So, the first playoff experience tasted by the Nevada Battleborn didn't quite go the way the team had hoped. Obviously, the team were at a massive disadvantage to start with because expansion teams rarely have much success in their first season and they were going up against a great team in the Knights, who were the number two seed by earning 70 points on the season, only 3 points behind the 1 seed this season of the Western Conference, the Anchorage Armada. As many suspected would happen, the Battleborn ended up getting swept and lost all four games against the Knights. With that being said, I can personally state with absolute confidence and from personal experience that such a crushing blow in the playoffs (and in relatively swift fashion) did not hamper the optimism, drive, and unity of this team in the locker room.

All along, the management and players have made it clear to one another that we understood this would be a process and a project starting from the ground-up; many of us were excited about this opportunity. More importantly, however, was the fact that we all understood that the team would grow and improve as the season progressed, because we would continue to just work hard and improve our players by the week, and heck, even by the day a bit. As the season progressed, we did improve as a team. There is no doubting that as we gained points at a better rate compared to the first half of the season, and games we lost were sometimes far closer. We used to going without getting many shots a game, to at least, usually, scoring a goal or two per game. There was clear progress being made, and as a team and as players in the locker room, this greatly reinforced our belie that we will only improve and eventually be able to stay we started at the bottom of a successful expansion team project.

So yes, even though we did get swept, we saw the progress during the season, and we thought we might have been able to snag a game or two in the playoffs (albeit against an excellent Knights team). That being said, it didn't happen, but the upbeat and excitement about the potential of the team is still fantastic. We're talking everyday and are excited about the upcoming season. We're continually posting funny memes, gifs, and other wacky stuff. If you could get a glimpse into our locker room, you would not see a team that had a rough regular season and got swept in the first round of the playoffs. What you would instead see if a group of players who are super excited to get to work once again and are pleased to be teammates with one another.

We don't know what next season will bring to the Battleborn. We hope and expect that we will greatly improve on our first season and make gains both in the regular season and postseason. Nothing is a lock in the SMJHL. However, what I have absolute confidence in is that regardless of what happens on the ice, this team is going to continue to work its ass off to improve and will be pleased to be teammates with one another and support each other, whether we meet our own self-expectations for next season. That is the character and makeup of the Battleborn, and that was exemplified this past season, regardless of the struggles we endured.

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Approved! +5 TPE @Winter is Coming