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***luke*** · 02-05-2024, 06:53 AM

Strom Chamberlain
@Chevy

A word I would give to Strom’s career is one of perseverance. Aside from the first season in S52, where he played the 7 backup games, he played his whole career in FHM. One of the first players to have a full career in the FHM era. Playing from S52-S72, a 21 season career. Not many goalies can claim they can play as many games as Strom. Even less can say they were a starting goalie for 3 separate franchises. All to the final quest of the challenge up at the end of his career, capping off an amazing career.

Starting his career getting drafted 7th OA to Winnipeg, a high pick for a goalie. But well worth it to the franchise and to him. His first season as starting goalie began in S55, taking a Winnipeg team 21-20-2. Not bad for a rookie goalie, and par for the course for Winnipeg. At this time, Winnipeg was a middling team, about hockey .500 for the past 2 seasons, so this season was another cog in the continuance of getting better. Losing to Chicago in the first round, that will be it for Strom that season. As goes his story for his first stint in Winnipeg. His first breakout season was the following one, putting up a career high .920 SV%. hitting the 30 win mark for the first time in his career, as Winnipeg enjoyed going to the conference finals before losing to Hamilton.

Strom stayed in Winnipeg for the next 3 seasons, always in the middle of the SHL pack. Before new management took over and committed to a rebuild. And with a rebuild, Strom was not needed, and assets needed to be had. So in the Season 60 offseason Ace traded Strom to Tampa Bay in return for a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Bob Duncan, and Tobias Lindeman. And to Tampa Bay he went for 6 seasons. Thriving in Tampa Bay, going to 35,35,41,37,27 wins through his career. This is where he earned his John McBride win in S61.

S61 was a great start to Strom’s start in Tampa Bay. Having a career high wins with 35. He also had a career high SV% that season with .923. Along with 3 shutouts. Chamberlain won his first John McBride Award that season, and his only 1st All Star Team. S62 was still good, same amount of wins, 6 shutouts this time but a .913 SV% wasn't good enough for awards.

S63 would be the peak of Tampa Bay. With that Strom had his most wins in a season with 41. The only time he would hit the 40+ win mark of his career. With a career high 8 shutouts and a .919 SV%. Strom was becoming the goalie that he hoped he would be. S64 saw a regression in stats overall. Only 35 wins, 2 shutouts and a .911 SV%. Every peak has to have its valley.
S65 was when Chamberlain got his 3rd McBride Nom. Getting 37 wins, 4 shutouts but an impressive .922 SV%. He was the goalie that Tampa Bay needed. Getting a 2nd All Star Roster as well.

S66 Tampa Bay and Strom struggled compared to previous seasons. Only winning 27 games and a career low of .89 SV%, Strom might be looking to go somewhere else.

In the postseason however, Tampa Bay struggled through Strom’s tenure there, always losing in the 2nd round, except for 1 season. In S65, where Strom was having an McBride worthy regular season, he also carried them into the postseason as well. Having a .915 SV% throughout the playoffs, they were in the finals for the first time since S50. But fate was not on their side, as they lost to Los Angeles in 6 games.

Like Winnipeg before Tampa Bay, they too were in need of a rebuild. So Strom went out on his own in Free Agency in the S66 offseason, looking for a home. An aging veteran still wanted a crack at winning a cup, and to be on a winning team.

He found a home in Calgary. The GM who first drafted him into the league now signed him again. Muerto brought him back into the fold in Calgary as they were on the mission to win the cup, or atleast get out of the 2nd round. S67 was an amazing start to that, getting his 4th McBride nomination after having an amazing regular season. With Strom being in FHM8, and the inflation era has arrived. Strom won 32 games, had 2 shutouts and posted a .905 SV%. The 3rd best SV% out of any starter(40+ starts).

But yet again, luck was not on Stroms side. Only winning in round 1, Calgary couldn't get out of the 2nd round for his 4 seasons in Calgary. And with Calgary getting older, and new management coming around. It is time for Strom to look for a home once more for Season 71.

And why not back home?

Starting as a piece to get assets back, Strom came back home to Winnipeg for the final two seasons. An old grizzled vet after 16 seasons as a starting goalie, finds himself in the backup role for the first time in his career. Winnipeg who went to the finals the past 2 seasons before, and still on the top of the world. Will this be the time he gets to lift the cup?

For S71 no, but for S72, yes! After 21 seasons in the SHL, Strom finally won his first cup with Winnipeg! He reached the peak of the mountain. He reached the moment he was waiting for. And with that, he can go into retirement.

With retirement, he left a mark.
467 wins, good for 3rd all time in wins
66 playoff wins.
3 McBride Noms
1 McBride win
1st All Star x1
2nd All Star x2
Challenge Cup

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