Local lad Conner Snooks was signed post draft last week by the Nevada Battleborn in the SMJHL. It was reported earlier that Snooks’ agent was using funds to vacation in Aruba rather than sign Snooks up for the SMJHL Entry draft.

The story apparently made it into the hands of multiple SMJHL GMs who were touched by Conner Snooks unfortunate situation. Overnight Conner became the hottest Welsh sporting venture since Wrexham AFC.

In an interview via Discord. Conner told us that he decided on Nevada because “it’s the only place you can legally bet on footy in the States”. He also brought up the incredible atmosphere of the Nevada locker room. “We’re just a diverse cast of characters trying to have fun out on the ice.” Conner then went on to describe the team as the Breakfast Club meets the Mighty Ducks (the 1st one). “We are literally all rookies, probably the youngest squad in the SMJHL.”

Nevada Battleborn jersey sales have become the number one import into Wales, as hockey fever as gripped the region. “Maybe Wales could field their own international squad someday, just like football” joked Conner. Plans to build an “ice palace” have begun in Swansea. A local Jack Army member was quoted saying “We’re better than those slobs from Cardiff in footy, and it’s high time we show them we’re better on an ice rink as well.” Of course in reference to the Cardiff Devils who dominate the small Great Britain ice hockey scene.

Conner Snooks will spend a season in the SMJHL before being drafted by an SHL team, the world’s premier ice hockey league.

Kiwi Söderberg-Snooks || RD || Nevada Battleborn
Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 225lbs
Number: 38
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S78 31OA in SMJHL Entry Draft - Nevada Battleborn

S78 WJC Team Czechia Player - Silver Medal

S79 6OA in SHL Entry Draft - Chicago Syndicate

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SMJHL Regular Season Stats

S78 - NBB || 66 GP || 5 G || 22 A || 27 P || 4 Wins || 81 PIMs

SHL Regular Season Stats

Conner Snooks || LW || PHI/EDM/NOLA/WPG || NBB || Retired

Birthplace: Swansea, Wales, UK

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 190lbs

Number: 19

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S60 Undrafted FA - Nevada Battleborn

S60 WJC British Isles Player - Gold Medal

S61 13OA in SHL Entry Draft - Philadelphia Forge

S61 Vyacheslav Onoprienko Trophy - Most Underrated Player - Finalist

S62 WJC British Isles Player - Gold Medal

S64 Ryan Jesster Award - Best Rookie - Winner

S68 Made All-SHL 3rd Team

S69 Challenge Cup Winner

S69 IIHF Great Britain Player - Bronze Medal

S73 Challenge Cup Winner

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SMJHL Regular Season Stats

S60 - NBB || 66 GP || 11 G || 7 A || 18 P || -46 || 11:56 ATOI

S61 - NBB || 66 GP || 28 G || 21 A || 49 P || -6 || 17:10 ATOI

S62 - NBB || 66 GP || 21 G || 22 A || 43 P || 1 || 16:58 ATOI

S63 - NBB || 66 GP || 28 G || 35 A || 63 P || 26 || 18:12 ATOI

SHL Regular Season Stats

S64 - PHI || 66 GP || 24 G || 18 A || 42 P || -1 || 18:42 ATOI

S65 - PHI || 66 GP || 27 G || 30 A || 57 P || 18 || 20:42 ATOI

S66 - PHI || 66 GP || 33 G || 38 A || 71 P || 5 || 19:15 ATOI

S67 - PHI || 66 GP || 37 G || 52 A || 89 P || 26 || 21:55 ATOI

S68 - PHI || 66 GP || 48 G || 51 A || 99 P || 35 || 21:30 ATOI

S69 - PHI || 66 GP || 38 G || 34 A || 72 P || 13 || 20:53 ATOI

S70 - EDM || 66 GP || 43 G || 53 A || 96 P || 6 || 21:16 ATOI

S71 - EDM || 66 GP || 29 G || 36 A || 65 P || 30 || 18:02 ATOI

S72 - EDM || 66 GP || 24 G || 40 A || 64 P || 43 || 16:43 ATOI

S73 - EDM || 66 GP || 22 G || 32 A || 54 P || 43 || 16:05 ATOI

S74 - NOLA || 66 GP || 31 G || 32 A || 63 P || 28 || 19:53 ATOI

S75 - NOLA || 66 GP || 19 G || 36 A || 55 P || 23 || 16:40 ATOI

S76 - NOLA || 66 GP || 18 G || 35 A || 53 P || 12 || 16:58 ATOI

S77 - WPG || 66 GP || 6 G || 23 A || 29 P || -8 || 18:12 ATOI

:AlerisApple: || co-GM Nevada Battleborn || S63 - S77

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S60 - WJC - Team British Isles Gold Medal

S61 - WJC - Team Young Guns Group Stage

S66 - WJC - Team British Isles First Round

S66 - NBB - SMJHL Regular Season 1st Place Finish

S66 - NBB - Nour Harrak Winner (Best GM Duo)

S66 - NBB - Four Star Cup Winner

S76 - WJC - Team Ice First Round

Welcome to the league and good luck! Gareth Bale of the SMJHL incoming

(S65) Ricky Koivu, RW (Anchorage Armada, Philadelphia Forge

Age: 19
TPE: 371
Drafted (SMJHL): 12th Overall (ANC) in S64
Drafted (SHL): 2nd Overall (PHI) in S65

Anchorage Armada (S64-)

Career Total (Regular Season - SMJHL): 66 GP: 8G, 12A, 20pts
Career Total (Playoffs - SMJHL): 4 GP: 1G, 1A, 2pts

Season-by-Season Statistics:

(ANC) S64 SMJHL Regular Season: 66 GP: 8G, 12A, 20pts
(ANC) S64 SMJHL Playoffs: 4 GP: 1G, 1A, 2pt


(S48) Gabriel Johnson, D (Retired, formerly player of ANC, HAM, SEA, EDM and ATL)

Age: 33
TPE: 1933
Drafted (SMJHL): 17th Overall (ANC) in S47
Drafted (SHL): 2nd Overall (HAM) in S48

Anchorage Armada (S47-S49)
Hamilton Steelhawks (S50-S57)
Seattle Argonauts (S58-)
[pbl]
Career Total (Regular Season - SMJHL): 150 GP: 22G, 52A, 74pts | -12 | 84 HIT | 132 SB
Career Total (Playoffs - SMJHL): 16 GP: 1G, 8A, 9pts | -6 | 12 HIT | 22 SB
Career Total (Regular Season - SHL): 300 GP: 57G, 165A, 222pts | +95 | 268 HIT | 397 SB
Career Total (Playoffs - SHL): 61 GP: 12G, 28A, 40pts | +3 | 76 HIT | 167 SB

Career Accolades:

S47 WJC Best Rookie
S48 WJC Gold Medalist
Named Assistant Captain of ANC in S49
Runner-up for SMJHL Most Sportsmanlike in S49
Called up to Hamilton Steelhawks in S50
S50 SHL All-Rookie Team
S51 Challenge Cup
S53 Anton Razov Nominee
S53 Challenge Cup
S54 IIHF Gold Medalist
S55 IIHF Bronze Medalist
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Season-by-Season Statistics:

(ANC) S47 SMJHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 2G, 11A, 13pts | +14 | 49 HIT | 43 SB
(ANC) S47 SMJHL Playoffs: 4 GP: 0G, 1A, 1pt | -1 | 6 HIT | 1 SB
(ANC) S48 SMJHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 9G, 17A, 26pts | -23 | 10 HIT | 43 SB
(ANC) S48 SMJHL Playoffs: 12 GP: 1G, 7A, 8pts | -5 | 6 HIT | 21 SB
(ANC) S49 SMJHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 11G, 24A, 35pts | -5 | 25 HIT | 46 SB
(ANC) S49 SMJHL Playoffs: 13 GP: 2G. 6A, 8pts | -4 | 10 HIT | 18 SB
(HAM) S50 SHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 9G, 16A, 25pts | -5 | 27 HIT | 54 SB
(HAM) S50 SHL Playoffs: 12 GP: 5G, 9A, 14pts | +8 | 5 HIT | 32 SB
(HAM) S51 SHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 9G, 24A, 33pts | +17 | 25 HIT | 57 SB
(HAM) S51 SHL Playoffs: 14 GP: 0G, 6A, 6pts | -4 | 16 HIT | 34 SB
(HAM) S52 SHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 10G, 24A, 34pts | +0 | 20 HIT | 58 SB
(HAM) S52 SHL Playoffs: 5 GP: 0G, 1A, 1pt | -1 | 7 HIT | 11 SB
(HAM) S53 SHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 15G, 32A, 47pts | +15 | 74 HIT | 69 SB
(HAM) S53 SHL Playoffs: 15 GP: 4G, 7A, 11pts | +4 | 26 HIT | 40 SB
(HAM) S54 SHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 8G, 36A, 44pts | +35 | 60 HIT | 68 SB
(HAM) S54 SHL Playoffs: 15 GP: 3G, 5A, 8pts | -4 | 22 HIT | 50 SB
(HAM) S55 SHL Regular Season: 50 GP: 6G, 33A, 39pts | +33 | 62 HIT | 91 SB
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Job History:

Russia WJC Head GM (S47)
SMJHL Media Grading Team (S48-S52)
SHL All-Star Voting Committee (S48-)
Canada WJC Head GM (S48)
Co-GM of Canada IIHF Team (S49-S51)
SMJHL Awards Committee (S49-S52)
Canada Federation Head (S51-S53)
SMJHL PT Director (S53-)
Vancouver Whalers Interim Co-GM (S53)
Hamilton Steelhawks Co-GM (S53-)
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Accolades:

Managed Canada to S48 WJC Gold
Managed Canada to S50 IIHF Bronze
Won Joe McKeil Award for Best Coach in S53
Managed Hamilton to S53 Challenge Cup
Scott Stevens Nominee for Best Defenseman in S63

Let's friggin go! This kid is gonna be nasty good out there

S79 | Jeff Kirkstone III  |  G  |  Ottawa Highlanders
=============Transactions==============
- Drafted 15th overall by Ottawa (S78)
- Drafted 35th overall by New Orleans (S79)


S60 | Jimmy Larkin-Conway | LW | Retired
=============Transactions==============
- Drafted 19th overall by Nevada (S59)
- Drafted 27th overall by Baltimore (S60)
- Traded to Winnipeg Aurora (S63)
- Traded to Toronto North Stars (S64)
- Re-signed with Toronto North Stars (S65)
- Re-signed with Toronto North Stars (S68,etc.)
- Signed with Seattle Argonauts (S76)
- Signed with Winnipeg Aurora (S78)
================Trophies================
- Aidan Richan Award (S65)


S42 | Charlie Schieck | D | Retired



S31 | Jeff Kirkstone | G | Retired | Former GM