Boy, I have been removed for a hot second. This will be a lengthy one.

THL
Liked the offseason in Torland! It seemed hectic, giving every team the ability to set themselves up for success. I really feel the Heralds will be something special soon with all these draft picks, they just need a match to light that fire. And not showing bias to TYHDA alumni, but the team is more tolerable now with Rod Dallas. You can't dislike a guy with that name!

There were some fun characters in the draft this year. I really can't wait to see how Jurski plays out. Being a draft that didn't seem to have a clear #1, I am surprised they didn't try to keep Jurski a secret and steal him later in the draft. There is no way all the teams had the scouting network to know about him, but maybe that just shows his true value. Looks like Guilden is playing some make or break moves right from the start. 

The amount of Torland talent in the draft really shows growth of the league and skill development in the nation. (SPOILER ALERT) Vorackberg's pride and joy did continue to develop in his final year. Being second only to Sallee while a year younger in the TYHDA's 1972-73 season, I guess it really isn't all that shocking. Can't speak for many of these guys, but I am sure the Pioneers now definitively have a player to grab the torch and run with it once the vets decide they are ready to hand it off. When a player is from Vorackberg you know they have the work ethic and love for the game, and when that is paired with pure talent you get Mr. Walker. The name is just a bonus. (I swear I am not making these up, Steelman gave me a randomly generated list to do what I want with. It just has some prime time golden age hockey names). 

Which team has your favorite look?
Probably the Rockets. I like the color balance a lot and they would probably be the most likely to pop on the ice. The Captains would most likely follow with their return to the midnight, but I think they took a step back with their logo. Still my favorite one from the original logos presented, but the captain's hat has slight favoritisms. Narva is locked in at third. I love Tulane's identity and this screams Green Wave to me. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I will own this one. Also think that making the traditional stripes so thick gave the team a simple way to be unique in the league.

Which team has your least favorite look?
Like them more than I did before, but that does not mean they are climbing out of last. This one goes to Chasonne! They might be modern and artsy, but their jersey is looking like too many chefs were cooking in that kitchen. Sharp line! Wavy lines! Diagonal lines! Horizontal lines! I feel like Dr. Seuss, it is just a lot going on. I'll be nice enough to give the Heralds a friend by picking Lecayne as second to last. Size of that logo has to make the jersey feel stiff, also just do not like how the striping arcs. Kavalos did it first, and Kavalos did it right. 

Best-looking matchup?
I'd pick Kavalos greens and Fort Bevin in white. That game would have a lot of flair.

UHL
Hmmmmm the mention of financials makes me scared to get attached to some of these teams, which is very hard. If Reto Bay is a San Jose then I think there is plenty of reason to lean towards that bandwagon, but I am cheering with some cautious distance.

Also should just rename this league the SHL based on the number of Sallee players. The family is a factory that creates hockey talent. Hope the Wildcats can produce, we have all seen what happens when Cam feels shorted by a team and it is not pretty.
 

Congrats to Bancana.

Looking forward to seeing how my Falcons do!

Good to see the Glaciers on top again! I fully expect a great performance by the Niko Siders to another cup! I'm thinking the Electrics will get the best of the Pioneers this time, the Kodiaks will easily take out the Neptunes, and the Anchors will get those Whales this time. (Speaking of, you've got an error on the display, the Whales' name isn't displayed right.) 

I'm not sure how much longer the UHA can last, but I'm hoping that at least the Swans survive to the THL. The other teams I don't really care about, but I predict the Swans, Kings, and Cyclones will make the jump. 

Idk what hurts more, missing the playoffs or the Glaciers having the best record in the league

1976 THL PLAYOFFS

QUARTERFINALS

Willard Division

1 Yubay Glaciers vs 4 Fort Bevin Rockets
The Glaciers outscored the Rockets 9-0 in the first three games. Then Fort Bevin fought back with two straight OT wins. A horrifying moment in Game 6 as Pekka Jokinen went down with a knee injury devastated the Glaciers and Fort Bevin capitalized by pulling out the David-and-Goliath victory. (FTB wins 4-3)

Factoid: Yubay scored 133 more goals than Fort Bevin in the regular season and still lost the series while outscoring the Rockets 16-13. One of the biggest upsets in league history.

2 Port Alrene Anchors vs 3 Portarra Whales
Both teams were unceremoniously bounced early from the previous playoffs and were determined to best their rival. The Anchors though were just too stout behind Haight and Kauffman and the Whales had no answers as they were swept. (PA wins 4-0)

Factoid: Sweeps are relatively uncommon in the THL playoffs, with only six instances previous to this series. It is also the first such instance between the Old Rivals.

Hatch Division

1 Kirlow Kodiaks vs 4 Narva Neptunes
The Neptunes promptly punched the Kodiaks in the mouth by winning the first two games in Kirlow. The series was short-lived afterward as Kirlow could only extend by one game as Kris Kotulak's squad looked fierce. (NAR wins 4-1)

Factoid: Narva had not won a playoff series since their 4-1 win over YUB in 1972. The Kodiaks continue a history of brutal playoff defeats, with a 5-8 series record as a franchise.

2 Portarra Pioneers vs 3 Kavalos Electrics
In an exciting series, the Electrics pulled away from the Pioneers to win their first playoff series in a watershed moment for the young franchise. (KAV wins 4-2)

Factoid: The Kavs had previously lost a 7-game series to the Pioneers in 1974 and in 6 games to Kirlow in 1975.

SEMI-FINALS

Willard Division

2 Port Alrene Anchors vs 4 Fort Bevin Rockets
The Rockets gave it their best shot but the overwhelming play of the Anchors was just too much after an exhausting series against the Glaciers. Port Alrene posted 7 goals twice as they frustrated Kavalos into too many mistakes for a 4-2 win. (PA wins 4-2)

Hatch Division

3 Kavalos Electrics vs 4 Narva Neptunes
In a hard-fought series, both teams had moments of brilliance. The Neptunes, though, found ways to win ugly toward the end as they threw style points out the window. The series was a big hit on TV as fans tuned in to see the exciting games and who would advance. Narva won in 7 games and will compete for their first Marcotte Cup. (NAR wins 4-3)

Up next: The Anchors meet the Neptunes for the Marcotte Cup

Extra Fun Factoid:
Kavalos vs Narva is the first time two primary green teams have met in the playoffs. The only other green team was the Trowburgh Lions for two seasons before they moved to become the Yubay Falcons but they did not reach the playoffs and had no success.