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raymond3000 · 07-01-2014, 01:42 AM

<div align="center">He retired 17th on the SHLâ€™s all-time scoring list, was even GM of the Hamilton Steelhawks for a while, and yet the name Raymond Lindsay is fading into obscurity, only four seasons after his retirement. Only the old now remember the days when Lindsay would electrify fans by throwing a giant hit or scoring a timely goal. Young hockey players tell their mommies and daddies they want to be like â€œMckeilâ€ or â€œMcZerhlâ€ or maybe even â€œMexicoâ€ or â€œMartucciâ€, but they never say, â€œI want to be like Raymond Lindsay!â€

Drafted 3rd overall by the Hamilton Steelhawks in the S3 SHL Entry Draft, expectations were sky-high for the high-scoring winger from the now-defunct Anaheim Outlaws. Still, who would have thought that this soft-spoken Vancouverite would play ten seasons for the Hamilton Steelhawks, becoming one of their all-time greats. Lindsay bled blue and gray, and did everything he could to help bring the Challenge Cup to Hamilton. As a rookie, he scored an astounding 14 goals, which led to winning the Calder Trophy. More importantly though, he played a big role in helping Hamilton win its first two playoff series, before getting swept by the powerhouse Edmonton Comets in the final. This would be the first of four times Lindsay made it to the Challenge Cup Final, and he did not experience victory until
S11.
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Lindsay was a key member of the Steelhawks for many years

Early Life
Born on November 3rd, 1989 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Raymond had a quiet and fun childhood. He played a variety of sports, including basketball, soccer, and of course, hockey. While he enjoyed the first two sports, and had success in both, hockey was always the game that he loved. His idol growing up, like so many other young boys, was the â€œRussian Rocketâ€, Pavel Bure. He spent hours and hours practicing hockey, always imitating Bure. Heâ€™d try out some fancy moves, which rarely worked, and even attempted a couple of nasty elbows. As he grew up, Lindsay developed from a scrawny little boy into a big, strong man. At the age of 18, he was 6â€™3â€ and weighed 207lbs. At this point, he was playing in the WHL for his hometown team, the Vancouver Giants. His offensive game had yet to bloom, and Lindsay was stuck playing a 3rd line role. He loved to hit and agitate his opponents, but rarely would he get on the scoreboard. Frustrated by his inability to score, Raymond looked for change. He had heard of a new league, the North West Junior Hockey League (now renamed SMJHL), which developed players to play in the Simulation Hockey League (SHL). The NWJHL was local, and seemed like a perfect opportunity for Raymond. Excited for a new start, he declared for the S2 NWJHL Entry Draft.

Anaheim Outlaws
At a prospects game, which was organized so scouts could get a better look at these prospects from all over the world, Lindsay performed well, and was named the 3rd star for his efforts. When approached by a reporter for his expectations at the draft, Lindsay said he expected to be drafted in the first or second rounds. When the draft came, Lindsay was sitting in the audience, nervously waiting. The Vancouver Whalers, his favourite team had the 1st overall pick. Would they take the hometown kid? Unfortunately for Lindsay, they picked Ideen Fallah, a forwards from Sweden. He didnâ€™t know it at the time, but Lindsay and Fallah would be not only be bitter rivals in the juniors, but throughout their SHL careers as well. The various general managers stepped up to the podium and rattled off names, but none of them was â€œRaymond Lindsayâ€. Still seated in the audience, he heard the likes of Trevor Smith, Abdullah Muhamed Jabar, Ford Prefect, Jon Maxfield, Viary Latypov, Eoghan Oâ€™Donnell all get drafted ahead of him. The first and second round came and went, and so did the third and fourth rounds. Finally, in the 5th round, with the 26th overall pick, Alex Olvera, the Anaheim Outlawsâ€™s GM, called out Raymondâ€™s name. Disappointed with being drafted so low, Lindsay underwent vigorous training in the off-season.

[Image: jake_virtanen_calgary_102213.jpg]

[Image: jake_virtanen_calgary_102213.jpg]

Lindsay was a goal-scoring machine for the Anaheim Outlaws

By the time the season started, Lindsay had improved greatly, and was optimistic for the coming season. GM Alex Olvera had drafted well, creating a team full of potential. On offense, a enigmatic, but extremely skilled forward, Paul Gagne, along with Lindsay, led the attack. On the blueline, Jon Maxfield was relied upon heavily. In net was Dylan Kearns, a goalie who had a public rivalry with his Vancouver counterpart, Viary Latypov. Lindsay played on the first line along with Gagne, a centre. The two had instant chemistry, and were the spearhead of the Anaheim attack. Bolstered by the late-season addition of Jneroth Harslow from Prince George, the Outlaws were a favourite to win the Four Star Cup. At the end of the season, Gagne led the league in points, and Lindsay in goals, with an astounding 29 goals in only 30 games. All season long, the Outlaws had been competing with their rivals, the Whalers, for first place.

Code:
S2 ANA||GP: 30|G: 29|A: 24|P: 53|+/-: 12|PIMS: 34|Shots: 117|H: 45|SB: 8|

Anaheim wound up on top, and had a bye to the semifinals, where they ended up facing the Prince George Firebirds. They had upset the Whalers in the first round, and were looking to do the same. It was a back and forth series, eventually needing a Game 7. It was played on Nov. 3, Raymondâ€™s birthday. The Outlaws fought hard, but the Fireturds were too good. After a remarkable regular season, the Outlaws season was over. Lindsay, like the rest of the team, were extremely disappointed.

Code:
S2 ANA||GP: 7|G: 5|A: 5|P: 10|+/-: 1|PIMS: 20|Shots:20|H: 6|SB: 2|

After the game, the team had a meeting in the locker room to reflect on their season. The players all knew this would be their last time together as a team, as all the players were entering the SHL draft. Before the draft, however, the NWJHL awards ceremony was held. There, Lindsayâ€™s accomplishments were recognized, and he was awarded the Aaron Brown and Drayson Williams Trophies as the MVP as voted by fans and as the leading goal scorer. Later, the Aaron Brown Trophy would actually be renamed in honor of Lindsay.

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Part 2: Coming Soon

Jesster · 07-01-2014, 02:02 AM

Hot damn this series is beast raymond! Obviously I remember Lindsay very well. Keep these up, Mind if I steal a similar idea and make one of these? Cheers

Muerto · 07-01-2014, 02:05 AM

Thanks for this, I would love to see more of these!

raymond3000 · 07-01-2014, 02:23 AM

Quote:Originally posted by Jesster@Jun 30 2014, 10:02 PM
Hot damn this series is beast raymond! Obviously I remember Lindsay very well. Keep these up, Mind if I steal a similar idea and make one of these? 

Thanks man! And feel free to do one yourself Smile