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KenitohMenara · 08-17-2021, 05:50 PM

1781 words - (x2 draft media)

The world of the SHL never stands still. Like all leagues, the wheels keep turning and the lights are always on. Circumstances change in a heartbeat, deals are made with a click of a pen and players themselves have to make new lives for themselves elsewhere. It is said that an entire player's career can flash before his eyes when he gets traded. They ask themselves:

“Did I do something wrong? Did I offend the management? Did I not hit the point totals they were expecting?”

For one player though, none of the above applied. He ticked every box, crossed every T and dotted every I and yet, he heard the call all the same. On a day that was as hectic and emotional as any in his life, Alexis Saint-Michel was traded.

He had woken up late that day, taking some rest from the playoffs and the relentless training. Rest and recovery importance had been drilled into him since he started hockey. When he woke up, his phone had been blowing up. Messages from his teammates and friends, wondering about what had just been announced and then the phone rang…

It was the GM of New England.

Alexis’s world started crashing down as he realized what had just happened. Winnipeg had traded his rights to the Wolfpack. Little did he know that this sudden change, this sudden upheaval of what he thought his plans for the SHL were… was only the first part of the day.

The Wolfpack would have loved to keep their new prized asset but with their current contract structure, they wouldn’t be able to play him before he hit free agency and with other players needing contracts, one player or asset would have to become a casualty.

Now some would argue that holding onto the Junior leagues goal leader who was coming over a 72 point season was more than worth any veteran winger would cost but the Wolfpack started looking for offers after telling Alexis that under any other circumstances, they would have kept him.

This news was supposed to make Alexis feel better, that he was indeed a wanted player but if anything, it had the opposite effect. It made him feel even worse about all he had done. Winnipeg had traded him, now New England didn’t want him. As teammates finally got answers from Alexis, they could tell how badly this was hurting him. ASM provided this conversation for us with his closest team friend, Sven Svechinokov:

Sven: Hey man! Heard about the news, I’m sure the Wolfpack are gonna love you.

Alexis: No they won’t.

Sven: What do you mean? Did you already forget last season?

Alexis: I’m not playing in New England

Sven: ... They literally just traded for you.
Alexis: And guess who just got off the phone with his new GM saying that he is being traded again?

Sven: WTF?

Alexis: Indeed WTF?

Sven: So where do you think you’ll end up now?

Alexis: I don’t know anymore… I can only move forward with what happens.

Sven: It’d be really cool if you ended up in Edmonton with me.

Alexis: It would be yeah, maybe some top flight team wants to grab me. One can only hope.

Sven: Really sorry to hear that this whole mess is happening man. Hey, how about we head down to Blue Water for lunch, get your mind off things?

Alexis: Sure, I could use a pick me up.

As we can see from this conversation, as much of a brave face as the top scorer of Vancouver is trying to put on this mess, internally he is a broken man. A man with no banner despite all of his triumphs and all of the accolades. It almost as if the league itself was telling him that he wasn’t a future star, or even a future player. He was already past tense.

But while ASM was left wondering about his future and his teammate was doing his best to cheer him up, something big was brewing 1,000 kilometers away.

Alexis has several connections and close friends within the Calgary Dragons organisation. From hosting the hall of fame ceremony, he had met Mike Izzy, Esa Anrikkanen and many of the current Dragons team. After an intense season where they finished 7th in standings and made a daring run to the western conference finals where they would lose in 6 to the Chicago Syndicate, new GM Mike Izzy knew that he was close to starting a new era of Dragons hockey. Calgary had some powerful picks to play with entering the draft but he did his due diligence and checked the market, seeing what was there.

He couldn’t believe his eyes! Alexis Saint-Michel was available. That right there could be the centerpiece of his future core. He picked up the phone…

***

Koopa - Are you sure you’re alright?

Alexis - I should be. Hopefully I’ll land somewhere good.

Koopa - You deserve it. I’d make the call to the Specters but I don’t think they are in the market.

Alexis - I know you would man. Thank you.

It was about 1:20 in the afternoon and the food had arrived. Sven’s plan to cheer up Alexis had worked pretty well as they talked about the season and the upcoming season. Alexis made one thing clear to Sven, no matter who traded for him, he would fulfil his promise and have one more season in Vancouver. Then as they were eating the phone goes off again. Alexis is about to shut it off… but it’s his agent.

Alexis rushes to the bathroom, already having a bone to pick with this one… Alexis has recalled the conversation for us here as he feels the reaction here is needed m:

“So where were you this morning eh?”

“Alexis, drop everything, I have big news!”

“Oh what? That I have been traded to New England? Yeah a few hours too late on that one.”

“Never mind that. This news is gonna be worth it I swear.”

“Look I’m in the middle of lunch and surely this can-“

“It’s Calgary.”

There was a pause.

“What about Calgary?”

“Alexis, the Dragons have just acquired you. They just announced it, Alexis. You’re going to Calgary.”

“You’re joking with me?”

“Check it yourself.”

As soon as Alexis shut off the call, he received a text message… from his new GM, Mike Izzy.

“Welcome to Calgary, kid.”

***

A few days later, GM Mike Izzy would step up in front of the podium to face the reporters and the dragon’s faithful fans about their newest acquisition.

“Ladies and gentlemen, today we are proud to announce the acquisition of our newest dragon. Young players like this do not come around very often and having met this young man myself, I believe he will lead the dragons into another great age. Today we are proud to introduce to you our newest player, Alexis Saint-Michel.”

As Alexis walked up to the podium, the cheers rained down. The reception to him was incredible. As he had come down from Calgary airport, the billboard outside was saying “Welcome to Calgary, Alexis!”

The front office had been talking non stop about how thrilled they were for this trade:

“The next generation of Dragons began with the DOMINION.. made up of Luukas Lilja, Richard LaFleur and #A-Rye Izzy… all had fabulous rookie seasons. Saint-Michel is a big piece to this new young core.. he’s super gifted shown by his 72 point season. He’s got a strong work ethic shown in his player build numbers and he’s got ambitions to be great. I love what this kid brings to the table.. he’s gonna be a dragon stud.” - GM Mike Izzy

"When I signed on to see the Dragons acquired the SMJHL leading goal scorer who put up 72 points I nearly fell off my recliner. How the hell did new Dragons GM Mike Izzy pull this one off?!! Alexis Saint-Michel is an absolute stud of a prospect and just dominated the junior league, now he is a Dragon? This is a huge giant home run for Calgary. It's not everyday you can bring in a young star who wants to be here as badly as ASM did. I didn't realize how badly until he entered the locker room and let us know his dream has been to join the Dragons! I saw a lot of great pro-dragons entrances in my 35 years as Head GM but have to say his was one of the best. When you see a young phenom come in and immediately make his mark and show he wants to be a career dragon and franchise player it really resonates with you. The way he embraced the team was something special. ASM is going to be a huge player and great leader for this team. I see this as one of those days that changed the future of the Dragons. I'm very much looking forward to being his teammate and getting to know him better as I watch and hopefully help him achieve a hall of fame career with multiple championships in Calgary. Glad he's found a permanent home here. I may have to even share my secret parm recipe with him..." Hall of Fame GM Esa Anrikkanen

The speech that Anrikkanen is referring to is one he made on that faithful day in Calgary. Something that immediately endeared him to the city and it’s people:

ASM's a Dragon!

The words feel strange to say. But I have wanting to hear them ever since I was 5 years old when I first watched Mike Izzy on TV. The Dragons have been the team I watched from Quebec, dreaming of the day that I could play for them. Then my phone goes off on possibly the worst day of my life.

Winnipeg traded me, New England didn't want me so I was left in an physical and emotional limbo. Then I got the call from my agent... It was the dragons. As I heard from the GM, I almost sobbed as he told me that I was going to Calgary. Then Mike Izzy himself texted me saying "Welcome to Calgary, kid". I almost lost it with that one. My 5 year old self would have fainted on that one.

Calgary, thank you for giving me this chance to prove myself. It's time to get to work on my next big challenge.

With Love,

Alexis Saint-Michel

As he lead the dragons faithful in their chant, ASM knew he had found his home. What had started as the worst day of his life turned into the day he will never forget. The day ASM became a Dragon

**Chevy** · 08-17-2021, 05:52 PM

Ugh. Poised and ready to elevate the scoring potential of the Aurora....now gone :(

Kyamprac · 08-17-2021, 06:01 PM

< / 3 already miss you bud

DarkCanuck29 · 08-17-2021, 06:01 PM

Woot. DRAGONS!!!

Winnipeg Aurora Aurora

steveoiscool · 08-17-2021, 06:27 PM

ASM ASM ASM ASM ASM

Steelhead77 · 08-17-2021, 06:31 PM

"Sometimes you have to go through Hell to get to Heaven!"

Beyond excited to have you in Calgary and with a chip on your shoulder to boot!

Let's GO Dragons!!!

Great read btw!

Dragons

---> ParmBorg Highlights <---

#1 All-Time SHL Goal & Point Scorer
- First 2,000 TPE Player in SHL History -
- First 400 Goal Scorer in SHL History -
- Only 500 Goal Scorer in SHL History -
- First GM to Win 5 & 6 Challenge Cups -
Esa Anrikkanen Award - SMJHL ROY - Est. S34
Vidrik Onoprienko Award Winner - S45

Dragonite

Lobbanet · 08-17-2021, 06:32 PM

ASM ASM ASM ASM ASM Whalers

Slappydoodle · 08-17-2021, 07:03 PM

Welcome to da club!!!

Dragonite

DeletedAtUserRequest · 08-17-2021, 07:53 PM

Love this.
Your gonna be our weapon!
#ASM
Dragons

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Pythonic · 08-17-2021, 07:57 PM

thats my assm Smile

trella · 08-17-2021, 08:01 PM

reminds me of when i was traded a few hours after i was drafted to calgary in s36

Go kill it dude!!

Thanks to @karey and @JSS for the sigs!

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

Merica · 08-17-2021, 08:17 PM

08-17-2021, 05:52 PMGeekusoid Wrote: Ugh. Poised and ready to elevate the scoring potential of the Aurora....now gone :(

Dude straight killed in SMJHL.

@KenitohMenara sorry we didn’t get to wreck shop together.

**Chevy** · 08-17-2021, 08:26 PM

08-17-2021, 08:17 PMMerica Wrote:
08-17-2021, 05:52 PMGeekusoid Wrote: Ugh. Poised and ready to elevate the scoring potential of the Aurora....now gone :(

Dude straight killed in SMJHL.

@KenitohMenara sorry we didn’t get to wreck shop together.

Damn right he did! #justice for KM

***Ace*** · 08-17-2021, 08:53 PM

You'll do great things, ASM

Pythonic · 08-17-2021, 08:59 PM

08-17-2021, 08:01 PMtrella Wrote: reminds me of when i was traded a few hours after i was drafted to calgary in s36

Go kill it dude!!

reminds me of when i was traded from the Barracuda right before i was supposed to be called up :Simon:

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