Here are the current updates for the FHL as of August 11th:

Schedule for Anthro Cup and Draft:

Remember, GMs must participate in both draft to keep their team! If you have any questions about how to participate in the draft or research players, just send us a pm and we'd be happy to help! If you cannot attend the draft at all, you can still send us a "priority list" of players for us to draft in your place.

Also, the FHL will have a new franchise next season! The former Colorado Springs Pioneers have relocated and are now the Bakersfield Buckaroos! Welcome to the Furry Hockey League, Bakersfield, CA!

Fri, Aug. 9 - Mon, Aug. 12 - FHL Veterans Draft

Thu, Aug. 15 - Mon, Sep. 2 - The Anthro Challenge Cup, Round Robin (Games Thurs and Mons)

Thu, Sep. 5 & Sat, Sep. 7 - The Anthro Challenge Cup, Semis & Finals (Possible live broadcast?)

TBA - The FHL Rookie Draft (To be announced when rookie quota is reached)

Finally, as the draft is this friday, all veteran prospects in the draft pool can be located in the following spreadsheet, along with the draft order and timing. Additional "Player Stats" and "Goalie Stats" tabs now allow GMs easy access to see each prospects stats from last season, divided by position.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet.....mp;output=html

Best of Luck, everyone, and see ya on the ice!

---

Hey! FHL correspondent and sports writer Sheldon Berkeley reporting live at the FHL draft! Today is bound to be the most closely watched, as everyone wants to know who'll go in the first round. So lets get to the picks!

Also, the Portland Roses, last year's defending champions, have relocated. The FHL welcomes the Thunder Bay Puffins as the new home of the franchise!

1. Seattle Guardians select Lance Foxy, F

In one of the most stunning surprises in draft history, the Guardians use the first overall pick to select a fox that was completely off the draft radar. Not even ranked in the "Top 10" in his own position, much less overall! Has Seattle outsmarted the league? Do they know something we don't? Time will tell.

2. Houston Cosmonauts select Zyle Vaughn, D

No shocker here, folks. The #1 ranked prospect goes #2 overall. Smart pick from a Cosmonauts squad that can't afford to go on a limb!

3. Bakersfield Buckaroos select J.J. Held, F

In perhaps the most anticipated pick of the first round, J.J. Held becomes the first member of the FHL's newest franchise. The #4 ranked prospect will take the yoke of responsibility for the first time, as he'll likely face the expectations of leading this expansion squad as its franchise star.

4. Houston Cosmonauts select Ljetosha Sheparovich, D/F

in a minor surprise, the Cosmonauts draft the 8th ranked defenceman in the pool in a move likely to strengthen Houston's play in their own zone. The team has earned the dubious reputation for it's weakness of defence, so a very clever strategy on part of the manager!

5. Newfoundland Beothuks select select Liam Good, F

Newfoundland takes a page out of Seattle's notebook and drafts a prospect that's received little fanfare in the press. Birds have a reputation for working well together on the ice, so it's likely the Beothuks have a long-term draft strategy in motion.

6. Omaha Stampeders select Masakuni Sakurai, F/D

No surprise here. The Stampeders score big with the #3 ranked pick sliding down. Sakurai is as dangerous offensively as he is defensively.

7. Jacksonville Gators select Justin Ramses, G

The best goalie in the draft is the first to go. This #5 ranked pick outplayed the starter on his last team. Another no-brainer here.

8. St. Louis Spirits select Easytune, F

The spirits make a bold selection with one of the "Top 10" offencemen in the pool. Easytune never got the playing time he would have liked last season despite putting up good numbers. Still, the lamb can be a defensive liability.

9. Baltimore Blue Herons select Kurt Weaver, D/F

Arguably ranked with Vaughn among the best blueliners in the game, Weaver fills a glaring hole left after the retirement of Spot Jones. The tough pup was ranked #6 in the draft pool.

10. Helena Vigilantes select Richmond Swift, D/F

The Vigilantes opt for strength and tenacity with their surprise selection. The fox has a mean temper, but adds valuable offensive upside and physical presence.

11. Lexington Stallions select Kai Lehtinen, F

Lexington is a team with a reputation for offensive prowess, and this season should be no different. This #9 ranked prospect is possibly the most gifted playmaker available. Now legendary sniper St. Francois will have two creative wingmen to work with!

12. Victoria Totem Paws select Brodie Hampton, F/D

This has to be my pick for the steal of the round. The Totem Paws re-draft their old teammate as the #2 ranked prospect slides down 10 spaces. With limited experience, Hampton entered the draft as a substantial wildcard, so perhaps it's little wonder so many teams were unwilling to take the risk. It'll be up to the marsupial to prove the critics wrong!

13. Bridgeport Bandicoots select Rikko Browning, D

With several "Top 10" prospects available, the Bandicoots opt instead for a speedy and offensively gifted defenceman. Browning may not have a lot of power, but he has good hands and plays smart, as indicated by his assists and +/- last year.

14. Erie Tail Storm select Sandy Brushtail, F/D

Apparently the Tail Storm liked what they saw from the scrappy squirrel with the booming slapper. She'll be returning to the squad this year, despite mediocre results, with hopes of returning to her Season 1 form.

15. Salt Lake City Killer Bees select Eddie Holmgren, D

No need for Holmgren to pack his bags either. The stay-at-home d-man will be returning to the Killer Bees lineup in an effort to keep the elite squad of last season together!

16. Thunder Bay Puffins select Ty Sandstrom, F

In the words of the Puffins twitter account, "We're excited about Ty. He has game 7 experience of the cup finals in the league's first season. A playmaker which we need."

For the latest Veteran's Draft Information, you can always check here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ag4EhR-5cv\_edG9XellFWUxrbmlKdEJkVmhVRXBTZUE\#gid=18