A few different things stand out to me this season that I found to be somewhat a surprise. At the beginning of the regular season, I expected the Specters, Wolf Pack, and Syndicate to be in the playoffs. Turns out the Pride, North Stars, and Platoon had different ideas, and all made the playoffs at the formers expense. Baltimore making the playoffs is not that big of a surprise considering outside Manhattan, the Atlantic Division is weak, but I did not think it would be their season in 58. Toronto has been an up-and-coming team stuck in the toughest division in the league and it was about time they made it to the post season. I want to say it is a surprise but its more of a disappointment that a team with a .667 points percentage, good for 6th best in the league, misses the playoffs. Especially when a team with a .348 points percentage makes it. This leads me into the biggest surprise of the season, the San Francisco Pride. This team nearly doubled its points from S57 and by way of not being the most trash team in the league (NOLA), makes the playoffs. Not only did they make the playoffs though, but they also took the North Stars who had 26 more wins in the regular season to game 7. (225 words)


Seems like home ice would have a definite advantage in this scenario. While having six players on the ice the whole game sounds like it would give a team an edge, in no way does a team does not pick being able to ignore the rules of hockey when presented with these two options. Forget the ability to just be straight up goons and trip, hook, slash, or run major interference on the goalie to the point where they are in the corner leaving a wide-open net. Any pressure by the visiting team and the home team can just send the puck 200 feet down the ice without worrying about a defensive zone faceoff. Not having to worry about offsides means easy zone entries. This is just an unfair advantage for the home team, and I would like to offer them an early congratulations on their cup victory. (148 words) EDIT - If the home team is immune to penalties couldn't they just send out 6 or more players too if they wanted to since they cant get called for too many men?


Sitting at home I cannot help but feel like it should be us in the finals against Buffalo. We took Hamilton to game 7 in a game that was decided by one goal and a late major penalty against. The Blizzard had a strong regular season against Texas going 4-2 against them. But here we are, Hamilton vs Buffalo. To make sure that its us in finals next season, I just need to keep doing what I am doing. Earning as much TPE as I can and building my player stronger. I need to find ways to make my player stronger on the puck and generating more scoring chances, while upping my stamina. One of the wisest people I know once said “At the end of the day, if you always have the puck you don't need to be as good defensively”. I am buying into that philosophy and hoping that it pays off in season 59 so I can be a difference maker in a more positive way. (169 words)



I think Buffalo needs to not worry about this at all and keep doing what they have been doing. The season series between these two teams was very close and they match up well. Buffalo has arguably the best goalie in the league right now and I think that alone gives them a leg up. Jobin has played well but they are no Doyle. (65 words)


Being a Devils fan, I can tell you that defense wins championships. Buffalo is solid from the net out, and they can score too. Hamilton might have been 3rd in GF but Buffalo was right behind them in 4th. To me, this signals that Buffalo knows when to press and attack and when to get back and defend and have found the perfect balance. Hamilton wasn’t bad defensively either, 6th best in GA. I think that if Buffalo can shut down Hamilton’s top line though, its their cup to lose. (91 words)


Branding question is tough this season. There are things I like about both teams and things I don’t. For one there is not a single draw tourism wise to visit Buffalo or Hamilton. Their logos are meh, I don’t care for round logos and I hate that the teams feel the need to spell out what their team is called, with Buffalo putting their city in there as well. I straight up don’t like Hamilton’s logo and I think Hawks are the lamest of birds. Hamilton does have the nicer third jersey though. To pick a team , I’ll go with Buffalo because I think the Stampede is a pretty solid name for their location. (115 words)


Game 7 overtime and I’m only sending out four players. Sounds like I shouldn’t be trusted with this decision. Looking over players from both teams I want players that have been hot offensively and shooting well along with being responsible to get back defensively. That leads me to picking Hernadivic and Roach up front with Wang and Hugh Jazz making up my D paring. (65 words)


S58 Milestones Claim - 1 TPE


I’ve been a member on this site now for one year which is only 10% of its existence. Since I’ve joined I’ve seen a tremendous amount of improvement and growth in the league and that doesn’t happen unless the users make it so. This site would be nothing if it didn’t have some of the best and most dedicated people who all share a similar passion in hockey. Even the people who don’t watch or follow hockey invest so much of their time into the league for themselves of course but also for the enjoyment of others. It’s so easy to fall into a rut, especially when things are going well and when new management takes over you wonder how they can possibly do a better job then the last. Yet almost always the new management does.

I want to take this opportunity to appreciate everyone who I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with, and those that I haven’t. Next to my son being born, coming across a reddit post inviting me to check out the Simulation Hockey League was the best thing to happen to me in 2020.