Even in the bright lights and the big city of Vancouver, William Hartmann hasn't forgotten where he came from. In the offseason after S54, in which the Whalers struggled their way to just 11 wins, he returned to Switzerland to speak to kids at the middle school that he attended. As one of the more famous alumni of the school, his presence was eagerly anticipated. Hartmann started off the talk by telling a story about moving away to North America to play in the SMJHL after his stint for EHC Kloten of the Swiss League. He spoke about having to adjust to the new circumstances of living on his own in Vancouver and playing for a team that went all over the country from Anchorage to Carolina, and playing for a team in the midst of a rebuild. Finally, Hartmann spoke of the hard work that went into becoming a first-round pick of the SHL's Edmonton Blizzard and his continued journey to lead the Whalers back to playoff contention, and the importance of perservering through difficult circumstances such as, say, playing for a team that put up the joint fourth-worst record in SMJHL history, as well as rewarding times like being a mentor for the rookie classes as they came in.