Raiders Management Office
Norkodsav, Ontorisa
9:48 AM
General Manager Jakob Verilyier
Verilyier looked at himself in the mirror of his office's bathroom. His jet black hair was slicked back as he fixed his light blue tie. Today was the day, training camp. They had about thirty-four players in for their training camp, not including others who may or may not have accepted his invitation to the camp. Of course, this being his first legitimate working day, Verilyier was prepared to make a statement to the management above himself and the team. The days of the Raiders losing game after game was over, Verilyier was here and this was his team to make or break, win or lose.
Dressed in a black suit, with a white dress shirt and a light blue tie, Verilyier felt professional, much like his days behind the bench with the Qajs Elks of the OJL. He sighed before his phone buzzed. Taking out the black phone, a single text message could be seen on the home screen:
"Management meeting now." - Lagas Yrehtu
"Shit." Verilyier looked at himself in the mirror one more time, fixing his hair a tiny bit before straightening up his clothes, before he left the bathroom and walked down the hallway towards the boardroom.
Opening the door, he was presented to a small boardroom of well dressed men. The owner of the Raiders, Ilrisk Frisejak, was there at the head as he motioned for Verilyier to take a seat beside the head coach, Simon Rossley. Obeying the gesture, Verilyier cleared his throat before looking around.
"Gentlemen, this is season is a clean slate. I've gotten rid of the previous thinking of management, who had stupidly suggested that we tank for another top 3 draft pick despite the young talent we possess. I've brought in someone outside of the organization to take over for us: introducing our new general manager, Jakob Verilyier." Frisejak spoke in a clear tone before motioning to Verilyier. "Now, Simon, I believe you have the reports of the new players coming in?"
"We have a ton of youngsters coming in, notably a 7 foot 1 beast from Novopetrograd who's playing defence for us. Emmanuil Usmanov is his name, and I'd say his ceiling is a Top 4 defence man for us, strictly from the video tapes from his games. As well, we have two rookies, one from Greater Anglatia and the other from the Northern Sunrise Islands. And lastly a senior grad from Haljeri International University, who will be playing defence for us." Rossley spoke quickly as he listed off of the notables. "A few other unsigned free agents and undrafted players are showing up but nothing too big."
"Training camp and preseason is a good time for us to figure out who's staying, who's going and who's going down to our Tier 3 team." Verilyier awkwardly said out loud, before feeling the heat on his neck of embarrassment.
"Yes, yes it is." Rossley looked confusingly at Verilyier before shaking his head. "Anything to add, general manager?"
"I think that both Tealmos and Johan are going to be key defence men for us." Verilyier, recalling the tapes of the players. "They both play in very similar ways, at the same speed and can make up for each other's mistakes since Johan is more physical than Tealmos, but Tealmos has better puck skills than Johan."
"And the Quebecois kid?" Someone asked as Verilyier began to pick up speed on his speech. "Where does he slot in?"
"Anywhere in our defensive core. We needed a defensive defenceman like him, who's not afraid to take the body, has a booming slapshot and can be a fearsome presence out there." Verilyier answered the question without hesitation. "I can see him playing Top 6 for the regular season if his preseason goes well, but maybe Top 4 or expanded Top 6 minutes."
"I'll handle the ice time Jakob." Rossley spoke quickly. "You worry about contracts and the roster itself."
"Fine by me." Verilyier turned his head to face Frisejak. "Are we done here? I need to sort some papers."
"If you think we are, then we are." Frisejak nodded to Verilyier, who got up and walked out of the room.
Kramaas' Apartment
Norkodsav, Ontorisa
9:56 AM
Tealmos Kramaas
Kramaas stood at the island in his apartment, sipping a glass of water. He was dressed in a grey hoodie, dark blue sweatpants, running shoes and had his gear beside the island on the floor, six Easton Mako II sticks, all of them taped with pink tape at the top as a grip. Kramaas usually did not tape the blade until before practice or a game. It was sort of his thing. Patiently waiting for the text message from his buddy, Koaziak Jaruyelli, who had gone to the same university as Kramaas, to say when he was heading over to the Norkodsav Maziska Trofeka for the first practice.
His phone buzzed, and Kramaas checked it, but instead of a text from Jaruyelli, it was an email from the new general manager, Jakob Verilyier. It had been sent to everyone, and subjected: "Today's Practice".
From: jakob.verilyier@norkraiders.ont
To: [34 Recipients Including You]
CC: simon.rossley@norkraiders.ont; aswak.oltuek@norkraiders.ont; breden.rityerk@norkraiders.ont
Subject: Today's Practice
Morning Boys,
Instead of heading to the Maziska Trofeka, please head to the Augueri Ymiurk Arena for today's practice. Be there at 11:30 AM sharp.
Thanks,
Jakob Verilyier
General Manager for the Norkodsav Raiders of the KMHL
Former Assistant Coach of the Qajs Elks of the OJL
Kramaas' phone buzzed again, but it was a text from Jaruyelli. His ride to the practice today.
"You get GM's email?" -Jaru
"Yah man, fuck. You picking me up?" - Kramaas
"Yeah yeah, fucking 10 am traffic is killing me. ill be there in 5." - Jaru
And with that Kramaas gulped down the rest of his water, put the glass in the sink, grabbed his hockey gear and exited his apartment, heading downstairs to wait for Jaruyelli.