The Danes
Throughout the years the VHL hasn't been known as a hot bed for players from Denmark. There is a very short list of guys who have ever suited up in the league. With the presence of six European teams you’d think more players from Denmark would be playing, but that isn't the case. Two notable players that come to mind when you think Denmark, are Lars Berger and Zach Arce. Both are heroes in their home country of Denmark.
Zach Arce
Coming into the league Zach wasn't the most anticipated prospects, he had all the intangibles, but commitment was what teams were worried about. In the S9 draft, Avangard (HC Davos) took a chance on him and it turned out to be an absolute steal in the late second round. Once he developed his skills, he turned into a force of a player and in his first season he managed to rack up 56 points. Two years later he won the MVP of the league which was surprising to most, but not the management of Davos. They had faith in this kid from the beginning and it was starting to show on the ice. In S14 he was traded to New York after Davos decided to rebuild after many successful years. This would turn out to be the last year in the league for Zach and he sure ended it the right way by winning his third Continental Cup. Zach would eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame, which made him the first player from Denmark to be there.
Lars Berger
Lars played eight seasons in the VHL with four different teams, and won three championships during that time. He was sensational his whole career, and never went after personal accomplishments before the team winning. Lars managed to tally 947 points in 638 career games, which is very impressive in every aspect, but most importantly his defensive game was remarkable. Consistency was also never a problem for him; he played every game with 110% effort. There were times that people doubted him, but he always managed to prove critics wrong. An outstanding career led to being inducted into the Hall of Fame in S25, being the second Danish player to ever be inducted.
Next Generation
One player who has decided to take the leap into the league is Marcus Bjorkstrand, who was a rookie sensation last year in the Western Hockey League. Marcus came over to North America last year to continue his development which wasn't going very well back home. It was a tough decision leaving home but he knew it was in his best interest. In his first season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, Marcus racked up 65 points in just 55 games. It was very impressive in many ways considering when he came over he was marked down as thirteenth forward. Within 15 games, Marcus vaulted up the depth chart and was playing on the top line with Curtis Lazar. After the season ended he had a decision to make whether to stay in the WHL and get top minutes, or take a different route. It was a long thought process for Marcus, but he finally decided that he was ready to take his game to the next level and join the VHL. He is eligible for the S36 Draft and most are projecting he will be a second round pick at this moment.
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