What is FHL Sim?

Written by Sean W. Gibson

'If you’re a die hard hockey fan then you’ve been consistently disappointed with the genuine lack of titles for the PC. Outside of the EA branded game, there’s a huge lack of good old fashion games for puck fans and especially of the fantasy hockey league variety. There’s a small community on the net that’s amongst the most passionate that any title out there sees – all in the form of FHL Sim. The game is a fantasy hockey league simulator that is designed for managing a hockey league on the internet.

Create a league from scratch using draft tools or use other people’s league files. Draft players imported from a simple text file, so commissioners can add as many names as they see fit. An annual draft list will also be provided.

Integrated entry draft. Includes a lottery for non-playoff teams. Determines free agents, with user defined conditions for restricted and unrestricted free agency. Program allows outputting of current free agents.

Easy annual update of player ratings. Player databases easily imported and updated without league re-creation. At the click of one button, players will be updated using the new ratings and any prospect players who appear in the new database will automatically be added to the appropriate roster.

Leadership and experience ratings which affect player morale and performance under pressure.

Keeps track of draft picks, all seven rounds, years into the future.

Keeps track of prospect players who can be automatically added to the regular roster when they appear in the master player database.

Complete editing of player info, including salary, birthplace.

Game Play Base your teams on real or imaginary players rated in over 16 categories. (categories are: Intensity, Speed, Strength, Endurance, Durability, Discipline, Skating, Passing, Puck Control, Defense, Scoring, Experience, Leadership, Height, Weight and Shooting hand.)

Coach ratings in four categories: Offence, Defense, Experience, Leadership.

Detailed financial management tools, based on revenues and expenses based on ticket sales, team performance, salaries, projected budgets, and cash trades.

Player suspensions for excessive penalty minutes or causing injury.

Realistic injury system based on player Durability rating.

Players do not receive a set number of injury days. Instead they are listed as Day to Day, 1-3 weeks, etc. Players then recover at different rates, according to their DU rating. That way you don’t know exactly how many games a player will miss. In fact, if you have enough off days, he may not miss any games at all!

Statistics Detailed boxscores including penalty names, fight results, game highlights, and individual player stats (including ice time).

Tracks rookies and rookie scoring leaders.

Detailed team statistics including PIM, Shots For/Game, Shots Against/Game.

Multiple team statistics. When players are traded FHL tracks stats on the new team while storing old stats.

Active Farm League. FHL will generate standings and scoring leaders for players who are placed on the farm rosters.

Detailed player info, including height, weight, age and contract length.

But is it realistic?

Although there are many hockey simulators out there, many are of the “I did this for my college project…” variety and offer a very minimal level of realism. Through many seasons of simulating, and eventually running an entire season at a league I started myself (the ExTreme Championship Hockey League) I was able to create a very realistic simulation league by using the tweaking bars. These bars allow for all sorts of adjustments in the different aspects that the game has to offer – like scoring, shooting, penalties, and the like.

I have to say that if you find the right roster files that properly reflect the aspects of play in their real-life NHL counterparts, the closeness to believability is astounding.

The level of support for FHL Sim is second to none. At the main website for the game (click here) there is a message board that seems to be frequented by hundreds of die hard fans of this title. Topics range from tech support, to modding the game (such as what I did by integrating the output into PHP and MySQL), to people looking and starting new leagues. It seems that this is the core hub where true die hard hockey fans gravitate to – something that the internet has made possible.

I can’t underscore how crazy it is to meet other passionate fans of hockey and get together in a league to all enjoy our mutual interest of the sport. People talk trade, talk smack back and forth, and really develop a kinsmanship that is rarely seen with other sports simulators.

It’s also a blast to manage your rosters, set lines of your favorite players, and set them all into motion to see if you can win the stanley cup.

Graphics & Sound

It’s important to know that FHL Sim is a simulator only – the graphics are functional and let you know what you need to do and there is absolutely no use for sound in the game.

Overall Impressions

After playing with FHL Sim for 4 months now, I’ve come to realize that there’s some really fantastic things about this title that definitely warrant the $25 purchase price. First, the simulator is very realistic and easy to use. This isn’t a title that you’ll be rolling through the pages of the manual … although there are some glitches with the game (such as the entire game crashing if someone has lines incorrectly filled out), the charm of the game makes up for what it lacks.

Perhaps the best feature of the game (outside of the realism of the simulator) is the ability to run a league over the internet. A “GM Utility” is included and available for download (free) for people to send in line-ups and manage their rosters. The league commissioner then simply hits the “Auto Update Lines” button and it’s all taken care of. The HTML auto-output is a very nifty feature that makes running these league very easy for any internet/webmaster novice.

If you’re looking to start a fantasy hockey league, there is simply no finer program out there than FHL Sim. That being said, the program is only on edition 1.5 and a 2.0 version of the program should yield a much better product. If you’re looking to be in a fantasy league, then I’d highly suggest taking a look at the boards on FHLSim.com and seeing what’s available as spots seem to open up here and there all the time. Eventually, you’ll be craving your own league, or at the very least, running your own statistical simulations using the program to see if that big trade will work out for you.

Overall, FHL Sim is a fun program, and the one to buy if you are at all interested in fantasy hockey leagues. There’s an intangible charm to the game that comes from the communal feeling you get from participating or running a league. For $25 it’s definitely worth the purchase … and for those of you interested, I’ll be working with a few people to release the popular PHP/MySQL pack for this title, just check the ExCHL main page.'

History of the SHL

Written by Chris, SHL Commissioner

'The SHL was born of the Dynasty Hockey League (DHL), the rules, many of the original General Managers and of course the ratings are all very similar. When I first started thinking about starting my own league it was to satisfy my hunger for fantasy hockey, more specifically FHL Sim.

How I Started

My first introduction to FHL Sim was a league called the Montreal Hockey League and I’ll admit, I was horrid. I remember trading Robert Earl and a 4th round pick for Clarke MacAurther and Drew Stafford. At the time i used Hockey Futures ratings to compare the players and being a Leafs sufferer, it seemed fair at the time. From then on I paid more attention, a lot more attention. Sims and running a team in FHL Sim became a long term hobby, one my wife still really does not understand.

Joining the DHL in 2008

I joined the DHL in 2008, after being in a couple of sim league I wanted more. I stumbled upon the DHL from HF Boards and to me, it looked like the mecca of sim hockey. I applied and lost out on the Oilers (stacked team) but a couple months later inherited the Florida Panthers. It was a horrid team some infamous guy named Parks treated like a two bit floosy but it was mine. We later relocated to Minnesota when the league aligned the conferences to East and West like the NHL. I’ve been there ever since, still trying to win something, anything.

When I approached John (DHL Commish) in 2010 about starting another sim league I suggested that I make it a one sim per NHL season league so that it didn’t hamper the DHL (which is 2 sims per NHL season). At the time it was a compromise and since then I’ve actually become much more in favor of the 1 sim per NHL season, if only for the realism of following the sim season while it happens in the NHL during the same time frame.

You Were Gonna Name it What???

There was actually a few names for the league I was floating, SHL seemed to make sense since it had such a close tie to the DHL, but I almost named it the KHL, for Kris Hockey League (my name is spelt with a CH but it I thought it would be neat to use a real league name, glad i didn’t now lol) but in the end I decided to go with SHL. I also had a league mantra `eat, sleep, sim` which is really, what we are all doing here, loving the sim and emerging ourselves in a silly fantasy hockey league.

So with that I signed up for a free web-host and began to advertise for GM’s. Of course many of the DHL guys joined along with a strong contingent from the NEFHL, another league i was in. We had a forum and a main page (first one was static and real mickey mouse) and so began the inaugural entry draft for players and prospects.

I mentioned most of the original GM`s came from DHL and NEFHL, Francis of DHL fame won the first overall pick and selected Alexander Ovechkin, it was 2010 and OVY was a sim beast. Second overall went to St. Louis GM Joe (formerly of DHL) who selected Sid the Kid. The Blues have since won 2 SHL cups with Sid and Francis also won a cup, but not with OVY on his roster. From that inaugural draft, 13 general managers remain out of 28 (SHL was a 28 team league, just like DHL). Not a bad retention of original guys considering, and a few of those just recently left this past off season.

The SHL Expands to 30

In the summer of 2012 I announced expansion, the league was doing fine and i wanted to bring a little added excitement to the league. So in the summer of 2013 Colorado and Carolina joined the league as expansion franchises. All 28 teams were able to protect based on 2001 NHL expansion rules and the two new expansion teams got to pick first and second in each of the seven rounds of that summers entry draft.

Since the first days we’ve upgraded hosts and upgraded websites. We’ve also tweaked the rules from the original ones we had in the beginning. We’ve seen some wild characters (you know who you are) and have been fortunate to maintain a pretty solid stable of GM’s. Some franchises have gone through multiple GM’s, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Columbus and Chicago, while some have been here since day one; Philly, Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota and San Jose.

Four Years In

I’m also happy to say we’ve had a Trade Committee since nearly the beginning but have only had to use it sparingly. That really is the result of having knowledgeable GM’s which makes a league that much more competitive. In four years we’ve crowned three franchises champions, St. Louis twice, Montreal and Los Angeles, and this season probably someone new.

So its been six years since I did an update on the history of this league. Chapter I is here for those who have not read it. As we finish our milestone 10th SHL season- I think it’s a good time to reflect on this league that began in 2010. Over the last six years the league has seen a lot of change, new general managers and some veterans moving on but through it all the league has gotten stronger and more competitive.

New Ratings

During the summer of 2015 I worked with Adam (Chicago GM), Pete (GVFHL commish) and Johan (Los Angeles GM) to update our ratings system. The goal was to take a deep dive on how FHL sim uses each individual rating to produce results. We systematically went over each category to test what the impact of each rating was in the sim to see what the result would be. We looked at available NHL statistics and dug down on how each would relate to individual ratings. It took several months but the creation of our own ratings improved the results and also allowed the creation of ratings calculator to provided general managers the ability to project ratings in-season, which has become a very valuable planning tool.

More Expansion

In the summer of 2018 the SHL expanded to 31 teams with the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights. AJ, the former Islanders GM, was appointed general manager after a competitive interview process involving several SHL candidates. The expansion draft was similar to NHL rules and was done on the forum over a week, it created a lot of interest and intrigue and really isn’t that why we all do this? The league also realigned the divisions to match the NHL with four divisions in 2 conferences – 15 in the West and 16 teams in the East. There has been chatter around SHL circles about another expansion with the NHL adding a 32nd team in Seattle but currently those are unconfirmed rumors.

The SHL Gets Unionized

In 2018 the league also added an executive committee (EC). The addition of a committee was an important step to improve decision making and provide general managers in the SHL a stronger voice in league operations and direction. Along with an EC, the league also opened up formal positions such as a media coordinator, UFA coordinator and awards coordinator. The additions have proved successful and has given general managers the opportunity to contribute more to the league they enjoy by having a bigger seat at the table and sharing with the many league day to day operations.

The Last Six Seasons

At the end of the 2013-14 season we had 14 general managers that are still in this league today. While some teams have had several general managers over the course of 10 season, there is a strong core of people who remain dedicated to this league today. The 2014-2015 season started with a bang as I won my first SHL cup. It was a team led by Jordan Eberle and included my franchise player, Gabriel Landeskog. My team beat Rui and the Flames in six games and it was cool to do but less fulfilling than winning the cup in other leagues. It’s an odd feeling when you run a league you compete in. I run this league for the people in it, I get enjoyment from seeing others succeed. It was cool to win but I honestly take pride in seeing others win it all knowing how hard we all try to beat the sim.

The sixth season brought the first SHL World Cup. Eight teams in multi week tournament with Rich leading the US over Jamie and the Czech in a surprising gold medal final. 2015-16 was also my second straight trip to the finals but ended at the hands of Luc winning his first SHL cup. His Sharks made short work of my Leafs taking us down in 5 with Ben Bishop capturing the MVP. The seventh season began the era of Connor McDavid whose Kings won Johan his first SHL Cup. The Kings bested Adrian’s Panthers in six with Carey Price winning the MVP. McDavid has gone on to win other hardware including an Art Ross, Rocket Richard and a Hart to go along with his cup ring.

Season eight saw another long time general manager Saif finally break through the crust to capture his first SHL cup in a dominant five game win over Luc and his Sharks. Another tender took home the MVP with Devan Dubynk leading the Caps to victory. It was great to see Saif finally win it all after years of icing highly competitive rosters but always falling short. The end of the 2018 season also brought the first Fall Classic to the SHL. The Fall Classic is a double elimination tournament that replaced the preseason and all-star games. Chris of Philly won the Championship bracket over Rich and the Red Wings while Adrian captured the Consolation Bracket over Alex and the Ducks.

Season nine was a rematch of the Fall Classic Consolation Bracket but the results were not the same. In a stunning four game sweep Roberto Luongo and Alex’s Ducks took out Adrian and the Panthers. It was second time unlucky for Adrian whose Cats were heavily favored against the scrappy Ducks. It was nice to see Alex win and started a trending hashtag #UnderDucks. While Adrian suffered defeat, his team continues to push each season punishing the competition. Its only a matter of time until the Panthers win it all.

Our tenth season seen the crowning of Luc as the leagues first repeat winning general manager. While the Blues have two cups in their trophy case, those teams were led by different general managers. Luc has been around since the start and his masterful trades and management have led him to his second cup victory in his third cup finals. Luc has a Presidents Trophy to go along with two general manager of the year awards. He will be a first ballot hall of fame builder when his time comes and still will undoubtedly add more hardware to his impressive collection.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead to the future, we march on. I hope this league can continue for many years. Its been a pleasure running this league, more than I thought it would be. I enjoy all the personalities I have met over the years and I won’t lie, there have been some cringe-worthy moments over 10 years – but those a very few and far in between. I love this league for what it promotes, exemplifies and does- good, honest, fantasy hockey fun.