VHL moving in on more NHL territory

[oilmandan 688]

In sports, when profits in rise and so do salaries. When salaries rise, so does the cost of enjoying said sport. When the cost becomes to high, patrons look elsewhere to get their sports fix. It's happened in many major sports, as leagues with varying success have come and gone.

 

The NHL last had major competition in the 1970s from the WHA. In 1979 as the WHA was in a downward spiral, the NHL brought in 4 of the clubs into it's own league. Those 4 clubs had different amounts of succes on and off the ice, with only 1 of the 4 in its original city. That being the mighty Edmonton Oilers.

 

More recently, the NHL has had to deal with many lockouts and lost seasons, while fighting with its players over profit and salaries. This has helped give momentum to th VHL. Although it's been around for 64 seasons, the NHL hasn't seen it as a threat until now. Marketed as a global league, with teams dotting the planet, it has gained even more fans and attention with the NHL in yet another Gary Bettman led lockout.  

 

The VHL and its feeder league, the VHLM have had outposts in NHL markets and have held their own. As more players and fans flock to the league, it has been forced to expand for the 65th season in its history.

 

Joining the three other European teams in the VHL will be the Moscow Menace. They look to capitalize on the floundering KHL for much of its talent. The Menace have tapped @Victor to be the clubs first general manager. He has had great success in the past and has the respect of all his colleagues around the VHL. The move puts 9 teams in the VHL and speculation is that it's only a matter of time until more are added to the fold.

 

In some sad news, Quebec City has yet again lost its professional franchise. With limited championships and an unruly owner, the Meute are moving to another city incapable of winning anything. Vancouver. GM @Beaviss was said to have had much say in the move as he is from BC and hopes wins will be easier to come by in the future.

 

The VHLM will be seeing its own expansion and relocation next season.

 

The Oslo Storm will be moving from Europe to North America.  They were the last outpost on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The Storm will be making their new home in equally cold Minnesota. Ownership had reportedly spent so much on it's new GMs salary, that the name and uniforms will remain the exact same. @Eudaldkp will be remaing with the team after just recently stepping into managers chair. The hope is that fans are too excited to get out of the miserable weather to notice that this isn't the North Stars that have come home.

 

The two expansion teams joining the league will both be based in WHA cities. The Philadelphia Reapers stole Quebec's former assistant  @BladeMaiden to run the squad. No word yet if the frightening new mascot has had a chance to utilize its new sickle on the two other popular Philly mascots, Gritty and The Phanatic.

 

The Houston Bulls (with a beard) will be the VHLM's 10th franchise. Houston makes its mark as the furthest south team in league history, with thoughts of drawing in some football fans and maybe even some Mexican illegals before the wall goes up.  @Sonnet will be the first GM. He has already done good work bringing players to the VHLM and looks to be a good bet running his own club

 

606 words. Claiming for February 10 6+6

Edited January 28, 2019 by oilmandan