Alternate History Sports » Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Steelman · 4/29/2025 8:36 pm

1993 THL PLAYOFFS

Wildcard Round

7 Yubay Falcons vs 10 Yubay Glaciers
The battle of Yubay finished with a bang with three straight overtime games as the Sava Side was just able to edge out their crosstown rivals on the Niko Side. [YUB wins 3-2]

8 Narva Neptunes vs 9 Alko Wizards
The Neptunes looked strong in their first game but the Wizards bounced back even stronger to dispatch Narva by winning three straight. [ALK wins 3-1]

Quarterfinals

1 Kirkenport Captains vs 9 Alko Wizards
The well-rested Captains absolutely ran over the Wizards and held them scoreless over a dominate clean sweep as Roszak and Company looked like a juggernaut. [KRK wins 4-0]

2 Alko Barbarians vs 7 Yubay Falcons
The plucky young Falcons engineered the upset with an OT win in Game 1 and a 10-1 mauling in Game 5 to power past the Barbarians who seemed to struggle in key moments. [YUB wins 4-2]

3 Sina Serpents vs 6 Dosa City Snappers
The Snappers had high hopes coming into the series but a devastating injury to goalie Jonah Urban sucked the life out of them as the Serps jumped all over them and didn't allow a goal in a clean sweep. [SIN wins 4-0]

4 Bancana Kings vs 5 Portarra Pioneers
The veteran Kings seemed to just run out of gas against the much younger and faster Pioneers as Portarra weathered a 20-goal game and an overtime elimination game to advance. [PTP wins 4-0]

Semi-Finals

1 Kirkenport Captains vs 7 Yubay Falcons
The young Falcons forced OT in Game 1 but John Roszak had a game-winning shot to give the Captains an early series lead. The Falcons were a considerable foe as an OT winner from Bobby Kozun extended the series for Yubay. It was Kirkenport who displayed their poise and playoff experience in games 5 and 6 to clinch the semi-final and earn a berth in the Marcotte Cup. [KRK wins 4-2]

3 Sina Serpents vs 5 Portarra Pioneers
The Pios came in with lots of hype after their win against the Kings but the Serpents continued their clinical dismantling of the Snappers by holding the Pioneers scoreless, this time in closely-contested battles of three straight 1-0 wins to punch their ticket to their first Marcotte Cup appearance. [SIN wins 4-0]

Up next: The 34th Marcotte Cup features Kirkenport and Sina

C&C always appreciated!

Darknes · 4/29/2025 9:27 pm

KIRK KIRK KIRK!
GLORY TO THE MIDNIGHT MILE!
C'mon CAPS!

Sevsdast · 4/30/2025 8:36 am

... At least we won last year... dang it.

Section30 · 4/30/2025 8:38 am

Great run by my Falcons! Hopefully we can use this experience for some more deep runs in the future. Also lol at the Glaciers being one goal away from advancing TWICE and blowing it.

Sina looks scary right now, 8-0 in the playoffs is crazy but 8 shutouts?!? That's insane! I'm gonna be pulling for the Serpents in this one.

Sevsdast · 4/30/2025 8:42 am

Section30 wrote:
Great run by my Falcons! Hopefully we can use this experience for some more deep runs in the future. Also lol at the Glaciers being one goal away from advancing TWICE and blowing it.

Sina looks scary right now, 8-0 in the playoffs is crazy but 8 shutouts?!? That's insane! I'm gonna be pulling for the Serpents in this one.

I think so too... They remind me a lot of Vegas's team. Scrappy, dominant, and letting it all on the field. No wonder they've been so popular over the years.

Steelman · 5/04/2025 5:45 pm

1993 Marcotte Cup Championship Finals
1 Kirkenport Captains vs 3 Sina Serpents

An original stalwart of the league matches up with a more recent addition and first-time championship participant as the Captains square off against the Serpents for the 34th Marcotte Cup. The Sina Serpents joined the league in 1983 as part of a two-team expansion and took their lumps as a new team, surviving eight years before finally making three consecutive playoffs starting in 1991. Owned by Fred Winkler, the Serpents play at the EverStar Center in Sina, Galateptra. Meanwhile the Captains are an original team formed in 1960, still owned by the Giordano family and play at the venerable Kirk Coliseum in Kirkenport, Alrene Isles. The Kirk Boys have won three Marcotte Cups and contended for several more as one of the premier franchises in the league.

The Serpents are led by young phenom center Patrick Quinn, entering his third season in the league as an All-Torland caliber player and new alternate captain. He is flanked by wingers Rens Nylund and Stefan Sorensen on a very powerful top line. The Swedish winger Nyland in particular is a very underrated scoring star in the league. Serbian center Stan Milosevic pivots a capable second line. New addition Jan Mikulec is a valuable veteran blueliner with loads of experience, paired with team captain Robbie Lovejoy to form an excellent top tandem on defense. The Serps are served by Nick Casselman in net, a capable veteran with plenty of playoff experience. They are coached by the “Larrys” in Larry Barker and Larry Weatherford.

The Captains are led by reigning League MVP and hometown kid John Roszak, considered by most to be at least a top-3 player in the league. Roszak is joined on a top line by fellow hometown kid Eric Jorgensen and Finnish winger Davi Martikainen. The Captains have excellent depth starting with versatile forward Tony Small and veteran center Fabian Fryer. The blue line is one of the league's deepest starting with Len Rutkowski and Nick Keltgen. The goalie tandem of Vassily Wuopio and Dennis Vanderbloem split starts and each have plenty of experience. The Captains are coached by top boss Gerald Fox along with assistant Roy Singletary.

Game 1: SIN 1 @ KRK 3 – The Kirk Coliseum was packed beyond capacity and the Midnight Mile was absolute bedlam as the 34th Marcotte Cup began battle. The scene escalated to even higher volumes as Roszak whipped home a shot past Casselman in the first minute. Things quieted down though after Stefan Soresen scored a greasy goal a few minutes later to even it up. A third period push with goals from Roszak and Keltgen gave Kirkenport the early series lead.

Game 2: SIN 1 @ KRK 3 – This time it was Sina who scored first, on a shorthander from third pair defenseman Dylan Wiles to shock the crowd. The Kirk Boys regrouped as a point shot from defenseman Levi Gray tied it in the second period before third line center Nic Lengyel broke the tie with a batted shot that was looked at for several minutes on video review before being called good. Roszak added an extra goal late in the third to give the Captains a 2-0 series lead.

Game 4: KRK 0 @ SIN 3 – The Captains seemed sluggish after their raucous start at home as the Serpents were feeling their own hometown energy as the EverStar broke capacity records. Nick Casselman pitched a shutout as Jan Mikulec, Jamie Doyle, and Stefan Sorensen all scored for Sina to get back into the series.

Game 4: KRK 0 @ SIN 3 – The return of captain Robbie Lovejoy from a two game absence gave the hometown crowd an extra jolt as an early gaffe from Dennis Vanderbloem misplaying the puck allowed winger Tony Murray to punch home an easy goal. That seemed to suck the life out of the Captains as Murray scored his second and Mikulec added another to even up the series with a second shutout.

Game 5: SIN 0 @ KRK 1 – Back at the Coliseum, the atmosphere was tense for fans and players alike as a tied series put extra emphasis on Game 5. A second period Sina goal from Quinn was disallowed due to goaltender interference with loud approval from the crowd before a Rutkowski goal was disallowed due to offsides to give them a taste of their own medicine. With both Casselman and Wuopio stout in net, it wasn't until late in the third period that a point shot from Rutkowski wormed its way through defenders skates and found the back of the net to give Kirkenport the win.

Game 6: KRK 3 @ SIN 5 – The game started with no goals but the second period began the craziness with three goals in two minutes as Levi Gray punched home a slapper for Kirkenport while Arthur Steele and Chris Hooker both scored on the same shift on the checking unit. Boyce Betts briefly evened it up for the Caps before Nate Gatlin sauced a softie over Wupio's shoulder. A 3-3 tie going into the third didn't last long as veteran defenseman Fred Karrick scored on a rebound for Sina. An empty netter for Nylund put the game away and sent the series to a deciding seventh game.

Game 7: SIN 2 @ KRK 3 (OT) – With Casselman against Wuopio in net, the game was played at a blistering pace but both goalies stood tall. A powerplay goal from Eric Jorgensen gave the Captains a lead in the second period until a mad scramble in the waning seconds of the period saw fourth-liner Rod Haywood tie it up for Sina. The third period was much of the same, though at a much slower pace as both team became more deliberate. Haywood found his second goal again in a net scramble as Wuopio was out of position as a block attempt from Rutkowski also saw him crosschecked by Ronny Willburn and left him injured and carried down the tunnel. The crowd was incensed and the noise reached all-time levels as the Captains' powerplay was executed beautifully even without Rutkowski as John Roszak punched home a classic one-timer on a Jorgensen pass to bring the game to overtime. Rutkowski returned for the overtime period much to the chaotic delight of the Kirk fans as a breakout pass from Martikainen three minutes into the period was put on the tape of Roszak one-on-one against Casselman and the hometown hero cooly flipped a backhander over Casselman's stick to give the Kirkenport Captains their fourth Marcotte Cup trophy and himself a Series MVP trophy to add to his collection.

1993 Marcotte Cup Champions: Kirkenport Captains (4)

dvdbubba27 · 5/04/2025 7:14 pm

Steelman wrote:
1993 Marcotte Cup Champions: Kirkenport Captains (4)

FINALLY!

Steelman · 5/12/2025 5:28 pm

1994 THL OFFSEASON

League News

Commissioner Pete Byrd announced that at least one expansion team would be on the table for later in the decade. No word on where it would be located but Byrd was beginning the process of fielding bids from potential ownership groups.

Byrd also announced a new coaching academy that would be held at THL Headquarters as part of a new THL Legacy initiative that would equip former THL players with an intensive multi-year academy that would include internships with local collegiate or independent hockey programs before eventual offers to join THL team staffs. The success of former players like Byron Peachey and a thin current coaching pool prompted the league to start the new program. More than 25 former players enrolled in the program, which was dubbed the “Peachey Plan” by the media.

The Alko Barbarians finally completed their new arena in East Alko, which was named the Enseco Center. The state-of-the-art arena plan was financed primarily by team owner Dick Valentine and will give the Barbarians their own barn for the first time. They will begin play there for the 1994 season.

1994 Draft Lottery

The 1994 lottery was all chalk as all four teams remained in the order they placed with Waterdee picking first, followed by Kavalos, Cobantle, and Fort Bevin.

Notable Retirements

Thomas Nelissen retired after a 21-year career in the league where he was named League MVP (Pasternak) and Best Defenseman (Kauffman) twice each to go along with 8 All-Star appearances and a Most Improved trophy. Considered among the best of his generation, Nelissen was drafted by the Pioneers in 1973 with 4th overall pick. The Dutchman played in Portarra for 17 seasons before signing with Bancana for two seasons. He played a single season each with Sina and Kirlow before calling it a career. The only trophy that eluded him was a Cup. Nelissen was universally liked around the league and was a great ambassador of the sport in his native Holland and his adopted home in Portarra.

Luke Wisniewski retired after a 20-year career with the Narva Neptunes, where he was drafted #6 overall in 1974. “Little Wiz,” younger cousin of Hall of Famer Gary Wisniewski, was a two-time All-Star and helped Narva win two Marcotte Cups. He also served as team captain from 1986-1993.

Former goalie Brian Mahaffey retired after a 21-year career. Originally drafted by Kirlow in 1973 as a developmental prospect, Mahaffey spent most of his first season in the minors before joining the big squad in 1974 where he won Best Rookie and was an All-Star alternate, before helping the Kodiaks to Cup appearances in '77 and '79. A rebuild saw him traded to the Whales in 1986 where he helped backstop Portarra to three consecutive Marcotte Cup wins in the late 80s where he was a two-time All-Star and named '88 Finals MVP for his heroics in the playoffs. A falling out with the Whales brass saw him sign a free agent deal with Fort Bevin to finish out his career. Most goaltenders in the THL Hall of Fame have won bigger hardware in their careers, leaving his resume somewhat on the outside looking in, similar to other Cup-winning goalies like Lawrence Hymore who won 4 Cups with Chasonne. But regardless, Mahaffey is a well-known figure around the league.

Coaching Carousel

No teams made coaching changes.

Breaking News

Free agency wouldn't officially begin until the week after the draft but the biggest storyline was that of impending free agent center Bill Bronkowski and featured wall-to-wall coverage on all major sports networks. The relationship between Bronko, 28, and the Whales had deteriorated past the point of no return over the course of the last few seasons. With the Whales missing the playoffs for the first time since 1984, it appeared the final nail was in the coffin. Bronko gained a reputation of being difficult to work with and play with, noted by the departures of several big names who all found it more unappealing to play with Bronko than it was to win three cups in a row.

Despite all of the conjecture, every team not named the Whales were itching for a chance to make a pitch for him to join their roster as the best player in the league. Even the Whales attempted to put aside their differences and teammate Eli Priestley lobbied for his return to Portarra, even as Priestley was deciding on his own future.

With every team making efforts to persuade Bronkowski, a handful of teams rose to the top of the list for potential destinations. It was known that Bronko preferred a team that was at least in contention with a mixture of young and veteran talent. He only wanted to sign a shorter 3-year deal, which left teams still in major rebuilding out of the running. Teams granted second interviews were the Anchors, Barbarians, Bucks, Crusaders, Falcons, Glaciers, Neptunes, Pioneers, and Snappers. More coverage to follow.

Up next: '94 Amateur Draft, Free Agency, HotM Uniforms, etc

Steelman · Today 12:09 am

1994 Amateur Player Draft

The '94 draft class was considered by many scouts to have a high floor but lacked top-end talent. Headlining the top consensus group was Swedish winger Louis Lindstrom, along with British-born goaltender Billy Monday and Norwegian defenseman Oskar Nygard. Narva-born defender Andy Cosseboom and BC centerman Ollie Rubidoux rounded out a top five group.

Before the draft, the Pioneers traded their 1994 1st-round pick, 1995 1st-round pick, and the rights to prospects Hoyt Everhart and Kraig Held to Kavalos for winger Denis Lemieux. The 29-year-old Lemieux had privately requested a trade from a rebuilding Electrics team and the Pioneers were especially interested in his services.

The Electrics traded rising goaltender Olin Schuster, 26, to the Yubay Falcons for their 1994 1st-round pick, 1995 1st-round pick, and goalie Mac McFarlane. Kavalos turned around and flipped the '94 Yubay pick and their own 1995 2nd-rounder to Waterdee to move up from second to first in the draft order. It was rumored that the Kavs were enamored with Lindstrom and Waterdee was on the fence about him.

1 – KAV (via WAT) – LW Louis Lindstrom (Sweden)
The Swedish winger caused the Electrics to initiate a bevy of trades to land the #1 pick in order to draft him. “Sweet Lou” is a talented winger with a high IQ and slick shot. The Kavs' brass was certain that the rebuild would be centered around Lindstrom and traded away Lemieux and Schuster to make it happen. Not every team felt so strongly about Lindstrom but Kavalos went all-in on initiating their new plan.

2 – WAT (via KAV) – D Oskar Nygard (Norway)
The Dragons had a difficult choice but elected to go with the Norwegian defenseman Nygard who is a talented player and more of a stay-at-home defender with a high IQ that Waterdee desperately needs. Nygard isn't flashy but will improve a patched together blue line.

3 – COB – C Ollie Rubidoux (British Columbia)
The centerman from British Columbia is the choice by Cobantle who are focused on building up the middle with their expansion team. Rubidoux is a technician and will make any line better. He projects as more of a middle-six center but could flourish and move into a top-line role.

4 – FTB – LW Gilbert Lucci
Lucci is a bit of a project but could be a solid middle-six forward with great net-front presence.

5 – PRE – C Richie Magano
Magano is a big-bodied centerman with decent skating and a physical presence in the dot.

6 – TRO – RW Davis Dymond
Dymond is a do-it-all winger who projects best as a middle-six forward with positional versatility.

7 – CHA – D Andy Cosseboom
Cosseboom slides further than anticipated due to skating concerns but he's a capable defender.

8 – PA – RW George Maffitt
Maffitt has shown an extremely high hockey IQ and passing ability throughout the draft process.

9 – ABR – G Billy Monday (United Kingdom)
An unknown international, Monday shows athleticism in the crease but may need time to develop.

10 – VEN – C Trevor Gallelli
Gallelli is a likely middle-six center with good vision and hands around the net.

11 – KIR – D Clay Larkowski
Larkowski impressed in juniors while filling in for injured teammates but will need time to mature.

12 – POR – C Russell Pifko
Pifko shows fantastic hockey sense and playmaking ability but will need to add physicality to his game.

13 – KUR – LW Casey Umetsu
Umetsu is an intriguing prospect with all the right intangibles and shotmaking talent for a top liner.

14 – NAR – RW Freddy Inklebarger
Inklebarger is a likely middle-six forward with lots of forechecking skill and net-front presence.

15 – QUE – RW Johnny Pitsenberger
Pitsenberger has a reputation as a clutch scorer but his athletic abilities need time to get stronger.

16 – YBG – C Lawrence Holdner
Holdner is a classic throwback centerman, tough and gritty and likely a penalty killer at the next level.

17 – ALK – LW Isaac Osheim
Osheim is talented and athletic but his hockey IQ is still maturing making him an interesting prospect.

18 – WAT (via KAV-YUB) – RW Luke Cogliano
Cogliano is a high IQ guy with great instincts as a versatile winger.

19 – DC – LW Travis Wenstrom
Wenstrom is a big-bodied winger with big shot-making capability if he can develop.

20 – KAV (via PTP) – LW Dominic Costas
Costas is fast and agile, all things the Kavs have been looking for in their rebuild.

21 – BAN – D Lucas Delacour
Delacour is a heady defender with excellent vision and could be a top pair guy in the future.

22 – SIN – C Doug Szalwinski
Swalwinski is an excellent faceoff magician but his overall skillset will need time to mature.

23 – AKB – RW Andrew Carmody
Carmody brings speed and quick hands, something the Barbarians lack in their pool.

24 – KRK – D Joshua Beeler
Beeler adds skating skill to the blue line prospect pool for Kirkenport.

Free Agency, Trades & Signings

The Pioneers and both Yubay teams fell out of the race quickly due to Bronko's monetary demands. Quebel signed Pete Lentini instead and left the race. The Anchors soon left as well, as their roster construction was less than what Bronko was looking for, leaving the Barbarians, Bucks, and Neptunes as the final three suitors.

All three teams got deep into discussions but Bronkowski chose to sign with the Narva Neptunes and join a talented roster under the guidance of Byron Peachey. He would also be reunited with his former Polish Juniors teammate JoJo Gorka and projects to slot in the top line between Gorka and young winger Kevin Kozlosky. It was also rumored that Bronko thought Narva had an easier path to the playoffs in a weak division beyond Kirkenport which spurred further discussion about the playoff format in the league. Despite the 3-year deal, the Neptunes named Bronko team captain in a gesture to convince him to potentially sign an extension in the future.

Former Killers defenseman Savva Krupin signed a 5-year deal with the Falcons. The Russian chose Yubay due to their excellent ties with Russian players. The fans are especially pleased that Savva has joined the Sava Side. He projects to be on a top pairing with Luke Root. Another Kurohara player moved to Yubay as the Killers traded Damien St. Pierre to the Falcons for goalie Sid O'Neil and forward Louis Brisenio. St. Pierre, 32, is a veteran forward who can play anywhere and projects to the left wing alongside Bobby Kozun and Bryan Klein. Defenseman Quinn Covington, formerly with Trowburgh, signed a 3-year deal with Kirlow and projects to slot in the second pairing alongside rookie Clay Larkowski as the Kodiaks look to upgrade their blue line behind Max Kopecky to stay in contention.

In a surprising move, centerman Joel Eklund decided not to renew his contract in Quebel and instead join his close friend Ric Rundstrom in Abrieden on a 5-year deal. The move reunites two of the infamous “Three Swedes” from the 1980 draft. Eklund figures to slot in more on the left wing with Josef Tyoma at the pivot and Rundstrom on the right wing.

The dominos fell quickly after the Eklund signing as the Crusaders pitched Pete Lentini to sign with him in a move that had long been rumored, and effectively took Quebel out of the Bronkowski sweepstakes. The Big Lentil signed a 5-year deal through his age 40 season. He projects to be the top center between wingers Ryan Rutkin and Marcel Luksik. Forward Clark Morton gave up his #59 for Lentini and switched to #9. Soon after, Lentini's former teammate in Bancana Filip Korcz followed him to Quebel on a 5-year deal for the 32 year old. The Polish defenseman had been rumored to want to join Bronkowski somewhere but with Bronko taking his time, Korcz took a sizable deal from Quebel which projects him as the primary option on the blue line.

The Pioneers signed former Rockets defenseman Ward Dunne to a 5-year deal where he will slot in along Gregory Pollard on the top pairing. The Barbarians traded their 1995 1st-round pick and goalie prospect Ben Zamarripas to the Heralds for winger John McHenry. The addition of McHenry gives Alko better depth between the middle six.

The Kings signed former Rockets left winger Al Murzin to a 3-year deal and also brought in former Kavs' legend Darren Cain on a 1-year deal. The Dosa City Snappers signed former Killers winger Derek McClanahan to a 3-year deal and also added defenseman Jeremy Harness on a 3-year deal.

The Dragons threw a huge contract toward former Killers goalie Austin Ellis, 28, to convince him to move to Waterdee on a 5-year deal. The Dragons are nowhere close to contending but they hope adding Ellis, a Cup winner, will bring some legitimacy to their expansion team.

1994 Hockey on the Mount

The 1994 matchup for Hockey on the Mount will feature the two sides of Yubay in a clash at the Icebox in Lobure. Both teams used simplified looks for their winter duds, with the Glaciers going with a simple two-color purple and cream look while the Falcons spun up a new red sweater with silver markings, though curiously paired with black pants. The scoreboard and TV graphics will feature the teams designated as "Niko Side Glaciers" vs "Sava Side Falcons" with each side of the arena supplied with team color scarves.

Team Identity Changes

Only one team made an identity change, as the Kavalos Electrics changed up their color scheme and made some tweaks.

It's officially silver time in Torland, as Kavalos makes a significant shift in their color scheme, much to the dismay of the fans, to become the fourth team in the THL to include silver. The Skatebolt remains essentially the same but the uniforms now feature a wider armband and larger inset TV numbers, which are now flat along with the NOBs. The jersey numbers will be silver on both sets.

That wraps up a busy offseason in Torland! Up next will be the '94 season.
C&C always appreciated.

Dan O'Mac · Today 12:38 am

Those Glaciers on the Mount jerseys are gorgeous. Clearly the better looking of the two Yubay on the Mount jerseys.

Index
» Hockey
» Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

4/29/2025 8:36 pm #1071

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

4/29/2025 9:27 pm #1072

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

4/30/2025 8:36 am #1073

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

4/30/2025 8:38 am #1074

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

4/30/2025 8:42 am #1075

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Section30 wrote:

5/04/2025 5:45 pm #1076

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

5/04/2025 7:14 pm #1077

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Steelman wrote:

5/12/2025 5:28 pm #1078

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Today 12:09 am #1079

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Today 12:38 am #1080

Re: Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Index
» Hockey
» Torland Hockey League: THL 2.0

Board footera