The Lanny McDonalds - Movember

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Movember

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Commissioner's Classic

The first week of the RHL season matches the two commissioners against each other in an opening week event dubbed "The Commissioner's Classic" Commisioner Filion and his Keg Kings will meet Assistant Commisioner Atkinson's Brewers in the fourth installment of the Classic.

  VS 

The Commissioner's classic was born in 2003-04 as the two league creators would meet in the first week of the season and battle to a 2-2 tie. Since then, these two franchises have met in the opening week only two more times. This season sees the return of the Classic after two seasons of scheduling conflicts and it has been decided to continue this opening week tradition for years to come.

Although they tied in the first classic, Filion`s team has never lost in this legendary match-up and hold a 2-0-1 record over GM Atkinson during week one battles and appear to be on their way to maintaining their winning record. For the opener of this season, in an extended week one, the Keg Kings held a 4-2 lead at the midway point and seem to have this win locked down with a 926 save percentage, 4 goalie wins, and almost doubling the Brewers in the hits category. penalty minutes seemed to be in reach and the offensive categories were up for grabs but favored towards the Brewers offence rather than the Keg Kings truculence, who are no doubt on their way to leading the league in hits. The extended week allowed the managers to adjust their lineups at the halfway point and we saw some very bold and risky moves from both GM`s who continue to set an example for the rest of the league. These moves show the entire league how badly these teams want to win not just the Commissioner`s Classic, but the whole fucking thing!

The Brewers top goaltender Varlamov went down with an injury before seeing any regular season action and put the Brewers behind severely in the goal-tending wins category while still maintaining a respectable .926 save % despite 2 losses from Backstrom. Varlamov was placed on IR allowing the Brewers to pick up overlooked solid goaltender Mike Smith for the second half of the match-up. However, no one could have predicted Filion`s rebuttal to the Brewers move as the GM would bench both of his goaltenders for the rest of week one, on the hopes that 4 wins is enough to clinch the victory while maintaining a solid save percentage, obviously playing the odds that the Brewers goaltenders save percentage will drop this week. This move is unheard of in fantasy leagues and Filion cold be considered a genius if it works. On the other hand, statistically, but highly unlikely, the Brewers can tie or even win the goalie wins category and increase save percentage in the process...... this would no doubt put the Commissioner under a lot of criticism at the hands of the other GM's.

While the Keggers were contemplating their goalie strategy, Atkinson was looking for a way to win more than just goals and assists, although it was far out of reach, he decided to go after the hits category. Already trailing by a large amount, The Brewers inserted Michael Rupp and Brad Stuart into the line-up while sacrificing Dustin Byfuglien to waivers. The two new additions have started slow this season, but finished last season combined for 404 hits. Again, the Keg Kings had  a plan of their own, fearing that PIM was still in reach for the Brewers, the Keg Kings added Sheldon Brookbank who immediately tallied 12 PIMs in his first appearance with the team .... add that to another 17 minutes contributed by Bobby Ryan, and this can ensure the Keggers have another category locked down. 

The score currently sits at 4-2 in favour of Georgetown and I expect to stay this way for the most part. The Keggers have PIM, HITS, and Goaile Wins locked down and also enjoy a sizable lead in +/- , while the Brewers maintain a slight edge in goals and assists. Save percentage is tied but will more than likely swing over to Filion's team. If the Brewers can hold on to the offensive categories, week one will end 5-2 or possibly 4-3 if the Brewers can claim +/-. 

It looks as if the Keg Kings will remain undefeated in the Commissioner's Classic, and the news gets worse for GM Atkinson as Tavares recently experienced a concussion which will keep him out of the line up. Hopefully, for the Brewers sake, they hold on to the offensive categories to avoid a blowout, but it is not a far stretch to predict this match-up could end up 7-0 Georgetown.

These two teams have matched up 15 times since the creation of the RHL and Filion holds the lead with 9 wins. Atkinson lays claim to 4 wins while the two have tied twice. The all-time total score of these matchups is 53-36 in favor of Commissioner Filion. They have also met twice in the playoffs with one win going to Atkinson in the 05-06  finals 6-1, and the other to Filion 4-3 in the 08-09 semis. The all-time total score of their playoff match-ups are 9-5 in favor of Assistant Commissioner Atkinson.

Mississauga Tigers - 14 Teams in 14 Days

Day 14 - The Mississauga Tigers

General Manager: Edwin Mok

Established: 2008-09 as the de Sauga Tigers

Years Active: 3 (2008-09 to 2010-11)

Lifetime Record: 148-138-29 (.516) 325pts

14th overall in points, 7th overall in winning pct.

Best Finish: 1st (2009-10 as the de Sauga Tigers)

Worst Finish:  10th (2008-09 as the de Sauga Tigers)

Cups: 1 (2009-10 as the de Sauga Tigers)

2009-2010 Results: 1st - 82-57-15  (.581) 179pts as the de Sauga Tigers

League Records: None

Alternate Logos:

Alternate 1

Alternate 2

Throwback (de Sauga Tigers 2008-2010)

There isn't really much to say about the Mississauaga Tigers who joined the league just two seasons ago as the de Sauga Tigers, which still to this date, no one knows what the hell "de Sauga" means. Thankfully GM Mok came to his senses and named his franchise after a real city this year. Mok was originally invited in to the league to manage the Malton Muggers for owner Donnie Jaikissoon, however he was eventually granted his own franchise just prior to the draft for the 2008-09 season. GM Mok and his Tigers were not expected to do well in this league.... GM's such as GM Grover of the Colts, and GM Chudzik of the Firecats were excited to Welcome Mok to the RHL as it would ensure them better odds of not finishing last. The Tigers came out strong in 2008-09, losing only one game out of their first six to the Chinatown Jets. Chalk it up to beginners luck, because after the sixth week, every team in the league had a shot at a guaranteed win when they met the Tigers as Mok's team would lose their next five in a row and only capture 3 total wins the rest of the season. From week seven to the end of the year, the Tigers only posted 3 wins in 17 weeks ...... notably two of those wins came against the Burlington Firecats. The de Sauga Tigers finished in 10th place with a 66-81-14 record and 146 points (.453)

2009-10 was a strange year and no one could have seem this coming. drafting second ensured the Tigers would lock up Sidney Crosby, however, no one knows how Mok was able to also include Patrick Marleau and Niklas Backstrom? His team would storm into first place anchored by the best goal tending duo in the league of Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller, but the infamous and controversial trade at the deadline would ultimately seal the fate of the RHL Cup and its eventual home with the Tigers. GM Mok dealt Rich Peverly, Thomas Kaberle, and Mikko Koivu to the Alliston 93 Leafs for Marion Hossa and Pavel Datsyuk ..... The Tigers were about to enter the playoffs seeded first with the best offence in the RHL, they were soon to be found out to be unstoppable. The Alliston 93 Leafs were on there way to being a last place team and had no hopes of making the playoffs, how could such a one-sided trade be allowed to happen? With all of the controversy caused by the "Black Friday" trade that was vetoed just a few seasons earlier, perhaps the league GM's were hesitant to cause a protest. I am absolutely certain that the Tigers would not have one the cup without this trade as the two new forwards would combine for 18 points in the last two rounds of the playoffs. The Tigers first destroyed the Muggers 5-2 in the semis and then defeated the Firecats 6-0 in the finals. They boast a single season, which is also their lifetime playoff record, of 11-2 (.846)

Somehow this season, the Cup champions were granted the first overall pick and chose Alexander Ovechkin, however the rest of the team in no way compares to last years dynamo. I consider last years cup victory to be a combination of luck, unintentional accidents, and collusion to be the recipe for their success and do not expect them to repeat. Alex Ovechkin is not enough to keep the Mississauga Tigers, the defending Cup champions, out of last place.

INTERESTING FACT: No one knows what "de Sauga" means.

Burlington Firecats - 14 Teams in 14 Days

Day 13 - The Burlington Firecats

General Manager: Stefan Chudzik

Established: 2003-04 as the SC Firecats

Years Active: 8 (2003-04 to 2010-11)

Lifetime Record: 413-445-87 (.483) 913pts

6th overall in points, 12th overall in winning pct.

Best Finish: 2nd (2009-10)

Worst Finish:  12th (2005-06 as the SC Firecats)

Cups: 0

2009-2010 Results: 2nd - 82-60-12  (.571) 176pts

League Records: None

Alternate Logos:

Alternate

Throwback (S.C. Firecats 2003-2007)

The Burlington Firecats are one of the worst performing original seven franchises in the RHL, although they boast a slim single point lead over the Brewers on the all time points race, they have never won a cup and have only been in the playoffs twice. This is the least amount of playoff appearances for an "O7" team, not to mention the worst playoff record of the entire Group of Seven. Even though he made it to the finals last season to challenge for the cup, GM Chudzik holds a lifetime playoff record of .222 with only 4 playoff wins and a staggering 14 losses, winning only one single series in his entire RHL career.

2003-04 was the year the SC Firecats were born, named after the initials of the GM's name and his favorite snow machine, they stalled right away and ended their first season in 7th place after missing the playoffs with 140 points. 2005-06 was no better as the Firecats would again miss the playoffs with only 130 points and finish dead last. Chudzik's Firecats were now the only original seven team left in the league to not make a playoff appearance. 2006-07 would have the streak continue as the Firecats once again, found themselves out of the playoffs. Chudzik sat in a familiar spot, this time at number eight with just 146 points, as new expansion teams such as the Blues (now the Colts) and the Gophers (now the Mustache) were enjoying the playoffs in their very first season. with the Perogies gaining playoff experience just one season earlier, there were now 10 teams that are still a part of the RHL today that would see a playoff game before the Firecats. Something had to change ........

Chudzik renamed his team the Burlington Firecats for the 2007-08 season and started things off on the right foot, he was the winner of the draft lottery and was able to select Sidney Crosby first overall. Crosby led the Firecats to many wins, and the team managed to keep winning down the stretch even without their captain, after he missed 21 games due to a high ankle sprain. Sidney Crosby was still able to amass 72 points in just 53 games to help break the playoff drought and lift the Firecats to their first playoff appearance ever. The Cats finished with a very respectable 79-67-15 record (.537) and 173 points which would be good enough for the 3rd playoff seed...... unfortunately, the Cats were upset by the Gougers and were brutally raped 7-0. They would finish their best season yet, in 5th place. The Burlington Firecats almost did not return for the 2008-09 season after a controversial statement and a falling out with the commisioner. After 2007-08's embarrasing playoff series vs. the Gougers, an obviously frustrated Chudzik alerted the league of his intention to release all of his players to waivers during the semi finals of the playoffs. There would be no way for the league to stop such an action even though it clearly messes with the integrity of the league and its GM's ... a release of Chudzik's players would cause a mad free for all between the remaining GM's and would have drastically changed the results of the playoffs .... quick GM's would snatch up Crosby among others and no doubt march their way to the cup blowing past teams with GM's who weren't alert to the statement and watching the wire. This was stopped and the league continued as normal. In the off-season, Commisioner Filion released this statement:

"General Manger Stefan Chudzik of the Burlington Firecats - should he wish to return - left us with some strange comments near the end of our season with regards to dropping his players. As an original member he has been a loyal and fair competitor, do we bring the Firecats back?"

Filion's statement promted a response from GM Chudzik:

"I would still like to be part of next season and return as a GM. I guess I have been officially dropped and your now leaving it to a vote for my return??????I didn't realize my intent to drop all my players would create such a fuss but after I thought about it, I saw where you guys were coming from!!! My apologies!!! However my decision near the end to drop Marty Turco was justifiable as GM, needing goalies who were playing more games a week. The Stars were playing only 2 games a week in the last month so I did what I did for my team. The comment about me being punished or dropped because of that decision was unfair. As GM's we decide & control our teams & players!"

GM Chudzik would eventually return and was back to his losing ways as the Firecats finished 2008-09 out of the playoffs again in 11th place with 148 points.

2009-10 would be very uncharacteristic of the Firecats and eventually prove to be their best effort to date. They drafted a very balanced team and had big years from Parise and Tavares.... combined with very solid goaltending anchored by Marc-Andre Fluery, and a surprise breakout from Ilya Bryzgalov, it's no surprise the ended up in 2nd place with 176 points. The Firecats enjoyed a first round bye and had an easy time in the semi-finals knocking out the Jets 4-1...... Chudzik, after many years of frustration had done it and found his team in the finals challenging for the RHL Cup. If he was going to do it, he would need to perform a miracle, as he drew the de Sauga Tigers, who in five lifetime regular season matchups, have never been defeated by the Firecats. It was a huge hillclimb and the Firecats didn`t have the horsepower or traction for it .... the Tigers easily walked away with the cup 6-0.

Despite Chudzik`s limited success last season, We can expect that this was a one-off and he will land the Firecats out of the playoffs again this year. In a deeper, tougher league, I predict the Cats to finish 13th overall and the Moonstone Brewers will pass the Firecats on the all-time points list making the Cats officially the worst of the original seven.

INTERESTING FACT: The Burlington Firecats have the worst playoff record in RHL History. Even though they made it to the finals last season, they have only ever won a single playoff round. What is most interesting is that this very same series victory was the only time they ever won a playoff game. They were shut out in their other two playoff appearances. (7-0 by the Gougers in 2007-08 and 6-0 by the Tigers in the 2009-10 cup final)