TUFHL

A Brotherhood

  I'm taking a rare break from boasting or complaining about my team.  This article won't mention how shitty Steve is as a GM and a human being in general.  No bragging about defeating the top teams while crying when the Kings beat me down.  I won't bother to mention how the East is superior in every way and I certainly won't mention how shitty Steve is as a GM and a human being.

  This article is about my love for TUFHL and everyone involved (except Steve).  My journey into fantasy hockey started over 16 years ago when GM Saindon invited me to join a fantasy hockey league.  I joined the league but my hockey knowledge was limited to watching Montreal games...in french.  I recruited a friend of mine with more knowledge to help me as assistant GM...a first for the league.  Jeremy Seguin was my lifeline into feeder leagues and players around the NHL.  It wasn't long before he joined the league himself as GM of the Nashville Predators.

  As GM of the New Jersey Devils, I built a competitive team that reached the Stanley cup finals for three straight seasons.  The first time was a crushing defeat at the hands of Nashville and former assistant Seguin.  The second was a cup win over the Wild and the third I can't remember because of alcohol and weed.  Needless to say, I've been around a long time.

  When the league first collapsed it was a shocker.  I kept checking the site even over a year later hoping things could come back.  I spent real money trying to save the league.  But it died.  Then we launched a TUFHL 2.0 with 15 guys running a team from each conference.  Seemed like a great idea to take our most active guys and form a smaller league but after a whirlwind of trades, the activity died off and so did the league.  It seemed like TUFHL was dead for good.

  I got the message that Randy and Kirk were going to launch the league again.  I was eager to join but very skeptical about potential success.  I was one of the first to sign up and recruiting GMs had always been a major issue for our league.  Thankfully, we were able to attract a slew of new talented guys who had reliable friends to bring along.  Now the league is thriving with few vacancies.

  This league is more than just fantasy for me.  This is a group of guys that I can talk to and laugh.  I'm friends with people that I've never met in person.  Everyday I'm learning more about hockey and it's rules and systems.  I am truly grateful for this league and all of you.  In a world of social isolation and political discontent at least we can all get along on this site and rejoice in our common hatred for Steve.

  We are a brotherhood.  Even you Steph.  This league is a ray of joy (when I'm winning) and we should all be thankful that it exists, that it is well administered and free of charge.