Since joining the NHFL and finding out that the yearly drafts were live, offline, & hosted by the GMs, I have always wanted to host one.  But before I hosted the best draft in NHFL history, I wanted to attend a few to get an idea of what is expected, both by the hosting GM and the raga-muffins attending.  I wasn’t able to attend the 2012 & 2013 drafts due to work obligations but I wasn’t going to miss the 2014 draft in State College, PA hosted by none other than the esteemed Dr. Sheriff (2014-2015 NHFL Champion State College MML)...pause for applause.  What a great job Sheriff did hosting 8 of 9 GMs.  The food was good, the beer was cold and Otto’s Pub was some next level shit (so “next level”, I had to come home with an insulated growler).  After driving south the previous year, the congregation migrated north to Sudbury for the 2015 draft hosted by our back-to-back Jocko recipient (2013-2014 & 2014-2015 Jocko), Matt Cheese.  I needed some personal time away from life so I stayed at the cottage but traveled to The Nickle City on Draft Day so I could draft what would be the 2015-2016 Jocko “Team of the Year”.  From what I hear, everyone made Matt’s house smell like a waste water treatment plant.  The 2016 draft was hosted by our beloved disgusting pork chop, Mike Mesquita.  And again, my god damn job got in the way of a perfectly laid out draft weekend.  Despite my obligation to produce beer for the masses, I was able to attend the golf 2017 NHFL tourney and don the aforementioned Jocko trophy.  This was the 1st draft to have all 10 GMs present at the draft site, just not on the same day.

 

                Having done my field research, I felt I was ready to take on the tedious & pressure filled task of hosting the 2017 NHFL Draft.  I wanted to make sure that the 10th anniversary draft was one to remember, so I booked my parents’ cottage on Kawagama Lake as the venue.  I felt this was the prefect setting/atmosphere to create the memories needed for a 10th anniversary draft.  After sifting through the available dates (few and far between), we set the draft for the weekend of September 15th-17th.  We had 9 of 10 GMs confirmed with the 10th making his attendance somewhat of a secret.  Food provisions were carefully planned so that everyone, including Jay, would be able to enjoy the drunken feasts to follow (steaks, chicken wings, burgers, gluten free pasta).  Next was making sure everyone had some kick ass swag and I knew just what was needed…t-shirts.  With the venue booked, the GMs committed, food provisions organized, and swag prepared the last thing to do was get to our asses to Kawagama Lake.  The Commish & I left in the AM after my night shift (sans sleep) on September 14th, Jay, Cheese, Evo, & Sheriff played the golf tourney at Deerhurst, and Chris had a lovely motorcycle ride through Algonquin Park. The rest filtered their way north as they became available on Friday with Tchegus making a surprise arrival on Friday evening to round it all out.  This was the 1st time all 10 GMs were present at the same draft in the history of the NHFL…we had 10 GMs for the 10th anniversary #10410.  The stage was set for what was to be a great weekend.

 

                When Saturday rolled around, the GMs were giddy with anticipation to the point where Jay started his predraft drinking at approximately 0830.  No one matched Jay over the course of the weekend when it came to drinking start times (if ya ain’t 1st, you’re last).  Before the draft could start, there was some league business to attend to (as per usual), however, this year’s business was not the “ordinary business” we were used to discussing.  We had the task of debating league expansion.  The Commish chaired the meeting and presented, via a lovely PowerPoint presentation, how the league would expand.  Each GM was given time to voice their opinions and a vote was held.  Needless to say, the league expansion passed with a unanimous vote.  After that shit show was complete, our 2016-2017 champion needed to be crowned.  Congratulations HC Haymos on becoming the 1st back-2-back champion.  With the trophy presentation now out of the way, we could get on to the real reason everyone traveled to paradise…THE DRAFT.  I opened the draft with the 1st pick and closed the draft with the last pick (both acquired via trade) and that was my highlight for the weekend.

 

                The 2017 NHFL Draft weekend was a success but it wasn’t without its losses.   Evo lost his wedding ring in the lake but was recovered by the incredible search efforts of the Kawagama Treasure Hunters Society.  Dr. Sheriff also lost something, his glasses.  The Kawagama Treasure Hunters Society searched long and hard for the rimless spectacles but their efforts were futile and the glasses were committed to depth for an eternity…RIP.

 

All in all, the 2017 NHFL 10th Anniversary Draft weekend was as memorable as I could make it.  I truly look forward to attending and hosting many more drafts in the future.  Cheers Fellas and here is to another 10 glorious years of pretending to run a professional hockey team.

WE.GO.HARD