1955 WCEHL Trades

So, I guess I either broke my simulator, or maybe it hates me. Since there is so much on the plate this year in terms of trading, I’m going to try to make it simple by highlighting only the main trades.
 
     June
San Diego trade veteran goalie Ken Seymour to Salt Lake for 1955’s 3rd overall selection, Ryan Bennett. (This was covered in the draft)
 
TTHC trades Braydon Holden, a 25-year-old LW, to Las Vegas for 2-time goalie of the year, Ed Gaston. It is unclear who won this trade because people have major concerns about Gaston when he’s not backing the most talented team in the league.
 
     July
San Diego sends star goalie Rusty McFadden to Oakland. In return, the Patriots will receive a 3rd round pick in 1956 and one of Sgt. Johnson’s military friends to act as a bodyguard for Tin Canton when he gets scared of ghosts at night. 
 
TTHC gifts Las Vegas their budding star Chris Woollams for a 1956 3rd round pick and what Zamboni calls a “favor” from the owner of the Flamingos.
 
California gets Collin Cornish, who is far past his prime between the pipes at 36, and in return TTHC will pick up a 3rd round pick in the 1956 draft.
 
 
     August (The Month of Long Beach’s Terror)
California receives a 5th round pick in the 1956 draft and a year’s worth of honey from Salt Lake in exchange for star defenseman, Al Stone. (Diggins just couldn’t resist a year’s worth of that perfect gold liquid)
 
Arizona makes a small investment, literally, by taking tiny but brash defenseman Smail Podrabsky from Salt Lake. The Bees would only get a 7th round pick in the 1956 draft to compensate, but it evens out when considering Smail will be turning 36 this year.
 
Long Beach receives 19-year-old future WCEHL star Jeffrey Tosewell from TTHC in exchange for another 1956 3rd round pick and 10% of Long Beach’s ticket sales for the next three years.
 
If the last trade wasn’t enough, Long Beach decided to double dip by grabbing 1953/54 MVP Billy McGorrie from California for the Quake’s 2nd and 5th pick in 1956 and a 1st round pick in 1962.
 
Finally, the world came to a halt when news broke that Long Beach had obtained last year’s MVP Anastasio Moran from Las Vegas. When asked how he did it, Friday responded by saying, “It only took a first and fourth round pick… I don’t think the owner of Las Vegas would like my lips getting too loose about any agreements beyond that”. French would then wink at the reporters and take a long, slow drag off his thin cigarette.
 
 
1955 WCEHL Free Agency Market
There were four major names on the market this offseason, and Long Beach continued to hold their destructive reputation by welcoming all four to the newest city in the league. These players include:

• Kenny Corderey - who is best known for his dominance in Oakland.
• Cory Hornbury – Salt Lake’s breakthrough star over the past few years.
• Hal Tapping – Known as “the original Canner” in San Diego. Held the “C” both years he was there.
• Andress Riekstins – The lovable Latvian who won 2 titles with Arizona’s “four headed monster” squad.

ProsecutorMilesEdgeworth wrote:

So I see 0_ numbers are gonna be allowed in this league a la NASCAR. I like it.

 
While the intention of that was to signify that he was the third overall pick in 1955 and had no actual number, I’m not opposed to the idea. Seems logical enough in this league.

Oh man, I've missed a lot of the madness already. French Friday. What a guy.

Love the Long Beach look, super classic and timeless identity that belies the type of owner it has.

1955/56 WCEHL Season
 
     The time has finally come to witness the new and improved eight team league! Much more optimal, much sleeker, much more mature. The WCEHL has no time for baby leagues, it is adult skate hours now!

 
     On the first night of the season, fans got the treat of seeing Long Beach for the first time against the Grizzlies. Early play saw the heavily favored Earthquakes go down by 3, making the crowd unsure of what to think. It took an unreasonable amount of time for Long Beach to shine, but the 6 unanswered goals in the third period would mark the start of their dominance in the league.
 
     The Quakes were led by their first line who broke out early with 45 combined points in 10 games, and ending the season with 193 points together. The trio were the most feared in the league, only stopping point production with each other on nights they felt others should get on the scoresheet. Moran would take his second consecutive MVP title in style, breaking the point record he set last year by 17. While Moran filled his trophy shelf, Kenny Corderey, Billy McGorrie and 37-year-old Juhani Vastamaki would all rank right behind the MVP in every category. The team’s explosive play that produced a total of 184 goals in 34 games would rightfully earn them one of two spots in the finals.
 
     The second entry would go to the Oakland Patriots, who flew under the radar as the league’s attention focused on the high-flying action of the Quakes. Respect was much deserved for Sgt. Johnson and his team of misfits, though. The Patriots had climbed a rank each year to finally earn their chance in the spotlight. Even after losing Corderey to LB, Oakland was able to stabilize due to lesser known Jerry Townsend’s ability to step into a leadership role. The 24-year-old would lead the team in points, while captain Joe Nichols would pick up any slack. Being outclassed by 13 points in the regular season, Oakland will go into the finals considered substantial underdogs.
 
     Both the San Diego Canners and TTHC would find themselves tied at 32 points at the end of the season, but both teams got there in very different ways. San Diego were finally able to reap the benefits of a strong prospect pool this season. Instead of weeping at the conclusion of the final game, Tin Canton found himself congratulating Ruohong, Bennett and Apperson for being able to take the challenge of the league and exceeding expectations. On the other side, TTHC achieved their position with a roster filled with age. Zamboni capitalized in free agency by picking up a handful of hardworking veterans, and their “any way possible” approach to games would take many teams by surprise.
 
     California would move backwards without McGorrie, and the Las Vegas/Arizona era ended as quickly as it had begun. The two teams had no choice but to sit and watch from the sidelines while LB rode their previous stars to the promise land. The fans in Las Vegas kept their mouths quiet, fully aware that they were the ones who demanded a roster overhaul after losing in the finals two years straight, but Arizona fans had plenty to say for the both of them. In the middle of it all was a very lonely Joe Benoit, who, despite putting together an MVP nominee performance, would not be smashing a magnum for the first time in his career.
 
…Oh, and Salt Lake were an absolute disaster. 

Wow, Long Beach really just came in and took over the league. I'm rooting for McGorrie but I'd like to see an upset by Oakland.