Good day everyone and happy Friday! At long last, it is vacation time! Could not be happier to not have any work responsibilities for a couple of weeks. The weather has been beautiful as of late, we have access to a neighbour’s pool for the next week or so, and I finally have some time to dedicate to writing and researching, something I could do every day if I had the opportunity. Yes, having time off is a wonderful thing to have, and having the opportunity to just shut things down for a little while is incredibly refreshing. I often wonder what it is like to be the general manager of professional sports franchise. I imagine that even in the off-season, there is a lot of work to be done, and very little time to relax. Sure, the games are all over, but are amateur/entry drafts, free agents to sign (both your own, and those of other teams), trades to consider, marketing decisions to be made, and before you know it training camp is just around the corner. I’ve always thought that this would be fascinating job to hold down, but man, it seems like a lot of pressure 365 days a year.

This week, I decided to look into the off-season between the Seals’ first and second seasons, an incredibly pivotal time for the franchise. Not only was the team’s ownership group in negotiations to sell the franchise, but the Seals’ last-place finish meant that changes needed to be made to the roster as well. Coach and general manager Bert Olmstead was gone, so a new bench boss needed to be found. Frank Selke moved into the g.m’s seat, and would get the chance to put his finger prints all over the franchise. This week’s article from the Red Deer (Alberta) Advocate was published just days before training camp was scheduled to open, and it details the many changes that took place over the summer. Head on over to the articles section to read the piece.

I hope you all have an excellent and relaxing weekend, and that you come back soon. Until next time, stay gold!