New York Americans: A Brief History (S1-19) [1/2]

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

The New York Americans are one of the most storied franchises in the VHL. However, it was not always this way as the New York Americans were formerly known as the Hamilton Canucks. From Season 1 to about Season 7 I think it was, the Hamilton Canucks were one of the worst franchises in VHL history which capped off in Season 7 then known as the Short Bus Era. The Short Bus Era was a team assembled by none other than Robbie Zimmers who would put together a team of misfits and shit disturbers that talked so much trash and literally trolled everyone despite being so bad on the ice. After that season though, Robbie decided to move the Canucks to New York to start fresh and this is what we have today.

 

Continental Cup Champions

Season 14 Championship Roster
C - Grimm Jonsson (A)
LW - Zak Rawlyk
LW - Devon De La Soul
RW - Zach Arce (A)
RW - Jack O'Riley (C)
RW - Brandon Azevedo
D - Andreas Nilstorm
D - Baron Von Jonsson
D - Ryley Dawson
D - Harvey Singh
G - Vase Trikamaki

The Hamilton Canucks/New York Americans Franchise was the last of the Original 8 Franchises to win a Continental Cup when they finally won in Season 14. The Roster consisted of HoFers Grimm Jonsson, Zach Arce, Jack O'Riley and Vase Trikamaki. Others like Zak Rawlyk, Devon De La Soul, Brandon Azevedo, Harvey Singh and Ryley Dawson were solid VHLers.

 

Regular Season/Playoff Record

Unfortunately, there are no records which are available to break down the teams for the first 19 Seasons in the VHL for any of the teams which is a crying shame.

 

Awards

Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) - 2 Times

S14 - 50 W | 17 L | 5 OTL | 105 P

S15 - 50 W | 20 L | 2 OTL | 102 P

 

The Americans were able to win back to back Victory Cups in S14 and S15 gives them a nice feather in their cap considering the Titans did not win one in their first 19 Seasons.

 

Devon Marlow-Marta Trophy (North American Champions) - 2 times

S13, S14, 

 

New York was able to make it to the finals twice in their existence in Season 13 and S14. S14 was when they were able to win the Championship.

 

Scotty Campbell Trophy (MVP) - 0 Times

N/A

 

The Scotty Campbell Trophy has never called New York home during the first 19 Seasons of VHL Existence.

 

Brett Slobodzian Trophy (Most Outstanding Player, as voted on by the members) - 0 Times

 

Again, like the Campbell Trophy, the Slobodzian Trophy also has not called New York home during the Seasons from S11 to S19.

 

Daisuke Kanou Trophy (Playoff MVP) - 1 Times

S14 - Brandon Azevedo - 5 G | 12 A | 17 P | +15

 

The Kanou Trophy found it's way to New York just once in the first 19 seasons. This happened when the Americans won the Championship in S14 and Azevedo took the Kanou home with his 17 point performance.

 

Mike Szatkowski Trophy (Top Point Scorer) - 0 Times

N/A

 

The Americans have never had a player lead the league in scoring from Seasons 1 to 19.

 

 Kevin Brooks Trophy (Top Goal Scorer) - 0 Times

N/A

 

Much like the Szatkowski Trophy, the Brooks Trophy has never called New York home in the first 19 seasons.

 

Alexander Beketov Trophy (Top Assists) - 0 Times

N/A

 

The Americans have also not had a player lead the VHL in assists in the first 19 Seasons.

 

Sterling Labatte Trophy (Top Defenseman) - 1 Time

S2 - David Night - 38 G | 57 A | 95 P | +62 | 41 H | 145 SB

 

Technically speaking, the Americans defender hasn't won a Labatte Trophy as David Night was a Hamilton Canuck defender when he won the Trophy in Season 2. That is the only time a Canucks/Americans defender won the Labatte.

 

Aidan Shaw Trophy (Top Goaltender) - 2 Times

S4 - Jesus Christ - 48 W | 15 L | 3 OTL | 2.58 G.A.A | .918 SV% | 4 SO

S15 - Vase Trikamaki - 48 W | 14 L | 1 OTL | 2.02 G.A.A | .927 SV% | 7 SO

 

Jesus Christ won the Shaw Trophy in S4 with the Canucks and he put up some good stats at the time considering that was the highly offensive era. Vase Trikamaki won in S15 with better stats than Christ in a much less offensive era. Both were deserving candidates though. 

 

Scott Boulet Trophy (Best Defensive Forward) - 1 Time

S15 - Brandon Azevedo - 44 G | 62 A | 106 P | +50 | 239 H | 19 SB

 

Brandon Azevedo was able to win the Boulet in S15 to keep the Americans from getting shut out in this category like a few others on this list.

 

Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy (Top Rookie) - 0 Times

N/A

 

The Americans have never had a player be named the Top Rookie in the VHL.

 

David Knight Trophy (Top GM) - 1 Times

S13 - Brandon Best

 

Brandon Best won the Top GM trophy in S13 when his team made it to the finals for the first time in Franchise History.

 

Grimm Jonsson Trophy (Top Leader) - 4 Times

S10 - Grimm Jonsson

S11 - Grimm Jonsson

S13 - Grimm Jonsson

S14 - Grimm Jonsson

 

The Grimm Jonsson was home to New York by none other than the namesake from Season 10 to S14 as Grimm won in 4 our of 5 times.

 

Mikka Virkkunen Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player) - 1 Time

S2 David Night

 

Once in New York history has a player won the Top Pussy Trophy and that was David Night in Season 2.

 

Trophy Total: 16

 

The New York Americans have the smallest Trophy case through 19 season at just 16 with only 1 Championship which is also the lowest.

 

Calgary Wranglers

HC Davos Dynamo

Helsinki Titans

 

claiming 1 week

[Beketov 8,688]

1 hour ago, TheLastOlympian07 said:

The Americans have also not had a player lead the VHL in assists in the first 19 Seasons.

As the Canucks they did draft the player the award would eventually be named after so that’s something.

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

1 hour ago, Beketov said:

As the Canucks they did draft the player the award would eventually be named after so that’s something.

who?

[BluObieZ 1,125]

Ah yes my glory days of being an asshole

[xDParK 81]

Review-

 

The research you did was amazing. A ton of effort was put into this MS. You formatted everything very nicely and it was super easy to follow. As a returning member who missed the past 3 years, it's good to catch up on what I missed. Never had a top rookie eh? Maybe I can be the first

 

A+

Edited March 1, 2019 by xDParK

[Spade18 1,303]

48 minutes ago, xDParK said:

Review-

 

The research you did was amazing. A ton of effort was put into this MS. You formatted everything very nicely and it was super easy to follow. Never had a top rookie eh? Maybe I can be the first

 

A+

 

SINCE then we've had many rookies of the year actually.  4 in the last 10 seasons, including last season's winner Ryan Sullivan Jr. and in S58 it was actually split between two Americans in Aksel McKnight and Colton Rayne