The Transition
A Player's Tribune Article

by Halfdan Thorstein


Hooo, boy. I'm almost done with what may be my final season in the SMJHL. Kelowna is performing well - great production from the returning players, and excellent production and play from our rookies. Our management has drafted a fantastic group of kids that will, based upon this year's showing, continue to lead this team to years of success down the line. Based upon the play of these young kids, they have bright futures in front of them.

Me? I'm on the cusp, myself, to finally making the transition. We here in Kelowna have had a very good season, so far. We've lost a lot of amazing players and leaders, but I think a few of our players have stepped up to the fill in those spots - Langabeer, Knouse, Horvat, Rielly, Starosta, Thompson, myself - we've done our best. The past few weeks have been a little weak, in our opinion, of what we are capable. But we've clearly shown we have the ability, the leadership, and the experience; once playoffs roll around, we're going to show how confident and skilled we are.

I do think, though, that part of our recent struggles is due to several of us looking towards our future - we're on the cusp of finally playing in the SHL - of reaching our goal - and as the season is starting to wrap up we're getting closer, and closer. Is that an excuse for poor play? Absolutely not; if that is what ails us, we'll figure it out, realize where we are, and get back to our game here in Kelowna.

But it's hard - we're excited. I asked Samee Iqbal, one of my close friends, about his transition. He's in Minnesota, where I'll be headed. Samee told me,

The transition from the SMJHL to the SHL is quite fun and great, and kinda emotionally, as well. I was leaving Kelowna, a team that made me who I am now, and I was gonna miss playing with them... but I got to join a new locker room, and get closer to a whole new group of people. Theres no real expectation for you when you make the jump... for some players like me, I'm still producing at a good rate like I was with the Knights, but my mate Alex Light's having a difficult time in West Kendall, it seems. Making the transition's definitely something to be excited about - new people, new team, new league. Though the offseason feels like forever.

That last line - that the off-season feels like forever, is something I already understand. As I mentioned, I feel a few of us are already looking towards our next stop in the SHL; we're currently spending a lot of our time playing hockey, what will it be like when we're not playing, and still waiting for that transition? I'm not even there yet - hell, barring injuries, or poor play and development - I may never make it. But for some reason, I'm still so excited at how close I am.

On the bus between games, I asked my buddy Langabeer what his thoughts were. He told me,

Yea, its nerve racking as hell, I'm walking in to a locker room with guys like Slappy. At least we got fellow guys up there, Zooner keeps me in the loop and is helping me get used to the scene. Yea, lucky for me West Kendall is stock piled. I have Light, Leafer and EJ to help me get adjusted. I'm actually going to be moving in with Light when I get up there. They have plenty of Knight alumni too, so I kinda have an alma mater up there. It actually seems they drafted me and asked me to.move to center to hopefully be their 1c to be lineys with light.

With how comfortable and confident I am with Langabeer, and how well I know Light, Leafer, and EJ, I couldn't help but ask if I could crash at their place when Minnesota is in town.

If you don't I'll beat you (laughs), its like a Knights hall of fame up there, you will be part of it. We can all grab dinner and some drinks; dont worry I won't Youngblood you!

We're excited. All of us. We can feel it in the locker room - so many of us have the potential to be tremendous players in the SHL, and several have the leadership capabilities to help lead teams to victory, if not by points but by great defensive play and leadership.

Nervous to be the young kid in the locker room of my idols, I asked Samee what to expect to walk into before my first SHL game. From what Samee had to say, I have nothing to worry about before my first game; it's AFTER the game, that I will be in for a treat.

We had been running practice after practice with no breaks and tonight our captain and goalie Anderson wanted to treat us with drinks. Fast forward, we get into the bar, Caelum orders a few shots and passes them down to the squad. The team continued to drink as O'Rourke, Anderson, Caelum and Flacko invited themselves to a table with four dime piece honeys who seem to be loving the attention. The rest of the night was a blur and [Samee] spent it with Eero Glover and Nova crashing at Nova's place.

Well, I'm sure they won't go easy on me, but I can handle a night of drinking. Hell, up in cold Norway, when the sun sets at 2pm and it's cold and dark, after hockey we have nothing else to do but drink. I can manage that. As long as no one messes with my shoes and clothes, I'll be fine. Growing up, we'd throw a wad of shaving cream in each shoe of the rookies after their first games. When we got a little older, we'd have someone grab their car keys and move their cars a few blocks away. We had fun with it, egging them on and sticking close to them during the retrieval process - the goal of an initiation is not to frustrate and separate a player from the team, but be a part of the entertainment and morale.

I can't wait to make the transition to Minnesota, and have my own stories to tell. It's nerve-wracking; I'm conflated with excitement and doubt, but I know I'll do well. I know, under those coaches and with the help of those players - no matter what hell they give me for intitiation, they'll help make my transition comfortable and solid. I'm going to learn a lot, playing with some of my idols, and close friends.

I'm excited for this transition.

~1130 words

Halfdan Thorstein || RW/LW || MIN Chiefs || KEL Knights || Norway
Name: Halfdan Thorstein
Born: 08/02/1999
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190 lbs
Number: 13
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Accolades:
S32 SMJHL Four-Star Cup - Kelowna Knights
S32 Kelowna Knights Riko Muerto Award - Most Underrated Player
S33 IIHF Silver Medal - Norway
S33 SMJHL Fantasy Series Champion, 'A' - Oslo Wolves
S33 Kelowna Knights Saku Perhonen Award - Most Exciting Player
S34 SHL Rookie points leader
S34 SHL Rookie of the Year nominee
S34 SHL All Rookie Team
S34 IIHF Bronze Medal - Norway
S35 IIHF Gold Medal - Norway
S36 IIHF Silver Medal - Norway
S37 Top 100 Players of Today! - #83
S38 Top 100 Players of Today! - #81
S38 IIHF Silver Medal - Norway
S39 Top 100 Players of Today! - #76
S39 Challenge Cup - Minnesota Chiefs
S40 Top 100 Players of Today! - #74
S41 Top 100 Players of Today! - #69 - nice
S42 Top 100 Players of Today! - #74
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SHL Career Statistics
S34 MIN - GP: 50, G: 13, A: 15, P: 28, +/-: -12, PIMS: 10, H: 45, SB: 09
S35 MIN - GP: 50, G: 14, A: 19, P: 33, +/-: -39, PIMS: 04, H: 85, SB: 12
S36 MIN - GP: 50, G: 22, A: 23, P: 45, +/-: +04, PIMS: 00, H: 49, SB: 12
S37 MIN - GP: 50, G: 15, A: 15, P: 30, +/-: +06, PIMS: 10, H: 33, SB: 13
S38 MIN - GP: 50, G: 23, A: 22, P: 45, +/-: +11, PIMS: 16, H: 53, SB: 07
S39 MIN - GP: 50, G: 16, A: 17, P: 33, +/-: +06, PIMS: 00, H: 04, SB: 06
S40 MIN - GP: 50, G: 22, A: 19, P: 42, +/-: +18, PIMS: 08, H: 21, SB: 09
S41 MIN - GP: 50, G: 20, A: 24, P: 44, +/-: -05, PIMS: 00, H: 27, SB: 10
S42 MIN - GP: 50, G: 22, A: 27, P: 49, +/-: -03, PIMS: 08, H: 77, SB: 07
S43 MIN - GP:
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SHL Playoff Statistics
S34 MIN - GP: 04, G: 00, A: 00, P: 00, +/-: -04, PIMS: 00, H: 06, SB: 00
S36 MIN - GP: 13, G: 00, A: 03, P: 03, +/-: -13, PIMS: 00, H: 11, SB: 02
S37 MIN - GP: 06, G: 00, A: 02, P: 02, +/-: -07, PIMS: 00, H: 02, SB: 05
S38 MIN - GP: 14, G: 01, A: 05, P: 06, +/-: -01, PIMS: 02, H: 09, SB: 03
S39 MIN - GP: 15, G: 05, A: 05, P: 10, +/-: +03, PIMS: 00, H: 01, SB: 02
S40 MIN - GP: 20, G: 05, A: 10, P: 15, +/-: +07, PIMS: 02, H: 04, SB: 10
S41 MIN - GP: 06, G: 05, A: 02, P: 07, +/-: +02, PIMS: 00, H: 01, SB: 01
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IIHF Statistics
S32 NOR -
S33 NOR -
S34 NOR -
S35 NOR - 
S36 NOR - 
S37 NOR -
S38 NOR - GP: 13, G: 05, A: 06, P: 11, +/-: -01, PIMS: 02, H: 02, SB: 02
S38 NOR - GP: 10, G: 05, A: 03, P: 08, +/-: +02, PIMS: 00, H: 04, SB: 00
S39 NOR - GP: 10, G: 05, A: 03, P: 08, +/-: +02, PIMS: 00, H: 04, SB: 00
S40 NOR - GP: 10, G: 04, A: 02, P: 06, +/-: +03, PIMS: 00, H: 03, SB: 04
S41 NOR - GP: 10, G: 03, A: 04, P: 07, +/-: -03, PIMS: 02, H: 01, SB: 02
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SMJHL Career Statistics
S32 KEL - GP: 50, G: 03, A: 06, P: 09, +/-: -01, PIMS: 23, H: 30, SB: 01
S33 KEL - GP: 50, G: 16, A: 14, P: 30, +/-: -05, PIMS: 06, H: 29, SB: 13
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SMJHL Playoff Statistics
S32 KEL - GP: 10, G: 02, A: 02, P: 04, +/-: +02, PIMS: 00, H: 09, SB: 01
S33 KEL - GP: 20, G: 11, A: 06, P: 17, +/-: -03, PIMS: 04, H: 26, SB: 03
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Transactions:
Drafted 40th overall by Kelowna in the S32 SMJHL Draft
Signed 1-yr/$2mil entry deal with Kelowna
Assigned to Norway in IIHF Competitions
Drafted 26th overall by Minnesota in the S33 SHL Draft
Signed 3-yr/$12mil entry deal with Minnesota
Signed 3-yr/$13mil extension with Minnesota
Signed 5-yr/$30mil extension with Minnesota


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Can't wait to have you on the squad next season

Dope article

Doubt is a dream killer

Was expecting transgender article, kind of disappointed.

Good shot though, Minny's gonna be tough.