A Final Farewell to Guy Lesieur (Apart from Worlds)

[KC15 340]

Not Adieu, but Fare Thee Well

 

 

Huh. Has it really been 8 seasons? Guy Leseiur, RW from just outside Paris, France burst onto the VHL scene as an S68 draftee of the Mexico City Kings. Guy went in the 3^rd round, which as an almost entirely unknown quantity in the VHL at the time, I thought was a little high. I think I had one or two solid users from the PBE speaking on my behalf.

 

Guy spent just one season in the junior circuit, split between Mexico City and Las Vegas having been traded near the deadline to help the Aces make a push for the playoffs. Drafted 37^th overall in that initial VHLM, Guy’s stock had risen by the time of the VHL entry draft as he was taken 6^th overall by the Riga Reign, only to be traded to the D.C. Dragons immediately after being selected.

 

This was a thrilling moment for Lesiur – both for having gone so high in the draft and for having been traded to the one team he wanted to play for more than anything. Guy had a yearning to go to this expansion team and help to grow the franchise at the same time that he himself grew as a player. A big thank you to Riga management as I think they knew Guy longed to play in D.C. and they made it work to both team’s benefit (I hope).

 

Guy then spent almost the entirety of his career in D.C. under the excellent GMing of @enorama, @mcwolf, and @fonzi. The only exception was the 32 games he played for London after having been drafted in their own expansion draft. And in reality, @mcwolf was GM in London and it felt like Guy never really left the Dragons extended family.

 

I would have to say that my first tour of duty in the VHL was a booming success. Met lots of wonderful folks, enjoyed some success with D.C. in the latter years (albeit never capturing that illusive Cup), and had multiple 40+ goal seasons. I’ve been a part of 7 different sim leagues across 4 different sports for a number of seasons now and I believe this is the only player I’ve been able to fully live into the vision I had for him from the start. Most other leagues I’ve had a fairly major shift in position and at the very least a significant shift in role at that position. I have to say that makes the VHL a special place for me.

 

So now I say goodbye to Guy after his mandatory 8^th season retirement. It’s bittersweet to be sure. I enjoyed him and the LRs he was part of, but I’m also excited about this new start. Where will he go in the juniors? Which VHL team will draft him? Who will I meet anew through him? I would have no problem going back to any of Guy’s teams to play with any of the users of his former teammates, but I’m also wide open to a completely different experience.

 

Funny, I had figured on taking a break from the league once Guy retired, but that lasted all of about 3 days. I think all of the above is the reason why.

 

537 words, submitted for Week Ending March 14

 

[Jubis 1,351]