HOF Article: Jeff Downey

[Ricer13 2,606]

Class of S77: - Jeff Downey

 

Position: Defense
Birthplace: Canada
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 190 lbs
Drafted: 4th OA (Vancouver Wolves)
Username: @JeffD

 

Career Awards:

S69 Victory Cup (Vancouver Wolves)
S71 Victory Cup (Vancouver Wolves)
S73 All-VHL First Team
S74 Alexander Valiq Trophy (Top Offensive Defensemen)
S74 All-VHL Second Team
S74 Continental Cup (Vancouver Wolves)
S75 All-VHL First Team
S75 Jake Wylde Trophy (Top Defensive Defensemen)

 

 

 

      If you look up the definition of loyalty and consistency in the VHL dictionary you will find a picture of Jeff Downey. Downey was apart of the Vancouver Wolves for the majority of his tenure in the VHL. He currently holds the record for the most games played by any Vancouver player with 504 games played. He also currently leads the Vancouver franchise in all time assists and is a staple in the top 5 of many other statistical categories. They had an elite team for numerous seasons as Downey got to play along side the likes of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Greg Eagles and Julius Freeman. These four led by Jeff Downey eventually made the impossible possible by bringing a Continental Cup to Vancouver. 



S66 - Saskatoon Wild

 

Regular Season: 2 GP | 0 G - 0 A - 0 P | + 0 | 0 PIM | 0 HIT | 0 SB
Playoffs: 10 GP | 0 G - 0 A - 0 P | + 1 | 0 PIM | 0 HIT | 0 SB

     Jeff Downey signed with the Saskatoon Wild as a waiver player late in the Wild's regular season. Late to the party and brand new to the league Downey didn't have a real chance to show off what kind of player he can be. His play continued on throughout the playoffs as he finished with a nearly blank stat line. The Saskatoon Wild would end up being knocked out of the second round of the VHLM Playoffs at the hands of the Philadelphia Reapers thus ending Downey's time in Saskatoon.

S67 - Houston Bulls

Regular Season: 71 GP | 12 G - 29 A - 41 P | -20 | 64 PIM | 110 HIT | 98 SB
Playoffs: 4 GP | 0 G - 0 A - O P | -2 | 4 PIM | 6 HIT | 3 SB

     Selected 35th overall, Jeff Downey spent his next season with the Houston Bulls. He spent the season working his way up the line up to become the eventual top pair defender for the Bulls. While his statistics aren't the flashiest, he was a key part in helping the Bulls finish 6th in the standings securing them a spot in the playoffs. His numbers did improve as the season moved along both on the offensive and defensive side of the ice. The Houston Bulls would run into a superior Minnesota team who swept them in the first round of the VHLM Playoffs. While this season ended in disappointment for the Downey, he will always be able to look back at his time playing along side the late Fredrik Elmebeck. 

 

S68 - Vancouver Wolves

 

Regular Season: 72 GP | 9 G - 15 A - 24 P | -11 | 66 PIM | 99 HIT | 86 SB
Playoffs: 7 GP | 0 G - 1 A - 1 P | -2 | 2 PIM | 5 HIT | 16 SB

The Vancouver Wolves came off a season where they finished second in the North American Conference. They selected Jeff Downey with their 4th overall pick they had acquired from HC Davos Dynamo. Downey not known for his flashy statistics down in the VHLM wowed the Vancouver Wolves with his immense work ethic and a confident draft interview. He stepped into the Vancouver line up as a rookie in season 68 playing in a depth role on an already solid roster.  In his first season with the Wolves Downey finished with a modest 24 points and nearly hit double digits in goals. While there were many learning curves for Downey along the way, Vancouver did finish second overall in the North American Conference again. In his first season of VHL action Jeff Downey was going to get his first taste of playoff action. In his first ever playoff series Downey and the Vancouver Wolves had to faceoff against the 3rd place Wranglers. Both teams put it all out on the line as the series went to seven games with the Wolves falling short. This was a valuable lesson for Downey in his rookie season with Vancouver.

S69 - Vancouver Wolves

 

Regular Season: 72 GP | 5 G - 36 A - 41 P | +26 | 66 PIM | 82 HIT | 95 SB

Playoffs: 13 GP | 1 G - 9 A - 10 P | -2 | 8 PIM | 19 HIT | 27 SB

     Jeff Downey took a big step forward in his development during his second season as a part of the Vancouver Wolves. He hit a new career high in points but where he shined the most was on the defensive side of the ice. He went from a -11 in his first season to a +26 in his second season. He became one of the most relied upon defenders in the defensive zone for the Wolves in S69. This would ultimately help Vancouver acquire the Victory cup as the best regular season team in the VHL. This was quite the accomplishment for Vancouver and for Jeff Downey. To apart of the best team in the league is always an honor and Downey was a huge part of that. Vancouver would match up against the Toronto Legion in the first round of the playoffs. Similar to Downey's first season the series would go to seven games, only this time Downey and the Wolves would end up taking the series and move on to the next round. Vancouver now had to face the defending champion Seattle Bears. They would ultimately fall to the Bears in six games but not without Downey leaving his mark. He stepped up huge for the Wolves and finished with 10 points in 13 games but Downey won't be satisfied until he has a chance to claim that elusive Continental Cup.

S70 - Vancouver Wolves

 

Regular Season: 72 GP | 12 G - 53 A - 65 P | +18 | 105 PIM | 153 HIT | 101 SB
Playoffs: 5 GP | 1 G - 4 A - 5 G | +2 | 6 PIM | 5 HIT | 6 SB

     As Downey continues to develop and mature in the VHL there is a consistent incline with his production on the ice. This is a player who continues to prove that he can play better and better the more he has time to put in the work. Season 70 was no different for Jeff as he had career highs in a number of statistical categories. He set a career high in goals, assists, points, hits and shots blocked. He led all defensemen in points and was the leader in assists on the entire Wolves roster. The Wolves have become a dominant regular season team over the last few seasons and this one was no different. Coming off a Victory Cup last season they finished just shy of that in S70 but did finished first overall in the North American Conference. Downey was the driving force from the back end and a big reason why the Wolves were so successful. The Wolves ran into the two time defending champs, Seattle Bears in the first round. Downey put up a point per game effort against the Bears, it was a valiant effort but the team ultimately fell short. 

S71 - Vancouver Wolves

 

Regular Season: 72 GP | 13 G - 38 A - 51 P | + 6 | 100 PIM | 118 HIT | 118 SB
Playoffs: 11 GP | 1 G - 5 A - 6 P | + 4 | 14 PIM | 7 HIT | 27 SB

           After a campaign that saw Downey set a career high in nearly every statistical category, season 71 was less about him racking up the points and more about the team as a whole. While he led the defensemen on his team in points this season, the team as a whole took a more defensive approach to the game. Downey would lead the Wolves to a second Victory Cup in three seasons as the best team in the VHL during the regular season. They would face the Wranglers in round one and take the series in six games.  Round two, Downey and the Wolves were to faceoff versus the Seattle Bears for a third consecutive season and again they fell short. 

S72 - Vancouver Wolves

 

Regular Season: 72 GP | 20 G - 47 A - 67 P | +0 | 118 PIM | 117 HIT | 95 SB

 

      Season 72 was the season of change for Jeff Downey and the Vancouver Wolves. With the likes of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Julius Freeman and Shawnomir Jagr moving on from Vancouver, Downey and the Wolves were stuck in a season of identity crisis. The Wolves for the first time in seven seasons would miss the playoffs. This gave Downey a chance to reflect and work on himself to become a better player. He was now the veteran presence on this roster and whom the team relied upon to lead them in to battle each and every night. Downey did exactly that in season 72, finishing with a career high in goals and points. His offensive game went to another level as he lead the Wolves in points that season as a defensemen. He had the highest minutes played over anyone else on the roster with 2084 minutes played as the team relied on him heavily during this retooling season. 

S73 - Vancouver Wolves

 

Regular Season: 72 GP | 32 G - 74 A - 106 P | +34 | 110 PIM | 149 HIT | 138 SB
Playoffs: 5 GP | 1 G - 3 A - 4 P | +0 | 8 PIM | 7 HIT | 12 SB

 

      Six seasons into his VHL career Jeff Downey has got it figured out. In season 73, Downey went from a consistent steady force on the back end to an absolute monster across the entire league. For the second straight season Downey led his team in points but only this time it was with 106 points!!!!!!!!!! He destroyed his career high in goals, assists, hits and SB. Vancouver had some young, promising blood in its system with the likes of Andrew Su and Micah Adrienne but Jeff Downey was the one who had to carry this team on his back and take them right back into the playoff picture while those young guns took some time to develop. Downey earned himself the honor of being selected for the All-VHL First Team which reflects the elite of the VHL. On top of that honor he won the Alexander Valiq Trophy as the VHL's best offensive defensemen. The Wolves made their way into the newly formed Wildcard round but fell short, yet again. This has been the story of Downey's career so far, but for how much longer?...

 S74 - Vancouver Wolves

Regular Season: 72 GP | 22 G - 84 A - 106 P | +30 | 96 PIM | 152 HIT | 147 SB

Playoffs: 19 GP | 11 G - 18 A - 29 P | +11 | 38 PIM | 46 HIT | 30 SB

 

      In only a couple short seasons Vancouver has found their way back to the top of the North American Conference. Jeff Downey would finish with his second straight 106 points season. He finished second in team scoring behind only Brock Louth. With the emergence of Andrew Su and the elite skill level of Jeff Downey, they were able to carry the Wolves from being a bubble team to being the best in North America. Downey was so impressive that he earned himself a the honor of being named to the All-VHL Second Team. The Wolves started the playoffs against the DC Dragons after the Dragons won the wildcard round. Downey was dominant as he led the Wolves past the Dragons in 6 games. Next up was the Legion, who were a force to be reckoned with during the regular season. This series went to a game seven but Downey and the Wolves had  been down this road before and came out on top to move on to the Continental Cup Finals for the first time in Downey's career. The best in the west Vancouver Wolves moved on to the play the Cinderella story Titans who defeated the odds to make it to the Cup Finals. Downey and the Wolves took the series in six games against the feisty Titans to secure Downey's first ever Continental Cup championship. This secures Downey as one of the greatest Wolves defensemen to ever play for Vancouver.

S75 - Chicago Phoenix

Regular Season: 72 GP | 19 G - 62 A - 83 P | -15 | 182 PIM | 278 HITS | 177 SB
Playoffs: 17 GP | 9 G - 11 A - 20 P | + 9 | 38 PIM | 57 HIT | 33 SB

     In the final season of his career, Jeff Downey was traded to the new expansion franchise Chicago Phoenix. He spent an entire career with the Wolves but he was willing to move on if it meant it would help better the Vancouver franchise.  Downey in his final season was still an absolute force. 83 points in your final professional season is no joke and only goes to show how dominant he was in the VHL. While he still found a way to produce offense at such a high rate he developed into a much more dominant defender in his own end of the ice. Setting career highs in shots blocked and hits, Downey went on to win himself a Jake Wylde Trophy as the VHL's top defensive defensemen. The Phoenix would earn themselves a spot in the playoffs in Downey's final season. Downey would get the chance to play an old foe in the wild card round as the Phoenix looked to take on the Bears. Jeff Downey would help Chicago take down the Seattle Bears in a 3-0 sweep to move on to the next round. They would then do the impossible and defeat the top North American team, the Calgary Wranglers before ultimately falling at the hands of the DC Dragons just before the finals. 


Jeff Downey earned his way into the Hall of Fame. He stuck with it through the good and the bad and evolved as a player each and every season. He became one of the most dominant defensemen of this generation and was able to claim that elusive Continental Cup to place on his resume. Congratulations @JeffD Jeff Downey on being inducted into the Season 77 class of the Hall of Fame. 
 

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2021 by Ricer13

[Banackock 7,710]

Great career. 

[Ricer13 2,606]

stupid shift + enter lmao

[Red 499]

Review:

im so proud of you this was an amazing read. You perfectly described Jeff Downey's career with enough detail to think he was your own player. The article is perfectly organized and easy to read and i throughly enjoyed reading every bit of it. 10/10

[Ricer13 2,606]

2 hours ago, Red said:

Review:

im so proud of you this was an amazing read. You perfectly described Jeff Downey's career with enough detail to think he was your own player. The article is perfectly organized and easy to read and i throughly enjoyed reading every bit of it. 10/10

better now or worse?

[Red 499]

2 hours ago, Ricer13 said:

better now or worse?

HUGE