oilmandan 688 Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 (edited) To New York Americans fans everywhere, We all knew this day may come and after the recent moves in front office and in player personnel, it was more and more likely to happen. This doesn't make it any easier to write this, even though I've written it out in my head dozens of times since I was told before the season I'd likely be moved. I originally came here in S63 with my VHLM teammate Joseph McWolf shortly after winning the Founders Cup in Ottawa. We had no idea what we were in for, we were just a couple of fresh faces kids going to a team at the beginning of a complete teardown and rebuild. We were the envy of the league as one of the up and coming squads in the VHL, with solid goaltending, one of the best young d-men out there and enough talent up front to scare teams about what we'd turn into. We added lots of talented pieces over the next few seasons as we attempted to climb into the elite of the league. Guys like Joel Ylonen, Carles Puigdemont and Ryan Sullivan Jr gave us a deadly attack and when we signed Leph Twinger, we all thought we had the last piece we needed to challenge the big boys. After all that potential was building, it started to become too much pressure for some guys and we seemed to level out and never get any higher. It's a real shame we never got to see that squad grow into the potential we originally had and ultimately as we hit the middle part of our careers it became apparent a shake up was needed. One by one my long time teammates were either traded or released until it was just me and Carles. I was asked if I had any preference where I wanted to go. I originally said I'd prefer to stay and try to lead the American back into the forefront, but that I would do anything to help the team out and accept a trade that made sense for everyone. As the games rolled on I knew my day was coming and I tried to give my best and beyond every night. I've never been a flashy player or one of the best out there, but I have always tried to be the hardest worker and tough to play against. For some reason this year, I've seemed to get more lucky bounces and have been getting on the scoresheet more often than in years past. Hopefully this will give all you fans something to remember me by. Thank you to every fan that came to the rink every night and cheered us on win or lose, I'll never forget you. You've all made this such a fun place to play and I still hope to one day bring the Cup back here because New York is where my heart is. To my new fans in Helsinki, hopefully you can all read English, cause I don't know a lick of Finnish or whatever you speak over there. I'm looking forward to the next few years we will have together, you've already got such a good hockey team and I hope I can add to that bring another Continental Cup across the pond. It's incredible the work the staff has done here bringing in all these amazing players and somehow being able to have them all gel so well. Plus somehow being able to pay them all! Helsinki has always intrigued me, since I was interviewed before my draft by your current GM. Although I didn't end up here from the beginning, hopes I can prove that I'm worth the ransom that was paid for me come here. I've played with several of these guys in the past for team Canada among other places and I think we will find chemistry very quickly. I haven't had much success in the playoffs but as David Price once said, "I was saving all my post season wins for the Red Sox. " Here's to the future and winning several Continental Cups! Dan Wilinsky Claiming for next week Edited July 28, 2019 by oilmandan Quik, Dil, chillzone and 7 others 3 2 3 1 1 Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/66511-a-letter-to-the-fans-of-the-new-york-americans-and-helsinki-titans-too/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quik 4,113 Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 The fans at Hartwall Arena have already bought all the new Wilinsky jerseys in the shop, gonna have to order some more! oilmandan 1 Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/66511-a-letter-to-the-fans-of-the-new-york-americans-and-helsinki-titans-too/#findComment-647794 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Victor 10,940 Posted July 24, 2019 Admin Share Posted July 24, 2019 10 hours ago, Quik said: The fans at Hartwall Arena have already bought all the new Wilinsky jerseys in the shop, gonna have to order some more! Bailey jerseys still hanging unwanted I assume. Dil 1 Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/66511-a-letter-to-the-fans-of-the-new-york-americans-and-helsinki-titans-too/#findComment-647988 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dil 1,760 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Victor said: Bailey jerseys still hanging unwanted I assume. on god Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/66511-a-letter-to-the-fans-of-the-new-york-americans-and-helsinki-titans-too/#findComment-648002 Share on other sites More sharing options...
McWolf 3,115 Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 It was great sharing locker rooms in Ottawa and New York with you, Dan. We'll meet again! oilmandan 1 Link to comment https://vhlforum.com/topic/66511-a-letter-to-the-fans-of-the-new-york-americans-and-helsinki-titans-too/#findComment-649845 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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