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Raven · 01-01-2021, 04:34 PM

Quote:This is mostly a write up about how I joined the league and my memories of every season Silverwing played in. I started writing this just after retiring Silverwing so back in May 2018 and never finished it and so never posted it. I stumbled across it a while ago and figured I should post this once I came back to the SHL as it was a solid 3K words so I finished it up and figured I might aswell post it now. I dont think many people would care for this, but hey I can use the money hah

After two and a half years I say goodbye to my first simulated sports player. Silverwing never grew to be one of the oldest players out there. I know there are mad lads on the site with like four year old players. Silverwing was never meant to be one of those though honestly. Recreating has been in the back of my mind since, from what I remember, S34ish. I knew I wanted to create a power forward. The kind of player to go around the ice and just hit people, but also with a bit of a scoring edge. Inspired by Wolfpack legends Nathan Russell and the amazing Tim ‘Clutchner’ Buckner. In honor of retiring the player who was the gateway for me into discovering this amazing part of my life I will write about my history here.

It was mid october of the year 2015. I was in a very dark place after a break up with someone very dear to me. I was browsing reddit as I often did and was checking the hockey reddit. I had only recently gotten into hockey, getting into it during the 2014-2015 stanley cup playoffs. I fondly remember talking to my best friend who told me he wanted to get into hockey. Having played some hockey games for the Sega Megadrive years back as a kid I was a little accustomed to hockey, but it was still very exotic to me. The western conference finals were between the Blackhawks and the Ducks and the Eastern finals between the Rangers and Bolts. I started cheering for the ducks, which ended up being eliminated by the Blackhaws. In the final I cheered for the Bolts… who also ended up losing to the Blackhawks. Which sums up why I do not like the Blackhawks hah. Once the finals were over I decided to look into teams and see who I wanted to support. I ended up choosing the Coyotes as my team. I kinda forgot about hockey in the offseason, until I remember it existed somewhere in October. A very good timing, because just a little time later the SHL posted a recruitment post.

I looked at the post and got really excited about the whole idea of the site. The whole create your own player, train to get better, compete with tons of members. It has an amazing ring to it and I couldn’t wait to get home from work so I could sign up… and then I forgot about it once I got home. (My memory is really shit sometimes haha). It took me a few days to remember that I wanted to check this site out and dove into my phone’s browser history to find the website. (Good thing I did remember otherwise I might have not been here now).

So with little hockey knowledge, no sim league experience I signed up. I started off on a good note by not fucking up my player page and build. Even though silly ol’ Mac thought I did mess something up. I don’t remember a whole lot between my SMJHL draft and me signing up. Quickly checking my PM’s I see my first message was from no one other than Ballerstorm. Who ended up playing a huge part in my player. Also got a message from Rich telling me about the Knights. I ended up sharing a LR with Rich for a while in New England and he’s a great person. Besides PMing with Baller and Rich I ended up not receiving anything from other gm’s. Although that was probably my fault as well for not being too active before the draft from what I remember.

S26 Rookie season

So draft night rolls around and I am in a horrible time zone when it comes down to things like drafts and other fun stuff. So I ended up missing out on watching the entry draft live. So eagerly I woke up the next morning to check where I ended up being drafted. I must have checked my inbox first and saw all the welcome messages from Montreal. Then I went to look at my draft position. 30th overall to the Montreal Impact. I was actually not very happy with how late I was drafted. (In hindsight though I 100% agree with my draft position). I took this unhappiness as a motivation drive though. I wanted to grow and get better. Over the next few weeks me and Baller exchanged quite a few messages talking about builds and what I should focus on to become a good player. I changed my weakness from defense to checking. Originally I wanted to make a checking sniper with lack of defensive responsibilities, but I have made a complete 180 from this mindset. Now defense is one of the most important stats for me. No matter what player type I am building towards.

Just from these messages Ballerstorm has influenced me and my player so much and I honestly do not think I would be here without him. Although I will never know, I feel like me typing this memoir and telling all the great stories I have had would not have been the case without him.

My first season was absolutely atrocious for me. Silverwing ended up recording 5 points in the 50 games I played in my rookie season. I was unhappy with this production, but I knew as long as I put in the work and I would hopefully be rewarded and boy did I sure get rewarded. The rewards came in earlier than expected. The Montreal players voted me as the most dedicated impact player. (Oh yeah back in those days we were the Montreal impact). A prize I was very happy to be the recipient of.

As with the junior draft I once again was not awake from the SHL draft. My Co-GM in Montreal had done a good word for me in New England and I even went as far as recording a song (Yes even I have to agree how fucking cringey that was and still is) to express my desire to play for the wolfpack. Besides New England I would have also liked to have gone to Calgary to join my GM Ballerstorm.

I wake up and instantly go and check where I ended up going in the draft. My dreams had come true and I had been drafted by New England 7th! Overall. In one season I had jumped up 23 spots in the draft. Something that made all the work I had put into Silverwing thus far all the more worth it.

S27 Sophomore junior season

If you were to ask me what I think the best season for Silverwing in his career was I would point to this season. He jumped up from a measly 7 points in season 26 to a massive league leading 62 points and leading the league with 33 goals scored. These were at the time also record breaking stats. 33 goals was the record for most goals scored in the new era (S25-Current) until season 32 in which it got beaten by Alex Light. 62 points ended up being a record until Alex Light and Reed Laing both broke in season 33. While these records have long since been beaten, I still take pride in how well Silverwing played that season.

In the Montreal all time stats list Silverwing sits 2nd in goals, behind Jrue Harden (41 in S11), 3rd in points, behind Jrue Harden (73 in S11) and Nathan Wong (67 in S11). 1st in power play points with 26 in S28. Tied 3rd overall in Game Winning Goals with 6 in S27, behind Lord Pretty Flacco (8 in S25), Hugh Johnson (7 in S28).

In the playoffs Silverwing stands tied 2rd overall together with Michael Walker in Playoff Goals with 12 in S27, behind Tim Elliot (14 in S33).

As a team we also experienced an amazing season, we won our second Laurifer Trophy in a row and we made it all the way to the final, before falling to the mighty backup goalie of the Colorado Mammoths.

This was an amazing season for me personally. The hard work showed off and Ballerstorms help shined through. In this season I won quite a bit of silverware, including, SMJHL Point and Goal leader. Most Dedicated player and league MVP.

In the Montreal award section I won the most dedicated player award, Top Forward, Playoff MVP as selected by the GMs, team voted MVP.

I am greatly thankful for all the support I received that season. It showed that anyone can come in and with the right help can make a splash. From being a kid who knew next to nothing about sim leagues and hockey I had a player who just blew up. Now it was a case of keeping my player at top shape.

S28 Last season of Juniors.

With season 28 being my last season in the juniors I really wanted to close it off with a cup. It would be a great send off from the amazing years I had in the juniors. While not as huge as the previous season, Silverwing led the league once again in points, this time with 53 points. More importantly though the Montreal Militia (Surprise we suddenly the Militia now) won their first cup as the Militia! (Not their first in general though, but a nice touch to win the cup in their first year as Militia).

It was in this season that I took over from Jackcross, who had provided us with seasons of excellent simming, as the SMJHL simmer. A job that I had a lot of fun with, but which also provided some struggles. Like having to be able to sim every day and keep up with all the line changes, trades, signings and what have you not. A job I can certainly recommend as, while time consuming, being able to pump out a sim and seeing everyone talk about the result is amazing.

In his last year Silverwing was able to win a few more awards, SMJHL most dedicated player, SMJHL award in excellence and SMJHL point leader and the one I am the most happy with, the four star cup with the Montreal Militia. In the militia award section Silverwing won his second Team Leadership award and top forward award.

A big one though is that he also won the S28 Damien Littleton award, the award given out to the most dedicated SHLer. It’s great to think of a time I was giving this site my all.

I had such a blast in Montreal. The locker room was popping and filled to the brink with amazing
people. It made me sad to have to leave Montreal. If I could I would have stayed there forever haha, but it was time for the next chapter in Silverwings life. The big league. Time to make splashes in the SHL.

S29 Suddenly a scrub again

These bits will probably be a little shorter and mostly just recapping how Silverwing did that season pointwise and how the team did in general (Blame the memory)

My first season playing with the Wolfpack was not the best season for Silverwing. It would kinda remind one of his first season in Montreal. 7 points is all he had to show at the end of the season. Which was a great drop from the seasons he was having in Montreal. However this was expected. We did not make the playoffs this year, but good times were just around the corner for us. I was now also a part of one of my favorite places I have been in ever. The locker room is great and I get to finally play with the awesome people I have been talking to for a while now.

S30 Sophmore in the SHL

Silverwing has a huge step up season as he would record 31 points in this season, 13 goals and 18 assists to finish it off. Season 30 would also mark my first taste of the sweet fruit known as the SHL playoffs and boy was it a good run for us. We started off by beating our rival team the Minnesota Chiefs in a sweep, then we faced a good West Kendall Platoon team who narrowly beat the Manhattan Rage in the first round. We ended up beating them 4-2, losing our first game, winning the following two games, losing the fourth and then beating them twice in a row again. Now in the finals we had to go up against the Edmonton Blizzard, back in the day when they were one of the best teams in the league. They had previously beaten the Texas Renegade in a 6 game series, beaten the Dragons in 5. This was a great series for us, because we swept 'em. 2 sweeps in the playoffs and a six gamer and the cup was ours. It has taken me 5 seasons, 2 of which in the SHL to win my first challenger cup. A great moment for all of us in New England. Silverwing ended up getting almost a point per game as he finished with 13 points in 14 games. A balanced 6 goals and 7 assists. A big standout for Silverwing was that he recorded 5 game winning goals. With the first being, his first ever goal, in his first ever playoff game in second overtime. The second GWG came in the second game against the Chiefs, another overtime goal for Silverwing. The third one was once again a goal scored in the second overtime, this time in game 2 against the Platoon. Fourth GWG came up huge in game 5 against the Platoon. He scored this goal with only 7 more seconds on the clock in the third period. The last GWG was in game 6 finishing off the Platoon series. The first playoff for Silverwing we saw him play a huge role by scoring many game winning goals in high pressure situations.

Also Silverwing was an assistant Captain in S30 wow.

S31 A rookie no more

With his first Challenger cup ring on his finger, Silverwing goes on to have his breakout season. In his third season he goes up and records 47 points total. With 20 of these points being goals and 27 being assists. This would be the start of a big streak in Silverwings goal scoring, as he would score 20 or more goals until well into the future. The S31 playoff index is gone, so I will not be going into too much detail on these playoffs all you need to know is that New England won another mother flipping cup and Silverwing went 19 points in 19 games that playoffs officially going point per game, what a lad. 3 seasons in the league and already won two cups with the top lads from the wolfpack. Thinking back to it, these were the days, man. People were hating on the wolfpack for winning cups, we were still being called the softpack. Good ol’ days really.

S32 What, no cup? Here, suck a…

So I spoiled it a little in the title already, but the wolfpack did not win the cup in season 32. We were hoping for the threepeat, which would have been a great feat (hah hit em with the classic rhymes). The playoff started with a hard earned victory against the Minnesota Chiefs, which was then followed by a complete asswhooping by the Rage. Back in the day when they played their top line like 50 minutes a game anyways they got slaughtered by the Dragons in the finals so all is well in the world of simulated hockey.

So overall Silverwing had a bit of a down year. Recording only 39 points in the regular season, a drop off of 8 points. He did score 20 goals again, but this year only 19 assists. This back season trended into the playoffs too where Silverwing only scored 3 points in 11 games. Which was hella stupid tbh, but you know Simon T gonna Simon T.

S33 Uno, Dos, Tres

After a tragic year in which we did not win a cup, not getting the threepeat, we went on to have a great year once again. Ending the regular season with 67 points which was good enough for first overall in the league, winning the presidents trophy.

Silverwing recorded his first point per game season in which he scored exactly 50 points in 50 games. 26 goals and 24 assists, which was good enough to lead the Wolfpack in scoring that year. 50 points would put him tied for 11th best player by points in the league and tied 7th for most goals.

The playoffs started great with a 5 game series against the Buffalo Stampede, followed by a very tight seven game series against the Toronto North Stars who at this point were still looking to win their first cup. The finals would be against an old familiar in the Calgary Dragons. We would end up beating them in six games having played a series of every kind except a sweep. An amazing feat by the New England Wolfpack who won three cups in four years and for Silverwing who won three cups in his first four years playing in the SHL.

Silverwing scored 19 points in this playoff, scoring 9 goals and recording 10 assists. While playing just under 20 minutes a game. Which was the second in points after Makinen who went on a tear and scored 25 points. Silverwing also scored two hattricks in this playoff campaign and won a fight.

S34 50 in a row

50 points were once again scored by Raven Silverwing. This time in the form of 25 goals and 25 assists. Perfect balance in everything. Silverwing ended third on the team scoring sheet, tied with Patrikov Bure, behind Jasper Clayton with 51 points and Mainio Makinen who enjoyed a breakout season scoring 66 points. Overall this was good for 17th overall in the league tied with three other players. 25 goals was good for 9th overall tied with two other players.

S34 was another insanely good year for the Wolfpack, they finished first overall in the league once again with 71 points. Going 33 wins, 12 losses and 5 overtime losses.

Many members were afraid the softpack would win their fourth cup in five years. In the first round they had to face the Toronto North Stars, who once again proved to be a tough team, by going to game seven once again. The Wolfpack was able to overcome them in the end and headed into round two to face the Manhattan Rage. A series described by many as shocked yet very cheerful for them as the Wolfpack was swept by the Rage. The Rage would end up winning the cup against the Portland Admirals in six games.

Raven Silverwing himself was just 1 point short of ending the playoffs with another point per game run. Scoring 10 points, 5 goals, 5 assists, once again being in complete balance in 11 games.

S35-S41 just going toss this all together

So I wrote all of this just after Silverwing had retired and I started my career with Rafe Ulrich which was a solid 2,5 years ago by now. I never finished it as most things in my life and with my recent return I figured I might as well just finish this up and get some money out of it, because I already wrote a solid like 3K words.

I have no idea where the old indexes are but I did find where Silverwings stats were. So I can just write about those, while I have mostly forgotten about any other season and what happened in them. The Wolfpack wouldn’t win another cup while Silverwing played, so there isn’t much fun to write about anyways.

Season 35 saw Silverwing record 25 goals with 21 assists, which is good for 46 points. Meaning Silverwing dipped under the 50 points after 2 back to back 50 points season, but still scored 25 goals to tie his goals from his previous season.

Season 36 Silverwing upped his points up to 48 points, but in the process only scored 20 goals, while assisting in 28 goals. 20 goals means Silverwing now has 6 20 goal seasons in a row.

Season 37 Silverwing once again improved on his points, but still missed out on 50 points recording 49 points with 21 goals and 28 assists. This was Silverwings 7th 20 goal season.

Season 38 Silverwing broke the 50 points, with his career high 53 points, combined with a career high 29 assists. With 24 goals Silverwing would record the 8th 20 goal season.

Season 39 marked the point in which we saw Silverwings abilities got high hard by regression as he dipped to 38 points and would only score 18 points, missing out on his 9th 20 goal season and spoiler alert this season means Silverwing would miss out on a 11 20 goal back to back career, as he would score at least 20 goals in his final two seasons.

Season 40 there was a jump to 40 points, with 21 goals and 19 assists. Not much to say here really.

And finally in season 41, the last season we saw Silverwing play in the SHL. To finish off his career he scored 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points.

Honestly looking back at Silverwing and his career I will always regret retiring him when I did. In 650 career games he scored 541 points with 256 of those being goals and 285 assists. I started saving up for my recreate a few seasons before Silverwing retired meaning I missed out on a ton of weekly training which could have helped Silverwing score more points in his older days. Sadly I was too intrigued by the idea of recreating and I cut his career short. So Silverwing had a great career, but nothing that would have put me into HoF discussion.

After two and a half years I say goodbye to my first simulated sports player. Silverwing never grew to be one of the oldest players out there. I know there are mad lads on the site with like four year old players. Silverwing was never meant to be one of those though honestly. Recreating has been in the back of my mind since, from what I remember, S34ish. I knew I wanted to create a power forward. The kind of player to go around the ice and just hit people, but also with a bit of a scoring edge. Inspired by Wolfpack legends Nathan Russell and the amazing Tim ‘Clutchner’ Buckner. In honor of retiring the player who was the gateway for me into discovering this amazing part of my life I will write about my history here.