Good afternoon, Star Gang. It is I, your Keyboard Warrior bringing you the day that was in the Simulation Hockey League. After a pair of wins to start the season, one against the defending champs and hated Great Lakes rival Hamilton Steelhawks, the Toronto North Stars look to keep their winning ways alive. 

There are three games on the slate for today's sim, Toronto at Chicago Syndicate, Toronto at Baltimore Platoon, and Toronto hosting the Texas Renegades. Chicago will be wanting revenge for last season as the rising North Stars were one of the reasons--besides a terrible play off format--that they missed the post-season last year after winning the cup in the previous season. They will want to bounce back with a dominant win. The Texas Renegades are the terror of the West and the North Stars matched up poorly with them last season, so they will hope to avenge themselves, and gain some much needed points against the best team outside of the Great Lakes Division.

The first game was a bloodbath for the Toronto North Stars, as their defense fell apart and they were victimized for eight goals. You could feel the anger and frustration of last season in every goal they scored. That one was hard too watch.  The North Stars were out shot thirty-nine to twenty. Toronto also had an outstanding twelve penalty minutes to put the momentum squarely with the Syndicate. Hits were even at twenty-three apiece, and this will be a game that the North Stars will want to put behind them, and forget.

Luffy Richard was a minus-three, with three blocked shots and three hits. Seems like he could have blocked three other shots to make more of a difference, but nobodies perfect I suppose.

The second game saw the North Stars release some of their own anger as they beat the Baltimore Platoon eight to three. They out shot the Platoon fifty-eight to twenty-two, but were unsurprisingly out hit thirteen to twenty-six. Despite the teams dominance, and gaining his first point of the season (an assist on Liam slate's first goal of the season) Luffy Richard was a minus-two, making him a minus-five to this point in the sim, and a minus four for the season. An unsightly two giveaway were key reasons the Platoon were able to score. The North Stars depend on him to be responsible in his own end. He will really have to pick up his game if he wants to be an asset to the team. If not, will he see himself cast off into the desert that is the expansion draft?

I saw my roommate taking out his frustration on one of those inflatable dudes they stick in front of car dealerships. That is really healthy behavior. Something we will probably talk about in therapy later this week. 

After two high scoring games, the North Stars take their last game of the sim two to one in overtime. Shots were close between Toronto and Texas with the Renegades having a slight edge thirty-eight to thirty-four. The North Stars again had trouble staying out of the penalty box as they had three minor penalties. Once again, the North Stars were out hit twenty-four to fourteen, but they got the precious two points they needed and ended the sim with four points out of six. Luffy Richard did nothing of note, but that means it is notable that he did not actively contribute to his teams downfall. 

What a wild sim that was. Goals aplenty, and not always in a good way, but the good guys came out on top more often than not.

Until next time,

Shine on!

(627 words)