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Deep Dive #1 - Atticus Hale: The New Orleans Specters All-Time Great
#1
(This post was last modified: 01-04-2025, 09:06 AM by the5urreal.)

Coming out of the SMJHL, Atticus Hale didn’t exactly fit the mold of an SHL superstar. He was voted captain in his final season with the Carolina Kraken but never really had a dominant season on the scoresheets. In four seasons with the Kraken, he only achieved a point per game once - his final season in which he scored 31 goals and tallied 38 assists for a total of 69 points in 66 games played. That would be enough to lead the team that season but only put him at 13th in the league. He was never nominated for an SMJHL award.

Despite this run of mediocrity, the New Orleans Specters saw something in Atticus Hale. It was enough for them to take him 2nd overall in the S61 SHL draft. His hard work and determination could translate to a successful SHL career. Coming into S64, Hale’s rookie season in the SHL, he led his class in TPE and had lofty goals. No matter how his career played out, Atticus Hale wanted to achieve everything with a single team and ultimately become the New Orleans Specters all-time leading scorer. Though things were looking up in New Orleans - they had just broken a streak of bottom-5 finishes from S58-S62 - it was going to be an uphill battle.

Season 64
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 16 | 25 | 41 | -16 | 137 |  24 | 11.7%| 17:30 ║


Overall, this was a very successful rookie season for Hale. 41 points in 66 games may not seem like much, but it was enough for 5th on the team where 74 points was the team high. Atticus averaged the lowest ice time on the team at 17:30. He would be nominated for the Ryan Jesster Award (Rookie of the Year). The New Orleans Specters would finish 36-25-5 with 77 points and lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 65
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 16 | 19 | 35 |  -3 | 172 |  15 | 9.3% | 17:50 ║


This was a step back both for Hale and the team as a whole. Hale’s point total of 35 is ( and will remain) the lowest of his career. The team leader had only 64 points. The New Orleans Specters would finish 31-29-6 with 68 points and lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 66
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 24 | 24 | 48 |  14 | 143 |  18 | 16.8%| 19:08 ║


A decent bounce back season for Hale though you would have hoped for more production given his promotion to the 2nd line. The New Orleans Specters made a big jump offensively in S66 with the team leader reaching 96 points. It was reflected in their record as well as they finished 40-19-7 with 87 points. They would reach the second round of the playoffs before losing.

Season 67
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 20 | 43 | 63 |  16 | 161 |  46 | 12.4%| 21:57 ║


Another boost in ice time couldn’t propel Hale to a point per game but it was another season of improvement. The team leader would reach 95 points. The Specters improved on the previous season with a 43-21-2 finish with 88 points though they would be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs once again.

Season 68
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 25 | 36 | 61 |  -7 | 200 |  24 | 12.5%| 22:32 ║


Hale was honored in S68, being named the franchise’s fifth captain. However, he again took a step back with only 61 points as did the entire team. The team leader reached 75 points. New Orleans would finish 32-29-5 with 69 points and lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 69
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 46 | 42 | 88 |  30 | 252 |  38 | 18.3%| 22:40 ║


This was Hale’s breakout season. He set a career high with 88 points which was a team high (17 points better than the second highest point total on the team). New Orleans would bounce back as well finishing 42-22-2 with 86 points. They were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in a game 7 heartbreaker. Even though Hale made a giant leap in production, he was an Aidan Richan Award (Most Improved Player) snub.

Season 70
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 30 | 50 | 80 |  3  | 224 |  52 | 13.4%| 22:21 ║


A bit of a step back for both Hale and the Specters this season. His 80 points were third on the team (91 points being the team lead). New Orleans finished 35-25-6 with 76 points and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 71
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 38 | 54 | 92 |  16 | 212 |  56 | 17.9%| 21:51 ║


This would be Atticus Hale’s career best points total with 92 points (18 more than the next highest total on the team) and a nice bounce back. However, the team would finish in the middle of the pack with a 37-26-3 record and 77 points. They would be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 72
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 30 | 38 | 68 | -13 | 217 |  36 | 13.8%| 22:41 ║


A huge head scratcher of a season, both from a player and a team perspective. Hale would plummet to a mere 68 points (second behind the team high 74) in the prime of his career. This was the beginning of a big downturn in production from Hale. The Specters had one of their worst seasons in quite a while finishing 23-40-3 with 49 points. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 73
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 33 | 38 | 71 |  -8 | 212 |  49 | 15.6%| 23:16 ║


Despite the highest average ice time of his career, Hale would only manage 71 points (second behind the team high 73). New Orleans would finish 28-33-5 with 61 points and be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 74
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 27 | 46 | 73 |  -1 | 221 |  62 | 12.2%| 21:14 ║


An improvement over the previous two seasons, Hale’s 73 were one point behind the team lead. The Specters would also improve as a team with a 34-27-5 record and 73 points. They would, however, be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs once again.

Season 75
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 24 | 44 | 68 |  -7 | 215 |  26 | 11.2%| 20:36 ║


Hale would finish with 68 points (fourth on the team) as regression would begin to take its toll. This was the start of a multi-season drop in production and the last time he would achieve a point per game. New Orleans would finish 31-34-1 with 63 points. They would make it out of the first round of the playoffs with a big upset before being eliminated in the second round.

Season 76
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 31 | 30 | 61 |  23 | 218 |  24 | 14.2%| 19:13 ║


It was time for Hale to move over and make way for the young studs on the team. Hale’s 61 points were good enough for third on an improved Specters team now focused on defense. They would finish 38-24-4 with 80 points but would be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 77
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 19 | 27 | 46 |  21 | 151 |  36 | 12.6%| 16:42 ║


Now firmly in the back seat, Hale would only reach 46 points with the lowest average ice time of his career. New Orleans would slightly improve with a 40-23-3 record with 83 points but would be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Season 78
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 15 | 26 | 41 |  6  | 125 |  24 | 12.0%| 16:25 ║


Hale’s 41 points were his fewest since S65 as he was now in the twilight of his career. The Specters would take a step back finishing 35-27-45 with 74 points but would make it to the second round of the playoffs before being eliminated.

Season 79
Atticus Hale’s final state line:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 66 | 20 | 30 | 50 |  -3 | 152 |  18 | 13.2%| 18:34 ║


A bit of a resurgent season for Hale in S79, his 50 points were good enough for fifth on the team. The Specters would continue to regress as a team though finishing 32-30-4 with 68 points and another first round playoff elimination.

Season 80
Atticus Hale’s stat line through 49 games:
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║ 49 |  9 | 22 | 31 |  4  | 132 |  22 | 6.8% | 17:19 ║


The final season of Atticus Hale’s career. It’s not over yet and won’t be a great one as single seasons go but S80 saw Hale reach 1,000 points and become the first New Orleans Specter player in history to achieve the milestone. The team may or may not improve on the previous season but things are once again looking up with a solid group of young players primed to take over.

Atticus Hale’s Career Totals (through 49 games in S80)
║ GP |  G |  A |  P | +/- | SOG | PIM | SPCT | TOI/G ║
╟────┼────┼────┼────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼───────╢
║1105| 423| 594|1017|  75 | 3144| 570 | 13.5%| 20:09 ║


Looking at Atticus Hale’s career on a season by season basis, it might look rather mediocre, and you might be right. He never won an award and the team never made it past the second round of the playoffs. However, he was a large part of the team’s rebuild and helped take them to heights they hadn’t seen since the first few seasons of the franchise’s existence. He is the longest tenured player in franchise history (1,122 games played at the end of his career) while also being their longest tenured captain (13 seasons). He is the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer, assists leader, and leader in points and leads the franchise in most statistical categories. To the New Orleans Specters, Atticus Hale was a pillar for many seasons and will be the franchise’s all-time greatest player when his career finally ends.


[2,015ish words - 1,324ish if you remove the stats]

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#2

@the5urreal Very impressive! Approved for 5 tpe. Keep up the good work!

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