01-18-2012, 12:46 PM
Season 7 of the Simulation Hockey League is about to kick into overdrive this week and with that brings hope and optimism for all ten teams in the league and its’ players. There are plenty of veterans in the last stretch of their careers looking to make one last run toward a Challenge cup, there are players just finding their place on their respective rosters, and there are the Season 7 rookies looking to get started early and make an immediate impact for their new team.
One of those rookies is Rachel Belmont, 2-way winger for the Manhattan Rage. The short in stature native of Nova Scotia is coming off a very successful Season 6 in the NWJHL, playing for the Seattle Stingrays. She racked up 35 points, second on the team, and showed flashes of brilliance on a struggling team.
Drafted 7th overall in this year’s SHL Entry Level Draft by the Manhattan Rage, Belmont joins fellow first rounder, 9th overall, Simon Asepelin and 3rd round steal, Yuri Kulikov on a roster poised for a Challenge Cup run. Belmont is slated to log plenty of minutes for the Rage this season and all early indications suggest the smooth skating forward will be a major key to the team’s success.
We caught up with Rachel to discuss the upcoming season and what she has in mind for her inaugural season in the SHL.
Belmont should inject offense in the Rage lineup
![[Image: 14t0l1k.jpg]](http://i42.tinypic.com/14t0l1k.jpg)
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You were drafted 7th overall. How much pressure do you
feel to fill those expectations?
Quite a bit. Obviously there will be a lot of pressure to compete with other rookies drafted in my round so I'm a little nervous. I was drafted 4th overall in the NWJHL draft though, so I know what the pressure feels like. Still, going into the SHL the competition is going to be a lot tougher this time around.
As an SHL Rookie, have you been victim to any hazing?
Its been pretty tame, so far at least. I expect there will probably be more to come. I know Ocho is a guy I need to keep my eye on, he's already pulled a few.
On a personal level, what are your goals for this season?
First off, I'd love to be competitive in the rookie scoring race. I know there are some better snipers and passers out there, but I think I have the capabilities to stay in it, and I've got great linemates as well so I think I can do alright there. I'd also like to improve my defensive play. My main focus for that would simply be to be a plus rating at the end of the year, but I'd also like to have less giveaways and more takeaways.
Manhattan has welcomed Belmont with open arms
![[Image: 10rir9f.jpg]](http://i44.tinypic.com/10rir9f.jpg)
How have you transitioned to life in Manhattan?
It was a very easy transition. There were a lot of guys on the team that offered to take us around to help us get settled in, it really made it an easy transition. I love the city, plenty of sights to see, I think I'm really going to enjoy my time here.
How have the other Rage players accepted you?
They have all been great. There has been nothing but good things said to each other in the locker room and I think I have been fitting in quite well so far. I thought being a girl might be a little awkward at first, but it wasn't an issue in Seattle, and it sure hasn't been here either.
Who in the SHL do you look up to?
The two that come to mind for me right away are my GMs from my Seattle days. Kain Webb and Mike Ochocinco, I had a great year under them in Seattle and now to be able to play on the same playing field as them will really be a great experience. Its even better that I get to play alongside Ochie, hopefully he can make up for some mistakes I make on offense with turnovers haha.
What are your expectations for the Rage this year?
My expectations are that the Rage will be a very strong team this year. I am definitely expecting us to make the playoffs, and would love if we were to do that as the first or second seed. I think we will shock a lot of nonbelievers that don't think we have the tools to get the job done this season, but I know we do.
Belmont fielding questions from SHL media
![[Image: j5jrc2.jpg]](http://i44.tinypic.com/j5jrc2.jpg)
What do you feel you have to do/improve to be a long lasting player in the SHL?
My puck handling could still use a bit of work, I'v got too many turnovers in my opinion during the NWJHL. That's not going to cut it at this level of play. I also need to be better defensively, its not something that will come right away, but its something I intend to work on over time. I also think to be able to last in the SHL I need to bulk up a bit, guys out there aren't going to go easy on me because I'm a girl, so I need to be able to fight them off physically. I've got a few more years at least before I can say I'm in my prime, but I know I can get there.
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One this is for sure, Rachel Belmont is a name to remember for the years to come and a player to keep tabs on for Season 7.
909 words, 3 images.
One of those rookies is Rachel Belmont, 2-way winger for the Manhattan Rage. The short in stature native of Nova Scotia is coming off a very successful Season 6 in the NWJHL, playing for the Seattle Stingrays. She racked up 35 points, second on the team, and showed flashes of brilliance on a struggling team.
Drafted 7th overall in this year’s SHL Entry Level Draft by the Manhattan Rage, Belmont joins fellow first rounder, 9th overall, Simon Asepelin and 3rd round steal, Yuri Kulikov on a roster poised for a Challenge Cup run. Belmont is slated to log plenty of minutes for the Rage this season and all early indications suggest the smooth skating forward will be a major key to the team’s success.
We caught up with Rachel to discuss the upcoming season and what she has in mind for her inaugural season in the SHL.
Belmont should inject offense in the Rage lineup
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You were drafted 7th overall. How much pressure do you feel to fill those expectations?
Quite a bit. Obviously there will be a lot of pressure to compete with other rookies drafted in my round so I'm a little nervous. I was drafted 4th overall in the NWJHL draft though, so I know what the pressure feels like. Still, going into the SHL the competition is going to be a lot tougher this time around.
As an SHL Rookie, have you been victim to any hazing?Its been pretty tame, so far at least. I expect there will probably be more to come. I know Ocho is a guy I need to keep my eye on, he's already pulled a few.
On a personal level, what are your goals for this season?First off, I'd love to be competitive in the rookie scoring race. I know there are some better snipers and passers out there, but I think I have the capabilities to stay in it, and I've got great linemates as well so I think I can do alright there. I'd also like to improve my defensive play. My main focus for that would simply be to be a plus rating at the end of the year, but I'd also like to have less giveaways and more takeaways.
Manhattan has welcomed Belmont with open arms
How have you transitioned to life in Manhattan?It was a very easy transition. There were a lot of guys on the team that offered to take us around to help us get settled in, it really made it an easy transition. I love the city, plenty of sights to see, I think I'm really going to enjoy my time here.
How have the other Rage players accepted you?They have all been great. There has been nothing but good things said to each other in the locker room and I think I have been fitting in quite well so far. I thought being a girl might be a little awkward at first, but it wasn't an issue in Seattle, and it sure hasn't been here either.
Who in the SHL do you look up to?The two that come to mind for me right away are my GMs from my Seattle days. Kain Webb and Mike Ochocinco, I had a great year under them in Seattle and now to be able to play on the same playing field as them will really be a great experience. Its even better that I get to play alongside Ochie, hopefully he can make up for some mistakes I make on offense with turnovers haha.
What are your expectations for the Rage this year?My expectations are that the Rage will be a very strong team this year. I am definitely expecting us to make the playoffs, and would love if we were to do that as the first or second seed. I think we will shock a lot of nonbelievers that don't think we have the tools to get the job done this season, but I know we do.
Belmont fielding questions from SHL media
What do you feel you have to do/improve to be a long lasting player in the SHL?My puck handling could still use a bit of work, I'v got too many turnovers in my opinion during the NWJHL. That's not going to cut it at this level of play. I also need to be better defensively, its not something that will come right away, but its something I intend to work on over time. I also think to be able to last in the SHL I need to bulk up a bit, guys out there aren't going to go easy on me because I'm a girl, so I need to be able to fight them off physically. I've got a few more years at least before I can say I'm in my prime, but I know I can get there.
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One this is for sure, Rachel Belmont is a name to remember for the years to come and a player to keep tabs on for Season 7.
909 words, 3 images.
go! 