The Premier Hockey League - Page 5

monochameleon · 12-22-2015, 05:24 AM

Game 3
Manitoba Vikings vs. Calgary Mustangs
Federation Arena, Calgary

The home ice is supposed to be an advantage. The crowd are at your back, cheering you on. The flipside of this, of course, is that when you struggle at home, the crowd are right on top of you, closing in around you, and groaning their disapproval.

The game Sunday night was the kind of game that derails playoff campaigns, that kills all momentum, that makes a team stop and ask, "What just happened to us?" The Mustangs came in with the series level, and though the series is now still only 2-1 to Manitoba, it will feel like Manitoba are up 10-1 for all the good it did Calgary.

Roman Vrzacek opened the scoring for the home team, much to the delight of the crowd. It would be the only delight they would enjoy all night. Ryan Huddy scored at 13:40 in the first to level the scores. Then in the second period, the Vikings piled on three further goals to open up a big lead. Martel, Gagnon and Nichols all scored, while Tom Palmer picked up a pair of assists. To underline to what degree the game was not going Calgary's way, not only did they fail to score on two powerplay attempts, but they also got socred on shorthanded.

The third period all fell apart. Justin Homer set up back to back goals for Palmer and then a second for Gagnon, and Jason Woombill and Steve Austin iced the cake with goals of their own. The Mustangs had gone from looking competitive to looking helpless - one of the best defences in the league had been reduced to an 8-1 loss.

Again, the shots on goal tell the story. 47-19 Manitoba as the Vikings dominated possession. Fred Lind was pulled after suffering six goals against him in 42 shots. The remaining five were faced by John Spears and even then he let in two of those.

The Vikings looked, for the first time all playoffs, like the dominant team that they have for so long claimed to be. They still need two wins, but it will take a lot of character for Calgary to come back from such a brutal beating at home.

monochameleon · 12-22-2015, 05:33 AM

Game 4
Manitoba Vikings vs. Calgary Mustangs
Federation Arena, Calgary

As hard as Calgary tried to regain the momentum in the series, the team were still clearly hurting from Sunday's harsh 8-1 loss, and they were unable to make the comeback required. Though their defence was back - they outhit Manitoba 24-22 - and they closed the shots gap somewhat - now only 33-25 - they were still unable to stop Jonathon Gagnon or his teammates and Fred Lind still looks tired and out of touch.

Gagnon opened the scoring with a powerplay goal at the end of the first period, scoring while Juraj Gajdos was in the box for roughing. It's Gagnon's 15th goal of the post-season, and the lead he's opening up on Filip Petersson in the points race is emblematic of the increasing gap between the Vikings and the Mustangs.

Over the course of the second period, Graham Nichols and David Copeland backed up Gagnon with goals of their own. Meanwhile, Manny Lopera was in the zone, blocking absolutely everything Calgary could throw at him.

The Vikings now have three in a row. The Mustangs fans, possibly aware that this may be the last time they see their heroes on home ice this season, cheered and prayed and hoped, but their team needs to find the grit and determination that got them this far and that they have now seemingly lost. The Vikings lead the series 3-1 and are just one win away from the Cameron Phillips Memorial Trophy. The series returns to Winnipeg on Saturday night.

monochameleon · 12-22-2015, 05:54 AM

Game 5
Calgary Mustangs vs. Manitoba Vikings
Manitoba Technical House, Winnipeg

Even the Mustangs, if pressed, would probably find it pretty hard to admit that this wasn't a perfect match to end the season.

The crowd at the Tech were treated to a 9-5 shootout as the Mustangs went down in a blaze of glory, their fairy tale concluding not with a happily ever after but at least with a determined "We will return". All five of Calgary's goals came in the second period and at one point they led 5-3, but the Vikings had the legs and the tactics to put the Mustangs away at the very end.

The win, as well as padding out the scoring efforts of Jonathon Gagnon (1 goal, three assists) and Marcus Loow (1 goal, two assists) was a vindication of the kind of free-flowing hockey that had led the Vikings to such success this season. Graham Nichols and Steve Austin ran plays to net back to back goals for first Randolph Gray, and then Kan Kinnunen, owing a lot to the coaching of Chris Miller.

The deeper into the third period they went, the more and more desperate the Mustangs became and the freer and freer the Vikings seemed, until the front line of Homer, Gagnon and Loow were scoring virtually at will. Each netted a goal in the final frame. Gagnon finished the postseason with 16 goals and 17 assists to lead the league and set a very high benchmark for years to come.

After the game, we spoke to the coaches and some of the players.

"Well, it's disappointing, of course," Filip Petersson said. "We came all this way and it just fell apart at the end. We needed to play better during the season, I think."

"It was an incredible ride," Juraj Gajdos added. "Part of me can't believe it's over."

Vikings captain Dale Brenneman described the feeling as "a dream come true."

"We've been wanting for so long to bring a championship home to Winnipeg," Brenneman stated, noting the 11 year gap between championships for the Vikings. "This town, this province, have been so loyal to us over the years. This is our way of paying them back."

The Vikings have won the St. Lawrence Trophy seven times - six of those in Seattle - before this season. As well as their eighth St. Lawrence Trophy, they become the first team ever to win the Cameron Phillips Memorial Trophy.

Brenneman became the first ever captain to lift the Phillips Memorial Trophy in front of a screaming home crowd. The first season of Premier League Hockey has been a huge success, and looks like it's here to stay.

Your 1986 Phillips Trophy Champions

Manitoba Vikings

monochameleon · 12-22-2015, 06:25 AM

The 1986 Premier League of Hockey Awards

Team Trophies:
Cameron Phillips Memorial Trophy - Manitoba Vikings
St. Lawrence Trophy - Manitoba Vikings
Harris Shield - Calgary Mustangs
Premier's Trophy - New York Centrals

Individual Awards:

Pierce Trophy for Most Valuable Player:
- Trevor Spivak (Ottawa Nationals)Posting a 79 point season, with 33 goals and 46 assists, was only part of the year for Trevor Spivak. The ambidextrous winger kept his Ottawa teammates from giving up, skating a full 80 games and averaging 19:52 a game. He was relentless in his pressure on other teams and always an inspiring presence on the ice. Spivak was a worthy winner of the MVP award, but did note: "I'd trade this a hundred times over if it meant putting all my teammates names on the Phillips Memorial Trophy." There's always next year.

Couture Award for Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs
- Jonathon Gagnon (Manitoba Vikings)
Few people were surprised when Gagnon was named MVP for the post season. His 33 points were invaluable in leading his team to victory. The perennially shy 35 year old Quebecois offered little in the way of an acceptance speech, except to thank his linemates Loow and Homer, without whom, he said, he would only be half the player he was.

Jensen Trophy for Best Goalie as voted by the league
- Matt Wagner (Seattle Nightmare)
Matt Wagner is only 24 years old and is already held up by some of the greatest hockey minds of his generation as the goaltender to beat. Six shut outs and 27 wins saw him propel the Nightmare to fifth in the Mountain League. For a young man just beginning his career, it would seem it can only all go up from here.

Johnstone Award for Best player in his first year of professional hockey
- Tyler Wheeler (New England Whalers)
It was a surprising season for the Whalers. Tipped to finish in the basement of the Atlantic League, they topped the Atlantic East and unearthed a collection of new talent. Foremost amongst that talent was Tyler Wheeler, whose 80 point season - 31G-49A - was such a big part of the Whalers success.

Burgess Award for Best General Manager
- Lou Stephens (New York Centrals)
Making the right trades, picking the right lines, finding the right free agents - sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don't. Lou Stephens built one of the best teams in the league over the course of the season, finding the best players on offer and bringing them to the Duck Pond to ply their trade. The result was a 100 point season for the Centrals and the Premier's Trophy. Few coaches had such an effect on their team's success as Stephens did this year.

Wade Award for Best Save Percentage
- Harold Hawking (Charlottetown Islanders)
The Islanders St. Lawrence defence fell at the first hurdle but not for lack of trying by Harold Hawking. In his 33 games he posted a league-best .924, allowing just 72 goals from 948 shots. Hawking was thrilled with the award and suggested he would have a representation of it painted onto his mask somewhere.

Rowe Trophy for Least Goals Against
- Burt Magee (New York Centrals)
Though injury plagued him through the year, Burt Magee had a career year with the Centrals. The 25-year-old goaltender let in just 118 goals in 49 games, a GAA of 2.55, and was a huge part of keeping the Centrals at the lowest goals against of the entire Premier League. Magee said in his acceptance speech that he hopes to be a part of the Centrals for years to come. We can't see the front office objecting.

Montgomery Award for Best Plus/Minus
- Nazib Subayev (New England Whalers)
The Whalers veteran seemed to be on ice at all the right times as he racked up a +/- of 48. The Russian defender managed 44 points of his own, but did state in his acceptance speech that he definitely owed his teammates a drink for helping him get his hands on this very nice piece of silverware.

MacMurray Award for Defenceman of the Year
- Steve Richburg (New England Whalers)
Yet another Whaler with something for his trophy case, Richburg's dedicated blueline play was exemplary for any kids out there looking to see how you make it as a defender at the top level of hockey. 153 hits and 74 take aways saw him create all sorts of opportunities for his team's forwards. The Whalers could do a lot worse than build their team around this man and his blueline buddies.

Fischer Award for Best Defensive Forward
- Klaus Thorsen (Toronto Aces)
The Aces unearthed a genuine talent in Klaus Thorsen this year. The 23 year old Dane showed he wasn't afraid to mix it up on defence just as much as on offence and the result was 46 points and 151 hits to go with them. Thorsen is young and developing, but his work ethic is A+ standard and his bravery in getting into the defensive zone and working hard to clear the puck is going to be just as valuable as his scoring ability in years to come.

Lorenc Trophy for Most Goals Scored
- Jakub Vanek (Toronto Aces)
The Aces were viewed as an old team at the start of the year, but they discovered several young talents, amongst them Jakub Vanek. Vanek's season started slowly and was interrupted by injury, but in a season where this wasn't uncommon, his 45 goals in 72 games was the best in the league, edging out Filip Petersson and Justin Homer. Vanek, 27, was very proud of his achievement, and credited his linemates with feeding him all the right passes.

Hjerpe Trophy for Most Points Scored
- Jakub Vanek (Toronto Aces)
By adding 43 assists to his 45 goals, Vanek was just able to beat Homer and Nicky Jephcott on overall points. The seemingly natural chemistry Vanek found with Klaus Thorsen and Chris Myers ensured that he racked up the points all season long, and he was the worthy winner of the Hjerpe Trophy.

Next season - the draft, the expansion, changes, moves and more hockey! 1986/87 Premier League of Hockey, coming soon.

monochameleon · 12-22-2015, 08:09 PM

It is my sad duty to report the cessation of operations for the Premier League of Hockey. Some may blame the rapidly expanding NHL, some may blame the players demanding too much money. I personally blame my computer, which crashed while loading the game and then was completely unable to reload it at all, rendering it a dead save.

Rather than start the PLH again, I've decided to leave it and start a new league - hopefully with a bit more luck this time. It'll be a 12 team league and start in the 1960s, a bit of an alternative WHA. I plan to take what I learned from this thread and apply it to the new one, which will be much, much better. Some teams will come along, but many of them will be new.

For those of you who followed along with the PLH, thank you. It meant a lot to me to see the read count going up with each new post. I hope you'll join me for the new league, which I hope to start after Christmas.

Simmo13 · 12-23-2015, 06:06 AM

The revenge of the Calgary Mustangs!
Look forward to your new league.

12-22-2015, 05:24 AM	#81
monochameleon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 114	Premier League Final Game 3 Game 3 Manitoba Vikings vs. Calgary Mustangs Federation Arena, Calgary The home ice is supposed to be an advantage. The crowd are at your back, cheering you on. The flipside of this, of course, is that when you struggle at home, the crowd are right on top of you, closing in around you, and groaning their disapproval. The game Sunday night was the kind of game that derails playoff campaigns, that kills all momentum, that makes a team stop and ask, "What just happened to us?" The Mustangs came in with the series level, and though the series is now still only 2-1 to Manitoba, it will feel like Manitoba are up 10-1 for all the good it did Calgary. Roman Vrzacek opened the scoring for the home team, much to the delight of the crowd. It would be the only delight they would enjoy all night. Ryan Huddy scored at 13:40 in the first to level the scores. Then in the second period, the Vikings piled on three further goals to open up a big lead. Martel, Gagnon and Nichols all scored, while Tom Palmer picked up a pair of assists. To underline to what degree the game was not going Calgary's way, not only did they fail to score on two powerplay attempts, but they also got socred on shorthanded. The third period all fell apart. Justin Homer set up back to back goals for Palmer and then a second for Gagnon, and Jason Woombill and Steve Austin iced the cake with goals of their own. The Mustangs had gone from looking competitive to looking helpless - one of the best defences in the league had been reduced to an 8-1 loss. Again, the shots on goal tell the story. 47-19 Manitoba as the Vikings dominated possession. Fred Lind was pulled after suffering six goals against him in 42 shots. The remaining five were faced by John Spears and even then he let in two of those. The Vikings looked, for the first time all playoffs, like the dominant team that they have for so long claimed to be. They still need two wins, but it will take a lot of character for Calgary to come back from such a brutal beating at home.

12-22-2015, 05:33 AM	#82
monochameleon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 114	Premier League Final Game 4 Game 4 Manitoba Vikings vs. Calgary Mustangs Federation Arena, Calgary As hard as Calgary tried to regain the momentum in the series, the team were still clearly hurting from Sunday's harsh 8-1 loss, and they were unable to make the comeback required. Though their defence was back - they outhit Manitoba 24-22 - and they closed the shots gap somewhat - now only 33-25 - they were still unable to stop Jonathon Gagnon or his teammates and Fred Lind still looks tired and out of touch. Gagnon opened the scoring with a powerplay goal at the end of the first period, scoring while Juraj Gajdos was in the box for roughing. It's Gagnon's 15th goal of the post-season, and the lead he's opening up on Filip Petersson in the points race is emblematic of the increasing gap between the Vikings and the Mustangs. Over the course of the second period, Graham Nichols and David Copeland backed up Gagnon with goals of their own. Meanwhile, Manny Lopera was in the zone, blocking absolutely everything Calgary could throw at him. The Vikings now have three in a row. The Mustangs fans, possibly aware that this may be the last time they see their heroes on home ice this season, cheered and prayed and hoped, but their team needs to find the grit and determination that got them this far and that they have now seemingly lost. The Vikings lead the series 3-1 and are just one win away from the Cameron Phillips Memorial Trophy. The series returns to Winnipeg on Saturday night.

12-22-2015, 05:54 AM	#83
monochameleon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 114	Premier League Final Game 5 Game 5 Calgary Mustangs vs. Manitoba Vikings Manitoba Technical House, Winnipeg Even the Mustangs, if pressed, would probably find it pretty hard to admit that this wasn't a perfect match to end the season. The crowd at the Tech were treated to a 9-5 shootout as the Mustangs went down in a blaze of glory, their fairy tale concluding not with a happily ever after but at least with a determined "We will return". All five of Calgary's goals came in the second period and at one point they led 5-3, but the Vikings had the legs and the tactics to put the Mustangs away at the very end. The win, as well as padding out the scoring efforts of Jonathon Gagnon (1 goal, three assists) and Marcus Loow (1 goal, two assists) was a vindication of the kind of free-flowing hockey that had led the Vikings to such success this season. Graham Nichols and Steve Austin ran plays to net back to back goals for first Randolph Gray, and then Kan Kinnunen, owing a lot to the coaching of Chris Miller. The deeper into the third period they went, the more and more desperate the Mustangs became and the freer and freer the Vikings seemed, until the front line of Homer, Gagnon and Loow were scoring virtually at will. Each netted a goal in the final frame. Gagnon finished the postseason with 16 goals and 17 assists to lead the league and set a very high benchmark for years to come. After the game, we spoke to the coaches and some of the players. "Well, it's disappointing, of course," Filip Petersson said. "We came all this way and it just fell apart at the end. We needed to play better during the season, I think." "It was an incredible ride," Juraj Gajdos added. "Part of me can't believe it's over." Vikings captain Dale Brenneman described the feeling as "a dream come true." "We've been wanting for so long to bring a championship home to Winnipeg," Brenneman stated, noting the 11 year gap between championships for the Vikings. "This town, this province, have been so loyal to us over the years. This is our way of paying them back." The Vikings have won the St. Lawrence Trophy seven times - six of those in Seattle - before this season. As well as their eighth St. Lawrence Trophy, they become the first team ever to win the Cameron Phillips Memorial Trophy. Brenneman became the first ever captain to lift the Phillips Memorial Trophy in front of a screaming home crowd. The first season of Premier League Hockey has been a huge success, and looks like it's here to stay. Your 1986 Phillips Trophy Champions Manitoba Vikings

12-22-2015, 06:25 AM	#84
monochameleon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 114	1986 PLH Awards The 1986 Premier League of Hockey Awards Team Trophies: Cameron Phillips Memorial Trophy - Manitoba Vikings St. Lawrence Trophy - Manitoba Vikings Harris Shield - Calgary Mustangs Premier's Trophy - New York Centrals Individual Awards: Pierce Trophy for Most Valuable Player: - Trevor Spivak (Ottawa Nationals)Posting a 79 point season, with 33 goals and 46 assists, was only part of the year for Trevor Spivak. The ambidextrous winger kept his Ottawa teammates from giving up, skating a full 80 games and averaging 19:52 a game. He was relentless in his pressure on other teams and always an inspiring presence on the ice. Spivak was a worthy winner of the MVP award, but did note: "I'd trade this a hundred times over if it meant putting all my teammates names on the Phillips Memorial Trophy." There's always next year. Couture Award for Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs - Jonathon Gagnon (Manitoba Vikings) Few people were surprised when Gagnon was named MVP for the post season. His 33 points were invaluable in leading his team to victory. The perennially shy 35 year old Quebecois offered little in the way of an acceptance speech, except to thank his linemates Loow and Homer, without whom, he said, he would only be half the player he was. Jensen Trophy for Best Goalie as voted by the league - Matt Wagner (Seattle Nightmare) Matt Wagner is only 24 years old and is already held up by some of the greatest hockey minds of his generation as the goaltender to beat. Six shut outs and 27 wins saw him propel the Nightmare to fifth in the Mountain League. For a young man just beginning his career, it would seem it can only all go up from here. Johnstone Award for Best player in his first year of professional hockey - Tyler Wheeler (New England Whalers) It was a surprising season for the Whalers. Tipped to finish in the basement of the Atlantic League, they topped the Atlantic East and unearthed a collection of new talent. Foremost amongst that talent was Tyler Wheeler, whose 80 point season - 31G-49A - was such a big part of the Whalers success. Burgess Award for Best General Manager - Lou Stephens (New York Centrals) Making the right trades, picking the right lines, finding the right free agents - sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don't. Lou Stephens built one of the best teams in the league over the course of the season, finding the best players on offer and bringing them to the Duck Pond to ply their trade. The result was a 100 point season for the Centrals and the Premier's Trophy. Few coaches had such an effect on their team's success as Stephens did this year. Wade Award for Best Save Percentage - Harold Hawking (Charlottetown Islanders) The Islanders St. Lawrence defence fell at the first hurdle but not for lack of trying by Harold Hawking. In his 33 games he posted a league-best .924, allowing just 72 goals from 948 shots. Hawking was thrilled with the award and suggested he would have a representation of it painted onto his mask somewhere. Rowe Trophy for Least Goals Against - Burt Magee (New York Centrals) Though injury plagued him through the year, Burt Magee had a career year with the Centrals. The 25-year-old goaltender let in just 118 goals in 49 games, a GAA of 2.55, and was a huge part of keeping the Centrals at the lowest goals against of the entire Premier League. Magee said in his acceptance speech that he hopes to be a part of the Centrals for years to come. We can't see the front office objecting. Montgomery Award for Best Plus/Minus - Nazib Subayev (New England Whalers) The Whalers veteran seemed to be on ice at all the right times as he racked up a +/- of 48. The Russian defender managed 44 points of his own, but did state in his acceptance speech that he definitely owed his teammates a drink for helping him get his hands on this very nice piece of silverware. MacMurray Award for Defenceman of the Year - Steve Richburg (New England Whalers) Yet another Whaler with something for his trophy case, Richburg's dedicated blueline play was exemplary for any kids out there looking to see how you make it as a defender at the top level of hockey. 153 hits and 74 take aways saw him create all sorts of opportunities for his team's forwards. The Whalers could do a lot worse than build their team around this man and his blueline buddies. Fischer Award for Best Defensive Forward - Klaus Thorsen (Toronto Aces) The Aces unearthed a genuine talent in Klaus Thorsen this year. The 23 year old Dane showed he wasn't afraid to mix it up on defence just as much as on offence and the result was 46 points and 151 hits to go with them. Thorsen is young and developing, but his work ethic is A+ standard and his bravery in getting into the defensive zone and working hard to clear the puck is going to be just as valuable as his scoring ability in years to come. Lorenc Trophy for Most Goals Scored - Jakub Vanek (Toronto Aces) The Aces were viewed as an old team at the start of the year, but they discovered several young talents, amongst them Jakub Vanek. Vanek's season started slowly and was interrupted by injury, but in a season where this wasn't uncommon, his 45 goals in 72 games was the best in the league, edging out Filip Petersson and Justin Homer. Vanek, 27, was very proud of his achievement, and credited his linemates with feeding him all the right passes. Hjerpe Trophy for Most Points Scored - Jakub Vanek (Toronto Aces) By adding 43 assists to his 45 goals, Vanek was just able to beat Homer and Nicky Jephcott on overall points. The seemingly natural chemistry Vanek found with Klaus Thorsen and Chris Myers ensured that he racked up the points all season long, and he was the worthy winner of the Hjerpe Trophy. Next season - the draft, the expansion, changes, moves and more hockey! 1986/87 Premier League of Hockey, coming soon.

12-22-2015, 08:09 PM	#85
monochameleon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 114	Premier League of Hockey closes It is my sad duty to report the cessation of operations for the Premier League of Hockey. Some may blame the rapidly expanding NHL, some may blame the players demanding too much money. I personally blame my computer, which crashed while loading the game and then was completely unable to reload it at all, rendering it a dead save. Rather than start the PLH again, I've decided to leave it and start a new league - hopefully with a bit more luck this time. It'll be a 12 team league and start in the 1960s, a bit of an alternative WHA. I plan to take what I learned from this thread and apply it to the new one, which will be much, much better. Some teams will come along, but many of them will be new. For those of you who followed along with the PLH, thank you. It meant a lot to me to see the read count going up with each new post. I hope you'll join me for the new league, which I hope to start after Christmas.

12-23-2015, 06:06 AM	#86
Simmo13 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: those blue remembered hills Posts: 955	The revenge of the Calgary Mustangs! Look forward to your new league.