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SecondSucks22 · 02-20-2019, 04:20 AM

End of a brotherhood?: The Season 46 SMJHL Entry Draft

By: Fay Rerraro

Not 5 days ago, young Jax Duggan was rushing through a small airport trying to reach a connecting flight to join his SMJHL Prospect showcase in the round robin tournament. He had just come off a disappointing Memorial Cup finish and was excited to see what the future held for himself, and the teammates he had never met, nor spoken to, but like him had decided to test their fates with the SHL. Although he was nervous, not knowing what to expect when he arrived in the locker room, having missed the previous 8 games of the tournament. Would his teammates like him? Would it matter? How would his late arrival impact the way these prospects view him?

The answers came almost immediately. Jax’s team mates, most notably the rest of his defensive core, Tony Ford, Corey Kennedy, forward Espen Knutsen Jr, and last but certainly not least his second line power house and line mate Wibbly McButternutz took to him with open arms, literally. “Everyone here is amazing, we’re all working towards a common goal, and we've all got each-others backs.” The bonding was deep, the team was hardly seen without each other and even mundane tasks such as snack shopping on days off, post and pre game meals, and going to and from the rink would often feature 5 or 6 players. There's no doubt that as the hours wound down to the Prospect draft, everyone knew things would change, for the better, or worse. It was half way through the third period of the Prospect Tournament game 3 final that the draft started. Almost immediately a member of the Blazers, who at the time were up 4-3 to the rival Vipers, was drafted. In no surprise Esa Parmborg who was prospected to go first overall when it was announced he would be a part of this draft class was taken, no sooner than 30 seconds into the draft starting. As the play ended and several Vipers players went over to congratulate Parmborg on his selection, the second pick was announced, none other than the Vipers very own Corey Kennedy. No fewer than 7 players competing in the finals would be picked before the end of that game, in which we saw the Blazers run away with a 6-3 victory.

Despite the loss, the Vipers locker room was anything but upset. Everyone, though disappointed they couldn't get that final victory for the reverse sweep, they were happy with the performance they had leading up to the finals, and were happy with the friends they made. As the draft pressed on so did the team, refusing to shower till everyone in their line up was drafted, they Uber Eats’d their traditional Timmies, drank some questionably “non” alcoholic beer, and sat in front of their locker room tv, at one point being joined by a few of the Blazers players.

The question lingering in the air however, how was this draft going to affect the bromance that had been founded in the week leading up to this draft. For some players this isn't much of a concern for them with with Vipers Wibbly McButternutz, Espen Knutsen Jr, and Blazer but close friend Lex Peters all being drafted by the Detroit Falcons, no doubt looking to bolster their line up for a repeat finals appearance. Espen Knutsen Jr, the ninth seed and fourth Viper to go in the first round was quoted as saying “I'm disappointed to have to go on without these guys, we've all become really close, some more than others, but i'm excited to go to Detroit and prove my worth to them, an added bonus is going with friends like Wibbly and Lex, it makes things easier.” Other players however, such as the second seed Corey Kennedy(ANA), sixth seed Tony Ford(ANC) and eighth seed Jax Duggan(VAN) will have to be content with the divisional closeness to make up for their no longer being the core to the Vipers Defence. In an interview regarding separating from his buddies on the Vipers Kennedy said “it's was a fun run and we would have loved to keep it going, but our goal was to be drafted. That's happened and now we are separate. I wish all my Viper buddies the best, but you're damn right I will enjoy beating them. Then we can all go out for Timmy Hortons like old times and maybe a cold one, when we are in Canada.” Duggan echoed Kennedy's sentiments, though assuring his team would try and go easy on Kennedy’s Anaheim Outlaws. While the future for these young men is unknown, one thing is for sure, whatever these superstars do, they will surely succeed in some way, shape, or form. Who knows maybe a year or two down the road we could see these Vipers and Blazers squads join together to form a super-team to welcome a new batch of rookies into the league that has already afforded them such good memories, though Im sure several of them are already eyeing that so close, yet so far draft into the pro sister league the SHL.

887 words x2 SMJHL Media Week Bonus

***SDCore*** · 02-20-2019, 04:33 AM

Well said. Vipers4Lyfe!

Randominoe · 02-20-2019, 04:37 AM

Very well written, excited to see how this season plays out and to see which draftee makes the biggest impact and improvements this season, heading into the SHL draft.

*Carpy48* · 02-20-2019, 06:14 AM

There isn't much to add. Well written. Vipers4Lyfe!

Wibbly McButternutz · 02-20-2019, 01:06 PM

Good stuff

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