Quebec City Nobles (eNHL)

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Quebec City Nobles (eNHL)
After spending nearly all my sports sim time in Out of the Park Baseball, I decided it was time to give Franchise Hockey Manager 12 a real test drive - especially since I’m diving back into the NHL for the first time since around 1992. Of course, being a sim game, I couldn’t resist making a few tweaks to make it my own. I expanded the league by four teams, reorganized the conferences into three divisions each, and did some realignment that will probably make the traditionalists squirm a bit.

The new franchises are the Indianapolis Mustangs, Baltimore Blue Crabs, Quebec City Nobles, and Portland Beavers. For this project, I’ll be taking the helm in Quebec City - most likely steering the Nobles straight into the (frozen) ground - and chronicling the season game by game.

We’ll start with today’s matchup, November 3, 2025. But before we hit the ice, here’s a quick look at how things stand so far. I’ll introduce players as we go - no long preambles, just getting right to it.

Yeah, we’re pretty good (so far)…

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November 3rd, 2025
21 of 82: Columbus Blue Jackets (6-15-1, 13p) @ Quebec City Nobles (13-5-2, 28p)
Loss, 1-2. We came out flat, taking two early penalties that set the tone. Teuvo Teräväinen’s roughing call opened the door for Columbus, and Sean Monahan wasted no time cashing in for his sixth of the year. Early in the second, 22-year-old Cole Sillinger from Regina doubled their lead before our guys finally woke up. Captain Chandler Stephenson got us on the board with a power-play strike after Kirill Marchenko was tagged for goaltender interference - but that was all she wrote. The third period turned into a grind, with Columbus dragging us into the mud and smothering any spark we had left. We finished this one looking like a shadow of the team we were just a night ago.




Up Next: We’ll get a day of rest before welcoming Vegas to town.

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November 5th, 2025
22 of 82: Vegas Golden Knights (10-13-2, 22p) @ Quebec City Nobles (13-6-2, 28p)
Win, 3-1. After a cautious start—and a boarding penalty to Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar, bringing his season total to just four minutes - the Quebec City Nobles came alive in the 2nd. They poured in three goals from Noel Acciari (2), James van Riemsdyk (8), and Teuvo Teräväinen (6), all at even strength. Vegas’ Jack Eichel had tallied his seventh of the season earlier in the second, but it didn’t matter - the Nobles dominated the final frame and cruised to their 14th win of the year.





Elsewhere: Detroit’s captain, Dylan Larkin, put on a show against the St. Louis Blues, leading the charge with a goal and two assists in a dominant +2 performance as the Red Wings rolled to a 6-2 victory. The physical edge belonged to St. Louis, who out-hit Detroit 25–14, but the scoreboard told a different story. The Wings came out flying, burying three goals in the opening period with Larkin factoring into every one of them. By the time the final horn sounded, Detroit had made it look easy, and their captain’s season totals had climbed to 10 goals, 18 assists, and a sparkling +12 rating.

Up Next: Another day off, another home cooked meal, and another home game – this time against the Colorado Avs.

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November 7th, 2025
Next Up: Colorado Avalanche (12-11-1, 25p)
The Avs arrive in Quebec City as one of the league’s most unpredictable teams—dangerous, fast, and at times, chaotic. Through 24 games, they’ve scored 67 goals but allowed 66, a razor-thin margin that tells the story of their season: a high-octane offense occasionally undercut by defensive lapses. Their 47.6% faceoff rate and 6.38 penalty minutes per game suggest discipline and puck possession aren’t always on their side, yet they make up for it with sheer shot volume (784 shots to 797 against) and relentless pressure in transition. Nathan MacKinnon leads this group... 10 goals, 19 assists, and 29 points of pure drive and dynamism and, between the pipes, MacKenzie Blackwood has steadied the ship with a .918 save percentage and two shutouts, often bailing out a defense that blocks plenty (368 shots) but still leaks high-danger looks. Expect the Avs to push tempo and lean on their stars, feeding off the energy of a packed house... they’ve sold out every home date and run at full capacity both in Denver and on the road

23 of 82: Colorado Avs (12-11-1, 25p) @ Quebec City Nobles (14-6-2, 30p)
Loss, 2-3 (SO). The Avs slipped out of the Desjardins Centre with a nail-biting 3-2 shootout victory over our hometown Nobles, capping off a tense back-and-forth battle. Nathan MacKinnon and Egor Afanasyev handled the regulation scoring for Colorado, while Quebec answered with goals from Declan Chisholm and veteran center Mark Jankowski. After a scoreless overtime that had both goaltenders flashing brilliance, it was Artturi Lehkonen who finally sealed it in the shootout, tucking the winner past the glove of Quebec’s Adin Hill to secure the extra point.





Elsewhere: Tampa Bay’s Oliver Bjorkstrand netted a goal and tallied two assists, leading the charge for the Ligthning as they defeated the Maple Leafs by a score of 3-2 after going to OT in Toronto. Bjorkstrand now has 7 goals on the season to go with 7 assists, tallying a respectable 14 points so far despite being saddled by his -6 +/- rating.

Up Next: The boys will head to Winnipeg for a Sunday afternoon clash against the Jets on their tarmac.

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@ Winnipeg Jets (12-7-3, 27 Pts)
The Jets are a confident, disciplined squad riding a strong two-way game that’s powered them to 75 goals in 22 contests. They’ve allowed just 67 in that stretch, and their +8 differential reflects a team that can hurt you offensively while clamping down defensively. With a solid 51.7% in the faceoff circle and only 5.5 penalty minutes per game, the Jets play smart, structured hockey, rarely beating themselves. They’ve outscored opponents largely through efficiency rather than volume, taking 762 shots to opponents’ 638 while thriving on quick puck movement and precision finishes. At the heart of the offense are Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, both off to scorching starts. Connor’s 26 points and team-best +17 highlight his steady two-way impact, while Scheifele has been electric down the middle with 14 goals and 29 points, driving play with verve. On the back end, Luke Schenn’s veteran presence has been invaluable - 27 hits, 12 takeaways, and 33 blocked shots... bringing a rugged edge to a defensive unit that thrives on structure. This Jets team plays clean, cohesive hockey and knows how to close out tight games... they don’t often win flashy, but they win smart.

24 of 82: Quebec Nobles (14-6-3, 31p) @ Winnipeg Jets (12-7-3, 27p)
Win, 4-1. The fellas stormed into Canada Life Centre and overwhelmed Winnipeg with a commanding 4–1 win, imposing fierce offensive pressure and airtight defense in front of 15,321 stunned Jets fans. After a scoreless first period, Winnipeg briefly took the lead midway through the second, but Quebec responded with authority—pouring in three unanswered goals in the third to put the game out of reach. The Nobles peppered Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck with 43 shots to Winnipeg’s 14, showcasing relentless puck control and zone dominance. Quebec’s special teams were sharp too, converting twice on the power play while killing off both of Winnipeg’s chances. The Jets’ lone bright spot came in a solid middle frame, but the Nobles’ depth and work ethic proved too much, as they closed out the night with 24 hits, 31 faceoff wins, and one of their most complete road performances of the season. C Chandler Stephenson scored his 10th and 11th goals for the Nobles, bringing his season total in points up to 24 with a +6 rating for the 25/26 campaign so far.





Elsewhere: Florida’s Evan Rodrigues scored a hattie during his clubs 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, putting each in the net at even strength while showing maximum effort throughout with a goal scored during each period. Rodrigues now has 8 goals on the season to go with hi 9 assists, including a game winning goals earlier this year against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Up Next: The boys are back at it tomorrow against the Minnesota Wild in a back-to-back road tilt.