Erik Summers

Goalies in Short Supply in the VHLM S68 Draft With just a couple days left before the S68 VHLM Dispersal Draft, it appears that goal tenders are going to be a hot commodity. With only three serious contenders on the draft board, it is likely we could see all three gone in the first round. So let's take a look at these three goalies and see if we can predict where they will end up. Bruce Grimaldi The biggest and highest ranked goalie on the draft board, Grimaldi is an absolute monster. Although the Marlins were unable to win a playoff game this year, you can hardly pin that on the goal tending. This twenty year old is poised to be a dominate force in the VHLM this year, so who needs his services the most? I think San Diego would love to have their star back in goal. Unfortunately, I don't think Bruce will drop far enough for them to get that shot. With goalies in such short supply in this draft, and good ones even rarer, I fully expect Bruce Grimaldi to go first overall to Mississauga. Block Buster Buster is easily the strangest goalie on this list. This bean pole weighs in under 150 lbs and stand over six and a half feet. Sure, he's quik, put I'm not convinces that pucks can't just go through him. Sure, Mississauga had some other problems last seasons, but it surely didn't help that their goalie was transparent without his sweater on. If Mr. Buster wants to make a serious roster, he's going to put on some weight. That being said, with the goalie shortage this year, I expect that the Australian will go 12th overall to Mexico City. Solomon Crawford Solomon was picked up by Vegas late in S67, but he had an impressive run with a SSV% of 0.885. He even managed to pull out a post season win for the Aces. Crawford has focused on becoming one of the fastest goalies in the VHLM, but he will need to work on his size this season if he wants to compete for a VHL spot next season. With the Aces having three picks in the first round of the dispersal draft, I think it is highly likely that the twenty one year old Solomon Crawford will be returning to Vegas this season.

Player Spotlight - Joey Boucher The Season 67 playoffs left many of us wondering, what happened to Toronto? The Legion dominated the regular season with 53 wins, 113 points, and a ridiculous goal differential of 84 (59 goals higher than the next closest team), only to be knocked out of the post-season in only 5 games and outscored by three goals by the Wolves. So what happened to Toronto? Joey Boucher happened. If you asked me to name one played that I wanted on my team in the regular season, I would say Joey Boucher. This undersized Right Winger is exactly what you want to see in a hockey player. A gritty, hard hitting, forward with production at both ends of the ice. His 14.08% shooting percentage on 30 goals sets him in a league of his own when it comes to forwards in the VHL with a sniper shot. For the first time in his career, Joey has hit the 1 Point Per Game mark. Granted, it was hard to have a bad goal differential on Toronto this year, but a +22 also makes an impressive performance from the 4th year skater. It is also notable that Boucher doubled his career hits total this season with a walloping 192 hits. In Season 66, Joey put up very impressive stats for a player that didn't even make the playoffs. For 72 games a year, Boucher looks like a God-Tier winger in the best years of his career. But this begs the question, why, in the prime of his career, does none of this translate to the post season? In their series against the Wolves, Boucher scored just once on 13 shots, cutting his shooting percentage in half from what it had been in the regular season. With Toronto's inability to but together much of an offense in this series, Bouchers career +/- in the playoff is an uninspiring -4. He also played a much less physical game than he is used to, averaging just 4.2 hits per game. Perhaps there was an undisclosed injury that was plaguing our hero? The team certainly didn't hint at the possibility, but it is hard to look at that stat line and assume that Joey was feeling 100%. This is the same story we saw in Season 65. Joey Boucher Had an impressive 63 points in his first season with the Legion, but as soon as the playoffs rolled around, he came up short of leading his team to victory. So what's the problem? Is it all in his head? The post-seasons jitters messing with his nerves? Is he paying for some dark contract with the demonic entity that granted him his other-worldly regular season performance? We may never know, Joey Boucher isn't getting any younger, and Toronto is going to have a hard time maintaining the regular season success they saw in Season 67. Hopefully, Joey will be able to transition into his veteran role with ease as Toronto tries to bring together a younger core of players around him in the coming years. It is hard to tell the future, especially in a league as highly competitive as ours, but perhaps Season 68 will answer the question once an for all. "Is there a Joey Boucher Curse?" @joeyboucher1 (I love you, don't kill me)

This is awesome!

I'm in for ESPN

1) I have been shocked at the graphical design talent that it seems everyone here has. I simply can't compete on that level. 2) None that I've seen yet! 3) I did! It was actually a really great way to be introduced to parts of the league that I didn't know about yet. 4) I want to win a Founders Cup. 5) The Philadelphia Reapers look poised to break out this year. 6c) They would be getting a defensively minded defenseman, focused on physical play and team leadership.

Name: Magnus Erik Summers Goes by: Erik Position: Left Defense Jersey Number: #40 Age: 19 Height: 6' 1'' Weight: 215 lbs Hometown: Dusseldorf, Germany After a good showing in the Ukrainian U18 league, Erik has decided to move to the states and declare for the VHLM draft. In his last three seasons, Erik has lead the league in +/-, become the captain of the Vinnytsia Vultures, and earned Defenseman of the Year twice. He also placed on the podium multiple times at the Ukrainian National Youth Track Competition in cross country. Strengths: Strength: Strength is Erik's greatest strength. He is a tough, grindy defenseman that doesn't shy away from contact and physical play. Erik keeps the defensive zone clear by finishing checks at the blue line and denying entrance to the zone. Passing: A true pass-first player. Erik would rather keep the puck moving than keep it on his stick. This is supported by his ice awareness and keen eye for finding passing lanes. Defense: And old-school shutdown defenseman. Erik tries to emulate players like Ken Daneyko and Adam Foote. Erik's strong +/- is much more a testament to his defensive prowess than his scoring potential. Weaknesses: Skating: Erik is not the fastest skater. His defensive knowledge results in good placement most of the time, but when he gets caught out, he has a hard time getting back into position in time. Scoring: Erik has a strong shot, but not an accurate shot. He is sometimes able to generate scoring opportunities off of rebounds, but he rarely scores himself. Face-offs: Erik has not had a lot of opportunities in the face-off circle, and all together, it is just an unpracticed part of his game. Tendencies: While still being a young player, Erik has developed some clear tendencies in the defensive zone. Erik will most often be found battling in the corner or in front of the net. While not the largest defenseman, Erik knows how to throw his weight around and isn't afraid to give, or take, a hit. Erik tends to be a pass-first player, and is much more likely to pass the puck out of the zone than to skate it out on his own. Offensively, Erik has a weak shot, but his puck handling and passing skills allow him to have some production on assists. Erik tends to play conservatively in the offensive zone, and will err on the side of retreating to defend on opportunities where a more aggressive player may pinch up to try to keep the puck in the zone. This makes him unlikely to give up an odd man rush, but can also limit his offensive production. Despite his physical style of play, Erik doesn't view himself as an enforcer. He would rather settle things with a chirp and a laugh than by dropping gloves. On the ice, Erik takes command of the defensive zone. He views himself as responsible for everyone's defensive placement, not just his own, with one of his coaches remarking, "It is like having an extra defensive coach that spends time on the ice." @VHLM GM

I'm excited to join the league and would be especially excited to be selected by the Reapers on draft day. I have posted my biography and I'm working on my introduction now. Is there a list of steps that I should try to have completed before draft day?

Before Summers Childhood Born Magnus Erik Summers, Erik, came into the world on September 3rd, 2000 in Dusseldorf Germany. His mother, Maggie, was a professional hockey player in her youth and participated on the German Women's National Team at the 1998 Winter Olympics. She ended her career to focus on her family a year later and soon after, her and her husband Jakob, had a son. They would go on to have two more children, both daughters, Anna and Leah. Jakob's father, a medical officer of the Bundeswehr, was moved from base to base frequently during Erik's youth. This resulted in Erik playing with a variety of different youth hockey programs as a child. Erik credits his love of the game to this early exposure to the many styles of hockey play that contribute to the game's complexity. Erik's mother has helped coach many of his teams, but she has encourage, or often forced, Erik to explore other aspects of life as well. While hockey is a proud tradition, it is also just part of what makes their relationship special to him. High School and Juniors When Erik was sixteen, his family moved to the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia and he joined the local U18 team. Erik has attracted attention for his physical play and capabilities as a shut-down defenseman, and winning the Defenseman of the Year in his league. After completing school, Erik moved again, this time to the United States, to begin training and trying out for minor league rosters. His family, still in Ukraine, supports him from a far for now, but hopes to see him return to represent Germany in his mother's footsteps. His parents have decided to allow his younger sisters to finish school there before returning to their hometown of Dusseldorf. Outside of hockey, Erik is known to most as the big goofy guy. Erik's outgoing personality shines both at school and in the locker room. Erik doesn't shy away from leadership roles, and has held positions in student government and as a team captain. Being an army brat, Erik has learned how to make fast friends and strong bonds. As part of his training regiment in high school, Erik also joined the cross-country team, to work on help work on his endurance. Speed can be a weakness in Erik's game, but he shines late in games when other players are starting to run out of gas. Play Style While still being a young player, Erik has developed some clear tendencies in the defensive zone. Erik will most often be found battling in the corner or in front of the net. While not the largest defenseman, Erik knows how to throw his weight around and isn't afraid to give, or take, a hit. Erik tends to be a pass-first player, and is much more likely to pass the puck out of the zone than to skate it out on his own. Offensively, Erik has an inaccurate shot, but his puck handling and passing skills allow him to have some production on assists. Erik tends to play conservatively in the offensive zone, and will err on the side of retreating to defend on opportunities where a more aggressive player may pinch up to try to keep the puck in the zone. This makes him unlikely to give up an odd man rush, but can also limit his offensive production. Despite his physical style of play, Erik doesn't view himself as an enforcer. He would rather settle things with a chirp and a laugh than by dropping gloves. On the ice, Erik takes command of the defensive zone. He views himself as responsible for everyone's defensive placement, not just his own, with one of his coaches remarking, "It is like having an extra defensive coach that spends time on the ice." Erik idolizes players like Ken Daneyko and Adam Foote, and tries to emulate their play style. A quote from an interview with Foote that Erik saw as a child has stuck with him to this day. "When you're a young team it's probably better to start from the bottom. It hurts. It hurts a lot. You don't like it. No one likes it. But you learn. Sometimes it's a hard way to learn." That type of gritty determination and leadership is the player that Erik hopes to one day become. He was even able to meet Daneyko at a charity game in Ukraine and develop a relationship with him as a sort of mentor. Injuries At fifteen, Erik suffered a bad shoulder separation injury in his left shoulder and the torn ligament required surgery to correct. The recovery took almost six months to get back on the ice, and the physical therapy took even longer, but Erik is satisfied that he has returned to one hundred percent mobility in his shoulder. At seventeen, Erik had a pair of back-to-back concussions that lead to him missing two weeks of play. This was something of a wake up call for Erik and increase his dedication to being more aware on ice and always keeping his head up. Outside of Hockey Outside of hockey, Erik enjoys a number of academic activities, participating in debate and student government in high school. Now that he is out of school, he spends much of his time off the ice in the gym. However, when he gets home, Erik has developed a passion for food, both cooking and eating. To him, food, and science of cooking it, is fascinating. Erik is passionate about viewing food as the fuel that helps him produce on the ice, but that doesn't stop him from making it taste as good as possible. If hockey weren't to work out, Erik sees himself has likely having a future as chef or a nutritionist. Now that he has moved to the United States, Erik has found himself too young for some of the social activities that he had enjoyed back home. However, Erik can pair the perfect beer with any meal, and he can't wait until he can continue practicing this skill legally again.

Player Information Username: Erik Summers Player Name: Erik Summers Recruited From: Reddit Age: 19 Position: D Height: 73 in. Weight: 215 lbs. Birthplace: Germany Player Page @VHLM GM