Pier 21: Season 96 Halifax 21st Team Awards

[LucyXpher 1,572]

When the season began, the Halifax 21st certainly had their doubters-- at least for S96.  While most agreed that the 21st had a solid draft and made a number of great additions for the future, how those players would perform in the short term was certainly up in the air.  With the VHLM cap increasing to 400 TPE, most teams in the league boasted rosters that featured much more developed players than Halifax.  It's fair to say that the Boat Gang was very green when this season began.  By season's end, however, despite still being the team with the 2nd lowest average TPE per skater (only Saskatoon was lower), Halifax managed to finish 5th overall in the VHLM-- and more impressively, ahead of every team in the Western Conference.  With a 40-29-3 record, 83 points, and a +3 goal differential, the 21st put together a remarkably successful season-- and the best part is that there's plenty of room for this team to improve!  In the playoffs, Halifax took the team with the highest average TPE per player to 7 games and only lost by a 2-1 score in game 7, once again showcasing the team's cohesiveness and ability to hang with the best.  While some of the team's exceptional waiver players will move on from Halifax this offseason as they are eligible for the draft, the future is very bright and there's much more to look forward to for the Boat Gang and their supporters.

 

And while it was ultimately a team effort that carried Halifax this season, there were certainly some exceptional performers whose efforts will be recognized here in the S96 Halifax Team Awards.  So without further ado, here are Halifax's best and brightest from this past season!

 

The Mickey Dickson Award (Most Improved Player):

Named in S96 after the first GM in Halifax history to win the Jack Reilly award as the VHLM's top general manager, this award is for the player who makes the most significant individual improvement over the course of a single season.  The VHLM is a development league and every GM wants to see their players develop, not only so they can help contribute in the short term, but so that they can climb the ranks and go on to have great VHL careers as well.  The winner of this award demonstrates a desire to learn how the VHL works, effort to earn consistently, and initiative to find more ways to improve their player-- all things that make a GM's life so much easier and more fun!

S96 featured a bunch of Halifax players who could have contended for this honor, but two in particular really separated themselves from the rest.  One of these players was selected by Halifax in the 3rd round (24th OA) of the S96 draft at 73 TPE, while the other joined the team as a waiver player at only 54 TPE.  As it stands today, these players sit at 246 and 233 TPE respectively-- a 173 and 179 TPE improvement over the past 6 weeks of VHLM play!  Normally, when deciding these awards, it would be simplest to choose the player with the highest total improvement and call it a day (because I don't love ties or shared awards).  In this case, however, these two players have been developing in tandem, supporting each other on and off the ice.  As friends before they joined the 21st, these players started the All Aboard Podcast and consistently produced episodes each week, chronicling the team's ups and downs throughout the season.  Most impressively, as first generation players, they have both come so far in their understanding of the VHL as a whole and in their understanding of how to be effective players.  Beyond a doubt, these two players-- a center and a defenseman-- were a huge part of Halifax's success this season and it will be a thrill to see how far they go in their VHL careers.

Spoiler

Congratulations to the S96 Mickey Dickson Award recipients: Pelayo Bolivar @SMYLS4 and Mikko Tuomala @flyersfan345

 

The Ash Sparks Award (Leadership and Locker Room):

Beginning in S96, the Leadership Award has been renamed in honor of Ash Sparks-- a cult icon who played for Halifax in S85 on his way up to the VHL.  This award is presented to the player who demonstrates qualities of leadership and teamwork throughout the season, building up their teammates in the locker room, posting quality team-related content on the forum, and leading by example through individual dedication and consistency.  Some say winning this award grants a person access to the secret Ash Sparks Cult that meets every Tuesday in Halifax...

Anyone who has been around the team in S96 would notice that one player, more than others, stands out in the locker room as a team player and a leader.  Acquired from San Diego in the offseason prior to S96, Halifax scouts were so impressed by his leadership and locker room presence during the S95 Junior Showcase Tournament that they just had to have him on the 21st.  This player-- though not a max earner-- never missed a week of development and was vocal in bringing the team together throughout the season.  He could be seen rallying the troops after wins or losses and reminding people to submit picks and votes for our team music league.  While virtually every player on the team has been enthusiastic about our successes and disappointed in our failures, perhaps none were more invested in the team emotionally than our fearless leader and captain-- the recipient of the newly named Ash Sparks Award for leadership.  Looking back on that offseason trade-- which some called an overpayment by the way-- it could truly not have gone any better for Halifax as they have not only an excellent player, but an even more exceptional person to lead the team on and off the ice.

Spoiler

Congratulations to the S96 Ash Sparks Award recipient: Xhekajs middletoe @Xhekajsleftankle

 

The Jacob Richard Award (Top Defender):

Jacob Richard holds the franchise's single season assists record with 97 in S80.  He finished that season with 141 total points which is the also the highest mark by a Halifax 21st defender in a single season.  This award is presented to the defender who demonstrates excellence at their position, contributing to the team's success through a strong well-rounded game.

This season's Richard Award winner joined the team as a waiver player just before the beginning of the regular season and went on to become one of the top players on the team.  As a defenseman, he quickly cemented his spot on the top special teams units, leading all 21st players with 22 power play points and 134 shots blocked.  He ranked 2nd on the team in total points with 54 on the season-- 21 points more than the next highest scoring defender.  He led all Halifax players with exactly 2000 minutes of ice time and had the most assists with 41.  Without the benefit of offseason training, it was impressive to see how quickly he stepped into a top defensive role for the team, and he was a big part of shutting down the top players in the league on a nightly basis.  His defense never kept him from pitching in offensively, however, and the rest of the league has taken note as he projects to be a top pick in the upcoming VHLM Dispersal Draft.  

Spoiler

Congratulations to the S96 Jacob Richard Award recipient: Kazuma Satou @Spartan

 

The Bryn Yrwy Award (Top Forward):

Named in honor of Bryn Yrwy, the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 405 points in 288 games with the Halifax 21st, this award recognizes the team's top offensive player. Yrwy also holds the franchise single season points record with 167, and goals with 76-- both in Season 80. Like the Jacob Richard award for defenders, it is presented to the player who plays the strongest and most consistent all-round game at the forward position, contributing to the offensive and defensive success of the team.

The team's top forward in S96 really wasn't a difficult decision-- and that's taking nothing away from the efforts of the other forwards on the team.  This season's Yrwy Award winner entered the season as the team's highest rated skater and was tasked with playing against the league's top competition night in and night out.  Rejoining Halifax through the VHLE redistribution draft after putting up 80 points with Stockholm in S95, he continued his consistent development and watched the rest of the team grow up around him. This player led all Halifax skaters with 29 goals, 62 points, and 270 shots on goal.  His 9 game winners were also first among Halifax players and contributed heavily to the team's ability to secure wins this season.  He ranked 3rd among Halifax forwards with 107 hits and 1st among forwards with 25 shots blocked, demonstrating his effectiveness as an offensive and defensive player.  His 0.70 points per 20 minutes were the highest of all 21st players, and with 2180 faceoffs taken this season he ranked 5th in the entire VHLM and recorded an impressive 55.18% in the dot.  While S96 saw a number of Halifax forwards come into their own, none were as effective throughout the entirety of the season as our Bryn Yrwy Award winner.

Spoiler

Congratulations to the S96 Bryn Yrwy Award recipient: Ty Duke @TheDuke

 

The Anton Edvin Award (Top Returning Player):

Anton Edvin is the Halifax 21st franchise leader in games played with 426-- 138 more than the next highest games played mark.  This award honours a player who has played parts of at least two seasons with the franchise and has exhibited a high level of play throughout their time with the team.

Let's see here... the Halifax 21st only had 4 returning players in S96, and one of them was traded early on in the season.  While Ty Duke and Steven Nichols both contributed greatly to the team's success this season, there was perhaps no player more important to the team in S96 than the team's returning goaltender, who chose to opt in and rejoin the 21st after a season in the VHLE.  Winning the Renaissance Cup with Cologne in S95, this goaltender posted an impressive 44-11-1 record with a .932 SV%, 1.82 GAA, and 7 shutouts.  While those numbers are impressive, no doubt, he was playing behind the best team in the VHLE that season.  In the context of this up and coming Halifax team, his S96 numbers are even more mind boggling.  In his 3rd season with Halifax, this player helped the team to a 32-18-1 record with a .928 SV%, 1.67 GAA, and 8 shutouts.  For comparison, that Cologne team had the fewest shots against in S95 and nearly 1000 more shots for than against.  Oh, and their goal differential of +79 was tops in the league as they finished in 1st place overall with 104 points-- 12 points more than 2nd place.  Halifax in S96 allowed the 3rd most shots against and it was largely due to this player that the team managed a +3 goal differential.  How he managed such a strong win percentage on this team is absolutely incredible-- not to mention the league leading numbers.  He was 1st in the league with 8 shutouts, 2nd with his 1.67 GAA, and 1st with his .928 SV%.  Without a doubt, he was the team's MVP and could even get consideration for league MVP when awards season rolls around.

Spoiler

Congratulations to the S96 Anton Edvin Award recipient: Jon Webber III @Webberj

 

Season 96 SuperSailor:

This award is like the weekly SuperSailor honor, but is presented to a player who best exhibits SuperSailor qualities throughout the full campaign.  A SuperSailor is involved not only in the locker room as a good teammate, but also on the forums as an ambassador for the team, and also demonstrates effective play on the ice.

Truthfully, this award could go to any number of players this season, but one stands out on the basis of his contribution to the team in the sims.  Perhaps more the quiet, lead by example type of player, this season's winner may not have always been particularly active in the locker room.  He remained consistent, however, updating every week and continuing to develop his player.  When he was drafted to Halifax in S93, he was a 5th round pick at 46th overall.  No one would have guessed that playing for the team in 3 of the next 4 seasons he would cement himself as one of the top players in Halifax history, setting franchise records and climbing the league leaderboards along the way.  Througout his time with the team, I've never needed to remind him to update his player and he never needed any coaching on how to build his player effectively.  He's made my job remarkably simple and I've had peace of mind knowing he had his position locked down.  This season was no different-- well actually, it kind of was. This season, this player carried the team to wins throughout the regular season more than he ever had before, really allowing the 21st to punch above their weight.  With so much inexperience and room to grow, this player gave us a chance to win every night and was by far the most important player to this successful season.

Spoiler

Congratulations to the S96 SuperSailor: Jon Webber III @Webberj

 

Honorable mentions: Chad Powers @Big_Dyl, Pelayo Bolivar @SMYLS4, Mikko Tuomala @flyersfan345, Xhektoe @Xhekajsleftankle, Kazuma Satou @Spartan , Hater Tottingham @Trunkxolotl

 

And with that, we come to the end of our S96 Team Awards.  Thank you to each and every Halifax player for making this one of the most fun and engaging seasons I've had so far as either a player or GM.  The fact that we had so many active players in the locker room and that everyone was so committed to building their players each and every week made my job so much more enjoyable.  I was so impressed that we had all but one player update EVERY WEEK this season and we never had to drop anyone.  That's a credit to all of you as incredible people who make this sim league so fun, so again, thank you all so much!  As ever, keep those updates going through the offseason and keep your eyes peeled for updates on offseason tournaments which are coming up very soon-- and just around the corner is S97 which promises to be very exciting for Halifax!

 

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LucyXpher 12/02/2024

2300+ words

Edited December 2 by LucyXpher