Login

daBenchwarmer · 02-20-2017, 12:57 AM

<div align="center">"After the Raiders" is an SHL Media series tracking the S30 4 Star Cup winning roster and their journey in professional ice hockey. The media will combine various elements such as interviews and mic'd up sections. Narration will not be covered by [brackets] while mic'd up portions will. Treat this article as if it is a video, thanks.

Please note that all of the mic'd up portions of "After the Raiders" will be explicit. Readers' discretion is advised.</div>

<div align="center"> [Image: After_the_Raiders_Title_Pic___I.png]

[Image: After_the_Raiders_Title_Pic___I.png]

[Image: After_the_Raiders_Team_Pic_I.png]

Toivo Kosonen (<a href='index.php?showuser=2309' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-10'>Toivo</a>) & Casper Jakobsson (<a href='index.php?showuser=2147' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-34'>lizzywho</a>)</div>

Nervousness. That's the only feeling Wolfpack rookie Toivo Kosonen is feeling in anticipation of his first regular season SHL Game. The Halifax Raiders alumni sits in the Visitor's Locker Room in Buffalo, headphones on as he tapes his stick. He finds solitude in a routine he has known since he first played competitive hockey. It will only be moments before he steps onto the fresh in the darkness as the New England Wolfpack take on the Buffalo Stampede.

Kosonen is not alone in his nervousness however, as this is a recurring feeling before every single opening game regardless if it is one's first game or hundredth. The one thing the Finnish rookie can take comfort in however, is that the locker room is not full of people he had only known since the beginning of training camp. Former Halifax teammate Casper Jakobsson is also present in the New England organization, one of the Wolfpack's most promising centre prospects.

[Cut to Jakobsson sitting in a chair, as if in an interview with the producers.]

JAKOBSSON: The Four Star Cup, I haven't heard that since the S30 season, haha. Yeah, it's been a while since Halifax, and I was pretty happy when I learned that, uh, Kosonen was coming here. You know, he's a very good player, and a funny guy to hang around with.

[Cut back to Narration]

A game against the Buffalo Stampede to kick off the S33 Regular Season. A big two points right out of the gate would allow New England to pursue the Eastern Conference title, especially since this is against an upcoming Eastern Conference team. Even though the playoff race is not supposed to start until later in the season, every point that a team can grab before the race becomes tighter and tighter means a bit more breathing room later on.

[Cut to Jakobsson]

JAKOBSSON: The game is faster and more mental than it has ever been before. Like, you can't go out without a plan, without talking with the boys and figuring out "Okay, what am I gonna do for 40 seconds? Am I gonna be a checker, am I going to be on defence". It's all strategic and methodical now, players who use their brain first and bodies second are being played more than the guys who simply just run out there and try to do something without thinking.

[Cut to Kosonen]

KOSONEN: The difficult part about being a defenseman in the SHL nowadays is that you need to be able to do a ton of things at the same time. You have to keep track of both the puck, your opponents' movements, your d-partner's movements and your own positioning. Not to mention you have to possess the talent to back up the amount of ice time you get, and be able to play those minute long shifts with your heart out and still keep up with the play. It's probably gotten way more difficult over the years, no doubt about it.

[Cut back to Narration]

With the game now only moments away, those years of dedication, hard work and training have come down to this very game. It is make or die for the 20-year old rookie, and for the 22-year old Jakobsson, it is his time to show management that he is able to make an impact for the Wolfpack.

Neither of the Halifax Raiders alumni will be on ice for their first shift of the game, instead they will listen to the national anthems from their team's bench. The first game jitters in Kosonen however, are still evident as he nervously awaits his first shift, peering up and down the ice, following the puck until his coach finally calls out his name.

WELLSDON: Kosonen! Hohenburg!

All of that preparation for the professional leagues had come down to this, Kosonen flinging himself over the boards and skating on the ice, just in time to follow the puck moving up the ice.

[Cut to Kosonen]

KOSONEN: Hahaha, yeah, I didn't really know what I was doing for a few seconds until I realized Cara was shouting at me to hustle.

[Cut to a camera following Kosonen]

[Kosonen is seen following the play into the Stampede's zone. As the Stampede regain control of the puck, he then begins skating backwards as the Buffalo offence picks up speed, the puck being flung across the ice to a free opposing player. As the Stampede break into the zone, Kosonen immediately goes to the front of the net to combat against one of the Stampede's players.]

Sometimes, when a rookie emerges in the SHL, their debut shows their true potential and what they will be capable of.

[A shot is attempted from the point, but dribbles away after hitting a stick along the way. Kosonen makes his way quickly towards the puck, picking it up and looking up the ice to throw it towards a friendly jersey.]

And sometimes, the stars of the future are just as unlucky as you or I.

[The puck takes an odd bounce off of the boards and bounces down the rink, towards the Stampede's zone.]

KOSONEN: Hitto ViekÃ¶Ã¶n.

[A nearby referee puts his arm up and blows his whistle. Icing the call.]

Even though the game ended in a 4-3 win, Kosonen arguably did not have the best game he wanted: no points and a poorly timed hooking call. No 4 goal debut for the 20-year old Finn, but what he picked up in the game was probably more eye-opening than anything else.

[Cut to Kosonen]

KOSONEN: It's a lot faster than it looks on television. You'd probably have to be on ice in order to truly experience the speed and skill of the game. Even the slowest guys on TV look so fast.

[Cut to Jakobsson]

JAKOBSSON: The grind, it's real. Both Prince George and Halifax prepared me for the lifestyle and the constant grind, but the SHL's grind is on different levels than the SMJHL's. You're playing against some of the toughest players in the entire world, so it's very difficult.

The ties that they had made back in Halifax however, speak levels on the comradery between the various S30 Teammates.

JAKOBSSON: Oh facing Banning, Volkova and them in the SHL? Can't say I wasn't surprised at all. A huge portion of the S30 team were talented people who were definitely going to make a huge splash in the SHL. I'm pretty happy to be playing against them, even if they were teammates for only a short period of time.

[Cut to Kosonen.]

KOSONEN: Yeah, it was fun reuniting with Casper after all of this time. I'm super psyched for the upcoming season with him. I'm excited to be in New England, though Halifax will always be part of my journey. I know some day I'll be going back there, but right now it's all for the Wolfpack, hahaha.

The future is bright for these two former Halifax Raiders. As their careers are off to a bright start in the SHL, the wonders that they will go through is immense. Of course, the journey and the grind in the SHL will take its toll eventually, but for now, both players are filled with energy with the seasons to come, whether if it is as a player or part of management.

KOSONEN: I'm just happy to be here man, the dream's finally come true.

<div align="center">Next on After the Raiders: Catching Up With Jean-Luc Reflieux in Los Angeles</div>

---1,333 Words - Ready For Grading---

Jenny · 02-20-2017, 01:04 AM

nice work, v cool

Toivo · 02-20-2017, 01:05 AM

Quality content from <a href='index.php?showuser=2280' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>daBenchwarmer</a> as always.

"Halifax will always be part of my journey"

raiders

~~GroupMeIsKindOfOkay~~ · 02-20-2017, 04:03 AM

Good stuff Kaisy

Weird playing against you guys now but fk the Wolfpack tbqh

daBenchwarmer · 02-20-2017, 10:59 AM

Quote:Originally posted by Jenny+Feb 20 2017, 01:04 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1' id='QUOTE-WRAP'><tr><td>QUOTE (Jenny @ Feb 20 2017, 01:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>nice work, v cool[/b]

thanks Jen Smile

Quote:Originally posted by Toivo@Feb 20 2017, 01:05 AM<br />Quality content from <a href='index.php?showuser=2280' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>daBenchwarmer</a> as always.

"Halifax will always be part of my journey"

Meenan Pojat

<!--QuoteBegin-GroupMeIsKindOfOkay@Feb 20 2017, 04:03 AM
Good stuff Kaisy

Weird playing against you guys now but fk the Wolfpack tbqh[/quote]

rt Lainger.

sytarah · 02-20-2017, 06:51 PM

nice stuff

daBenchwarmer · 02-20-2017, 10:33 PM

Quote:Originally posted by Samee@Feb 20 2017, 06:51 PM
nice stuff

nice guy

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us