Tater Tot - Rookie Experience

[Trunkxolotl 173]

"Just hasn't been putting the work in."

 

 

Those words were the justification on draft day from announcers when his stock dropped in an already deep goalie draft. Tot saw names called before him that he had been ranked ahead of, which further drove home those announcer's words. It wasn't until Minnesota finally selected him that the sigh of relief came and he was finally able to breathe. Having Minnesota select him, after signing him has a free agent in his pre-draft year showed trust in the young goaltender that he needed to feel. A trust that Tot was sure to repay in full as Minnesota was building for a deep VHLM cup run.

The moment Tot walked into the locker room as an official VHLM rookie, he made a promise to himself to become the hardest worker in the room, on and off the ice. And he stuck to that promise through the year, going from a welfare level minimum earner, to max-earning every week. Though saying he did it by himself would be a massive understatement. Tot wouldn't be the goalie he is today without his now former general and assistant general manager at Minnesota Storm, or his fellow Vancouver AND Minnesota draftee, Henry Tucker.

So it only made sense that Tucker and Tot took those first steps onto the ice in Vancouver at the same time, as they both looked around in awe at the lights, larger arena and of course their new teammates who they had to endear themselves too quickly. For Tot it was an easy task, as he simply just settled into the net and got ready to do what he did best- take shots. He made it known to his teammates that he wouldn't leave the ice until they needed to- if someone wanted to stay behind after practice to work on their shot, Tot would be there to flash the leather at them.

 

Now, with his first VHL win behind him, and that puck framed beautifully on his mantle place, Tot knows there there is still a lot to work to be done. Despite it only being his rookie year, he has his eyes set on Vancouver's starting job, and hoping to fill the rather large hole that was left by Spyro retiring. Seemingly in a 1a / 1b tandem to start the year, Tot is more than aware of the opportunity being given to him by his new general manager and is more than poised to reach that next rung on the ladder as he works continue to climb and do his best to prove all those doubters from his draft year wrong.