Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 15:50:05 -0700 Subject: WHL: Weekly Welcome to the fourth edition of the WHL Weekly In this issue: 1. Interview with Kevin G. Nash 2. Interview with Jared Tashimaro 3. Dave Shumka's Short, Pointless Editorial 4. GM Appreciation 5. What's New in Waterloo? 6. Player of the Week 7. Changes in the Awards 1. ************************************** ****** THE WHL WEEKLY INTERVIEW ****** ************************************** Well, Jim Hauer has a broken leg, a collapsed lung, seven broken ribs, a big cavity, mad cow disease, and a hangnail so he's off this week. In his place I interviewed co-GM of the Bangers and former Web Hockey League commissioner, Kevin G. Nash. DAVE: I'm sure you've been waiting to explain yourself, so why did you resign as commissioner? Were you too busy with the KHL? KEVIN: I received a lot of inquires about the KHL and wanted to get everyone with interest involved. So I decided to start another league besides the KHL. I just didn't realize the workload that came with trying to run two leagues. At the time the WHL started, the KHL had wrapped up its second successful season. When Season 3 of the KHL started, there was too much to do. I had a decision to make and I decided that The KHL was my top priority (sorry guys), and I felt it would be best if someone else took over the WHL. DAVE: A week or two before you announced your resignation, you asked the owners if we should keep the league going. What were the results? KEVIN: It was really positive. Almost all GMs responded that their interest was still there. DAVE: If it was positive, why did you proceed to quit? KEVIN: Like I said, the KHL was at the top of my list and the GMs in that league were totally involved in everything that went on in the league. It is total participation. It's like a first born child. Even though more could be developed, there will only be ONE First.... DAVE: After your resignation, why did you stay on as co-GM of the Bangers? KEVIN: The League has a great bunch of guys as GMs. I wanted to stay involved with the league and the Bangers gave me a chance to see how everything was going. I think everything has turned out great (except the recent slide of the Bangers). DAVE: About those Bangers, do you think they have what it takes to take the division? Or even to go all the way? KEVIN: I think so. Fedorov, Murphy & Richer are all playing well. We are in a really tough division and it's gonna be a race to the finish. DAVE: Is there a piece of the puzzle that the Bangers need? KEVIN: We need some more help on Defense. We haven't made many changes all year, but that could soon change. DAVE: Are you more involved in the team than Melvin Crewe? KEVIN: I don't think so. Melvin is also involved in my KHL league and he is known as Mr. Trader. If he doesn't make a trade each day, then he must be busy at something else. It's just that with the Bangers, he has to consult with me, and I deter him away from a lot of deals. He's a great guy and I think we make a great team... DAVE: What could the WHL learn from the KHL? KEVIN: Unity. The GMs have to be able to communicate and discuss things rationally. We often all get online and discuss changes for the league. The GMs have to learn to be patient and respect their fellow GMs. This is only for fun and lets keep it that way. The KHL is into season 3 and still going strong. It would be nice to see the WHL succeed as the KHL has. And I think it will. DAVE: Do you think the WHL is in as good a state as ever? KEVIN: Definitely. I don't think I could have put in the time that was needed to make this league a success. It is nice to see that it has survived. And it has survived and even thrived. We hope that it will continue to thrive for years to come, and we all owe Kevin our thanks for his prior and current work in the WHL. This is Dave Shumka in Hermitage, Newfoundland. 2. ************************************** *** THE OTHER WHL WEEKLY INTERVIEW *** ************************************** Jared Tashimaro, new owner of the Oakville Raptors has been thrust into the league and is struggling to make the playoffs. I had a chance to speak with him. DAVE: How were you notified that you were the new owner of the Raptors? Did Shaun just say, "This is your team. Take it or leave it."? JARED: Pretty much so. Actually, it was kind of unusual, first I was offered the team, then I was told I did not get it, then I was told I did have the franchise. Worked out for the best though. DAVE: Was there an adjustment period between when you were notified and when you were placed at the helm of the team or were you just thrust into the position? JARED: Pretty much just thrust into the position. DAVE: How did you feel about the team you were dealt? JARED: Well, they were a borderline team, and still are. This team is lacking depth, as well as solid goaltending. DAVE: You've made a couple deals. You traded away two of my personal favorite wingers, Mogilny and Bure. Can you tell me why you decided to make that trade? JARED: Just to get some early picks, to make a stronger team next year. Bure and Mogilny were a big loss, but Yzerman, Sheppard and some picks were a pretty good gain. DAVE: Do you think John MacLean and Ray Sheppard can fill the gap left by Mogilny and Bure? JARED: Most likely not. Yzerman, MacLean, and Sheppard might be able to compare. Sheppard is a goal scorer, hopefully he can fill Bure's shoes to some extent. DAVE: Your deals make a lot of sense. You lose two right-wings, you gain two right-wings, you lose a center, you gain a center. What I don't get is why you got Shtalenkov and McLennan. Why do you think you need a total of four goalies? JARED: I don't need four goalies. Right now Lacher has the starting role, but Moog will get a crack at the number one spot. Shtalenkov and McLennan will most likely be on the farm, in hopes that they will improve. Then they will be played, or traded for better talent. DAVE: How many players do you think you are away from being really competitive? JARED: Alot, right now. We need some stronger right-wing, and more depth. Hopefully with a first, two second, and two third round picks, we can add to our team. DAVE: Do you see the Raptors winning the Cyber Cup, or is that unrealistic? JARED: This year that's unrealistic. Lorne has put together a great team, who are playing great. (I can't even beat him in the other leagues we're in). Maybe next year, depending on who we add. I wish Jared and the Raptors the best of luck. He's a really nice guy! 3. DAVE SHUMKA'S SHORT, POINTLESS EDITORIAL In the past days there has been talk about unfair trade offers. Around the trading deadline there are bound to be some unfair offers. You have to take them with a grain of salt. I handle the unfair offers like this: I respond to the offer by saying it's unfair and I make a fairer (not a real word) counter-offer. If they persist, I just say I don't really need to make a trade, so forget it. 4. GM APPRECIATION by Jason Stumpf of the Lunatics In the news and around the world it seems that the people who do good barley ever get recognized. They are the people who are put on the back pages of the papers, they are the people who are forgotten. Well, as the trading deadline approaches and communication between the league and the other GMs comes to an end I feel there are some GMs out there who should be thanked. It is the those GMs that make a league fun by putting out press releases, responding to trade offers and putting out contraversial news flashes. To me these are the guys who make the league fun and what it is. So I would just like to thank these GMs, they are some of the GMs that I have traded with this year or I have talked to and have maybe not made a deal but they made it more enjoyable for me. Jud Burkett of the Kodiaks Dave Sprowl of the Agents Dave Moore of the Grunts Jeff MacDonald of the Warriors Donald Shumka of the Drizzle Kevin Beilner of the Fury Robert Wysoglad of the Voodoo Brain Howe of the Mustangs and the contraversial friendship of Drew Anderson of the Wolfpack I am not saying that the rest of the GMs out there are not good, I am just saying, in my mind these guys I have found to help make this league more enjoyable for me and that they should be given a round of applause, or whatever else you can give through e-mail. Keep up the good work and if you would all be living a little closer I would have you come over and have a beer on me, oh well too bad. 5. WHAT'S NEW IN WATERLOO? Hot off the presses of the Waterloo Chronicle: ================================================================= As the Trading deadline comes down to an end, the rivalry between the Waterloo Warriors and the Waterloo Lunatics is heating up. Both teams have been working hard on making trades getting their team ready for the stretch run. The Warriors, once a very dominating team early in the year have started to fall apart of late, and the Lunatics with newly re-acquired left-wing Kevin Stevens paired up with Mark Recchi are starting to pick up some steam and move in on the Warriors. Though this division is close, the battle of Waterloo is starting to heat up. Left-wing tough guy Gino Odjick had this to say: "Hey I know people are saying that this will be close, but in my mind we are going to trash those Warriors. They are making deals, we are making deals. I just have to say one thing to them, if they want a fight, we will give it to them and knock them silly. Watch out because when we start to go crazy, there is no stopping us." Well this should be a very good fight to the end and we will have to see who comes out on top. My opinion, the Lunatics will drive the Warriors crazy. That's all from Waterloo, we will keep you posted on any more events. Snarf and Chewbaka World Famous Waterloo Chronicle Reporters Submitted by Jason Stumpf 6. PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Game 58-61) Well, there were only four games played this week. Still, we had some outstanding performances. The most notable of which was Mario Lemieux of Adam Ardis' Mallrats. In one game he had two goals and three assists and in the course of the week he scored five goals and added five assists for ten points. That's why I am proud to honor him with this weeks Player of the Week award. Honorable mention to Alexei Zhamnov of the Vikings and Eric Lindros of the world-famous Mallrats, each with two goals and eight assists. 7. CHANGES IN THE AWARDS I've decided to drop the "Team of the Week" award. There are so many teams with similar records, what's the point? If you want to decide for yourself, look at the last ten games played record in the stats, then you'll see who's hot. I've also decided to expand the "Player of the Week" award. There will be a "Forward of the Week" award, a "Defenseman of the Week" award, a "Goalie of the Week" award, and an overall "Player of the Week" award. The system of team owners sending in nominations will still be in effect. See you next week! * * *** *** ***** ***** ******* ******* ****************** *THANKS FOR READING* ****************** ******* ******* ***** ***** *** *** * * * * *** *** ***** ***** ******* ******* ****************** ***THE WHL DIGEST*** ****************** ******* ******* ***** ***** *** *** * *