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Zema · 09-06-2020, 07:54 PM

Players Tribune | It just hurts, man

By Alexander Oscarsson (Zema)

30 seconds to go. After a poor playoff showing and an even worse finals series, the big sophomore surprise in Maine Timbers Alexander Oscarsson finds himself on the bench when the team is looking for that final push. As the puck goes back into the Maine zone to then be dished open to fellow New England prospect (Clean) Andrei Kostitsyn, the series is over. 5-2 in the Cross Insurance Arena. For an arena of 7000 seats, the only thing you could hear was the Newfoundland bench as they congratulated each other. They did it. They finally did it. Years of building towards something great is finally coming to its conclusion. This year is their year, and they will be crowning it by hoisting the 4-star cup.

The final horn blows, and you just feel empty. 50 regular season games. 24 playoff games. Every shot in practice, every mile ran in the tracks, every hour in the gym. This was not how it was supposed to end. One starts looking over at your team mates. Mikkel Asmus Sondergard , who has been ever so determined day in and day out since he was drafted here in S53, who has continuously played out of his damn mind just looks down at his feet. Will Windsor who has blocked more shots than some goalies have made saves standing there with an ice-pack, unable to continue his playing career due to sustained injury. Leo Bloomfield sitting at his net, defeated. Kyle Sutton who won the entire scoring race in the playoffs is just standing on the ice, exhausted. Rikard Hammarberg who joined us late along the way and who instantly became a great veteran guy. Two finals in a row. Two losses.
Worst of all is when you look over to your right and see the captain. Valentin Kalashnikov just played hist last game as a Maine Timber. He has been the captain ever since Al Kayhall left the team seasons ago. He was the one who helped usher in all us rookies. He taught us the ropes, helped us out by getting to know each and every one of us. He'd pick us up for practice, and drive us home after we've had dinner at his house. He always made sure we got home safely after a night out. And after all the re-building and trust he's put into us. Into me?
This is his end in Maine. And it should've went differently.
The handshake line was humbling. You just know they wanted to celebrate, but the Berserkers still took their time to thank for a great series. (Clean) Andrei is for everyone who knows him, a man of few words. But the ones he spoke had impact.
"is okay. we win wolf."
[Image: c3ec20474d973f822f59757cdb9ebf35.png]

[Image: c3ec20474d973f822f59757cdb9ebf35.png]

My performance

And then there's me. Who didn't play out of his mind. Who failed to pay back the trust the coaches and all my team mates have put in me. 2 goals. 2 bloody goals is all I managed. The power-play specialist with the massive 2 pp points across 24 games.
With number 23 on my back and with an A on my chest, I was supposed to be the replacement for Roachy.
I was simply not good enough. And it just hurts. How does one even come back from this?

That last line might have been a bit over dramatic. We here in Maine have some insanely talented people, and we are only getting better. Playing 74 games during a season is an insane experience that should never not be counted for. Bjerg, Marshall, Ball, Seppänen, Stromberg, Hobbes, Johansson, Baranov. And me. We're all gonna be back and be even better next year. Leo, Sutton and Sheppy are all gonna be there. Thomas, Danke, Suzuki. You name them. We'll be back much stronger, and we'll be back meaner.
But it will be without MAS. It will be without our Captain. Alexander Roach, who left for Quebec ahead of this season is also (of course) no longer with us.
It's our turn to lead now. We're the new MAS, the new Roach, the next Al Kayhal. We're stepping into the shoes of franchise legends such as Matt Kholin, Jimmy Slothface and Andrei Doskocil.
Those players are our legacy. The Maine fans are our now. They've been with us through thick and thin. We are gonna repay them. Whatever means necessary.

Thank you

This has been an amazing series, and big congratulations to Newfoundland. You guys were the team to beat this year, and you showed everyone that you could handle the pressure.

But I also want to take this time to thank a couple of people in particular around in Maine. And the first one I'd like to thank is Mr. Alexander Roach @Faelax. Playing on that line last season was just beautiful, and you've been a true inspiration around the locker room. Everyone always knew they could come to you for anything, and I think I speak for everyone in Maine when i say that you leaving for QCC was bittersweet. Just as we were turning good. Just as we were gonna see the fruit of the labour you had put into the team. Truly thank you for your time in Maine, and congratulations on your Challenge cup.

The second one is someone previously mentioned. @Rabidsponge21 aka MAS. The determination to always be the best, to always push forward and never not giving it everything to win has been a huge inspiration for someone coming back into the fray of things. Trying to not get outplayed by you in every single practice has been fun over the years, but also slightly nice not having to face you again.
Jokes aside, it's been great having you here. Always trying to teach us stuff, chiming in with some great delicious food and comments have been fun all around. We know you loved it here, but this is not at all the end of your journey. We know how good you are, and how good you'll become. Make us proud buddy.

I saved the best for last, and I don't think anyone who has read this is gonna be surprised at all. @suavemente Captain Kalashnikov, Mr. Valentin. I am not over exaggerating when I tell you just how much you've meant to all us rookies. Small, young, green, inexperienced. Always looking for feedback or help, and you always being there to do just that. You've supported, you have hyped. When we've lost, you have picked us up. When we've won, you lift us to the skies. I don't think people outside of the Maine LR can truly appreciate just how great of a mentor, captain and friend you have been to all of us. One of the biggest things for me this entire post-season, and one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to win it even more was so you could lift that damn cup and have it on your resume. You knew the position we were in for multiple season. You knew that your window of actually winning this entire thing was short. Yet you decided to stick around and do whatever you could to help us get better.
We are gonna win a cup. And when we do, you should know just how big of a reason you played in making sure that happened.
Thank you my friend for your time and dedication to this team. We will keep shooting shit in the chat-log of course, but not seeing Kalashnikov on the team sheet is gonna hurt.

A special shot out to all you other guys in Maine. This journey has been incredible thus far, and our pursuit of that damned cup is not over yet. We're gonna bring it home, once and for all.

Alex Oscarsson, Forward and Assistant Captain of Maine Timber.

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1300 words

krazko · 09-07-2020, 02:47 AM

we will come back stronger next season Timber

KlusteR · 09-07-2020, 09:35 AM

It was a great showing by Maine this post-season. I have no doubts you'll come back from this stronger.

...But not too strong, please? Wink

*suavemente* · 09-09-2020, 11:11 AM

What a King article, sorry for not noticing earlier, was out an about.
Legendary words from a great player, thanks for all the kindness but the Timber stand for the forest not the single tree. We all grew together as a forest should, @Zema you gonna go far kid.

Make me proud.
Make Maine proud.
Timber

Rabidsponge21 · 09-09-2020, 12:53 PM

Zema · 09-09-2020, 04:44 PM

09-09-2020, 11:11 AMsuavemente Wrote: What a King article, sorry for not noticing earlier, was out an about.
Legendary words from a great player, thanks for all the kindness but the Timber stand for the forest not the single tree. We all grew together as a forest should, @Zema you gonna go far kid.

Make me proud.
Make Maine proud.

We'll do our best to make you proud my friend! Timber

jtam · 09-11-2020, 08:47 AM

It has been such a blast being in the Maine locker room and we came oh so close to the Four Star Cup. I agree with you. This one stung. A lot. The future is bright for the Timber. I know the Four Star Cup is in your near future!

Zema · 09-11-2020, 08:56 AM

09-11-2020, 08:47 AMjtam Wrote: It has been such a blast being in the Maine locker room and we came oh so close to the Four Star Cup. I agree with you. This one stung. A lot. The future is bright for the Timber. I know the Four Star Cup is in your near future!

Must be heartbreaking for you to come so close twice in a row. Sorry we couldn't make it happen for you.

But, it was lovely getting you and having you around! Good luck in the SHL buddy!

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