"Ladies and Gentlemen, we just landed in Columbus, Ohio. The time here is 7 o'clock PM and the temperature is 58 degrees. On behalf of everyone with Alaska Airlines, we would like to thank you for flying with us today...." the captain voice trails off as I begin to wake up from the nap that happened somewhere over Montana. This flight was a brutal one, going from Anchorage to Seattle then waiting over three hours to catch a non-stop flight back to Columbus. But I was finally home!

It had been a long eight months since I had been back home. I sat up in my seat like a kid on Christmas, both legs just bouncing as I held back my excitement to be home and to get off this plane. As I sat in my cramped seat, I couldn't help but to look back at how much I had just grown over these last eight months. I left home wide-eyed and excited but left Anchorage.... different. I felt more responsible, I felt more rounded by learning so many things through my first season in the SHL.

As the plane hits the bumps on the taxiway, I flash back to draft night. The feeling of not being wanted, the feeling of failure and the overall sense of disappointment about going in the third round of the SMJHL entry draft. I wasn't upset about being in Anchorage, on the contrary I loved my first season there. It was such a beautiful city with some of the nicest people I had ever met. The veterans did such a great job of making sure all the new boats were welcomed and ready for our first J season.

I used all the motivation of dropping to the third round during the lead up to the season and during the season itself. I knew that I had to prove to everyone that didn't pick me that they made a huge mistake. I started to train daily. I worked out before and after practices. I meticulously went through every game film to see what I was doing right, and what part of my game needed to be worked on. I spent hours in the training room to make sure my body was fully recovered to be ready to play the next game. It all seemed to work out. I ended the year being in the top 10 for rookies in points and goals. The motivation I had fueled me to lead the SMJHL in hits with 163. That was 163 times I reminded a team that they missed out on a great player.

I start to gather my personal belongings around my seat to get ready for when the plane finishes its taxi to the gates. I start to fumble with my phone turning the airplane mode off so that I could check my messages. In my mind I was set to text my dad that I would be out to the terminal to be picked up in a few, but honestly there was something else on my mind. I turned off airplane mode and my phone started to buzz over and over again. Notifications pouring out like water out of a dam. I started to scroll and look through the couple dozen messages that I had missed while I was in the air. There were some from Toivo asking if I was ready for the draft and pointing out that I will be going first overall and not him. This became a weekly thing between the two of us.  There was my group chat with Oskar and Yoshi about when we would get together to talk about our seasons and more importantly start our podcast. Yoshi reminding everyone to remind him because he was going to forget. But then came numbers that I didnt know showing missed messages. My heart started to race.

I knew that the scouting conversations was about to start for the 82nd SHL draft, and I was nervously waiting for those first few teams to reach out to me. I wanted to prove so badly this year that my low draft pick wasn't something that was going to become the norm. Many draft publications were putting out their list of prospects and ranking each of us on so many different factors. Every time I would see one of those magazines I would dive nose first into the rankings. On average most publications had locked me down as a first round draft pick. That solidified my reason for my dedication this season. While all the training was important to my draft stock, what I felt really elevated it was the fact that I would be in the media so often. I wanted the next set of SHL general managers to know my face and personality. This help drive buzz and pushed what was a third round J draft pick to the top of many teams draft boards.

As the many passengers around me were filing out of the plane, my row's turn to exit was coming up, but my legs which were so bouncy just a couple minutes ago felt like cement. I was sucked into my seat, my eyes just moving through every missed text that came from an unsaved contact. I know I wont be able to sit on this plane all night and talk to these scouts and general mangers, but I absolutely want to. I see that I already have three text messages from general managers of different teams. I am scared to click on them, I failed so bad with this part in the J draft, I already am listed as a top choice what if I start to respond and it tanks my draft.

The plane is almost empty, I see the stewardess from the back slowly making her way up the aisle checking every row for anything that was left behind. "Sir, do you need any help?" she asks as she gets to my row. "No, I'm sorry, I will be getting up right now. I hate to stand in the line waiting." I say as I gather the remainder of my items and urgently grab my carry on so I don't hold up the air crew. I briskly walk down the aisles trying not to hit the seats as I pass by. I make it to the gate area and find the first open seat and my legs go right back to cement as I fall into the open chair.

I now had received two other messages from unknown numbers! I click on the first one I see. "Hello Patrick! my name is CapnCooper the GM of the Texas Renegades. I would love to schedule a video chat with you over the next couple days to talk about the upcoming SHL draft." I am savoring every single word in that text message as I see another text message pop up at the top of the screen. "Hey man, I just got 5 messages from SHL GMs wanting to talk to me about the upcoming draft!" it was Toivo. I roll my eyes because if there was anyone that was going to get me out of my trance it was going to be him. I shoot him a quick response back. "Yeah I just got five messages too! It's Starting!".

I go back into my contacts and scroll to my favorites and start to type another message: "Hey Dad! Just landed will be going to baggage to grab a couple of bags and will be outside in about 10 minutes! Cant wait to see you!"

I stand up feeling every bit of bounce return to my legs. I know I did everything I could this season to prove I will be a great player. I am not going to let my fear of failure ruin what is going to be a great homecoming!"



1,318 words. 2nd piece for me in the competition.

Fun media to read from the future 1OA? Who woulda thought.

Hell yeah media!

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. ... There are neither beginnings nor endings to the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.”

Ólafur Atlason| C | SMJHL Prospect | Future Edmonton Blizzard
Birthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
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Transactions
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Awards
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Achievements
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SMJHL Season Stats
S76: GP: 0 | G: 0 | A: 0 | P: 0 | 0 | PIM: 0 | Hits: 0 | |
SMJHL Playoff Stats
S76: GP: 0 | G: 0 | A: 0 | P: 0 | 0 | PIM: 0 | Hits: 0 | |
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SHL Season Stats