UHB Fantasy Hockey Expansion

Me like hockey!

 Two New Franchises to Award!

The UHB is looking to expand this season from ten to twelve teams. Going into its 4th season, the head-to-head fantasy league transitioned into a dynasty league last year. That means managers are allowed to keep a certain amount of players from their current roster to carry over into next season. The league is free to join and there is a trophy awarded to the league champion as well as a consolation prize in certain cases.

Although it is possible that there might not be an NHL season due to a lockout, the UHB would still go ahead with its annual draft just in case a new CBA is reached. If the season is cancelled, you would at least have a roster of players to chose from to keep for next season. The draft is conducted live and online, using Yahoo! Sports. The new managers who join would draft 11th and 12th of the first round and then first and second in the following round, alternating in each successive round.

The prospective applicants should be dedicated and knowledgeable hockey fans. Part-timers need not apply. Prior fantasy hockey experience is an asset but not necessary. Your Yahoo! fantasy hockey profile will be considered when applying. The more experience and the higher your performance, the better your chances are of being granted a new franchise.

For more info about the rules, scoring and settings visit our UHB league page or browse other areas of this blog. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or post in the comments section.

Good luck!

Hockey Toon Tuesday: The Sweater (Le Chandail) by NFB

In tribute to the holiday season, I wanted to feature a hockey cartoon with a Christmas theme. Although I couldn't find one specifically related to this holiday, the cartoon I chose does involve a gift, winter and praying to God.

The Sweater is a 1980 animated short from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) based on author Roch Carrier's 1979 book of his own childhood experience.

It tells the story of a young boy growing up in Quebec, who outgrows the jersey of his favourite hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens, which has the number of his favourite player on the back, Maurice Richard. Noticing this, his mother orders him a new sweater by mail. When the day comes that the sweater finally arrives, the boy is severely disappointed but the mother can't understand why and forces him to wear it anyway. His eventual humiliation by other boys and his coach at the rink adds to his misery.

You might have seen The Sweater on YouTube. However, this is directly from the NFB, so the clarity is superior to what you may have watched previously. Enjoy it again, won't you?



See an updated, live-action version of The Sweater.

Hockey Holidays to All!

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Pingu Plays Hockey

Here is some rare footage of Mario Lemieux, early in his Penguins' career.



Gotcha! Ok, so it's not Mario. It's actually another penguin named Pingu.

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Puck Buddies

Here are a couple of very short, animated New Yorker Cartoons, the second of which is a hilarious encounter at the end of a hockey game. While the players from each opposing team line up to shake hands, one of them utters something in passing that you woudn't normally hear in that situation.

Enjoy the first one too, which is a Gahan Wilson cartoon.

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Donald Duck in The Hockey Champ (1939)

Who knew that Donald Duck was such a skilled hockey player. With his hot temper, I would have guessed that he would spend more time in the penalty box than displaying his finesse with a hockey stick and puck. That said, Donald displays both, in this classic Walt Disney cartoon.

This is Disney at its best with Donald at the height of his popularity. The winter setting is very scenic, rendered masterfully by the Disney animators and provides several great sight gags. Keep in mind that this is before CG animation, so all this work is painstakingly drawn by hand. To top it off, you get to see an entertaining hockey game and funny cartoon. These are the true Mighty Ducks.

A fun game of pond hockey turns into a heated rivalry between Donald and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Lewey in this wonderfully animated, winter tale, The Hockey Champ.

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Shaybu! Shaybu!

Today's hockey cartoon is a beautifully animated, 1964 Russian production by Soviet animator Boris Dyozhkin. It has no dialogue but plenty of fluid action on ice with a musical soundtrack. The title of the cartoon translates to, "Puck! Puck!" You can view some of Dyozhkin's rough pencil drawings and the cleaned up ones of his assistants at the Russian Insider blog. 

Hockey Toon Tuesday: Hockey Homicide

Starting today, every Tuesday will feature a hockey cartoon selected through a random search of the internet.

Today's selection is a classic Disney short starring that lovable goof himself, Goofy, in "Hockey Homicide".

Hockey Music Monday: Hockey Monkey by The Zambonis

Starting today, UHB is going to feature a hockey song each Monday, hence the title, "Hockey Music Monday". This week we kick things off with a rockin' little song from The Zambonis called, Hockey Monkey. This simian is not related to the Simeon goaltender on the Washington Capitals.



Look for another new feature starting Tuesday called Hockey Toon Tuesday.

The Return of Peter Puck

Is it just a coincidence that Peter Puck, the cartoon character, and former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington are both back in the limelight? Pocklington's nickname at the time of the 80's powerhouse Oilers was of course, Peter Puck. Now one is once again promoting hockey while the other is promoting a book with a shocking claim.

New Peter Puck cartoons return to CBC after an absence of over a quarter century. Rights owner and former hockey broadcaster, Brian McFarlane, struck a deal with SEGAL Licensing making the company the global licensing agent for the character. McFarlane and SEGAL Licensing claim to have big plans for the "poke-check Professor," starting in Canada.

I always thought Peter Puck would be a good name for a fantasy hockey team, especially if the owner's name was Peter. I know two guys named Peter who are involved in hockey pools, and you would think one of them would have taken my suggestion. One of them has even started playing hockey in a rec league. He is Peter Puck!