Dalton Canders - Junior Review

[DC21 32]

Dalton Canders - Junior Review

 

Growing up in the cornfields and farmhouses of North Carolina Dalton Canders faced much adversity on his way to getting drafted. With no ice visible he had played other sports for years before starting to play hockey. He was often found playing soccer as he was able to pass the ball with precision and had a powerful shot. He played soccer until he found the spark for his hockey career as he was quoted saying, “I give half the credit to my love of hockey to those days we would go watch the local minor league team play”. He started to play hockey later than most of the players up north as he played catch up to the kids who have played the sport for years already. 

 

He started playing travel hockey at it’s lowest point as he played B level for a year before progressing to A hockey. It took him a few more years to make the AA team but  finally after he worked for 7 years when he turned 16 after so much blood, sweat, and tears he had made the AAA team and was now able to kickstart his pro career. In the offseason of that season he worked and worked and worked. He spents tons of money but it would all be worth it when he goes pro is what he kept telling himself. That season his stats were monsorous where in 48 games he netted 28 goals and 41 assists as a defensman which put multiple scouts on his radar. The final event of the season was where he would secure his spot in the pros where he led his team through the AAA Junior Showcase.

 

In the first game he led the team to a win over the Wisconsin Mice as he scored 2 goals with his cannon of a slapshot. His skills from soccer lead over as he was able to use his incredible passing to change plays and assist 3 other teammates on their goals. He played wonderful defence in that game with his big frame and he layed many players out. He led his team to three more wins which secured them a spot in the semi finals against the Kansas twisters where he had a very defensive game helping his goalie earn a shutout in a 4-0 win where he dished out two assists. The last game, the finals, is where everything would go down as Canders faced the undefeated powerhouse named the Chicago Mobsters. In the first minute of the game everyone could see why they were undefeated as they used their bodies repeatedly. No wonder teams couldnt score; they couldnt even get in the offensive zone, Canders thought. Even though the team couldn’t score he played lockdown defense to make it so they couldn’t score either. The game went through the third period still locked at 0-0 and went on into overtime. Overtime id 3 on 3 in this tournament and of course being the leading scorer of the team he was placed on the ice. The barn was dead silent as the puck was dropped and it was won right back to Canders. He wanted to start the extra period off with a bang as he used his long stride to gain speed. The other players threw themsleves at him but he easily deeked around them. He got past the forwards and now it was defense on defense as he came in on the goalie. Canders amkes a move as he goes between the legs stopping the defensman in his tracks. The defensman stumbles which leads Canders in alone on the goalie where he shows off his hand as he sticks handles quickly. He dekes onto his bakchand where he got the tendy stumbling and roofs it top shelf to win the tournament as the crowd goes wild.

 

After the game Canders was approached by many scouts and talked to him about the draft and the possability of them drafting him. He was very excited that he might get drafted and waited  until the draft happened. He watched the draft as many rounds went by until finally as the 40th pick in the draft the Miami Marauders drafted him.

 

 

Canders wearing the new sweater in his fist VHLM Game