The SHL has been a big part of my life thus far. I’ve been a member of the site since nearly the beginning, joining in March of 2011. I joined in Season 3, when I was only 19 years of age. I created a defenseman. I was a hockey goalie who lived in New Hampshire at the time, and it was in the midst of when the Boston Bruins were in dire need of a puck moving defenseman. I figured, hey, if it’s such a coveted position in the NHL, let’s do just that in this weird sim league thing I found.

I created Erik Chisling, and he spent two seasons as Captain of the Kelowna Knights in S3 and S4 I believe, and then he was drafted to the Los Angeles Panthers in S4. He was (I believe*) the first captain of that franchise ever after Deener called his name out at the draft. The Panthers were a brand new expansion franchise, and the sky was the limit for that franchise. Deener made his intentions on that franchise very clear very quickly when he instantly turned his expansion franchise into a contender, shipping out young high potential assets for proven commodities. I found myself in my 2nd season with the Panthers shipped out to the Manhattan Rage.

It was this trade, in S6 I believe, that gave me my first opportunity at management. It was Diamond_Ace who was at the helm in Manhattan at the time, and he let me cut my teeth with management in the Co-GM role, albeit briefly. We made a couple of swings at contention, but our window closed just as quick as it opened and I realized I was losing patience with Chisling.

I reached out to xDPark, the then GM of the Calgary Dragons. We swung a big trade for Chisling, who at the time had won scoring records as a defenseman and had two Stevens to his name (if I remember correctly). The trade included multiple draft selections, including a first rounder. I stepped down as Co-GM of the Rage and pursued a cup. In my second season with the Dragons, I got it.

This introductory experience was more than enough to hook me. I’ve had my spells of inactivity (Ace Dafoe, cough cough, but this league is always something that I think I’ll be coming back to.

Happy 10 years, SHL. Here’s to 10 more.

@xDParK @diamond_ace @Deenerys Targa-rene