The Battle of Bana

[AJW 2,291]

@Banackock is a well known member across the VHL explicitly for his long term GMing career behind the Seattle Bears, also most recently through the great work he has done to keep the Recruitment Team alive. It is not an easy task to run as Recruitment Head, it is a lot of behind the scenes work that mostly goes unnoticed, although Bana has a tougher battle just ahead of himself. Bana has put in his fair share of time to make this league a better place, and right now, in current times, might be the story book ending to the vastly successful career he has been longing to read.

 

The S97 Continental Cup playoffs are more than underway as we are now soon to approach the final round which will more than likely feature Bana’s Seattle Bears of the North American Conference, as well as the Riga Reign of the European Conference… the team which Bana’s player currently resides. Each team is currently winning their respected series 3-1, and unless a 3 game winning streak is achieved by an opposing team, these finals should be set in stone. The forward duo of Riga’s Severus Targaryen and Axle Gunner @Steve may be considered one of the VHL’s best playoff pairing in history so far. Throughout three rounds of play (wildcard + 1st and 2nd round) the duo has managed to put up a combined 66 points in only 14 games played. Both teams have battled in these playoffs since as early as the wildcard rounds in order to reach this plateau and will not be backing down without a fight. While Riga seems to have solid firepower up front, Seattle is backed by a Seattle legend in @Hogan’s player The Phantom of the VHL, as well as 5th season star goaltender Giorgiy Costanzov @Mongoose87.

 

At the end of the day, Bana’s GMing run will not last forever. He has totalled over 8 years of GM experience with the Seattle Bears and will more than likely seek retirement sooner than later. The question is, if Bana’s Seattle Bears are to win the Continental Cup, will this be his last hurrah? Or, if his own blood ran through Targaryen’s veins is to defeat the legacy he has built, will we see another season of the everlasting GM behind the Bears’ organization?

[LucyXpher 1,772]

Legendary GM and a huge part of this community.  Another Cup as either a player or GM would be well deserved 

[Banackock 8,318]

Just seen this. Thanks, @AJW. Appreciate the kind words and article. Always love GM articles. There's honestly not enough of them! Need more coverage on GM's of all leagues. I enjoy being a player but my massive passion in GMing. 

 

Crazy to think it's been 48 seasons and 9 years as Bears GM in May. That's a long time to do or be anything  3,528 regular season games. 1,941 - 1,300 - 287. 402 playoff games. 216-186. 14th finals, I think. 8 cups (I think, too lol). 8-5 rn in the finals. Met too many awesome people and as you know, I keep in touch with most. It's awesome.

 

It's been a great ride. There's parts of me that definitely thinks about stepping down. I've thought, probably for the last 2 cups, that if I win - "do the mic drop thing", but it hasn't happened yet. The hunger is still there. The tank just isn't as full. There's times when I know I'm not as good as I once was. Sometimes I still am. @Spartan mentioned me in a comment today that had me think again. I've had this thought before but at times, I'm not as hardcore as I once was. Maybe that's a good thing. I'm no longer analyzing the shit out of stuff in playoffs. It was crazy. Finding patterns. Countering. Studying each game. Comparing to regular season and other teams/series. Now? Yes, but not as hardcore. I do it when it's required and I've had it happen where I was like "shit, I should have acted quicker". Maybe that's the perfectionist/passion in me for the role and serving the Bears family. 

 

I've thought about stepping down. More and more as the days go on. Too many milestones coming up. 50 seasons, 100th VHL season and, I mean, 10 years If I really want to finish this marathon.

 

@Updater  can I please claim this as a VHL.com article/Fan 590 or whatever +2 TPE 

Edited February 13 by Banackock