LucyXpher

Love that!

Tonight is the night when rubber meets the road— or more accurately, when a new class of VHLM rookies will take to the ice hoping to make strong first impressions. The importance of this season cannot be overstated as players will be looking to impress not only their current clubs and GMs, but also VHL scouts and managers who will, no doubt, be looking for breakout talent in the next VHL draft. Starting strong is important, but showing consistency and commitment to development will also be key for these young players as they take the next steps towards hearing their name called by a VHL franchise. In this article, we’ll be doing a deep dive into one prospect who, despite being a late free agent signing, has impressed throughout training camp for the Houston Bulls. Lucy Leitner fits the mould of the modern puck moving defenseman. Though some scouts insist that size is still a heavy determining factor in a player’s ultimate draft position, there is a school of thought that gives more importance to skills that help defenders move the puck up ice with purpose and confidence. Scouts who consider Leitner for the upcoming draft will have to confront these differences in philosophy and decide what kind of player they’re looking for. At 5’8” and 155 pounds, Leitner is not exactly tipping the scales, and coming off a serious injury that held her out of all but three games in her final year of junior, there are valid questions about her long term durability— questions that will need to be answered in this upcoming season. And while size, strength, and physicality may not be the sharpest tools in her kit, she is one of the more gifted skaters joining the VHLM this season. Watching her throughout her junior career and through a shortened training camp, she regularly made forecheckers look silly with smooth skating transitions from defence to offence, using her edges to create space and separation to move the puck north. In her last full season, she led all AJHL defenders in controlled exits and controlled entries per 60, consistently demonstrating an ability to carry the puck out of the D-zone and across the opposing blue line. If those skills can translate to the minor and pro ranks, she will have a much better chance of becoming an everyday VHLer. On top of an elite skating foundation, Leitner has good offensive vision. Playing for Black Diamond of the AJHL, she quarterbacked the top power play unit, demonstrating an ability to find teammates with deceptive passes, using her skating to walk the blue line and survey the offensive zone before zipping a pass onto the tape of a teammate for a quality scoring chance. In her age 16 season with the Blades she racked up 58 assists through 57 games, and was off to a flying start the next season with 7 helpers through 3 games before a season ending neck injury derailed her hot start. Don’t be surprised to see her start to show some of those skills in the VHLM as she figures to be a solid addition to the Bulls’ power play and will likely have plenty of ice time and opportunity to adjust to the higher level of competition. Leitner’s shot is an area that may leave something to be desired as she is often looking primarily for a pass option, or sometimes shooting just to funnel pucks to the net, perhaps without the killer instinct to actually score. When I spoke to her earlier this week, however, she did say that this was an area that she recognized could use improvement, and that she was actively working with skills coaches to develop both her release and velocity. If she can round out this side of her offensive game, she may have the necessary skills to eat up top power play minutes on a nightly basis. Lucy Leitner is not merely an offensive threat from the back end, but has consistently shown commitment and ability to defend in her own end. Again, using her stand-out skating ability to manage gaps in transition, she is capable of shutting down opposing forwards, closing in on them as they run out of space. Leitner also demonstrates restraint around her own net, playing responsible positional hockey when the situation requires it, waiting for the right moment to nab the puck and start the breakout. These skills may be most transferable to the higher levels of play as her commitment to defending will help her earn the trust of her coaches and managers going forward. Leitner thrives on creating turnovers and, despite her lack of size and physicality, she has a tenacity for puck retrieval, always wanting to be the first player back. This is a player who loves having the puck on her stick and that confidence bodes well for her chances of remaining effective as the level of competition increases. Finally, Leitner demonstrates a strength of character as a teammate, displaying a sincere love of the game and an earnest desire to improve, both on and off the ice. Former coaches have described her as an ideal student of the game and she embodies this through her commitment to training and practices. Frequently the first player on the ice and the last player off, Leitner shows a willingness to receive feedback, and the discipline to work through her mistakes. All told, the sky is the limit for a player who knows the value of practice, all that’s left is to see if she can reach it. ──•~❉᯽❉~•── Lauren Lambert for VHL.com

That’s Awesome graphic!

Count me as fan #1!

I’m honored to be selected as an Assistant captain among such an amazing group! Congrats also to Chris, and to Jake who I’m sure will be an incredible captain. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish as a team this season! Let’s go Bulls!

Great article from VHL Prospect guru, Ben Icio del Torro! Looking forward to seeing Vencko tend the goal for the Bulls this season, no doubt he’s got show stopping potential.

Review: I really like the direction you went with this, I dig the flames in the background and the 6(66) detail as well. I think those details really bring out the character of your player. I also like the choice of font you went with, it really suits the vibe. If I could offer any constructive feedback in the spirit of giving an honest review, maybe the text would be a little less busy if you just abbreviated goaltender (G). I think it’s probably a little redundant considering there’s a picture of a goalie there in full gear as well. And maybe another minor detail, increasing the brightness/contrast might help make it pop a little more. I’m no photoshop expert, but I’ve edited a few insta photos in my day so take that for what it’s worth (lol, not much). Anyway, great graphic for an awesome player, really excited to see you progress and looking forward to being teammates this season! 8.5/10

I’m gonna claim this as a review, but I’d rather this didn’t come off as contrived and only for the TPE, so I’m not gonna be overly formal with it. It’s funny you mentioned new recruiting ideas and that particular video on Rob’s channel. As it turns out, that was the exact ad that got me here in the first place! It’s a smart place to run an ad and I wouldn’t be surprised to see user numbers increase if they continue. As for making it an enjoyable community, I must say, as someone who only joined a couple days ago, I’ve been impressed with how welcoming and supportive everyone has been, more so than I’ve experienced on other forums. Y’all have been very helpful and kind in offering to get us newbies settled in and up to speed without making it seem like asking you a question is gonna put you out. So credit to you and the others for that! As for the other new users you highlighted, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with some of them myself and I’ll be teammates with two of them this season. Side note: I got a real kick out of one of Mutti’s latest articles about a knockoff Czech Heisenberg carrying a pound of crystal meth through the Bulls’ arena parking lot. If people haven’t read it, they should. What a legend! It’s been nice seeing others who joined at the same time learning their way around the forum, similarly excited to get stuck in, so to that end, I totally agree with your choices in this article! All told, a very clearly written article that really brings out your care for this community. Thanks for the work you’re doing, I’m glad I found this place and look forward to diving deeper into it! 10/10

Thank you!

Thanks a lot! I was a bit worried it would be too long, but I’m glad you were able to make it through. I appreciate the review!

On the eve of Season 92, there’s a buzz in Bull land. An exciting Season 92 VHLM Dispersal Draft in the offseason saw the Bulls picking twice in the 2nd round and twice again in the 3rd round. With their first selection at 14th overall, the Bulls selected 6’3”, LW, Chris Reynolds Jr. who had 8 points in 18 regular season games for Ottawa of the VHLM last year. Reynolds Jr. figures to be an important contributor to a Houston team that is coming off of a disappointing playoff exit after a 52 win, 2nd place campaign in 91. At 18th, the Bulls nabbed the 6 foot, 205 pound RW, Trimiskez Artav. Artav had an active off season and it really showed in training camp. His shot and passing ability appear to have improved significantly, and with his scoring acumen being among the best on the team, look for him to factor into the Houston offence on a nightly basis. In the 3rd round, at 22nd overall, the Bulls pulled 6’1”, LW, Miner VHLer. There’s not much tape on this guy, but the Bulls will hope that he was worth the 3rd round selection. Finally, with the 25th pick, Houston would select 5’5”, 180 pound goaltender, Herald Benson. With his pedigree, he’ll likely have the Houston net to start the season, but don’t be surprised if free agent addition, Ondrej Vencko, gives him a run for his money as the season progresses. In a breaking story that made waves earlier today, an elderly Czech man was arrested outside the Bulls’ arena. The man was found to be in possession of a one (1) pound bag of crystal clear methamphetamine. When asked if he had any connection to the man, Vencko, also a native of Czechia, responded, “I don’t care about drugs.” At 5’10”, 187 pounds, Ondrej— or Ondra as he likes to be called— doesn’t posses a big frame for a goaltender, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for with his apparent apathy towards drugs. The end of the 91 season, of course, saw the departure of a few key players. The scoring outputs of both Luna Everdeen and Keegan Vos will be especially missed as the duo combined for 62 goals and 131 points in Season 91. The most significant loss, however, is likely to be that of goaltender, Pipo Popa, who had a franchise record breaking season with 22 shutouts, a .933 save percentage, and a 1.44 GAA, taking home VHLM MVP honors in the process. Those skates will be incredibly huge ones to fill for Houston’s two new young backstops. For the 92 campaign, Bulls General Manager, AJW, signed a swath of new free agent talent, including the aforementioned Vencko, who remains adamant that he does not care about drugs. At defence, notable newcomers include the towering, 6’6”, Charles Losfeld, 6’4” stalwart, Cody Toland, and the 5’8”, smooth-skating, Lucy Leitner, a native Houstonian. At forward, the Bulls added a pair of Nathans, Ecker and Schwartz, who both look to add to the Houston scoring lines with potent offensive skills. Dylan Boland at RW also boasts a good release and scoring touch. Deez Nutz, however, remains an unknown quantity, and I still haven’t heard back from my European source on what Czech sniper, Filip Zinek, thinks about drugs— if he thinks about them at all, that is. To top it all off, just hours before opening night of Season 92, General Manager, @AJW, announced the hiring of @Nathan_8 as Assistant General Manager. This is a move that has been well received by the players and community alike as the team looks forward to the next chapter in its history and building toward a VHLM championship. Time will tell if this team can replicate the success it had last season, but for now, Bulls hockey is back and there’s never been a better time to get on board! Lauren Lambert for VHL.com

Haha, that’s amazing! Ondrej “I don’t care about drugs” Vencko! What a beauty!

Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it!

With the VHLM season only days away, managers and players alike are making final preparations as training camps around the league are wrapping up. As a development league, the VHLM is a great place for players to cut their teeth, to develop their game as a pro and take it to the next level— but make no mistake, the VHL is the pinnacle of the sport and every player with serious aspirations knows that the journey to the top is anything but a cakewalk. Houston Bulls rookie, Lucy Leitner, knows this harsh reality all too well. Coming off a serious injury that kept her out of the draft this past offseason, Leitner signed a 1 year contract with the Bulls as a free agent and is expected to be entered in next year’s draft. At 5’8” and 155 pounds, the smooth skating rearguard leaves something to be desired in terms of size. And though she’s not likely to be on the hammer end of a huge open ice hit, what she lacks in size and sheer physicality she makes up for with quickness, agility, IQ, and determination. “Leitner’s got a great understanding of when to push and when to pull. Breaking the puck up ice, she lures forecheckers into traps and burns them with her exceptional edge work and vision” — Rob Miller (Assistant Coach, Black Diamond Blades) ”She’s rarely caught out of position defensively, that’s what I like about her game— but she knows when it’s time to move up the ice” — League Scout 1 “Great stick defensively, loves to skate the puck” — League Scout 2 ”An exceptional teammate and student of the game, the first one on and last one off at practice. She just loves to play and can skate for days” — Jordan Keene (Head Coach, Black Diamond Blades) In her last season with the Blades, Leitner only appeared in 3 games before sustaining a season ending neck injury. Without a doubt, losing a season of play and development can set a player back, and questions remain about her long term health. “I saw her skating this summer. She looked good, I just wonder about how she’ll hold up to the physical demands of the VHLM, let alone the VHL” — Anonymous scout A native of Houston, Leitner hopes that returning home to Texas will provide the boost she needs to come back from a disappointing end to her junior career and take the next step as a pro. This is a Bulls team that finished 2nd in the 91 VHLM regular season, but has been making waves recently with a series of new additions from the front office down. The opportunities will be there for the rookie defensemen, it’ll be up to her to make the most of them. ──•~❉᯽❉~•── Lauren Lambert for VHL.com

Awesome news! Glad to have such a great management team and looking forward to all the success we’ll have together this season! Let’s go Bulls!

Thanks AJ, I appreciate that! Very happy to be able to join this team and looking forward to what we can accomplish!

January 9, 2024 - Diamond Valley, Alberta It’s a frosty January evening, about 7:30 pm, as I crunch up the snowy driveway of the Leitner family home. There’s a light glowing through the front window, soft and yellow, a warm radiance, beckoning me out of the cold winter night. I ring the doorbell and immediately I can hear the thumping and scratching of approaching footsteps on the other side. Seconds later, the inner door swings open and I’m greeted by a boy in a Houston Bulls sweater, no older than 10, followed closely by a black Labrador puppy bounding behind him. “Oh!” I say, startled. “Hi there!” “You’re the interviewer from VHL Magazine, aren’t you?” The boy says excitedly. I nod that I am and before I can say anything else, the eager puppy is showering me with sloppy wet kisses. The boy is Josh Leitner and the puppy’s name is Pox. The boy’s mother, Genessa, appears a moment later, smiling at the boy’s— and the puppy’s— enthusiasm. She greets me warmly and leads me into the family living room where there’s an inviting fireplace and a comfy sofa. On the far end of the room away from the fireplace is a set of French doors that lead out behind the house. Through the glass I can faintly make out a figure in the dark, bent down on one knee as though tying shoes. “Would you like something to warm up? Tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate?” Genessa inquires. “Coffee please, decaf.” As Genessa disappears into the kitchen to prepare the beverage, I look back toward the dark windows and notice that the crouched figure is gone. A few moments later, a white light flickers on beyond the doors, faint at first, but slowly becoming brighter. I can make out the familiar outline of boards and nets— a backyard rink. I stand up off the sofa and walk over to the window to have a closer look just as Lucy Leitner takes the ice, skates flashing as she crosses over in the corner, around the net, building up speed. She’s wearing a Pom-Pom toque and her long strawberry blonde hair is loose, whipping behind her in the frosty air. I watch mesmerized as she takes a few laps around the rink, effortlessly gliding on her edges, skating forward, then backward, and then forward again, cutting shapes across the snow-sprinkled outdoor ice, almost seeming to float. My mesmerized moment is broken by an excited puppy and an eager young boy. Josh has his skates and stick in hand and has his sights set on joining his older sister on the ice. Pox— well, Pox just wants more kisses. “Excuse me, Miss,” Josh says politely as he ambles past me, opening the glass paned door that leads out to the rink. Propping one of the French doors open and sitting on the doorstep, he begins putting on his skates. I shiver and fold my arms as the brisk air blows through the doorway into the hearth. I can hear the sharp rasping and slashing of Lucy’s blades as she continues to carve up the ice sheet. Beside the rink, a shed door closes with a thump and a man in a parka begins crunching through the snow toward me. Pox, ever eager, rushes past Josh in the doorway, galloping toward the man. “Pox! Get back inside!” He says, waving the incorrigible puppy back inside the house. “Joshua! Close the door! We’re not trying to heat all of Alberta!” There’s a playfulness in his tone as he coaxes the boy out of the doorframe so that it can close behind him. Cleaning off his boots, cheeks still red from the cold, the man extends a hand to me, “Stephen Leitner, glad you could make it out.” Genessa returns a few moments later with a steaming cup of decaf and the three of us settle in by the fireplace to chat. By the French doors at the end of the room, Pox sits, gazing out at Joshua as he clomps his way toward the white light of the rink to join Lucy. ──•~❉᯽❉~•── Stephen and Genessa Leitner met in college. Both were Division I athletes and both played hockey for Boston College. Stephen, born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, went to BC on a hockey scholarship and played there for three seasons, captaining the team in his third year with the program. After he was passed over in the VHL draft, he went over to Europe to play in the Finnish Liiga. His pro career in Europe lasted only nine games, however, as he was forced into an early retirement due to heart complications that would keep him out of competitive play. Being only 22 and reluctant to give up the game, he took a job as a skills development coach back at BC with the women’s program. During that first season back Stephen and Genessa would be engaged, and Genessa, a junior at the time, would be fifth on her team in scoring en route to a National championship. Genessa would play one more season with BC before the couple moved to Houston, Texas. Genessa herself was born in Katy, Texas, though her parents had moved there for work from Minnesota. When Stephen was offered a job as an assistant coach for a new hockey school in the Houston area, the couple decided to jump at the opportunity. “We wanted to be closer to my family,” Genessa says, “And we were ready to start a family of our own.” In August of 2002, Stephen and Genessa made their move to Houston and on May 9th, 2005 they welcomed their first child, Lucy. “Lucy was just a natural skater,” Genessa says of her daughter. “We had her on the ice at 3 years old and we just can’t seem to get her off of it.” Genessa nods towards the French doors. On the ice, Lucy floats by like a ghost and Josh chases after her excitedly. Pox has finally settled down for a nap by the door. “She always had a special kind of self motivated determination to improve her skills and to be a better teammate,” her Father says. Stephen coached his daughter through her formative hockey years at the Houston Hockey Academy, and when asked about where her determination came from he answered, “From her mother, absolutely. Early on, the two of them had that in common, just this unwillingness to settle for ‘good enough’. Lucy was always a great kid to coach because she never complained about the practices and she really just wanted to get better. Like Gen said, it’s always been harder to get her off the ice than on it.” Genessa, herself, left hockey behind in Boston for a career as an architect. “I had this thing that I always wanted to pursue and that was architecture. I loved hockey, but I also had this passion for design and it’s a career that definitely lends itself better to the family lifestyle.” When the couple moved to Houston, Genessa transferred from BC to Rice University to complete her architectural studies and has been working in the field ever since. When asked about his wife’s determination to leave hockey for architecture Stephen said, “She was a great player and as much as I wanted her to continue playing, she had this other goal and it wasn’t really for me to say no.” “Financially, it was tough those first few years paying off student loans,” Genessa says, “And we weren’t making a lot either, especially when Lucy was born. It was rat race for sure, but it’s paid off.” It did pay off. By the time they had their second child, Joshua, the family was debt free and owned a home in Sugar Land, Texas. Stephen was eventually promoted as director of HHA, Genessa was working her way up in her chosen field, and by age 11, Lucy was already turning heads at tournaments. “She was always one of the better skaters,” her father says with pride, “Always so fluid and smooth and I think her speed really takes some people by surprise.” Watching her through the window again, it’s true, her skating does look effortless as she floats through the night, jersey and hair flying behind her like a flag on a windy day, but perhaps it’s hard to truly appreciate just how good it is unless you’re actually skating with her. “She’s real good at turning it on at the right moments, but it’s kind of deceptive,” Stephen says. “One minute she’s gliding toward you surveying the ice, looking for a pass, the next minute she’s using those edges to generate speed and by the time you’re reacting she’s got a step. She just loves breaking the puck up ice from the defensive zone.” “Where do you think that skill comes from?” I ask. “Not from me,” Stephen says. “It’s the practice, she’s just so consistent with it. That’s something, you know, we really tried to convey from a young age, just practice and work for what you love so that you can love where you work.” It’s good advice and both of her parents embody it. ──•~❉᯽❉~•── It’s about 9:30pm when Lucy finally gets off the ice and appears at the French doors with Josh. Pox is up again, tail wagging as ever. Genessa gets up to fix something warm for Josh, and Stephen heads back out into the cold to flood the ice and turn off the lights. Lucy sits down on a sofa across from me and pulls off her toque, her cheeks rosy and nose red from the cold. Strands of hair stick to her brow, still damp with sweat. She pulls her hair off her face, tucking it behind her ears, grinning as she greets me. She’s wearing a San Jose Sharks jersey. “Is that your favorite team?” Lucy nods. “Why the Sharks?” I ask, curious. “ I dunno. My dad just had one of these teal Sharks jerseys in his bag when I was growing up and I just liked it. I kept wearing it and he eventually got me my own. Been a Sharks fan ever since.” “Did you ever live in San Jose?” Lucy laughs, “No, I haven’t even been to California.” “It seems like your dad was pretty important in your hockey development, but from what I hear, you’re a lot like your mom too. How would you describe your relationship with your parents?” “Yeah, my dad was always my coach growing up and I definitely learned a lot from him, like skills and fundamentals. But my mom too, she was a pretty good player too and she’s been a great role model for me as well, especially as a girl in hockey.” “Did your parents ever push you to practice, or were they ever hard on you if you made mistakes on the ice?” “I mean, I guess they taught me the importance of practice—my dad’s always preaching practice,” Lucy laughs. “But no, they never really, like, pushed me into it. Like, even early on, it was something I really loved and wanted to do and wanted to get better at.” “Did your dad ever yell at you or get mad when you messed up on the ice?” “I don’t think so, he’s not really the yelling type. You kinda just know when you mess up, like, you just see it in his eyes and you know you gotta do better.” “You seem pretty self motivated, then, to get better.” “Yeah, I think I’m my own worst critic at times, like, I always just want to get back out there and fix my mistakes. I guess, like, with my dad, he’s been good that way. He kinda just gave me the space to learn the game and make those mistakes and learn from them. We also spend a lot of time together watching back games and breaking it down too and he definitely lets me know when there’s things I can do better. But we get along really well for the most part.” “You’re 18 years old now. You just signed your first pro deal with the Houston Bulls in the VHLM, but where do you see yourself in two years?” “My dream is to play in the VHL, so, like, I guess I hope to be drafted next summer and maybe be playing there in two years, but right now I’m just focussed on getting better, being the best I can be, helping my team win every night, and enjoying the game.” “How do you like to play the game? How would you describe the way you play?” “I just love, like, the feeling of moving on the ice. It’s just such a beautiful game, like, it can obviously be physical and you need to be able to get a little dirty and grind sometimes, but I like to play a fast skilled game both ways. I try to use my skills on both sides of the puck, you know, to shut things down defensively and really move the puck up ice when I have the chance.” “A lot of people talk about your skating as your standout ability and you alluded to how you enjoy skating. Do you agree that it’s your best ability? And what other skills do you you bring to a game?” “Yeah, definitely, I just love skating—ever since I was little. I even did some figure skating for a while and that definitely helped with some edge work and technical stuff, but it’s just something that I always want to get better at so that I can really use it to my advantage. In terms of other skills, I’d probably say, like, just my offensive and defensive sense. I think I’m pretty good at balancing between joining the rush and being defensively responsible. So yeah, I’d probably say that.” “I want to ask you about the draft. As you mentioned earlier, you hope to be drafted next year and that’s because you missed the draft this year. Now, I understand that’s because you sustained an injury last year that kept you out for most of the season. Just talk me through that experience and how that’s impacted your development.” “Yeah, for sure, it was definitely a difficult year—last year. A few games into the season I kinda went into the boards awkward and cracked a vertebrae in my back. I had to get surgery for that and it pretty much ended my year.” “That must have been a scary injury. Was there ever any talk of you not playing again?” “Yeah, like, after it happened I came out of surgery and was just kind of praying that everything went well and that it wasn’t too serious. Luckily, it didn’t cause any permanent damage, but it’s obviously serious enough that people asked questions like that. I just thought it would be best to hold out another year, sign with a team after the draft and really just work my way back because I basically missed a whole year of playing.” “I was going to ask you about that, how much time did you miss where you weren’t skating?” “About four-ish months, and then it was just light practice for a while. It was probably about six months before I was getting back to full practices.” “Did you miss playing the game?” Lucy laughs, “Every f***ing day.” “Well, it’s great to see you back on the ice and we really can’t wait to see you play.” “Yeah, thanks, I’m just super excited to be able to get back out there and play some games. It’s been way too long.” “So you signed with Houston this summer, which is where you grew up. That must be exciting?” “Yeah, absolutely!” “Just tell me a little more about that, was Houston your first choice? I know your family moved up to Canada a few years back, was that a factor as well?” “Yeah, Houston was definitely my first choice, you know, growing up there. It’ll be exciting to get back there and I can’t wait to join the team. And I’ve still got some family and friends in the area so it’ll be super cool to have them at games. But yeah, it’ll be different moving away from the family to play as they’ve been a big part of my journey ‘til now, especially throughout the past year, you know, coming back from the injury. But this is just the next step on my journey and I’ve gotta go for it.” “For those who may not know, you moved up to Canada with your family to play for the Black Diamond Blades, and, if I understand correctly, part of that decision was because your dad was offered a consulting job in Calgary as well.” “Yeah, it just made a lot of sense for us to all move together. And it’s been great being able to be pretty close to family as I keep growing as a player. My dad’s also got some family in the area as well so it’s kinda cool to be able to see some of them as well and see where this side of the family is from. Plus, it’s Canada, the most hockey nuts nation on earth.” “Because your parents are from Canada and the US you have dual citizenship, but who would you play for internationally if you were given the chance?” “USA, no doubt, that’s just home to me. I love Canada too, but it’s just not home the same way.” ──•~❉᯽❉~•── Our conversation continues on for another hour or so and Lucy shares more about her life growing up, playing hockey in Houston, the move to Alberta, and some of her favorite stories and experiences from junior. Some of these details I’m not at liberty to share, but others may come out in future articles. As we continue speaking, it becomes clear to me the passion and love that Lucy has for the game of hockey, her sheer joy at the prospect of simply being on the ice. Missing time with injury was tantamount to torture for Lucy and returning to the ice was like a second lease on life. Canada may not quite be home for Lucy Leitner, but if I may boldly say so, perhaps neither is the US, and let me explain. For Lucy Leitner, home is a place that transcends nation, that crosses borders and blurs time, a place where she floats and flies, like a flag whipping in the wind, her borders are boards—200 by 85 feet—her anthem, the thrashing of blades, the satisfying smack of a puck, the bell chimes of bar-down, and the drone of a goal horn. The name Lucy comes from the Latin, Lucius, meaning, “light” or “light bringer”. We conclude our interview and I thank the family for their hospitality. A sleepy-eyed Josh is ready to crash as he waves goodnight. When I leave the house, it is 12am. Pox is lying down again, this time in his bed which is off to the side of the living room, the fireplace is off and the lights are out. Stephen has gone to his office down the hall to wrap up some work for the evening, and Genessa escorts Josh off to his room. Lucy has just put her toque back on. I say goodnight and leave through the front door, crunching down the driveway toward my car. It’s a beautiful night, a perfect kind of cold, crisp and fresh, but not so cold that your toes threaten to fall off in your skates, or your fingers become so numb your hands feel like cinderblocks trying to stickhandle bricks—no, it’s perfect. I stop at the door of my vehicle and look up. The sky is clear and we’re far enough away from any city lights that you can make out the stars. My eyes are drawn to Jupiter—the brightest speck of light in the night sky, which is at its closest point to earth in 59 years. I marvel, for a moment, at how bright and big it is, and how distant it is. The moment passes and I get in my car, starting off down the driveway toward the range road. I steal a glance at my rear view mirror when something catches my eye—the rink lights have just come back on behind the house, faint at first, but glowing brighter as I drive further and further away. I smile at the thought of Pox perking up from his rest, awakened by the glow of white light from the rink, his little black tail begins to wag. Lucy is home. ──•~❉᯽❉~•── Lauren Lambert for VHL.com

S92 ID: 1ED65105TJ399673C 5 TPE uncapped - claim pending Doubles Week - claimed 1M player store - claimed

1. Introduce yourself! What is your player's name and what is something about yourself or your player that you would publicly like to say? First of all, thanks for having me! My name is Lucy Leitner and I’m proud to be wearing Bulls colors this year. Being from Houston myself, it’s an absolute thrill to be signed with my home town team. I can’t wait to get this season going! 2. What are your plans this season as a Bull? Have you set any goals for your player or the team to hit? I’m here to contribute to the team’s success in any way I can and develop my own skills in the process. It’s my dream to play in the VHL someday, but for now my focus is on Bulls hockey and helping this team every night. It would be incredible to win a league title here in Houston, so in terms of goals, that would probably be first on the list. 3. The team is throwing a huge BBQ party to boost team chemistry and you are invited! Your requirement to come is you need to bring a dish for everyone to eat, what are you bringing to the table? That’s a good question! I mean, I’ll probably get chirped for this, but I’m bringing something green, maybe like asparagus or Brussels sprouts. *laughs* I know it’s a BBQ and it’s not really supposed to be healthy food, but I always like having vegetables on the side and I’m pretty sure no one else is bringing them so… 4. What type of build are you planning to make for your player? I take pride in my defensive game and I think it’s important that any defender worth their salt can actually do just that…defend. That being said, I like to chip in offensively and join the rush. I think I’ve got decent skating fundamentals as well so I hope to build on that foundation to become a player that plays with pace both up and down the ice. 5. Do you have a favorite warm-up song? What song are you choosing before a game to get you dialed in? I’m probably a bit of a weirdo with my music tastes, but a song that gets me going for warm up is Kill v. Maim by Grimes. Lately, though, I’ve been listening to a lot of Polyphia so maybe Ego Death ft. Steve Vai as an honourable mention. 6. When road trips hit, the flights and bus rides can be a bore, what movie should the team watch on the built in tv screens to pass the time by? Ghost in the Shell, 1995. That’s one of my favorites and I’d love my teammates who haven’t seen it to give it a watch. It’s not the longest movie though so maybe for those longer road trips I’d recommend Watchmen, 2009, (The Ultimate Cut). 7. The team management would like to plan a vacation trip for the whole team and staff. Where is somewhere you have always wanted to go on vacation? Hmm, a lot of people might plan a trip to the beach somewhere where you can just kick back and chill, drink in hand. *laughs* I don’t know, I’m just not as interested in that idea, so if it’s up to me, we’re going to Japan. I’ve never been, but it’s near the top of my list and I just think it would be a super interesting place to visit for fun, just really get immersed in the culture. Plus, I'm sure there’s a beach there somewhere for those who would rather just chill. 8. Finally, where do you predict Houston will place this season in the league? Last season we finished 2nd overall with 52 wins! I mean, why not 1st? It’s a long season and of course the roster changes and what not, but I’m bullish on this team to improve on last season…get it? Bull-ish… I’m sorry, I’ll see myself out.

Player Information Username: LucyXpher Player Name: Lucy Leitner Recruited From: YouTube Age: 18 Position: D Height: 68 in. Weight: 155 lbs. Birthplace: United States of America Player Page @VHLM GM