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By-Tor · 10-18-2022, 11:29 AM

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What Being a WJC GM Could Do For You

Every year, the SMJHL gets one season older. As a celebration, the league hosts an annual World Junior Championship (WJC) tournament. All active junior players are invited to participate on the ice and vie for some medals for their respective countries or associations. While fun is to be had all around, none of these festivities can happen each year without a handful of individuals interested in leading these teams to victory. I'm talking about GMs. Without WJC GMs and a select number of other individuals (shoutout: file workers, simmers, and HO), this tournament couldn't happen. Just like the SHL and SMJHL are dependent upon participation from users to run, the WJC is just as dependent on user participation to be successful.

That being said, the WJC presents a very unique opportunity to some of the new users to our community. While the SHL and SMJHL seasons last for about 3 months IRL, the WJC tournament lasts for only about 2 weeks. This short run time allows a whole new population of interested users to get involved. Let's say you have never GM'd before and there is an intimidation factor to applying for a SHL or SMJHL job or you don't even know if you would like manage a team? Great News! A short 2 week commitment to the responsibilities of the WJC will not only give you a taste of GMing, but it will also give you a nice boost to your resume if you do want to continue on to the major leagues. GMing for WJC is a fantastic way to get your feet wet without jumping straight into the deep end. (Apply all of what I said above to simmers and file workers too. They are so integral to the success of the tournament and I don't want to leave them out. There is just a larger number of GMs over time.)

In this article, I want to outline some of the GM history of the WJC. Who has been a WJC GM? Where are they now? What benefits can come your way if you decide to participate in the tournament? No shade to the oldies, but I will be focusing on some of the newer teams and GMs because the further you go back in the forums, the more and more it resembles a dark haunted forest. Also apologies if there are errors on dates, etc. - working off the forum.

S52 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

Nhamlet was appointed GM of Team World as a first time GM. Went on to GM Newfoundland Berserkers from S56-S64, winning four Cups.

Faelax was appointed GM of Team USA as a first time GM. Went on to Co-GM and GM the Quebec City Citadelles from S55-present, winning one Cup.

Sve7en was appointed Co-GM of Team DACH as a first time GM. Went on to Co-GM (S55) and GM (S56-Present) the Carolina Kraken.

S53 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

Dextaria was appointed Co-GM of Team World as a first time GM. Went on to GM the Vancouver Whalers for 12ish seasons?, winning one Cup.

LordBirdman was appointed Co-GM of Team Sweden as a first time GM. Went on to GM the Colorado Raptors for S56-S59.

roastpuff was appointed GM of Team Sweden as a first time GM. Went on to be the IIHF Commissioner.

S54 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

Mastersheep was appointed Co-GM of Team USA as a first time GM. Went on to GM the Baltimore Platoon for a few seasons.

Patty was appointed GM of Team Canada as a first time GM. Went on to GM the Newfoundland Berserkers from S65 - present, and is currently serving as the SHL Co-Commissioner.

RotticusScott was appointed Co-GM of Team Canada as a first time GM. Went currently serve as Co- GM of the Hamilton Steelhawks.

S55 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

TheSparkyDee was appointed GM of UCORCAL as a first time GM. Achieved nothing of note.

JumboBone19 was appointed Co-GM of USA as a first time GM. Went on to GM the Colorado Raptors S60 - present.

Halkohol was appointed GM of Sweden as a first time GM. Went on to GM the Detroit Falcons in S62 and Co-GM for a number of years.

S56 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

3lewsers was appointed Co-GM of USA as a first time GM. Went on to become WJC Commissioner from S61 - S66.

Gumbaman was appointed Co-GM of Canada as a first time GM. Went on to work in SMJHL Head Office.

S57 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

Canadice was appointed Co-GM of Sweden as a first time GM. Went on to Co-Gm the Carolina Kraken, GM the Manhattan Rage, and become IIHF commissioner.

S58 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

By-Tor was appointed Co-GM of Sweden as a first time GM. Went on to Co-GM the Carolina Kraken and St. Louis Scarecrows through present.

Pythonic was appointed Co-GM of Sweden as a (possible?) first time GM. Went on to Co-GM the Vancouver Whalers and New Orleans Specters.

S59 WJC Tournament:

Who were GMs?

Some Success Stories:

Ruggsy was appointed GM of Young Guns as a first time GM. Went on to Co-GM the Colorado Raptors.

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As you may be able to tell, I am running out of research motivation steam. The list goes on and on. Some other first time GMs in the S60s that went on to GM or do similar things include: Jay2233, Big Newff, Talls, brickwall35, RashfordU, Vaxlare, Yagoyi, RAmenAmen, and Anthique.

For any new users out there, I hope you see that being a WJC GM can absolutely pay off if you have aspirations to fills high ranking roles in the SHL. Some of the best users I know followed this path: join the league > WJC GM > SMJHL Co-GM. I think it is also important to note that there were a handful of users over the years that GM'd a WJC team and never stepped back into the role - and there is 100% no shame in that. GMing is not for everyone and that's okay. The WJC is here for two reasons: to create a tournament experience for the junior players to learn about the SHL and to have fun. The WJC needs your help to make the tournament a positive experience for everyone involved.

I encourage anyone reading this to apply to be a WJC when applications open up here in the next few weeks.

Disclaimers:

I did high level forum research. If something's not correct, you can't legally sue me.

If I left you off the list, that means I don't like you, obviously.

If you are offended by anything I say, the window to report me to HO ended yesterday.

No tags because I don't want to send out 800 edit pings.

Credit to enigmatic, Merica, tweedledunn, and jaypc8237 for sigs

***RAmenAmen*** · 10-18-2022, 11:32 AM

It's a great job and a ton of fun! I'd highly encourage anyone remotely interested in GMing to try it out!

***Canadice*** · 10-18-2022, 11:53 AM

Imagine being a success story and doing nothing of note

***TheSparkyDee*** · 10-18-2022, 01:28 PM

I won GOLD as first time GM! Lmao

***boom*** · 10-18-2022, 01:54 PM

I finished first out of all the teams in my WJC GMing experience in the round Robin.

Nobody ask me how the playoffs went.

***Anthique*** · 10-18-2022, 03:45 PM

Love your disclaimers!

Won nothing at the moment, but it will be long before I win something in Texas... Does it count if I win something in STL? Tongue

**_Blitz_** · 10-18-2022, 05:44 PM

This is an excellent point about WJC GMing, and there have been a lot more J and SHL GMs that went through WJC that aren't on that list. Pretty much everybody who wants to be a GM is advised by default to do a season in the WJC to see how it works for them.

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