New Honours Granted to Saran Ice Hockey Team
The Saran Chronicle
Morsday, 14 Vanchauslurk, 5207 ASC
AUGUSTGRAD -- Only one week after the creation of a set of new chivalric Orders by the government, described by a Comital officer as "a new fount of honour from which the greats of all nations may soon sip", the Count of Mar Sara has personally inducted the first twenty members into the sport-oriented Order of Excellence: the entire Mar Saran international Ice Hockey team that participated in the MHL World Championship last year.
Seventeen players - Afudyakno, Grif, Gyrg, Jip'nym, Jyr'hunt, Kellip, Kyr'elj, Njeg, Raynor, Razjan, Sileni, Tel'Huub, Tuttle, Uunt, Yaad, Yunt, Zahn - were awarded the rank of Member of the Order of Excellence, and were personally handed the accompanying rings by the Count, while goalkeeper Henryck Erz and forwards Burt and Mik Shala received gemmed rings along with the title of Commander.
Right-Winger and team captain Mik Shala spoke on behalf of the whole team when he said: "This is an immense honour for all of us, the feeling of being recognised by our homeland in this way is breathtaking." The team came runners-up in the Ice Hockey world championship last year after blazing to the final undefeated, taking on such hockey giants as host-nation Birgeshir before losing 4-1 to Gerenia in the final.
Mik Shala continued, "Taking the time off from our training for the imminent World Championship has been so great for the team. We're all buzzing and really ready, keen to have another crack. It's not often that you get this sort of chance twice in your lifetime."
There was a touch of sadness about some aspects of the proceedings. "It's brought up a lot of emotions for me and bro [fellow forward Burt Shala], because our parents both died around this time in the Babkhan holocaust, but we know that this day would make them proud.
"Another sad touch for the whole team is that Roderick Kellip, a great right defenceman, was here today to receive his award but won't be joining us on the team this year due to professional retirement. That said it was great to see him and it reminded us all of the glory of last year and how hard we've got to work to get the same sort of momentum as launched us to the final last time."
Erz was less emotional and quipped, "I was expecting perhaps the Order of Fortitude - after all I'm the most shot-at man in Mar Sara."
The Excellent Ones: Our Interview with Burt Shala
The New Saran
Issue #278, 5207 ASC
It was a notably nippy day when the NS interview team flew out to the newly-completed Kaiseress Mira Raynora Major Memorial Stadium in the thriving southern city of Til'Het. This is one of the places where the Mar Saran International Hockey Team have been training hard in anticipation of the coming World Championship.
We were there to get some great action shots of one of the greatest teams in Micran hockey - see our pull-out supplement, Excellence In Motion, in the middle of your magazine - but we were also privileged to land an interview with Burt Shala, star Left-Winger and brother of the team captain. After a hard afternoon's drills and tactical play, Burt found time to answer a few of our, and our reader's, questions.
New Saran: Burt Shala: you're young, the top of your game, you were part of the team that took the silver in last year's championship. Why aren't you married yet?
Burt Shala: (Laughs) I get letters from many Sarans every day asking the same question, and I don't have an answer besides the fact that I haven't got time for anything but ice hockey!
NS: It is your life, isn't it, and has been for quite some time?
BS: Absolutely, ever since my brother [Mik Shala] and I were small we were bashing cans across icey paths and that sort of thing. There was a strong paternal influence, as our father had been a de-icer for the vicecomital government here in Til'hetjyr. He taught us never to be afraid of the cold.
[...]
NS: Are you in the shadow of your brother? Does this affect the dynamics of the team?
BS: I don't feel like he overshadows me, obviously we're both players of an international stature. There is sometimes a sense during training that we're back on the streets, tackling and arguing, but it's rarer and rarer as we focus on the international competition aspect. It's something that proved more troublesome when we were actually on opposing teams in our local league days. As for the team, we're both fully integrated into the team, we don't form a sub-unit, though we have a close relationship as forwards, but one that we share with other players in that position. We're all aware of [the sibling relationship], but we sort of face it and deal with it. If Mik and I are getting stroppy with one another (laughs), as has happened before, someone else will step in and resolve it, and usually we know what we're doing and stop.
NS: But on your relationship with him - you are known as the 'quiet brother'?
BS: (Smiling) We are different people with different personalities - he's a leader, definitely, and while I'm a great hockey player I'm not a leader. I wouldn't say I'm that quiet - I'm doing this interview after all.
NS: Was being the first recipients of the Order of Excellence a great moment for you?
BS: It was a tremendous honour for all of us, we really felt the gravitas of the situation, how much we as a team mean to Mar Sara and to Shireroth. Millions are watching us play and hoping for success. I really hope we match up to their expectations. But personally, the first time I wore the ring, I trembled.
[...]