I decided to do my first ever “Deep Dive” on the history and general overview of the organization that recently drafted me in the S60 SMJHL Entry draft, The Carolina Kraken. The organization itself has been around since s1, though things have been changed up a bit over its history. They have drafted and developed their fair share of SHL Superstars, been managed by legends, and continue to make a name for themselves when it comes to the future of the league. They have managed a respectable record throughout their time and even brought home the Four Star Cup a handful of times. There's nothing quite like a franchise with a strong history that has helped shape the league into what it is today.

The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina is home to the Simulation Major Junior Hockey League’s orange and black outfit, the Carolina Kraken. The Kraken have been under the moniker since s50 yet the organization is as old as the league itself. Originating in Brandon under the brand “Blazers” (if I am not mistaken) the team then moved to Montreal in time for s4 and its name changed to “Impact “. Some 23 seasons later the team was rebranded to the Montreal Militia, a name that I am most familiar with from when I first learned about the league. [insert 6th seed Militia meme reference] The league, however, decided they needed to freshen things up and approved a relocation and rebranding of the team to the Carolina Kraken that you know today.

Some of the league’s biggest names, whether we are talking about players or staff, have ties to the franchise. A young defenseman by the name of Bojo Biscuit, the namesake of the trophy for the best defensive defenseman in the SHL, was drafted to Montreal in the 3rd round back in s19. Sachimo Zoidberg, Alonzo Garbanzo, Raven Silverwing… these are all huge names, names people who know anything about the SHL should know, and they were all drafted by this organization. Some names like Oliver Cleary, Nikolai Evans, Andreas Kvalheim, and Jimmy Wagner you may even know from today’s SHL. The team has been managed by some of the most recognizable and dedicated members of the league as well. Names like ArGarBarGar, JNH, and Keygan all pop up in the history of the franchise’s General Managers. What you really love to see is that the new look and location of the team hasn’t slowed them down any when it comes to producing these big names. Fuzz managed Carolina in it’s beginnings and later moved on to the Majors with LA, leaving sve7en to take the reins in s56.

Over it’s 60 seasons as part of the league the organization has managed to record 1,053 Wins, 804 loses, and 195 over time losses in the regular season, good for a 51% win rate. When it comes to the playoffs they have 235 wins and 204 losses, about a 54% win rate. They have won the Four Star cup a handful of times over the years. The Montreal Impact were able to come out on top 4 different times: s7, s12, s13, and s17. The Montreal Militia bagged 3 cups of their own; one in s28, one in s33, and lastly in s49. And of course we can’t forget the Kraken’s cup wins, one in s50 (the season of their inception) and most recently in s54. Not too shabby of a track record all in all I’d say.


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@hewasajazzman GRADED! +5 TPE