VSN Presents: S95 VHLM Awards

[LucyXpher 1,420]

The Ryan Sullivan Trophy

 

Awarded to the player deemed to be the top defenseman in the VHLM

 

"This award was renamed from the Bourque Trophy to the Ryan Sullivan Trophy in S42. One of the greatest VHL defencemen of all-time, a three-time recipient of the Sterling Labatte Trophy, Sullivan proved his mettle in the VHLM in S28. In addition to an illustrious career, Sullivan's case was strengthened by his victorious role as Kolari Panthers GM and later becoming VHLM" - VHLM Award Page

 

Here are the nominees:

 

@koty_k Dog Jagr (MIA) - 15 G, 48 A, 63 P, +15, 84 PIM, 219 HIT, 148 SB
Though only ranking 11th in points among defenders, Dog Jagr had the 3rd most hits in the league and the 3rd most shots blocked.  Jagr played a nearly unmatched physical style while keeping the puck out of his own net.  As an added bonus, 63 points in 72 games is nothing to turn your nose at.  

 

@TheHockey_pro Victory Hockey League (HFX) - 23 G, 39 A, 62 P, -5, 58 PIM, 155 HIT, 152 SB
Similar to Jagr, VHL was a stalwart minute muncher for a mid-table 21st team that struggled to control the puck offensively this season.  Defending his own end, VHL picked up the 2nd most shots blocked and managed a solid point total of 62 as the team's top offensive defenseman after the departure of Mathias Gunnarsson.  

 

@OblivionWalker Slava Kovalenko (MIS) - 24 G, 65 A, 89 P, +24, 54 PIM, 179 HIT, 142 SB
What Kovalenko lacks in physicality with only the 9th most hits among defenders, they make up for with the league's highest point total by a defenseman with an impressive 89 in 72 games.  Add 142 blocks and a +24 rating and Kovalenko makes a great case to take this season's honors playing on the 2nd place team in the Eastern Conference, the Mississauga Hounds.

 

@Gage2 Kasper Saarinen (MIA) - 18 G, 61 A, 79 P, +28, 70 PIM, 191 HIT, 162 SB
Another Miami defender-- this time with the highest shot block total in the league and the 4th most total points-- Saarinen had the highest +/- rating of our nominees, going +28 in 72 games. Collecting the 6th most hits definitely solidifies Saarinen as a worthy candidate on this season's ballot.

 

@ThatCanadian Mathias Gunnarsson (HFX/LVA) - 19 G, 67 A, 86 P, +18, 84 PIM, 185 HIT, 100 SB
Another player that had a hot start with Halifax and tapered off after being traded, Gunnarsson had 57 points in 44 games for the 21st before shipping out to Las Vegas where he finished the season with 29 points in 28 games.  Gunnarsson led all defenders with 67 assists and was 2nd in points with 86, though he trailed behind in the shots blocked category ranking 15th among defenders.

 

And the winner is...

 

Spoiler

@OblivionWalker Slava Kovalenko!

Votes: Kovalenko 7 / Saarinen 2 / Gunnarsson 1

 

--<>--
 

Edited October 9 by LucyXpher

[LucyXpher 1,420]

The Mat Bentz Trophy

 

Awarded to the player deemed to be the best two-way forward in the VHLM

 

"This award was renamed from the Yzerman Trophy to the Matt Bentz Trophy in S42 to honour the VHLM contributions of Matt Bentz. Well-known for a Hall of Fame VHL career as a potent goal-scorer and long-time Calgary Wranglers GM, Bentz's path to the VHL pinnacle started with an Yzerman Trophy in S8. He repaid the VHLM in full by serving as VHLM commissioner and arguably pioneering the modern interpretation of the role" - VHLM Awards Page

 

Here are the nominees:

 

@Eb14 Clapbomb Bardownski III (MIS) - 40 G, 54 A, 94 P, +29, 61 PIM, 179 HIT, 45 SB
With the 4th most hits among forwards, Bardownski III also collected an impressive 94 points, making them the 6th highest point-getter in the league.  A solid 45 blocks and +29 rating also cements Bardownski III as one of the better 200-foot-players in the VHLM in S95.  

 

@barryst Jerry Box (MIA) - 43 G, 40 A, 83 P, +1, 32 PIM, 171 HIT, 61 SB
Despite recording fewer points than some of our other candidates, Box had the most goals with 43 while also landing 171 hits and collecting 61 welts as a result of blocked shots.  In truth, the +1 rating might hurt his chances, but his other well-rounded attributes may sway voters this time around.

 

@Captain nugget Captain Nugget Jr (SSK) - 43 G, 41 A, 84 P, -9, 28 PIM, 160 HIT, 96 SB
96 shots blocked!  That's the number that stands out for Captain Nugget Jr and it ranks him 1st among all forwards by 17.  With 84 points, he also boasts the offense to back up the nomination, as well as the physical play with 160 hits.  Like Box, however, the -9 is a tough look for a potential Bentz winner, though it must be noted that Nugget Jr's Saskatoon Wild finished 2nd last in the league this season.

 

@David VanHousen David VanHousen (HOU) - 35 G, 33 A, 68 P, +25, 73 PIM, 205 HIT, 41 SB
Despite being a slight 5'10, 160 pounds, David VanHousen can throw hits with the best of them as he recorded the 8th most in the league and the 4th most among forwards.  A solid +25 and 41 shots blocked add to his case, though his 68 points may come up short in comparison to other candidates.

 

@Spartakiller2 Danny Ross (MIA) - 34 G, 51 A, 85 P, +37, 82 PIM, 235 HIT, 31 SB
Playing for the Marauders, Ross collected the 2nd most points among our nominees and had the highest +/- rating at +37, as well as the most hits with 235.  The knock on Ross for the Bentz this season is the 31 shots blocked, the least among our candidates.

 

And the winner is...

 

Spoiler

@Spartakiller2 Danny Ross!

Votes: Ross 4 / Bardownski III 3 / VanHousen 1 / Nugget Jr 1 / Box 1

 

--<>--
 

[LucyXpher 1,420]

The Jack Reilly Trophy

 

Awarded to the general manager deemed to be the best in the VHLM

 

"This award was renamed from the Ken Holland Trophy to the Jack Reilly Trophy in S42 to honour the VHLM managing career of later HC Davos Dynamo GM Jack Reilly. Reilly was GM of the Saskatoon Wild for 11 seasons from S18 to S28, winning three Founder's Cups and a record four Top GM awards" - VHLM Awards Page

 

Here are the nominees:

 

@McLovin Las Vegas Aces 50-15-7 - 107 points
The Prime Minister's Cup winning GM this season, McLovin's Aces had the best regular season record and the fewest goals against, putting on a defensive clinic in the VHLM this season and controllng the points race from start to finish.  Though they didn't get it done in the playoffs, a strong run to the finals is still a respectable showing for a general manager who is headed to the VHL next season to take over the Helsinki Titans.

 

@mattyIceman Philadelphia Reapers 49-20-3 - 101 points
As the Founder's Cup winning GM this season, Matty's Reapers only finished 6 points behind the Aces in 2nd place and won the games when they mattered most, completing a sweep of Vegas in the finals.  While the Aces were a defensive powerhouse, built from the net out, Philadelphia boasted the league's best forward corps and a great defense and goalie to back it up.  Some might argue they were the most complete team and the results would support this.

 

And the winner is...

 

Spoiler

@McLovin Las Vegas Aces! 

Votes: McLovin 6 / Mattyiceman 4

 

--<>--
 

Edited October 9 by LucyXpher

[LucyXpher 1,420]

The Mitch Higgins Trophy 

 

Awarded to the player deemed the VHLM's most valuable player during the regular season

 

"This award was renamed from the Sakic Trophy to the Mitch Higgins Trophy in S42. Higgins won the award as part of a legendary Ottawa Ice Dogs team in S23 before leading a notable VHL career and securing at various points the positions of Oslo Storm GM, VHLM commissioner, Helsinki Titans GM, and VHL commissioner" - VHLM Awards Page

 

Here are the nominees:

 

@WildfireMicro Inker Belle (SDM/LVA) - 48 G, 57 A, 105 P, +69, 30 PIM, 122 HIT, 33 SB
Splitting time between the Marlins and the Aces, Inker Belle collected 85 points in 48 games for Marlins team that struggled mightily this season, and 20 points in 24 games for a much deeper Vegas squad.  Belle's 1.40 P/20 was the highest in the league while they were with the Marlins, though that stat fell drastically to .59 with the Aces.  It should be noted that Inker Belle's +69 was the highest in the league, despite playing 48 games for a last place team.

 

@Alex Deadpanda (LVA) - 50-15-7, .924 SV%, 1.75 GAA, 9 SO
What more can be said about Deadpanda's dominance this season?  Vegas was exceptional in the regular season in large part due to the play of their superstar netminder.  It's a bit of chicken and egg with Vegas-- what really carried their defensive dominance, the defensive skaters or the goalie?  How about both.  There's no denying, however, Deadpanda was the cornerstone of their back end.

 

@Ender9511 Ender (SDM) - 42 G, 73 A, 115 P , +64, 40 PIM, 112 HIT, 41 SB
With the 2nd most points in the league and the 2nd highest +/- at +64, Ender spent the entire season playing for the last place San Diego Marlins.  With a total point gap of 37 between Ender and the next highest scoring player to finish the season with the Marlins, it was clear who drove the bus in San Diego.  +/- doesn't always tell the whole story, but in the extreme it can be useful.  Recording a +64 on a team with a -69 goal differential is certainly noteworthy.

 

@twists Youre Not Fucking Retiring (PHI) - 58 G, 58 A, 116 P, +38, 40 PIM, 155 HIT, 43 SB
YNFR appears as a nominee once again and puts forward a strong case with as the league's highest scorer, beating out Ender by 1 point.  Despite having more talent around him in Philadelphia, some would argue his 21 point gap to the Reapers' next highest scorer is more impressive even than Ender's 37 point advantage in San Diego.  No matter how you spin it, YNFR should probably not call it a career just yet. With this kind of production in the VHLM, it seems things are just getting started!

 

And the winner is...

 

Spoiler

@twists Youre Not Fucking Retiring AND @Ender9511 Ender!

Votes: Ender 3 / YNFR 3 / Deadpanda 2 / Belle 2

 

--<>--
 

[LucyXpher 1,420]

As ever, with the MVP award handed out, we conclude our awards show with... *checks queue card*  "Lucy popping open a bottle of wine and proceding to drink it straight--"  Who wrote this?  It used to be a spontaneous thing and now you're scripting it? People of the VHLM, this is what it's come to.  Simon T. is ruining my life.  

 

Anyway, it's definitely time to call it an awards show.  After a thrilling but exhausting offseason, Season 96 kicks off in a few short days and it promises to be another enthralling season of VHLM hockey!  Thank you all for tuning in and congratulations to all of our award winners on another incredible season!  Enjoy your night, and don't forget to congratulate your teammates!  Oh-- and if you see any errors or mistakes, please yell at me! 

 

Ugh, where's that drink...

 

--<>--

LucyXpher for VSN
10/08/2024
4700+ words
 

Edited October 9 by LucyXpher

[OblivionWalker 239]

Thanks for all your hard work, @LucyXpher!

[LucyXpher 1,420]

1 minute ago, OblivionWalker said:

Thanks for all your hard work, @LucyXpher!

Of course!  It's always fun

Congrats on your trophy win! 

[Spartan 4,406]

9 minutes ago, LucyXpher said:

we conclude our awards show with... *checks queue card*  "Lucy popping open a bottle of wine and proceding to drink it straight

me with a rum and coke when we get midway through the VHL Draft's 2nd round every season, relatable

[Mysterious_Fish 386]

Well SDM technically gets 2 awards because of @Ender9511

[AJW 2,157]

2 hours ago, Alex said:

100%, again great season, but were you really the league's most valuable player if you failed to even make the playoffs? 

Yes. Yes they are.

[Pifferfish 512]

34 minutes ago, AJW said:

Yes. Yes they are.

Not really, I'll argue this tooth and nail. Ender was not the best player on his team until the Trade Deadline. Inker Belle was the MVP of the Marlins. The Marlins up until the TDL had been shutout once. After the TDL they got blanked 5 times. That's Inker Belle's impact. I'd argue the key reason they kept their winning rate up is because they added a waiver Dman right after the deadline which anchored things for them so much. 

[Pifferfish 512]

40 minutes ago, AJW said:

Yes. Yes they are.

Once again, I'm not saying Ender was bad. But I am saying that I wouldn't vote him MVP if he spent 66% of the season in a better player's shadow. That just doesn't make much sense at all. The Marlins lack of success only stand to make Belle's case better in my mind. And the fact Inker Belle only put up 20 in 24 with a much better team makes me feel like the guy who put up 116's case with an equally good team was even better.

[AJW 2,157]

@Pifferfish thank you for your opinion, I’m just looking at the name on the trophy and it’s Ender’s.

[Pifferfish 512]

6 minutes ago, AJW said:

@Pifferfish thank you for your opinion, I’m just looking at the name on the trophy and it’s Ender’s.

I'm saying the integrity of the trophy is compromised and with TPE on the line I think Alex got quite frankly, totally fucked.

[OblivionWalker 239]

Everyone’s mileage is going to vary on who won what but seeing all of this arguing in a thread meant to celebrate people is just a really bad look. Can’t we let people enjoy their awards for even a few hours without getting up in arms about it? The votes were counted, it’s over and done with. No amount of discourse is going to change that.
 

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but if I was one of the winners coming in here and seeing people saying I didn’t deserve it when it was out of my control would make me feel pretty shitty but maybe that’s just me. Surely there’s more appropriate places to have those discussions than here.

[Pifferfish 512]

6 minutes ago, OblivionWalker said:

Everyone’s mileage is going to vary on who won what but seeing all of this arguing in a thread meant to celebrate people is just a really bad look. Can’t we let people enjoy their awards for even a few hours without getting up in arms about it? The votes were counted, it’s over and done with. No amount of discourse is going to change that.
 

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but if I was one of the winners coming in here and seeing people saying I didn’t deserve it when it was out of my control would make me feel pretty shitty but maybe that’s just me. Surely there’s more appropriate places to have those discussions than here.

I can say this sentiment is fair. I don't mean to hate. And like I said, I love what ender did this season but I think there is just too fluid a criteria on these awards season to season. I don't think I have ever seen a player on a non playoff team in any of the league nominated for MVP in the 10 seasons I've been here. Let alone win it. So this win is rather unprecedented. I don't think the voting for MVP in those 10 seasons has ever been tied let alone nearly a 4 way tie. Admittedly I've been bothered in the past to see the MVP usually go to best player on best team buuuuut I think if I were Ender, I would be rather shocked at the results. I was shocked when I won my MVP 3 seasons ago, we were a really good team and I knew I had a case but didn't know if I was that guy. Either way @Ender9511you were great, it ain't your fault. I wish your team had made more moves to help you build an even better case than leave things a bit controversial. And I wish you the best this season, now 2x MVPs will be more possible with the extra seasons of eligibility.

[Lemorse7 1,016]

1 hour ago, Pifferfish said:

I'm saying the integrity of the trophy is compromised and with TPE on the line I think Alex got quite frankly, totally fucked.

Fax Panda was robbed

[Lemorse7 1,016]

I am bias 

[Pifferfish 512]

51 minutes ago, Lemorse7 said:

Fax Panda was robbed

When is his agent going to make a public statement on this?

[twists 409]

Woo taking home 3 trophies! I'll take it. Was a great season with @mattyIceman and @Pifferfish as my GM/AGM  

[mattyIceman 1,214]

34 minutes ago, twists said:

Woo taking home 3 trophies! I'll take it. Was a great season with @mattyIceman and @Pifferfish as my GM/AGM  

Four trophies.

 

You forgot about the Cup too.

[LucyXpher 1,420]

1st claim - 10/20/24

[LucyXpher 1,420]

2nd Claim - 10/27/2024

[LucyXpher 1,420]

3rd Claim - 11/03/2024