MD9

I did! I thought it'd be fun to try and help out a less dominant team.

;;) A friend.

remember when you got traded for a vastly superior player

So, I don't really know much about this league, but... I will accept the offer from the Saskatoon Wild! @TheLastOlympian07. My choice is really just on a limb because I don't know much about any of the franchises, but thank you for all of your offers!

Inconceivable.

One Rookie Makes Waves The Saint John River in all its glory. Local sports newspapers in Augusta, Maine are reporting one local rookie who is reportedly ‘making waves’ as he begins training in anticipation of the upcoming draft, and his subsequent entry into the VHLM. The youngster in question, Jake Scheel, has reportedly decided upon a new training regime. After his current head coach was reportedly frustrated by his lack of improvement in skating during one on one lessons to get him ‘up to speed’, so to to speak, he was set on a new course. Rather than completing laps of the ice rink or doing suicide sprints on ice, he has begun cardio of a whole other sort. Swimming. Although an excellent aerobic exercise, few prospects in the past have sought to tread water as a way of improving their on ice ability. However, according to Scheel’s coach, “A bit of a swim never hurt anyone.” One photographer reported seeing Scheel attempting to swim up the Saint John River, his coach following close behind shouting encouragement to the budding center. If scouts can be assured of one thing, it is that while this new form of exercise may not be doing anything to improve his on-ice ability, it does seem to be an effective exercise in perseverance and determination. Maybe that was the coach’s intention all along. Having been making an effort to improve his skating for many years now, Scheel did make some noticeable progress through his high school years, only to hit a metaphorical wall as the VHLM draft loomed ever nearer. Between his struggle to improve, his continued poor discipline on the ice - being easily frustrated into poor penalties - and his overall hesitance in the opposing zone, perhaps this training will really help to iron out some of his problems and help him develop into a better rounded player overall. The VHLM is not an easy league to play in for a player with such noted speed disadvantages, but perhaps at the behest of an old coach’s clever trick, his past struggles will simply be water under the bridge. If not, Scheel will soon find himself drowning amidst a pool of highly talented, quick forward who he simply can’t go step for step with. As he attempts to improve his draft stock for the VHL itself, creative training such as this is one of many steps he will need to take to ensure he does not find himself up a creek without a paddle. In the immediate future, the popular attention Scheel may gain from swimming the Saint John River between Maine and New Brunswick may help to raise his VHLM stock. Given how competitive these things can be, it would not be altogether unsurprising to see one of his rivals take on a similarly creative training program. Perhaps before long, we’ll be seeing a prospect trying to climb a mountain, run on a rolling log, or climb a pole with naught but a rope and some determination. Of course, if this stunt neither improves his play nor his draft stock, history will look back on him as the player who wasted his time swimming up a rather dull river when he would have been better spent checking into a gym or an ice rink.

Jake Scheel: Rookie Profile Jake Scheel: Stats at a Glance Age: 20 Height: 6’2” Weight: 220lbs Hometown: Augusta, Maine, USA Biography A young center out of the United States, Jake Scheel did not attract much attention from the scouts for many of his early years. Although being of reasonable size with a fairly broad frame, he was never the fastest nor the most skilled skater around, causing many to overlook him. Now that he’s older, however, it has become apparent that he possesses tremendous upside. After taking time to work on his skating and his hand-eye skills, his two-way game has been given a chance to shine, largely for the first time. Expected to be claimed off of the VHLM waivers any day now, Scheel will look to make a splash in his first year of juniors. It’s clear that he still has a long way to go before he’ll be ‘VHL-ready’, but if he can continue to improve, he may well be able to excel at a junior level - and maybe even beyond. At an international level, he will play for the United States, although given the wealth of American talent going through the system, it is largely questionable whether he will be able to play for them at a junior capacity. In order to highlight Scheel as a player, this profile will examine some of his main 'pros and cons' on the ice. Some of them may already be apparent given what was noted in this brief biography, but it is worth examining them in depth. There will be three of each, followed by a forecast of his potential in the VHL proper. Pros and Cons Pros Defense: First and foremost, Jake Scheel is a two-way player. As a center, he is always expected to be active in the defensive plays, and this is one area where even scouts who tended to overlook him agree that he shines. Whether it’s maintaining control of the puck in the offensive zone, holding the other team behind the blue line, or playing in front of his own net, Scheel is an example of a player that understands the importance of playing hard at both ends of the ice, in an age where players look more and more towards offense-first styles of play. Passing: Often playing alongside flashy offensive wingers, Scheel made the transition at a young age from being a oft-mocked ‘sniping center’ into a full-blown playmaker. Although he still does have a goalscoring touch to him, he will more often look for a pass to an open winger and try to get the play moving that way. The only thing that holds back his ability to make creative passing plays is his concern for bad giveaways. At times, he will pass up a potential scoring play in favour of making a safe pass back to the blueline. Although not something coaches will get on him about, it does limit his offensive production until he can become more confident making risky, but rewarding passes. Faceoffs: It is expected that as a center, Scheel will take the face-offs for his team. That’s almost a given. However, Scheel knows how to throw his weight around a little better than many other players at his age. While not a large player by any stretch, clocking it at a decidedly average 220lbs, he is known to use his weight to muscle in on the face-off. At the highest level that might see him get thrown out of the draw, but for now, it allows him to win some particularly important face-offs in an admittedly messy fashion. Cons Skating: Although Scheel has improved his skating since his early years, there’s no denying that this is, and will likely remain a problem for him. Some players just don’t have the right ‘twitch muscles’ to accelerate quickly, and no amount of speed skating lessons will change that. He isn’t sluggish by any means, but at this level of play, he often isn’t able to keep up with his wingers. Positioning may help him alleviate this, but any team playing a ‘run and gun’ system, or relying on their speed in general, may find him simply unsuited for the system of play. In an era where ‘young players’ generally implies speed, Scheel stands out in the wrong way. Discipline: Usually, when you discuss someone’s weaknesses, you’re looking more at their physical attributes or playing styles. However, it has to be noted that Scheel has a bit of a temper on him. He isn’t a fighter -- he isn’t even a grinder. But what he is, is a young man that’s a little too easily goaded into taking a bad penalty. He was one handed a suspension for a particularly harsh slash on the other team’s pest. Some say the pest deserved it, but he’s going to need some serious coaching if he’s going to avoid costing his team when it matters. Scoring: As noted, Scheel has goal-scoring hands. He can shoot the puck well, and he knows how to pick a spot and wire one home. However, ever since he made the conscious transition into a playmaking center, he hasn’t. That’s why scoring has to be considered a weakness of his. You can have all the ability in the world, but if you don’t make use of it, it’s no good. On numerous occasions in his last two seasons of play, Scheel has turned down certain goals in favour of a pass to an ill-positioned winger. Basic hockey sense is that when you have an open goal, you go for it. Until he can get over his hesitancy to shoot the puck, for fear of picking up that stigma of being a ‘sniping center’, he will never flourish offensively. The pass isn’t always there, and he needs to get that through his skull. Potential It is difficult to judge the potential of this player. Although he has tremendous upside as a two-way center, and could even lead a top offensive line on account of his passing ability if he is able to overcome of of his hesitancy and his unwillingness to shoot when he needs to, he could also burn out. His skating ability will always be a question until his hockey IQ gets to a level where he can overcome it purely through positioning, and his discipline raises the question of bad penalties leading to opposing goals. Taking into account both his potential, and the amount of work he will have to do to achieve it, he is most likely to develop into a second to third line center, able to contribute offensively but primarily valuable in a defensive and penalty killing capacity.

Oh, woops. I meant to change that to center!

Player InformationUsername: MD9Full Name: Jake ScheelPosition: CAge: 20Handedness: Left Recruited By/From: N/A Would you like an experienced member to mentor you? NoPlayer AttributesTotal Points Earned: 30CK = Checking: 40FG = Fighting: 40DI = Discipline: 40SK = Skating: 40ST = Strength: 40PH = Puck Handling: 40FO = Face Offs: 50PA = Passing: 50SC = Scoring: 40DF = Defense: 50PS = Penalty Shot: 40EX = Experience: 40LD = Leadership: 40OtherJersey Number: 19Height (inches): 6'2"Weight (lbs.): 220lbsBirthplace: Augusta, Maine, USAAwardsCareer StatsPlayer MovementPast Players