VSN Presents: The Season 73 VHL Awards Show

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Good evening VHL!

 

The Season 73 VHL Awards Show will be presented LIVE at 8 PM EST by yours truly! Following the completion of the show, this cleverly placed... placeholder will contain the complete results of the awards and voting counts. 

 

See you soon!

Edited September 12, 2020 by Doomsday

[Banackock 8,138]

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A good boi getting interviewed outside of the show!

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Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Season 73 Victory Hockey League Awards Show, presented by VSN! I am your host, Doomsday, the fresh out of the box Editor in Chief of VSN. Season 73 was certainly a memorable year for the VHL, and for many reasons. For the first time in the history of the league, the VHL fielded sixteen teams, with the Chicago Phoenix, London United, Los Angeles Stars and the Warsaw Predators taking the ice for their inaugural season. After entering what some dubbed the, "dead puck era," Condor Adrienne hit 100 points last season to become the first player since Season 68 to do so. Season 73 saw nine players score at least 100 points, with two more just shy at 99. Needless to say, it's an exciting time for the VHL, and it doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon!

 

Let's get started, shall we?

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The Continental Cup was won once again by the Seattle Bears, and really, how surprising was this one? Another dominant season for Blake Campbell @Banackock and his Seattle Bears, as they cap off their season with yet another Continental Cup. Everything just clicks for this team, and with Rayz Funk @Rayzor_7 standing tall once again in net, the Bears brought home their fourth Continental Cup in the past six seasons, a truly remarkable run. 

 

 

Congratulations to the Seattle Bears, the Season 73 Continental Cup Champions!

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It was a tight race for the top spot in the league this season, as the Seattle Bears and Helsinki Titans emerged as the two favorites. As fate would have it, naturally they finished with identical records. Yes, both teams finished 49-18-5, recording 103 points. We truly got the best match-up in the Continental Cup Finals, where unfortunately only one could be victorious. The Victory Cup has never been shared before… and that's also going to be the case tonight. Their records may have been the same, but Seattle's goal differential of 82, compared to Helsinki's 50, serves as the tiebreaker.

 

 

Congratulations to the Seattle Bears for winning the Victory Cup!

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Moving on to individual awards, first up is the Alexander Beketov Trophy, annually awarded to the league leader(s) in assists. It was a tight race, but in the end it was Lincoln Tate @Tate, the stud blueliner for the Riga Reign, who cruised to the Alexander Beketov Trophy with 85 assists, nine more than the D.C. Dragons' Luciano Valentino @Kekzkrieg, who was second with 76 assists. Last season Tate had to share the award with Berocka Sundqvist @Berocka, but his second-straight Beketov Trophy is all his this time!

 

 

Congratulations to Lincoln Tate, the Alexander Beketov Trophy winner!

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Next up is the Kevin Brooks Trophy, awarded to the player(s) who led the VHL in goals. This season, it wasn't much of a race. Scoring was up league wide, but for Sigard Gunnar @Big Mac of the Los Angeles Stars, it was way up. After scoring 33 goals last season, Gunnar very nearly doubled that total in Season 73, becoming the first player since Matt Thompson in Season 68 to score 60 goals. He scored 14 more goals than Vancouver’s Brock Louth @Beaviss and D.C.'s Guy Lesieur @KC15, who were the next closest with 46 goals. Gunnar recorded six hat tricks on the season as well, for what was an absolutely dominant season for him. 

 

 

Congratulations to your Kevin Brooks Trophy winner, Sigard Gunnar!

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The Mike Szatkowski Trophy, awarded annually to the player(s) who led the VHL in points, is up next, and I'm gonna ask Mr. Sigard Gunnar @Big Mac to stick around while he's already up here! He led the league in goals with 60, but he was just as deadly when it came to setting up his teammates, recording 59 assists to finish with a whopping 119 points! At risk of sounding like a broken record, that is the most points scored in a season since Matt Thompson's 122 in, you guessed it, Season 68. Hunter Hearst Helmsley @Beaviss of the Warsaw Predators was a close second with 113 points, a memorable conclusion to his fantastic career. However, this moment belongs to Sigard Gunnar!

 

 

Congratulations to the Mike Szatkowski Trophy winner, with 119 points, Sigard Gunnar!

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Let's give those goalers some love, shall we? The Greg Clegane Trophy, awarded to the netminder with the lowest goals allowed average in the league, is up next. This was a very tight race, with .05 being the difference between first and third. A Red Guy @.sniffuM and Rayz Funk @Rayzor_7 had fantastic campaigns, but it's Jacques Lafontaine @SlapshotDragon of the Calgary Wranglers who will win the Clegane this year! All the young Canadian netminder has done in his career is win, and he adds a second-straight Clegane to his trophy case with a GAA of 2.46, just edging out Rayz Funk's 2.48.

 

 

Congratulations to Jacques Lafontaine, the Greg Clegane Trophy winner!

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Moving on to our first award determined by the Awards Committee, it's our newest award, the Frederik Elmebeck Trophy. Named in the honor of Frederik Elmebeck, a wonderful man who engaged our community with incredible passion and positivity before he was taken from us all far too soon. This award is to honor the lasting legacy of Elmebeck and the member who best served the VHL community. This season, the nominees, as selected by you, the VHL community, are:

 

@Banackock, @Doomsday, @FrostBeard, @PatrikLaine, @rjfryman, and @Spartan. 

 

The Season 73 Frederik Elmebeck Trophy winner is…

 

Spoiler

 

Spartan!

 

As an updater and the dedicated General Manager of the Las Vegas Aces of the VHLM, Spartan has worked tirelessly to better the VHL community and retain new members of our community. Congratulations to Spartan, the Frederik Elmebeck Trophy winner!

 

Voting: 

 

Spartan: 6, PatrikLaine: 2, Frostbeard: 1, Banackock, Doomsday, rjfryman: 0

 

 

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Moving on, it's the ultimate prize for the rookies of the VHL, the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy! Awarded to the player deemed to be the top rookie of the year, Season 73 gave us some excellent new talent. The Malmo Nighthawks and their fans have a lot to look forward to, as they have three nominees for the Stolzy: right wing Chris Hylands @Hylands, defenseman Tyler Walker @Advantage, and goaltender Grekkark Gyrfalcon @Sharkstrong! Adam Syreck @Spade18 dominated the VHLM, and he had an excellent rookie year with the Chicago Phoenix to boot. Rounding out the field is the energetic center of the Moscow Menace, Lucas Brandt @twists. 

 

This was a close one, but your winner is…

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Chris Hylands!!

 

The Season 72 second round pick of the Malmo Nighthawks wasted absolutely no time getting started with his pro career. Scoring 34 goals and setting up 42 more, his 76 points led all rookies in Season 73. 11 of those goals came on the power play, and Hylands also proved to be impressively aware defensively as well, blocking 37 shots, chipping in with 82 points and finishing with a +3 plus/minus. Congratulations to Chris Hylands, who kicks off his journey to stardom with the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy!

 

Voting:

 

Chris Hylands: 4, Tyler Walker: 2, Grekkark Gyrfalcon: 2, Adam Syreck: 1, Lucas Brandt: 0

 

 

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Redemption is a powerful motivational tool, and success stories often result in winning this award, the Dustin Funk Trophy, awarded to the most improved player in the VHL. This year, three players in particular really stood out: Jeff Downey @JeffD and Brock Louth @Beaviss of the Vancouver Wolves, and Ray Sheilds @Zetterberg of the Malmo Nighthawks. Jeff Downey had a monstrous season after being a good, but not great defenseman throughout his career, jumping from his previous career-high of 67 points to 106 in Season 73, while Brock Louth excelled at his new position of center after being a defenseman previously. Ray Sheilds got his chance to shine with Malmo after being an afterthought with the Seattle Bears, and all he did was turn into an absolute force for the Nighthawks this season. 

 

The winner of the Dustin Funk Trophy is…

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Ray Sheilds!!

 

After scoring 19 points as a rookie in Seattle, Sheilds stood to be a top selection in the VHL Expansion Draft, ultimately forcing Blake Campbell to move him to Malmo to avoid losing him for nothing. I doubt it will make Campbell feel any better after watching Sheilds blossom into an offensive force with the Nighthawks, scoring 41 goals and 44 assists for 85 points, racking up 294 hits as well. Congratulations to Ray Sheilds, who, as the Dustin Funk Trophy winner, showed the entire league just how great he is this season!!

 

Voting:

 

Ray Sheilds: 6, Jeff Downey, 2, Brock Louth: 1, Benny Graves, Patrik Tallinder, Andrew Su: 0

 

 

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A prestigious award given to the top two-way forward, the Scott Boulet Trophy has been long sought-after by the power forwards of the VHL. Primarily a three horse race, this one came down to Hunter Hearst Helmsley @Beaviss, Brock Louth @Beaviss, and Chad Magnum @Corco. All three were mainstays in the hit column, and were also equally adept in the attacking zone. There was, however, a clear choice by the Awards Committee on who best fit the bill, and that player is…

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Chad Magnum of the Toronto Legion!!

 

As one of the infamous, "BPA" picks of the Shawn Glade era in Davos, Chad Magnum has quietly become a leader in Toronto. He's never had less than 250 hits, topping out with 371 this season. Along with setting a career-high in hits, Magnum also blossomed offensively, scoring 40 goals and 43 assists for 83 points. The best part, of course, is that he's just getting started, although I'm sure his 371 victims this season disagree with that motion. Congratulations to Chad Magnum, the Scott Boulet Trophy winner!!

 

Voting:

 

Chad Magnum: 6, Hunter Hearst Helmsley: 2, Brock Louth: 1, Benny Graves, Ray Sheilds: 0

 

 

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Awarded to the top offensive defenseman in the VHL, the Alexander Valiq Trophy had some stiff competition this year, as VHL defensemen declared open season upon opposing goaltenders. Berocka Sundqvist @Berocka and Hulk Hogan @TXC  were dynamic for the Continental Cup champion Seattle Bears, but Lincoln Tate @Tate of the Riga Reign and Jeff Downey @JeffD of the Vancouver Wolves were on another level, both topping 100 points and finishing within a point of each other. The votes, however, weren't as close. The winner of the Alexander Valiq Trophy is…

 

Spoiler

 

 

Jeff Downey!!

 

Downey caps off a massive 106 point season by being named the top offensive defenseman in the VHL! In the end, voters simply couldn't ignore his 32 goals, best in the league for a blueliner. His 18 power play goals were also tops in the VHL, and his 74 assists also demonstrated he excelled at facilitating the puck as well. As a result, he has won his first Alexander Valiq Trophy. Congratulations to Jeff Downey!!

 

Voting:

 

Jeff Downey: 7, Lincoln Tate: 2, Hulk Hogan, Berocka Sundqvist: 0

 

 

[Laine 1,361]

24 minutes ago, Doomsday said:

 

Moving on to our first award determined by the Awards Committee, it's our newest award, the Frederik Elmebeck Trophy. Named in the honor of Frederik Elmebeck, a wonderful man who engaged our community with incredible passion and positivity before he was taken from us all far too soon. This award is to honor the lasting legacy of Elmebeck and the member who best served the VHL community. This season, the nominees, as selected by you, the VHL community, are:

 

@Banackock, @Doomsday, @FrostBeard, @PatrikLaine, @rjfryman, and @Spartan. 

 

The Season 73 Frederik Elmebeck Trophy winner is…

 

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Spartan!

 

As an updater and the dedicated General Manager of the Las Vegas Aces of the VHLM, Spartan has worked tirelessly to better the VHL community and retain new members of our community. Congratulations to Spartan, the Frederik Elmebeck Trophy winner!

 

Voting: 

 

Spartan: 6, PatrikLaine: 2, Frostbeard: 1, Banackock, Doomsday, rjfryman: 0

 

 

Congratulations @Spartan! Congratulations to all of the other nominees as well @FrostBeard @Banackock @Doomsday @rjfryman

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Awarded to the top defensive defenseman in the VHL, the Jake Wylde Trophy is a tremendous badge of honor for the gritty blueliners of the VHL. After taking the VHL by storm in Season 72, Condor Adrienne @OrbitingDeath followed it up with another strong year, looking to win his second Wylde Trophy. Gert B Frobe @NumberJ5 of the Los Angeles Stars was a big anchor defensively for the expansion team, earning a well-deserved nomination. After transitioning to defense from forward, Erik Killinger @Peace has become a feared blueliner for the Toronto Legion, also earning a much-deserved nomination. 

 

And the winner is…

Spoiler

 

 

Condor Adrienne!

 

While his offensive game has exploded over the past two seasons, the elite defensive prowess of Condor Adrienne is nothing new. He is now a two-time winner of the Jake Wylde Trophy, and the heart and soul of the Malmo Nighthawks now aims to lead his up-and-coming team to the ultimate prize of the VHL… the Continental Cup itself.

 

Congratulations to Condor Adrienne, the Jake Wylde Trophy winner!!

 

Votes:

 

Condor Adrienne: 5, Gert B Frobe: 3, Erik Killinger: 1, Alex Bridges, Odin Omdahl, Lincoln Tate: 0

 

 

[NotAVHLM-GM 1,858]

Thanks all for the votes, happy to have won this once again ♡

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One of the most prestigious awards in the VHL, the Sterling Labatte Trophy has been awarded to the player deemed to be the best defenseman in the VHL. For any blueliner aspiring to be enshrined in the VHL Hall of Fame, it's not a matter of whether or not you won the Labatte, but how many times you won it. This season features two defensemen in Condor Adrienne @OrbitingDeath and Lincoln Tate @Tate looking to boost their chances at immortality, with Jeff Downey @JeffD looking to win his first. All three had fantastic seasons, but in the eyes of the Awards Committee, this was no contest!

 

The winner of the Sterling Labatte Trophy, by UNANIMOUS decision, is…

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Lincoln Tate!!

 

The first overall pick of the Season 67 VHL Entry Draft by the Riga Reign continues to add the accolades to his trophy cabinet, winning his second Alexander Beketov Trophy, second Jake Wylde Trophy and now his second Sterling Labatte Trophy tonight!! His 105 point season, along with consistently excellent defensive play made him an easy choice for this award, and the star of Lincoln Tate is shining very bright tonight!! Congratulations once again to your Sterling Labatte Trophy winner, Lincoln Tate!!

 

Votes:

 

Lincoln Tate: 9, Condor Adrienne, Jeff Downey: 0

 

 

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Time for some tendie love, because after the season they had, they sure earned it. Even with scoring seemingly going off the handle, the goaltenders of the VHL continued to be outstanding, in particular our three nominees. Raymond Bernard @Mr_Hatter of the Moscow Menace had another excellent season after winning the Shaw Trophy last season, again willing Moscow further than many predicted. Rayz Funk @Rayzor_7, who surprisingly is still looking for his first Shaw, didn't wait until the playoffs to bring his A-game this year, getting him on the short list for the award. Lastly, A Red Guy @.sniffuM was arguably the best player the New York Americans had this season, absolutely dominating and pulling a New York team lacking top scoring along.

 

Another no contest, folks! The winner of the Aidan Shaw Trophy, by UNANIMOUS decision, is…

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

A Red Guy!!

 

Saving his absolute best for last, A Red Guy dominated the VHL with a .928 save percentage, with a league best .246 GAA and eight shutouts. Sadly, after announcing his retirement, this is the end of the road for him, although he is going out with much-deserved recognition and hardware!

 

Congratulations to your Aidan Shaw Trophy winner, A Red Guy!

 

Votes:

 

A Red Guy: 9, Raymond Bernard, Rayz Funk: 0

 

 

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Time to give the guys in the suits their moment, as it's time to present the David Knight Trophy, awarded to the top General Manager of the VHL. Blake Campbell @Banackock, unsurprisingly, makes the ballot after leading his Seattle Bears to their fourth Cup in six seasons. Julian Borwinn @Jubo07 got the Helsinki Titans back into prime form ahead of schedule, returning to the Continental Cup Finals this season where they fell just short of finishing the rebuild. John Frostbeard @FrostBeard, after Malmo's last place finish in Season 72, made several shrewd trades, and with wise drafting, built a squad that performed well beyond expectations this season. Lastly, Ryan Jubis @Jubis excelled in his first season, making the moves needed to keep the Calgary Wranglers war machine rolling, coming just a game shy of returning to the Continental Cup Finals.

 

And the winner of the David Knight Trophy is…

 

Spoiler

 

 

Julian Borwinn!

 

The quick turnaround propelled them to the top of the European Conference, and as close as you can get to winning the Victory Cup without doing so. The Titans stunned the Riga Reign, the defending champions of the VHL, with a sweep in the post-season, ultimately coming up just short of lifting the Continental Cup. Borwinn's moves to accelerate the Titans' rebuild paid off tremendously, and as a result, he is your David Knight Trophy winner! Congratulations!!

 

Votes:

 

Julian Borwinn: 5, Ryan Jubis: 3, John Frostbeard: 1, Blake Campbell: 0

 

 

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This is an award many of you have been waiting for, as we have a chance at witnessing VHL history tonight! No player has ever won four Daisuke Kanou Trophies, awarded to the MVP of the Playoffs, in the entire storied history of the league, but Rayz Funk @Rayzor_7 may do so tonight. Leading the Bears to yet another Continental Cup victory, he was absolutely instrumental in Seattle's run. However, Erik Summers @Erik Summers of the Helsinki Titans was absolutely brilliant, even though his team didn't lift the Cup. Scoring 28 points in 17 games as a defenseman was phenomenal, but is it enough to prevent history?

 

The winner of the Daisuke Kanou Trophy is…

 

Spoiler

 

 

THE FIRST FOUR-TIME WINNER OF THE DAISUKE KANOU TROPHY, RAYZ FUNK!!

 

History has been made, as Daisuke Kanou's almost mystical three Playoff MVP awards has been eclipsed! Although Rayz Funk came up just short of winning the Greg Clegane and Aidan Shaw Trophies, he will take home his league-record fourth Daisuke Kanou Trophy, capping off another championship season for him. With a 12-5-2 record, .936 save percentage and 2.04 GAA, Funk was once again at his best when it absolutely mattered the most. If he wasn't already a lock for the Hall of Fame, he certainly is now. 

 

Congratulations to Rayz Funk on his new VHL-record fourth Daisuke Kanou Trophy win!!

 

Votes:

 

Rayz Funk: 5, Erik Summers: 3, Scott Greene, Hiroshi Okada: 0

 

 

[Spartan 4,531]

53 minutes ago, Doomsday said:

 

Moving on to our first award determined by the Awards Committee, it's our newest award, the Frederik Elmebeck Trophy. Named in the honor of Frederik Elmebeck, a wonderful man who engaged our community with incredible passion and positivity before he was taken from us all far too soon. This award is to honor the lasting legacy of Elmebeck and the member who best served the VHL community. This season, the nominees, as selected by you, the VHL community, are:

 

@Banackock, @Doomsday, @FrostBeard, @PatrikLaine, @rjfryman, and @Spartan. 

 

The Season 73 Frederik Elmebeck Trophy winner is…

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Spartan!

 

As an updater and the dedicated General Manager of the Las Vegas Aces of the VHLM, Spartan has worked tirelessly to better the VHL community and retain new members of our community. Congratulations to Spartan, the Frederik Elmebeck Trophy winner!

 

Voting: 

 

Spartan: 6, PatrikLaine: 2, Frostbeard: 1, Banackock, Doomsday, rjfryman: 0

 

 

A true honor, and one I never expected to win so soon in my VHL career. A huge thanks to the players on Vegas this past season. Without you, I'd be nothing. So much love for all of you

[Doomsday 4,143]

 

There has been a lot of speculation and buzz about this one, folks! The Brett Slobodzian Trophy is an award that you, VHL community,  decide.. With 125 votes, voters have been making their voices heard on who they believe the most outstanding player in the VHL is this season! Campaigns have been launched in other weeks and as a result, the ballot box is absolutely stuffed. Nominated this season were A Red Guy @.sniffuM, Lincoln Tate @Tate, Jeff Downey @JeffD, Sigard Gunnar @Big Mac, Hunter Heart Helmsley @Beaviss, and Benny Graves @STZ. 

 

Well folks, this is it! All votes have been counted, and after a VERY tight race, the winner of the Brett Slobodzian Trophy is…

 

Spoiler

 

 

Sigard Gunnar, receiving 41 votes!

 

The VHL points leader receives a well-deserved Brett Slobodzian Trophy as the VHL's most outstanding player. 60 goals, 119 points… and a win by just a single vote. Congratulations, Sigard!!

 

Votes:

 

Sigard Gunnar: 41, Lincoln Tate: 40, A Red Guy: 20, Benny Graves: 10, Jeff Downey: 9, Hunter Hearst Helmsley: 5

 

[McWolf 3,116]

SUMMERS GOT FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY