Now put your hands on the SHL rulebook. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?  Say I do!
Ron Answer : I plead the 5th…wait wrong country….Yes I do.
SL : I’d say Sorry as what a typical Canadian would say! I respect your choice.

Please tell us your real first name and where do you live right now?
Ron Answer: Ron and I live in Hamilton Ontario.

When and how did you first find out about the SHL?
Ron Answer: uhm Rob (Arizona GM) posted a link for an opening in a league I play in with him so I checked it out and was impressed with the set up the interface and how it seemed to be run. I love it…so much I play in the CDNHL as well now.
SL : Same here! Alex brought me here and CDNHL Kings position became opened! No messing around from Grand Chief Chris!

You are definitely a rebuilding team. Who is next captain? The man who will lead the team? Have you drafted him yet?
Ron Answer : Not sure on Captain status…If I had to chose a front runner maybe Dylan Cozens…
SL : Letting the kids have fun then you decide!
Ron Answer: Oh nothing about losing is fun. It’s taking great patience on my part to build through the draft while not spending anything in UFA to build the bank account. Hopefully it pays off…
SL : Nice choice of words here! :) Im started get fed up too, let me tell you!

Any ETA for Askarov?
Ron answer : It’s Russia and the KHL so maybe next year maybe 5yrs lol.
SL : Sad but true! No rush anyway in your current situation!

Who is your favorite NHL team?
Ron Answer : The Leafs…Apparently I love being disappointed year after year…
SL : it’s coming ! It’s coming! But watching Canes and Panthers playing tonigh…Tough competition!
Ron Answer: Ugh…Hopefully but the Eastern Conference and the way the playoff format is set up currently is just brutal but it is what it is…

Who is your favorite player of all time?
Ron Answer: Wayne Gretzky…I was a huge Oilers fan as a kid and into my teens…
SL: Not called the Great One for nothing but I have to say Mario myself! Underrated and not quiet old enough to see him played fully, Jacques Lemaire hold also a special place in my heart for his hockey mind and coolness.
Ron Answer: I got the chance to see him play 4x in my life…Well lots more actually but I don’t remember those junior games when he played in the Soo as I was like 4 or 5yrs old then…

Who is the person you would like to meet (dead or alive)? Feel free to explain!
Ron Answer: Wow! There are so many I would love to do this with But as a political/history buff..I guess it would have to be Nelson Mandela. What he went through in his life struggling for the end of Apartheid in South Africa spending 27 years in Prison for it and ultimately being the 1st elected President of South Africa.
SL : One of the most important historical figures of mankind. Can I say that?
Ron Answer: Yes absolutely. The Long Walk to Freedom should be a book that every school should be teaching as required reading…
SL : I second that!

Question : If you could catch a GM asleep and steal one of his players, who would that be? Not that you really need anything right now!
Ron Answer: Well I think Jack Eichel is going to light it up in Vegas so I guess if I could get Bernie shit faced on some Screech and get him to agree to trade him to me I would…
SL : Bernie! Don’t be selfish!

You get first overall to start a league, which player would you choose?  And why?
Ron Answer: I wanna say someone different then McDavid but honestly I can’t. I mean he’s just at a different level then anyone else in the NHL.
SL : Plays in the city of Champions as you know! Not there yet!

What’s the best way to approach you about a trade request?
Ron Answer: The way my team is currently please just approach…Honestly please lol…I am pretty open so just let me know what you are interested in and what you are willing to offer. I think I am pretty fair in my dealing with the other GMs I mean my situation is maybe unique in that I can take a loss per say now in the hopes it will help me more in 2 seasons if that makes sense..
SL : Someone call Ron right please ! A friend of mind is asking : Is Galchenyuk available?
Ron Answer : Surprisingly he just might be lol.

What annoys you when a GM approaches you ?
Ron Answer: Length of process with some of them I guess. I know we all have lives outside of this (ok maybe some of us don’t) but I have had some conversations just seeing what a GM wants take 2 or 3 days before getting a response. I mean if it takes that long just to see what you want or are offering I am probably already out.

I know the SHL rulebook is a near perfect work but if they was one rule that you would change or add, what would it be?
Ron Answer: I would make sure Ottawa wins the lottery in the next two SHL drafts…After that I promise we don’t want another for the next 10yrs.
SL : I don’t think so son !
Ron Answer: Fine 1st pick in 2022 and 2nd overall in 2023 then…I guess I could settle on Michkov in 2023.
SL : Please forward your request to @chrisransom please! Your call is important and you have been placed in priority sequence.

If there was no stupid virus around, and you have an unlimited amount of cash, where would be the first destination you travel into? Could be space!
Ron Answer: I love to travel so that aspect has been missing from my life for sure. The wife and I have booked a trip to Portugal and Spain for September so that had better happen. She has never been and Barcelona is probably the best city I have ever visited in the past. This summer we are headed out to the East Coast for 2 weeks and that’s always fun.
SL : Lovable people in NS I have the chance to talk lately!

What gets you these days! Sports event, TV Series, your cat, anything?
Ron Answer: Always Sports is always on in our place much to the disdain of my wife…But always looking for a series or show to watch as well…So willing to take suggestions…
SL : We had some good suggestions in previous interviews from GMs! Myself, i only have time for Snowpiercer these days. Did the trip twice from Montreal to BC (Vancouver/Prince Rupert) by train so I know a bit what it could be, stuck inside for some time…gives me chills! Started Wheel of Time and Yellowstone. Looks interesting too!
Ron Answer: I watched Snowpiercer the movie and hated it…So haven’t given the series a chance yet…Wheel of Time I enjoyed…I am really looking forward to the Lord of the Rings series coming in September on Amazon..

Any questions, queries, comments or dark secrets you want to add before we leave?
Ron Answer: A buddy in University always used to say that it’s a good thing dead brain cells don’t stink. I still think that statement holds true today…
SL : You have proof? Dead body at work somewhere?
Ron Answer: I plead the 5th…again…
SL : Show me your Green Card sir! :) Makes me remember when I was travelling Europe and that “Canadian guy” travelling with our maple leaf flag on his backpack…admitting afterwards that he was in fact American and wanted to have no problem!

Thanks a lot for answering all my questions! Now! Who would you like to hear about next and what should be the first question?
Ron Answer : I wanna know if Rob regrets trading me Lucas Raymond and Askarov in lieu of how his season has been so far…