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***Aleris*** · 06-10-2024, 11:15 AM

I’m not really sure where to begin with this. But…..Back in 2021 I found a post on r/EA_NHL about the SHL. I thought it sounded dope, but something came up and I lost the post for a while. But I didn’t realize how crazy forum simulation sports could be. I knew forum RP existed but for sports players/careers, I had no idea. So I finally got around to finding the site and it blew me away. The most immersive experience one could have for fake hockey. I think I spent 6 hours on the site after creating Conner Snooks. Just clicking links, looking at teams. The 24 hours until waivers was agonizing. @SecondSucks22 from NBB was the first one to reach out and shortly after @Toast and I talked with both of them all day, about hockey and life and a ton of stuff. Ultimately I went to NBB cause Jax had reached out first, which turns out was basically the most crucial decision I made in SHL. (I would have ended up in MET if I had chosen differently)

I was actually kind of upset that I had missed the draft by a week, but I came into an amazing group of people in NBB. @Grapehead, @SchwarzNarr, @Sebster, @platanocat @Thunfish, eventually @Tesla and @WithTheMoose a season later. And of course the leadership @sköldpaddor fostering an amazing leadership in that LR. NBB had (and never got off) the rocks with that group but the LR was amazing. Only a few months later Jess asked me to become co GM and I couldn’t say no. Nevada was an amazing place and I was happy to help her out. NBB is definitely one of the reasons I think I stayed with the league and why I think the Js are so crucial to the league as a whole. Then an SHL team actually drafted a bum like Conner Snooks.

@honkerrs thank you for believing in Snooks. PHI made me feel super wanted as a new user. A late joiner, wasn’t in the J draft. Totally untested and they moved up to 13oa to snag me. @Acsolap, @slothfacekilla @KaleSalad @Drokeep @gurbs @golden_apricot. PHI was a fun place to play. It was ridiculous having 4 Cale Makar renders on the same team. I really did enjoy my time there. Unfortunately, mid-way through a cup winning season I asked for a trade cause I just felt my interest in the SHL slipping and felt I needed a change of scenery to give Conner a kick in the pants. But I want to thank all of you for helping Conner win his first 4 star cup and making me feel wanted and welcome as a new user.

PHI would end up dishing me (to the team that traded back for PHI to pick me in the first place) to EDM. I’m sorry to PHI (and other SHL LRs that I was in during my career), but EDM felt like home for Conner. Everyone in the LR was amazing. @HabsFanFromOntario, getting whipped by @Eggcracker, helping me switch to a grinder role and kicking Conner’s ass into gear and playing Runescape with @RAmenAmen. I cannot overstate how amazing it is having someone like @Valpix in the LR. Her dedication to the lesser known reaches of the hockey world astounds me and her presence is invaluable in an LR. @ Moosey, @Seany148, @blix900 (who was an NBB legend), @TheGreatToeJam, @Raven and finally @HoltzFan10. Thank you all for giving Conner a fun place and really the second cup was just a bonus. Being in EDM was amazing.

Turns out Conner was the keystone of EDM, after HFFO sent Snooks south to NOLA (cause he had no space on the team), a season later he blew up the whole team and now sits on top of a throne of picks. NOLA was still another great LR filled with wonderful people. @JKortesi81 was somehow still able to squeeze points out of an old man grinder that Snooks had become. I got to meet the S61 legend and top earner @the5urreal finally. I also got to meet @frithjofr and @PapaSorin and play with a user I had originally met in ISFL, @UptownCord who is an absolute gem and the best goalie in the SHL (sorry Justin Time)

Through the chaos of Free Agency (which is brutal as a player), I decided last offseason to leave NOLA and move on. Trying for glory one last time didn’t really work out but that's okay @hhh81 but I ended up at the team that I really wanted to go to for a long time. @Ace finally brought me in at WPG. In SSL I had become friends with @RashfordU and other NBB players from my time were there. And of course Lias was there @sköldpaddor. My mentor @Ruggsygot picked up too. I’ve met other great people in WPG and my team will be brief there, but I’m glad to at least get a season with everyone there.

Which rolls me into the other role I’ve had as co GM and my time with @sköldpaddor in NBB. I became her co GM in S63 and it's been basically 3 incredible (real life) years managing NBB with her. I cannot overstate how much Jess has helped me in real life and in SHL. She is absolutely dedicated to making this league the absolute best place it can be and the SHL is thriving because of users like her. She is also an amazing friend on top of being my boss and I love what we have built over the last 13 seasons in NBB. Also she’s a great mom friend and let me bounce so many parenting worries off her.

Now I want to just tag users who have come through NBB and I’ve run into in my time on the site. Really you’ve all been amazing, whether here or another league. For a long time and just briefly. This place is amazing and places like this are getting harder and harder to find on the internet and I’m glad I’ve found it here. Anyway

@Ruggsy thank you so much for teaching FHM at first (before I was even co GM in NBB) you were an amazing mentor and thank God I don’t have to test sim anymore cause that sucked. @ Reno you’ve been amazing as well, as a fellow J GM and now J HO. @sve7en, @Frenchie, @Fluw, @SouthPaw @Patty and @Sburbine, @JURT, @SDCore @artermis sorry there’s so many other J GMs i’ve gotten to interact with that are amazing people. @BadWolf and @TheDangaZone, i'm so sorry for your loss, and thank you for meeting me a few times while I was in a crazy situation in Pensacola. And to amazing people that have come through NBB and played for me @JohnFranklinKennedy, @Revontulete, @ACapitalChicago, @Flowseidon, @blix900, @Bamford13, @baz, @amjohnson636, @Ultimatedestroye, @Froste39 @ephenssta and @vbottas17, and @Nokazoa for creating the beautiful NBB in the first place. @PremierBromanov, @steveoiscool for my time in GB and trying the Fed Head thing out (even though I didn’t have the time and I’m sorry) I’m sorry if i missed anyone but there’s so many amazing people on the site.

If it's not obvious this is Conner’s last ride. I truly want to thank everyone I tagged in this post and any I missed. You have all been amazing people and have made my first player in the SHL a memorable one. I can’t wait for the journey of my next player. And I hope I get to meet more amazing users on the way.

JohnFranklinKennedy · 06-10-2024, 11:21 AM

oh hey im mentioned in this, how quaint! love you aleris good job being cool <3

RAmenAmen · 06-10-2024, 11:26 AM

Congrats on a great career!

*sköldpaddor* · 06-10-2024, 11:31 AM

aleris u make me cry :(

I'm so glad we brought you into Nevada, over the past fifteen seasons you've kept me sane through some of the most frustrating stuff I've dealt with as a GM, and I genuinely don't think I'd still be GMing if it weren't for having you along for the ride. And beyond all that, you are one of my best friends, honorary mom friend, and somebody who listens to me rant when the world isn't fair and keeps me chill when I'm getting too worked up over sim league nonsense. best co-GM in the league and I'll stand by that

Seany148 · 06-10-2024, 11:42 AM

I LOVE YOU ALERIS AND I LOVED (AND STILL ENJOY) SHARING THE EDM LR WITH YOU I PROMISE ILL FINISH THE TRADE TREE MEDIA

***Ruggsy*** · 06-10-2024, 11:46 AM

Thanks for the shout, glad your here

slothfacekilla · 06-10-2024, 12:24 PM

Congrats on the great career!

vbottas17 · 06-10-2024, 12:30 PM

Awesome career! Battleborn

the5urreal · 06-10-2024, 12:38 PM

Congrats on a fantastic career! It was a pleasure finally getting to share a LR with you. Already miss you there! For now, I'll have to accept letting you beat up on my HN team Smile