Login

KenitohMenara · 03-03-2021, 07:10 PM

2144 words - 60% to @KenitohMenara, 40% to @Jackers41

Lebron “Jeis” Brady.

“I play for St Louis everyday with a real chip on my shoulder.”

Alexis Saint-Michel.

“This is my chance to prove the Whalers were right about me.”

Two essential, star studded pieces of the incoming SHL S59 class. Both are different in tact, style and approach. Two different hockey players, two very different men. But both on identical paths towards greatness and their prize.

“The Esa Anrikkanen rookie of the year award goes to…”

Despite showing off their best efforts throughout the first two thirds of the season, with Brady’s physical stature and Saint-Michel’s scoring touch, the last third of the season leaves some questions remaining. Who has more willpower? Who can find their drive one more time? And who will have their hand raised in victory?

But what’s done is done. So now, we await the next chapter of one of the Junior leagues most intense rivalries. No less at stake, no less pressure and no less drama to be expected as the final 22 games are played.

“These two players, these incredible young men are about to become big stars.” - SHL Scout

***

Coming into draft night, both men had very different expectations. Saint-Michel was a highly touted prospect who had a very successful DFA campaign with the Vancouver Whalers. A “can’t miss” prospect that was projected by many to go high in the draft. Some draft boards had him projected first overall to the Berserkers but fate had other plans for the Quebec native. Falling all the way to the 9th overall pick which landed him back in Vancouver with his old teammates… and a chip on his shoulder. Now the forerunner and presumed favourite for the Esa Anrikkanen award, Saint-Michel continues to pick up where he left off and continues to prove his critics wrong.

“You try not to look at draft boards when you are in the draft because it colours your expectations. Then I started hearing about possibly going 1st overall and I’m not gonna lie, I got excited. Then I started slipping further and further in that first round until Vancouver picked me up again which I was very happy for. It’s been great coming back to Vancouver and given me even more motivation to prove them right. The critics said there had to be a reason I slipped that far so they picked apart my game so now it does give me some level of joy watching them eat their words. This is my chance to prove the Whalers were right about me.”

On the other side of the coin, Brady came into the draft with hopes of the second round. The 6ft 5, 225 pound “Freak of Nature” prospect had shocked scouts with his play and physical strength, saying that there was enough potential for a game breaking talent. Despite the hype, GM’s were apparently not impressed enough to take him until the fourth round when the St Louis Scarecrows picked him up. Going that late in the draft certainly lit a fire inside the Jamacian native. Now standing at 2nd place in the rookie standings, Brady continues his path towards the trophy and to the playoffs with the Scarecrows.

“It feels great, coming into draft night I was expecting to be around the end of the second round. It really hit me when I didn't find myself being picked until round 4 pick 38. Even though I was disappointed with that result It has kinda helped me because we were able to draft Scooby Doo in the third round where I thought I would go, who has been a really big piece. I feel like I am playing incredible but I couldn't have done any of it without the other young guys surrounding me on the best third line in the SMJHL.”

Both players are acutely aware of each other's presence on the rookie charts, nervously looking behind their shoulders to see where they stand. The points currently stand at 28 for Saint-Michel and 24 for Brady, but in a sport likely hockey and with a whole third of the season left to go, that lead is not insurmountable by any means. Regardless of this fact, both players remain focused on every game that comes forward, not getting sucked into the obvious trap of playing harder against each other and tiring themselves for other games, especially when other rookies like Colorado’s Fedor Sotakov could spoil the party.

“After every game, I immediately rush into the locker room, turn on the TV and see what St Louis is up to. I know how close Brady is to me in the standings and I know how hard he’s working to catch me. It’s especially nerve-wracking since I can see the trophy right there on the horizon, almost within touching distance and yet I am constantly checking behind me to see where Brady is. In this league, you cannot just focus on playing just one team. Every game is important. I give it my all every shift in every game. If you are able to score goals against Newfoundland or Kelowna then you are doing something right. That’s what drives me forward… then again, winning against St Louis does somewhat special, I’m not gonna lie.” - ASM

“Yes I do, at the end of each game I will check my total points and then ASM's total points. Being the fourth round pick I feel that I play with a real chip on my shoulder and even though it won't affect draft results more than likely, I would love to be able to top him in the hunt for the Anrikkanen trophy. I don’t really play harder against him or the Whalers because there are more games than those. The most important games are the ones against the big dogs likes QCC and KEL because those are the teams you will probably score the least in, so I feel if I can capitalize in those match-ups, everything else should fall into place. It still is nice to put up a big game here and there against VAN.” - Brady

Despite the animosity and cut throat nature of the schedule, both players have a tremendous amount of respect for each other's game. For all of the talk that scouts, critics and analysts can have, the people who know the players best are other players. Both Brady and Saint-Michel know this and have expressed glowing remarks about each other multiple times.

“I think ASM is a great player. I feel I may be considered more efficient than him because he is getting slightly more playtime than me and he has a lot more shots. I will say the one thing he does way better than me is capitalize on the power plays, he has 5 power play points compared to my 1 which results in our 4 point difference. I also think he is way more defensively sound, but that is what happens when they have had more time in the league thanks to the DFA rule.” - Brady

“Whenever Brady’s on the ice, his presence is immediately felt. He’s 6ft 5 and moves that fast and turns that quickly. It’s like playing a football player who knows how to skate and score, it can be pretty daunting. His strength is absurd, he could have 3 guys draped on him and he’ll still find a way to make plays, it's nuts.” - ASM

It’s not just these two that understand the gravity of their situation. The players in the Scarecrows and Whalers locker rooms are acutely aware of the stress that both players are under to get more points and to keep going despite the adversity so they’ve all started rallying around their respective rookies, helping them where they can to continue developing their game. For all the promise these two have shown, they are still only 19 so they need the guiding hand to keep them on the right development path.

“My team has been very supportive. One of our assistant captains let me take his spot on the second line for a couple of games which felt great because it showed he believed in me. Everyone has been very supportive and on the days where I struggled to put up multiple points or contribute on defense, they have been there to pick me up and tell me tomorrow will be the day” - Brady on the Scarecrows

“The team has put me on the second line with some of the best players on the team as a rookie. That’s the amount of faith they have put in me. I said this in other interviews but the management has allowed me to learn under all the veterans we have here. Everyone from Koopa, Manyhands, KoBo and Zile have shown how I can improve my game. It’s a great group of guys that have kept me going even when I go through cold spells. The lads here, including my fellow rookie Sven give me all the motivation I need to pursue the trophy.” - ASM on the Whalers

“Brady has been a great piece to our team in the future to win a Four Star Cup.. and a future leader for this team. Watching these two young men battle each day for the best rookie in the SMJHL is a sight to see. When I had my days in junior hockey. I never got the chance to fight like that for the rookie award and now I’m glad to see one of my players doing so good and battling for the Rookie of The Year. Both young men have bright futures ahead of them. Look out for them to battle for MVP in a few seasons!” - GM Zakkira Diporov of the Scarecrows

"When we had the chance to draft Saint-Michel after what he did for us as a DFA we immediately jumped on the opportunity. The kid's got it all, offensive presence, defensive awareness, and a strong edge to his game. He's already starting to leave a mark and that was just the start of his journey. Now I see that same young player dominating so early on, so eager to learn and improve his game it's truly wonderful. Watching ASM and Brady battle it out for rookie of the year is an incredible feat. No one expected this to be one of the major storylines of this season and yet here we are. Obviously we’re pulling for ASM to win it all but congrats to Brady as well. Both players are going to battle it out for years to come." - GM Dexter Aria of the Whalers.

Thinking beyond the Rookie of the year battle, there is another important event coming up in the lives of these two young players. The Season 59 SHL draft. Both players are likely to be taken high in the draft but one thing has indeed crossed their minds. It is entirely possible that they could end up on the same SHL team. While obviously it is a long shot and would probably involve trades but the chance of that is still very much there. It would make for a rather interesting dynamic to see two former rivals on the same team.

“I don't really view us as rivals but I would love to team up with him one day, I think we currently are the 2 best rookie forwards and I would love for us to be drafted to the same team, especially because I am probably going to be drafted way after him, I think if whoever draft ASM could get me and Scooby too, we would be the best offensive core the league would ever see, It would be interesting to see how it played out.” - Brady

“First and foremost, I consider every other rookie as a rival to me as we’re all fighting for the same thing, which is draft position. I think though, teaming up with a hard working guy like Brady would be awesome. Get us on the same line and in a couple years, we could be causing goalies to wake up in cold sweats, trying to think of ways to stop us. Longshot of it actually happening but if the chance came up, it would be nice to play alongside him for a chance. Just have to wait and see.” - ASM

The race for the Esa Anrikkanen trophy is approaching its final stages and neither player will give an inch to the other. This battle, as fierce as any other in the league, will soon have its resolution. Can ASM hold on to his lead to take the crown or will Brady find his stride and take it? A lot of hockey is yet to be played and a lot questions have to be answered but one thing is for sure, these two will give it everything they have. Game on.