State of the Loons; How Wahlstrom Broke Capeside's Heart

 

Trevor Czepiel	10:33 AM (21 minutes ago)
to me

The year was 2009, it was a chilly October night and a 28 year old me was spending some quality time with my grandfather watching the Bruins. Back then between the first and second periods the Bruins would show a taped competition called mini one on one. This was a long standing Bruins tv tradition that while I was a kid was called mini 3 on 3 but once the NHL did away with ties and moved to penalty shots in 2005 so did Bruins intermission tv. But on that October night I watched this 9 year old pull off the first lacrosse style goal that I ever saw and was blown away. 16 years later I am still failing at even being able to pick the puck up off the ice in a beer league game to even attempt it let alone as a 9 year old on tv. This is how Oliver Wahlstrom came into my life.

Fast forward 9 years to 2018. 38 year old me just finished another losing seasons as the owner of the Capeside Minutemen in the BRL baseball league, when its commissioner emailed me a random question of it I was a hockey fan. Does a bear shit in the woods? I bled black and gold! Corfield informed me that there was a failing organization that was looking for new ownership and I was given the opportunity to seize control of the Ottawa Barracudas. After liquidating a bunch of assets I purchased the team and moved the team from Ottawa to Capeside. After gutting the team in order to make the roster my own I was able to own the 4th, 5th and 6th picks in the 2018 draft. Prior to the CCHL coming into my life my hockey knowledge was limited to the Bruins, not the AHL providence Bruins not the NCAA Minutemen, Terriers or Eagles. Strictly the Bruins. Oliver Wahlstrom had fallen off of my radar but thanks to the CCHL he was back in my life as a top prospect in the 18 draft. My mind and heart were set - I was going to do whatever it took to make Wahlstrom the Loons first ever draft selection. 

Corfield once again came calling, he was interested in the 4th overall pick. As "good" as the offer was I refused cause I could not risk losing Wahlstrom. I informed Commisioner Corfield that I would trade the 5th but not 4. Nope, he needed the 4th and promised me that he would not select Wahlstrom with it and the deal was made. A few days later Corfield emailed me saying sorry but he was trading away that 4th overall pick and could no longer keep his word that Wahlstrom would not be taken at 4. I won't get into the details but it was no longer a friendly relationship between Dayton and Capeside. After days of tension I allowed Corfield to extort me for the 5th pick along with a 2nd rounder for the return of the 4th overall with a late 3rd rounder. But once again it would be all worth it because Wahlstrom was going to lead the Loons to multiple Kehler Cups. 

As the draft grew closer I still owned the 4th and 6th overall picks til another owner took advantage of a naive me sending over 3 lousy prospects (Husso, Lind & Dahlen) with a 2nd rounder for the 6th and a 2019 first. Well maybe Wahlstrom would lead us to one Kehler Cup still. 

Draft day came a few months later and now being in the CCHL for a few months my knowledge grew and names like Tkachuk and Hughes were more prevalent to me. I failed in my attempts to get my picks back (7 years later things havent changed I guess) and I was torn between the 3. But ultimately it had to be a sign that Wahlstrom came into my life back while spending time with my Grampy so Wahlstrom was the pick. He was a cant miss goal scoring threat and was going to be a lifelong Loon building block.

Maybe I should have realized things were not going to work out when he went awol from BC when things werent going well. But I stuck by him. I stuck by him while he failed in Long Island and turned down all CCHL offers for him. And then last year the clouds parted and everything made sense again as Oliver was back where he belonged in the Boston Garden wearing the black and gold! 

Well that was a fun for the few weeks before he was sent down to Providence and then released by the Bruins during the off season. Oliver is now struggling without a NHL deal in the AHL for the Sharks. The Loons are still without a Kehler cup while Calgary and Victoria hold Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes hostage from me and their rightful homes in Black and Neon Green.

Dont worry, no matter how much Oliver hurts me and I have to see Brady score hat tricks against me or Quinn put up a 100 assists I will stay loyal to Wahlstrom because he will always be that 9 year old who could skate circles around 45 year old me.