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Vhl.com ~ Buffalo, NY By: Gloria Borger II To those who know him, being selected in the VHL draft will be no surprise. The projected 3rd round pick has turned heads in Western Europe. A career .932 SV% isn't exactly mind blowing, however if you've known that he started playing hockey seven years ago, you'd have a different tune. Some draft analyists have scoffed at the idea of him becoming a 3rd round pick, while some have been speculating that he may rise and be drafted in the second round. May will sit in front of his TV at his parents house, watching VHL Network, with confidence this Sunday as he awaits for his name to be called. Friends and family have been quick to support May, saying that he "might be one of the best". May's modesty prevents him from agreeing with them and believes he'll have to work twice as hard to even be a back up at the VHL level. "My only hope is that I leave a mark on the league. I don't want this to be all for nothing." The majority of Buffalo holds their collective breath today, hoping that one of their own will be good enough for the VHL.

1) Since it's not been too long since you've joined the league, what are thoughts on the league so far as a whole? 1) I think this a fun idea that has some promise. I think it's a lot of information to take all at once. Would like more freedom to customize TPE from beginning but understand why there isn't 2) Are there any areas in the league that you would like to see a change/improvement? 2) I think the forum could be a little smoother. Sometimes I get lost navigating trying to grab all the TPE I can 3) The VHLM Newsletter launched earlier this week, did you read it and was it helpful to you? 3) Was very helpful but I think that the guide to TPE should be a separate topic and linked into the newcomer forum 4) What are your aims this season in the VHLM? 4) My aim is to create a stable character, really get immersed in to the RP of it all. I'd like to be in the award hunt come the end of the season. 5) With the teams starting to take shape, who do you consider to be the favourite for the VHLM Founders Cup? 5) I think it'll be a toss up but I'd have to say whatever team I get drafted to has a good shot at winning. 6c) If a GM were to make you an offer, what kind of player would they be getting? (If you're currently unaffiliated). 6) A player who is committed to the team and values team victory over personal goals

A recent interview with Owen May is available on the Radio.com app and the wgr550 website. The transcript is available here in VHL.com Howard: Good morning, or should I say good afternoon Owen Owen May: Good morning guys, how is it back home? Jeremy: Could be better. A little warmer but I'm guessing it's no different there? O: No not ať all. H: So the hometown kid with aspirations for the VHL, you've had a quite different journey to the World's top league. In fact you didn't start hockey until you were a junior in high school. So how have you come this far? O: It was definitely a difficult road. I started my soccer career over in Rochester with the Jr. Rhinos and earned an invite to Basel when I was no older than 10. But my coaches have been the main reason for my success so far. J: You can't put this all on coaches. You have a total of 7 years experience which is significantly less than most players in the draft. You're stats show nothing equating you to a newcomer. O: Well it was definitely awkward at first. I never felt comfortable on my skates and found myself almost like a spring chicken. I was really nervous, so much that I would puke before games even though I knew I wasn't playing. H: That sounds rather difficult what help you get through the jitters? O: My coach at the time, coach Dolgberg over the summer spent countless hours with me. I started taking notes in a notebook and began analyzing film of myself. Dolg[berg] and I spent many of day and night sitting by the TV looking at film and doing visual training. H: So senior year, you're basically gifted the starting job despite only appearing in 4 games. What was the environment like? The pressure get to you all the same? O: Well it was definitely not the steadiest ship. There were a lot of parents upset that I was given the starting position. Some rather unpleasant things were said to me by my teammates and their parents. It wasn't a welcoming environment, but to be honest it got rid of my jitters because I just wanted to prove them wrong. Once I started to play well the displeasure from my teammates disappeared bit the parents were relentless. J: Well, you turned out to be a great asset for their team, no one can deny that. H: That is the world we live in unfortunately. But I gotta ask. How did you find Dominik Hašek? Probably the best goalie to ever come through Buffalo. O: It was all by chance really. I had put my name out there and the only team willing to sign me was HC Pardubice. Dom only came for a quick visit during a summer training camp and another coach told him my story and he chose to stick around for a bit and help coach me. J: Is that we he said to you or did he at least try to hide his true ambitions? O: Haha, He actually picked on me the first time. H: Why's that? O: Well the first practice he was at I was so nervous, I let some soft ones in. When we got a water break, I do what I do every time and I go write notes in my notebook. J: Sorry to butt in but what exactly do you put in this notebook. O:I typically put the situations inside the notebook, where my success rates are with one timers, rebounds, Odd man rushes and all that stuff. Let's just say I'll be a great a goalie coach because I have notes in everything I've done and every puck movement. J: I'd very much like to see that notebook H: You'd like to see anything analytical. But I digress. So before we talk about your notes the entire show, why was Hašek picking on you. O: I can't really remember what he said but it was something along the lines of calling me a deer in headlights and then calling me a nerd for my note book haha. It was all in good fun and it actually calmed me down. I got settled in and put in a good show and at the end of they day he said he'd coach me. H: How was it training under him? He was often seen in a negative light for his lack of technique. Some would argue, not a good thing to have in a coach. O: It felt like Karate Kid at times, haha. He would say something nonsensical and then ask me to repeat it. Towards the end of the summer, I really started to understand his way and it all started making sense. I started making saves that looked and felt unnatural. But the puck wasn't going in, so that's all that matters for me. J: I know you're short on time and we're about to miss our break so we'll wrap this up with one more question. Where would you like to go in the draft tomorrow? O: Honestly I'll be grateful to be selected at all. I'd really enjoy coming back to the States and play close to home but anywhere I can play will be a blessing. J: Well thank you for joining us on the West Herr Hotline, we'll be sure to keep in touch as you start your career. O:Thanks for having me, bye guys. H: That was VHL prospect goaltender Owen May from Buffalo, NY. Tune in Monday morning to the Howard & Jeremy show to find out where the hometown kid winds up. This is WGR 550

I think I got em

Owen May Handiness: Right Ht: 6'2" Wt:180lbs Birthplace: Buffalo, NY Personality: Kind and gentle leader in the locker room. Can be a chippy and fierce player on the ice. Late starter shown great promise to stand among the best of the VHL Career Stats: SC Bern 2018-19 GP: 40 G: 0 A: 2 Pts: 2 SV%.931 2017-18 GP: 59 G: 0 A:0 Pts: 0 SV%.935 Playoff GP: 12 SV%:.927 HC Pardubice 2016-17 GP: 56 G:1 A: 0 Pts: 1 SV%:.940 Playoffs GP:10 SV%:.928 2015-16 GP: 34 G:0 A: 1 Pts: 1 SV%:.923 Playoffs: GP:1 SV%: 912 Total Reg. GP:189 G: 1 A: 3 Pts: 4 SV%:.932 Playoff GP:23 SV%:.922 Pro Comparison: Dominik Hašek Pros: Reactions: His athletic experience is evident. His coordination is pro level. Often makes big saves in tight spots. Excels at penalty shots. Has a good eye for deflections. Glove Speed: Glove side is definitely his strong side. His quick speed matches perfectly with his reactions. Not many goals come from the glove side. Stick Play: Quick out of his crease he likes to attack with sharp passes out of the zone. Hes recorded multiple points looking for line changes. Become a 6th man on the ice in the defensive zone. Cons: IQ: A late start has left him lacking in game IQ. He makes blunders when coming out of net and passes pucks he should hold on to. Technique: Lack of hockey knowledge and training under a free feeling goalie coach has left him uncomfortable with the butterfly. Often goes down too soon and gets beaten high. Positioning: Over commits at times to go for a big save rather than staying with the play. Can often get caught behind his own net. General Report: May is a competitive player who always looks to improve himself. He pushes the people around him and shows excellent leadership in the locker room. Chooses team victory over personal stats. Lacks Hockey IQ but improves with time. Has general knowledge and can produce competitively. Stops the puck anyway possible, often makes acrobatic saves when it appears he's down and out. Excels in clutch situations, feeds off of adrenaline of big game moments. Has great glove side but can get caught stick side. Can become a top 10 goalie if given the proper development.

I'm on mobile so word count is the a difficult thing

I edited it

Owen May was born in 1996 in Buffalo NY. His parents were both second generation immigrants. His father's family form Switzerland and his mother from Germany. He credits his love for hockey to his parents who would constantly take him to hockey games when he was young. Unfortunately, his family was too poor to afford hockey equipment and hockey leagues.At a young age he was more fond of soccer than other sports and found early success in the U.S. He started as a striker but his exceptional hand-eye lead to his club coach moving him to goalkeeper. In 2005, a former player from the Swiss international team, who was currently working for the Rochester Rhinos, scouted the young goalkeeper. He was quickly signed by the Junior Club of the Rochester Rhinos and spent the year travelling and improving his game. At the end of the season the same man who had scouted him for the Rhinos gave his name to a Swiss side, FC Basel. In 2006, he was offered a contract for the FC Basil Youth club. May moved across seas to follow his dreams. At the age of 10, May struggled to adjust to his new life and after one year he was being threatened to move back to the United States. May however confided in another player from Italy. Anthony Montleone and May found a new side of life together as they quickly earned spots on the first team as a Centerback/Goalkeepeer Combo. After their first full year together, Montleone was appointed Captain and May Assistant Captain. 2 years would pass under the appointed captains, Basel would find success winning the league both years. However, at the end of the season Montleone was sold to an Italian side. With his Captain and best friend gone, May once again struggled in net. He lost his job and was once again on the chopping block. In what would be his final game, May was run into by an opponent as he was sliding. The harsh collision left the young starlet with a broken femur. With May's injury and regression the club allowed his contract to run out and left the young man unemployed. Luckily, May's parents had saved his money earned from the club and aided their son in earning his Swiss Citizenship. Content with the new life he had been given May had chose to stay in Switzerland in secret hope of earning another contract. In an interview with a local soccer insider May was very optimistic of his return to pro soccer. "I believe in my abilities. I've proven that I can contend in the harsh environment. I think a bone break will be easier to comeback from than an ACL tear. I've taken this time to learn the language and [I Am] becoming more comfortable with the Swiss lifestyle. My hope is to be back on the pitch come next year." During his recovery period May returned to school deep in the Alps and as well to the hockey arena. His highschool, HIF Engadine, was a hockey power house. In the past 10 years the school had won 3 national titles and had made the title game 5 times. During his recovery period May frequented the schools ice rink and watched many of his classmates play. May quickly became absorbed in the squad becoming a student announcer. After he fully recovered May decided to join his highschool's hockey team. Without a back up the school was strong armed into letting May join the squad. He would spend one year on the bench learning from the team's goalie coach, Henrik Dolgberg. Dolgberg found May an interesting prospect despite only appearing in 4 games. May credits his pro career to Dolgberg. In a recent interview, May was quoted praising his former coach " To be honest, I was frustrated that I hadn't heard anything from soccer clubs. I was ready to move back the States, and joined the hockey team on a whim. Thanks to Coach, I gained some confidence and we spent all year improving my game. I had this new dream thanks to this man and a pair of his old pads and skates." His senior year, May spent all off-season training. Where May lacked in game IQ and technique he made up with his good hand-eye and reflexes. He caught the eyes of the Swiss national team posting a .945 save percentage and helping his team to the first round of the country playoffs. During his time he met his future wife and Swiss national team swimmer, Courtney Cloutier. The high school sweethearts met at a charity event and as both have previously stated, were in love ever since. The two plan on welcoming their first born in November. Despite being rated highly, May's injury history resulted in him receiving no offers to join the Swiss Hockey league the following season. May once again had to pack his bags, this time moving to the Czech Republic. May signed a 1 year contract with HC Pardubice. There he was taken under the wing of former great Dominik Hašek. He was quickly touted to be the next "Dominator". Under the former great May began to gain better technique and learned the game. His first season saw him make 34 appearances as the team's backup posting a .923 save percentage. HC Pardubice made the playoffs and found themselves in trouble. Their starting goaltender suffered a concussion as a result of collision. May would appear in just Game 7 of the first round. Pardubice would lose the game to the eventual champions 1-0 in 2OT with May making 34 saves in relief. An modest start to his pro career resulted in May resigning with Pardubice for one more year. May was given the starting job where he recorded a .940 save percentage on his way to earning the award for best goaltender in the league. When asked about his protege Hašek had this to say. " He reminds me of myself quite a bit. There will be no books written about his stellar technique but he keeps the puck out of the net. As a goalie that's all you need to do." After two seasons with the Czech side, at the age of 21 the Swiss league came calling. With great appreciation, May signed a 2 year deal with SC Bern. As May returned to Switzerland, he proposed to his now wife, and was ready to tackle a new dream. With SC Bern, May recorded a .935 save percentage in 59 appearances. Bern would make it to the second round of the playoffs before getting bounced by the RSC Lions. May's playoff save percentage of .927 earned him a spot on the Switzerland World Junior's roster. May made no appearances for his side. During the summer May returned to the Czech Republic to work with Dominik Hašek. He currently is poised to be drafted in S66 Draft this Sunday. He has chosen to keep his Swiss Citizenship in hopes to make it to the world cup sooner to showcase his abilities. However, May hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to the United States. "I'm really grateful for the Swiss people and the opportunities that they have given me. I obviously, love my birth country and wish to play for them but I feel that I have a duty to repay the European people"

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Player Information Username: FacebookFighter Player Name: Owen May Recruited From: Reddit Age: 22 Position: G Height: 74 in. Weight: 180 lbs. Birthplace: Switzerland Player Page @VHLM GM