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Finetales · 03-13-2020, 08:58 PM

2x Draft Bonus - Ready for Grading | Word Count: 1,173

Tall Grass Media "Stalking Ohira" Series presents:

Ohira Watch Continues
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Now that the underwater basket weaving season has been cancelled due to COVID-19, we here at Tall Grass Media are delighted to switch our coverage back over to a certain Japanese SMJHL player. C'mon, you really didn't think we'd stop stalking keeping you updated on Hiroshi Ohira after just one draft, did you? Put your worries to rest, because we are back with a hard-hitting pre-draft interview, brought to you exclusively by TGM (because we brandished BB guns at all other reporters that tried to get close). This time we caught up with the winger in a Starbucks.

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TGM: Hiroshi, what are your thoughts on-

HO: It's 7 in the morning. Can't I just wake up in peace?

T: What are you drinking?

H: Coffee.

T: Well, yes. But what kind-

H: Do you have any real questions?

T: Sure, let's get to it. The SHL draft is in two days. What are your thoughts going in?

H: I mean I'm excited...who wouldn't be? It's a huge day. The junior draft was insane and this is an even bigger deal.

T: Where do you think you'll place in the draft?

H: Third overall in the junior draft still feels like a giant fluke honestly. I'm hoping for second round, but after my junior season I'll just be happy to be drafted.

T: Tell us about your junior season.

H: That wasn't a question.

T: Can you tell us about your junior season?

H: There you go. Well, I got 3 goals and 2 assists. For spending a good chunk of that season on the 4th line I don't think that's too shabby, but I could have definitely played better and connected more shots. There are a couple of other rookies on the team that did so much better than that. They're a blast to play with and it was a thrill to see them rack up points, but I gotta feel like I won't do as well in the SHL draft after that.

T: Has your rookie season performance affected how much interest you've received from SHL teams?

H: It seems like it. I've still gotten contacted by a few, but not as many as before.

T: How does that make you feel?

H: Honestly, I've been enjoying flying under the radar. I've been getting hounded by the press a lot less and that peace and quiet is pretty nice. Obviously feeling like you're tumbling down the draft order isn't great, but...yeah. Peace and quiet.

T: Are we disturbing that peace and quiet?

H: Don't make me splash this hot coffee on your face.

T: Point taken. Are there any SHL teams you're hoping to get drafted by?

H: Man, any of 'em. It'll be dream to play in the SHL, no matter which team.

T: Are there any fellow players in your class you hope to get drafted with?

H: The rookie squad at Colorado has been awesome to play with. Chris, Brad, Sven, etc. All good guys and great players. Of course I'd love to keep playing with them.

T: Any particular reasons why?

H: Well, they're all better than me for one. Motivates me to up my game and train extra hard, and we help each other out at practice. But they're great to be around off the ice as well, and we're all coming up together.

T: What are your thoughts on the Coronavirus and the draft?

H: They'd better not cancel it. This is once in a lifetime, I'm gonna be there no matter what.

T: Where do you think the other rookies in Colorado will go in the draft?

H: Man, they've gotta be going high. Somebody better draft one of them first overall. That would be killer and I'm sure the party we'd all have afterwards would be legendary.

T: Alright, final question.

H: Finally.

T: Boxers or briefs?

H: Boxer briefs all day. Now can I drink the rest of this in peace please?

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We think this interview was very enlightening, despite saying this after literally every single one of our interviews. Ohira does seem to have fallen out of the public eye somewhat, with only a handful of draft projections including him in the mid-second round (going to Toronto). It will be interesting to see where the Japanese forward falls, but we can be confident that whichever team picks him up will be satisfied. A presence both on the ice and in the locker room, Ohira would be a valuable player for any SHL team to draft, and his offseason training has shown promising improvement in all aspects of his game.

**Lime** · 03-13-2020, 09:05 PM

OHIRA LIVES

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