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Kmarko · 08-02-2017, 07:05 PM

Kmarko â€“ Introduction to the SHL

Late round draft picks that flourish into stars often are the players that unexpectedly propel teams to championships. Teams are always looking for the next Tom Brady past the 4th round. Rarely is such a gem found. The Detroit Falcons picked up the winger from Chicago, Kevin Marks, with the 29th pick in the SMJHL draft. They said â€œHey Kmarko, go be a star, rock our fucking socks off, be the late round stud you were born to be.â€ And boy did he disappoint. Kmarko finished the season with only 7 goals and 4 assists, as the Falcons finished 2nd to last in the SMJHL. He missed easy point tasks, championâ€™s week, activity checks, post-game shows, and rarely completed any training. He amassed only 210 TPE during his first SMJHL season, an embarrassing number compared to teammates that are nearly capped like Karl Hefeweizen and Matthias Victorson. He has increased that number to 243 TPE since the S36 SHL draft. Kmarko has been a disappearing act in the SHL so far, however he requested this interview to get his name out around the league.

Yesterday you were drafted 45th by the Portland Admirals. Were you at all surprised by where you went?

I really didnâ€™t know what to expect going into the draft. I havenâ€™t kept close enough tabs on my fellow rookies. I knew my first SMJHL season hadnâ€™t garnered me enough TPE or rep to be taken in the first 2 rounds. But I really had no clue where I ranked among other late round rookies. I started watching for my name in the late second round, and had to wait quite a while. A lot of people who were drafted after me in the SMJHL draft went before me too which was a bit of an eye opener.

What are your feelings on being a part of the Admirals organization?

Not going to lie, I wasnâ€™t thrilled at first. I donâ€™t know anything about Portland. I really donâ€™t know anything about any SHL team for that matter. I had one team on my radar after speaking with the GM, but they kept passing me up. When Portland chose me I felt a little annoyed, but I got over it quickly once I got into the discord. The most important part of a team to me is a bumpinâ€™ discord, and the Admirals are a lively bunch. Plus I got a couple of my buddies from the Falcons here, so Iâ€™m content with the situation.

You found out about simulation hockey leagues 2 months ago, tell us about your experience since then.

Weirdly enough GOMHL was the first league I found. My Dman Ross Tafari is that boiiiii. Iâ€™m the simmer there now, and now that Iâ€™m not such a novice at sim leagues Iâ€™ve decided to branch out. I made my SHL player a couple months ago, which I somewhat regret. I wasnâ€™t ready to be committed to this league, and I missed a lot of easy TPE. I also really donâ€™t have a lot of interest in my player. Heâ€™s got a lame name. Heâ€™s a winger. Iâ€™m a Dman IRL, and I kind of regret randomly picking wing. Iâ€™m not going to recreate, I want to try to get Kevin Marks back on track and become a valuable player in the SHL.

Speaking of your position, I hear youâ€™ve recently been training at Center?

Yeah. Like I said, I was bored at wing. Detroit needed a winger to step in as a center. I already somewhat have the skillset and body type of a grinder center, so Iâ€™ve been working hard on my face-offs. Iâ€™ve put a lot of TPE into faceoffs and scoring this offseason, as my goal is to be more of an impact player for the Falcons next season. Portland wasnâ€™t exactly thrilled about this, as they are deep at center. They donâ€™t want their wingers dumping TPE into faceoffs, but this is a commitment I made to Detroit before I was drafted.

Youâ€™re still a new face in the SHL, is there anything you want everybody to know?

If Iâ€™m a part of your discord youâ€™ve already got my loyalty. If you add me on PS4 (littlenarks) and we game together even once you have my loyalty too. Hit me up for NHL, 2k, Overwatch, KF2, Titanfall 2, etc. Iâ€™ve decided I want to be more invested in the SHL. Getting to know some people outside of my teammates certainly makes things more interesting, so hit me up on PSN or twitter (@KmarkoSHL). Iâ€™m not really the type to write long articles, yet here I am, because I want to not be shite next season. You wonâ€™t see me missing anymore point tasks. Iâ€™m pretty sure Iâ€™ll always get the minimum from these tasks because I suck at predictions and SHL gods hate me, but god dammit I will collect those participation points. Also:

SHL: Kmarko
GOMHL: kbmarks
VHL: Marko (Iâ€™ll be back one day VHL, one league at a time)
I donâ€™t know why I gave myself different usernames. Iâ€™m indecisive.

What do you do outside of STHS leagues?

Iâ€™m a computer engineer at a textile plant in Alabama. Finishing up my MIS degree at UA, and then getting the fuck out of this horrid state. I program in C#, C++, Java, and python. I do lots of web design as well. Currently building my super computer, hopefully done by September, and then Iâ€™ll be playing any and all PC games, mostly blizzard. I spend a little bit of time each day working on my skating and puck handling so when I move to Denver next year I donâ€™t get wrecked in my beer leagues. I also take care of my bearded dragon Wallace, who is a motherfucking beast.

Iâ€™d also like to take this time to formally thank the Portland Admirals for giving me a shot in their system, as I was driving when I was picked. I look forward to being your late round gem (or disappointing bust, only time will tell.)