With two teams in the fold, a new uniform manufacturer causing chaos among fan bases, and the league entering its 33rd year, we take a look at the new landscape of the league.

1992 Power Rankings

The Elite Teams

1 – Kirkenport Captains
The Kirk Boys got their mettle tested in the championship series against Kirlow last season and didn't acquit themselves very well but their team is reaching its prime and with expanded rosters, the extra depth in their system will give them a leg up as a team that already figured to be the among the best. Center John Roszak is an early favorite to repeat as MVP, and despite the trophy curse of MVP's unable to win championships, the Captains are in a top tier by themselves. (Prediction: Finals)

2 – Kirlow Kodiaks
The reigning champs in Kirlow still have a solid roster but it's aging quickly and sure to see some regression. Their top lines are still lethal, however, with Quincy Ledoux and the Romanov brothers able to strike fear into their opponents. Rocco La Plante figures to grow even more in the net while the top blue line pairing of Max Kopecky and Jan Mikulec is unparalleled in the league. (Prediction: Finals)

3 – Bancana Kings
With Pete Lentini deciding to return for a couple more seasons, the Kings went into win-now mode signing veteran defenseman Gil Van Nuland and bringing in an aging Geoff Thatchkin to back up Manu Harmaajarvi in goal. It's a decidedly old team but they're all capable vets who could make noise in the playoffs. There's a considerable drop-off after the first line so it's imperative for Aron Sokolov and Shawn Ward to solidify a second group. (Prediction: Semi-Finals)

4 – Vensessor Swans
Eric Caparros spurning the Whales to sign with his hometown team gives Vensessor an absolutely terrifying Top 6. Forward depth is a problem but it may not matter if the top lines are outscoring everyone in the league. Andre Kabbani gives any team a chance when he's in the net, especially with Foster Sherwood patrolling the blue line. The Swans have the tools to contend if they can figure out where everyone fits. (Prediction: Semi-Finals)

Strong Contenders

5 – Kavalos Electrics
These Kavs don't quite have the juice that those 80's squads did and the roster is aging quickly but they still have Leo Stendahl and Ric Rundstrom on a top line with the energetic and highly underrated Denis Lemieux at center. Darren Cain is a future Hall of Famer way past his prime but nobody would bet against him even at 38 years old. Depth and age is a concern all around but Olin Schuster seems to be improving in net giving the Electrics a chance to contend. (Prediction: Quarterfinals)

6 – Portarra Whales
The scuttlebutt that Bill Bronkowski is difficult to work with, leading to the departures of Parrino and Caparros, has hurt the team image a bit and put a crunch on attracting free agents despite all their recent success. Lack of depth in the system after such a long championship run puts the onus squarely on Bronko to carry the team. Their mangled handling of Brian Mahaffey also hurts the team and with an unproven Jeff Alexander in goal, the saving grace may be Eli Priestley and Herb Hass keeping things clean in front of him. Still, it's hard to bet against a player as good as Bronkowski and a team with championship experience. (Prediction: Quarterfinals)

7 – Sina Serpents
Fresh from their first playoff appearance, the Serps are ready to break through even more. Patrick Quinn is a young stud and his linemates in Rens Nylund and Stefan Sorensen are ready to break out as well. Depth has improved with the trade for Nathan Kerler and the net is solidified with the addition of Nick Casselman. Trading two firsts for Fred Karrick was steep, but he is a top-flight defender. The Serpents have done everything they can to elevate the roster. Now they just need to win. (Prediction: Quarterfinals)

8 – Narva Neptunes
The Neptunes front office swung for the fences in landing Alex Kirkland and Elvis Pepper and orchestrating a trade for the number one overall pick in Kevin Kozlosky. The Tunes have fantastic depth down the middle and an improved blue line with rookie Johnny Kapua. Elvis Pepper and Ken Perler don't strike fear into opponents but it's a much improved net situation and enough to give Narva a chance to break their three-year playoff drought. (Prediction: Quarterfinals)

Wild for Wildcards

9 – Dosa City Snappers
The Snappers have an interesting roster with some real stars in key spots. Jonah Urban is a decorated goalie and forms a formidable 1-2 punch with Thurman Justus. The goaltending alone will keep the Snappers in contention but team captain David Tennfjord is an elite scoring forward on a line with Will Zimmerlee and Chris Cambo. Forward depth is a problem but the top-six might be enough to compensate with the addition of Isak Forsberg. The blue line is older with Stevan Orban and Fred Duckett but they're a savvy group that won't make too many mistakes. DC made the playoffs last year and hope to build on that this season. (Prediction: Wildcard)

10 – Quebel Crusaders
This is a veteran team that has been extremely consistent every season, the previous two notwithstanding, but haven't quite figured out how to get beyond playoff appearances. It's a very deep and capable roster with Joel Eklund and the Hungarians in Marcel Luksik and David Suvak on a top line. Victor Knight is a more than steady starter in the net while big Viktor Nurmi is a stud blue-liner. The team added Gus Lowe to pair with Nurmi and have a deep defensive group. They feel primed to break through, perhaps on a longer playoff run. (Prediction: Wildcard)

11 – Alko Wizards
The roster aged more quickly than the team wanted but they've still got some ringers in Sam Sebastian and Gian Guiliano, both of whom could lead the league in scoring. There's not a lot of grit on the team but they're fast and hard to keep up with. The d-corps with Joseph Van Deen and Ernie Powers have become top-notch. The goaltending unit with Arlie Lozano and Albert Beltrano is solid. The Wizards look like potential wildcard contenders and will be in the hunt for the division.

12 – Yubay Falcons
The Sava Side has endured a lengthy rebuild but the pieces are in place headlined by phenom center Bobby Kozun. Team depth has improved and the blue line has shown a lot of growth with Erik Kappenin and Luke Root. An area of concern is the net with Sid O'Neil and Mac McFarlane, both of whom are still young and haven't proved their mettle yet. If Kozun, Cameron Sallee, and Bryan Klein can keep up the scoring, they could overcome the bad netminding and finally break into the playoffs.

The Average Ones

13 – Alko Barbarians
The Barbs will need a lot out of Rick McCombs in the net if they truly want to make noise. They have the pieces to do so with Konrad Kedzierski and Nicky Brockelman on the top line. Depth is solid but team speed is a problem. Their tough brand of play might be enough though. The three-time Cup winner defenseman Frankie Albertelli is the true engine of the team, he has the potential to drag this team into the playoffs. The blue line is solid behind Albertelli.

14 – Yubay Glaciers
The rebuild in Niko Side has been long and painful but the front office is confident the results will begin to pay off soon. Young star center Raleigh Talbot leads a solid forward group on a top line with Jerry O'Connor and Dean Stills with a nice blend of scoring and speed. The tough blue line features Lars Ljungborg and Shane Streeter. The goaltending unit with Jussi Pentti is not flashy but solid enough to help propel the Glaciers into potential playoff contention.

15 – Port Alrene Anchors
The Anchors have all the right pieces for a contender but the age of Jack Kovak is a concern with few other true scorers on the roster outside of JoJo Gorka. The goaltending is solid with Felix Engberg, who hasn't ascended into a star but is still a capable starter, and veteran Will Bethel. The blue line top pairing of Ed Mackey and Adrian Zientek is fantastic. The Anchors feel right in the middle with the ability to make a deep run or miss the playoffs altogether.

16 – Fort Bevin Rockets
The net situation is tenuous, adding Brian Mahaffey is more of stop-gap than a real fix after Chris Murphy's development stalled out. The rest of the roster is solid, however, as Fletcher Phelan heads a monster top line with Harlan Demers and Kory Damron. Depth is solid if not flashy. The blue line group are defense-first which should help lackluster goaltending. The Rockets could make a run at the division title but unless they can improve their net, their ceiling is capped.

Below Average Squads

17 – Kurohara Killers
Losing Alex Kirkland hurts tremendously. He was the heart and soul of the team but the cheap efforts of the ownership group has landed this team in hot water. The fourth line is atrocious but otherwise the team depth is solid. Damien St. Pierre is still an elite forward capable of leading the team. The blue line isn't flashy but they're a tight group with Savva Krupin and vet Dennis Overstreet. The net with Austin Ellis and Emil Boivin is more than capable. The Killers lost some firepower but they also have a solid roster.

18 – Abrieden Bucks
The Bucks are fun. The roster, though, is less fun on paper. They do have Byron Schwartz though, a puck-moving defender with a scoring penchant. Gale Muncy is a highly underrated defender. The forward group is deep but nobody has risen up to take the reins of the team. Josef Tyoma and Ismo Takala could be those guys but the star player this team needs is likely still to be added. Trading for Jarkko Bergstrom in goal helps this roster a ton and the Bucks could win games based on depth.

19 – Prestonburg Blazers
The roster is young and green. If they put it all together they could vault up the standings but they're likely still a few pieces away. Still, Gregor Jansson and Ron Kilchenstein might be the next legendary defense pairing in the league. Forward depth is a problem and there's no true scorers in the top six. Juha Laukkanen and Franco Lawrence are solid goalies though and the Blazers could win some tough games.

20 – Trowburgh Herons
This roster is either extremely old or very young. They're squarely in the twilight zone. Rookie center Ben Camerlin is a nice addition though. Brian Zaragoza and Mitchell Sharpe are some young forwards with promise. Likewise in the net with Mike Sargent. Jeremy Harness could be a good defender too someday but that day is likely not this season as depth is old and slow on both sides of the bench.

Lottery Contenders

21 – Portarra Pioneers
The revamp on the northside of Portarra has gone as planned but the Pios are nowhere near contention yet. Drafting Phil Pasternak is a nice story but he's not his dad Geno and he doesn't have a set position. Depth is a real concern in the forward group. Fortunately the blue line is a solid group and should keep them in games, especially if Lance Miller can make the leap in his fifth year into a solid starter. The team is still a few pieces away from making any real noise though.

22 – Chasonne Heralds
The Heralds have some interesting pieces but the rebuild has been a slow burn and depth is abysmal. The blue line is old and bad. It feels like another season of development for Freddy Perreault to see if he can be “the guy” for the Heralds going into his third year. John McHenry is a good winger but rumors of him wanting out are emerging. Rookie goalie Jeff Seybolt is a welcome addition and adding veteran Eddie Montague gives Chasonne a solid net. The team seems destined for the lottery.

23 – Waterdee Dragons
The Dragons are new and bad. They will likely, however, think they can make noise based on their high profile city but the roster doesn't show it. Joseph Blunt is a capable goaltender and rookie backup Jim Getzlaff shows promise, which might be enough to win some games on their own. Dean “Cinnamon” Ciraulo is a fun guy and great story but he's well past his usage date. Guys like Mark Freeman and rookie Brian Belgrade could make a name for themselves though in what will be a rough season all around for an expansion team.

24 – Cobantle Cardinals
The Cards are new and bad. There's no other way around it. The new expansion rules don't give a leg up to new teams as much as they once did. Rookie defender Peter Voronin will be a highlight and veteran center Elisha Nadeau can still score a lot of goals. Randy Wiseman is a savvy veteran goalie but he likely doesn't have the legs to carry this team. The focus will be on development and earning a lottery pick.

alright, look at the tunes making some moves! two top six picks *and* two top free agent signings? ya boy loves to see it.

1992 Torland National Team

With the incredible announcement earlier in the year from Torland president David Doubek that the city of Chasonne would host the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, work started immediately on assembling teams to compete in the Olympic sports, particularly ice hockey. Before the THL regular season began, the Committee announced the full rosters and uniforms for the event. Getting the team assembled turned out to be quite a chore, however.

In preparation for the 1992 Olympics the Torland National Team Committee campaigned the Torland Hockey League to allow their professional players to participate in the Games. The IOC had approved a new rule allowing professional players in hockey but several top level leagues, notably the NHL and the THL, refused to send players for financial and scheduling reasons. THL Commissioner Pete Byrd was stubbornly against it, particularly after losing much of the 1985 season. The National Team Committee petitioned the players' union president Rod Temple to help push the issue, especially because many star players in the THL had expressed interest in the Olympics. With Temple aboard, public pushback was enough to cause Byrd to relent and make some minor concessions, notably that he would allow the 1992 rookie draft class to participate in the Olympics even if those players had already signed contracts or played games with their parent clubs. Minor league players with no professional THL games played and the upcoming 1993 rookie draft class were still eligible as usual.



The National Team Committee announced that THL Hall of Famer and longtime Narva Neptunes head coach Byron Peachey was selected to lead and organize the team. Peachey enlisted collegiate hockey coach Phil Hubbard from Robinette University and Jack Cotton from Tamokeva State as assistants. Training facilities were put together in Sheldalie, Forstana at the small home rink of the Sheldalie Snowcats of the LIHL. With no THL affiliation, the Snowcats' schedule could be moved around and their facility was the nearest to the future site of the Olympic Games in Chasonne and halfway to Narva where Peachey lived and worked at the Neptunes' headquarters.



The Committee had campaigned hard for the rights to the '92 rookie class because it was among the deepest in years, featuring winger Kevin Kozlosky (Neptunes) and defenseman Peter Voronin (Cardinals). The upcoming 1993 rookie class also looked promising. Peachey's selections of Hubbard and Cotton were strategic as Hubbard had a pair of highly promising centers at Robinette in Toby Von Otto and Eric Dupree while Cotton had recruited both sons of legend Geno Pasternak to play at Tamokeva State. Phil, the elder son, was a center/wing who had declared for the '92 draft class and been drafted by the Pioneers. Alex, the younger and perhaps more talented son, played right wing and had committed to Tamokeva State.

Up next: The 1992 Regular Season

Note: Shoutout to QCS for the Torland national emblem, which appears on a set of flags they designed for Torland!

Does this mean Chasonne will be on the road for the entirety of the Olympics?

1992 REGULAR SEASON

After a loaded offseason with the addition of two expansion teams, a new uniform system, and a new broadcasting partner, the Torland Hockey League was finally ready to drop the puck on its 33rd season.

Willard Division: The Willard was a three team race from the start, and all three qualified for the playoffs in a fierce competition. The Sina Serpents took advantage of a regressing Whales squad to leapfrog into the division lead, despite Bill Bronkowski's best efforts. The Whales were still good but with clearly lessened firepower than previous seasons. It was Sina's Patrick Quinn who made significant strides in his second season, solidifying his status as a young phenom with an All-Gold selection. Meanwhile, the Quebel Crusaders rode a stellar defensive scheme with d-man Victor Nurmi leading the way in front of goalie Viktor Knight to punch their playoff ticket as the third team in the division to qualify. The Rockets and Anchors were both feisty teams to play against but neither could gain any traction on the season. It was particularly surprising for Port Alrene who despite having good metrics couldn't seem to pull together any wins in a season that lacked focus from the start as Jack Kovak showed his age and the forward depth struggled to score. Fort Bevin overcame shaky goaltending and spotty defense but it was the offense that struggled at times with Fletcher Phelan battling injuries all season. The rebuilding Pioneers were abysmal as expected, mustering little offense and with goalie Lance Miller going cold for most of the season, teams were able to score at will against Portarra. The Pios will look to get a high lottery pick to continue their rebuild.

Hatch Division: The Alko Barbarians had been mostly written off by pundits as an average team but Frankie Albertelli put together one of the finest seasons as a defenseman in league history to carry the Barbs to the playoffs and win the division, earning a much-deserved League MVP along the way. Their brand of heavy hockey pummeled lighter weight teams like crosstown rivals the Wizards, who were good but not great and struggled to keep up in a tight race. It was a disappointing season for Sam Sebastian in his eighth season and considered one of the premier centers in the league. Meanwhile the Dosa City Snappers found their mojo behind David Tennfjord's leadership and gave chase to the Barbarians for the division title, only to come up just one point short which still earned them a 5th seed with a likely matchup against them in the playoffs. Jonah Urban looked like an all-world player in the net and the vibes were high in DC. The Kodiaks fell back to earth after two dominant seasons, partly due to injuries with both Romanov brothers landing on IR throughout the season, and also due to the difficulty of the division, as the boys in brown fell just one point shy of playoff consideration. The Blazers were predictably bad, even though the defensive was surprisingly good as teams did not enjoy playing in Prestonburg. It was their rival Swans who made some real noise, overcoming a bad start to find real momentum in the latter half of the season as free agent signing Eric Caparros rediscovered some of that magic with former Whales teammate Ray Parrino to sneak Vensessor into the playoffs.

Elam Division: There were no real surprises in the Elam as the league realignment had left both expansion teams with two bad teams in Chasonne and Trowburgh to compete with the mighty Captains and the surging Neptunes. Some fans grumbled that the league was doing Kirkenport a huge favor by this arrangement and that Commissioner Byrd must have owed Don Giordano Jr., but the reality was that the Captains were the best team in the league no matter what as John Roszak was even better than the previous year and came close to winning another League MVP and had to settle for Best Forward. Even with Roszak's otherworldly dominance, coach Gerald Fox got the most out of a deep system to provide substantial scoring depth and tight defense as the Kirk Boys dominated their way to the #1 seed. The retooled new-look Neptunes had no problem securing the second spot in the division as rookie Kevin Kozlosky looked pro-ready alongside veteran star Alex Kirkland to win best rookie. The weak division and playoff format unfortunately meant that Narva made the playoffs while other stronger teams like Kirlow did not. The two expansion teams in Cobantle and Waterdee were pretty bad as expected, especially with tighter expansion team rules, but the atmosphere and fan vibes in both locations were ramped up all season as they saw plenty of support for the new teams. The Heralds have been stuck in purgatory for a handful of seasons and this one didn't get much better as Freddy Perreault struggled in his second season and the defense was non-existent. Rookie goalie Jeff Seybolt, however, did look good and gives Chasonne some glimmer of hope for the future. The Herons made a little run despite being a team in the middle of a rebuild and helped boost fan attendance if nothing else. The roster is a work in progress but some of the new kids looked promising as Trowburgh seeks to kick their rebuild into the next gear.

Rankin Division: Manu Harmaajarvi was the storyline as he almost single-handedly at times kept the Kings in the playoff race and ultimately powered them into the division title. Some believed he deserved the MVP trophy over Albertelli but he still took home Best Goalie in a legendary season. Pete Lentini looked off for much of the season until turning it on late, showing some age but also dealing with a personal matter at home, according to league sources. Quite a few analysts believed both Yubay teams were on the rise and indeed both made a run at the playoffs, with the Niko Side clinching a berth over the Sava Side who just missed out. Raleigh Talbot proved himself a top-flight center for the Glaciers in his fifth season with Jerry O'Connor on his wing, earning Most Improved as he led the team. Tight defense helped improve the goaltending for the Niko Side. The Falcons finished just a few points behind as young Bobby Kozun also showed his prowess in his third season to make a major leap forward. While the blue line looked improved, the net situation looked tenuous and remains a problem. The Electrics finally had their age catch up to them and had a hard time keeping up with younger faster teams even though Denis Lemieux looked fantastic. The Killers struggled in all phases and looked like a shell of themselves without Alex Kirkland as Kurohara will have to figure out what their future holds. The Bucks showed promise but weren't able to be consistent over the season and struggled to score at times as they still lack a dominate star.



Hockey on the Mount

The Old Rivalry was renewed at the Icebox between Portarra and Port Alrene as the Anchors won for the second straight season against the Whales.



Playoff Preview:

Glaciers vs Swans
Can the young Glaciers outlast the surging Swans in this sizzling wildcard matchup?

Neptunes vs Crusaders
Will all the free agent additions pay off for Narva as they battle against the consistent Crusaders?

Serpents vs Whales
Will this clash see the young Serpents show their mettle or will the experienced Whales prevail?

Barbarians vs Snappers
Who will win in a battle between League MVP Albertelli against a do-it-all centerman Tennfjord?

Byes: Captains, Kings


Up next: The '92 Olympics in Torland and the '92 THL Playoffs