Otis Boudreaux Jr

1. We’ve been winning games left and right, what has contributed most to our success? Well, I think all of the pieces came together at the right time, but sadly, we have also seen what happens with things go awry 2. The Western Conference will be a tough and bloody battle against all 5 teams. Which team is the weakest link and miss out in the playoffs? I hate to say it, but I think it is us. We cant seem to string together enough wins to overcome our losses. 3. More than a quarter of the season has finished. Are you satisfied with your players stats? Yes, I feel I am trending in the right direction. After the sim today (22 Apr) I am the leading scorer for the team. But I would trade all of that for more victories 4. Who is the goat of modern day hockey? oh wow, I hate to say I dont watch enough to be able to provide a defensible opinion. 5. What does your daily routine look like to get ready for game day? Hit the ice, read a book to relax. Skate some laps, jam to some tunes, then suit up...its game time! 6. With all the hype around the NHL playoffs, which teams do you think will faceoff in the Stanley Cup Finals? Can I stay on the team if I admit I dont know who is even in them this year? I did watch the Hurricanes play the other night, didnt hang around to see if they won though. I guess I need to watch more of the Cup.

Otis Boudreaux Jr, Now That is a Good Month! (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) Otis Boudreaux Jr, the young Irish kid on the Saskatoon Wild, is starting to make a name for himself. For those who do not remember, OB Jr was drafted with the 1st selection of the third round of the VHLM Season 88 Draft. This relatively unknown youngster had been on the World Junior Showcase team and had not done much to catch the attention of the VHLM General Managers. His career in Saskatoon had not been much to notice, with only 7 goals and 7 assists in over 20 games. But then things took a quick turn. It started off with the phone call from the VHLM Commissioner to notify him that he had been voted onto the league All-Star team. When OB Jr was asked what he did when he got off of the phone, his big grin said it all, "I called home!" It was not unusual to see him going into the practice arena at 430 AM every day and not leaving until 10 PM at night. The trainers tell how he asks them to leave the ice baths full, that he would empty and clean them. He also likes to have a selection of ointments and liniments to treat achy muscles. But yet he is back there the next morning, no matter the weather, no matter the outcome of the game the night before. The staff at the arena admit they have given him his own key to the facility so they dont have to come and let him in so early. It looks like the hard work has paid off in more ways than just getting the All-Star selection. The Wild played 12 games over the last month, and even though the team ended the stretch with only 4 victories, the young Irish Kid has started to show flashes of what he just might be capable of. He scored 10 goals, bringing him to a team leading tie with Monty Burns, both with 17 goals. He also helped the team with 6 more assists. The highlight for OB Jr had to be his first ever hat trick in a losing effort against Mexico City. The Irish Kid has found his groove...and it looks nice to us! The sad part about a youngster that develops like that is how he will basically improve his way out of Saskatoon. The youngster is improving by leaps and bounds so it will be interesting to see if he is allowed to stay in Saskatoon for one more season of if he will be off to bigger and better things in the VHLE. Word Count: 433 Claimed: Week ending 23 Apr

Can Saskatoon Figure Out Who They Are, Or Is It Too Late? (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) The Wild has had a season of ups and downs, but it seems like the "Downs" are going to win out. The Wild had put together a 4 game winning streak that included to 7 goal scoring games. It seemed like they had figured out the last piece of the puzzle and their season was going to turn around. But then they suffered a 2-4 loss against the Mississauga Hounds. The Wild appeared to regroup as they defeated the Ottawa Lynx 4-3 and got revenge on the Hounds with a 5-1 victory. Things were starting to look up for the Wild...it seemed. The Wild were then defeated by the Philadelphia Reapers 2-4 but once again rebounded to defeat the Ottawa Lynx 3-2. But then the wheels came off. There 6 defeats in a row, with losses to Halifax (2-3), Houston (1-2, Mexico City (1-4), Halifax again (1-4), followed by another defeat at the hands of Mexico City (4-5) and lastly a loss to Ottawa by a score of 2-5. The Wild currently have a record of 13-16-3 with a paltry 29 points, an abysmal goal difference of -13 and are currently, officially, on a 4 game skid. Where did it go wrong? Yes, the Wild had a rocky start for sure. But then they seemed to have figured it out. They were winning, not only the close games, but even winning big (remember those 7 goal games?). But now, the goals seem to be few and far between. During those last 6 games, they scored 11 goals, which if they had a top-class defense, might have been enough to win. But we all know this team is a work in progress and there were going to be holes that needed to be covered. The way to make up for a weak defense is to have a strong offense, and the Saskatoon Forwards seem to have lost their mojo. Yes, during that same 6 game stretch the Wild gave up 23 goals, which is nothing to cheer about, but it is easy to see how there was not much going right during that stretch. Those kinds of lows can knock a team off of the track and derail the rest if its season. We hope that is not the case with Saskatoon. It is easy to see the spirits of the players has not taken a hit as they left the arena after practice on Friday. If anything, there was a steeled determination on their faces. They do not look like a team that is in last place, but more like a team that has everything to play for, even if at this point in the season it is more for pride than anything else. The season is not what we wanted for the Saskatoon Wild, but it is what was expected, deep inside, we knew this was going to be a tough season. The question is, will the Wild continue to fight or have they been tamed for yet another season? Word Count: 503 Claimed: Week ending 23 Apr

I LOVED reading this. I am a history nerd through and through. Couple that with the fact I am a retired history teacher who still reads like there is no tomorrow...I think you get the picture. My focus has always been European history from 1870 through the end of WW2. I have studied WW2 and the Holocaust for over 45 years. I have a very extensive book collection, that I am constantly adding to! With that being said, here is what I have recently finished reading, or am currently reading: The Lives of Brian by Brian Johnson, lead singer of AC/DC. Yea, HUGE AC/DC fan here. Loved the book, absolutely loved it! Every time I picked it up I felt like we were out for a beer and he was telling me about his life before AC/DC...just a great read for anyone who enjoys books about, and by, musicians. Highly recommend. The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I think this is the 5th or 6th time I have read this book. I have been a huge fan of Holmes since I was a young fella and that hasnt changed. A great comfort read for sure. Victory: 100 Great Military Commanders by Nigel Cawthorne. I enjoy how this book is not chapters, but just 2-page bios. An easy informative read. Actually does get repetitive some, due to him having summary boxes. But still an informative book. I dont agree with all of his selections, but then where is the fun in these kinds of books if all we do is agree? The Wars of America by Robert Leckie. This is a book I picked up a few years ago and just not got around to reading. It was published quite a few years ago and its size kind of had me turn my back on it (over 1000 pages) so it gathered dust on the shelf. That is until a couple of weeks ago I was sorting thru the piles of books I have and came across it, then the name hit me. I knew the author's name! He was in the HBO series "The Pacific" about the Pacific theater in WW2. Robert Leckie was a main character in the series. That was enough for me to wipe the dust off and dig it. I will admit, it is a little dated, with the way he refers to American Indians, but I am still enjoying it. The Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson. This is the third in a series of books about the US involvement in the European theater in WW2 (I am seeing my own theme here) This one deals with the D-Day invasion until the end of the war. I have to say I have enjoyed all of the books. He has a very fluid writing style that does not get bogged down in data. It is informational, without being boring. I am almost finished with this one and am going to be looking for more by this author. I read way too much (some say) but it is something I have always done. If anyone is looking for history related recommendations, especially about both world wars or the Holocaust, please let me know. Yea, I like talking about this stuff, hahaha! Thanks for reading if you hung on this long!

Wow! Thanks to everyone who voted for me. I really appreciate it!

Congrats on getting this position! Selected a great person with this one.

What the hell, I will throw my tattered ole hat into the ring!

Otis Boudreaux Jr +10

Congrats. Best of luck, except when you are playing Saskatoon, HAHA

How would I apply? I am interested, even though I am on Saskatoon, lol

Otis Boudreaux Jr, a name with a history and a player with no where to go but up. Yea, that is how I feel. I was drafted by the Saskatoon Wild and joined the team with so many big dreams. I figured that all I would need to do what I had been doing and the goals, the assists, the accolades and the wins, would continue. I joined a team of players who all wanted to get better and we felt that the world was ours to take. Then the season started. We just could not find our stride. Loss followed loss. Those close games just were not falling our way. Every team faces those 1 goal losses, but we seemed to be getting more than our fair share of them. I could not start to think if I was part of the problem. Hitting the net, beating the opposition goalie, used to be second nature. But every missed shot, every errant pass, they all seemed to eat away at my confidence. Then came that game against Mexico City. The arena at home was full. I cannot help but wonder why they were there. We just were not playing that well. But that night felt different, it seemed like I was in the zone again and my mojo had snuck back into me. The game was tied 2-2 and went into overtime. We all know the rules, if we can score 2 and maintain that lead, we win. But we know how the season has been, but tonight was different. Maybe part of it was the fact that not only had I scored 1 goal, I had actually scored 2. Both of the goals in regular time were mine. I just felt I couldnt miss. Monty Burns was our first shooter. He took the puck and moved swiftly down the ice, moving the puck from side to side. No one is really sure how he even did it, but the siren went off, the lights flashed in the arena as he gave us that all important first goal. Mexico City's Noel Roux Jr took the puck and tried a shot to Goalie Joseph Reed's stick side and he deftly knocked the puck aside. Then it was my turn, they were not going to stop me! I got the puck and smoothly moved it from side to side, it was like practice, I was back home, just me, the stick and the puck. I picked up speed and ducked my head to the left as I switched the puck to my right and tucked the puck into the open net. He had fallen for my head bob! I had done my part, now it was up to Joseph Reed again. He faced Mexico's Alex DeLuca and just like he had practiced it, smoothly snatched the puck out of the air with his open glove. I had my first multi-goal game and had earned the 1st star! What a game!! We went on to win the next 2 games, scoring in 1 and getting the assist in the other. At this point in the season I have 6 goals and 6 assists. But more importantly, we are winning now! I hope it continues, not only me getting points for the team, but being able to play my part in us getting those all important wins. Damn, I love this game! Word count: 568 Claimed: Week of 16 Apr

Saskatoon Wild - Moving in the Right Direction? (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) The Saskatoon Wild have not had the most auspicious start to their current season. The league table sees the Wild occupying the bottom of their division. They have earned 15 points, with a record of 7-10-1 and a goal difference of -11. Things do not look well for the team. The only team with a worst record are the Ottawa Lynx at 6-12-0 and only 12 points with a goal difference of -17. From first glance, yes, there is concern with the team and its standing. One has to wonder if this is going to be another season where Saskatoon is just a road bump that other teams have to go over on their way to organizational glory. But things may not be as they seem for the hometown Wild. One of the biggest challenges with bringing a team together is to have them start thinking as one, have them skate, act, pass, defend and shoot as one. Yes, the Wild have 10 losses, but 6 of them have been by only 1 goal. As the team started to gel the hope is this would change. It appears this corner may finally have been turned. The last three games saw the Wild win a shootout against Mexico City followed by victories against Ottawa and Houston. The shootout saw 4 goals, but the highlight had to be how Goaltender Joseph Reed blocked both of the shots from Mexico City. The Ottawa game was another 1 point game, but this time the Wild came out on top of the 4-3 score line. The final game was a 3-1 victory over the Houston Bulls. Even though there are only 2 victories added to the overtime win, it is the longest win streak in this season. Every win gives the team an opportunity to build off of the previous one. And now, there are 2 in a row to hopefully propel the team to more victories. The team has been aided by the excellent play of Forward Monty Burns as he leads the team with 10 goals and 8 assists, giving him a team best 18 points. Ben Lass with 5 goals and 12 assists and 17 points. Tord Yvel is the third highest point holder on the team with 15 points, 4 goals and 11 assists. The distribution of the points and the sharing of the goals shows how the team has started to gel. Every team needs a "face". That person who everyone associates with the team and personifies who they are. It appears that, with no planning, that player is Monty Burns. All that is needed to confirm this is to look around the city and see how people have latched onto this young Canadian. His face is on every billboard, on the sides of buses and his jersey is starting to appear on the backs of the young men and women of the city. People want a hero and Monty is it for the Saskatoon Wild. Now only time will tell if this team of young upstarts will continue to climb that mountain to victories. But it appears, no matter what, the people of Saskatoon are behind them. Word Count: 530 Claimed: Week ending 16 Apr

3-8-1, not the best start by any means. How can we turn this around? By sticking to our plan. Everyone getting the max TPE they can and all of continuing to improve our players, which will improve the team. Who was our most productive player last week? As I read through all of the game recaps, Monty Burns is doing great. Scuff, Thijs and Ben are also big contributors. Cant forget our Goalie tho, Reed is keeping us in the games. The OT win against Mexico City, he blocked both of their shootout goals. Which animal does your player resemble? I would like him to be like a fox, wily. Dont know where he is going to be or strike next How does your player overcome challenges or adversity? Not giving up. It is easy to keep going when things are going well, but when things get tough, digging in and working harder to get better Have you ever been to an NHL game? If so, how was your experiences at one? No, but I want to go one day. I have been to baseball, football, soccer and even cricket matches. But not to a hockey game...yet Around the league, has there been any surprises to you so far in the VHLM? I have to agree with the above post. I think we have. We had not been able to find out stride. I think the last few games could be a turning point for us. Quite a few of the games we lost was by 1 goal. So if we can find just a goal or 2 more a game our record would be much different.

I taught high school history/government/economics for 15 years. It would turn my stomach to stand in front of my students and talk about the "Great Compromise" and the other monumental compromises in the history of the USA and then turn on the news and hear politicians treating it as a sign of weakness...that somehow acknowledging there may be a differing viewpoint from theirs was some sort of act of weakness or desperation. I remember President Reagan working with House Speaker Tip O'Neill on plans to help the country, not 1 party over the other, but the whole country. I remember Pres Clinton working with House Speaker Newt Gingrich to move the country forward. But not anymore. Everything has become a 0-sum game. That someone being given a right somehow takes it away from another, or diminishes the value of another's rights. It doesnt. Human rights are not a pizza that has to be shared amongst a select few...it is an unlimited pizza buffet where all can eat as much as they want. But for that to happen there needs to be an acceptance that, just as one side is entitled to their opinion and belief, so is the other side. But the way the country can only move forward is if we do it together, not by sacrificing the other side. I normally stay out of political discussions in sim leagues. But I want to applaud you for how civil this has been. That is what will be the difference, civil exchanges where everyone walks away feeling like they were heard. When conversations occur in a bubble, people can create their own reality, their own "truth" if you will. No one questions, no one challenges so there is no growth. Hearing what one wants to hear is not empowering, it stunts growth. The objective is to teach people to think for themselves, to give them the skills to view all sides of an issue and then decide how they want to proceed with it. Learning is intellectually painful, expanding what we "know" causes discomfort....but it also leads to growth...to forming new beliefs and being inspired to push the envelope of what is the "reality" for the rest of society. Sorry, got on a coffee fueled sermon...but rock on folks! My generation has made a mess of some things...but I believe that you will look at history the way it should be looked at and see the good...and the bad, while learning from both. That is the way to move forward...looking back to see what can be learned...applying it and taking those steps...one at a time.

Not sure if I am doing this correctly, but we will see: Thanks for donating $15.00 CAD to Victory Hockey League Transaction ID: 1US590982W743834R Doubles Week (Week ending 4/9/23) 5 TPE $1M Cash

When will Otis Boudreaux Jr Finally Score? (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) Otis Boudreaux was an exciting player who seemed to be taking the VHL by storm and he seemed to disappear as quickly as he appeared. But in the short time he was on the ice, he could be counted on to be a scoring threat and even if it was not him finding the net, he was assisting others in adding to the score line. So when it was announced that his namesake, Otis Boudreaux Jr was hoping to find a home in the VHL there was hope that he would carry on this legacy. Otis Jr caught the eye of GM of the Warriors in the World Junior Showcase and was quickly signed as a waiver selection. But he struggled to be a positive influence in the ice, getting more penalties than anything else. But that didnt mean he was being ignored for the upcoming VHLm draft, far from it. In the days leading up to the draft he was contacted by half of the VHLm GMs and seemed to have good conversations with them. On Draft night, the Saskatoon Wild called his name and moved to Saskatoon. When contacted for comment about his new home and asked how he felt about the different path that he was taking from his namesake (Otis Sr played most of his VHLm career in Houston before being traded to Halifax) Jr replied, "Well, it is colder than I expected but parts of it remind me of home. As far as Otis Sr, he went to where it was hot and I dont really like the heat, so it is nice to be here, writing my own story." The VHLm season has started and the Wild sit in last place at the end of the first week. Otis Jr has not scored. He seems to be unsure of what he is supposed to do and when to do it. He has had 1 assist, but except for a penalty, his name has not appeared in the stats. The fans in Saskatoon are very patient when it comes to new players on their team. But as the season progresses, how long before they start to show their displeasure and demand more from the youngster from Ireland?

1. Sorry I didnt see this until after the season had started, but I feel like we need to not lose the winnable games. I know that may seem confusing, but some games just dont go our way and we have to accept those losses. But there are those games where we outshoot the opposition and we cant lose them, cut down on the penalties and get quality from the shots we do take. 2. At this point in the season, clumsy and erratic. I dont seem to be adding any quality to the team. I guess at this point I am a "neutral" not hurting so much, but definitely not helping out. 3. Goalie is our strength, that can be seen with the number of saves he makes. Weakness? I think depth at F. We have a couple of players who are scoring, but not there are not enough options. We need to get quality depth at F so we are a scoring threat no matter what line is on the ice. 4. I have never played, but I think trying to do all of the things that must happen while balancing on 2 thin metal blades while sliding on something that is best known for people falling on it. I cant even ice skate, let alone do the things I see happen every time I watch a game. 5. Not really. I guess at my age, shit just happens. I think superstitions seem to give people something to worry about...and I have enough to worry about the way it is! 6. I have to say soccer. I think the size of the field helps and the fact the refs ALLOW them to celebrate. I used to really love some of the NFL celebrations, but then they were deemed unprofessional and were toned down quite a bit.

Saskatoon Wild - A Story in the Making Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A city of just over 250,000 people along the South Saskatchewan River. The city that loves its hockey and can not wait to see the puck drop on the start of a new season for their home team, the Saskatoon Wild. The crowd was there, the team was dressed and there it was, the first puck drop of the new season. The Wild were hosting the Mississauga Hounds in their season opener. At the end, the difference between the two sides was apparent as the Wild lost 0-2. Wild goalie, Joseph Reed, could not be faulted as he stopped 33 shots out of 35. But the skaters just could not find the net on the other end of the ice. The crowd went home disappointed, but even in the defeat, there was a positive buzz surrounding the team. The Wild have a young team. They did not have the chance to meet until after the draft. None of them had been on the ice together. So while trying to improve throughout the season they will also be working to come together as a team. There have not been any noted team leaders in this young season, but it is still early and hopes are high that the team will not only gel, but will be able to transfer that to gametime situations. The second game of the season saw The Wild travel to Ottawa for their first meeting of the season against the hometown Lynx. This contest found the Wild on top at the end of the game. The final score was 1-2 with the Wild getting goals from Thijs Mooij and Darko Alexander Malkovich. While the team was disappointed to have given up the second period goal to the Lynx's Lucky Mitts to tie the game, the winning goal by Darko sealed the victory. Saskatoon then traveled to Halifax to take on the 21st. Where the Wild were exposed in a 1-4 loss. The only Wild goal came courtesy of Tord Yvel. The Wild seemed to be confused by the tactics of the 21st and never seemed to be playing on their level. The final game of the week saw Saskatoon on the road once again as they traveled south of the border to take on the Las Vegas Aces. The Wild had traveled 4,351 km to get to Halifax with the stop in Ottawa. They then had to go another 5,384, literally from one side of North America to the other so they could get to Vegas. The Wild did not seem to show any jet-lag as they were competitive in the game but came out on the wrong side of the final score of 2-3. Montgomery Burns of the Wild scored their 2 goals in a nice display of puck movement. At the end of the week, Saskatoon find themselves at the bottom of the conference with a record of 1-3-0. The goal difference of -5 is something to keep an eye on as the teams improve. Word count: 502 Claimed: Week ending: 9 Apr

So I guess this is the place to show my age, haha. After high school I spent 9 years in the USAF as a firefighter. I spent 7 of them living in Europe. Due to injuries I couldnt be a firefighter after I left the military. So I moved into law enforcement where I was the Assistant Jail Administrator for a facility with 400 inmates. I did that for 4 years, then decided I had enough of working for the government and joined corporate America as a Training Supervisor for a company that processed credit card transactions. That company was bought out and I moved from Nashville to NC where I currently live. I switched careers again and became a high school history teacher which I retired from in Dec 2021. I wasnt ready to call it a career yet so I looked around and now work as a Learning Experience Designer for a company that uses Salesforce. Yea, I never heard of Salesforce either until I got this job...now it seems everywhere. Hahaha, so if you count my jobs as a teenager...been working for over 45 years. I plan on 6 more years, max. Then going to join my wife in that happy world of 100% retirement.

1. Jumped around the room! LOL, seriously, I told my wife and Dad. My wife said "Cool", Dad said, "Ok". But yea, it is pretty cool. 2. Head to the rink! I want to get a feel for the ice and see where my home is going to be. 3. I want us to be competitive. Since we had so many draft selections we may have a youngish team. So as long as we compete, then we can build on that next season. 4. I cant really say yet. I am still evaluating the other teams. But what the hey, I will say Halifax. Otis spent part of his VHLM season there and, even though it wasnt terrible, it was a huge let-down from his experience in Houston 5. I want to get better! I see how poorly I have played in the Junior Showcase and I dont want to be a hinderance to the Wild. 6. Carolina Hurricanes. Is it bad if I admit that I am not a hard-core fan? HAHA. But yea, they are leading their division. I think they may make a good run in the Cup. Who knows, may even win it!

Selected in the VHLM Draft As Draft Day approached, I sat in my room at the boarding house looking at my phone. It seemed like it would never ring. I had been practicing and hitting the ice as a member of the Warriors in the Junior Showcase Tournament. But as the tournament progressed my lack of skills became glaringly apparent. I was not getting much ice time. To make matters worse, I was not making the most of the time I was being given. I only had 1 goal, 2 assists and 7 penalties. I realize that I had work to do, but the gap between me and the others appeared larger than the Grand Canyon. Every day that went by without any contact confirmed that I just wasnt at the level the VHLM Managers were looking for. There are 10 teams in the VHLM and I was not hearing anything from them. I was not sure what would happen if I was not even on any of their draft boards. But then I got an email, a team wanted to talk to me about the upcoming draft. I answered the questions as honestly as I could, but it is always tough to gauge how these types of exchanges will develop. I knew that any team that did select me was getting a project that both of us would have to be willing to commit the time and work to so I could be an asset, and not a hinderance, to the team. I wasnt sure how things would go from there, but at least I knew there was a team interested. Then I got another email. I answered it as well. Yes, they had me on their draft board, another good exchange. Then there was a third, then a fourth and finally a fifth interview request. Five of the teams had me on their draft boards as the big night approached. I knew I wasnt going to be a top pick, I have too much work to do so I can be a valuable part of the team. But whoever selected me was going to get a player who wont give up. Draft night finally arrived. I watched the first round. I saw players coming off of the board. I had seen their names, recognized them as some of the best rookies in the league, of course they would go quickly. The GMs on the draft did a great job discussing the players and the things they would bring to their teams. But still no "Otis Boudreaux, Jr" had been called. The first and second rounds were over and I was still waiting for my telephone to ring. Then it happened....my phone rang, it was the Saskatoon Wild, they wanted to take me with the first selection of the third round. I almost threw my phone against the ceiling! Then there it was, my name on the board. I had a team, a home. So now the next chapter in my career is starting. I will be on the Wild and hope to be able to do more good than bad for the team. Thanks to the Manager and staff at Saskatoon for taking the chance on me, I hope I dont let you down!

Claiming for 4 out of 4 weeks. Ending 2 April.

I think this is awesome!! It gives me hope that things will continue to go well for me, in spite of me having to leave like I did. I am REALLY glad you are the GM of the Warriors and I thank you for so quickly offering me a spot in the Showcase Tourny. It has helped me settle in better. Keep up the great work!