MD9

Allegiant.
 
Your arch-nemesis. Or something. In my own head when I'm not busy being a mediocre defenceman.

Gambing When it Counts
Biography of Jake Scheel, from Childhood to the VHLM
 

Jake Scheel posing in a VHLM Jersey
 
Childhood
 
Jake Scheel was born as the youngest child in a small, middle class family in Augusta, Maine. A relatively small city at just over 18,000 residents, Scheel was able to enjoy a relatively peaceful upbringing. A fairly nice city, perched comfortably next to the Kennebec River, with access to decent, if not exceptional public schools, libraries, all of the amenities a child should expect to receive. Maine itself is known as one of the nicer New England states, sometimes likened to its neighbouring Canadian province of New Brunswick. The state has a lot to boast about on travel brochures and television advertisements.
 
Perhaps unsurprising given its cold winters (and perhaps its proximity to Canada), hockey isn’t altogether uncommon sport in Maine. Augusta may not be the hockey capital of the United States, or even the state, which is dominated more by the larger city of Portland, but it has produced some quality professional players in the past -- albeit, mostly in ‘C’ or ‘B’ level leagues. Jake Scheel got his start in hockey at a young age, beginning at about six years old. Although his family was middle class, hockey equipment was already well into its shocking inflation in price by the time he was ready to lace up the skates, so his family had to rely on second-hand equipment purchases. As neither of his older siblings played hockey, he couldn’t even rely on that.
 
Hockey was intertwined intricately into Scheel’s life: it’s almost impossible to remove it from any biography of him. He was an okay student throughout elementary school, but he always had his eye on the window, just waiting for the bell to ring so that he could go outside, go home - do something other than schooling. But he was sharp, and with the right motivation, his parents and teachers alike recognized that he could excel. In order to push him towards keeping his grades up, remembering his multiplication tables and practicing his handwriting -- all of those elementary concerns -- his parents wagered his love of hockey. He could play so long as he attended to his studies.
 
So, he became a diligent student throughout the week, if only to protect his weekend love of getting out on the ice for the next game.
 
High School

The high school where Jake Scheel studied and played hockey.
 
The connection between Scheel’s studies and his burgeoning hockey career continued as he entered high school. It was quickly becoming apparent that he was very good at the game, and the school wanted him for their team. He was happy to join them, going on to wear the ‘A’ for them in his junior year. In order to keep his place on the team, of course, he had to keep his grades up. Even in a school that placed value on athletics, academia had to come first. Almost nobody playing high school sports can go on to make a living off of the sport they’re playing, and so it’s expected.
 
In the classroom, Scheel remained a solid student, eventually discovering a love of writing. At this point in his life, he recognized that playing in the VHL was still a distant dream, and one he had to be realistic about. Certainly, he trained hard with the hopes that he might one day make it, but he also studied carefully to ensure he would be able to find a career after school, or perhaps gain entry into college. Keeping all of the doors open for his own sake. If his professional hockey aspirations didn’t come true, he hoped to parlay his increasing affinity for the written word into a career as a sports journalist. Perhaps not the most realistic of occupations to chase after, but if you love the game -- you want to make sure that one way or another, you’re going to be close to it.
 
Some people say that in high school, you meet some of your closest friends. At least, they say that until you go to college and meet even closer friends. Scheel, at least, found it easy to make friends. He was on the team hockey team, after all. He might not have been a football player, but that has to count for something. He also followed the great American tradition of falling for a girl at a young age, working up the courage to talk to her in high school, and dating her even after graduation. If he wasn’t planning on making a career out of hockey, he might well have been able to write his life up for a silly feel-good family flick.  Even if the ending hadn’t been written yet.
 
College
 
It was in Scheel’s first year of college, training to be a journalist for real now, that his hockey skills really took hold. He wasn’t the best skater, the best shooter, the best anything. But what he did have was incredible hockey IQ. In his first year in college, he played for his school’s team, going on to lead the team in assists, plus/minus and takeaways, even as he played against older and more experienced players. All while putting in the effort to get his assignments in on time, showing up to every class, and eventually working a job on free evenings to help pay his residence fees.
 
As was the story for most of his life, he was doing well both on the ice and in the classroom. He had all his bases covered: maybe he would make a career out of hockey, maybe he would make a career out of writing. But as the cliche goes, it’s your college years that you’re really meant to ‘find yourself’ in. That may not hold true for everyone, but it did for him. After his first year in college was over, he came to a fork in the road. He loved writing and he even came to love school, but he loved hockey more. That was his true passion -- what he wanted to do with his life. Even if he managed to cover hockey as a journalist, he would be close to it… but it wouldn’t be him doing it.
 
He realized then that it was time to take a gamble. Perhaps the first real gamble he ever took, in a lifetime of playing it safe and keeping all his options on the table. He left college.
 
The Decision
 

A promotional picture for Scheel, declared for the upcoming VHL draft.
 
No one will ever advise a young man to drop out of college. Even fewer people will advise someone to drop out of college to pursue athletics. College sports is more than enough to get the attention of scouts: there have been plenty of good players coming out of universities for years and years, often with a reputation for being more experienced and mature players by the end of it. But the top players in most drafts, the top players on most scouting reports -- they come from junior hockey.
 
Leaving college was something that outraged Scheel’s parents, concerned his siblings, and even caused a sleepless night or two for his girlfriend that worried that maybe, just maybe, he had made the worst decision of his life. But it was now or never: he wasn’t getting any younger, and in a year or two, he would be too old to play junior hockey. If he didn’t make a splash now, he would be forgotten.
 
He declared himself eligible for the VHLM, You can’t be rewarded if you don’t take risks, and although it might turn out horribly for him -- there’ll always be time to go back to college to earn that degree. The time to make a name for himself on the ice is now, and it’s slipping away with each passing day.

*See? It's still early to predict.*
 
 
I promised Escobar I'm going to do an early mock draft - and I'll deliver it.


 
NOTE: This is based only on current standings.


 
1. CALGARY WRANGLERS

D - Felix Savard, 129 TPE @Frank


 
That's a no-brainer IMO. Right now Felix is the hardest TPE earner out of all draftees and I think @eaglesfan036 won't let him to other team. I know Frank loves QCM and this team has a quite interesting storyline with Calgary, but I think this won't stop Calgary's GM from drafting this talent.


 

 
2. DAVOS DYNAMO

D - Dexter Lane, 78 TPE @Advantage


 
I assume @Smarch still isn't looking for welfare players, so Dexter is another no-brainer. Advantage isn't a TPE whore, but who wants to let the veteran member to another teams when you can do it before them? Especially when Davos has only Pablo at the blue line. Also, Trombone (GM's player) is a forward.


 
3. TORONTO LEGION (VIA SEATTLE)

RW - Fuk D. World, 90 TPE @stevo


 
Stevo was a part of Toronto's three-peat. Also, the current Toronto GM is his long-time teammate, @DollarAndADream. Is there any questions? Yes, FDW is a welfare player, but Stevo's previous two players weren't different and I'm sure DAAD won't look at his TPE earning style.


 

 
4. COLOGNE EXPRESS

LW - Xavier Laflamme, 52 TPE @Laflamme


 
After these three, this draft is about to be unpredictable. Right now I'm putting Laflamme as the 4th pick as Escobar already had a solid player in past and looks like his second attempt is successful as well. @gregreg pretty much needs everyone, besides the goalie and I think Laflamme is good enough to be considered as the player for the lottery pick.


 
5. TORONTO LEGION

C - Rudy Ying, 54 TPE @punkhippie


 
This player is another contender for being a lottery pick draftee. He actually started with a bang and even managed to retire one player already. Maybe that's why I'm putting him lower than Laflamme. But no matter what, this player should be high on draft standings if he will continue in that way.


 
6. RIGA REIGN

G - Key Perought, 46 TPE @NUCK or G - Eddie King, 38 TPE @Mr Bohannan


 
I need a goalie, period. There are two goalies and both of them are active and this is most interesting rivalry for me as I'm expecting a skyrocket progress from both. Right now I'm more interested in King as Bohannan actually is Latvian IRL, but Bubba ''What the fuck'' Nuck has a lots of time to turn things around to his favor.


 
7. QUEBEC CITY MEUTE

D - Nicodemus Raven, 57 TPE @Fowll


 
We all know how Frank is a wildcard guy. So I think he's going to take a risk on Raven. Yes, Fowll's main flaw is his English, but if he won't give up on this he can become a solid defenseman. Also, Quebec will need a D soon as Komarov is about to retire after 1.5 seasons, so actually it's not a really risky pick.


 
8. HELSINKI TITANS

C - Jake Scheel, 55 TPE @MD9


 
I know @Higgins likes the VHLM and he likes to help some first-gen guys. And here comes Jake Scheel who managed to outwork most of S55 draftees in one day. That's a bold statement and if he's going to continue in that style, he could change a late first round pick to something higher.


 
9. CALGARY WRANGLERS (VIA NEW YORK)

RW - Les Clarke, 56 TPE @AwfulHomesick


 
His last player was shining in the VHL a while ago, but I think it's enough for the first round as his Olynick was a solid goalie. I don't know if he's going to create something HoF worthy player, but seems like he's interested to make a good player. Eagles is going to like it then.


 
10. SEATTLE BEARS (VIA STOCKHOLM)

C - Corey Klopfenstein, 52 TPE @crutchfield


 
That's already a solid effort from a member who was struggling to make at least a depth VHLM player. Right now Corey is looking promising and @Banackock might be looking at this guy as well.

 
 
That's it, but I'm not out. Something is gonna be released next.


 

 
6 TPE goes to Petenis.

Positive Change for Saskatoon
 

 
 
This season, no one has been able to find an answer for the Las Vegas Aces. From top to bottom, they have fielded one of the most powerful teams that the VHLM has ever seen. With Rusty Trombone scoring well over a goal per game, and five other players all recording over a point per game in his wake, they have been an offensive powerhouse. To make matters worse, they have been defensively solid, physically hard to play against, and their goaltender’s excellent play has taken a dominant team to an even higher level. With a 0.922 save percentage and a startling 1.07 goals against average, not many people are going to be betting against the Aces this year.
 
That kind of success is something to be proud about, but it also paints a target on a team’s back. One team that looks to be gunning for the Aces is the Saskatoon Wild. Led by Bo Boeser, who has managed to match Trombone’s offensive production with 21 goals in just 15 games, the Wild have had a season that is decidedly middling. Winning seven games and losing seven games, plus one loss in overtime, they haven’t been exceptional -- but they haven’t been all that bad, either. They’re a team with a lot of potential upside, but some pretty heavy gaps that they need to fill in order to become competitive -- especially with a team like Las Vegas.
 
With yesterday’s signing of rookie center Jake Scheel, the Wild took one step towards that.
 
Jake Scheel, a young center out of Augusta, Maine, was expected to be acquired by a VHLM team ever since late last week. With a few teams putting in bids, Scheel made the decision to move to Saskatoon, claiming that he “hoped to help lift the team to greater success”. It should come as no surprise to anyone that a team in dire need of a second line center would find it easy to lure a player such as Scheel to their team. With the VHL draft drawing ever nearer, rookies need to make the most of the ice-time they get -- and the Wild may be able to offer him ample playing time to prove himself in the eyes of scouts.
 
However, while it’s clear how the Wild can help Scheel, the question stands: can he make a difference for them? On the face of it, they’re in dire need of center depth. While Boeser may be able to hold the fort on the first line, which he has been doing admirably, a single capable center isn’t enough for the top six of a team that wants to compete. On that level, Scheel’s benefit is obvious. A look into the team’s statistics as a whole also provides evidence of how he could help lift the team: although the Wild have a decent offense, tied for second in goals for with 47 (a far cry from the Ace’s 81, admittedly), their defense has been less than stellar. Allowing 58 goals against, they are tied with the Oslo Storm at the very bottom of the league in that respect. Being among the worst defensive teams in a league full of teams being exposed on a daily basis by a single offensive powerhouse is nothing to be proud about, but the acquisition of a defensive-minded player could be one step towards fixing that. As it stands,  their second line is a combined -37, while their first line boasts a positive plus/minus across the board. With Scheel’s addition to the line, those numbers may hopefully begin to crawl back up.
 
One player -- and a rookie at that -- won’t make or break the season for the Wild, but it appears they have at least made a positive gain by signing the young center. With a defensively porous second line, it seems clear that any changes made could stand to benefit the team. Scheel may well horribly underform and see his own statistics at the end of the season reflect that. He might fail the team, and the team might fail him, and he might be forced to sit through the first, second and even third rounds of the VHL draft without hearing his name. But maybe, just maybe, this could spell a change in the winds for the Wild, and for the scout’s appraisal of Scheel alike.
 
(I'm assuming that because my last media was in the April 10th-16th period, I can do this for the April 17th-23rd period, even though it was just a day ago! But if I'm wrong, lemme know.)

Positive Change for Saskatoon
 

 
 
This season, no one has been able to find an answer for the Las Vegas Aces. From top to bottom, they have fielded one of the most powerful teams that the VHLM has ever seen. With Rusty Trombone scoring well over a goal per game, and five other players all recording over a point per game in his wake, they have been an offensive powerhouse. To make matters worse, they have been defensively solid, physically hard to play against, and their goaltender’s excellent play has taken a dominant team to an even higher level. With a 0.922 save percentage and a startling 1.07 goals against average, not many people are going to be betting against the Aces this year.
 
That kind of success is something to be proud about, but it also paints a target on a team’s back. One team that looks to be gunning for the Aces is the Saskatoon Wild. Led by Bo Boeser, who has managed to match Trombone’s offensive production with 21 goals in just 15 games, the Wild have had a season that is decidedly middling. Winning seven games and losing seven games, plus one loss in overtime, they haven’t been exceptional -- but they haven’t been all that bad, either. They’re a team with a lot of potential upside, but some pretty heavy gaps that they need to fill in order to become competitive -- especially with a team like Las Vegas.
 
With yesterday’s signing of rookie center Jake Scheel, the Wild took one step towards that.
 
Jake Scheel, a young center out of Augusta, Maine, was expected to be acquired by a VHLM team ever since late last week. With a few teams putting in bids, Scheel made the decision to move to Saskatoon, claiming that he “hoped to help lift the team to greater success”. It should come as no surprise to anyone that a team in dire need of a second line center would find it easy to lure a player such as Scheel to their team. With the VHL draft drawing ever nearer, rookies need to make the most of the ice-time they get -- and the Wild may be able to offer him ample playing time to prove himself in the eyes of scouts.
 
However, while it’s clear how the Wild can help Scheel, the question stands: can he make a difference for them? On the face of it, they’re in dire need of center depth. While Boeser may be able to hold the fort on the first line, which he has been doing admirably, a single capable center isn’t enough for the top six of a team that wants to compete. On that level, Scheel’s benefit is obvious. A look into the team’s statistics as a whole also provides evidence of how he could help lift the team: although the Wild have a decent offense, tied for second in goals for with 47 (a far cry from the Ace’s 81, admittedly), their defense has been less than stellar. Allowing 58 goals against, they are tied with the Oslo Storm at the very bottom of the league in that respect. Being among the worst defensive teams in a league full of teams being exposed on a daily basis by a single offensive powerhouse is nothing to be proud about, but the acquisition of a defensive-minded player could be one step towards fixing that. As it stands,  their second line is a combined -37, while their first line boasts a positive plus/minus across the board. With Scheel’s addition to the line, those numbers may hopefully begin to crawl back up.
 
One player -- and a rookie at that -- won’t make or break the season for the Wild, but it appears they have at least made a positive gain by signing the young center. With a defensively porous second line, it seems clear that any changes made could stand to benefit the team. Scheel may well horribly underform and see his own statistics at the end of the season reflect that. He might fail the team, and the team might fail him, and he might be forced to sit through the first, second and even third rounds of the VHL draft without hearing his name. But maybe, just maybe, this could spell a change in the winds for the Wild, and for the scout’s appraisal of Scheel alike.
 
(I'm assuming that because my last media was in the April 10th-16th period, I can do this for the April 17th-23rd period, even though it was just a day ago! But if I'm wrong, lemme know.)

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

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!

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!

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.

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.
 

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.
 

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

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.

He gotta to beat @MD9 first

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.

Player Information

Username: MD9
Full Name: Jake Scheel
Position: C
Age: 20
Handedness: Left 
Recruited By/From: N/A 
Would you like an experienced member to mentor you? No

Player Attributes

Total Points Earned: 30

CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 40
DI = Discipline: 40
SK = Skating: 40
ST = Strength: 40
PH = Puck Handling: 40
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 50
SC = Scoring: 40
DF = Defense: 50
PS = Penalty Shot: 40
EX = Experience: 40
LD = Leadership: 40

Other
Jersey Number: 19
Height (inches): 6'2"
Weight (lbs.): 220lbs
Birthplace: Augusta, Maine, USA

Awards

Career Stats

Player Movement

Past Players

Player Information

Username: MD9
Full Name: Jake Scheel
Position: C
Age: 20
Handedness: Left 
Recruited By/From: N/A 
Would you like an experienced member to mentor you? No

Player Attributes

Total Points Earned: 30

CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 40
DI = Discipline: 40
SK = Skating: 40
ST = Strength: 40
PH = Puck Handling: 40
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 50
SC = Scoring: 40
DF = Defense: 50
PS = Penalty Shot: 40
EX = Experience: 40
LD = Leadership: 40

Other
Jersey Number: 19
Height (inches): 6'2"
Weight (lbs.): 220lbs
Birthplace: Augusta, Maine, USA

Awards

Career Stats

Player Movement

Past Players