Quebec City, Canada
After high speculation as to where he would go in the draft, Bryce Zhields was selected 5th Overall by the Quebec City Meute. After announcing his draft eligibility for the VHL, he quickly shot down any rumours saying he would play for any team in the VHL despite his strong connections to the New York Americans via the STZ Player Agency. This will be the latest draft pick for the STZ Player Agency in VHL History as the former players are as follows; Ethan Osborne (1st OV), Jake Wylde (GM Rule), Unassisted (2nd OV), Rhett DeGrath (2PP 2nd OV), and Ike Arkander (GM Rule). It is surprising that not only with the track record of the draft history but the fact that every single player who is HOF eligible has been inducted.
So what is it that Zhields is lacking that has GM's worried? Davos GM @Tyler passed on the opportunity at the 3rd pick, while the Calgary Wranglers GM @Bushito actually passed on him twice both at 2nd OV and 4th OV. The GM of the Quebec City Meute @Beaviss picked him at 5th as a low-risk pick, after passing on him with one of his early picks.
Reporters asked Zhields to weigh in on his future in the VHL and how the draft may have changed his mindset;
Reporter: How do you feel about your future in the VHL, and now that you are ranked the 5th best prospect in this draft, is the pressure off?
Zhields: I'm excited to be in Quebec City. I have mentors that have strong roots in Quebec, as both Jake and Unassisted both spent a lot of time in the city. I still feel a lot of pressure, I'm going to make those GM's pay for not picking me. They are going to look back on this draft and think "how the hell could you let this player slip through your fingers". You think because I fall in the draft that I don't have big shoes to fill? I'll always be compared to the Osborne's and Wylde's of the world - I need to be the best player I can be.