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InciteHysteria · 04-02-2017, 02:29 AM

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<u><b><div align="center">Finding Your Place: A General Manager Story</div></b></u>
<div align="center">By Timo Haas

2071 Words / Not Ready For Grading / Double Week Eligible</div>

When you really want something you're willing to make sacrifices, and I mean anything, to force that wish into reality. Being in a managerial position in the SMJHL has been that shining idol sitting high atop a pillar, continually out of my reach, teasing me right out of the grasp of my fingertips. When I was approached to be the Co-General Manager of the Colorado Mammoth with Jay; I jumped at the chance. Nothing was going to stop me from finally achieving what I had set out to do and with the help of a friend this was becoming a possibility. Some GMs have had jobs land in their laps without even caring prior to being asked. Some have applied once and found that successful application returned with a smile and a "you're hired!", but for Timo Haas that hasn't quite been the case.

At first applying felt like a novelty. I wanted to be part of a team in a bit of a deeper connection. I wanted to feel a bit more important than my teammates. I wanted to feel like not only was my player contributing to the great outcomes of our games but that my decisions off the ice were also impacting the successful future of the team. Of course this team was the Vancouver Whalers. When the first job opened up I felt like I had one of the better chances at grabbing the position in the Whalers front office. I was told that my application was very strong but that one other player had been waiting very long for a chance at the job. So I was told that, as a runner up, my credentials would be shared in the Head Office and other teams would be notified of what a spectacular candidate I was for a General Manager position. This was the first time I really felt optimistic that I would get the chance to be a General Manager in the near future. Soon after the first manager given his clipboard and set forth into the SMJHL; a job as the Co-GM opened up. Ecstatic that I would be given the chance to maybe be part of the team for MY Vancouver Whalers; I sent in my application. Yet again I was told that I was qualified enough and that my application was fantastic but that the bond shared between two younger GMs was what would be the deciding factor for the team moving forward, I was deflated.

A season passed with my General Managers. I came to appreciate both of them and felt a lot of the decisions made by them were the right choices. They valued my input as a scout and made me feel like I was part of the team. Vancouver went on to be one of the best teams in the SMJHL this year with the combined effort of the GMs and the input of myself and a few other key teammembers. We met our untimely demise in the playoffs but everything seemed to work out much better than the previous year. Everything was looking up for the Vancouver Whalers, but deep down inside I knew I still wanted a job and once again the Vancouver head job opened up when the head GM was given a chance at greener pastures and a brighter future. Yet again my application was stuffed into the inbox of the SMJHL Commisioner and set on the way to being judged, and given what I thought would be mine. Well, as the old saying goes, we don't always get what we want. I was told once again my application was considered among the final two but ultimately they wanted to stay loyal to the previous Co-GM. I understood but I was deflated.

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At this time Haas was being sent up to play in the big show. He was ready to spend his time in between the pipes for the Los Angeles Panthers. I was distanced from the situation in Vancouver and completely discouraged and unmotivated. I disregarded the chance at taking the spot of my old Co-GM and being the 2nd in charge for the Whalers. But I wanted to distance myself from the disappointment of being perpetually the runner-up. Jobs came and went with very drawing a second look from me. I was focused on my surprise rookie season in the SHL. Taking the league by storm and winning the most games for a goaltender since S17. I was on fire and being a GM didn't matter. But everything came crashing down as we got destroyed in the playoffs by the Calgary Dragons. After coming down off the high of being one of, if not the, best rookie goaltenders in the history of the SHL, I was ready to hit the job search once again.

Around this time the heads for the Halifax Raiders, Vancouver Whalers and Colorado Mammoths all had stepped down. With Halifax and Vancouver still hoping to retain their Co-GMs in a Head GM fashion now. But I still wanted to toss my hat into the ring for two of the jobs. Colorado and Vancouver both sparked my interest, as one was my former team and the other was my a team located in my home state, so I submitted the most stellar and well thought interviews that I had ever written on the site. These interview contained not only my plans to make the teams winners but also to create a culture change, inspire more comraderie, and develop closer ties in the locker rooms. Yet again I was met with the responses that my applications were good but not quite what they were looking for in the teams. Disappointed but not broken I decided to apply for the Colorado Co-GM job and hoped to still be part of the culture change and winning attitude that would help turn Colorado into one of the best teams in the SMJHL and a top destination for draftees and free agents alike.

My application for Colorado Co-GM felt like a masterpiece as it flowed off of my fingers. I hit all the high points, addressed every concern and painted the picture of what I envisioned the Colorado Mammoth could be with a bit of TLC. Each paragraph was carefully crafted to open the door and let me step my way inside. But alas my article was not enough on it's own. I was told by the new GM that my application was the best she received and that I was nearly hired just based on the contents of my submission. I was once again hurt by my lack of experience and networking on the site. But little did I know that the one who would be getting the job ahead of me would indeed be the one to end my search.

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The day the Colorado Mammoth Co-GM spot opened up I was surprised to see a direct message. The newly promoted Colorado Mammoth GM had sent me a message inquiring about my interest in being part of the teams future as part of the management team. At first I felt like this was a joke. I had been working my ass off to become part of a team in the SMJHL. To hear someone say, "yes, we can't think of a better candidate than you", "you're the best hire and we feel you'll help make this team one of the best in the league", and to hear them share my view of the future. Every time I tried it seemed to be futile. I was always good but not good enough, and here I was just being handed a job, a spot on good young team with a bright future. The team I had tried to join the most outside of my alumni team. My immediate response was, "Hell yes!", and i finally had felt like I was going to be in a position to make a team better and help shape the future of an SMJHL team and be part of the development of young players entering the league.

This week has been one of the most exciting weeks for me since joining the SHL. My tune has changed from wanting to hold myself above my teammates or fellow players. I now want to be part of a bigger picture. I want to be part of them. To find that deeper meaning with friends and competitors alike. So, I am now part of a great team with a spectacular group of people. We have an opportunity in front of us to take a team that has been suffering from a lack of activity and no success in the playoffs and turn it into one of the premier teams in the SMJHL. I feel privledged to work with <a href='index.php?showuser=2104' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-10'>jjaybs</a> and move this ship forward. We will be graduating a few of our top players in <a href='index.php?showuser=2295' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>TrazanApanzzon</a> and <a href='index.php?showuser=2460' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-14'>Dantejg</a>. Losing these two guys will make waves through the team and help the Mammoth narrow in on to who we want to bring in through the draft and free agency. But we are really happy to see these talented players finally get their chances in the SHL. They will always be a part of the Colorado Mammoth family and we hope they will continue to be a big part of them team as alumni.

With that being said we still have some fantastic players on the squad and the biggest standouts are <a href='index.php?showuser=2436' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-17'>galatix</a> and <a href='index.php?showuser=1253' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-34'>Jala</a>. These two players are the foundational pieces of the Mammoth and we hope they are willing to take steps forward to make Colorado not only a winner but a place that players want to play in for seasons to come. We understand they will not always be around on the team and will see a bigger and brighter stage, but alumni is going to be a big part of the Mammoths going forward. We want to set into place a locker room where everyone wants to be part of the fun and is proud to display their Mammoth colors.

We also are returning some very special rookies from last year and we believe these players are the core to this team succeeding. Players like <a href='index.php?showuser=1984' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>Beaty</a>, <a href='index.php?showuser=1690' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>stevo</a>, <a href='index.php?showuser=2102' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>xfactorx121</a> and <a href='index.php?showuser=2554' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>boeing33</a> are what will help turn Colorado from a borderline playoff team into a real contender. I am really excited to get to work with every single one of these players and get to know them much better. Colorado is sitting at the edge of greatness. While we in charge make the annoucements and set the lines. The real power sits with our players. You all have the ability to take this team to the next level.

I'm really excited to be part of this team. I'm really relieved to finally have a GM job but it seems like the wait has been well worth it. I've got a great group and a great GM. I will dedicate myself to being the best Co-GM in the SMJHL and help make sure present and the future are rewarding and special for all the players that pass through these doors. The Mammoths are going to do special things with all of us working towards that goal. The next step is the S34 draft and getting our lines set. Making sure our draft picks know the team and get to feeling like they are an appreciated part of the Mammoths family. With them added to the mix and steady time invested in their players. They will become the next great class of Mammoths players. I strongly believe these players will become spectacular in Colorado and will move on to become even better in the SHL. All the while carrying their Mammoth roots with them.

<div align="center"> Goal

Let's Go Mammoths!

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<div align="center">At this time I would like to open my article to questions from rookies and vets alike. If you're a rookie and just learning about this site and have some questions. Would like some insight about the jobs in the league, about what it's like to move up to the SHL or just simply any personal question you have for me. I would be happy to answer it for you. If you're a veteran and have similar questions or just want to ask me something silly, feel free, but I would love to hear some feedback from the people around the site.

Also pardon my quick writing typos. I will edit this tomorrow and make sure things don't sound bad or redundant.
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jjaybs · 04-02-2017, 04:50 AM

Great article! Mammoths

Beaty · 04-02-2017, 08:51 AM

galatix · 04-02-2017, 09:05 AM

-standing ovation-

Grapehead · 04-02-2017, 09:17 AM

=D>

OB5 · 04-02-2017, 09:42 AM

OOC: really great article. Super cool to see something from this perspective.

OC: As a rookie entering the SMJHL draft, what is your main focus going into draft day?

xfactorx121 · 04-02-2017, 02:27 PM

So ready to roll in S34!!! Stars tonight with a great draft!

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