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====== Torland Hockey League ======

{{ :thl_thl.png?200|}}The **Torland Hockey League (THL)** is the highest level of professional hockey in [[Torland]]. The THL is currently comprised of 24 franchises and is considered one of the premier hockey leagues in the world for its level of play and skill. Teams in the THL compete for the prestigious [[Marcotte Cup]] in an annual playoff tournament.

The THL was founded in 1960 by [[THL Notable People|Rey Marcotte]] in [[Trowburgh|Trowburgh, Lismane]] along with six owners who all desired to better organize professional hockey in Torland. Joining Marcotte were Wayne Leyva, Seymour Duval, Claud Elam,  Don Giordano, Leo Rankin, and Bernard Willard.

The league has gone through several rounds of expansion and acquired the [[United Hockey Alliance]] in 1980 via merger. The current league commissioner is Pete Byrd and the current chief of operations is Donovan Marroquin. The current president of the Torland Union of Hockey Players (TUHP) is Rod Temple. The TUHP and the THL agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in 1990 that will be in effect from 1991-1999 and include two rounds of expansion.

^  Torland Hockey League (1991)  ^

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===== History =====

=== The Beginning ===

After World War II, with sporting and entertainment back on the rise, several independent team owners took notice of the sports leagues and teams being formed both in Torland and in the United States and Japan. Baseball was beginning to boom. The Dodgers had moved to LA and the Giants had taken over San Francisco. In Torland, [[Waterdee]] had become the new capital for baseball in the north Pacific and teams were joining rapidly as stadiums were being built or renovated. Collegiate hockey was a way of life in the northern coastal areas of Torland, even more so the numerous independent teams. With the resurgence of entertainment and organized sports back in the public eye, the smaller teams and their non-existent budgets were struggling to keep up with the demand.

In the spring of 1958, [[Rey Marcotte]], an aging businessman from [[Trowburgh]], called a summit of fellow businessmen with interest and strong ties to ice hockey. They met in the lakeside retreat town of Lobure, Lismane, as a neutral location between all of the bad blood in their hockey veins.

Marcotte called in Wayne Leyva from [[Port Alrene]] who owned several independent teams and a decently-sized domed rink on the South Pier. From bitter rival [[Portarra]], Seymour Duval was brought in as he was also an owner of several independent hockey teams and a large rink facility in his downtown. These would be the keystones of the new hockey quotient. Quiet, shy money mogul Claud Elam was brought from [[Chasonne]], the quirky music capital of Torland with a strong hockey following. The captain of the brawling lot of the Isle of Kirk, known as “Sir” Captain Don Giordano was brought in to represent [[Kirkenport]]. Two mainlanders, Tamokeva-native Leo Rankin with business ties in [[Trowburgh]] and [[Lecayne]] native Bernard Willard with business ties in hockey-crazed [[Kirlow]] rounded out the list. Both Rankin and Willard had played independent hockey in their younger days.

The topic at hand was how to build a league that would take advantage of the new demand for sporting entertainment and organize the talent in northern Torland along with the many international players who called Torland home. Leyva and Duval in particular were very well connected with international talent. A loose skeleton of a league structure was drafted and voted upon and each potential new league owner was in favor of moving ahead with the plans to found a new hockey league for Torland. The beginning of winter 1960 would be the target date for the inaugural season. In the meantime, each owner would begin building or renovating proper centers for league hockey games.

The new clubs would be formed from existing rosters of independent teams and leeway was given to each owner to have priority for players already signed to their current teams. There was some concern over roster weighting with owners such as Leyva, Duval and Elam already having talented players in their organizations, but to keep the process moving forward to start the league, no provision was made for an inaugural draft.

Wayne Leyva's club in Port Alrene kept their most famous local team name of the Anchors. Across the channel in Portarra, Seymour Duval went with Whales as his moniker. In Chasonne, Claud Elam, ever the historian, dug into the rich local history and chose Heralds. To the surprise of no one, Don Giordano, the self-proclaimed captain of the wild boys of Kirkenport chose Captains as his team name. Leo Rankin chose Lions for his new Trowburgh club and over in Kirlow, Bernie Willard went with a local favorite in the Kodiaks.

A 60-game season would be played with the top four teams qualifying for a seeded 7-game semi-final series with the winners advancing to a 7-game championship finals for a brand new large gold trophy which was dubbed the [[Marcotte Cup]]. Rey Marcotte was elected the first acting commissioner for the fledgling new league which was named the [[Torland Hockey League]].

=== Early Years ===

=== First Moves and Expansion ===

=== The Divisional Era ===

=== Barry Boyle and the UHA ===

=== 80's Surge ===

=== 90's Expansion ===


===== Teams =====

The THL is currently comprised of 24 teams, as of 1992.

^ Team ^ City ^ Arena ^ Joined ^ Owner ^ General manager ^ Head coach ^
| [[Abrieden Bucks]] | [[Abrieden|Abrieden, Solinza]] | Clarenrane Arena | 1979 | Larry Lamb | Arthur Cohen | Darren Jefferson |
| [[Alko Barbarians]] | [[Alko|Alko, Pakola]] | Enseco Center | 1976* | Dick Valentine | Russ Shoemaker | Jonas Rayburn |
| [[Alko Wizards]] | [[Alko|Alko, Pakola]] | Misty Center | 1983 | Eric Barclay | Gary Wisniewski | Donnie Thomas |
| [[Bancana Kings]] | [[Bancana|Bancana, Solinza]] | Goldlight Ice Dome | 1980 | Bob Vernon | Buck Zigler | Kirk Oliver |
| [[Chasonne Heralds]] | [[Chasonne|Chasonne, Forstana]] | Song City Forum | 1960 | Jack Elam | Ulysses Weddle | Owen Zimmerman |
| [[Cobantle Cardinals]] | [[Cobantle|Cobantle, Granago]] | Penny Center | 1992 | Paul Leonard | Marc Wilkins | Craig McMurray |
| [[Dosa City Snappers]] | [[Dosa City|Dosa City, New Dosa]] | Docktown Dome | 1976* | Ed Harvey | Mac Russo | Blaine Burchette |
| [[Fort Bevin Rockets]] | [[Fort Bevin|Fort Bevin, Galapetra]] | Lone Prairie Arena | 1972 | John Harrington | Wilburn Montague | Ken Delaney |
| [[Kavalos Electrics]] | [[Kavalos|Kavalos, Tamokeva]] | The Bright House | 1972 | Sandy Goetz | Cleo Osteen | Harley Sweeney |
| [[Kirkenport Captains]] | [[Kirkenport|Kirkenport, Alrene Isles]] | Kirk Coliseum | 1960 | Don Giordano Jr. | Dan Whitt | Gerald Fox |
| [[Kirlow Kodiaks]] | [[Kirlow|Kirlow, Lismane]] | Orchard Center | 1965 | Roddy Paquette | Vince Nelms | Barry Stover |
| [[Kurohara Killers]] | [[Kurohara|Kurohara, Tamokeva]] | Ormedra Dome | 1980 | Ed Zook | JD McCurdy | Frank Donovan |
| [[Narva Neptunes]] | [[Narva|Narva, Forstana]] | Crown City Center | 1960* | Tony Blackwood | Vern Perrault | Byron Peachey |
| [[Port Alrene Anchors]] | [[Port Alrene|Port Alrene, Alrene Isles]] | Harbor Dome | 1960 | Tom Leyva | Ruben Kidwell | Frank Loomis |
| [[Portarra Pioneers]] | [[Portarra|Portarra, Galapetra]] | Fort Tor Heritage Arena | 1972 | Lewis Vail | Scott Hauser | Burt Wentz |
| [[Portarra Whales]] | [[Portarra|Portarra, Galapetra]] | Market Marina Center | 1960 | Steve Duval | Don O'Donnell | Sid Snyder |
| [[Prestonburg Blazers]] | [[Prestonburg|Prestonburg, New Dosa]] | Cauldron Center | 1980 | Mitchell Wilkes | Sid Myrick | Bruno Eaves |
| [[Quebel Crusaders]] | [[Quebel|Quebel, Alrene Isles]] | Alrene Athletics Arena | 1979 | Andrew Conti | Ed Woodley | Ted Wethers |
| [[Sina Serpents]] | [[Sina|Sina, Galapetra]] | EverStar Center | 1983 | Fred Winkler | Bill Chavis | Larry Barker |
| [[Trowburgh Herons]] | [[Trowburgh|Trowburgh, Lismane]] | Goldleaf Center | 1972 | Craig Kern | Ed Smalls | Andy Ford |
| [[Vensessor Swans]] | [[Vensessor|Vensessor, New Dosa]] | Victory Plaza Center | 1980 | Wilton Henson | Burt Pollock | Roger Harmon |
| [[Waterdee Dragons]] | [[Waterdee|Waterdee, Granago]] | Gresham Arena | 1992 | Brett Cavanaugh | Mark Harper | John Otto |
| [[Yubay Falcons]] | [[Yubay|Yubay, Tamokeva]] | Yertas Arena | 1960* | Dwight Dietrich | Rusty Sykes | Kip Weller |
| [[Yubay Glaciers]] | [[Yubay|Yubay, Tamokeva]] | Glacier Dome | 1965 | Kevin Aquino | Buddy Wimberly | Pete Clayton |
* Franchise has moved in the past.

See: List of [[defunct teams|former and defunct teams]].
===== League Organization =====

==== Leadership ====

The Torland Hockey League is headed by a League Commissioner who oversees league operations and is elected by the team owners. The current commissioner is Pete Byrd. League founder Rey Marcotte served as the league's first commissioner. 

The THL League office headquarters is located in Trowburgh, Lismane. The headquarters has also at times been housed in Waterdee, Granago when John Morgan Hatch was commissioner. Special league events are typically held in Monmount or Lobure, both in the mountains of Lismane.
==== League Commissioners ====

  * Rey Marcotte (1960-1964)
  * Bernard Willard (1965-1971)
  * John Morgan Hatch (1972-1984)
  * Pete Byrd (1985-present)

In 1987, Donovan Marroquin, after he sold the rights to the Lecayne Saints, was hired by Commissioner Byrd in Trowburgh to join the league staff in an advisory and operations role, notably heading up the founding of [[Hockey on the Mount]] in 1988.
==== Season Structure ====

The league plays a 76-game regular season with teams aligned across four divisions.

^  Willard Division  ^  Hatch Division  ^  Elam Division  ^  Rankin Division  ^
|  Fort Bevin Rockets  |  Alko Barbarians  |  Chasonne Heralds  |  Abrieden Bucks  |
|  Port Alrene Anchors  |  Alko Wizards  |  Cobantle Cardinals  |  Bancana Kings  |
|  Portarra Pioneers  |  Dosa City Snappers  |  Kirkenport Captains  |  Kavalos Electrics  |
|  Portarra Whales  |  Kirlow Kodiaks  |  Narva Neptunes  |  Kurohara Killers  |
|  Quebel Crusaders  |  Prestonburg Blazers  |  Trowburgh Herons  |  Yubay Falcons  |
|  Sina Serpents  |  Vensessor Swans  |  Waterdee Dragons  |  Yubay Glaciers  |

Team standings are sorted by points. Wins in regulation are worth 3 points each. Regular season games include a single overtime period if the game remains tied after regulation and results in a tie in the standings worth 1 point if the tie remains unbroken in overtime.

=== Playoff Format ===

The team with the most points at season's end in each division is awarded the Division Title and an automatic playoff berth, seeded by points record 1-4. The two division winners with the highest points earn a first round bye. The runner-up in each division is also awarded a playoff berth, along with the two remaining best records regardless of division. These two teams play the two runners-up with the worst records in a Wildcard Round.

  * **Wildcard Round** (Best of 5)

    * #10 Seed vs #7 Seed
    * #9 Seed vs #8 Seed

  * **Quarterfinals** (Best of 7)

    * #1 Seed vs #8 Seed (or worst remaining seed)
    * #2 Seed vs #7 Seed (or second-worst remaining seed)
    * #3 Seed vs #6 Seed
    * #4 Seed vs #5 Seed

  * **Semi-Finals** (Best of 7)

  * #1 Seed vs #4 Seed
  * #2 Seed vs #3 Seed

  * **Marcotte Cup Championship Finals** (Best of 7)

  * #1 Seed vs #2 Seed 

===== Trophies and Awards =====

==== Marcotte Cup ====

The THL competes annually for the prestigious [[Marcotte Cup]] league championship trophy which is awarded to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The trophy was named after the league's founder, Rey Marcotte.

^ Most Marcotte Cup Championships ^ ^
^ Team ^ Cups ^
| [[Chasonne Heralds]] | 6 |
| [[Portarra Whales]] | 5 |
| [[Kirkenport Captains]] | 4 |
| [[Port Alrene Anchors]] | 3 |
| [[Yubay Falcons]] | 3 |
| [[Yubay Glaciers]] | 3 |

13 teams have won the Marcotte Cup at least once. 3 teams have appeared in at least one championship final but have not won a Cup.  The Portarra Whales have appeared in the most championship finals at 9 times.

See: full list of [[Marcotte Cup]] winners.

=== Bertram Trophy ===

The league runner-up in the championship final is awarded the Bertram Trophy.

=== Louis Trophy ===

The team with the best regular season record is awarded the Louis Trophy.

=== Division Title ===

The team with the best record in their division at the end of each season is awarded a Division Title, named after their division. Currently there are four divisions, Willard Division, Hatch Division, Elam Division, and Rankin Division.

=== Player & Staff Awards ===

  * Geno Pasternak Trophy (League MVP)
  * Gary Wisniewski Trophy (Best Forward)
  * Paul Kauffman Trophy (Best Defenseman)
  * Ferdy Haight Trophy (Best Goalie)
  * Dan Herzog Trophy (Blue Collar)
  * Rookie of the Year
  * Most Improved Player
  * General Manager of the Year
  * Don Easterling Trophy (Coach of the Year)

See: full list of [[THL Awards]].

==== THL Hall of Fame ====

See: full list of [[THL Hall of Fame]] members.
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