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Lobbanet · 06-16-2021, 10:22 AM

I got drafted to the Vancouver Whalers with some limited scouting before being called up to the stage. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and to that I am very grateful. It is a nice mixture of players from all over the globe in our locker room, so that discord channel is pretty much lit up 24 hours a day non stop since the draft. With some veteran players and coaches leading the way, our group of 4 players this draft has been giving every tool we needed for continuing to progress and evolve during the upcoming season. The dynasty starts right now and there is no way you can stop it from happening. We have some work to do before we get there, but it starts right here and right now. No ferraris allowed in the parking lot except during weekends.

KlusteR · 06-16-2021, 12:49 PM

Draft day was already weird enough for Jannik Nordstern - as soon as he donned the Detroit Falcons' jersey on stage after he was picked 8th overall, he was already shipped to Newfoundland. Jannik knew that the Swiss scouts for the Berserkers had an eye on him, especially Chrigel Tegernako, father of long-time Minnesota goaltender Markus Tegernako.

He was only recovering from the whirlwind of post-draft interviews, wanting to know how he felt about the move and playing in Newfoundland, that he was invited by the team to their training camp. He got along right away with Sabarro Torretta, another Swiss defenseman that has been with the team for two seasons now, and was presented to the rest of the team in glowing words by the top brass of the team. The caliber of play, even in 1v1 drills, was miles ahead of what he had experienced as a U18 player in the Swiss development league, and he felt like this team, filled to the brim with young studs, could really help him take the next step in his career. Already, he saw some senior scouts in the stands, watching - even before the first puck drop of the pre-season. He was so taken aback by this, that he let Robert E. Speedwagon blast by him in his drill, and got a stern talking to by Coach Nhamlet.

When all was said and done, however, he went out on the town with his fellow rookie, a young Italian winger named Archangelo Scaradog Jr., and learned to discover his new city, where he will live for the next few years. Thankfully, the Tegernako family offered to host him for the duration of his stint in the SMJHL. He should feel right at home in the Swiss family in Torbay.

Obsidian311 · 06-16-2021, 03:58 PM

I never got a draft call. The team that called me and said they may take me with their next pick came and went. Things were looking down in the 3rd round and a team that hadn't even scouted me was on the clock. No way they take me I said as I walked away from the screen I was watching the draft on. Then I heard it, with the 34th pick in the SMJHL draft the Kelowna Knights select Sean Stevenson III. I was shocked. They hadn't reached out and I didn't really know anyone on the team. It was about 10 minutes later and the GM reached out with an address. I hopped a flight to Kelowna and asked a taxi to take me to the address. He was surprised someone who just got into town would want to go there but he took me anyways. As we pulled up I noticed we were at a jail. I walked up and talked to the guard who told me to head to the drunk tank. So I did and once I got to the drunk tank I let them know why I was there and they escorted me out of a side door and to another building connected to the jail. When the other door opened up I noticed we were at a Round Table pizza... the room erupted, many of my new teammates welcomed me to the team and the rest is history.

rory · 06-16-2021, 05:56 PM

Jalal ad-din was definitely an interesting case coming into the SMJHL entry draft, and the resulting draft position was a direct representation of that. The Kazakh left winger got many draft questionnaires from all over the league, but his incredible weak English stunned the scouts and his stock quickly plummeted.

The first day in the locker room was a similar story. Entering with all of his bags, excited to meet his new teammates, his stall couldn't be found. Fancy graphics made for the other Nevada draftees were placed neatly above their stalls, but Jalal ad-din's was nowhere to be seen. Being a young man, in a mysterious new world, being completely lost was overwhelming for the big left winger, and the panic stuck until management explained the mix up - being the last draftee for the team in the draft their printer failed to print the last graphic, Jalal got his locker room stall, and after a light ribbing from his teammates, was ready to begin his SHL career.

ConnorM123 · 06-18-2021, 06:05 AM

Doug Glatt is absolutely delighted to be in Nevada and is more than loving the sunshine compared to his homeland. His teammates welcomed him in with open arms, walking into the locker room he could hear the music and instantly recognised "ohh yes sir, I can boogie" which made him feel right at home. Glatts Home country is currently playing in a major tournament and that is the famous song for the tournament, it almost made him tear up and he knew he was going to get along fantastic in here. Alongside that he was welcomed with imported crates of Irn Bru and tennents to help support his healthy Scottish diet. The team has been fantastic at embracing his own culture and making sure he will be as close to home as possible. Glatt knows this is his home and cannot wait to give back to team like they have kindly done for him.

academydropout · 06-18-2021, 11:34 AM

Ah, Colorado. Jamal was vaguely familiar with the place, his cousin of some degree lived there. Played for a football team. In Denver, too, if he remembered correctly. Maybe he'd catch up with him some time. It's a far cry from Los Angeles, though. Which itself was a far cry from Spanish Town -- ironically, considering the name. Entering the Raptors locker room for the first time sort of helped put him at ease, though. Half expecting some kind of rookie hazing, half expecting to be ignored entirely, the reality -- a pretty enthusiastic welcome from teammates and coaches alike -- caught him off guard.

"Yeah, I mean I didn't expect anyone to know who I was or anything, I'm the new guy right?" Jamal notes. "Pretty late pick in the draft, not really on many peoples' radars, that kind of thing. So it was pretty cool to walk in and have guys immediately come over and introduce themselves, offer assistance, and so on."

While there was no formal activity to commemorate the arrival of the Raptors' newest draft class, enough was done to make new recruits feel welcome, which Jamal notes is a good sign for the coming months. "It would have been really easy for these guys to be really hands off and like 'ok you can figure it out' but instead there has been a real effort to make sure we all feel part of the squad, it's a unit, you know? And I feel like that will be really important in keeping us on a strong development path in our rookie year."

(for affiliate purposes, I am also 37thchamber)

the5urreal · 06-18-2021, 05:25 PM

The day of the draft was a stressful one. I knew I was going to get drafted in the late first or early second round just based on discussions I had with a few teams, but I honestly had no idea where I was going to wind up. I have to say, I'm very happy I wound up in Carolina. They had a hell of a draft. Honestly, every team had a great draft. This draft class was just extraordinary. Anyway, as soon as I walked through the locker room doors, I was greeted with cheers from the Carolina vets. It was nice to see a couple of the other new faces there as well. I wouldn't say it was a party, but there was definitely excitement in the air. Everyone was high energy, talking about all sorts of things and just hanging out - getting to know each other. Really good group of guys here in Carolina and it was a special feeling for sure. I can't wait for the start of the pre-season to get out there and really get a feel for everyone's styles. I think this is going to be a really good season for the Kraken!

petralikesbaseball · 06-19-2021, 12:08 AM

I got to the Kelowna locker room for our first practice session, and it was immediately someplace I enjoyed being. The players, and even the coaches and management staff, all made me feel welcome and at home in the locker room, and it's a place I'm really glad I was drafted. The team brought me in and we just sorta chatted and got to know each other, it was awesome to get to know the people I'll be coming up in the SMJHL and some possibly even in the SHL with, since we're coming in in the same timeframe and in some cases even the same draft class. Just getting to hang out with the guys was awesome, and then when we all got lunch together for the first time (rookies paid out of our first contract but thats how it goes), was even cooler. The welcoming was great, but I was quickly ready to get down to business and get on the ice for the team, and really show what I was capable of.

FnoRespect · 06-19-2021, 11:54 PM

Bergeron Jr. watched the draft unfold, knowing he wouldn't get a call, as he was ineligible, however with his season wrapping up in Germany Bergeron decided to make a trip to America to be around for the start of the SMJHL season in case a team decided to call his name. One thing Bergeron noticed was the excellent customer service in America, but didn't understand why he was expected to tip so much at a restaurant. Bergeron has to, for the meanwhile, bring a translator with him most places as he's still touching up on his English. After he landed he was interviewed and was asked why he thinks he is fit for a SMJHL roster to which he responded, "SHL, SMJHL, any team can use a solid two way player like me. I don't play for stats unless the stat is wins". Bergeron Jr, won't rest until people think of his name instead of the other great center who shares his name.

caltroit_red_flames · 06-20-2021, 12:12 PM

ISFL PT

Lazyeye · 06-20-2021, 12:55 PM

Ahlo Kysoka was excited to meet his new team in Nevada. Coming from Norway, Nevada has been quite a culture shock, especially the oppressive heat compared to his home town. He was feeling a bit lonely, but that all changed when he met his new teammates. As he entered the locker room, he was greeted by other rookies during a rookie social put on by the now captain Moose. Moose helped Kysoka get settled and and introduced him to the rest of the team. He met Wing Wang, Peanut Butter, Glatt, the Goalie Miller, and numerous others. The rookies bonded over a few drinking games in the locker room as they begin to build that initial chemistry that will be paramount for the upcoming season. What was most surprising was Wing Wangs skills at beer pong, him being a Wurmple and all. He was draining shots left and right and ran the table for the whole night!

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musha6570 · 06-20-2021, 02:10 PM

I was not drafted. As per my always seemingly terrible timing I was picked up as a free agent. That being said I was welcomed greatly in the Anaheim locker room. I already knew some of the players from other leagues. I was told I would be the backup goalie and when I asked was given some build help. Overall this has been a fun experience in the very short time I have been here. Being a more casual hockey fan this will certainly be a bit of a test for me. I plan to see it through however and will continue to battle as needed to earn and be of use. I was overwhelmed with the offers I received as well from several teams. I feel I made the best choice overall though and feel very welcomed on the team. I am glad I took this step and joined the simulation hockey league.

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RippleLuck · 06-20-2021, 03:18 PM

It wasn’t long after the draft when Albert landed in Detroit for his interdiction to the organization. He was excited to join the historic franchise in arguably the biggest hockey city in America. The drive to the arena was filled with a lot of thoughts on how his teammates would be. He heard that the locker room culture was different in North America.

Albert was happy to receive a warm welcome when he got to the arena, not only from the new rookies like him but also from the veterans on the team too. Albert definitely didn’t know the inside jokes about cults and other strange things but the locker room seemed like a warm and welcoming place so he was happy to be there.

It would only be a few hours until a party was set up for the rookies. The management and coaches were there too. Talks ranged from the prospects and potential results of next season to more simple things like favourite foods and pets at home. Either way Albert felt less worried about being a part of the team.

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***Air Crou*** · 06-20-2021, 05:01 PM

The trip from Greece to Canada was a long one. Three planes to get to Vancouver, and then a drive to the Whales' clubhouse. The expectations were already very high, as Vancouver had traded up to grab Kroustis. It was in the 5th round, but still, the team had invested on getting the player. It was not a "Let's pray he falls to us" thing. At least that was what Giannis had in his mind. The truth was far from that. Nobody expected him to be the x-factor from day one. They welcomed him right away, easing any worries Giannis would have. There was a big problem however. Coming from Greece, a really warm place, Giannis was definitely unprepared for the freezing cold he met. Even the winter clothes he had packed were not enough. He had to get some of his salary upfront, just to buy some winter clothes. Talk about a dumbass lmao!

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Sebster · 06-20-2021, 05:07 PM

To set the scene, me and my fellow captains decided to walk into the locker room at the same time. It was obvious that the rest of our team mate’s didn’t pay much attention to the draft and other offseason announcements due to the fact that their jaws’ literally dropped to the floor. I don’t fully blame them though. I had been hanging out with Wing Wang the wurmple and Melvin the moose for the better part of the week and had finally gotten used to their animal figures. Nevertheless, and this is going to sound like a bad joke, a human, a wurmple, and a moose waltzed into the locker room to the sounds of ACDC’s Back in Black. We wanted to set the tone for the season as the leaders and captains of the team, and we mean business. The rest of the SMJHL better look out for the Battleborn as we make a run for the title the next couple of years.

(169 words)

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