Everybody knows about the SHL All Star Game. Fans from all teams hype up the chance to see the best players across the league all come together to participate in a weekend of fun, excitement, and most important of all, quality hockey.

For the players, the opportunity to play in the All Star Game is quite coveted, and players will do everything in their power to show up. In the most recent lineup, one player, Shadow Fenix from the Seattle Argonauts, was looking forward to participating in his first ever SHL All Star Game.

"Of course I was looking forward to it," Fenix said in an interview, "it's not every day that you get a chance to play on a line with someone like Viktor Hargreeves, Adam Prpich, or Sunrise van de Schubbekutteveen to name just a few."

When the fateful day came, however, approximately an hour before the game, Fenix had yet to arrive. The event organizers had no idea what had happened to Fenix, and they were worried. They kept calling him and his associates, but nobody could get in contact with Fenix. They had just finished finding a replacement for Jay O'Neil in Holden Steady, and now a forward was missing as well! If a player didn't show up to the All Star Game, it would change the balance of everything the organizers had worked for. Something needed to be done.

They first turned to the ice crew that would shovel the ice between periods. Unfortunately shovels don't work as hockey sticks, so they had to turn elsewhere.

Then they turned to the cameramen. If they had spent so long watching hockey, then they must understand the game at a level equivalent to the best of the best. Unfortunately, like a father yelling 'shoot' to the players through the screen, their efforts were limited to the screen.

All hope seemed lost; they had gone through everyone they could think of… At least, until they saw him in the front row of the crowd.

"Is that who I think it is?" One producer said. The others looked in the same direction. "Oh my gosh. It's him."

It was former 2k+ TPE SHL star Sconnie McHits.

McHits, now over 5 years retired, hadn't played a game of professional hockey since finishing his legendary career. Being a multi-year SHL All Star himself, McHits was no stranger to the game. He would be the perfect person to fill in for the missing Fenix. And despite McHits having the majority of his career success in Montreal, he was originally drafted 3rd overall in S62 by Seattle, so he was also no stranger to a Seattle Jersey.

So the ASG Producers went up to McHits, and asked him if he could take Fenix's spot. Surprisingly, he already had skates laced up in the stands. Old habits do die hard, as they say. McHits accepted, and now the Western All Stars had a full roster again.

Taking to the ice, McHits didn't look at all out of place. To some, McHits had retired earlier than he needed to. At the time, he was even dubbed Sconnie McGonetoosoon, which seemed to be proven true in the All Star Game. McHits had retired from the SHL, but certainly not from his hockey skills.

In the first period, the West started off strong, thanks to superstar Adam Prpich. Before long, however, the East punched back, with Jarrod Lakemore scoring a second goal, hoping to cut the deficit down as much as possible. After a few more goals, the game was tied four a piece. Then, in a rushed line change, the East took the lead with yet another Lakemore goal.

McHits could be seen barking at his teammates from the bench. His competitive spirit hadn't left him either. The second period would be quiet until just under 6 minutes remaining when Sconnie McHits made a phenomenal play right in front of the opposing goalie as he picked the pocket of an Eastern player, and defended it from two additional Eastern All Stars.Then, after drawing the Eastern defense out of position, he passed the puck back to Western defenseman Elena Maximova who took a fast one timer to Sunrise van de Schubbekutteveen who redirected the puck for a stunning goal. The game was tied.

The West would end up losing to the East in the shootout. McHits would end up finishing the game with just one assist, but at the same time, his play that caused that goal was one that stood out, even amongst the highlight reel plays of Adam Prpich and Jarrod Lakemore.

In our interview after the fact with Fenix we asked him what had happened. "I just overslept," was the answer to the mystery.

While the West may have fallen short in the shootout, the unexpected return of Sconnie McHits was the highlight of the game. Despite being retired for years, McHits proved that his passion for hockey--and his talent--were still very much alive.

As for Shadow Fenix, his absence became a part of All Star Game lore, with fans jokingly blaming his "oversleeping" for McHits’ heroic return. In the end, the night reminded everyone that anything can happen in hockey--and sometimes, the most unforgettable moments come from the unlikeliest of places.


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878 words, hope you enjoyed!