Halifax GM Shawn Glade Announces Retirement

[Thranduil 293]

This week, Halifax 21st GM, Shawn Glade announced his resignation from his post after two successful VHLM seasons in a row. In his first season with the 21st, he led the first year expansion team to a first place finish, in the process putting together a very stacked team of players, many of whom are now big name VHL players. The team showed a lot of promise and the season included a big showing from youngster Karl von Moltke (KVM), who, after being picked up in one of the most one-sided trades in VHLM history, posted astounding numbers, with 45 goals and 80 assists for 125 total points. Everything seemed to be in place for Halifax and they dominated semi-finals, beating the Saskatoon Wild four games to zero. Halifax had all the pieces to win the founder's cup but ultimately fell short, dropping the final series in four games, to the third seeded Ottawa Lynx. Although it came to a crushing end, this inaugural expansion season was still a huge accomplishment for first year GM, Shawn Glade and he began to prove himself as a crafty, quality general manager.

In season 63, Halifax wasn't left with a lot to work with but Shawn remained confident and utilized what he had. Not being able to snag anyone decent in the draft, he turned to the only other way he could add roster players: Free Agency. The first player to catch his eye was a young enthusiastic winger who was passed over by everyone in the draft and was willing to play for anyone who wanted him. This player was John Madden. Shawn quickly signed Madden to a deal before anyone else had the chance. The signing marked the completion of one of the best line in the VHLM in season 63, which would be made up of second year Halifax players, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Flipachyev, along with Madden. The team got off to a fast start and took hold of the first place spot in the first 30 games of the season. Shawn bolstered the blueline by adding offensive defenseman, Jesse Wilson and shut-down specialist, Evgeni Komarov, as well as two-way forward, Wlodzeimers Zajaczkowski up front. Halifax once again had a good regular season and finished 3rd in league standings, led by Nathan MacKinnon who finished second in league points and first in plus / minus. The 21st played the Saskatoon Wild in the semi-finals and after taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, dropped the series in seven games.

Game 7 marked the last time Shawn Glade would GM the 21st, and although he never won a cup with the team, he still proved in only two seasons that he could be a top-class GM. Shawn was given the nod to take over operations of HC Davos and began this week. He says he would have liked to have stayed with the team long term, but the position with the Dynamo that was offered to him was too good to pass on and he decided a career as a VHL GM was too good not to pursue. Shawn, having no AGM to immediately step into his role, left Ottawa Lynx AGM, McWolf to take control of the team. Shawn has expressed his confidence that McWolf will be able to fulfil the expectations others have laid out for the team, in year three of its existence. 

Edited December 10, 2018 by Thranduil

[ShawnGlade 1,010]

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