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***Leafs4ever*** · 07-17-2020, 03:35 PM

Rock Strongo ready for the SMJHL

I think most people know me by now. I've been in the SHL since day one and have made some pretty good players, if I can toot my own horn for the first time. I'm just coming off my first player without being a GM and I had a good ride with a great team. Rockefeller had a good career, but I'm aiming for something better with Rock Strongo. I want to reach superstar status with Strongo and I finally think I have the resources to accomplish that. Rock plays centre and is aiming to be an elite, two-way player. I want to be relied upon at both ends of the ice. If we need a goal, I want to be thrown out there to get it. If we're holding a lead late in the game, I want to be on the ice protecting that lead. I'm going to lay the body on opposing players and then control the puck whenever I have it. I want to be the best all around player in the SMJHL and then eventually, the SHL.

I'm as dedicated to this league as one person can be. I've never short changed any of my players and I'm of no risk to just drop off, that is a promise. I'm not as vocal around the boards anymore and I know most of the other players have formed bonds with other members, and I know that's what I lack. However, that's the only knock you can put on me. You will get everything you can get out of me.

What Rock brings me is another chance to chase the one thing that has eluded me in my whole time in the league. I have never won a Four Star Cup. I've been close twice, losing in the finals both times. I know how much of a crap shoot the SMJHL is, but it's something I want to add to my cupboard. Don't let that scare you off, rebuilding GMs, because I feel like I can be a huge piece in helping you rebuild and winning something.

As I get ready for the SMJHL draft, I decided to take a look at the teams and try to rank them. Now, I wouldn't read too much into these rankings, it's more an exercise in what branding I like more than the structure of the team or the players. I'm going to be honest, I don't recognize most of the players anyway so I can't really rank teams based on them. There are some teams I'd like to play on, for sure, but don't be worried about me holding out or not signing, I'm not that type of player and never will be. Plus, everyone loves a good rankings article, so let's get to it.

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Rock Strongo's SMJHL Team Rankings

1.

St. Louis Scarecrows

This is the team right here. The day they announced their team, I was a fan. I absolutely love the branding. As cheesy as it sounds, I love all things Hallowe'en so I immediately loved the choice. The name is awesome, the logo is fantastic and the colour scheme is just perfect. I always said to myself, I would love to be a scarecrow when my new player arrives. I don't know much about the GMs, but that can easily be rectified. Originally, I saw they had the 8th pick and thought, damn, that might be too low, but to my surprise, when I went to check the order the other day, they swung a trade with Vancouver to get the 2nd overall pick. I don't know who they have targeted at that pick, but man if that isn't a perfect set of circumstances for me.

2.

Newfoundland Berserkers

I actually really like the branding. The city and name flow nicely and the colour scheme is very solid. The logo is very nice as well, so a thumbs up for the Berserkers. I know both GMs well, @SDCore is our fearless commissioner and @JNH has been here for a long time so we've had lots of interactions. They have the 9th pick, so there's a chance I could drop, but I'd be shocked if I was still around at 9.

3.

Carolina Kraken Kraken

Love the Kraken as a mascot and name. Caroline seems like a weird city choice, but I can live with it. The colour scheme is very good as well, so a solid branding. Since they originated as the Montreal Impact, I guess technically I'm an alumni of the team. My boy @"cpetrella" was the GM here, but has since moved on to greener pastures (I guess it depends how you view the Barracuda). Their first pick is at 18 so that basically eliminates them from my services...unless the commissioner has a trade to announce.

4.

Colorado Raptors Raptors

It's weird to see the Raptors with Colorado, but that's really the only sticking point. It's a great name and the colour scheme is good as well. Their jerseys are out there, design wise, but you can't say they aren't different. @NONAME and I already have a connection through media grading so there's familiarity there. They hold pick number 7 so they could be in play for Strongo if the chips fall perfectly for them.

5.

Nevada Battleborn

A fresh, new franchise in the SMJHL. It's always an exciting venture to be a new player on a new team and helping them establish something. I love Las Vegas as a city so I was disappointed they took Nevada, but that's OK. As I told Noka in the Blizzard locker room, I like more traditional team names, so it will take a bit to warm up to Battleborn. Backed by a good colour scheme, it's a branding that has potential to grow on me. I, of course, know @Nokazoa from Edmonton so that would be a smooth transition. The Battleborn sit with the 4th overall pick and a good chance to be Rock's first home.

6.

Maine Timber Timber

So a revelation hit me today when I was looking at the teams and I'm embarrassed to admit it, but oh well. I just found out that the Maine Timber are actually the Halifax Raiders, after just realizing that the Raiders are not even a team anymore. As a Raider alumni, I guess I'm a Timber alumni. Having just discovered this, I bring you to the second time I lost in the finals. It was with a very good Raiders team and the last SMJHL team I was a part. I remembered the whole team was disappointed we let that opportunity slip by. As for the new branding, it's alright. The logo is nice and the colour scheme has potential, but there's too much of the brown on the jerseys. The name itself is OK, but Maine is uninspired. I thought I didn't know the GMs, but I was amazed to learn that @CementHands is Krashwagon, who is in SHL HO and thus, I do know at least one of them. You'll quickly find that I have no idea which users are which players, it's my curse. Maine hold the 3rd overall pick in the draft and that is right in the wheel house. I can easily be a Timber on Saturday night.

7.

Anaheim Outlaws Outlaws

I'm a fan of the city so they have that going for them. Their logo is ok, but I don't know, just something about the whole combination is just "meh". It just seems boring and I really can't pinpoint why. I have a history with @Donini13, my boy from my GMing days so that's always nice. They have the 11th pick in the first round and, if I'm being honest, I shouldn't fall that low, but I guess you just never know.

8.

Vancouver Whalers Whalers

An original franchise, so points for that. The Whalers is a solid name and the jerseys and colour scheme are very nice as well. I know @"thecanadiancanuck" from the Blizzard locker room and he's a good guy so that's a positive as well. They hold the 8th pick in the draft after the trade with St. Louis. That might be a couple picks too late, but I have no inside information, just going off where I think I should be picked. If the Scarecrows do draft me at number 2, I will have them to thank.

9.

Detroit Falcons Falcons

Ah the Falcons. As I mentioned earlier, I lost in the Four Star Cup finals twice. Well the first one was with the Falcons and it was my first taste of the cruel mistress that is the juniors. We dominated the season and I put up some great numbers, but alas it didn't matter. So, yes I am an alumni, the first junior team I ever played for. They've kept the same branding, which is nice for history purposes, but it's still a relatively boring one. I know both GMs which is never a bad thing. The Falcons have the 5th pick and are absolutely in the mix for Rock.

10.

Kelowna Knights Knights

A team that has survived a slew of rebrandings in the SMJHL, so I respect that. However, another boring branding. Knights is a solid name and the colour scheme works, but just all together it's "OK". I can't say I've had any interactions with the GMs so that could work against me. They hold the 10th pick in the first round, though, and that will probably work against them for drafting me so it evens out.

11.

Anchorage Armada Armada

They could of had a solid colour scheme and good jerseys, but then they went and put that grey all upon it and I'm not sure why. I would of put the blue as the star and used the grey as an accent, but that's just me. The city and name combination also doesn't really pop out to me. I recognize the GMs which is always good since it seems like I know less and less people on the site every day. They hold the 6th pick in the first round so it's conceivable that I could be there. If I am, though, and they still pass on me, woof.

12.

Quebec City Citadelles

Here comes my dilemma. As a diehard Leafs fan, I can't stand anything Quebec/Montreal related. If I was not as professional as I was when I was GM, I would of made it known to the Impact, don't draft me please. I didn't, though, and guess who got drafted to the Impact? We went on to have a terrible season, but I had a great one so really it was perfect. I immediately left the Impact to go to the SHL so I try to forget about that season. As for this team, I know one of the GMs, @Evok, from our Blizzard days and she is a good member and I'm sure will be a good GM as well. Now we come to Quebec City and my dilemma. They have a great brand. The colours are awesome and the logo is sweet. If they were the Toledo Citadelles or the Bridgeport Citadelles, boom, right near the top. They also hold the coveted 1st overall pick in the draft. Why, god, why? I can, and will, never say I want to play for a Quebec based team. I'll just leave it at that.

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So there we are, my first ever team ranking article. I plan to do some things different with this player and be more open. I've always been straight and narrow, but I think there's some room to be more opinionated and really make a name for myself.

SMJHL GMs, don't let your ranking dissuade you. Remember, I'm not here to hold out, to demand anything, or to try and pick the team that drafts me. I will play for any team that picks me, you will get a dedicated player, and a solid member of your locker room. GMs that pass on me, be prepared to regret that choice for the rest of your GMing career.

With that, Rock Strongo is ready to take the first step of his hockey career. Draft night is tomorrow, so prospects just enjoy the moment. No matter when your name is called, embrace it and be ready to prove yourself to your new team and to the teams who passed on you. Draft night will always be the most exciting time for any player. I know I'll be waiting in anticipation to see where I begin my career.

(2077 words, x2 draft media bonus)

Guy Incognito - D - #24
Texas Renegades
Season 80
4-0-0
Regular Season - [G 3] [A 4] [Pts 7] [+/- +5] [PIM 4] [Hits 9] [SB 7]
[Image: ERs3IrD.png]

trella · 07-17-2020, 03:59 PM

<3 good luck with your new player leafs!

Thanks to @karey and @JSS for the sigs!

Former USA Fed Head, Carolina Kraken Co-GM, Tampa Bay Barracuda GM

CementHands · 07-17-2020, 04:43 PM

good old Halifax Alumni

ckroyal92 · 07-17-2020, 04:45 PM

RIP QCC

***Evok*** · 07-17-2020, 05:05 PM

07-17-2020, 03:35 PMLeafs4ever Wrote: SMJHL GMs, don't let your ranking dissuade you. Remember, I'm not here to hold out, to demand anything, or to try and pick the team that drafts me. I will play for any team that picks me, you will get a dedicated player, and a solid member of your locker room. GMs that pass on me, be prepared to regret that choice for the rest of your GMing career.

i mean im litteraly dead last on your list :( can you at least forgive me for this :(

***Leafs4ever*** · 07-17-2020, 05:22 PM

07-17-2020, 05:05 PMEvok Wrote:
07-17-2020, 03:35 PMLeafs4ever Wrote: SMJHL GMs, don't let your ranking dissuade you. Remember, I'm not here to hold out, to demand anything, or to try and pick the team that drafts me. I will play for any team that picks me, you will get a dedicated player, and a solid member of your locker room. GMs that pass on me, be prepared to regret that choice for the rest of your GMing career.

i mean im litteraly dead last on your list :( can you at least forgive me for this :(

I mean, someone had to be dead last. Just remember, this is all branding. And, I mean what I say in that paragraph you quoted. Whoever drafts me will no regret it.

Guy Incognito - D - #24
Texas Renegades
Season 80
4-0-0
Regular Season - [G 3] [A 4] [Pts 7] [+/- +5] [PIM 4] [Hits 9] [SB 7]
[Image: ERs3IrD.png]

Andy · 07-17-2020, 05:52 PM

Such a strong words.... but you're you and have been here since the dawn of time so....? Tongue

Mack · 07-18-2020, 08:23 PM

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