Boston Spirits

### League Titles

17 (1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2023)

### Doubles

2 (2008, 2009)

The **Boston Spirits** are a professional ice hockey team that compete in the Valorian Hockey League. Since 2020, the Spirits have played their home games at Charley Milner Arena.

With 25 trophies (17 league titles, 6 Coupes Balbuzard, 2 Doubles), the Boston Spirits are the most decorated team in VHL history. Along with the record for most trophies, they hold the records for most league titles (17), most league titles won consecutively (6), most league shields (24), most league shields won consecutively (8), most 50+ seasons (4), and most points scored in a season (54). They are also one of only three teams to have won the Double, winning the honor twice, and being the only team to have done so consecutively. The Spirits hold intense rivalries with the Salem Loggers, the Newfoundland Sailors, and the Providence Doves.

Since 2019, the Spirits have been managed by Chris Lindstrom. Center Norman Pickard has captained the team since 2018. They are currently reigning champions in the VHL, having defeated the Mainers [3 - 2] in the 2023 finals series. The Spirits were eliminated by the Newfoundland Sailors in the semi-finals of the 2023 Coupe Balbuzard, losing 1 - 4 to the eventual champions.

## History

### Clement Sterling Era (1978 - 1986)

Clement Sterling was appointed as the Spirit's first manager ahead of the first VHF-sanctioned VHL season in 1977. He guided the Spirits to the top of the rankings in the first ever season, and brought them all the way to the finals, where they eventually lost the series [2 - 3] to the Salem Loggers. Although they lost the league to the Loggers, the Spirits defeated them in the Coupe Balbuzard finals 4 - 2 to take home the first ever cup.

The following season, in 1979, the Spirits managed to top the league once more, however lost out to the Newfoundland Sailors in the playoff semi-finals.

The Spirits were able to return to the finals in 1980, meeting the Loggers once more. This time, however, they swept them, claiming their first league championship.

Sterling announced his retirement at the end of 1986, after nine seasons as manager.

### Quentin Bethea Era (1986 - 1995)

Through Bethea's first season in charge, the Spirits' performance seemed to slightly dip, finishing third in points. In the playoffs, however, Bethea swept the Sailors to bring the Spirits to the finals in his first season in charge. Despite winning the first game of the finals series, they eventually lost [1 - 3] to the fabled 1987 Bas-Canada team.

The Spirits bounced back from their finals defeat in 1987 by winning a fifth league title in 1988. They would successfully defend this title five times, setting the record for most consecutive league titles won.

In late 1994, Bethea announced his retirement at the end of the 1995 campaign. He brought the Spirits to the finals, but was unable to defeat the Sailors. In the Coupe Balbuzard, the Spirits brought an end to a decade-and-a-half-long drought by defeating the Providence Doves 4 - 0 in the final.

### Club Crisis (2015 - 2019)

Following Milner's coaching retirement, the Spirits struggled to find a suitable replacement. Steve Belanger was appointed to succeed him, however was unable to bring the Spirits to qualification, ending the season ranked 7th. The first time the Spirits failed to qualify since 2000, Belanger's campaign was dubbed a disaster by pundits and players alike, criticizing him for his inability to effectively lead the team and massively underperforming. Belanger defended himself by claiming his first campaign was not as dire as reporting made it seem, asking for another season to continue his project. His pleas, however, went unanswered, and he was sacked following the end of the 2016 season.

Andy Cleveland was brought in the replace him ahead of the 2017 campaign. With big expectations, Cleveland flopped spectacularly—the Spirits finished a shocking twelfth in the league, the first time the club ended a season in the bottom half of the standings. With only 25 points, Cleveland's campaign fell short of Belanger's by 7 points. With no hope of salvaging another season with the club, Cleveland resigned in the press conference following the Spirits' final match.

He was succeeded by Norris Whitfield, who scrambled to bring together a team that was in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Whitfield was able to improve on the Spirits' 2017 performance, although, as noted by former Spirits captain Michel Beaulieu, such a feat was "not a tough ask." Whitfield's Spirits team finished ninth, scoring 30 points. Sensing an inevitable firing, Whitfield resigned shortly after the end of the season.

In a panic, Ted Stillwell was appointed as the fourth manager in as many years. He brought a semblance of the old Spirits back, battling for qualification throughout the season. On the final matchday, however, he was pipped out of the top four by Halifax, who surpassed them with 37 points to the Spirits' 36. Stillwell tried for a second season, however was relieved of his duties in a move that some considered rather brash.

### Chris Lindstrom Era (2019 - present)

The man who beat the Spirits to qualification with Halifax the previous season, Chris Lindstrom moved to the hotseat in Boston for the 2020 VHL season, with high expectations to meet. His first campaign with the club seemed promising, as he managed to comfortably keep the Spirits in qualification territory, although the COVID-19 pandemic eventually cut the season short and nullified his efforts.

Lindstrom later commented that the pause in the VHL came at an opportune time for the club, as he was able to restructure failing systems and reorganize the team to be more cohesive. When the VHL resumed in 2021, the Spirits were immediately challenging for the top spot. By the end of the season, a charging Newfoundland Sailors easily topped the league, however the Spirits beat out stiff competition to secure second. Beating the Venom in the semi-finals, the Spirits returned to the VHL finals after a tumultuous four years. They were ultimately swept by a dominant Sailors team, however Lindstrom's showing was enough to allow him a second season at the helm of Boston.

Initially, the 2022 campaign proved highly successful for the Spirits, who achieved the first 50+ Season since 2009. They defeated the Loggers in the semi-finals, meeting the Mainers in the finals. Despite winning the first two games in the series, the Spirits were reverse-swept by the Mainers. This led to speculation over Lindstrom's future at the club, with some calling for his removal after failing to bring home a [2 - 0] series lead as the heavy favorites.

Despite rumors of his sacking, Lindstrom was retained for the 2023 campaign. Once more, the Spirits topped the league, nearly achieving back-to-back 50+ Seasons (a loss on the final matchday prevented them from accomplishing the feat). Once more beating the Loggers in the semi-finals, the Spirits once more met the Mainers in the final. This time, however, the Spirits were able to defeat the Mainers, winning the title after a nine-year drought.

Following his championship victory, Lindstrom signed a three-year contract extension, guaranteeing his era at the club until at least 2026.

## Rivalries

### Salem Loggers

The longest-standing rivalry in VHF history, dating back to its inaugural season in 1978, when the pair contested both the league finals and the Coupe Balbuzard finals. That season, the Spirits won the Coupe Balbuzard, but lost the series finals [2 - 3] to the Loggers. Matches between these teams have been dubbed the "Capital Derby," as the two teams are based in the capital province of Boston.

The two teams have contested the league finals four times, the final instance being in 1985. Each team has won their finals matchups twice. As the Loggers have struggled to maintain their early-80s results, the Spirits have pulled ahead in terms of most statistics.

### Newfoundland Sailors

As the two most decorated teams in VHF history, the Spirits and the Sailors have naturally developed a rivalry contesting for the title of greatest Valorian ice hockey team. The Spirits remain ahead of the Sailors in most statistics: more league titles (17 to the Sailors' 11), more Doubles (2 to the Sailors' 1), and more league shields (24 to the Sailors' 13). Both teams sport two stars above their crest, and the Spirits have less Coupes Balbuzard to their name (6 to the Sailors' 9).

The Spirits and the Sailors have contested the VHL finals ten times, the most out of any pairing. The Spirits have come out on top on five of those occasions. Their first meeting was in 1990, and their latest in 2021. Their rivalry has been described as the most important in the VHL, as it is one of the longest standing rivalries that remains competitive to this day (unlike, for example, the Spirits and the Loggers, which generally sees little close competition nowadays).

More recently (in the past decade), the Sailors have found far more success than the Spirits, winning 8 trophies to the Spirits' 2.

### Providence Doves

The rivalry between the Spirits and the Doves developed during the 2000s, as the two teams contested for that decade's star. They first met in a VHL finals series in 2001, with the Doves coming out on top. They have met a further seven times, each winning four series over the other.

Their latest finals meeting was in 2012, which saw the Spirits beaten by the Doves. The rivalry between the two teams continues to exist, despite a disparity in results since the early 2010s.

## Head Coaches

The Spirits have had eleven head coaches since their formation. Clement Sterling was the first head coach, while Chris Lindstrom currently manages the club.

Charley Milner has had the longest tenure with the club, managing them for 13 campaigns. He is also their most decorated manager, having won 6 league titles, 2 Coupes Balbuzard, 2 Doubles, and topping the league 8 consecutive times during his tenure.