Claimed:Meet Your Saskatoon Wild - Part 1

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Meet Your Saskatoon Wild - Part 1

 

Centers

Tobias Funke – S32

Mikael Svensson – S37 (COL)

Kayl Kuzie – S39 (TOR)

 

Tobias Funke, a VHLM veteran

 

The Saskatoon Wild will enter the season with three centers and the fourth one will have to be platooned and groomed into the role. Returning for another season of Wild hockey is Tobias Funke, who will be participating in his final VHLM campaign. Last season, Tobias had one of his best offensive seasons to date, notching 107 points, while picking up 32 goals and 75 assists. Throughout the regular season and the off-season, Tobias has been in amongst a plethora of trade rumors, but the Wild are content on keeping Tobias, giving the club another weapon up the middle. Speaking of weapons, the Saskatoon Wild are very proud to have Mikael Svensson return to the team for his first full season with the club. In a trade last season with the Turku Outlaws, Svensson was brought over and was a real catalyst for the Wild, leading the team in scoring 78 goals and adding 67 assists for 145 points; 113 of those while skating with the Wild. The final player taking center stage is newly drafted Kayl Kuzie, who Saskatoon selected with the 24^th overall selection. Kayl was a member of the Founder’s Cup champion Yukon Rush, where in 72 games; Kuzie contributed 80 points, a +63 and 78 hits. Kuzie will be able to give the Wild a nice compliment of depth at the 2^nd or 3^rd lines. Svensson will obviously center the top line to start the season, but if Kuzie was to emerge as a strong candidate, make a switch isn’t out of the question. After all, the Wild are all about creating success and development.

 

Defensemen

Mason Richardson – S40

Gunzerker Salvador – S40

Joshua Rubin – S40

Lights Bokan – S39 (COL)

 

Lights Bokan, a returning defender

 

The lone returnee from Season 38 on the blue line is Lights Bokan, who also acted as the teams’ captain. In the early going, Bokan was a pleasant surprise, attended all practices and was a real diligent worker on and off the ice. Due to a personal matter, those events affected the performance of one Lights Bokan, but the team is excited to have a veteran presence back on the blue line. Gone will be Nick Cannon and Edgar Balthazar. Joining Bokan on the backend will be three new faces all picked up in the VHLM Dispersal Draft. Mason Richardson, a 4^th overall selection, has the most upside and is the closest of the bunch to making the leap into the VHL next season. Not only will Richardson be able to provide an offensive and defensive presence, but his leadership qualities will be one of the differences between success and failure this season for the Wild. Gunzerker Salvador is another name that people will soon be mentioning and luckily for the Wild, he’s on their side this time around. Last season Salvador managed 15 points in 23 games and was a +24. Gunzerker is not only going to flourish under a Saskatoon Wild system, but he’s going to be a pleasure having in the locker room.

 

Last but not least is Joshua Rubin, whom the Wild were ecstatic to bring aboard with the 20^th overall selection. Joshua played sparingly with the Bern Royals last season, and in 21 games, Rubin collected 22 points and 74 hits. His upside is tremendous, but it could be immaculate once a complete commitment is put forth. Rubin will round out what should be one of the best defense cores in the entire VHLM. With depth from all four defenders, the opposition should have a challenge getting to the goal, as well; the Wild power play should see a vast improvement from a season ago.

 

Goaltender

Gunnar Skovsgard – S40

 

 

Gunnar Skovsgard is, without a doubt, going to be a star goaltender in the VHL, so that is why the Saskatoon Wild highly coveted the young Dane from the early going. After a pre-draft trade to acquire the 5^th overall selection in the most recent VHLM Dispersal Draft, it was without a doubt a plan that was orchestrated and designed to select the highly talented goaltender from Copenhagen. Last season, the Saskatoon Wild went with Dizzy Dean as their starting goaltender. Not because of a lack of effort from Dean, but the Wild decided at the conclusion of the season and his contract that the organization was content going in a different direction. Gunnar will get plenty of playing time and will have ample opportunity to showcase his talents for the Season 40 VHL Entry Draft.

[Molholt 2,185]

Content: 3/3 - Really great article about the team! That top line on defense is stacked!

Grammar: 2/2 - Looked great.

Appearance: 1/1 - Looks good to me.

Overall: 6/6

 

Final: 6

[Smarch 3,153]

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