Mom, I did it! [1/2]

[Banackock 8,143]

What's it been? 10 seasons or something like that? Pretty damn close. Funny I can't remember when only a few short weeks ago I was blabbing about my career and how overly mediocre it was, but how I tried "oh so hard". Now, I guess you could say my career as Bears GM is a little less average and that I finally did something worth me always saying "but hey, I try hard". It's been a damn long time coming and the only shitty part about the situation is that, boom - just like that, we're in the off-season. There's no real time to enjoy it - just onto the next and start planning for something else. Maybe we'll throw a BBQ at Gretzky's how, shoot some golf and have a couple days to ourselves as a team.. AH, who the hell am I kidding, that's not really going to happen. 

 

The regular season

 

Man, this was the most stressful thing since the weekend (I have a weird love for Chinese food, but was super sick apparently from it - or the whiskey, and everything kept coming up all night long no matter what... talk about stressful, right?). No matter what we did, we couldn't really find any ground and we were constantly jumping from one set of lines to another. I guess, what you could say was, I was panicking. We had an exceptional team this season and if you take a look at the roster pages, we likely have the best, most contending like roster. This, of course, with New York with a similar - but different kind of threat (not taking away from them - amazing team and who knows what would of happened). Our two biggest stars in Gretzky and McAllister couldn't seem to stay lit long enough to bring about any streaks and while we seen great depth scoring from our lower lined guys, it wasn't enough to pull us over the hump. Fuck, Calgary had our number all season and not to mention, so did Helsinki. 

 

We finished the season with a 40-27-5 record, good enough for 4th in the league but poor enough to really have us doubting the outcome of playoffs. Both ourselves and Riga should have been higher and seeing what happened last season, who know what was going to happen in the first round. It was a really fucked up season - especially in the regular season and especially for the Bears. Lots of trying moments but we stuck together, had group chats via PM or really were a great team in the locker room. It really is a great group of guys.

 

The playoffs - Round ONE

Riga, last year we were scared shitless (or I was). It was my first taste of getting to the finals and really wanted it bad. You took that away from me and then we met the next season in the "specialty" round. Not to come off as cocky, but I was less concerned this season as I was to last. You aged as a team,  but maybe it wasn't even that. Maybe the season was so poor or mediocre, that we were more looking at positives, or taking things less harsh, and it worked out for us. It was a great series and it was full of nervousness from me. At this point, I was really thinking this could be our final year. Hell, I think I started talks at this point and was telling GM's we were going one of two ways - rebuild or one more.  To get the win here, it was huge. It was also shitty though because it meant Toronto was next - and while we had their number last year in a way, it looked to be a different story this season.

 

@hedgehog337 well announce trade shortly - but message me to let me know you're online.

 

ROUND TWO

 

Toronto. Where do I begin? I really didn't think we were going to make it passed you and while we could sit here for days and say this or that or whatever the shit, it is what it is. Seattle underperformed in the regular season and the boys came out swinging in the playoffs. Maybe this was a good thing. People thought less of the team and we used that for ourselves. We weren't easy and once we found ground, we knew this. It's a shame, sort of. Bitter sweet, maybe? I don't know. It's such a great season was wasted. I felt the pain last year and know it sucks what you went through. A lot of great players, great guys and an amazing GM. I'm sure our round 3 of the battle between the two will be coming shortly, but maybe next time for the draft lotto... haha

 

Great job Toronto and @DollarAndADream. You're a great GM - hope you stick with it and if not, hope Toronto can find someone to fill such comfy, nice looking shoes.

 

THE FINALS

 

2-0 start to the series. I was scared shitless before the sim as Helsinki had our number all season long. The moment that sim came out I was extremely surprised, very happy and maybe a little over confident. Not gonna lie, I was thinking "fuck yes, we have this bitch in the bag and I finally won a cup baby!". Then, the next sim came about and we were tied up at 2-2. Realization set in that it wasn't going to be an easy series and anything could happen. Looking at the season, something really shitty could be coming about. I thought the lines were good - no changes needed. We flew through the first 2 games - could just be a shitty sim and we'll take game 5 and gain safety and confidence back. WRONG. We lost game 5 and my heart sunk. Literally. I kept thinking "2 years in a row.. 2 finals.. so close.. lost. Now I may head into a rebuild and continue never, ever, ever... winning a cup". @JardyB10 when on a wonderful 40 some hour span without a sim, I was shitting and puking out a mixture of whiskey and chinese and kept looking for a sim every hour it seemed and then some. No sim.. going nuts.. frustrated.. let it be over!

 

I took a look at Helsinki's lines and this may have been the game changer - who knows. I noticed their second line pumped us in the last few sims and when looking noticed their 2nd line was heavily defensive - yet scoring. Our guys were focused on the puck, but at one end and it translated into potentially some bad breaks because the Titans were so heavy on defence that it led to opportunities. Thus, I toned down the lines more defensive - the first lines 0-2-3 and the second line something similar to them (not 1-4-0), but to 0-3-2. Crazy and I wasn't too sure about it but honestly - what's next. We've tried it all. We're the stronger team - I knew there was the right combo to match them and get the job down - but at times, this is about luck and a guessing game. Fortunately, we guessed right. Game 6 was ours, followed by another wait in the sim which Jardy did on purpose to drive me nuts. 

 

AND WE WON. Couldn't believe it, man. Woke up in the middle of the night and checked the sim (yes, I got a problem haha) and we won. Needless to say, felt great and a huge weight off my shoulders.

 

The Boys

 

@Quik @TheLastOlympian07 @CowboyinAmerica @BluObieZ @Green @ADV @Dangles13 @Laflamme

 

Thanks. I owe it to you guys. I've had a lot of great teams over the past decade in this league while being behind the Bears bench but it was really great and rewarding to have won it with you. We really were a pretty solid, enjoyable yet mature team to deal with and honestly, couldn't have done it without you boys. From advice, thoughts and your efforts in consistently building your players - or you presence in the LR - thanks. We finally did it. We won a cup - you guys got me that cup. Now, let's enjoy it and hopefully tag down one more before it's time to part ways.. which gets me thinking - y'all popped my cherry. Likely gonna be the toughest set of guys to trade off to head into a rebuild with.

 

 

1,394 words - 2 weeks

9th to 15th

16th to 22nd

FEDEROV

[BluObieZ 1,125]

Not one mention of the goalie that stood on his head

[Banackock 8,143]

3 minutes ago, BluObieZ said:

Not one mention of the goalie that stood on his head

That's coming later. But yes, everyone - you heard it hear first. BOG listen up - while we had exceptional play from numerous other players, Robbie played big when it meant most. 

[Will 4,662]

Congrats on finally getting the win @Banackock

[Banackock 8,143]

Just now, Will said:

Congrats on finally getting the win @Banackock

Yep. 

 

Thanks for simming - you too, @JardyB10.   League is forever in your debt.

[diamond_ace 3,112]

4 hours ago, Banackock said:

That's coming later. But yes, everyone - you heard it hear first. BOG listen up - while we had exceptional play from numerous other players, Robbie played big when it meant most. 

Should have thrown in 106 words about him

Edited April 10, 2018 by diamond_ace

[Banackock 8,143]

15 minutes ago, diamond_ace said:

Should have thrown in 106 words about him

Heh, that comes tmrrw. Easy TPEZ

[Baozi 1,662]

On 4/9/2018 at 4:31 PM, BluObieZ said:

Not one mention of the goalie that stood on his head

 

Why would you stand on your head of all places?

[DollarAndADream 3,357]

Review:

Weird looking back on this now with a review seeing that I didn't comment or like it. I remember reading through it all. Woops.

Great write-up, and a great team you had when you had it. Congrats again.