Karel the Manager

[VattghernCZ 1,049]

This is VHL. We get to create our own storylines here. These can be based on reality or don't have to be. This one is. It's a continuation of a real story that unfortunately didn't get one. On September 7, 2011, a tragic accident happened in Russia. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, then one of the KHL powerhouses, were flying to Belarus, where they were scheduled to play the season opener against the HK Dinamo Minsk. But the airplane never landed. It crashed not long after the takeoff. There were 45 people onboard; 43 lost their lives in the crash; one passed away later in the hospital. Among the 43 initial victims were three Czech hockey players, all of them members of the 2010 IIHF WC gold medal-winning Czech team. Karel Rachůnek (OTT, NYR, NJD), Josef Vašíček (CAR, NSH, NYI), and Jan Marek, as well as one of the best Slovak players, Pavol Demitra (OTT, STL, LAK, MIN, VAN). To pay homage to Karel Rachůnek, whose name is printed on the only Czech hockey jersey I own, I decided to use his name as a manager name now that I'm getting into GMing, having a role in each of the offseason tournaments, and waiting for another VHL GM job opening so I can try to apply. In this alternate storyline, Rachůnek didn't lose his life in the crash but was left unable to continue his career as a professional athlete.

 

“Come on, Rachna, move your legs! Go go go!” shouted the coach. I can't do this, Karel thought. It was his first real practice after the accident. Hockey has always been his passion. He didn't want to even think about doing anything else. The hope he would step on the ice again and smell the distinctive smell of sweaty leather inside the hockey gloves had kept him going during his recovery, when he had to learn to walk again.

 

“Doc, when will I be able to get back on the ice?” Karel remembers asking the doctor in the Yaroslavl Hospital. He never got an answer, only sympathetic looks. This isn't real; it can't be! The resilience, some may say stubbornness, helped him exceed all expectations doctors and physiotherapists had.

 

Eleven months after the crash, Karel put the pen on paper and signed a PTO contract with his hometown team, HC Zlín. The training camp was a nightmare. Sure, he still had the smarts, but not the physique to go along with it. You can't play defense when you can't keep up or put any weight on your right leg.

 

Needless to say, Karel wasn't offered a contract as a player.

 

But he did receive an offer to stay with his hometown team as an associate coach. While coaching had never been on Karel’s list, he figured his experience he had gained overseas and in the KHL could come in handy. And as it happened, his influence helped Zlín to dominate in the following season.

 

Okay, this can work, Karel thought. He became a full-time assistant coach and later a head coach, honing his skills in the ELH (Extraliga ledního hokeje), the top-tier Czech league. Eventually he was becoming more and more involved in the hockey operations, serving as an AGM along with being the bench boss. But he felt his hands were too tied as an AGM. Some people are great at this position, but Karel felt like it's not right for him. He felt like he would make a better GM than an AGM.

 

However, he was never able to land a GM spot in the ELH. But after the GM of the junior affiliate of HC Motor České Budějovice—a team Karel was with at that moment—stepped down mid-season, Karel was named the interim GM. The interim tag was then removed the following offseason.

 

That's how Karel met Wann Kerr. At the time, Kerr was one of the better VHL players, centering the United first line, and had been investing heavily in youth player development in Czechia for years. During his regular offseason visit of Czech youth and junior training camps, Kerr and Rachůnek had a beer or five and began talking about hockey. Kerr himself, while only being a player, was interested in the hockey operations and was vaguely involved in some hockey talks within the United management.

 

“Yo, how about trying your luck in the VHL?” pitched Kerr. At that time, Karel was intrigued, but didn't want to terminate his contract with the Motor organization.

 

“I tell you what. I train my successor here in Budějce. You get me some contacts and let me crash at your Vancouver place, I make you my AGM and pay for your beer. Deal?” replied Rachůnek.

 

“Fuck yes! We fuck the VHL up! We also need to get like fucking @Triller or @Scurvy or @Thunder or someone onboard. @Frank and @Gaikoku-hito are gonna shit their pants! Let's fucking gooo!” Kerr confirmed the deal, hitting the table with his fist, spilling his beer in the bowl of wasabi battered peanuts.

 

Not caring that he didn't know who these people were, the intoxicated Rachůnek joyfully agreed, and they carried on celebrating the flawless masterpiece of a plan.

 

However, the plan appeared to be flawed from the beginning. Rachůnek trained his junior league GM successor, winning the champion title along the way. He moved to Vancouver with his family, and immediately Kerr informed him about the Dragons looking for a new GM. Before even leaving the Vancouver airport, Karel sent his CV and application email to the VHL commissioner.

 

“Who the hell is this Rachůnek jackass? Ever heard of him? What's that stupid circle above the u? Get outts here!” was probably the commissioners’ reaction to Rachůnek’s email. Or at least that's how he imagined it.

 

“So what, you just gonna sulk in the corner now? You bitch made?” Kerr tried to comfort Rachůnek. Then continued with some actual constructive advice: “Listen, my boy Santy is about to hit the ice at the Junior Showcase Tournament. The GM of his team may use another voice. Give @Ricer13 a call and see.”

 

And that's how Rachůnek got his first management position within the VHL system.* The Rush have taken the JST by storm, of which the VHL management took notice. The next time Rachůnek applied for a GM spot, he was accepted. Even though the JST is not done yet, Karel has already assembled a strong squad as the GM of the Nuuk Narwhals at the ProAm tournament, and was named the GM of the Team Europe at this year's WJC.

 

Karel Rachůnek’s name is in the hat now. It will be interesting to see if he manages to land a long-term job in the future.

 

*My experience GMing at JST and AGMing in Houston a few seasons ago is not a part of the Rachůnek storyline.

Edited October 5 by VattghernCZ
1000+ words, claiming 2×6 TPE

[Thunder 1,195]

No wonder you got a fire lit under your ass….  Wasabi soaked peanuts!!!!  This was a good read.  Inspired me to come up with something for next week.

[VattghernCZ 1,049]

Claim 2/2 for W.E. 10/13