A Regular Season of Divisional Troubles 2005-06: Oiler Series

The Hellburta Province has long been a disputed territory between Go Canucks Go and Oilersburg. Years of posturing and failed diplomacy have only seen a rise in nationalism amongst the citizens of both Hockey Republics.

Today, the pent up frustration over land claims erupted in gunfire along the border, as border patrols exchanged shots with one another. Two platoons of soldiers clashed in the border near Fort Oates, Oilersburg. The firefight lasted for two hours, with several wounded on either side. Eventually, the Checking Line from Go Canucks Go withdrew from their position after being defeated in the shoot out.

Afterwards, both governments made nationalistic speeches that only fueled the Hellburta crisis, leading many to believe that war wasn’t far away. The oil rich Hellburta region is a resource treasured by Go Canucks Go. Oilersburg claims that that the land is theirs and sites a number of historic treaties from their last Dynasty.

Oilersburg and Go Canucks Go Border Skirmishing Continues (3-5 Loss)

A hotly contested mountainous area, known as Northlands Coliseum, became the focus of an escalation of fighting on the border between Go Canucks Go and Oilersburg. Fighting broke out when a lost patrol from Go Canucks Go ran into a border post of Oilersburg, accidentally crossing the border under arms. The firefight ended with the soldiers of our Hockey Republic in retreat, with five wounded soldiers.

The Hockey Republic of Go Canucks Go claim that the incursion was an unfortunate accident caused by inexperienced soldiers, but Oilersburg declared it an act of war! Tensions continue to mount in the mountains, as both sides have begun sending troops to defend their claims on the disputed area.

Oilersburg Seizes the High Ground of the Northlands Coliseum (4-5 Over-Time Loss)

The Checking Line of the Hockey Republic were mobilized after reports streamed into military headquarters that alpine troops from Oilersburg seized a key border fort in the mountainous region called the Northlands Coliseum. The border fort dominates a lot of the contended ground in that area. Over the centuries the fort has changed hands on many occasions.

When the Checking Line arrived on the scene they fought hard but were extremely penalized by their lack of expertise in mountaineering. In the end after a bloody fight, the Checking Line were forced to withdraw under withering machine gun fire from the captured fort. The Government of our Hockey Republic has stated that they will not give up their fort lightly.

Checking Line’s Assault Fails to Recapture Northlands Coliseum (6-7 Loss)

The Checking Line called in reinforcements and made a daring charge up the ridge to the border fort that was recently captured by Oilersburg alpine troops. Go Canucks Go troops made good use of the mobile twin artillery pieces in the fighting, but the savage counter attack by the soldiers from Oilersburg left the hillsides scarred and bloodied with the bodies of the slain. Neither side fought with any regard for their own safety. The casualties on both sides were very heavy. By the end of the day, the Checking Line was once more forced to retreat down the hillside, leaving the border fort once more in the hands of Oilersburg.

Critics of the Checking Line are pointing out that once again they were so penalized by their lack of mountaineering experience and proper equipment that they were unable to get any momentum up the slopes to attack the Oilersburg alpine troops. The government of the Hockey Republic is said to be holding an inquiry as to the ability of the Checking Line to continue to the fight. The media is widely reporting that at this time it may not be possible for the Hockey Republic to hold onto the Northlands Coliseum territory, let alone recapture their border fort.

Checking Line Battalion Massacred in Ambush! (1-3 Loss)

The 4th Battalion of the Checking Line was on the way to relieve the mountain troops who had unsuccessfully assaulted the Northlands Coliseum, to reinforce them for further operations. Enemy mortar units targeted the battalion when they were vulnerable on a mountain pass and machine guns swept the column for hours.

The Military was sharply criticized by the Hockey News for being poorly led and equipped. The failure of scouting to notice the large group of attackers laying in wait for them, behind their front lines, was just one more failure in a season of failures against Oilersburg in the border war. The troops morale is low and there are reports of desertion.

Stunning Victory for Checking Line! (4-1 Win)

The Hockey Republic looked as though its government would fall. The citizens were up in arms over the level of incompetence at every level in recent military operations against Oilersburg. Behind the scenes the government realized that they didn’t have the luxury to offer up some scapegoats after the recent disasters in the campaign. The Defence Ministry worked behind the scenes to push for a new assault of the Northlands Coliseum fort that dominated mountain passes between Go Canucks Go and Oilersburg.

The elite mountain troops of Oilersburg had become complacent over the easy victories against the Checking Line. A new General, Linden, took command and coordinated a lightning strike to recapture the lost border fort. Fresh troops were used, with the surviving troops of earlier defeats sent back to rest and retrain. The new troops, properly trained and equipped, shocked the defenders by the ferocity of their assault. Despite some dirty demolitions set off in the fort during the fighting, the Checking Line quickly won the battle.

The Soldiers of Go Canucks Go now held the high ground of the contested mountain area, the Northlands Coliseum. They had managed this one victory by surprising their enemy, but all knew that the counterattack would come in a matter of days. The Checking Line began digging in and hauling up equipment and ammunition as quickly as they could before the coming storm overtook them.

Shootout in the Hills! (4-3 Win)

High in the border hills, between Go Canucks Go and Oilersburg, soldiers were fighting for their lives, representing the nationalistic policies of their states. To the man on the ground it didn’t matter what some senator from the Hockey Republic said. He was a member of the Checking Line and he was defending the contested Northlands Coliseum against the counter attack by soldiers from Oilersburg. They had taken the ground but that was only half of the job. Heavy logistics helicopters had flown in mobile twin artillery to give the defenders some added firepower.

When the mountain divisions from Oilersburg came, their assault was initially stalled under the thunderous barrage from the mountain fort. The Oilers troops rallied and made a renewed advance up the slopes to the fort and got into a withering firefight with the defenders. The Checking Line won the shootout and those soldiers that could escaped backwards to the Oilersburg lines, leaving most of their forces strewn across the slopes.

Far from celebrating, the Checking Line holding the contested Northlands Coliseum were very much aware that they wouldn’t be getting anymore supplies brought in by air with the Oilersburg SAM batteries in place. Additional soldiers from Oilersburg were on the way and in time they would come again.

Defeat at the Northlands Coliseum (2-3 Loss)

After months of fighting the mountains, over a contested pass that few citizens of the Hockey Republic knew about before the border war heated up, disaster struck. After being repelled once already, Oilersburg launched a huge assault against the Northlands Coliseum that lasted two days. The Checking Line couldn’t bring in supplies during the attack by road or air, because artillery or SAM batteries covered the approaching routes. When ammunition became too low for the defenders to hold out anymore, the new General, Trevor Linden, ordered the Checking Line to withdraw during the night.

When the morning came, the Checking Line was withdrawing back down the mountains and the General Staff of the Hockey Republic acknowledged that they had failed in meeting all of their campaign objectives. It’s rumoured that the government is now in talks with the enemy over recognizing the Northlands Coliseum as the rightful property of Oilersburg.