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**OrbitingDeath** · 04-03-2013, 09:51 AM

A Journey To Manhattan

Looking back at the season 10 draft there were several managers trying to move up to grab the consensus number 1 pick Ivo Willems. Buffalo Thunder manager Ryan Jesster is determined though; Willems was the guy he wanted to start his franchise with. Attempts to move up all seem futile, except one. Edmonton managed to move up one spot by packaging their 2nd overall pick with a 4th rounder for the 1st overall. The Blizzard wanted to make sure they got Michael Haan and paid basically nothing to move up. A risky move by Buffalo but in the end they ended up with the player they wanted.

The Thunder would be a team that would be build from scratch, but Jesster had big plans to attract some great free agents to the team, rumors were flying around that next to Gooseneck (1st overall in the expansion draft) and Willems (2nd overall in the prospect draft) would be joined by stars like Lucas Smith. Willems who had gathered quite some interest from other teams after his year in the juniors looked set on being the face of the franchise. Years later it has turned out that Willems wonâ€™t be the face of the franchise after all. After all, how can a franchise without a consistent identity have a face.

[Image: bigstock-Identity.jpg]

The first seasons were troublesome for the franchise, it moved from Buffalo to Tampa Bay(where they never played a game for both cities) to Hartford, the city that once harbored the now defunct Whalers. Hartford finished 12th, 11th and 12th again in their third year. The team they had wasnâ€™t that bad, a lot of useful inactive role players and the holes were filled with some top players. Captain Gooseneck, Willems, Whisonant, Sto Helit, Weird, Faulkner and Ask come to mind as the cornerstones of the franchise.

However every off-season there had to be some kind of negative attention over the team and this season wouldnâ€™t be any different. Manager Fernando Garcia had to step down due to personal reasons and the franchise was on its own again. Luckily a helping hand was given by Ace Faulkner who seemed more than eager to take over the reigns to start building again. The franchise deserved a fresh face and the New England Wolfpack were born with general manager Ace Faulkner as their go-to guy.

Ace Faulkner

There were some bold moves to be made by the GM. Frankie Gooseneck for example made it known that he would not be interested in renewing a contract and had to be shipped off. In exchange for Gooseneck the GM managed to get a 1st pick from West Kendall in the S14 draft and winger Christopher Raymond who was close to hanging up the skates after issues that happened in West Kendall.
With shipping good players away Ace clearly sent a signal to the team that it would be a good thing to try and build from the draft. With Season 14 being dubbed as the best draft in a long long time, the opportunity for it was perfect. Chuck Weird who was selected 4th overall in the expansion draft was moved to Calgary for a 1st rounder in S14 after three years of loyal service.

The biggest move had yet to come though. Both Ivo Willems and Jareth Sto Helit, the first two picks ever by Buffalo franchise were rumored to be traded hours before the draft. The draft neared and people expected that nothing would happen anymore. The team that was after the 7th overall pick didnâ€™t seem to get a deal together that the Wolfpack liked enough to part with its 2 youngsters. Quickly after the draft all came clear why, another deal had taken place which required the managers to wait until the draft was over since there were Season 15 picks involved. The Manhattan Rage had finally made a move in which they hope to cause a shift of power in the East.

[Image: rage_hockey.jpg]

The Manhattan Rage is one of the teams that tried to acquire both Willems and Sto Helit during the S10 draft. But after finding out that trading up wouldnâ€™t be possible they traded down and got a steal of a pick theirselves with Jordan Nugent-Hall. The Rage send LW Nike Kickz, old-timer Jardy Bunclewirth and a S14 and a S15 1st rounder to the Wolfpack and get both Willems and Sto Helit in return, both who are on two year contracts.

[Image: super-mario-brothers-candy.jpg]

A lot of questions were raised by this, since normally rentals are shipped off on their last year of their contracts. People immediately were shouting that the duo would most likely return to the Wolfpack once their contract would be up. Willems also stated in the media that he was willing to take the bet that it wouldnâ€™t be true, after all there is nothing in life you can really plan.
Because 24 hours ago Willems and Sto Helit wouldnâ€™t have expected that they would be heading to the Big Apple or that their teammates would show up and throw them a farewell party.

[Image: rondvaart-vrijheidsbeeld-en-ellis-island...c:0%29.jpg]

[Image: rondvaart-vrijheidsbeeld-en-ellis-island...c:0%29.jpg]

Both Willems and Sto Helit always have seemed to have liked the Rage as a destination and last night that became a sudden reality. One thing is for sure, both of them want to be a part of it. New York, New York!

With free agency opening up today we are still hoping that this wonâ€™t be the last news today coming out of Manhattan.

Words: 900+

Keenan · 04-03-2013, 12:10 PM

Great read, looking forward to a hell of a season Cheers

Aaron "AAA" Allen · 04-03-2013, 02:29 PM

Great read and with Manhattan being one of the few teams not losing players to retirement like a lot of others teams and in fact growing stronger with acquisitions like this, it hopefully will attract players to not only a great LR, but a good chance to win a cup.

Cheers

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