Hey all. As you all know, the season has ended for the New England Wolfpack. I will be taking any and all types of questions.
Who was the truest rookie? Be honest.
Well there were quite a few true rookies on the SHL rosters this season. We had Robb Wind who was the guaranteed true rookie. I think the rest of us were surprising to a lot of people when we got called up.
Thong Bonerstrom is became a true rookie despite being inactive. Though he didn't really accomplish to much in his 2 minutes of playing on Buffalo's roster.
Texas called up Travis Kudleychuk, and he managed to get 3 goals and 5 assists on the season. Not a bad rookie campaign while playing on the third line, but with only 8 points, he isn't the truest rookie. They also called up Geoffrey Allen after some internal issues and having to fill a spot. He managed to do slightly better than Kudleychuk, managing to get 5 goals and 4 assists. Again on the third line, 9 points isn't bad at all, but does not qualify him to be the truest rookie.
So Robb Wind came in looking like the truest of the rookies. He had the highest TPE count out of all of the true rookies, and was looking to get top 6 minutes. He was slotted on the 2nd line for most of the season and managed to get 9 goals and 10 assists for the season. Surprisingly, for this season, he was not the truest of the rookies.
Runner up for the truest rookie is myself. I managed to score 4 goals and dish out 18 assists, for 22 points. I played most of my time on the second line, with some games on the 3rd line, and some on the 1st line. Now onto the truest rookie of the season.
A surprise to many, Nicholas Scholz. This stud managed to put up 10 goals and 16 assists, good for 26 points. He had the best points total, +/- and most minutes played out of all the true rookies. Good on Scholz for stepping up for Portland, and he will be a great player for them for many seasons to come.
Grade your season performance. Was it about what you expected?
This was a weird season for me. I had an outstanding preseason. I put up 10 points in 14 games played. I tied Patrick Brumm for having the most points out of all the rookies. I was on a high. Then the season happened and my game dropped. I think I only managed to get 5 points total in the first 25 games played, which is well below my standards.
As the season carried on, and PB and Storm adjusted the lines and strategies, I picked up my game. I got 4 goals and 18 helpers for the year. 22 points as a rookie coming off of my first and only season down in the SMJHL? I will for sure take it. It just means that I will have to keep getting better and improve my all around game.
My plus/minus stat ended up being atrocious, mainly due to being on a team that struggled the whole year. I only managed to take 2 penalty minutes in the 50 games played, so I have no worries about my discipline and taking stupid penalties. 8 hits and 4 shot blocks is pretty terrible, and I want to become a more physical and defensive player, so that is something i want to improve on as well.
So all in all, out of a score of 10, I would grade my performance at a 7. A little above average, with room to improve.
New England's going to look a little different next season (right?). How do you think your team will fare in S26?
With the season 25 draft, we picked up a whole lot of good prospects for our future. With Jack Durden, Lord Pretty Flacko, Jasper Clayton, and possibly Chris Welch and Roman Morenov coming up to play for our squad this upcoming season, there will be a ton of new faces around here.
By replacing our inactives with some young active talents, I think that our standing in the league will improve from this season. This, as well as our core group of players continuing to improve and put up great numbers despite being on a struggling team, will be great for our future.
With this said, expectations will be varied with who you ask. Some will have high expectations for this season and think we will fare well, because we have this great new group coming up and playing. Others will have lower expectations due to us getting the young talents, and having that inexperience on the squad. I am hopeful that we will do better than this past season. I see us grabbing up a playoff spot for sure.
Why did you abandon the Whalers? sad.gif
Vancouver will always be my first home and I love it to death. I loved playing in the Green and Blue and wearing the Whalers logo. The SMJHL was a great place to be, but when you get drafted by the SHL and that team asks for someone to step up and play for them, that is what I did. I am a bit sad that I didn't end up playing with the amazing batch of rookies that JHS and Origensz drafted this past season, but PB and Storm gave me a great opportunity to be a true rookie and become a set piece for them in New England. I hope to always be there for Vancouver and their players, and I will stop by the city whenever I can and talk with you guys!
Do you have any regrets about leaving the Whalers after only one season?
Yes and no. I feel bad about leaving a pretty big skill gap on the wing for Vancouver. They managed to replace me though and had a very good regular season. I can only imagine how much better they would have done with me on the roster, but who knows. I gave JHS and Origensz a heads up before I got called up, so they had suitable time to adjust their plans to not having me on the roster. I miss Vancouver and all the guys that play there, especially PT and Durden.
But on the flip side, I am also extremely happy that I made the jump. Interacting and playing with the Wolfpack has been great, and they have welcomed me into our home with open arms. Looking back now, I wouldn't have had it any other way this season.
Which team do you think stands to make the biggest impact next season?
That is a difficult question. There are a few teams that did not make the playoffs this season that will be trying to show up and make an impact next season. Both expansion teams ended up missing the playoffs, which was expected and I see them going into the next season really trying to prove something. New England is going to try to make the playoffs and get out of the rebuilding phase, so look for them to make an impact.
Los Angeles had a fall from grace, going from runners up for the Challenge Cup, to finishing 2nd to last in their conference. I could see them coming back next season hard. The team that I think will be trying to make the biggest impact next season is Texas. With their prospects developing nicely, and having a couple picks in the 1st round this upcoming draft, they are going to be picking up key talent to try to get back into the playoff picture.
Thought on the SHL playoffs? SMJHL playoffs?
Now that New England is out of playoff contention, I wont be following the playoffs as much as I would have. For the Western Conference, I think that Edmonton is going to upset Winnipeg, and Seattle beating Calgary. Then Seattle ending up winning against Edmonton.
For the Eastern Conference, West Kendall is going to beat Hamilton. Manhattan vs Minnesota will be a good series to see, and i see Minnesota barely beating Manhattan. West Kendall vs Seattle for the finals, with West Kendall taking the Challenge Cup home.
For the SMJHL playoffs Vancouver is going to win it all for the repeat. For who they will be facing against? Montreal yet again. Montreal will be hard to beat, especially with getting Jasper Clayton and Michael Burch, but I believe in my Vancouver boys. They'll get it done and bring the Four Star Cup back to Vancouver.
How do you think the S25 draft class will fair next season?
I think a lot of the S25 draft class will make the jump next season. Evandrus Jesster, Jasper Clayton, Maria Maximova, Lord Pretty Flacko, Ivan Koroviev, Adam Falk and Luke Fleming are the ones that I think will make the jump up to the SHL for sure.
Others like Michael Burch, Cynthia Taylor, Chris Welch, Ryan King, Jonathan Lundberg, Kristján Vilhjalmsson, Jack Durden, and DJ Stanely could potentially get called up by their respective SHL teams. All others will most likely stay down in the SMJHL for another season.
I think that the next batch of rookies will have great seasons as they are all great players and had huge years for their teams. I look forward to playing against them this upcoming season.
Can we expect a similar # of S26 draftees making the immediate jump to the SHL next season?
I do not expect there to be as many true rookies making the jump to the SHL this season. There are some huge prospects out there in Connal McLeod, Kristofer Lund, Tony Pellegrino, Eion MacGreggor, Christoffer Bjornsson, Mainio Makinen, Wyatt Wollker, Cody Black and Patrick McEichel. And there are even still some more that are good prospects, but I don't want to end up naming 10-15 more people.
Each team has their own needs and plans, and if a rookie they draft ends up fitting that plan, they will get called up I am sure. I believe that Connal McLeod and Wyatt Wollker stand the best chance at getting to be true rookies this season.
Are there any Wolfpack prospects you're most excited to play alongside, whether this coming season or in the more distant future?
Ooo, this is a good question. New England absolutely won the S25 draft by getting so many great prospects. Jasper Clayton as number 2 overall, Lord Pretty Flacko at 4. Chris Welch at 15 and Jack Durden at 22. Roman Morenov at 25, William Hendrickson at 28, Julie-Ann Marshall at 29, Jack Reacher at 43 and finally Colin Wood at 70.
I am most excited to play with my fellow Vancouver Whaler teammate, Jack Durden. He is one of the best guys I have met and plays no games with how he feels. He is a huge competitor and goes out on the ice 100% each shift. I would love to have him be the center on my line some day.
Jasper Clayton is pretty much tied for the guy I am most looking forward to. He is one of my oldest friends in the league, and I'd say we have become quite good ones. Him manning the blue line in the future and being a powerhouse in New England is going to be great to witness first hand. Lord
Pretty Flacko and I didn't really get along the best when we came into the league together and had a pseudo-rivalry going on. Now that we got drafted together, we have thrown that away. He is going to be a great Sniper for us and I look forward to seeing what he will bring to the table in the future.
Chris Welch is a fellow winger and probably a future line mate for me. He is a playmaker just like I am, so we will for sure need a sniper or something to get the goals flowing from out line. Again he is a great guy and I am excited to have him on the team.
I dont know to much about Roman Morenov. Quiet person in the locker room and keeps to himself a lot of the time. He is a huge defensive force though and will be a great stay at home defense man for the future. William Hendrickson is another quiet guy, but I hope becomes more engaged and active in the locker room once he comes up here.
Jullie-Ann Marshall and I know each other from Vancouver and is a great locker room presence. Always fun to chat with a great defensive center, I cant wait to have another Whaler play with me in New England.
Jack Reacher and Colin Wood are most likely career SMJHLers and wont be playing in New England anytime soon, so not as excited for them as I am for the rest of the prospects we got in the Season 25 draft.
Anything in particular you're looking forward to about next season?
Before I get to what I am looking forward to next season, lets discuss the off season. This off season I want to accomplish five things. Learn how to golf, train harder, win a competitive eating competition, not get arrested for sexual assault and get married to my boo-bae, Luke Fleming.
Also before next season starts, I am hoping to play in my first ever IIHF tournament. This will be a huge step for me in helping to continue developing my skills, and to test myself against the other nations and see where I can stack up against them.
For next season, I am looking forward to keeping my high spirits and hopes up, bonding more with my teammates, and have a bunch of laughs and good times with my friends. Those seem like some pretty good things to look forward this upcoming season, and I couldn't be happier.
Any advice for the guys in your draft class coming into the SHL in Season 26?
Don't get demotivated if you are not having the production you wanted. I only had 5 points halfway through the season and was looking terrible. By the end of it, I finished 8th in points for rookies with 22 points total. Hard work, dedication, and keeping your head up will do wonders.
The SHL is a completely different beast than the SMJHL. Everyone is faster, stronger and better than when you were in juniors. It is intimidating at first, but you learn how to pick up your game and adapt to the new play styles. Good luck new rookies!
Positives and negative of playing in the SHL
Positives of playing in the SHL is learning how the league works sooner than the rest of my draft class. I get a jump on my career points totals slightly, and have one year less of regression while playing in the SHL.
The negatives of playing in the SHL in my second season, is that I don't get to bond with the great draft class that Vancouver got this past draft. I don't have the chance to participate in potentially getting a back to back Four Star Cup with the Whalers and that is a bit disappointing.
Are you happy with what the whalers have accomplished this season?
I am very happy and proud of what the Whalers have accomplished this season. Last season we were absolutely terrible, finishing last in the league. This season they came in second I believe and are on a tear. If they can keep it up, they will for sure be able to win another Four Star Cup. I believe!
4 star cup champs?
Vancouver Whalers will win the 4 Star Cup. It ll be a close one against Montreal, but the Whalers will win it in 7 games.
Challenge Cup champs?
West Kendall has the best chances to win in my opinion. They have a good roster and will end up beating the Seattle Riot in 6 games.
Who are you?
I am Zack Hoover. 4th overall pick in the S24 SMJHL draft, and 12th overall pick in the SHL draft. Currently playing for New England.
Are you happy with your performance this season? How about the team's?
I'm at a 7/10 with happiness for my performance this season. My points totals were right on point with what I was expecting, but my plus/minus, hits and shot blocking were absolutely terrible.
I'm not overall pleased with our end result. There are good things and bad things that come from it. The negative about it is that we didn't make the playoffs again, and it sucks to be on a losing team.
Positives are players on the team individually did really great. Nathan Russell had a career year, Dean Colt did amazingly as usual. Connor O'Reilly led the league in shot blocks. We picked up Brandon Pomery which is great.
Also we get to have a chance at the lottery for the S26 draft. There are a ton of great players available, and we get a good shot at getting a key future piece.
What are you looking forward to the most next season?
I am most looking forward to playing again next season. The off season just started, and I am already ready to get back to training camp and play some hockey. I want to make a good impact in my sophomore season, prove myself, and to solidify a place on the roster.
How did you do so well in your rookie SHL season offensively? Do you have any tips for the rookies wondering?
I am not to sure how I did so well for my first rookie season offsenively. For the first half I only managed to get 5 points, so I was for sure worried what my end of year production would turn out like. It was a lot of hard work and patience. I had to show up and actually do something out on the ice, seeing that PB and Storm were trusting me with a ton of 2nd line minutes. After getting to know how my teammates operated out on the ice, and studying how they play, I for sure turned on the jets for the second part of the season.
I give most of the credit to my line mates for being able to capitalize on my passes while we were on the powerplay. 13 of my 22 points came off of the powerplay, so maybe it is safe to say that I am a power play specialist?
Tips to the rookies that are going to be coming in next season, are to mostly just be patient and to stay motivated throughout the whole season. Learn from your teammates and work hard towards generating that chemistry with them.
Did you just now come up with the nickname "Boo-Bae" for Luke Fleming?
I have always had the nickname Boo-Bae in my head. I just decided to let it slip. Hopefully Luke doesn't mind it to much!
If you weren't a member of the New England Wolfpack, which SHL team would you want to be on and why?
That is a really tough choice. Honestly, I dont see me being apart of any other team. The Wolfpack is such a great organization and everyone on the team I consider a friend.
If I had to choose a team other than New England, I would have to say Hamilton. I have talked to Tanner, Nuck, and Brumm a bit and they are pretty good and friendly guys. They have a good team in front of them and I love their team colors and city they play in. Second choice would have to be Winnipeg. The city is kinda shitty, but they built a winning team this season, plus I would love to actually play on the same team as Luke Fleming.
Being the only rookie that stayed up, do you feel a sense of leadership among your peers now?
I do feel like I have to be a rolemodel and leader among my fellow Season 25 draftees. We have some big time leaders that came out of that draft in Flacko, Clayton and Durden. However I think that I have to step it up a bit, at least in the beginning part of the upcoming season to show the new guys the ropes. Cant let these new guys get in trouble in the great city of Boston.
I dont see myself becoming a Captain or Alternate Captain for the Wolfpack in the future, but at least for now I have to show some leadership and be the proper role model for my future teammates.
We(New England) had a rougher season, but held our own and improved greatly towards the end of the season, do you see us carrying that on to opening night?
It was disappointing to have a rough season. We finished second to last in points. The end of the season we clicked though. A bunch of our top guys ended up having great years. With some great rookies coming up next season to replace our not so good players, I expect us to greatly improve next season.
Funniest thing to happen this season?
There have been way to many funny things that happened this season. I really cant pick just one. Plus I have a terrible memory and can't really remember/recall what would have happened properly.
Are you happy with your season?
I am overall pretty happy with my rookie season. 22 points for a true rookie isn't to bad. 8th in points, 2nd in points for true rookies. I can't complain to much about it so I am quite content.
What do you think of the NEW LR?
I love the Locker Room. We have a positive locker room environment, and everyone is so positive and helpful. The Vets help everyone out and the GMs are nothing but outstanding. It is one thing I look forward to being apart of everyday and I could not be happier with it.
Do you get sand stuck in your asscracks often?
Pretty much everyday. Im not to sure how sand gets there, but it manages to get there.
Which NHL player would you say is most like your player?
This is a hard question to answer. Im honestly not to sure what kind of NHL player would be like Zack Hoover. Jiří Sekáč is the player that comes to mind. A fast and strong skater, and able to dish out assists and the occasional goal.
Quote:Originally posted by prettyburn@Sep 21 2015, 07:08 AM Are there any Wolfpack prospects you're most excited to play alongside, whether this coming season or in the more distant future?
Anything in particular you're looking forward to about next season?
And why is your answer to both "playing with Marshall"?
Hoovuh
Who was the truest rookie? Be honest. 
GCool![[Image: OaSEcaw]](https://imgur.com/OaSEcaw)
LW - Rainbow Dash - Updates ![[Image: zVOLkfl.png]](https://i.imgur.com/zVOLkfl.png)
[img=0x0]https://i.imgur.com/eM6YKiW.gif[/img] ![[Image: zrRa4LD.png]](https://i.imgur.com/zrRa4LD.png)
![[Image: zmHxxsq.png]](https://i.imgur.com/zmHxxsq.png)
Rainbow Dash Fan S24-Present 
SHL Commissioner S34-S52 
Montreal Milita Co-GM S26-S29 ![[Image: 34964_s.gif]](https://signavatar.com/34964_s.gif)
![[Image: thd650h.png]](https://i.imgur.com/thd650h.png)
![[Image: ZLoVQGU.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ZLoVQGU.png)
![[Image: M02LOrx.png]](https://i.imgur.com/M02LOrx.png)
![[Image: SS19INy.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/SS19INy.jpg)
![[Image: IAP8v68.png]](https://i.imgur.com/IAP8v68.png)
![[Image: pb_olli.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/pb_olli.gif)
![[Image: vtXGfpR.png]](https://imgur.com/vtXGfpR.png)
![[Image: N2ANQtw.png]](https://imgur.com/N2ANQtw.png)
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/OrrxkPVdAZkdi/giphy.gif)
![[Image: qp9sjzw.png]](https://i.imgur.com/qp9sjzw.png)
![[Image: QPhJjnn.png]](https://i.imgur.com/QPhJjnn.png)
![[Image: cz7Q1LV.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cz7Q1LV.png)
![[Image: RapExQb.png]](https://i.imgur.com/RapExQb.png)
![[Image: sXGJ3Yn.png]](https://i.imgur.com/sXGJ3Yn.png)
![[Image: aasdAwo.png]](https://i.imgur.com/aasdAwo.png)
![[Image: 0UQdnyY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/0UQdnyY.png)
