EHM The Blue Line

kadri43 wrote:
I don't know how you this. I always start with a NHL team and his affiliate because it's difficult for me to be promote. In one of my games I won 3 Memorial Cup in 6 years and I've never been promoted in the NHL snif snif

The NHL is a closed league, which means you can't be promoted to NHL. All teams that play in AHL will always play in AHL, all OHL teams will always play in OHL etc.

The promotion system is common in Europe and in EHM it's only a few countries that have promotion. The only two countries that I know got several leagues where you can win promotion in is Sweden and Finland.

Russian league also has promotion in EHM. You can't play in the league below the Russian Superleague but a team will get relegated and one promoted each season. Also Norway has a relegation and promotion in the game. Again you can't play in the league below but a team will get promoted

If you're looking to start with the weakest EPIHL team in Manimal v5, I'd go with Telford Tigers. They have a pretty lousy roster and really struggle in game. In real life, they are currently at the bottom of the league with only 2 wins out of 12 games. Last season they managed just 6 wins out of 54 games.

Alternatively, Romford and Wightlink are also weak (in real life, they now play in the league below the EPIHL). Peterborough are also fairly weak.

Just a quick update, on my season.

After a few more seasons at the top of the Mestis League with Nummela, but failing to achieve promotion a job opened up in the Slovenian Elite League, that was also an Interliga 2 team. I figured I would jump on the chance since I didn't want to get to far up the tree before filling the lower leagues. So after a few seasons with SD Alfa included a season where is was runner up for BOTH the Sloevnian Eltie League and Iterliga 2 Championships we won the Interliga 2 title. So that is the bottom three leagues covered.

I'll be on the lookout to returning to Great Britian with the British Elite League, but for now I will stick with SD Alfa and try to win the Slovenian Elite League as well.

I must say the Slovian Elite League/Interliga is very intersting. 14 games in Slovenian League and 10 in Interliga 2, The for the Slovenian playofs there is another round of games betwenn the top 4 teams and then after that the top play a best of 7 for the title. With Interliga all 6 make the 'playoffs' the top two get a bye into the semis and then it is best of 3 rounds.

Loosie wrote:Just a quick update, on my season.

After a few more seasons at the top of the Mestis League with Nummela, but failing to achieve promotion a job opened up in the Slovenian Elite League, that was also an Interliga 2 team. I figured I would jump on the chance since I didn't want to get to far up the tree before filling the lower leagues. So after a few seasons with SD Alfa included a season where is was runner up for BOTH the Sloevnian Eltie League and Iterliga 2 Championships we won the Interliga 2 title. So that is the bottom three leagues covered.

I'll be on the lookout to returning to Great Britian with the British Elite League, but for now I will stick with SD Alfa and try to win the Slovenian Elite League as well.

I must say the Slovian Elite League/Interliga is very intersting. 14 games in Slovenian League and 10 in Interliga 2, The for the Slovenian playofs there is another round of games betwenn the top 4 teams and then after that the top play a best of 7 for the title. With Interliga all 6 make the 'playoffs' the top two get a bye into the semis and then it is best of 3 rounds.

Well that didn't take long. In the off-season the GM posisiton for the Edinburgh Capitals opened up. I applied and a few days later I am the new GM of the Capitals...and thier Head Coach? None other than a 62 year-old Tony Hand! I think with Edinburgh I might wait another year after winning the title as then I will get to take part in the Euro Challenge Tour.

The Caps are arguably the weakest team in the league IRL (though I'm not sure that's reflected in the DB prior to v5.0). I'll be interested to hear how you get along.

archibalduk wrote:The Caps are arguably the weakest team in the league IRL (though I'm not sure that's reflected in the DB prior to v5.0). I'll be interested to hear how you get along.

They have had some success but are three years removed from an Elite Cup win, and 5 years removed from a league win, They have been strong the last three years (1st, 2nd 3rd in regular season standings), adn it's been 18 years since they missed the playoffs, but again with 10 teams in the league and 8 teams making the playoffs it is hard to miss.

Thier first three years they were 10th, 8th and 9th. This is the original unedited DB, but it also now the start of the 2030-2031 season so any weakness that was there at the beginning is more than likely gone now.

I didn't realise you were so far into the seasons! I should have guessed when you said Tony Hand was 62!

The Murrayfield Ice Rink (where the Caps play) is very cool arena. It has a very art deco design - it looks from the outside like a 1930s cinema. It also has by far the most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat on (I think they're the original seats from when it was built 60+ years ago)!!

I hate aggregate scores.

We finished first in the league (Tied with the Cardiff Devils with 71 points but we had more wins), facing the Hull Stingrays in the Quarters, lost the first game 2-0, and won the secon games 2-1..therefore lost the quarters on an aggrigate of 3-2 to Hull.

Cardiff went on to win the title.



And right now most of my top players don't want to negotiate a new contract. Here's hoping I can retain most of them.

Getting players to re-sign in the UK leagues is a real pain. Most of them never want to negotiate... Although IIRC they can be more receptive one they've become a UFA.

If it's any consolation, the league title is more highly regarded in the UK than winning the playoffs.

Ok so I restarted this challenge with UUDB 5.5 DB. I was tired of trying to figure out which teams were which (especially in Finland).

This time the EPIHL team that I have started off with was the Slough Jets. The first year was bad, but since then we've been a dominant force. We have won the EPL Cup in 2010, and were runners up in 2012, 2014 and 2016. We win the EPL playoffs in 2010 and 2015, losing in the final in the year that just completed (2016), thanks to my Goalie (Stephen Murphy) being the backup for Team GB at the WC D1.

We finished 11th in the first year(06-07), and then since then it's been 1st, 2nd or 3rd with the exception of 08-09 when we finished 8th. We have been first overall 3 times 10-11, 11-12 and 15-16. In 15-16 we set the League record for most goals scored 170.

I've been waiting for a team from IIHL 2 to open up now. I've been debating allowing moving up a rank in the smae country but I really want to be strict with my rules an wait for the IIHL 2 to open up...as hard as that will be.

Thinking of starting one of these again. I might use the UUDB for the first time too. I always use the TBL but I know everything about it now

It is a fun challenge, but can be a bit frustrating when you are ready to move up to the next league. Slovenian/IIHL/IIHL2 seems to be the hardest to get into job wise. They just don't seem to get fired or move onto other jobs.

Loosie wrote:It is a fun challenge, but can be a bit frustrating when you are ready to move up to the next league. Slovenian/IIHL/IIHL2 seems to be the hardest to get into job wise. They just don't seem to get fired or move onto other jobs.

Short season too in the IIHL! Some teams only play about 29 games if i remember

Yeah they play something like 12 games in the Slovenian league and only 10 regular season games in the IIHL 2. If you go the distance in the playoffs I think you end up playing more games in the post-season then regular season.

How much coaching do you control? Do you leave everything to your Head Coach and then just do the GM side of things? Given how long this challenge could take, I was thinking that's probably the only practical way of doing things.

Yeah..I GM only and also control practice, but I have a 'during season' setting and an 'off-season' setting for Practice...I just have to remember to put the new guys on the desired setting when I acquire them.

archibalduk wrote:How much coaching do you control? Do you leave everything to your Head Coach and then just do the GM side of things? Given how long this challenge could take, I was thinking that's probably the only practical way of doing things.

I also play GM only. I have no interest in coaching. I do interven though like I imagine most GMs will. If I want certain prospects on better lines/setting personal options like fighting/playing the puck ect. Mostly though I just deal with signing guys, trades, news, some scouting (but I like to use my scouts to keep it real kinda thing) I tend to watch my home games 2D and the important away ones but sim the other away ones.

Update time!!! After 13 seasons at the helm of the Slough Jets I have moved on to the British Elite League and the Belfast Giants. Nothing at all had opened up in the IIHL 2 so I'm staying in GB to finish off the country, then move on to the IIHL 2 when I have won with the Giants (or some team in the EIHL).

Slough Jets reveiw: I took this team and made them a force to be reckoned with, 11 of the 13 seasons were winning season, the exception being my first (finished 11th with a 14-23-5-0-2 record and my 3rd finished 8th with a 19-22-2-1-0 record) other than those two season we finished no lower than 3rd. finishing 1st 5 times. We won the League Championship 3 times (2010, 2015, 2018), with one runner up. (2016). We won the EPL Cup twice (2010, 2019) with 4 runners up (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

Belfast will be a challenge they have virtually no staff, and only 13 players signed. They have had recent success but came in 7th last year.

First order of business though is hiring a coaching staff as the is NO ONE. this team only has a scout and a trainer for signed personnel.

Loosie wrote:Update time!!! After 13 seasons at the helm of the Slough Jets I have moved on to the British Elite League and the Belfast Giants. Nothing at all had opened up in the IIHL 2 so I'm staying in GB to finish off the country, then move on to the IIHL 2 when I have won with the Giants (or some team in the EIHL).

Slough Jets reveiw: I took this team and made them a force to be reckoned with, 11 of the 13 seasons were winning season, the exception being my first (finished 11th with a 14-23-5-0-2 record and my 3rd finished 8th with a 19-22-2-1-0 record) other than those two season we finished no lower than 3rd. finishing 1st 5 times. We won the League Championship 3 times (2010, 2015, 2018), with one runner up. (2016). We won the EPL Cup twice (2010, 2019) with 4 runners up (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

Belfast will be a challenge they have virtually no staff, and only 13 players signed. They have had recent success but came in 7th last year.

First order of business though is hiring a coaching staff as the is NO ONE. this team only has a scout and a trainer for signed personnel.

Belfast being one of the top teams means the best imports! I've seen them sign Rich Peverley randomly. He obviously did quite well too!

During you time at Slough did the board ever increase your wage/salary budget? When I did it with Bracknell after my 2nd season it was increased from £3,200 per week to £5,000 so I basically bought the league and then the best imports I could find.. then eventually moved on

I am trying this at the moment. Started unemployed, then began the first season with the Swindon Wildcats. Signed a bunch of great players for free, but got kind of bored quickly. I began to apply to other jobs as they became available. The Wildcats had just won the League Cup (I think that's what it is called) and were on their way to winning the League Reg. Season Champ when I was offered the job with Duisberg in the DEL. I took that job, and built the team through free agency. Currently a third of the way through my first season with Duisberg (second season overall - the Wildcats won the Reg. Season Champ, but were knocked out in the Semifinals of the EPIHL without me), with a 3 point cushion over second place.

My general plan is to catch a job with a top flight European team (Finland, Sweden, Czech, Russia) after a few years with Duisberg, then cross the pond to a junior team, then an AHL/ECHL team, before finally having the pedigree to enter the NHL.

Garethw87 wrote:

Loosie wrote:Update time!!! After 13 seasons at the helm of the Slough Jets I have moved on to the British Elite League and the Belfast Giants. Nothing at all had opened up in the IIHL 2 so I'm staying in GB to finish off the country, then move on to the IIHL 2 when I have won with the Giants (or some team in the EIHL).

Slough Jets reveiw: I took this team and made them a force to be reckoned with, 11 of the 13 seasons were winning season, the exception being my first (finished 11th with a 14-23-5-0-2 record and my 3rd finished 8th with a 19-22-2-1-0 record) other than those two season we finished no lower than 3rd. finishing 1st 5 times. We won the League Championship 3 times (2010, 2015, 2018), with one runner up. (2016). We won the EPL Cup twice (2010, 2019) with 4 runners up (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

Belfast will be a challenge they have virtually no staff, and only 13 players signed. They have had recent success but came in 7th last year.

First order of business though is hiring a coaching staff as the is NO ONE. this team only has a scout and a trainer for signed personnel.

Belfast being one of the top teams means the best imports! I've seen them sign Rich Peverley randomly. He obviously did quite well too!

During you time at Slough did the board ever increase your wage/salary budget? When I did it with Bracknell after my 2nd season it was increased from £3,200 per week to £5,000 so I basically bought the league and then the best imports I could find.. then eventually moved on

They never did. I was stuck at the opening budget. A few times I was over, but I tried my best to stay under. This allowed me to retain my best guys in before the off-season. Whenever I was over budget I had to wait until they left the team to resign them because the board was 'limiting resources'. I also found agreeing to two-way deals with the Elite League was a great way to get budget relief.

Loosie wrote:

Garethw87 wrote:

Loosie wrote:Update time!!! After 13 seasons at the helm of the Slough Jets I have moved on to the British Elite League and the Belfast Giants. Nothing at all had opened up in the IIHL 2 so I'm staying in GB to finish off the country, then move on to the IIHL 2 when I have won with the Giants (or some team in the EIHL).

Slough Jets reveiw: I took this team and made them a force to be reckoned with, 11 of the 13 seasons were winning season, the exception being my first (finished 11th with a 14-23-5-0-2 record and my 3rd finished 8th with a 19-22-2-1-0 record) other than those two season we finished no lower than 3rd. finishing 1st 5 times. We won the League Championship 3 times (2010, 2015, 2018), with one runner up. (2016). We won the EPL Cup twice (2010, 2019) with 4 runners up (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

Belfast will be a challenge they have virtually no staff, and only 13 players signed. They have had recent success but came in 7th last year.

First order of business though is hiring a coaching staff as the is NO ONE. this team only has a scout and a trainer for signed personnel.

Belfast being one of the top teams means the best imports! I've seen them sign Rich Peverley randomly. He obviously did quite well too!

During you time at Slough did the board ever increase your wage/salary budget? When I did it with Bracknell after my 2nd season it was increased from £3,200 per week to £5,000 so I basically bought the league and then the best imports I could find.. then eventually moved on

They never did. I was stuck at the opening budget. A few times I was over, but I tried my best to stay under. This allowed me to retain my best guys in before the off-season. Whenever I was over budget I had to wait until they left the team to resign them because the board was 'limiting resources'. I also found agreeing to two-way deals with the Elite League was a great way to get budget relief.

Oh god. Over budget but the board won't let you cut people haha, annoying that!

Yeah 2-way deals are good. Also good in the Elite League too to test out some of the good performing EPL players as, if I remember rightly they must play at the EIHL level whenever called up.

sabretooth wrote:I am trying this at the moment. Started unemployed, then began the first season with the Swindon Wildcats. Signed a bunch of great players for free, but got kind of bored quickly. I began to apply to other jobs as they became available. The Wildcats had just won the League Cup (I think that's what it is called) and were on their way to winning the League Reg. Season Champ when I was offered the job with Duisberg in the DEL. I took that job, and built the team through free agency. Currently a third of the way through my first season with Duisberg (second season overall - the Wildcats won the Reg. Season Champ, but were knocked out in the Semifinals of the EPIHL without me), with a 3 point cushion over second place.

My general plan is to catch a job with a top flight European team (Finland, Sweden, Czech, Russia) after a few years with Duisberg, then cross the pond to a junior team, then an AHL/ECHL team, before finally having the pedigree to enter the NHL.

Duisberg won both the regular season + playoff championship in the DEL the second season. As the off season neared completion, I was offered a job with Oulu in the SM-Liiga. Way ahead of my timeframe, but I of course took the job. Three seasons, three different countries: England, Germany, Finland. Surprisingly quick movement up the leagues! I might try to stay put in this league for a couple of seasons now...

I started this same project with the new 2013-2014 database. I'm managing the Stavenger Oilers in the Norwegian League right now. We are sitting in first at the end of the November. Since losing my first three games with them I've gone undefeated in 8.

I like playing these type of games because its such a different challenge than taking over an NHL team. Plus its fun to see where all the former NHL players end up. Alex Auld is in Austria!!