Having a Chat with a VHLM Management Team

[Juice 641]

 

What is the one thing that you see quite often in regards to interviews in VHL? If you guessed player interviews, you would be correct! Although it is great to see the personalities come out from the players, you tend to see a similar trend with both the questions and answers coming up.

This had me think, what would be the best way to spice up the interviews being held? What would be a new take on the interviews that would be both interesting and something that would might have an impact on the lives after playing for some players?

Thus, I have conducted an interview with the management staff for the Yukon Rush to get both their insights on both the job itself as well as their thoughts on the season currently ongoing in the VHLM.

 

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(For reference for clarity before the interview begins, both staff has been asked the same questions and Assistant General Manager fromtheinside's responses will be shown in red while General Manager MexicanCow's will be shown in blue)

Hi gentlemen, thank you so much for giving me the time for a quick interview.

 

First Question: How long have you been with the Rush organization, either just as management or overall?

"I was lucky enough to get a shot in a management position with Yukon just two weeks ago. I was surprised to get the opportunity because I just finished my rookie season. I'm still very new all things considered, so I was very thankful Cow decided to give me a shot!"

Oh wow! From what I hear with the team, everyone really respects you so that's quite a surprise your tenure has only just started!

And how about yourself, MexicanCow? How long have you been with the Rush?

"I was hired as Yukon's GM 7 seasons ago. Man time flys by. It was late night December 31st. Day after my birthday and day before the new year. Could not have come at a better time for me."

Milestone after milestone! Definitely a great post-birthday gift as well as a start to the new year! I think your tenure speaks as itself, but if the time flies by as it does you know you're doing a great job.

Next question, how would you say the management side of the game suits you compared to the playing side?

I really enjoy both sides of the league. I think my player side is more casual earn that 12 TPE a week and I'm done. My management style is a little more time consuming and takes a lot more patient's. Overall I really enjoy both but building a team has got to take the cake. It's a lot of fun interacting with all the new players.

If there's one thing that I've heard is that you have an aura of patience and rationality which is something admired. Here's to hoping that you can make the Rush into something truly special!

And yourself, fromtheinside?

Well I actually think it suits me quite well. It's been fun to use my real life social skills in a setting like this where I can persuade free agents to our organization, or help the players already on the team.  It's been a blast getting my feet wet in management so far. I've learned a lot in  a short amount of time. There's always more I can do though, so I will try not to get complacent and keep improving.

I've been told that you're one of the nicest and most helpful people I've met, and that's a quality that isn't easy to come back this day and age! Through experience, both good and bad, I am sure you will improve more as time goes on, but I can tell that higher management positions are in your near future!

Looking towards the present and this season in particular, how would you say the Rush has been playing in your eyes? Have they lived up to your expectations?

I'm going to be totally honest they have not lived up to expectations so far, but i believe in my players and I'm sure they will have lived up to them by the end of the season. A lot of the teams are competitive this year, which makes my expectations pretty hard to achieve, but I'm sure they will pull it off in the end.

A real answer from a general manager who wants the best for his team, I can see exactly why people mentioned you having that aura of rationality.

Fromtheinside, your thoughts on the season thus far for the Rush and if they lived up to your expectations? Do you have similar thoughts as the GM?

Honestly, the season has been playing out pretty close to how I had imagined it. Last season, the league had a huge recruitment drive that brought in a massive wave of new talent. All that talent went into the VHLM Dispersal Draft a couple weeks ago. The result is that many teams got a whole lot better, and the league is way more competitive as a whole. That being said, this season will be a long a grueling battle from start to finish. I think our team has done fairly well, and I am most happy about how the production is coming from various people rather than just one or two players. I think once our two rookie defenders get a little stronger, we will be in a really good spot.

Looking on the previous seasons, the Rush has definitely had it's ups and downs, from last season finishing in the semi-finals and the previous few being near the bottom of the standings, so you can tell that the Rush has gotten a whole lot better! However I fully agree, this season will be tough with every team being as competitive as can be. The Rush are a very balanced team, and with some growth and experience from your younger core I also hope you end up in a good spot!

Final question for the interview as I don't want to take up all your time, what is the one transaction (whether it's through the latest draft, trades, etc.) do you think that has had the most positive effect on the team thus far for this season in particular?

This is going to sound cheesy, but I really do think picking Kristof Welch up will go down as our best move this season looking back in hindsight. Everyone participates in VHL a little differently, but judging from his engagement so far, I really feel like we got super lucky finding him. Not only did we fill a positional need by getting another defender, but we were lucky enough to find someone who actually enjoys making content too. I am super excited to see how he develops!

I don't know if this counts as a transaction but hiring Fromtheinside was one of my best decisions of my life. Fromtheinside was a huge addition to this team, from signing waivers, to team interactions, to doing lines and trading hes been a stand-up class act AGM. He's dedicated, driven and motivated. Fromtheinside's enthusiasm has always been there and its been amazing to have him in Yukon.

Thank you both for such an outstanding and insightful interview, and I hope I can sit down with you again in the future!

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From a very patient and strong-willed General Manager to an outgoing and optimistic Assistant General Manager, the Yukon Rush has a solid management group that want the best for their team. I have the utmost faith that whether it's this season or next season, that both MexicanCow and Fromtheinside will make the critical moves and adding the pieces needed to help lead the Rush to their first Founder's Cup in over 15 seasons.

 

#FeelTheRush

 

(1308 words)

[Juice 641]

(Claiming for Week Ending in 12/6)

[Sljppers 23]

Both of these guys seem like really upstanding dudes. I hope the best for the Rush outside of their Mississauga games, for now. Great interview questions, and thank you so much for posting this! The formatting really does the job better than having added something like M: and F: to each of the lines. Thanks for posting this, it's a great insight into the operation of another team.

[fromtheinside 1,290]

Juice you are an absolute gem my friend. I can't believe how much you are crushing your rookie season. For me personally, signing you off waivers will definitely be my crowning achievement this season. So glad you ended up with us on the Rush. You're gonna do amazing things in the VHL. This interview is formatted beautifully with the colouring and bolding which made it very easy to digest. Also the preamble and the reflection on all your questions made for a great read overall. 10/10 my friend, great job as always! 

[Crstats23 342]

Review this is great I love the fact that it was different in the way that it’s management instead of a player, good job being clear con who was talking with the colors, hope to see more of these from you 

 

rating 10/10

[Ledge 1,131]

Review: Interviews are so rare, and sometimes they aren't written right, but this one is perfectly fine. I love the colour, the image, and the italics, it makes it all easy to read. You had some neat questions, and obviously you chose two very unique guys to answer them. 

10/10

[Juice 641]

(Claiming for Week Ending in 12/13)

[Jolline 13]

Well executed interview. Good question, good answers from all parties and the execution is key here. This is pleasing to the eye and it makes you want to read more. Good job guys

9/10

[SimmerDown99 39]

Love how this is an interview on management instead of players. I think having a little more insight on this was cool. I see these guys around the forums a bunch so it’s neat to get the inside school from them on becoming a GM or AGM. Great article 10/10

[Hoopydog 195]

Great job on this interview. It's laid out really well and the use of the different colours for the management team make it really easy to follow. The questions are really good and the piece flows from question to question really well. Overall, top job!

 

10/10