[Jay Random]

Years ago, I used to dabble in hockey sim leagues — even wrote a simulator of my own, with which I ran the (rather peculiar) Unidentified Hockey League, or 'UnHL', for 7 seasons, 1994-2001. I'm toying with the idea of getting involved in this hobby again. I know CP has its own FHL league, and I suspect there are other people on the board who participate in leagues with FHL or other simulators.

So I address these questions to those of you who play in the various sim leagues:

1. What's a good way of finding a league to participate in?

2. Which simulator do you recommend: FHL, Faceoff, HLS2, something else?

3. FHL in particular is said to have a nasty learning curve. Any advice on how to get up to speed with an unfamiliar program?

4. What really appeals to me is the kind of league that uses completely made-up players and teams, where the fun is in building up a franchise and watching your talent develop over time. I've stumbled across a few such leagues that run several seasons per year, so you can get a kind of time-lapse view of the league's history. Where's a good place to look for such a league?

5. If there isn't really a good answer to #4, I may have to consider starting a league especially for the purpose. Any advice on that?

Thanks in advance to all you wise souls who lend me the benefit of your experience.