Congrats to Kirkenport. I'm happy with the bounce back my Falcons had, hopefully we can keep that going and make a return to the finals next year!

1976 THL OFFSEASON

After the Cup, Commissioner Hatch announced that two expansion teams had been granted to join the THL for play starting with the 1976 season. It was something of an unexpected announcement with very little fanfare or information leaks. Fans in both cities were surprised to hear the news but Guilden in particular is excited for a new team. Lecayne is hockey crazy but has been historically a difficult place to house a successful pro team. Many pundits felt that Hatch rushed these two teams into existence as a comeback to the UHA expanding southward than either city being actually ready for a team. However, new Guilden owner Dick Valentine is a highly respected businessman and great visionary. Lecayne team owner Donovan Marroquin is younger than the majority of the owners and it is thought he can help bridge the gap to build a brand for younger fans and families.

Expansion Team Identities:

1976 Guilden Barbarians


Guilden (GILL-den) is medium-sized city on the eastern coast of Forstana known for their forestry, mills, German heritage, and penchant for big festivals. Known as the "City of Trees" it has long been a hub for the lumber industry utilizing the Hobuck River to bring logs down from the eastern Tonahat Mountains. Guilden is a vibrant city with a big personality but thrives on hard work and a blue collar mentality, something somewhat unusual in the more liberal and artsy state of Forstana. New owner Dick Valentine is a highly respected businessman and has familiar knowledge of hockey having played in college. The THL has yet to expand to the east coast and Valentine believes that Guilden can be the beginning of hockey in the east. He helped finance the Guilden-Hobuck Center, a multipurpose arena that is state-of-the-art for its time and will house the new team.

Valentine chose Barbarians as the team nickname to honor the first settlers who came to the area and also to compliment the baseball team who go by the Giants. Valentine also wanted to honor the woodland firefighters who patrol the heavily forested Tonahats and helped incorporate it into the logo. He chose a red, black, and yellow scheme to honor some of the German heritage in the area, which he paired with a heavy dose of Torland cream. Valentine knows it will be a steep haul to establish the team into a winner and win over the city but he feels the city is ready.

The uniforms go with red home sweaters and red shorts, a cream away sweater, sleeve cuffs and three-tone striping. The home sweater includes a shoulder yoke and the uniforms utilize a heavy number set.

1976 Lecayne Saints


The city of Lecayne is one of the gems of Torland. Known as the Fountain City for its many beautiful fountains built into the numerous French-styled roundabouts, the city is filled with trees and majestic buildings and architecture. Lauded by many poets and great artists, Lecayne is also home to many centers of religion and boasts some of the most ornate cathedrals in the country. Originally founded as a missionary base and monastery within the confines of a fortified town square at the point of Langlois Channel and the Strager River, Lecayne grew as a center for learning and founded a top level university similar in respect to Notre Dame, athletically also known as the Saints. The old monastery is now the center of the city as the area has flourished with all age groups. The economy fluctuates with the generations and bouts between the "old guard" who are constantly pushing tight rules and prohibition and the young college students and politicians who are perusing more liberal arts and lifestyles. Sports have been strong in the city, with the collegiate sports and baseball teams leading the way.

This is the second go-round of hockey in Lecayne. The sport is very popular but housing a pro team has been spotty. However, the old crumbling Fountain Center has been replaced by a new building of the same name which should help establish a better brand of hockey for the fans. New owner Donovan Marroquin is somewhat new to pro sports but he's an energetic businessman who works in a variety of markets, particularly those targeted toward young folks, which the league hopes will be a boon. The new team brings back a new version of the old logo, adding gold and blue along with a drop shadowed look.

The new uniforms feature a full-length curved yoke on both sweaters, drop shadows on the logo and numbers, purple pants, and curved NOB's to match the yoke.


Coaching Carousel

After a perilous year in Trowburgh, head coach Jonas Rayburn was fired after four rocky seasons. Assistant Anderson Lamb was promoted in his place. In Yubay, in something of a surprise, Glaciers owner Sterling Aquino decided to let go of longtime coach Merle Sharpe who won two Cups with the team. Aquino wants a new coach to bring along Pekka Jokinen and harness the great underutilized talent on the roster. He hired Craig McMurray from Kavalos to helm the squad.

The new Lecayne Saints immediately jumped to hire Sharpe, who formerly coached with the original Lecayne Saints. The Guilden Barbarians, though hesitant, decided to bring in Jonas Rayburn after extensive interviews to determine that the causes of Trowburgh's troubles were from other sources.

Notable Retirements

Ingmar Frisk, the Swedish forward signed by Chasonne in 1961 retired after 15 seasons all with the Heralds, including three Marcotte Cups. He was a two-time All-Star in his early days and was a key leader for the Heralds.

Rob Dunning, longtime league enforcer for the Whales and Neptunes, retired after 16 years. Dunning was known as a ferocious hitter and brawler who famously boasted he'd never lost a fight. 5 years in Portarra, Dunning was traded to Narva where he remained for 11 years as a fixture on the 2nd line and fan favorite. He won two Cups with the Whales.

1976 Expansion Draft

Current teams were given 7 exceptions with which to place on expansion eligible players (any player with more than 3 years of accrued service time), one more than the amount from previous expansions. Commissioner Hatch hoped to keep some continuity among teams, in yet another example of the pressures of having another pro league nearby. Lecayne won the coin flip and picked first, with each team choosing six players. Port Alrene suffered the most from the expansion, losing forwards Andolsek and Bozeman and d-man Khanum. With the first selection, the Saints chose local boy and former Kodiaks forward Shaun Szollosi. Guilden chose former Anchors top-liner F Jerry Andolsek. Among notable other choices, another local boy D Scott Khanum also landed in Lecayne. Former Heralds and Falcons goalie Von Wentz was selected by Guilden, close to his hometown of Collon, after requesting not to be exempted by Chasonne.

Players Trades & Signings

The Glaciers, looking for defensive upgrades, traded young prospect D Joe Kimble and their two 2nd-round picks to Trowburgh for defenseman Marko Chayka who will be united with fellow Ukrainian countryman Petro Yaroslav.

Kauffman on the move?

With rumors buzzing that Chasonne was thinking about shipping out veteran players to initiate a full rebuild, longtime team captain Paul Kauffman was the crux of the issue. He wanted to stay with the Heralds but nearing the end of his illustrious career, he also didn't want to weather a full rebuild. Heralds owner gave Kauffman permission to explore trade options. Three potential teams emerged, with Kauffman's hometown Port Alrene, Fort Bevin, and the new team in Lecayne showing interest in the 34-year-old future hall of fame defenseman. Several other teams made offers but Kauffman preferred his hometown. Port Alrene sent their 1976 1st-round pick (14th overall), 1977 1st-round pick, and F Irwin Duffy to the Heralds for Kauffman. Former Anchor great Colly Lehman allowed his #9 which had been out of circulation to be issued to Kauffman who'd worn the number his whole career.

The Heralds also traded 34-year-old defenseman Allen Lombardi to Fort Bevin for a 1976 2nd-round pick and prospect F Rod Dallas.

1976 THL Amateur Draft

With not many top-level prospects available for an extended draft, teams really buckled down to find the best prospects. The best of the bunch included Kurohara high school star forward John Jurski, a big-bodied winger with great intangibles who emerged late as the top prospect. Serbian defenseman Vanja Zoric leads a close pack of second-level prospects, along with goalie Geoff Thatchkin, former Vorackberg Herd star F Jonathan Walker and rising Japanese-born forward Ken Ozaki who played his high school hockey in Jodrey. In an adjusted format, the two expansions teams will be picking first, with Guilden winning the toss for #1 overall. The Herons and Pioneers weren't happy with the adjustment of not being given a lottery chance for the top pick, instead relegated to third and fourth.

1st-Round 1976

1 – GLD – F John Jurski
With their first choice as a franchise, the Guilden Barbarians chose John Jurski, a big winger with plenty of moxie and potential as a scorer and team leader even as a young player. Jurski has an ability to impact a game by simply being on the ice, as opposing players have to always be aware of where he's positioned. Jurski has excellent fundamentals and instincts.

2 – LEC – F Kenji Ozaki
The new Saints surprised many by selecting the rising sensation of Japanese forward Kenji Ozaki. The speedy Ozaki has a high hockey IQ and can shoot the puck from anywhere but excels in center ice.

3 – TRO – D Vanja Zoric
With a similar skillset to the recently traded Marko Chayka, the Serbian Zoric is a smoother skater and has a more developed hockey IQ along with a more stable demeanor which will be welcomed in Trowburgh.

4 – PTP – F Jonathan Walker
The Pioneers ran their card up to select former Youth Leaguer and Vorackberg Herd star forward Jonathan Walker. With Geno Pasternak battling injuries and Gary Musgrove ready to retire, Walker will infuse some energy into the top line.

5 – FTB – G Geoff Thatchkin
The Rockets are very giddy that the draft fell this way as Thatchkin, though still wet behind the ears and very green mentally, was their top rated prospect. They believe he has All-Star potential and continues the recent revamping of their net.

6 – CHA – F Jack Koeneman
The Heralds, officially in rebuild mode, are very familiar with Berris product Koeneman, who is an adept winger with a well-rounded skillset and should pair nicely with Robert Bertucci.

7 – KAV – F Dean Ciraulo
The kid known as “Cinnamon” is a flashy player with the production and results to back it up. He will bring some speed and bravado to a front line that has flagged in recent seasons.

8 – KRK – F Eddie Pires
The reigning champs have the good fortune of a top-8 pick and selected Pires to give Keenan Draper some help on the wing and on the boards.

9 – YUB – D Joseph Van Deen
Even with their nearly miracle run to a Cup appearance in '75, the Falcons still have plenty of roster building to do and Van Deen fits the bill of a blue collar defenseman who has the IQ to pair with anyone.

10 – YBG – D Sam McKesson
Adding the versatile McKesson continues new Glaciers' coach Craig McMurray's revamp of the blue line in Niko Side.

11 – NAR – D Vinny Sitto
12 – KIR – F Lukas Lodwig
13 – POR – F Red Czekanski
14 – CHA (via PA) – D Carl Marquina

After the draft, Trowburgh traded their 2nd-round choice D Bill Penkavo to Guilden for their 1978 2RD pick. They also released D Len Lovell who was picked up by his hometown Guilden.

The Rockets traded goalie Reed Darling to the Saints for their 1977 2RD pick.

Two small roster rule changes:

a. Players more than (3) years removed from their last professional season and actively playing Indy League can be poached on ordered waivers by another team. The original team has a right to promote the player to their professional ranks before waiver release.

b. Players sent to Indy League with more than (7) years of professional experience can request an outright release to be a free agent.

Team Identity Changes

No teams made changes.

Love the new teams, glad to see the Saints return!

I'm also happy to see the Falcons and Glaciers in the same division again, it didn't feel right being seperated.

- Which team has your favorite look?
My biased opinion is the Falcons which I honestly think have the best look, but other than them I would have to go with Fort Bevin, Kavalos, or Kirkenport.

- Which team has your least favorite look?
I don't really dislike any team, but my least favorite would probably be Kirlow because of the logo on the jersey.

- Which two team identities/uniforms are the best-looking matchup?
I think that Kavalos at the Falcons would be my favorite combo, the green and gold vs black and red would look amazing.

- Ask me any question about a team, player, stat, city, state, or culture
What is a good comparison North American city for Yubay.

Last edited by Section30 (3/11/2020 2:10 am)

Glad to see the Saints return and the Barbarians look great! I'm glad that the THL is taking steps to counter the UHA. 

The best looking team is probably the Whales. The two-color simplicity is really nice, and I appreciate the consistency in their look. I'm not really sure who would come next, but of course the Glaciers look fantastic. They'd look better if their colored jersey was teal, but I digress.

The worst-looking team (but by no means bad) is probably Narva. I think the green and blue are just too dark to work well together and they always blend together when I look at them.

The best-looking matchup is the Whales in their blues and the Anchors in white. The clean aesthetics is really appealing and these two historic teams offer plenty of good looks.

About Torland itself, what is sporting culture like around the nation? Obviously hockey is big in the north, but where does baseball, soccer, football, basketball, etc. reign supreme? Is there a unique sport that Torland loves nationwide, like sumo in Japan or American football in the States?

As always, fantastic work and I can't wait to see how the THL and UHA develop alongside each other!

Favs- Captains, Rockets
Thumbs Down - Glaciers..something about the logo doesn't do it for me
Favorite Matchup - Captains v Falcons, Whales - Anchors

Maybe a list of cities that inspired each city that's in the league currently?