern Royals, where they would become one of the longest standing clubs of the European VHLM. They would remain within Europe until S53 before which most of the European VHLM had folded. They would relocate to America to become the Las Vegas Aces where they hang their hat today.

 

There is one other original VHLM team that is active although not as a VHLM member. This franchise started in Gothenburg and were simply known as the Eagles. Not wanting to live within a very crowded Sweden, they would move after S18 to a city they would become most associated with, Oslo, Norway. Original known as the Screaming Seamen for the first few seasons in Oslo, they would pick up the now iconic Storm branding in S24. They would surviving within Europe longer than any other VHLM team. They would very reluctantly move to Minnesota in S65, thus finally killing off the last vestige of the old VHLM. The State of Hockey would serve as a appropriate summer home for the Storm for fifteen seasons before returning home to Oslo as part of the second season expansion of the VHLE, where they remain today. 

 

And that is the story of the four active original VHLM franchises. Some of the ancient brands were picked up by newer, modern teams. With the locations of these old franchise homes being more than available for expansion by both VHLM and VHLE, it is more that possible for the legacy of these teams to continue into the future for a long time to come. Next time, it is time for the story of the four original VHLM franchises that did not survive to be told. Stay cool, My friends!

Edited June 21 by Will3

[CowboyinAmerica 2,911]

25 minutes ago, Will3 said:

known as the Screaming Seamen for the first few seasons in Oslo

 

Got what I was looking for, article's approved. 2000's internet was a different place, man

[Victor 11,021]

16 hours ago, Will3 said:

Buffalo to become the Junior Bears which is unprecedented because the Seattle Bears were in no way affiliated with the Buffalo team, as far as I know.

They were completely and fully affiliated actually

[diacope 1,696]

Solid intro! I actually didn't know any of this and you kept it brief enough to enjoy. Thank you very much  

 

 

[ROOKIE745 607]

review: As someone who enjoys history this was very interesting to read, as I find finding details on the early years in the league to be pretty hard, pretty much anything pre S50's. (Probably just a matter of not knowing exactly where to look though) Anyway this is a easy to read post and is well separated, never found myself getting lost. I just think it lacks any flair, perhaps one or a few of the old logos posted in here would have been dope, and I think using a bit of bold would help too. Doesn't need to be over the top I just think it'd be an even more enjoyable read if it was more fancy. 8/10