That was brief the Peacocks are starting to sound like the Buffalo Bills of the KLH

Any expansion in the future?

Hey, everyone! Sorry about the break, getting the College Project up took up my time. But I'm back with the 1970-71 season!



Newton rocketed (heh) to the top of the standings, behind incredible defensive play from Henry Perkins and Owen Towns. Goalie Jud Lyons also played well this season, finishing with the highest save percent in the league. Sean Butler was the under-appreciated star of the season, one of the top assisting players out there.

Behind them were the Unions, reclaiming their place in the Kurosawa Cup Finals with gusto. Bill Sanderson, Jozef Morvey, and Luka Dimc combined for a line that would make any opposing defenseman tremble. Dimc led the league in goals with 23 this season and finished 2nd in points with 55. Morvay and Sanderson also had plenty of points this season and goalie Les Kilgore had a rebound year after injury hit him hard last season.

Following Aoishi was Georgeville, missing out on the playoffs for the first time. That's not to say they were bad, as always Leonid Yezhov killed it out there and goalie Ales Grbavcic stepped up to try and push the Peacocks all the way. Unfortunately, the Unions just beat them out, and a last-day regular season loss to Vertlac was the deciding game. 

The Bullets continued their slow decline, winning one less game than last season, with Carlos Ortega just disappearing this season. They couldn't seem to push their advantage and finished with a losing record despite a positive goal differential. 

Once again Sol wasn't in contention but this year did show significant improvement. Bret Tiptoft continues to be excellent and he was joined this year by Terry Knowles (from Aoishi) and Jeremy Dube to form a formidable front line. In fact, the Flames had spots 2-5 on goal scorers this season, and Tiptoft and Dube were in contention for the points award this year. With Sol's core entering their peak, this could be a very scary team if their defense improves.

Finally, Vertlac found themselves in last after winning the Kurosawa Cup. Gim Gu declined and the 'Jacks' offense just wasn't where it needed to be. This is the worst record in KLH history, but if Aoishi is anything to go by Vertlac might bounce back next year.

All-League Teams:


So it'll be the Unions returning to the finals to face the Explorers! Aoishi retained most of their championship-winning crew from '69, but Newton is a tough team with championship glory in their eyes. Will Newton reach the great unknown or will Aoishi take a second crown to join their first? Find out soon!

NEXT: 1971 Kurosawa Cup Finals

1971 Kurosawa Cup Finals



With Aoishi returning to the finals, it was expected to be close. However, the Explorers came out on top in a 7-game series.

Game 1: NEW 3, AOI 2 (OT) - The first game was close, with the Unions having a lead into the 3rd before Henry Perkins tied it up. In OT, the game was tense and both teams had chances, but it was Adam Thomson who sent it past Les Kilgore to win it for Newton. NEW 1-0

Game 2: AOI 2, NEW 1 - The Unions stole a game in Newton and tied the series up heading back to Aoishi. TIE 1-1

Game 3: NEW 2, AOI 1 - It was the Explorers' turn to take an away game as Andrew Stockhill launched the game-winning goal in the third. NEW 2-1

Game 4: AOI 2, NEW (OT) - This game came down to the wire, but Bill Sanderson came through for the Unions and scored 5 minutes in to OT. TIE 2-2

Game 5: NEW 2, AOI 0 - The Explorers shut out the Unions, putting two in the net in the 2nd to win the all-important game 5. NEW 3-2

Game 6: AOI 3, NEW 2 - The Unions were up 3-0 in the 3rd before a fierce comeback by the Explorers, driving to the net and scoring 2 before the game was over. Aoishi successfully forced a Game 7, while Newton is looking to win the series at home. TIE 3-3

Game 7: NEW 6, AOI 1 - In a tradition carried over from the RIBF, the deciding game was a blowout. It looked even in the 1st was Aoishi kept up, but the Explorers put another on, then another in the 2nd, then 3 insurance goals in the third to destroy Aoishi. Adam Thomson scored twice and Jim Milton had an assist hat trick in addition to a goal to win the series for Newton. NEW 4-3

YOUR 1971 KUROSAWA CUP CHAMPIONS ARE: THE NEWTON EXPLORERS!

Awards:



Peacocks defenseman Leonid Yezhov took home his second MVP and his third straight Defenseman of the Year, while Rookie of the Year was won by Hokkyo's Sean Pugh. Newton took home two awards, as Jud Lyons won Goalie of the Year and Adam Thomson won Playoff MVP. This makes 6 total awards for Yezhov, who is making a serious case to be named the best player in the KLH so far. However, that ring eludes him for now. He's 28 and has plenty of chances, but Georgeville needs to build around him.

NEXT: 1971 Offseason

The best you can hope for is a Game 7, where anything goes. Not our best moment but glad for the chance.