Deep Rewind: From Rift To Brooks and Boulet

[Doomsday 4,143]

Credit to @Motzaburger for being kind and rewinding.

 

Hello VHL, and welcome to the Season 71 edition of Deep Rewind. In this segment, we'll explore the vast history of the Victory Hockey League, as a league such as this doesn't make it more than 70 seasons without having good stories to tell. Whether it's some of the greatest achievements of the league's legendary players, the marks left by top teams, or the outright bizarre, the history of the VHL has a story for everyone. Through Deep Rewind, these stories will be told.

 

Before we begin, let's check out what's going on with the VSN this week! You can check out recaps of the past week for both the VHL and VHLM, listen to Berocka's ideas on league improvements, get a crash course on VHL Hall of Famer Benoit Devereux, and see the next crop of the VHL in the World Junior Championship!

 

Under 250: the VHLM Review | VSN Weekly Review | VSN Radio | The Talents Behind the Trophies | WJC Coverage

 

This week's edition of Deep Rewind is going to be a little different than usual. The VHL received some bad news yesterday when @gorlab shared that on April 13th, former VHL member Dave Theusch, username @701, had passed away. Additionally known as Scott Kibbie or Korey Stringer, he had a storied past in other sim leagues as well, including the MSFL and SBA. Dave was an active part of the graphics community, both as an artist and as a member of the grading team for graphics. He proudly repped his hometown of Minot, North Dakota (701 is the area code for Minot), and was instrumental in bringing a VHLM team back to the area. Dave did have his moments of notoriety, particularly premature retirements, but his at-times combative nature did make him part of the VHL's lore as a villain at times in the eyes of some. But Dave did make our community better through his involvement, one of them in a way that just so happens to tie into my recent theme of VHLM goaltenders. What better way, then, to pay respect to our fallen friend than to remember him by telling one of his stories? Particularly one as memorable and bizarre as the career of AK47.

 

AK47's career began simply enough as a goaltender in the VHLM, backing up on the Season 47 Bratislava Watchmen, the Founder's Cup Champions, although he did not play in the Watchmen's playoff run. Eligible for the Season 48 VHLM Dispersal Draft, he was drafted by Jardy Bunclewirth and the Ottawa Lynx, facing the unenviable task of replacing back-to-back Benoit Devereux Trophy winner Atticus von Braxton IV. After being defeated by Bratislava in the Season 47 Founder's Cup Finals, the Lynx were eager to avenge their loss and bring home the Cup. 

 

A @701 original depicting AK47's time as a goalie.

 

While the Season 48 VHLM Index sadly appears to be lost, we know that AK47 was a force for the Lynx. Frequently called the "Shutout God," by Jardy, the Lynx fought their way back to the Founder's Cup in a rematch with the Watchmen. A Game One shutout by AK47 ignited sparks between the teams, further fueled by another big performance by AK47 that propelled the Lynx to a 2-0 series lead. However, his pride had provided Bratislava with plenty of bulletin board material, and they roared back to win the next four games and repeat as Founder's Cup Champions, the first VHLM team to repeat as champions twice. However, AK47 was awarded the Skylar Rift Trophy as the Playoff MVP for his 6-4-1 record, 2.68 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

 

The career of AK47, however, took a bizarre turn after being drafted by the Stockholm Vikings in the second round of the Season 49 VHL Entry Draft. He never played for the Vikings, being acquired by the Seattle Bears in a trade the same season. He made his debut in Season 50 with the Bears, but he was no longer a goalie, for the previous season he had switched to right-wing. After being on the receiving end of a goalie sack by Edwin Encarnacion during the World Cup, AK47 never again suited up at goalie. There was no previous precedent for this, which led to the formal creation of the rules that, with the exception of some specific conditions, prevent players and goalies from switching to the other position. The Season 49 VHLM Index is also lost to history, and with it, AK47's first results at forward. 

 

AK47's build as a power forward perfectly matched Dave's intensity.

 

Dave's fiery temperament carried over perfectly to AK47's forward build, as he recorded 258 hits as a rookie in Season 50. With 26 goals and 47 points, it foreshadowed what was to come later in his career. After his sophomore campaign resulted in 25 goals with over 300 hits, Season 52 was when AK47 really began to take off. He hit the 40 goal mark for the first time in his career, tacking on 38 assists to finish with 78 points. With nearly 300 hits, AK47 was emerging as one of the VHL's top two-way forwards. No one, however, was prepared for what would happen next. 

 

Before Season 53, AK47 was traded to the Cologne Express for a Season 54 third-round pick. It wound up being quite the steal for Cologne General Manager Greg Harbinson, as AK47 went on to produce one of the VHL's most unlikely, yet legendary seasons. The former goalie went on to score an absolutely ludicrous 73 goals, adding 70 assists for an absurd 143 points. According to the Portal, he took an insane 872 shots on net, which is backed up by the Index. He also racked up a career-high 358 hits, while serving only 109 penalty minutes. AK47's 73 goals led the league, earning him the Kevin Brooks Trophy, and his dominant season also won him the Scott Boulet Trophy as the league's top two-way forward. Although the Express fell to the Helsinki Titans in a thrilling seven-game series in the first round of the playoffs, it was in no way due to AK47. In the seven games, he added eight more goals, along with nine assists for 17 points. He added 29 hits, finishing his season at the same dynamic level he had performed at all season. 

 

AK47 carved out a unique career that, fittingly, will never be duplicated.

 

However, he never recaptured the same magic, being traded to the Quebec City Meute following the season. In his two seasons in Quebec City, AK47 scored just 84 points and only recorded 107 hits after a career of physical play. Acquired by the Toronto Legion in Season 56, AK47 fittingly had a proper send-off in which he resembled the player he had always been: 36 goals and 35 assists for 71 points and 91 hits. In his final playoff appearances, he tacked on two last goals to close out his career. 

 

Filled with unique achievements along with highs and lows, AK47 had the kind of career that only someone with Dave's passion could have created. To my understanding, he is the only player that has won an award with a goalie and an award with a skater with the same player, and rule changes have ensured it won't happen again. It is fitting that he found a way to leave his mark on the VHL in the way that will never be duplicated, just as he never will be. It is never an enjoyable time to grieve the loss of one of our own, but I hope this trip down memory lane with one of Dave's most memorable players and some of his extraordinary accomplishments will help keep his memory alive. For as long as we remember the VHL's history, we will also never forget those who played a part in the story, and hopefully, this article will make sure that Dave lives on forever through our community's history. Thank you, Dave, you will be missed.

 

Credit to @solas for this image and to Dave for all the memories. 

 

Contributions can be made to Dave's family here.

 

Player Mentions: @701, @Advantage, @JardyB10, @Tagger, @gregreg

Edited April 23, 2020 by Doomsday

[diamond_ace 3,112]

wait 701 was kibbie?

[Doomsday 4,143]

32 minutes ago, diamond_ace said:

wait 701 was kibbie?

 

Based off of everything I've seen, I think so. I could be wrong, but I think they are the same person. 

[Banackock 8,124]

Right. I brought him over to the Bears! 

[NotAVHLM-GM 1,858]

Wow, never knew that Kibbie part either But awesome article Dooms.

[Oatex 262]

12 hours ago, twists said:

hangs out with the hottest dudes

is that part directed at me? Also, nice job doom.