Hey everyone! Today, we’re just gonna do a quick rundown on our thoughts on the top ten draftees licensed into the SHL recently - and you know these opinions are rock-solid and perfect, because they come from two Blizzard players who are still in the Js themselves!
We’ll have Ara give her takes first, and then I’ll follow up with mine - and remember, if you disagree with any of our takes, you are an objective inferior, especially if you’re on Edmonton.

Ready?

Caliph smiles, giving the “go ahead” thumbs up to the producers and sitting down next to Ara as he gathers his notecards and taps them on the table excitedly!

Let’s go!!

A: Juke- Okay where to start with Juke, perhaps with the fact that as of the time of writing he is the S79 class TPE leader. Not only that, but he has proven to be one of the top defensive players in the rookie class and has a solid bank. Add on top of that a high level of activity on the forums and discord, and I think Edmonton has secured for themselves a real gem in Juke.

C: Honestly, meeting with him in scouting, Juke really seemed to know exactly where he wanted to go, and has absolutely no breaks on the train to getting there. The guy is dedicated, knows his stuff, and absolutely rocketed to the top of the chain - the fact that everybody called him as the 1oa in the mock draft really, I think, speaks for itself. YOINK!!

A: All in all, a fine first round pick and a wonderful future addition to the tidal, Caliph. At any rate, I do believe it’s time for our second overall pick, no?  Coming in at 2OA for the Chicago Syndicate was SFresh, aka holder of the CIA’s most wanted SHL draftee. Jokes aside, SFresh has been one of the better recreates from the start of the season, in multiple areas. Be it in TPE earning, bank, activity, and even in his performance on ice, he’s been very dedicated and engaged. That is saying nothing of how he’s been near the head of the pack in performance since draft day for S78. Chicago is lucky to have him and I think as they rebuild, he will be leading the charge for the Syndicate in the coming season.

C: Not a whole lot to add there, Ara, you locked it in pretty well! Chicago knows exactly what they’ve got, and he’s a phenomenal presence in the LR, as well - I’m sure Chicago is very happy to have him back, especially after watching him absolutely pop off on the ice for the Berserkers. I know that Nike and Slice have to be happy with that pickup, for sure!

A: I guarantee you they will, Caliph. Having talked with Nike and Slicer myself on SFresh, they were singing his praises both pre and post draft. All told, he should end up having a stellar career ahead of him at Chicago. Now this next user I actually know quite well, given we’ve worked as interns for the JHO this past season. At first, I wasn’t really too sure about him but GHAMMS has proven himself not only to be a very capable earner, but immensely dedicated in keeping the HO approval process well oiled and efficient. Alone he’s approved well over 30 players this past season and has also done a phenomenal job of producing media as well. That is to say nothing of his high levels of activity in the various SHL discords and on the forum as well. Given that, I think Montreal really got a gem in taking him as the third 3 OA pick.

C: Oh, I couldn’t agree more - scouting him was easy as can be, very easygoing and funny guy - of course, the TPE and the bank are both there, and his media output is really some of the best the league has on offer - he’s a fantastic asset for the Krakens, and Montréal is sure to see huge gains off that pick - I’ve also got to just add, what a surprise pick, too, so very few of us saw it coming, and I think you really saw that in the draft stream - so many people in the comments were just going “oh shoot, there goes my mock draft-” and I know I definitely lost some points on that, myself - how about you, eh?

A: Oh I definitely lost some points with him, given I had him at 6th or 7th OA. Still, at least we earned a few wins with 1 and 2, eh? That said, I think it’s time we move onto our next pick. -

C: Oh! Do you mind if I jump in first on Jaunne? Love this guy, he was great to chat to!

A: - Take it away, Caliph.

C: Ayyy, alright, so Jauhnne is a textbook example of the funny funny man, describing himself as “aggressively average,” and pulling a gun on me with the commentary “This one’s for the Edmund Fitzgerald, bitch.” I loved him, instantly. Dude’s got a great taste in Italian cuisine, he even invited me out for burgers - no, like, mid-scouting conversation, he’s like “yeah if you’re in town, I’m taking you to this place.” Very little of that has to do with his prospects as a draftee, but I just had to mention it. Massive nerd, too, if anyone is looking to scout someone for their TTRPG campaign, I don’t know if he’s available, but he sure as shit plays!

A: I haven’t really had the pleasure of interacting with all that much yet, but from what little I’ve seen he’s quite the card. Between his sense of humor and his nerd cred, I think he’s found himself quite the hot pick for this draft, wouldn’t you agree?

C: Oh, for sure - Kelowna had a great run with him, and I’m sure he’ll be a great addition to any locker room that he goes to - definitely a solid take, and thankfully, a return to normalcy for our mock drafts!

A: For now at least, but I think we both know that won’t last!

C: Oh definitely not - alright, go on, take the next one, I’ll go back to my follow-up spot - thanks for letting me indulge like that!

A: You're welcome Caliph! Maybe if you're good, I’ll allow it again. Anywho, let's get to the next pick, shall we? Coming in at 5th OA is Waters, who was snatched up by the Monarchs as their first pick. I don't know him that well personally, from what little life interacted with him and from seeing his podcast with Valor, he seems to be an excellent choice for Minnesota. That is saying nothing of his long history with the league and last season, during both of which he has been a consistent max earners.

C: He looks back, and playfully punches his co-host, before shuffling his notes, and pointing at the screen!

Don’t worry, Ara, I can pick up for you on that - Waters was a great guy to scout, seemed very interested in building up a strong team - definitely looking to lock in as a center pivot, and an excellent, reliable recreate, like you said - And he’s certainly looking to make waves in management - a very skilled user, and someone to look out for!

A: She rolls her eyes, sticking her tongue out at Caliph before looking back to the camera.

Well if he’s half as skilled and dedicated to the League as you say and as this past season has indicated, then he should have a very bright future ahead of him. With that being said, I would advise him to stay consistent as he moves deeper into the Js, given he has started to fall off a bit. At any rate, who do we have up next, Caliph?

C: In our number 6 slot, we’ve got one of my personal favourite scout picks this season, Kiwi Söderbeg-Snooks, coming from the Nevada Battleborn! Aleris absolutely crushed it on the ice this season - of course, you’ve got that very sizeable bank account and excellent TPE entry, and some really quite impressive shot % stats, given a rookie’s TPE allowance! But what they were most excited about was their leading the league in Penalties in Minutes, and Fights Won - Seems quite the aggressive type, I’d love to see what sort of Enforcer of Goon they might become once the training wheels come off!

A: Oh, I have no doubt they are going to take off like a rocket once that cap is lifted Caliph. Though I haven’t seen much of them on ice myself, from a cursory glance they seem like they will easy be one of S79’s future stars, especially if they keep up their current pace. Off the ice, Aleris has been a consistent presence in the locker room and in media creation. With multiple articles, continual chirps, and so on, Aleris is a pick that I can very well becoming a pillar of Chicago’s offensive line. The bottom line being, expect great things from them in the Windy City, folks.

C: Oh absolutely, and with the way things are picking up with this draft, I think we’ll be talking about the S79 draft class for a long while to come - and we’ve got a particularly interesting set for the number 7 slot, as far as I know, the league’s only sentient clothes hamper, is that right, Ara?

A:  That's right, Caliph! Though give him credit, he’s put all the other sentient clothes hampers out there to shame. Anyways, coming in at our number 7 spot we have Sburbine for the Winnipeg Aurora. He is quite simply, a solid all rounder that should represent a significant asset for the Aurora both on the ice and off in the seasons ahead. For starters, sburbine has a long history with the league with 15 seasons with the Aurora under their belt before recreating, with them having served a stint as an assistant captain for part of it. On the TPE front, Sburb is among the top 14 players with 372 as of writing and an impressive bank of over 146 million.  That is not even mentioning their rookie season with the Berserkers where they served as linchpin of the offensive line.
C: Oh without question, an absolute powerhouse pick for the Auroras, they’ve been in rebuild phase for a while now, and hearing Ace talk how upset he was letting Sburb get away to Minnesota, I think that was quite a sweet little callout, and a really genuine mark for not just a good teammate, but a solid friend, too. Oh, and speaking of good friends…

A: Really? Are you really going to make me do it?

C: WE GOT HER, NERDS! SHE’S WITH US NOW!!

A: C’mon….it’s embarrassing, Caliph!

C: NOBODY ELSE CAN HAVE HER, WE CALLED DIBS!!

A: Guess we’re really doing this then, eh? Anyways, up at pick 8 is…..me.

C: - IT’S YOU!!

A: - I’m not going to lie, this pick came as a real shocker for me in the days leading up to the draft. Given my lower TPE and place in the overall class standings, I thought for sure I’d place at best in the early second round. So care to break it down why you guys chose me, Caliph?

C: … Ara, you’ve been playing D&D with us for weeks at this point. Cake’s the one who recruited you, and we’ve been friends for literal months - if you thought there was even the slightest chance that you were going anywhere else, you were sorely mistaken. That TPE debt is extremely workable, your bank is on fire, and you’ve implemented yourself into the SHL with jobs and connections like wild - if your TPE being low kept the other teams from burning a first round pick on you, then that’s just their loss, frankly

He hops over and playfully noogies her on the head

Oh and HFFO wants to let you know that you’re never escaping c:

Never escaping.

A: Hehe, I suppose I shouldn’t be so modest about it, eh? That being said, yes I kind of figured Edmonton would be where I would end up given my ties with you all, the hard work I’ve put in, and so on. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way….Oh and you can tell HFFO I have no intention of escaping .

C: … oh my god who have we drafted.

A:  The “steal” of the draft?  Jokes aside, I’m excited to be playing for you guys in a few seasons and look forward to working with you. Now let’s move onto our next pick, shall we? Coming in at number 9, we have Leaky Cink who was snagged by the Winnipeg Aurora. Where to begin with them…Not only were they consistently active presence in the locker room and on ice for the Malamutes, but they have also managed the rare feat of a 1st Gen being named an SHL gm. Quite amazing, isn’t Caliph?

C: I certainly haven’t seen anything like that before! That certainly caught everyone’s attention, eh? Not many better endorsements than being named Co-GM spot within literal seconds of getting hired! I wish him all the best with his career in Winnipeg, I suspect his is a name that’s gonna wind up being spoken about a fair bit in the coming seasons. A really solid scouting session with him, and he’s been tearing it up in the WJC as well alongside Cake307 - he’s also a fan of the board game Hive, if anyone plays and wants to hit him up! A strategic mind and a friendly countenance, he’s gonna make waves like nobody’s business!

A: Oh I don’t doubt it, Caliph. If he’s anything like the rest of Ace’s crew, then I have no doubt he will be a top performer, both in Winnipeg and the League as a whole!

C: Only one more prospect to go - Ara, do you want to take point, or have I been good enough to say all the boring parts in the first blurb?

He asks, slowly reaching for a hockey stick…

A: I’d say you have been more than good enough, Caliph….So go ahead!

C: Well look at that!

He says, slowly lowering the hockey stick back down

At number ten, once again for Winnipeg, we’ve got ourselves undeniably the cutest kitty competitor, bearing a wonderful resemblance to Don Fluffles of SAO Abridged fame - I’m sure the uncanny resemblance is just a coincidence - Jeremy Snugglemuffin the Third! Schwarznarr is clocking in with a truly ridiculous one hundred eighty six million dollars in her bank account, and a solid 366 TPE, making her one of the best in the field - but for those who know her, Schwarz is also a hardworking member of the JHO, as well as just a super friendly person to be around! Our vaunted J commissioner looked me dead in my soul and said “I love being scouted by newer users” and gave me the biggest case of imposter’s syndrome I’ve ever felt here in the SHL - and I share a locker room with Cake. I don’t think there’s anyone in the draft who doesn’t recognize her dedication and skill both to and in the league - the woman wrote a media 2000% the length of this one of ours, for goodness’ sake, you don’t do that for a maybe hobby. Ara, you’re in the J HO with her, what have you got to say?

A: Glares at Caliph for a minute, soon looking back to the screen To be blunt, Schwarz is easily one of, if not the most dedicated users on the forum and in the League, period. There has not been a single day since I have joined the league, that I have not seen her active in the forums, on the discord, or posting media. That is saying nothing of how hard she has worked in keeping the Head Office running, even when she has been busy with work or irl. Outside of her duties in HO and in the Tidal locker room, Schwarz is easily one of my favorite users, due in no small part to how she manages to brighten up any chat she is in. She is just …well I know it sounds odd to say this, she’s almost to the point I could say the heart and soul of the JHO.

C: …

….

Why did we pick you, again?

A: reaches for the hockey stick, smirking wickedly as she says firmly I’d like to imagine it’s because of my charm and hard working nature….especially when comes to keep smart mouths in line.

C: Can’t have been that last one, you suck at that!

He says, slowly backing out of the recording booth, gesturing frantically at the producer to cut the feed!

<3

Yukon Malamutes Hall of Fame

 

Trading Cards - Trade me your Granny Panpans!

Granny Panpan Count: 258

Nerd 1 and Nerd 2, good job making that money.

Love the commentary but I am picturing you both as the race announcer from the Phantom Menace now.

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. ... There are neither beginnings nor endings to the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.”

Ólafur Atlason| C | SMJHL Prospect | Future Edmonton Blizzard
Birthplace: Reykjavik, Iceland
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SMJHL Season Stats
S76: GP: 0 | G: 0 | A: 0 | P: 0 | 0 | PIM: 0 | Hits: 0 | |
SMJHL Playoff Stats
S76: GP: 0 | G: 0 | A: 0 | P: 0 | 0 | PIM: 0 | Hits: 0 | |
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SHL Season Stats

Fun read! Thanks for the kind words! It's been a pleasure working with you, Ara. Can't wait to see how our careers turn out. Looking forward to our paths crossing many times in the future!