Login

*Carpy48* · 02-15-2025, 05:58 AM

Six years ago today, I signed up here on a whim, not thinking it would have much impact on my life. Over the years, I had participated in various online communities, some for extended periods, but I never anticipated that this one would become so significant. I remember it was in the evening when I created my player - and I even had to do it twice because it didn't work the first time - and went to bed and almost forgot about it the next day.

Initially, I felt quite overwhelmed, which is probably normal for newbies since the structure of the league and everything that belongs to it is massive and has grown a lot more since then. A lot of the processes and guides we have now that make life easier didn't exist yet and communication wasn't always that great either. Does anyone remember the time before we had the banking system? On top of that we have the usual timezone issues which are probably worse as a rookie. If you tend to be asleep when most first-gens are connecting on discord, it can be tough to make friends and build connections. Luckily I have accepted this as something I can't change and we have enough other Europeans in the league. Even live sims are sometimes at a euro-friendly time which is a plus.

Rather than focusing on meeting new people I decided find a job in the league since money is important. Graphics were immediately my favorite part of the league - it still is if you can't tell. Although there were no grader positions available, I slightly annoyed the graphics head at that time until I was given a job. Well, I applied, pointed out that grading took way too long and then I got the job. I started this within the first week after signing up and a few weeks later I was part of the team. Perhaps my persistence paid off. Fast forward to the end of that same year (2019): I got promoted to department head and I've held that position now for over five (5!) years in real life. That's crazy, but it shows how invested I am in everything related to graphics on the site. I'm also really happy about my graphics team, they are a great group of people and some of them have been around for over five years too! Many long-time users who were familiar with the graphics department before my involvement have mentioned that it has improved significantly since then.

A few years I spent making sigs for what felt like half of the league, made a lot of money with that too, but when the SHL trading cards launched I jumped into that department as well and that takes up most of my time now. Finding your niche is important. I genuinely enjoy making cards even more than sigs, especially when others appreciate them as well. If you don't know the trading cards yet, buy some packs and join the other addicts in the discord server so we can trade with you (link is up there in the forum menu somewhere).

Also relatively early into my time here I joined IIHF management and was offered the Co-Fed Head position for Team Finland and gradually took over the team within ten seasons. From the start, I had told myself that I wouldn't want to be a GM of a league team or a member of HO, and that perspective hasn't changed. However, I do enjoy this on a smaller scale with IIHF, perhaps because I really enjoy the real-life version of IIHF as well. It's not that I'm not interested in a management position, it's just a matter of balance for me and right now it's perfect. It's been over 30 seasons already that I've had this Fed Head job too and I have no intention on stepping down anytime soon. Go Winland!

I suppose it's fair to say I like consistency, particularly with jobs. When it comes to players I may have taken this a bit too seriously and spent my entire, lengthy career with one team with my first player. 21 seasons with Toronto and then another season with my second goalie, who was drafted there. You do get attached to a team when you spend so many years there - so even after leaving for Winnipeg I still have a strong connection to Toronto and plan to stay active as part of the alumni group. However, it was time for something new and I really enjoy being part of the Aurora - couldn't ask for a better LR - and hopefully we can get the one thing there I still haven't managed to win in my six years here: a Challenge Cup.

Looking back I have accomplished almost everything and more than I could've imagined; Several player awards, several IIHF medals (bronze, silver, gold), made into into both the SHL and the IIHF Hall of Fame with Harry, both players made it into the 2k Club and I've even won a Four Star Cup with Shaggy as a backup in Newfoundland. It's only the Challenge Cup that's still missing. Luckily Winnipeg is done with the small rebuild and it's only a matter of time now.

Following this I could add a long list of people to thank, but I'm really bad at this so I'll leave it. You know who you are. I will, however, say hi to the infamous S47 'quintuplets' who joined the SHL on the same day I did - three of them are still around too. @SDCore, @hotdog, @bbjygm (sadly @Julio Tokolosh was turned into a beef burger or something along the way, we don't know what happened and we aren't going to ask)

If you want to read our previous AMAs as a group you can find them here:
2 years
3 years
5 years

This year I'll do a solo AMA. If you want to know anything, ask it here. I might even answer!

02-15-2025, 02:41 PMjaypc8237 Wrote: What was your favourite moment in your SHL career so far?

I don't know if it's even possible to pick just one moment. Getting voted into the SHL Hall of Fame in my first year when I was eligible felt pretty special. I'll pick that. You're part of the league's history forever.

02-15-2025, 02:48 PMspidey Wrote: What has kept you going? What are your future goals/plans here?

It's a mix of things. I like checking things off a list and getting things done - so checking in every week, buying training and doing tasks is certainly helping because I know I do them for a reason. Max earning is addicting in a way. Same with my job. We grade graphics every week and that's my responsibility, so I have to do this job every week. We've had a great consistency in the department over the last several years and I don't want to disappoint people so I keep going and take this seriously. The other very important part are the people of course. I might not be super close to many, but to a handful of people and they are important to me and as long as they're still here I will stick around too. My main goal is to win a cup. After that we'll see Smile

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Let's start with the tough questions.. who are three of your favorites to grade signatures from? Doesn't have to be the 3 absolute best, but three people who's work that you enjoy to see.

Really good question! It made me think a bit and go through old threads (sadly too many people host sigs on discord, please don't do that anymore). Number one has to be sulovilen for me, always really high quality and it's been great to follow this user from the very first submissions until now and see constant improvement. Text genuis here for sure. The next one is a bit of a throwback pick, someone who hasn't really done much lately, but used to produce a lot in the past and that's Wasty. Also always very interesting and creative sigs. Really good with text too. The third pick was difficult, because there are so many to choose from. Karey always made very impressive graphics too in the past and even some making-of videos about them. I enjoyed those. I'd like to throw in Hoovuh as well, not as a sig maker, but so creative with logos and it was fun working together on some. The whole creative process.

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Next player going to be not a goalie?

Probably not, no. I'm still working on the player and luckily I don't have to finish the character yet, but I'd like to try something else this time.

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Favorite non SHL team that you've been a part of (SMJHL, IIHF, or WJC)

I would say certainly not WJC, I don't even remember those, but I believe I won a medal last time around. IIHF on the other hand has been the team with my biggest success over the years since we brought several gold medals home so that could be a good pick, but the team only plays for a short time every season. I guess my pick has to be SMJHL and obviously my second time there. The first time around in Lethbridge in the 40s there wasn't really much positive to talk about, but I was part of the S70 cup team in Newfoundland. So, yes, Newfoundland is my pick. I still have good memories about the team.

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Plan on being in the S100 draft class?

That means I would have to stick around for another 20 seasons with my current player which is impossible OR I would have to make a player with a slightly shorter career in between. I have never though about this really. I might do the same I did with the S69 class and simply skip that one, because everyone will recreate for S100. Luckily there is enough time to think about this.

Thanks for the questions!

02-17-2025, 10:41 AMPopol Wrote: Who are the your top 3 users you appreciate the most in the SHL? Additionally, do you have anything controversial you want to take off your chest?

How can you ask me such difficult questions? This is almost like having to thank people and tag them individually and here I have to narrow it down to three and that's so difficult Confused

. I appreciate everyone who makes the league a better place and is nice to me. And as far as the other question goes: I only complain about things in private and I already have people that get to listen to all of that (thanks for listening btw!), no need to do that here.

Ready for grading.

***jaypc8237*** · 02-15-2025, 02:41 PM

6 years! Insane!

What was your favourite moment in your SHL career so far?

spidey · 02-15-2025, 02:48 PM

Congrats on 6 years. This place is a trap isn't it.

What has kept you going? What are your future goals/plans here?

*Carpy48* · 02-15-2025, 05:43 PM

02-15-2025, 02:41 PMjaypc8237 Wrote: What was your favourite moment in your SHL career so far?

I don't know if it's even possible to pick just one moment. Getting voted into the SHL Hall of Fame in my first year when I was eligible felt pretty special. I'll pick that. You're part of the league's history forever.

*Carpy48* · 02-15-2025, 05:45 PM

02-15-2025, 02:48 PMspidey Wrote: What has kept you going? What are your future goals/plans here?

It's a mix of things. I like checking things off a list and getting things done - so checking in every week, buying training and doing tasks is certainly helping because I know I do them for a reason. Max earning is addicting in a way. Same with my job. We grade graphics every week and that's my responsibility, so I have to do this job every week. We've had a great consistency in the department over the last several years and I don't want to disappoint people so I keep going and take this seriously. The other very important part are the people of course. I might not be super close to many, but to a handful of people and they are important to me and as long as they're still here I will stick around too. My main goal is to win a cup. After that we'll see Smile

vbottas17 · 02-15-2025, 11:35 PM

Let's start with the tough questions.. who are three of your favorites to grade signatures from? Doesn't have to be the 3 absolute best, but three people who's work that you enjoy to see.

Next player going to be not a goalie?

Favorite non SHL team that you've been a part of (SMJHL, IIHF, or WJC)

Plan on being in the S100 draft class?

*Carpy48* · 02-16-2025, 04:58 AM

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Let's start with the tough questions.. who are three of your favorites to grade signatures from? Doesn't have to be the 3 absolute best, but three people who's work that you enjoy to see.

Really good question! It made me think a bit and go through old threads (sadly too many people host sigs on discord, please don't do that anymore). Number one has to be sulovilen for me, always really high quality and it's been great to follow this user from the very first submissions until now and see constant improvement. Text genuis here for sure. The next one is a bit of a throwback pick, someone who hasn't really done much lately, but used to produce a lot in the past and that's Wasty. Also always very interesting and creative sigs. Really good with text too. The third pick was difficult, because there are so many to choose from. Karey always made very impressive graphics too in the past and even some making-of videos about them. I enjoyed those. I'd like to throw in Hoovuh as well, not as a sig maker, but so creative with logos and it was fun working together on some. The whole creative process.

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Next player going to be not a goalie?

Probably not, no. I'm still working on the player and luckily I don't have to finish the character yet, but I'd like to try something else this time.

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Favorite non SHL team that you've been a part of (SMJHL, IIHF, or WJC)

I would say certainly not WJC, I don't even remember those, but I believe I won a medal last time around. IIHF on the other hand has been the team with my biggest success over the years since we brought several gold medals home so that could be a good pick, but the team only plays for a short time every season. I guess my pick has to be SMJHL and obviously my second time there. The first time around in Lethbridge in the 40s there wasn't really much positive to talk about, but I was part of the S70 cup team in Newfoundland. So, yes, Newfoundland is my pick. I still have good memories about the team.

02-15-2025, 11:35 PMvbottas17 Wrote: Plan on being in the S100 draft class?

That means I would have to stick around for another 20 seasons with my current player which is impossible OR I would have to make a player with a slightly shorter career in between. I have never though about this really. I might do the same I did with the S69 class and simply skip that one, because everyone will recreate for S100. Luckily there is enough time to think about this.

Thanks for the questions!

***SDCore*** · 02-16-2025, 12:24 PM

No question, just putting my love out for you. You have continued to be one of those people who I've insisted on annoying, not at much lately, but still been a wild ride.

Southie · 02-16-2025, 09:41 PM

If you had to share an eight-ball with one SHL/SMJHL mascot, Which one would it be and why?

Popol · 02-17-2025, 10:41 AM

Who are the your top 3 users you appreciate the most in the SHL? Additionally, do you have anything controversial you want to take off your chest?

*Carpy48* · 02-17-2025, 12:42 PM

02-16-2025, 09:41 PMSouthie Wrote: If you had to share an eight-ball with one SHL/SMJHL mascot, Which one would it be and why?

This is my answer:
[Image: Eightball-Copy.jpg]

*Carpy48* · 02-17-2025, 12:55 PM

02-17-2025, 10:41 AMPopol Wrote: Who are the your top 3 users you appreciate the most in the SHL? Additionally, do you have anything controversial you want to take off your chest?

How can you ask me such difficult questions? This is almost like having to thank people and tag them individually and here I have to narrow it down to three and that's so difficult Confused

. I appreciate everyone who makes the league a better place and is nice to me. And as far as the other question goes: I only complain about things in private and I already have people that get to listen to all of that (thanks for listening btw!), no need to do that here.

*MikeLiut* · 03-06-2025, 01:22 AM

Hey friend, the media team will grade this AMA for his next cycle, unless you keep it here for a bit longer.

*Carpy48* · 03-06-2025, 03:08 AM

03-06-2025, 01:22 AMMikeLiut Wrote: Hey friend, the media team will grade this AMA for his next cycle, unless you keep it here for a bit longer.

Can be graded, thanks.

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us