The purpose of the Rewind Hockey League (RHL) is to replay NHL hockey seasons using the Strat-O-Matic computer hockey game, starting with the 1974-75 season. The RHL will attempt to maintain a certain amount of the integrity of the actual franchise rosters through those years, while at the same time allow owners the flexibility to manipulate their team through trades and yearly free agent drafts. The RHL is designed for owners who may be fans of a single club, and want to experience both the high and low points that their favorite team went through in the past. For the league's inaugural season, each owner selected a team and received the most prevalent players on that team for the 1974-75 season. They will automatically receive all future rookies (non computer-only) for their teams. Four more teams joined the RHL for the 1979-80 season. We are currently playing the 1984-85 season.
If you are interested in joining the RHL, contact Derek Jones at djones90@yahoo.com.
There will be a new Yelnats Cup champion crowned this season, as the Islanders were defeated in the Patrick Division Final by the Flyers. Five of the seven games in this series were decided by one goal, with three of those games decided in overtime. Dave Poulin led Philadelphia in series scoring with seven goals and four assists. Two of Poulin's goals were game-winners. Mike Bossy had seven goals and five assists for New York.
The North Stars won three straight over the Blackhawks to take the Norris Division Final series in six games. Mike Gartner led the way for Minnesota with five goals and three assists in the series. Neal Broten added four goals and an assist. Don Beaupre started all six games for the Stars and sported a .910 save percentage. Curt Fraser and Denis Savard each had three goals for Chicago. The North Stars have advanced to a Conference Final series for the first time since divisional playoff brackets were adopted in 1981-82, and this is their first "Final Four" appearance since the 1980-81 playoffs.
The Islanders held on to defeat the Penguins 6-4 at the Civic Arena in Game 5 to win the Patrick Division Semifinal series three games to two. The home team won each game in this series. Denis Potvin had three goals and five assists for New York in the five games. John Tonelli added two goals and five assists. Moe Mantha led Pittsburgh in scoring with two goals and five assists, while Mario Lemieux and Mike Bullard each had three goals and two assists.
Troy Murray scored twice, including a shorthanded goal, in Game 5 of the Norris Division Semifinal for the Blackhawks, leading them to a 5-0 win over the Sabres in that game and a three games to two victory in the series. Murray Bannerman stopped all 28 shots he faced in Game 5 for Chicago, and sported a .911 save percentage in the series. Denis Savard led Blackhawk scorers with three goals and four assists. Phil Housley had three goals and two assists for Buffalo
The Kings advance in the Yelnats Cup Playoffs with a three games to one victory over the Jets in the Smythe Division Semifinal. Marcel Dionne led the Kings in scoring with two goals and seven assists in the series. However, it was Rick Wamsley who made the difference for Los Angeles, as he registered a .914 save percentage in the four games. Mario Marois had a goal and five assists for Winnipeg, while Dale Hawerchuk added three goals and an assist.
The Bruins finished 20 points behind the Whalers in the regular season, and were 2-5-1 in their head-to-head series, but that didn't stop them from posting a convincing three games to one series win in the Adams Division Semifinal. Rick Vaive led the way for Boston with five goals and three assists in the series. John Chabot added a goal and six assists. Hakan Loob scored two goals and four assists for Hartford.