Claimed:Relocating Yukon

[scoop 3,386]

Relocating Yukon

Twenty-one seasons ago, I was named GM of one of two expansion teams set to join the VHLM in S31. I chose to take that team to Yukon, and for the first several seasons, the team was quite successful. They got off to a fantastic start, winning the Continental Cup in their inaugural season. Over the next seven seasons, they won three more times. Since their last championship in Season 38, they've lost in the finals twice and have made the playoffs just six times. This is despite the fact that for the past nine seasons, three out of four teams in each conference made the playoffs.

 

I was only in charge of the team for one season last time before I resigned from the position. I took over the team for a second stint in S51, and this time, I'll definitely last more than a single season. When I took over, I had a multi-season plan to bring the team back to a respectable state, hopefully being a favorite in S53 and an underdog contender in S52.

 

I remember my decision on where to locate my team came down to two: Yukon and Anchorage, Alaska. Thinking about it now, especially in terms of the recent discussion, I don't think either is necessarily what people would like to see. Back then, I think there was definitely support for the Yukon, particularly in conjunction with the 'Rush' moniker. Personally, I preferred the Anchorage Owls, but I liked them both well enough that when a community poll showed a public preference for the Rush, I was headed to Yukon.

 

There has been recent discussion about possibly contracting the VHLM. Back in S42, the league went from ten teams to eight, and that number could be dropping to six at some point in the near future. Up until a couple weeks ago, it seemed that Yukon would be the team from the North American Conference that would get the axe if this were to happen, but the recent disappearance of Saskatoon GM Adwyer Eightyseven may have saved the franchise. Or maybe there will be no contraction and it won't matter; that's also possible. Regardless of all that, however, if my team does live on as a franchise in the VHLM, I will be strongly considering relocation.

 

The Yukon Rush were good once upon a time.

 

There is public support for the relocation of the Rush, which certainly factors into my desire to make it happen. If people didn't want it, I wouldn't mind keeping the team here, as it does hold some sentimental value for me. The Yukon Rush are and will remain my favorite team in the VHLM, but moving the team (and adopting a new moniker) won't change that. They'll still be "the team" for me. They'll always have my support.

 

The question for me is "where?" Where do I take the team? Of course, wherever we do go, we will no longer be the Rush. That will be changing, so there is also a question of what the new name will be; but before I concern myself with that, I need a set of possible locations. My first thought in that regard is that I'd like to put the team somewhere in the United States. In S38, we lost the Minot Gladiators, leaving the North American Conference with four Canadian teams. Some locations have been mentioned, and there are a few that I particularly have in mind.

 

My three thoughts are these: Portland, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Portland was the first city to come to mind when I thought of northwestern USA as a general location; and on second though, I don't think there's another city in the area that would be better, with Seattle already home of the Bears in the VHL. Wisconsin is a state that doesn't have representation in the NHL, which is something that I tend to consider but ultimately don't hold it was a strict rule about. The team could potentially be placed in Milwaukee or Madison. We could even use 'Wisconsin' as the designated location if it sounds better.

 

And then there's Minnesota, which is my personal preference at the moment. As a real life human, I live in Minnesota, so I think it would be cool to have a VHLM team here. Now, I personally would be against using a 'Minnesota' designation for the team location for the same reason that I wouldn't want to use Minneapolis; the three-letter code for the team would be MIN, which has already been used by Minot. That being said, the team could go to Saint Paul, or perhaps even use 'Twin Cities' or 'Minneapolis-St. Paul' for the location (perhaps the latter would be a bit of a mouthful, but I like the novelty of it).

Just as I considered public opinion when creating the team, I will definitely be taking into consideration what others have to say before I make a proposal to relocate the team. These are just my first thoughts. Out of all the ideas, right now I'm leaning towards Saint Paul.

 

Or heck, maybe now is the time to make the Anchorage Owls a thing!

Edited November 11, 2016 by Streetlight

[scoop 3,386]

for Maxwell

[Will 4,660]

4 minutes ago, Streetlight said:

Back in S38, the league went from ten teams to eight

 

S42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scoop 3,386]

1 minute ago, Draper said:

 

S42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fixed, thank you. S38 was in my head as it was the last Yukon championship.

[Will 4,660]

Just now, Streetlight said:

Fixed, thank you. S38 was in my head as it was the last Yukon championship.

 

I was on that team =]

[Phil 5,113]

I'd be down to see a Portland Team! 

[Victor 10,849]

Hmm, both Davos and Yukon last won in S38 and have struggled since. Should keep both.  

[Higgins 3,618]

Saskatoon Wild

[Kendrick 4,741]

Claimed