Minor Adjustments: Before the Aces

[Hex Universe 253]

Today, I shall begin a long series detailing the histories of the franchises that called the VHLM home. With so many teams having been around since the first seasons of the VHLM there is sure to be a lot to talk about.

 

So on this first edition of the series, I shall take you all through the past lives of what is today the Las Vegas Aces. Back long before the Aces, the team started out elsewhere in the US. Hopefully today, I can teach you about the history of what came before them.

 

HOLY TOLEDO: THE STORY OF THE TOLEDO SCORPIONS

 

Deep within the hidden deserts of northern Ohio, lies the tale of one the VHLM's founding teams, the Toledo Scorpions. So without further ado, let's recall that tale...

 

TOLEDO SCORPIONS (S2-S16)

 

Founder's Cup: 2

Prime Minister's Cup: 1

Playoff Appearances: 7

 

 

After the first season of the VHL, the league had an overabundance of players that needed playing time. With that in mind the league created the VHLM so that players who may be below the level of others, along with new players, can still play and grow. When the VHLM first began, it worked with an affiliate style, and with that the Toledo Scorpions were born to be the minor league affiliate of the then Avangard Havoc (if today it would be the Las Vegas Aces with HC Davos Dynamo). Also keep in mind that information about this era is a bit scarse, but I do what I can to compile it all together.

 

The Scorpions, originally lead by Matt Cornell @nibbz , would make the VHLM playoffs twice during their first three seasons, but would lose in the semi-finals in both times by Vasteras IK in S2 and by the Gothenburg Eagles in S4.

 

After S4, Cornell would be replaced at GM by Patrice Roydeur. In Roydeur's first season as GM, he would lead Toledo to their franchises first Founder's Cup. The Scorpions would defeat the Jonkoping Warriors in four games in the semi-finals and then the Ottawa Ice Dogs in five in the Founder's Cup Finals. Scorpions Goaltender Dominik Stryker @Zero would win the Esposito Award as Playoff MVP, posting a record of 8-0-1-1, with a 3.11 GAA and a 0.935 SV%. Roydeur would spend one more season in Toledo before leaving, which ended with the Scorpions losing to Vasteras in the semi-finals once more. 

 

After Roydeur left, the next three seasons would each have a different GM, and with varying levels of success. In S7, Cornell would return as GM to take the Scorpions back to the playoffs, but like his previous tenure would only get to the semi-finals before losing to Vasteras. Then in S8, the Scorpions would miss the playoffs for the second time under the helm of one and done GM and future VHL Hall of Famer Matt Defosse @Cowboy. When S9 came around and the team once again had a new GM in James Platts (nagger), they were ready to win. It would be here where the Scorpions would win their second Founder's Cup, after defeating Vasteras in the semis and the Minot Gladiators in the Finals. That season would also be the one time that Toledo would win the Prime Minister's Cup as the VHLM's top team in the regular season. 

 

S10 seems to be where the downfall of the Toledo Scorpions began. As during this season there was two different GMs, Sebastian Perrin (sebster03) and then future VHL Hall of Famer Zach Arce (Islanders4Life39). Arce would lead the Scorpions back to playoffs only to be defeated by Vasteras in the semis for one final time. 

 

During S11 through S16, the Scorpions would not make the playoffs once. Arce would eventually step down after S13, after which Sam Helberg (Streetlight) would be the GM for Toledo's final seasons.

 

SCORPIONS AWARD WINNERS

 

MVP: Tyler Vassell (S9) 

    Markus Strauss (S16) @gregreg

 

Points: Tyler Vassell (S8, S9)

 

Goals: Tyler Vassell (S8, S9)

             David Jacques (S10)

   Mikhail Sevastiyanov (S15)

 

Assists: James Platts (S9)

        Markus Strauss (S16)

 

DPOY: Maxwell Benjamin (S2)

                   Hugh Rection (S5)

                    James Platts (S9)

             Jordon Berglund (S16)

 

GOY: Benoit Devereux (S9) @Cowboy

 

Two-Way Forward: Storm Larozek (S4)

 

 

 

After S16, Toledo would be moved across the pond to Switzerland and became the Bern Royals up through S53. So let's take a look at how the move to Europe fared for the newly named Royals...

 

SWISS ROYALTY: THE STORY OF THE BERN ROYALS

 

On the banks of the Aare River, there is a long tale of there once being royalty that played on the frozen waters for all to see. That was the Bern Royals, and this is there story...

 

BERN ROYALS (S17-S53)

 

Founder's Cups: 3

Prime Minister's Cups: 2

Playoff Appearances: 25

 

 

Unfortunately for the newly named and relocated Royals, their new home didn't change their playoff drought as they would go three seasons without seeing past the last game of the regular season. Janelle Henley (Janelle)  and Chad Murphy (RawEnergy) would be the GMs during this period.

 

After S19, the VHL and VHLM stopped having direct affilates between the two leagues. Thus, the Bern Royals were now disconnected from HC Davos Dynamo, who moved/rebranded from Avangard before S11.

 

For the Royals, though, it looks like the drought and new changes gave way to a massive squall of heavy rain. During S20, not only did the Royals make the playoffs for the first time since they were the Scorpions, but they brought the Founder's Cup to Bern for the first time. The Royals defeated the Oslo Screaming Seamen in the semis and then the Brampton Battalion in the Finals. Niklas Kristensen, who went 2nd Overall in the S20 VHLM Draft, won the Esposito Trophy. Kristensen had 13 goals, 4 assists, and a +13 rating in the playoffs. The Royals were led by Zach Manship (McDanglez) , first year GM who would also win GM of the Year for his work in building the Royals up after many seasons of nothing.

 

To say the Royals would build this into a dynasty would be... a complete lie. After their amazing S20 Cup run, the Manship era of the Royals would turn into a bad ship. From S21 to S25, the Royals would only make the playoffs once, being eliminated in the semis by Vasteras in S23. After S25, Manship would be replaced as GM by Abraham Sander @Smarch.

 

Now under the helm of Sander, the Royals would try to get back on track. Under Sander, the Royals would begin being a near perennial playoff team. Although the Royals did return to the playoffs, and would so for 3 of the 5 seasons under Sander, Bern would never see past the semis. The Royals would fall in the semis to Vasteras in S26 and S27, then would lose to the Kolari Panthers in the semis of S29. After one more season of not seeing the playoffs in S30, Sander would leave his GM role on the team. 

 

Bern's new GM for S31 would be Zach Gangon @InstantRockstar. Gangon would lead the team from then through S35, reaching the playoffs 4 out of his 5 seasons. The Royals would lose during the playoffs before the finals in S31 and S32 respectfully. Bern would then not make the postseason again until S34, where they would make it to the Finals before losing to the Yukon Rush in five games. In S35, the Royals would once more get ousted before the finals. 

 

Mid-S35, however, Gangon stepped down and Tyler Barabash @Bushito took over as GM of the Royals. Under Barabash, Bern would make the playoffs again in S36, but would lose to the Bratislava Watchmen in the semis.

 

Once again, though, there would be a mid-season shift during S37 in GM control, as Barabash would leave and Alex Staal @AwfulHomesick would take over. Despite the shift in GM's, the Royals would make the playoffs and reach the Finals. The Royals would take Yukon to six games before bowing out. The next two seasons under Staal would bring the Royals to the playoffs both seasons, but Bern would not make it to the semi-finals or finals. 

 

For S40, Staal would leave Bern and the team would ask itself "What about Zoidberg?". After asking that, the Royals would hire Sachimo Zoidberg @Jala as the teams new GM. In S40, Bern would only make the wild card round and would lose to eventual champions Bratislava. S41 then came and went and would be the first time since S33 that the Royals would watch the playoffs from home. Not to be down for long, though, the Royals would return to the playoffs the following season. Zoidberg had one final season in Bern, and they made sure it was a season to remember. It would start with being the VHLM's top team, winning the Prime Minister's Trophy with a record of 60-8-4. Bern would then defeat the previous two Founder's Cup Champions, Bratislava and Brampton, on the way to winning their first Founder's Cup since S20, an over 20 season long drought finally snapped. Chuck Goody would win the Skylar Rift Award as Playoff MVP, notching 9 goals and 11 assists and a +3 rating. Zoidberg would also win GM of the Year for their excellence in building the team up and bringing a Cup to a championship-starved team.

 

After the magical S43, Zoidberg would leave the team and the void would ne filled by Vince Wong @STZ. Wong's two season reign began with not reaching the playoffs, after a big exodus of both GM and players from the season prior. Bern would end up making the playoffs in Wong's second and final season, though. Except, Wong wouldn't see to the end of the season and would be ousted and replaced by Ryan Price @GreatOneHimself. Interim GM Price would take the Royals into the playoffs before being swept by eventual champions, the Moscow Red Wolves.

 

When S46 rolled around, the Royals needed a GM that would stay long term and build this team back up. So they hired S10 VHL Hall of Famer and VHL DPOY namesake Sterling Labatte @sterling as their new GM. The Labotte era saw the Royals make the playoffs in each of his five seasons as GM. Although the first three seasons weren't fruitful, it was during S49 that it all came together for Bern. The Royals would become the Kings of the VHLM once more, taking down the Oslo Storm in the Euro Finals and then taking down Yukon in the Founder's Cup Finals in a sweep to win the franchise's 5th Founder's Cup, their 3rd since moving to Switzerland. The Skylar Rift Award would end up going to Yukon Left Winger Asher Donovan, though. As usual, GM of the Year would go to Labatte for his incredible job of managing the Royals. After S49, the Royals would have another excellent season in S50, winning the Prime Minister's Cup, earning a 58-8-4 record. During the playoffs, they would end up being knocked off by Brampton in six games. 

 

After S50, Labotte would move on from the team, and the Royals would hire Davey Jones @Da Trifecta as the new GM of the Bern Royals. Jones would take the team to the playoffs in both S51 and S52, but would not reach the Finals again.

 

For S53, the Royals would hire new GM Robbie Zimmers, who would end up being the last GM of the Royals era. Zimmers would take the team to the playoffs before being ousted early, though.

 

In the off-season after S53, an eleventh hour decision was made by the VHLM and Robbie Zimmers (BobertZ) to relocate the Bern Royals from Switzerland to Las Vegas, Nevada to become the Las Vegas Aces. The move was originally planned for the season after, but Zimmers was allowed to move the team early.

 

ROYALS AWARD WINNERS

 

MVP: Mikey Blade (S34)

     Tim TebowGow (S43)

     Zach Parechikin (S45) @DollarAndADream

Maksym Barnyashev (S51)

 

Points: Mikey Blade (S34)

       Tim TebowGow (S43)

       Zach Parechikin (S45)

         Nikki Kissanen (S50)

Maksym Barnyashev (S51)

 

Goals: Evgeni Galchenyuk (S23)

                       Mikey Blade (S34)

                 Zach Parechikin (S45)

                       Josh Merica (S50)

                        Jack Kraken (S51)

 

Assists: Matt Bentley (S34)

                  Matt Rielly (S36)

         Tim TebowGow (S43)

           Nikki Kissanen (S50)

 Maksym Barnyashev (S51)

 

DPOY: Alexander Valiq (S29)

              Malcom Spud (S30)

                   Matt Rielly (S36)

        Ron World Peace (S37) @stevo

   Nikki Kissanen (S49, S50) 

  Maksym Barnyashev (S51)

 

GOY: Claudio Martucci (S23)

                  Bernie Gow (S43) 

                    Ryan Price (S45)

 

Two-Way Forward: Sam Pouza (S17)

                              R.J. Stafford (S20)

                   Evgeni Galchenyuk (S23)

                       Abraham Sander (S27)

                                   Azmet Ali (S38)

                        Zach Parechikin (S45)

                               Josh Merica (S50)

                               Jack Kraken (S51)

 

Today, the franchise still calls Las Vegas home. Since the move, the Aces have continued to be a mainstay in the playoffs and have won an additional three Founder's Cups. Although just about everyone knows who the Aces are, I hope I've helped teach some people of what they once were. More is to come from me and others on VSN, and hopefully you look forward to more Minor Adjustments!

 

-Hex Rose 

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

I still reminisce about Zach Pear Chicken sometimes. I will never top that player.

[Hex Universe 253]

Claiming this for the weeks ending 11/29 and 12/6