Hopes for the future


Hey everyone. Guy Zheng here. Some people might see this article as a quick cash grab. In fact, I see it that way too. Regardless, I'm sure there's probably maybe potentially someone out there who actually may enjoy reading these word vomit articles that are pumped out to purely maximize word count and not much else, so here we go.

It all started when I was a lonely kid, just having been called up to the SHL against my will. I missed my family and friends back in Kelowna, and I was pumped to get another shot at the four star cup after a heart wrenching, soul crushing loss in game 7 to the team whose mascot literally makes "scarecrow noises". I was out for revenge, and I was ready to finally right what was wrong and lead my team to a four star cup. Alas, those hopes and dreams were crushed almost as quickly as they had been conjured, and I found myself plucked from my loving, warm, junior home and into the big leagues as a measly 500 TPE player. Do you know how scarring that can be for a young boy? Regardless, I managed to settle in and re-think my goals for my new future.

The next few seasons saw a glimmer of hope in a long tunnel of darkness. Little did I know at the time that it was really just an oasis in a desert of disappointment. We managed to make the playoffs early on in my career, and it seemed like everything was trending upwards. We were a young team, full of potential, and most of our players were still in the early stages of their development. It looked as though everything was coming up milhouse for the young New England Squad.

However, that season soon proved to be a flash in the pan. It was indeed just a vent that allowed a bright but fleeting ray of sunshine into the long, neverending tunnel of sadness. What followed after was what felt like a decade of disappointment. With many of our players starting to check out and stop believing in the system (I'm looking at you Gordie Boom and Perry Morgan), it seemed as though our once young team would never live up to its draft day hype. However, along the way, there were times when it seemed like things would be okay. These moments included when we managed to trade for Ola Wagstrom, the star forward from the Winnipeg Jets. It was touted as the trade of the century, and we were once again positioned to make a strong push for the cup. Of course, it hasn't exactly worked out that way.

Now, we turn a new page and start another chapter in our team's history. We've said goodbye to one of the longest standing and respected members of the team, Manuel Gotze, and in turn acquired the best defenseman in the league, Rex Kirby. Even though Kirby's arrival will surely be welcomed, I feel it is even more of an interesting move than the Gotze trade. Most of us knew this coming out of the season: New England needed a top defenseman. There were even rumors that they would rather have a star defenseman than a star forward. But then again, you could argue they were right. While Gotze struggled to find success as a team captain, he was still a key part of their forward core and almost single-handedly kept them afloat. It was a shame, but all things must come to an end.

We have found a new religion, and vow to no longer bow down to the whims of the malevolent Simon T. In our new faith, we only depend on ourselves and nothing else. What will follow in the next few seasons will reveal whether the New England Wolfpack have had it in them this whole time to make a push for the cup and Simon was just holding them back, or if they were just phonies pretending to have been struck down repeatedly by factors outside of their control.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that we've always been bad and we've just always blamed our bad luck. This is mostly because I'm a cynic and would rather wallow in my pit of self despair than to have another hope of achieving something again just to have it all crash back down. Although some say it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, I disagree and I think it would be a lot less painful to just stay at the bottom where we've hung out for the past few seasons. I'm sure some of my teammates would disagree with me, but not everyone can be on the same page. It's actually kind of lovely and endearing to watch everyone die around you. It's probably because the three-pronged apocalypse model, as described by Sawyer and Kate, has been meandering through past seasons like a tailwind. And being a part of it is relaxing. You think you know how it's going to go because the last few seasons have had the same routine. But when you actually get there, it can be a completely different story. It's even more surreal when you're in the moment. That's what gives me the kind of confidence to execute my game plan and handle everything the right way.

Heading into the S53 campaign, the Wolfpack would seem to have more to play for. They've got one of the most promising young cores in the SHL, with their Challenge Cup Champion banners hanging in stadium, which puts up the most impressive chip on their shoulder. They were once an elite playoff team for more than a decade, and had been expected to be even more dominant in the past few seasons. Their fiery offence got off to a terrible start in the second half of the year, but they've stabilized under Head Coach Van Otter, and look poised to take the next step in their development. The Wolfpack will have to tread a fine line in this upcoming season; they are about to embark on a daunting mission, and not only will they have to pick up the pieces of their previous two seasons, they will also have to answer the expectations of their fan base that has placed them in this position.

More than anything, there is an insatiable desire amongst the Wolfpack fanbase that every season will be the year that the Wolfpack finally break through to the next level, to finally win a trophy and attain the prominence that is the aim of every hockey club. And that is a price the club can't afford to pay. For the Wolfpack to become an established major league sport club in this country, it won't just be about the actual sporting success, it is equally important that there is a degree of equity in the support the Wolfpack receive. There is a big difference between a small-town, unsponsored, amateur football team or a basketball franchise and an established, bigger-name hockey club. Many fans are assumed to enjoy the team for only the short time it plays. There should be an opportunity for people to provide financial support after they've grown to love the team. There should also be a consistent relationship between the people who support the club and the people who manage the club, allowing for progress and accountability. I think getting a social focus on such a large group is important. The club should be delivering to the people in our community, not to our corporate backers and people in other communities in other ways. For example, we might be able to work on our fan engagement by giving games away for free to radio stations. There's plenty of things we can do to support the people who work and play for the team. Maybe we could partner with minor league midget hockey teams to have a program that allows kids to have a shirt with a player's name on it.

Being open and giving people a sense that we support the health of the game makes the fans feel like we care, which is key for a successful team, but at the same time helps the players to feel like they are a part of a team and not just their friends and on-screen avatars. It also prevents them from experiencing a group of people who are either friends or who are in it just for the experience. For me it's a slow burn, so you start out wanting to be involved, then it builds and builds and builds until you realize that this is the next step in your life and this is what you want to do. For me, it was just meeting people in the real world, socializing and just hanging out and having fun. The show doesn't force you into a group or anything, but it's all driven by this cause. It's kind of a series of spur of the moment projects for people to do. It's kind of a bit of adventure, and that's pretty inspiring. My Kickstarter campaign ends in September so I'm working on that too. I'll be able to see if that pans out. After that, I'll make my plans and begin scouting locations. I'll also begin making fixtures and lighting fittings for the structures and things to come. As for what to get myself into, well, the heat was obviously killing me at that time so I'll get back to that after my family move in. I'll give you a rundown of what I'm thinking as I get ready to fill the remaining real estate. If it's possible, I'll be turning myself in. Until then, I'm staying pretty smart on my game. Hopefully. Hint hint, I'm afraid.

This should make for an exciting year, and perhaps an opportunity for the team to find their footing, but one that may prove impossible if their young players don't learn to overcome their great expectations. That said, it is just hard to view the playoffs as a failure on this team's part. While early on they struggled to find the necessary chemistry, they have since grown into a unit that can rely on all of its pieces. In theory, their ability to create shots, keep possession and not foul will be lessened since the players on the floor will be exhausted. That being said, it is still very likely that they will still struggle to create a number of open looks. They have both tried to create for one another and then pass to one another. Although they were not flawless in that regard, it was very effective.

The variety of shooters on the floor likely helped to break up the monotony and forced the other team to keep track of a larger group of players. But it doesn't matter if you're a player or a coach. Anyone watching could tell that there was no fun to be had in those first eight minutes of action. I'm as impressed as ever with Clapper's talent and versatility. But the sign of a good team is the ability to stay focused and make plays from the first defensive rebound to the end of regulation. If you're going to beat the North Stars, there have to be moments of life at the beginning and the end. That's the first part of their season to keep working on. The second part is learning from your mistakes. You're not going to get them all right away. You have to earn them. That's how you get to their level. You have to win some games. So that's the main part of it. I know the year I've had, so hopefully I can get better. Just learn from it. I always told our young guys, we were going to fight through mistakes like this. We're going to fight our way out of it and keep fighting. I said that because I've been through the same.

It's now or never for the New England Wolfpack. They either manage to pull off what they've always been capable of, or they crash and burn. Only time will tell which one will prove to be true.