Simulation Hockey League

The toughest season of my career so far came to an end way too soon. At the hands of the Los Angeles Panthers, we lost our first round series 4-2, leaving a bitter taste in our mouths for the offseason. Its not easy to get knocked out of the playoffs when you know that you’re one of the best teams in the league. But in the playoffs, it often times doesn’t matter if you just scrape in or if you come in number one in the regular season; In the playoffs its a clean slate and every game is tougher than the previous one.

When I first joined the Montreal Militia on ice for my first practice as an SMJHL rookie, I was so excited. I was so happy about all the things I was going to be able to experience. And sure enough, we made it to game 7 in the conference finals but ended up losing to the Raiders who then ended up winning the Four Star Cup. That series was tough but it was nowhere near as tough as this series against the Panthers.

My first practice as a member of an SHL was not with the New England Wolfpack, the team that drafted me into the SHL, but with the Edmonton Blizzard. When I first heard about this trade, I was rather confused as I was lead to believe that another team was going to acquire me. But I woke up the next day and I was a member of the Blizzard squad. And I was happy. I knew that New England had more defensive depth than perhaps any other team in the SHL and for that reason, I figured that it might turn out to be a very difficult task for me to find a spot in their roster. Well for the New England management it turned out to be an impossible task and so they traded me. When I first joined the ice with the Blizzard, I was awestruck so hard. These guys were established SHL superstars who had seen so much more than I had seen and still have seen. They showed me the ropes around the rink, around the city and around the locker room. They helped me find an apartment in Edmonton and they set me up real nice and I was one happy Austrian.

When the preseason started, I was shocked at how fast the game was and I thought that I definitely had my work cut out for me for the season. But then the season started and I was blown away yet again: Its like everyone turned on this gear that I had never even heard of and they were skating so fast, they were shooting so hard and they were making plays that I didn’t even see. But from the very beginning, whether it was sheer dumb luck at first or not is for you to decide, I felt at home. I got to play a lot of hockey during my first season in the SHL, over 20 minutes a game. And despite my slow development, I was assured that I’d get a good role within the team. And that I did get.

I’ll admit that there’s one thing that disappointed me about my first season: My scoring. I really should have scored some more goals or gotten more assists, especially on the powerplay. But a lot of the times, I’d usually be content with keeping the puck in, putting up some hits and blocking some shots. And it worked, it worked rather well and I was happy about my defensive skills during my first season in the SHL. But since I was unhappy about my scoring in my rookie season, that’s what I’ll be working on in the offseason to make sure that I’ll be even more ready for the next season when it finally comes around.

I was actually ready to work hard for the offseason after taking this weekend off but then my fellow Austrian Alex Light reminded me of something: The World Championship tournament is still coming and I still have a chance to get something out of this season: Gold, silver or bronze. I’d happy to capture any of those but of course there’s nothing like gold around your neck when you’re wearing your own country’s colors. I’ll always appreciate the Montreal Militia for what they allowed me to do on the ice and off the ice. And during my first season in the SHL, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more welcome anywhere than when I was welcomed to Edmonton as a part of the greatest SHL team ever. But when you’re wearing a uniform that has your own country’s coat of arms and your own country’s flag on it, its not just hockey you’re playing: You’re serving your country and its your civic duty to play every shift harder than you’ve ever played a shift before. You’re not only representing yourself or your team, you’re representing your entire country. Its an honor and a privilege like no other.

It had tremendous fun during my first regular season and even though I didn’t get to play anywhere near as much of playoff hockey as I wanted to, I still appreciate every minute I got to play. And if there’s one thing I don’t do, its giving in. I’ll always join the battle, I’ll always skate end to end and I will always come back for more. Hockey will always have a place in my heart and this first season only strengthened that feeling. I know that there’s nothing quite like stepping on the ice and going against the best clubs in the world.

There’s nothing like two teams going at it on a sheet of ice, fighting tooth and nail for that biscuit. Its the greatest sport in the world and I still have so many seasons of it to play. I can’t wait to get started again. See you on the ice.

great article

Quote:Originally posted by Samee@Mar 18 2017, 08:42 PM
great article

Thanks!

Good read!

Quote:Originally posted by Allegiant@Mar 18 2017, 11:45 PM
Good read!

Thanks