Orixtal Hockey League: Difference between revisions

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The 1990s saw an increase in the amount of players from [[Kiravia]] and [[Audonia]]. [[Joey Abdelkawy]], who was born in [[Tapakdore]] and immigrated to Tierrador in 1986 to play hockey at the [[University of Aracadó]], was drafted 11th overall in 1990 by the [[Hugo Hitmen]]. Abdelkawy, along with Kiravian-born 1992 3rd and 22nd-overall selections [[Ivūlar Sotyktuv]], [[Kárav Katūtiren]], and 1994 33rd overall pick [[Apius Áukśav]], would form the "Hitmen Big Four." The Hitmen would win five Watson Cups with this core, and at least two of the four players appeared in the top-five highest scoring lists. In 1993, the OHL resurrected the [[Naqili Hornets]], and in 1998, the league expanded to [[Istrenya]], with the [[Karaba Mountaineers]]. The move to Karaba was marred with controversy in the team's early years, as the main financer for the team was Arco-Istrenytan petroleum drilling company [[Istrenco]], which had been the center of many non-hockey related issues. In 2002, the OHL forced Istrenco to sell the Mountaineers. In what was a nine-month ordeal which almost saw the Mountaineers being moved to [[Veraise|Gastineau, Veraise]], the team was sold to Istrenyan entrepreneurs [[U'kati Ashkyn]] and [[Askun Utovl]]. The OHL would also add two more teams in Alstin; the [[Sedem Regni Thrones]] and the [[Alstin Sentinels]].

The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation [[Marcus Kahemki]], with both leading the [[Agualaría Bluewave]] to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select [[Andrew Slavachuk]], a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with [[Ambaqwe]]-based [[Televisión Cinco]]. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, [[Anton Stralburg]], [[Aphío Antonov]], [[Jarmo Kapanen]], and rookie [[Antti Santanen]], led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the lead in nearly every category that year, and the Vernaza Titans in six games, who were heavily favored by nearly every sportswriter entering the Finals.

The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation [[Marcus Kahemki]], with both leading the [[Agualaría Bluewave]] to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the OHL's collective bargaining agreement had expired, and the OHLPA announced their refusal to sign the new CBA unless the salary cap had been increased. This began a six-month long stalemate which had delayed the start of the 2005–06 season. On December 9, 2005, the OHL and OHLPA finally came to an agreement, where the salary cap would be raised from $46 million to $50 million, the largest increase in the cap's history. The season began on December 25, 2005, and was shortened to 62 games. In the draft, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select [[Andrew Slavachuk]], a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with [[Ambaqwe]]-based [[Televisión Cinco]]. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, [[Anton Stralburg]], [[Aphío Antonov]], [[Jarmo Kapanen]], and rookie [[Antti Santanen]], led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the lead in nearly every category that year, and the Vernaza Titans in six games, who were heavily favored by nearly every sportswriter entering the Finals.

The next year, the [[Veraise Raiders]] would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in [[Holčaq]]. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history. In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the [[Cuzco Beserkers]], and had also replaced TBS as its main television broadcaster with QBC and CSPN. The Beserkers advanced to the 2018 Watson Cup Finals in their second year of existence, however they were taken down by the Karaba Mountaineers in six games. The next year, the Tawakee Hurricanes, who had seen little to no success since their inception in 1986, shocked the world by winning the Watson Cup in 2019 over the Vernaza Titans. [[Jason Saunders]], who previously coached the Titans and led them to back-to-back Watson Cups in 2013 and 2014 before being abruptly terminated by the club in 2016, led the Hurricanes to the victory.

The next year, the [[Veraise Raiders]] would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. The OHL once again shortened its season for the 2013–14 edition, as a six-month long players' strike. The season began on January 17, 2014 and was shortened to 56 games. The Vernaza Titans won their second-straight Watson Cup over the Qabór Phoenix. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in [[Holčaq]]. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history. In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the [[Cuzco Beserkers]], and had also replaced TBS as its main television broadcaster with QBC and CSPN. The Beserkers advanced to the 2018 Watson Cup Finals in their second year of existence, however they were taken down by the Karaba Mountaineers in six games. The next year, the Tawakee Hurricanes, who had seen little to no success since their inception in 1986, shocked the world by winning the Watson Cup in 2019 over the Vernaza Titans. [[Jason Saunders]], who previously coached the Titans and led them to back-to-back Watson Cups in 2013 and 2014 before being abruptly terminated by the club in 2016, led the Hurricanes to the victory.

In 2021, the OHL brought back TBS as a secondary broadcaster. The early 2020s saw a massive gap in talent between a select few clubs and everyone else. In 2021, the Tansher Spirit drafted [[Ranger Roberts]] with the 4th overall pick. His talent and popularity propelled the club back on the global stage, making the King of Tapkoii Finals that same year. Also occurring in 2022, the Taisgol Spires finished the regular season with an impressive 64–13–5 record, and went 16–4 in the postseason en route to a Watson Cup Finals victory over the Tulangia Centurions. The next year, the Prisamarina Mystics would win their first Watson Cup since 1968, defeating the Tansher Spirit in five games. From 2024–2028, the Auqali Shockers, led by former player turned coach [[Aphío Antonov]], would lead a very successful dynasty, shattering many records, along with winning three Watson Cups, including back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025, and two back-to-back Woqali's Trophies in those same years. The Shockers also became the first OHL club to win more than 70 total games in back-to-back seasons, winning 78 in 2024 and 81 in 2025. The Tulangia Centurions also led a dynasty under the helm of coach [[Barry Adriza]], winning five Watson Cups from 2026 to 2034. Other successful teams in the 2020s-2030s include the Wadičaq Phantoms, Sedem Regni Thrones, Naqili Hornets, and Sačia Tropics.

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 The 1990s saw an increase in the amount of players from [[Kiravia]] and [[Audonia]]. [[Joey Abdelkawy]], who was born in [[Tapakdore]] and immigrated to Tierrador in 1986 to play hockey at the [[University of Aracadó]], was drafted 11th overall in 1990 by the [[Hugo Hitmen]]. Abdelkawy, along with Kiravian-born 1992 3rd and 22nd-overall selections [[Ivūlar Sotyktuv]], [[Kárav Katūtiren]], and 1994 33rd overall pick [[Apius Áukśav]], would form the "Hitmen Big Four." The Hitmen would win five Watson Cups with this core, and at least two of the four players appeared in the top-five highest scoring lists. In 1993, the OHL resurrected the [[Naqili Hornets]], and in 1998, the league expanded to [[Istrenya]], with the [[Karaba Mountaineers]]. The move to Karaba was marred with controversy in the team's early years, as the main financer for the team was Arco-Istrenytan petroleum drilling company [[Istrenco]], which had been the center of many non-hockey related issues. In 2002, the OHL forced Istrenco to sell the Mountaineers. In what was a nine-month ordeal which almost saw the Mountaineers being moved to [[Veraise|Gastineau, Veraise]], the team was sold to Istrenyan entrepreneurs [[U'kati Ashkyn]] and [[Askun Utovl]]. The OHL would also add two more teams in Alstin; the [[Sedem Regni Thrones]] and the [[Alstin Sentinels]].
-The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation [[Marcus Kahemki]], with both leading the [[Agualaría Bluewave]] to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select [[Andrew Slavachuk]], a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with [[Ambaqwe]]-based [[Televisión Cinco]]. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, [[Anton Stralburg]], [[Aphío Antonov]], [[Jarmo Kapanen]], and rookie [[Antti Santanen]], led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the lead in nearly every category that year, and the Vernaza Titans in six games, who were heavily favored by nearly every sportswriter entering the Finals.
+The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation [[Marcus Kahemki]], with both leading the [[Agualaría Bluewave]] to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the OHL's collective bargaining agreement had expired, and the OHLPA announced their refusal to sign the new CBA unless the salary cap had been increased. This began a six-month long stalemate which had delayed the start of the 2005–06 season. On December 9, 2005, the OHL and OHLPA finally came to an agreement, where the salary cap would be raised from $46 million to $50 million, the largest increase in the cap's history. The season began on December 25, 2005, and was shortened to 62 games. In the draft, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select [[Andrew Slavachuk]], a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with [[Ambaqwe]]-based [[Televisión Cinco]]. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, [[Anton Stralburg]], [[Aphío Antonov]], [[Jarmo Kapanen]], and rookie [[Antti Santanen]], led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the lead in nearly every category that year, and the Vernaza Titans in six games, who were heavily favored by nearly every sportswriter entering the Finals.
-The next year, the [[Veraise Raiders]] would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in [[Holčaq]]. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history.  In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the [[Cuzco Beserkers]], and had also replaced TBS as its main television broadcaster with QBC and CSPN. The Beserkers advanced to the 2018 Watson Cup Finals in their second year of existence, however they were taken down by the Karaba Mountaineers in six games. The next year, the Tawakee Hurricanes, who had seen little to no success since their inception in 1986, shocked the world by winning the Watson Cup in 2019 over the Vernaza Titans. [[Jason Saunders]], who previously coached the Titans and led them to back-to-back Watson Cups in 2013 and 2014 before being abruptly terminated by the club in 2016, led the Hurricanes to the victory.
+The next year, the [[Veraise Raiders]] would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. The OHL once again shortened its season for the 2013–14 edition, as a six-month long players' strike. The season began on January 17, 2014 and was shortened to 56 games. The Vernaza Titans won their second-straight Watson Cup over the Qabór Phoenix. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in [[Holčaq]]. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history.  In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the [[Cuzco Beserkers]], and had also replaced TBS as its main television broadcaster with QBC and CSPN. The Beserkers advanced to the 2018 Watson Cup Finals in their second year of existence, however they were taken down by the Karaba Mountaineers in six games. The next year, the Tawakee Hurricanes, who had seen little to no success since their inception in 1986, shocked the world by winning the Watson Cup in 2019 over the Vernaza Titans. [[Jason Saunders]], who previously coached the Titans and led them to back-to-back Watson Cups in 2013 and 2014 before being abruptly terminated by the club in 2016, led the Hurricanes to the victory.
 In 2021, the OHL brought back TBS as a secondary broadcaster. The early 2020s saw a massive gap in talent between a select few clubs and everyone else. In 2021, the Tansher Spirit drafted [[Ranger Roberts]] with the 4th overall pick. His talent and popularity propelled the club back on the global stage, making the King of Tapkoii Finals that same year. Also occurring in 2022, the Taisgol Spires finished the regular season with an impressive 64–13–5 record, and went 16–4 in the postseason en route to a Watson Cup Finals victory over the Tulangia Centurions. The next year, the Prisamarina Mystics would win their first Watson Cup since 1968, defeating the Tansher Spirit in five games. From 2024–2028, the Auqali Shockers, led by former player turned coach [[Aphío Antonov]], would lead a very successful dynasty, shattering many records, along with winning three Watson Cups, including back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025, and two back-to-back Woqali's Trophies in those same years. The Shockers also became the first OHL club to win more than 70 total games in back-to-back seasons, winning 78 in 2024 and 81 in 2025. The Tulangia Centurions also led a dynasty under the helm of coach [[Barry Adriza]], winning five Watson Cups from 2026 to 2034. Other successful teams in the 2020s-2030s include the Wadičaq Phantoms, Sedem Regni Thrones, Naqili Hornets, and Sačia Tropics.

Orixtal Hockey League: Difference between revisions

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