Yukon might not be in the playoffs this year after falling just short of the cut. For a certain draftee, his season isn’t over yet. Rumor around the internet seems to point towards his preparation for the VHLM / VHL drafts respectively as he preps from home practicing with friends and former peers he’s been watching both playoffs, laying a floor plan in how he might want to approach his first full season. Those closest to Cattrall seem to think his focus has shifted from just finishing the season to making an eventual impact next season. Most were quick to cut draftees like him some sack seeing as most were signed towards the end of the season. Next season is going to be a different story for players like Cattrall who saw some production early on into their VHLM career will all be held accountable for what they may or may not bring to the table next season. For most it’ll either be a very short process or long one that resembles a very steep hill to climb.
With names like Richardson, O’Malley and Cote just jumping out at you as heavy draft favorites you can only imagine what the rest of the draftees are thinking right about now. That all attests to how deep the draft really is and seems to be getting by the day as players look to separate themselves from the pack in the coming weeks ahead of the draft.
Yukon might not be in the playoffs this year after falling just short of the cut. For a certain draftee, his season isn’t over yet. Rumor around the internet seems to point towards his preparation for the VHLM / VHL drafts respectively as he preps from home practicing with friends and former peers he’s been watching both playoffs, laying a floor plan in how he might want to approach his first full season. Those closest to Cattrall seem to think his focus has shifted from just finishing the season to making an eventual impact next season. Most were quick to cut draftees like him some sack seeing as most were signed towards the end of the season. Next season is going to be a different story for players like Cattrall who saw some production early on into their VHLM career will all be held accountable for what they may or may not bring to the table next season. For most it’ll either be a very short process or long one that resembles a very steep hill to climb.
With names like Richardson, O’Malley and Cote just jumping out at you as heavy draft favorites you can only imagine what the rest of the draftees are thinking right about now. That all attests to how deep the draft really is and seems to be getting by the day as players look to separate themselves from the pack in the coming weeks ahead of the draft.
A YouTube video surfaced Monday afternoon of Ryan Cattrall showing off some of his newly developed skills as a part of the Yukon Rush, as he skated around locals and junior players messing around. A serious crowd formed and several different youtube accounts put out different videos of him ranging in quality. One spectator took a shot of his handling skills which was uploaded to instagram and then was taken down via request of Cattrall’s agent due to the fact that his clients standing with the VHLM and VHL harbors on adhering to the rules of conduct. As of yesterday Cattrall’s agent finally allowed the videos to be put online and has since then gained staggering numbers, while Cattrall’s status in the draft is almost uncertain these videos may or may not help his draft stock accordingly.
A YouTube video surfaced Monday afternoon of Ryan Cattrall showing off some of his newly developed skills as a part of the Yukon Rush, as he skated around locals and junior players messing around. A serious crowd formed and several different youtube accounts put out different videos of him ranging in quality. One spectator took a shot of his handling skills which was uploaded to instagram and then was taken down via request of Cattrall’s agent due to the fact that his clients standing with the VHLM and VHL harbors on adhering to the rules of conduct. As of yesterday Cattrall’s agent finally allowed the videos to be put online and has since then gained staggering numbers, while Cattrall’s status in the draft is almost uncertain these videos may or may not help his draft stock accordingly.
NEW YORK - It has taken many months, many days of grueling, repetitive practice and not to mention many hours of frustration. But several years after his professional football career in the NFL came to an end, Jack Kowalski says he is ready for the first leg of his journey to the Victory Hockey League: the VHLM.
"It's been tough, but I finally feel like I'm ready," said Kowalski in an interview conducted over the telephone. "It was definitely frustrating to learn how to skate along with picking up the rules for a brand new game, but I've yet to meet a challenge I can't overcome. The VHLM Dispersal Draft just can't get here soon enough!"
Despite a journey many felt was marred by excessive fights and other physical violence, Kowalski looks to bring about a new breed of defensemen in the VHL, that of a true enforcer. Time will tell if he will become a feared hitter and fighter or simply another laughingstock that can't stop anyone.
Jethro Novacek is a contributor to the MSFL Times, excitedly preparing for football season. He enjoys taking part in a ballroom blitz, releasing captive animals and cheering on his beloved Nittany Lions.
RYAN CATTRALL: ROOKIE PROFILE
Position: Right Wing - Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: October 15th, 1991 (23 years old)
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 220 lbs.
Nationality: Canadian
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
College: Western Michigan University
Junior Hockey Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Wingspan: 74''
PROLOUGE
There comes a time in every young hockey player’s life where they need an answer to an almighty question. How good are you? Answering “yes” from the stands is easy, you aren’t as self assured or self aware about the decision in going pro. You wouldn’t know the years players spent working their fingers to the bone, breaking limbs, and overcoming obstacles to get to the point to where you hear your name called. Hockey isn’t just a sport; it’s a way of life. On average, only 200 hundred players of year make it to any league on any level no matter how good they are. It’s a dog eat dog sport, and anything short of greatness is deemed failure. Now that’s not to say anybody shouldn’t peruse their dream of becoming a professional hockey player, all that’s saying is keep your minds open and your expectations realistic. Better you do it knowing the risks involved, rather than being blindsided come draft day and your name isn’t called.
Hockey’s lifeblood happens to be the hundreds of thousands of prospects like Ryan Cattrall, all chomping at the bit trying to get somewhere. Trying to prove that they’re worth every single moment a scout evaluates them Cattrall’s journey to the pros has been anything but easy. A broken left arm, a sprained ankle, and of course the growing pains in learning how to perform at a high level on a constant. From day one all he’s ever wanted was to see his dream realized, playing under the bright lights playing for a VHL Super Cup. Much less repaying the favor of a team taking a long shot on him, bringing back a championship would’ve been the highlight of his rookie season.
There had once been a time in the very beginning when her hands shook as he tended to blistered hands. His best friend in the entire world pretty much was the ice bath. Sore back and muscles couldn’t stop him, if it wasn’t for his family being so enriched in hockey as if it was actual lore. He would’ve quit a long time ago, and you can trust him when he says he wanted to quit virtually every moment that passed where he was either banged up or coughing up whatever he ate for his pre-game meal because he was afraid of failure. Over time his hands seem to steady as he used his hockey stick to assume a sketchy stance one that only half believed in whatever he felt was right. Doing this wasn’t ever easy and throughout the duration of his career he felt as long as he kept going, he might actually mean something to those people rooting against him.
Forget about the people who cheered him on, his support group that seemingly thought he couldn’t do any wrong. They didn’t matter much, because this was all about his chance at performing and at times he always seemingly came up short.
In a million years he hadn’t imagined this. He hadn’t imagined he’d get to the VHL. It was only something that usually crossed his mind a million times on average every day. What even was an average day in the life of a hockey player? Before he could remember studying, training, and doing whatever he could to maintain that student athlete presence. Once he graduated all bets where off junior hockey was a completely different beast. Days of practice turned into an audition for the draft, any mistakes virtually hurt you in the end. Nevertheless, it’s been a long and rough ride after playing two seasons with his junior team he’s made more than enough mistakes for the next guy. Still that’s never detrude him for continuing to push head and shoulders above the rest, and the most dangerous and explosive players are always the ones who’ve been dreaming of being a hockey player most of their lives.
PLAYER PERSPECTIVE
Putting Ryan as a player and the way he plays the game in perspective. He’s a very adamant player, one who’s willing to willing to learn. A natural student of the game, one that doesn’t back down if the team is leading by 1 or trailing by 5. He’s got a natural instinct to keep pushing himself, he might not always score goals but he’s found a way to commit himself to a brand of Hockey almost any major team looking for a youngster who can play should obliviously at least look into. For starters, this isn’t about his strengths and weaknesses. It’s more about his personality and how he can get hot off something like an assist and keeping his teammates involved. He wasn’t always like this – mind you, he had to learn how to be more of a playmaking threat – and it wasn’t easy as scoring whenever a chance presented itself. In college, it was much harder not to be a scoring machine. There’s no real reason to call his stats into question, that’s because the more you look at his numbers the more you start to lose the very character and caliber of player you’re dealing with. Anybody can score a goal, but it takes a real player to defend a breakaway or a howitzer of a snap shot. Not to mention being able to assist in a goal either dead level or win a game where the score line presents only one degree of separation.
His natural ability seems to be skating, not only can he skates forwards, but he’s got a ting for skating backwards as well. Most people went on record confirming it had to be from all the years of playing roller hockey in the summer. It was always natural for him to avoid players, stopping and tuning on a dime, supplying him with more than ample room to make a play when you least expect it. As a teen he always hovering around the net, most people overlooked him as a kid because of his small size, and seemingly it continued since not many people counted on him being as fast. Skating right foot forward isn’t really much of a chore to him; most skaters in the world are right handed anyway. What makes it interesting is that he isn’t a stranger to switching hands from time to time. Being predominately being right handed isn’t a benchmark it’s just one of many small traits to make up the plutonic makeup of a hockey player. His strength for staking also helps his shooting, and he isn’t the best sniper by any means.
Instead he relies on being a pass-first right wing, someone who can distribute the puck at a drop of a hat to someone who’s open or parlay a goal for himself as a playmaker. Players of this certain denomination aren’t always drafted, at times they’re overlooked because what matters is the goal that withers away at the other team and scores points in the standings. Win, lose or draw teams are looking for those incredible superstars who can go on to become a face of a franchise. Far from being the face of the franchise, let alone an “ace” or a “captain” in the VHL (verdicts still pending) but until we see him starting as the franchise player we’ll keep up high hopes for him. What else makes him an interesting player is the type of energy he brings to the ice and his teammates, now he isn’t one to fight by an means and somehow trough it all he’s managed never to toss the gloves and engage someone. For some reason he keeps to himself, he lets the enforcer take care of any discrepancies between his team and theirs.
A passion that seems to ignite the time the first period puck is dropped is this sense that needs to belong to a certain company being anything short most certainly a failure on his part. Still his warm personality seems to prevent him from turning to the dark side. Instead he rather takes the road less traveled no matter how hard it might be. As a professional hockey player he’s going to need to encase his heart and keep his emotions in check, they’ve been known to spill all over his sweater at the most inopportune times. He’s human though, and at twenty-three years old it’s easy to see that he’s developed into one hell of a hockey player at first glance.
Nobody’s perfect though, if anything his deepest desires of wanting to win at times can consume him like the best of em’ turning from a vibrant pass first wing into a shoot first hot-headed wing that shows untapped frustration worn all over his face. He’s not easily rattled, but when you couple the fact that at times he tries to take the game over with a single play and his mistakes will start to pile up. If any team is looking to draft a developmental prospect look no further. His talent alone and natural skill should be enough to keep any team adamant about what should become of him in the future, should he develop further and become a superstar that’s an even greater testament to how good and how he could be a VHL dark horse for years to come.
THE PROS AND CONS
The Pros –
· Good Skating: Ryan’s skating ability is very fun and entertaining to watch, he’s able to make a lot of plays with his stick handling and skating alone. Being able to see plays develop and put them to good use using his control of circling around the net, stopping on the dime, even cutting trough players on the opposing team comes easy.
· Good Passing: Cattrall’s sense of passing comes with two different levels, there’s always an entry level pass coming to an open teammate or he uses his passing to create touches for himself. What’s so amazing about his passing has to be whenever he has the puck and he can get open to supply an assist. What most scouts and coaches don’t realize is that extra emphasis on passing in his game, he’s willing to give up a lot to see a teammate make a play scoring a goal that can either tie up or win them the game.
· Very Competitive: Ryan’s got a very healthy competitive nature about him, whenever he’s on the ice you can expect him to give nothing short of 150% at all times. Scouts seem to think that’s why he doesn’t care what line he’s on as long as he’s given the opportunity to prove himself to his teammates and someone else playing his position on the opposing team. He wants to bring back a win, taking each one a step at a time. Same with every loss, he learns from them the most and tends to make the most of relishing them.
· Snap Judgment: Cattrall’s got a very good sense of judgment, be it passing or shooting the puck. Something that drives him the most is that he’s got an eye for driving the puck down the ice in a matter of seconds, this isn’t to say he’s the fastest he’s just always good at plotting the best position possible to get the puck off to a teammate. Thus far he’s managed to prove this aspect of his game, but his shooting ability seemingly hinders his scoring ability.
· Good Size and Ability: Ryan’s weight seems to be somewhat heavy and sometimes it’s the core of his game. His height also helps him keep himself leveled off, what most people seem to think is that he can lose weight and become even faster before he plays his first VHL game. His ability to always have a sense of vision on the ice and where to be makes him a deep threat onside enabling a breakaway or two.
The Cons –
· Athleticism: He’s got decent mobile range, he’s got big on spinning around defenders or passing between someone’s legs just yet and that might just come in due time. What makes it hard is the fact that he’s had his fair share of injuries; he’s broken his left arm and sprained his left ankle more times than he can remember. That doesn’t exactly stop him from getting better but it might be a long time before we see him make wild plays that are featured past 11 o’clock on sports center.
· Shooting: At times he tries to make up for his incapability to shoot by scoring one timers, it’s also made his offensive attack one dimensional. Unless a teammate sets him up the right way you can only expect him to keep shooting his heart out, he’s scored various goals in games, but they aren’t anything to write home about. This too can also improve, but this is one of those things that might see him take a hit in terms of his passing game to become more balanced as a player.
· Defense: Now not every offensive player needs defense, but hockey is played with only so many men on the ice. Wingers are not responsible for being all out defenders, they won’t always have to crash boards or break someone’s nose in a fight but is good that they can at least play defense enough to attain the puck on any given possession. Ryan’s strength is lacking in this department, it’s more because he finds defense a little threatening and he hasn’t found a way to deal with on coming defenders seeking him and the puck out once he has possession.
· Keeping Cool: Now all good hockey players know how to keep clam under pressure, it’s what’s made some superstars immortals of the game being able to come through in the clutch. Ryan’s got zero clutch factor and as a leader it’s been hard to see him lead any plan of winning a game with his style alone, he’s very emotional and can easily become frustrated after making one too many mistakes. It shows in how he shoots, how he passes and carries his moral for the duration of the game. As a young player, this is something he’s going to have to fix if he plans on winning a job on any line without being third on a depth chart.
· Basic Instincts: He doesn’t have a lack of basic instincts but there’s something about knowing when to pass and when to shoot that escapes him at times. Sometimes he’s second guessing himself and often it turns into a big play for the other team. He’s going to have to shape up if he wants to continue playing at a high level, there’s just no excuse for giving the puck to the other team in dire situations where his team needs him the most. His raw talent isn’t outmatched by any means, but there’s a certain level of maturity he’ll have to attain before he’s out there making all the right moves as if he can do no wrong.
THE FINAL VERDICT
In Summary Cattrall’s got a lot to work on to become a great right wing. Already he’s showing signs of becoming one, through all his practice hours and time spent watching film he’s getting stronger by the day. At best right now, he’s nothing more than a second to third round pick deep in the middle or at the end of those rounds should suffice. His selection is much warranted and could draw any General Manager and Owner of holding the rights to a kid who’s got a 70% shot of becoming a superstar. His work ethic alone should make other players in practice very uncomfortable and his love of competition might push other wingers to step their game up a few notches. Gem or not, you can assume he isn’t going to be much of a bust. His development window is a lot longer than most of the VHLM’s best and brightest stars heading into the 40th season of the VHL. Him just being around the right type of players as a member of the Yukon Rush should help him find his middle ground, something a little more to where he can obtain the skills through observing other top players on the team and tailor his game towards making in in the VHL once drafted.
With his shortcomings he’s going to need another player supporting and guiding him, a veteran who knows a thing or two about the growing pains of being a draftee. By spending a little more time than most in the VHLM, you can only assume when it’s finally time for him to be called up he’s going to making key plays all over the ice. Assuming all the jet lag from being traded is gone, in a season or two it’s a healthy prediction to say that he could be a bright spot for the Yukon Rush should they bring him into the fold next season. Right now being a ‘rental’ is good enough for him, it gives him the chance to test the waters of what it really means to become a hockey player. Sometimes that’s all you can ask of a kid who’s just happy to celebrate the fact that he’s almost made it. His winning attitude will never be a problem for GMs because like most he wants to win no matter if it’s the VHLM or the VHL, he’s hunting for optimal success and will do everything by the book and the right way to get it.
He might not be a top tier player from the get go, however, he’s young enough to where he could spend a good chunk of his career learning from some of the best the VHL has to offer. That’s really something to think about, a 23 year old with tremendous upside where most of his peers are around 18-20. In the locker room, he’s sure to find someone to bond with and make friends with most of his teammates in the meantime. Overall Cattrall’s a player who needs a lot of practice and growth, but that doesn’t stop his flashes of brilliance and veteran like-mind absorbing a good deal of information in the long run. He’s very marketable, fans like him, and he seems to be one of those new breed of players popping up in the VHL that can grow to be something should be put the time and the effort into it. It’s going to be a pleasure watching young Cattrall as he develops his game, both mentally and physically. At the end of the day what matters is whose going to invest time in him and be able to develop him into the superstar the right way. Your guess as good as mine, that’s what’s so perfect about next seasons draft and it makes it something that people are going to be watching and talking about for seasons to come.
I'm way excited for this draft, so many things to look to that I'm planning on coming out strong regardless of where I'm drafted and who I'm drafted to.
GETTING TO KNOW RYAN CATTRALL
VHL.COM: INTERVIEW with ERIC GIFFITHS
Recently VHL.com caught up with the newest addition to the Yukon Rush, Ryan Cattrall. Cattrall was originally picked up on waivers by the Turku Outlaws; meanwhile the Rush brought Cattrall and two other teammates in to improve their team. VHL.com writer Eric Griffiths asked a few candid questions of the young prospect giving VHL fans everywhere a chance to get to know more about the future draft pick.
How has your VHLM experience been thus far?
“My time in the VHLM has been pretty great, it’s really competitive. If it’s any indication of the type of competition in the VHL, it’s going to be an interesting experience. Just being able to strap on my skates each and every day, be it practice or a game situation is enough for me.”
Speaking of the VHL how are you feeling being a member of one of the better draft classes the VHL has had?
“It’s an honor really. There are a lot of guys going into the draft who’ve been in the VHLM longer than me. I’m taking everything one game at a time. There are some real superstars amongst them; it’s really tough just coming in trying to perform at the same level. It’s challenging, one of the toughest things I’ve experienced seeing as how everybody’s fighting trying to become the number one pick.”
If you had to pick one team, what team drafts you in the draft?
“I don’t really care where I go. Just the opportunity to prove myself is enough for me, but for the sake of the question I guess I’d love to become a member of the New York Americans – It’s an amazing city (New York) – playing there would be pretty cool.”
What round of the draft do you think you’ll hear your name called?
“I’m at the mercy of every single GM in the VHL like everybody else. Of course everybody wants to the one pick overall in the draft, it isn’t hard to imagine yourself going first and being the first to put on a sweater as the number one pick. I could be the first pick or the last pick, but it isn’t about where you were picked it’s about what type of player you go on to become.”
What do you think you bring to the VHL and what are you looking to improve?
“My work ethic. I feel like I’ve got an amazing work rate and I’d like to use that to my advantage to get somewhere in the VHL. I’m going to do whatever the GMs and Coaches need me to do, if that’s coming in 3rd or 4th line in the third period so be it. Rome wasn’t built in a day – it’s a long process and isn’t going to happen overnight. As far as what I’m looking to improve, I’d like to improve my skating and passing more so that I can become more of an asset in the plan of the attack. I don’t have to score goals, that’ll happen eventually, but knowing that I can get my teammates involved and they stay involved is important to me.”
Stylistically do you think that’ll help the team you’re drafted by?
“Hopefully we’ll have to see. It’ll help the guys who can score; I’d really try to make plays through distributing the puck to any of my teammates in any position to attack. The perfect scenario in my mind is always being in a position where I can make a quick and easy touch to someone who’s circling either around the back end of the net, maybe even on the break when it’s down to him and the goalie.”
Do you have any asperations for the duration your career?
“I want to become the best right wing in the league and it’s a high standard to have knowing how many guys coming into the league or already there that can attest to being that good. I feel like if I stick to working hard and making plays, eventually it’ll start to acclimate into actual success. Chance favors those who prepared to work hard and get in there and make something happen, and I definitely want to make something happen. ”
Cattrall is headed for Yukon as he was traded to the Rush from the Outlaws in a deal that would help the Outlaws secure another pick in the draft. Cattrall managed to at least get a small start as he was able to net 4 goals and 9 assists while playing 22 games for the Outlaws. On twitter Cattrall took time out of his busy schedule in trying to settle into his new team to thank the Outlaws and their GM for bringing him into the organization.
Now that Cattrall is with the Rush, it seems like Yukon has secured three players could very well help shape Yukon’s playoff future as the team continues on trying to complete the Season. Without knowing much about his new found role with the Rush, Cattrall’s goal might very well much be the same. He might not turn heads, but he’s still hardworking and willing to keep doing what it takes to actually see this thing through. It’s too early to tell either if picking him up in the first place was worth it, but one can only speculate he believes in himself and thinks he can become great with a steep hill to climb left for the duration of his career.
Cattrall is headed for Yukon as he was traded to the Rush from the Outlaws in a deal that would help the Outlaws secure another pick in the draft. Cattrall managed to at least get a small start as he was able to net 4 goals and 9 assists while playing 22 games for the Outlaws. On twitter Cattrall took time out of his busy schedule in trying to settle into his new team to thank the Outlaws and their GM for bringing him into the organization.
Now that Cattrall is with the Rush, it seems like Yukon has secured three players could very well help shape Yukon’s playoff future as the team continues on trying to complete the Season. Without knowing much about his new found role with the Rush, Cattrall’s goal might very well much be the same. He might not turn heads, but he’s still hardworking and willing to keep doing what it takes to actually see this thing through. It’s too early to tell either if picking him up in the first place was worth it, but one can only speculate he believes in himself and thinks he can become great with a steep hill to climb left for the duration of his career.
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