Back in 2006 I bought NHL EHM 2007 and after a few testing seasons, I started my THE carrer. I played it on and off for the next few years and as it turned out, it was my one and only proper carrer in the game, lasting from the first day of purchase in 2006, until today, when I finally bought EHM: EA. I will have a hard time to press 'retire', but I have to do it. The in-game retirement date is January 20th 2030.
Early carrer
It was year 2006, when I, Miha Hribar, young slovenian enthusiast, passed the license for a Hockey Manager. I decided to test the job market and being unemployed, I had set no goals for my early stage of carrer. The long term goal or should I say my Ultimate goal was to win a Stanley Cup. A goal, that will never be achieved. I don't even think it is reachable in EHM 2007.
First job - Trondheim IK
It didn't take long before my phone rang. Trond Imset was on the other side and the conversation was short and efficiant. Norwegian team Trondheim IK was looking for new manager and they decided to give me a chance. A change, I wasn't going to pass.
I enjoyed working in Norway and we had a great preseason and promising start in the regular season. But after only three months, I got a call from one of the best SM-league sides HPK and I had no choice but to move to Finland. I won a league and European Championship Cup in the first season and that quite killed my 'realistic' way of playing the game. I felt I was going to achieve my goal very early in my carrer. Boy, how was I wrong.
Anyway, after dominating the Finnish SM league, I decided to get a new challange, as I really was quite a disappointed how 'easy' it was.
Where are they now? HPK stayed one of best Finnish side until 2021, then they somehow collapsed, relegating to Mestis in 2022, then to Suomi division in 2023 and out of the playable leagues in 2024. Since then they are sitting with empty roster in Finish Second Division.
I moved to Hunters Porvoo next season. Hunters were just promoted to Finnish Suomi division. I stayed in Provoo for two more years and after bringing them to SM-League in just three seasons, I decided again for a new challange.
Where are they now? Hunters stayed in SM league ever since 2010. In three years they were among top 3 teams and finally winning SM-league in 2018. In 2030 they are cruising confortably in top half of the league
Searching the proper challange
I was rather disappointed because my carrer didn't go as planned. I was looking for a proper challange next few seasons, moving around Europe. I started in Austrian side Linz (3 months) before moving to Russian side Severstal. I didn't enjoyed my stay there so I resigned after one week, only to be appointed by Linköping five months later. I stayed in Sweden for a few months, then decided to try something different. I moved to Toledo in ECHL to try North American Hockey. I stayed there more than expected and reached the conference finals once in two seasons. I would have stayed longer, but the position in my hometown Jesenice became available and I returned home.
I had a great plan with my favourite team, but I made a big mistake. Jesenice play in Austrian EBEL league and have a feeder team Jesenice 2 playing in Slovenian elite league. I tried to compete in both competition, only to find a certain glitch in the game. After 'demoting' my top players from Acroni Jesenice to Jesenice 2, they all went AWOL and I had no choice but to let them go and as my plan had no chance of succeding, I resigned too. So in 2014 I joined Czech side Znojmo and from there I again changed a lot of clubs - from Sparta Prague, to Providence in AHL, back to Russia to Avangard and finally in 2018 I found a fulfilling job.
Brynäs IF - part 1
The fallen swedish giant Brynäs found himself in troubles. They got rellegated to Swedish Allsvenskan and were on the verge of collapsing. I managed to rebuilt them and in probably the most enjoyable four seasons, I managed to get them a SEL trophy.
Round and round...
After I brought them back, I decided to go back to my trip around the world, joining Springfiled Falcons in AHL, before returning back to Slovenia - this time I managed minnow side Triglav Kranj. I built a decent team and moved to Slovakian side Žilina. I didn't stayed there for long, and before moving back to USA, I still managed to squeeze a swedish MIF and Russian SKA episode inbetween. I stayed in USA for slightly more than a season, splitting it between WHL side Seattle Thunderbirds and ECHL Wheeling Nailers. In the last few seasons I decided to go for Denmark, one of the last countries I haven't tried before, bringing Whitehawks to a third place finish in Danish leagues.
Brynäs IF - part 2
As if they hadn't learnt anything in the past, the new management brought Brynäs back to the bottom again. I decided to repeat their rise again from Allsvenskan and I managed to win a promotion to SEL in the first season, while now in 2030 we finished 5th in regular season. On the January 20th, I will be retiring from the game, never achieving the goal - managing in the NHL. I have also managed quite a few national sides, including Finland, Russia and USA, but never achieved much.
I will post some screenshots, just in case someone is interested
My final carrer stat, I felt short to winning 1000 games.
NHL winners
NHL players carrer stats
Nothing has changed much in world of hockey...
Although we had a surprising winner in last WC U-20, while also Germany and Austria are strong.
