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Ruslan's Mission
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"So this is the end? This is how my season must end?" These were the thoughts that ran through the head of Ruslan Zaporozhets as he sat at his locker after he and the St. Louis Scarecrows lost game 5 of the 4 Star Cup Finals to a POWERFUL Anaheim Outlaws squad. Each season he had gotten better, each season it was all for not. What more could be done? "Where did I go wrong?" This game is a team game and you both win AND lose as a team, but Ruslan can really only control one factor, himself.

So he took off his gear and hit the showers for one last time in season 52. A way for closure I suppose, but we all know you never forget the seasons before. This was their first 4 Star Cup Finals trip. Ruslan knew he was going to be expected to play a large role in getting the team the scoring that would complement the strong defence and excellent goaltending that the team was known for. But something went wrong. The scoring all but dried up. "Nothing went IN" Ruslan pounded his fist on the wall of the shower as it ran. He knew in his heart that he let the team down. Nobody had said this to him. Not one member of the entire St. Louis Scarecrows organization from the owners, to the GM, to the coaches, or any of his fellow players had said nor would say such things. But his young heart wouldn't let it go. "They didn't deserve to go out like this. Capt Hernsy (Aron Hernadivic) poured his heart out and with every goal you couldn't get you let him down!"

"Liz (Elizabeth Doyle) was cool as a chameleon and you wasted her talent!" This was a pain he had never felt. This was all new, never before had he lost and felt so useless in doing so. Back home in the Ukraine and in Russia he was one of the top producers, he had left everything he had out there and even when they lost he felt like there was no more he could do. But this time it was different. He was a point per game forward nearly all season long, he was a playoff performer his last couple seasons for the Scarecrows. This season left a bad taste in his mouth. "USELESS! A WASTE! THATS WHAT YOU ARE!" how could he take so many shots and yet only come up with 3 goals?! A defensive liability too. Sure he is a forward but St. Louis plays team defence to lighten the load on all its players.

When he had finally finished everyone else had long gone. He was alone there, and he felt it was right. In this state it was probably best. A part of him yearned to be helped by his team, knew the camaraderie was a strong asset for his pain. However part of him didn't want to drag them down when he couldn't get over his negativity. "You abandoned them on the ice, why should they carry you out of your useless state when they already carried you so far?" After dressing in his expensive suit as North American Junior players do and packing his gear he headed off to his LADA to head home. He needed to get away from all of this for now. Just put S52 to rest and forget about it. But it followed him everywhere.

[Image: l0le2z8.png]

Driving the highway Ruslan was tired. Tired of losing, tired of missing out, tired of this useless feeling, tired of the feeling of having let down the Scarecrows team and fans, tired of everything. He needed to get away from it all. Needed to remember why he loved coming to the rink every day and why he loved St. Louis almost as much as he loved Zaporizhzhia. It was time for something else he enjoys.

So, needing to get away, he called up Danilla Zhernov, his countryman and friend to see if he wanted to join him. Just his best friend, two rifles, two fishing rods, and a trunk full of VODKA. Could it get any better?

[Image: depositphotos_13131838-stock-photo-zapor...hes-of.png]

Above is a picture of Ruslan Zaporozhets

Danila as always was in the gym, doing some physical excercises to stay fit even during the off-seasson for him. The Knights were eliminated mid way the play-offs, so there was nothing Danila could do about it. Was not really excited or happy about his paly-off performance, after a good regular season, but not always things go as you would wish for.

iPad in his pocket, with a Russian playlist palying, specifically Nagano - Russian Paradise, he saw his phone light up as someone was ringing him. Stopped the song, picked up the phone and a know voice was heard on the other side. "Ruslan, brother, of course. Could not be a better timing". Of course all of that was said in Ukrainian so everyone looked at Danila with a surprised look of his excited tone and language no one understood.

After the trip Ruslan was feeling refreshed. Getting away and letting his head clear of all those emotions was a great first step in allowing him to focus on his off season plans and the future. "I refuse to let the Scarecrows down again. To have let what happened on the ice get to me so much I let them down. Not in performance, but in the mind. I don't want the rookies to go through that."
Indeed the Season 53 Draft was going to come within the month. Ruslan knew he had to be a leader for these fresh faces as someone who will be going into his 4th season in St. Louis.

So began training, though nothing new it felt like going through the motions. The aspects of his workout were there, strengthening them both at home and in professional gyms, the on ice aspect felt pedestrian. Like it wasn't doing anything to help him get better. One day at the rink he saw an advertisement for Personal Coaching from SHL Hall Of Famer Zach Evans seeking to help SHLers and SMJHLers to work on their games and take them to the next level. "Could this be helping?" Ruslan thought. With that he stepped inside to sign up.

Zach Evans should have all of the skills to help Ruslan find that missing step for the game, that thing that makes him feel like his training and skills on ice are more rewarding. It is tough to put into words what he needs to do for himself. To have lucked out and found one of his SHL idols to train him with all the knowledge and experience. Now the excitement started to flow through again. The thought of being able to impart some knowledge and skill on the soon to be new rookies had him hungry for that next season.

With the call to come in early the next morning to train with him, Ruslan went about his usual routine, though he could hardly wait. The first day of training was....different for sure, it was NOT what Ruslan expected.

[Image: CptSquall.gif]



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