The Career of Slad Tiktorino

[Madman55]

Slad Tiktorino was a born hockey fan. He was born into a hockey rich family. His father Vlada was drafted by Zlin HPS HC in the 1993-94 Czech Republic League season. He played until 1990-2000, where a torn MCL and ruptured ACL ended his career, and affected mostly the rest of his life. Growing up in the Czech Republic the NHL doesn't get a lot of exposure. Hockey is lessening in the number of players, so they want to try and keep players from leaving for North America.

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

Draft Day.

I woke up that one morning in June. I was unaware of where I was. I got up and realized we were in a hotel in Ottawa for the NHL draft. We were about 30 minutes away from the arena. I went down to the restaurant, where I found my parents dining alone, and I joined them. Ordering was tough as our english was very limited. They asked me how I was feeling about the big day. I said I wasn't sure if I wanted to go or not. I would be leaving everything behind if I was drafted. My native Czech Republic, my family, my friends. It would be a whole new life. We ate, and then left the restaurant. I was feeling uneasy. I was unsure if it was due to this new Canadian food, or nervousness of the day or a combination of the two.

The day barely crept by, when finally my dad announced "It's time to go to the arena". I was as ready as I was ever going to be. The first round went by. I hadn't really heard about the first couple guys who went, as I never participated in any international play. This Steven Stamkos guy was picked by the Tampa Bay Lightning first overall. Drew Doughty went to Los Angeles. Suddenly the 5th pick came, it belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they picked somebody who I knew named Luke Schenn. The rest of the draft went as it did. I was starting to get restless. Finally came the 6th round and the St. Louis Blues GM walked up, and said with the 155th overall pick, the St. Louis Blues are proud to select from Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, Slad Tiktorino. I was ecstatic. I jumped up and hugged my mom shook my dads hand, and ran down to the podium, nearly tripping myself in the process. When I got up there, Larry Pleau, head coach Andy Murray and a man who I reconized right away - Al MacInnis were standing there waiting for me. I shook all there hands, and put my new St. Louis Blues jersey over my head and threw my hat on. All signs of nervousness had now disappeared I was more excited than a little kid on Christmas day.

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

First day being Drafted.

It was the morning after being drafted, and I was still asleep in my hotel room, when I heard the phone ringing. I sat up and answered it, sleepily. Larry Pleau was wide awake. He said to me "Look kid, I know you were just drafted and had to fly here from Czech Republic but I want you in St. Louis for Wednesday for rookie orientation and a welcome to the organization." I couldn't believe it. I said i'll be there on Monday, and with that I was about to hang up, but he said "Hang on a second kid - being a rookie and all, you might want to have an agent before you report because contract negotiatians and the such will be taking place, and we wouldn't want to low ball anybody". With that, he hung up - I was in disbelief. I'll be in the NHL, but before that happens I need an agent. My dad recommeded his old agent, Alekzy Arazav. I contacted him and told him who I was and that I was just drafted and said I needed an agent. He said since he knew my father, he would fly out to St. Louis tommorow to meet me. I said great, and hung up. Being an NHLer is already hard.

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

Trip down to St. Louis

I managed to get a flight from Ottawa to St. Louis that Night. I got to my hotel at about 11PM, and went to sleep. The next morning another new person phoned me. This time it was Andy Murray. He told me that after the orientation and first practice he would like to see me in his office. I got a taxi down to Scottrade Center, where I walked in and Larry Pleau was waiting. He gave us a quick tour, and then sat us down in the dressing room, and told us how we were lucky to be drafted by such a great organization, and then he ran down the history of the team, then when he finished he stood up, said put on your skates and helmets and grab your sticks and head out to the ice.

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

Monday - After Practice

After practice I did exactly as Coach Murray had told me, and walked to his office with my agent, Alekzy Arazav beside me. He motioned us in, from behind his desk and stacks of paper and hockey magazines. He then told us to take a seat. He said firstly - Let's talk about season expectations. You might think this is a lot for a rookie who is going to have to adjust to the North American hockey game. Firstly get the puck on net - We're expecting 227 shots this season. While shooting the puck, put it in the back 35 times. Don't be afraid to set up your teammates we want 63 points from you. Lastly, since we know you prefer to shoot than set up your teammates - 28 assists is all we ask.

Now onto the contract. Andy Murray was saying that he would be willing to give me 775k a year for 3 years. It was a tight decision. Finally we decided on a 625k contract for this year only. After I'll either sign an extension, go elsewhere or go home to the Czech Republic. I decided this season might not be too bad, but right after that thought popped into my head, he then continued on that I wouldn't be starting in the NHL - my heart sank - I couldn't help but yell out "WHAT!?" He said that development is key. I would be playing in Peoria. A place I'd never heard of. Rumor was that I was going to be the 3rd line Right Wing for the Peoria Rivermen.

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

GAME 1:

Peoria Rivermen - 1

Iowa Chops - 4

Well, what to say about this game. We scored first, breaking in on a 3-on-2 I forced one defenseman far enough back to screen the Chops goalie, and then we converted. After that, our defense quit playing, and our goalie ran and hid in the locker room or something. He sure wasn't playing in the second or third. My line wasn't on the ice for any of the goals, except for one. I missed my check and Iowa converted with me out of position. At the 2nd intermission, my teammates knew I was mad. I broke 3 sticks in half, and cracked my helmet by throwing it at Manny Legace. Everybody was furious with me for that, I was furious with them for not playing hockey. Davis Payne, the head coach got amusement out of my rage. I then started to swear at him in Czech. In the 3rd, I think everybody started thinking about the offseason already. It was turnovers galore, no not the pastry. Our team couldn't hold the puck. Practice should be fun...

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

GAME 2:

Iowa Chops - 1

Peoria Rivermen - 2

Well, we played the Chops again - this time at our home rink, Carver Arena. I managed to put up a couple points. We were down 1-0 after one. Nobody was really to blame, we had a whole team lapse down low. In the 2nd I managed to bury my first professional goal. It was a wrister from between the circles, and it bounced off his glove and in. I was swarmed by my teammates and congratulated. Being only 5'7, I was hard to see in the pile. Before that, I had gotten into a fight with Brendan Evans. I was frustrated that we were trailing, so I took it out that Evans. The coach said that was an alright penalty to take to fire up our squad. After that, in the 3rd I set up my linemate Chris Porter for his first, and the gamewinner. Then after that I got into another fight with John De Gray. I lost that one, and Coach Payne wasn't a happy guy. After the game Manny Legace got me back by throwing his glove at my face and then pushing me into an already running shower.

[star king3]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

sweet

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

GAME 3:

Peoria Rivermen - 3

Quad City Flames - 1

Well, before I get into my game recap let me tell you about the rough day our team had. A day after our 2-1 win over Iowa at home, we had to bus out to Moline. But our trip was delayed due to the weather. We were supposed to get there at about 3AM, but instead we got there at noon. I was exhausted as was everybody else. How we came away with a win in tonight's game i'm unsure.

Anyways - Tonights game was a good one for fellow rookie Blues pick, Alex Pietrangelo he had a 2 point performance, but was also the reason for the Flames goal. So from start to finish - We jumped to a 1-0 lead as Pietrangelo put his first of the season past Leland Irving. I then later got an interference call for bumping there guy behind the play - I've been doing that all year, then all of a sudden I can't. The Flames tied it in the 2nd after Pietrangelo knocked a shot past Manny Legace. I then regained the lead for us, beating Irving just over the glove. After that My linemate Nicolas Drazenovic would score a fluke goal as Irving lost sight, and kicked it in behind him. I could have made it 4-1, but missed the empty net 3 times. That doesn't make a happy player, or coach but it balanced out with the win.

[Madman55]

Re: The Career of Slad Tiktorino

GAME 4:

Milwaukee Admirals - 0

Peoria Rivermen - 3

I think we played our best game on both ends of the ice tonight. I extended my scoring streak to three consecutive with the game winner. I shot it in on net, goalie made the save while leaving the rebound and slid completely out of position and I put it top shelf. Steve Regier put the lead up to two before the end of the frame. Nothing happened in the second and then in the 3rd Matt Foy shot it into an empty cage sealing the win, and our 3rd straight. Manny Legace was happy with his performance, and the possibility of soon returning to the Blues. He was so happy, that he said he'd buy the whole team a whole load of Custom Designed Sticks. Nike, Mission, RBK - Whatever we wanted, designed however. After a while of looking at the different sticks I finally decided on a Black Reebok 10k with a Pavel Datsyuk curve.