Ronan Lavelle Veteran Presence

[Arce 755]

The Road to DC: A Long Way Away from Ireland

 

Ronan Lavelle playing on Ireland's professional hockey club as a teenager.

 

It seems like it was just 9 months ago that Ronan Lavelle was playing ice hockey and living in Ireland with his family. Lavelle, now in S84 finds himself entering the VHL as a veteran. Ronan Lavelle entered S83 as a rookie after spending a season in the VHLM, and one season in the VHLE. Lavelle had found success on the ice everywhere he went, so the expectation was that he would do the same in the VHL. Lavelle learned a very humbling lesson as he posted up just 13 goals, and 40 total points in a disappointing season for himself point wise. The positive for Lavelle is he got to play with and learn from one of the best goal scorers in the league in Taylor Mourning. "Taylor helped me through S83. I feel like I hit a mental block as my confidence dropped when I couldn't find the back of the net. It just felt like everything that could go wrong did in my rookie season." Lavelle told the BSN network in an interview this past off-season. The Dragons were able to make the playoffs, but it was short lived as they got swept out by their rival Chicago Phoenix. Lavelle had 4 points including 2 goals in those 3 games, so he was actually one of the positives for DC. Lavelle hoped to carry that momentum into his S84 season.

 

 

Winds of Change, and Experience

 

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Ronan Lavelle carries the puck in the zone before setting up a Tui Sova power play goal.

 

Entering S84, Lavelle has found himself a long way from his rookie season. He was entering training camp with a different mindset, and a different role. He went into the DC locker room that already had a lot of veterans and was showing greater strides of leadership, and growth. Entering S83 Lavelle entered a rookie, and was learning the ropes. Now he was leading the team into practices and trying to help straighten out their power play woes from the season before. The Dragons brought in Moscow legend Duncan Idaho and paired him with Lavelle. The Dragons drafted Lavelle to be their sniper, but here he is 14 games in the season playing playmaker for one of the best forwards in the league. Lavelle currently has 16 points in 14 games, and 13 of those are assists. It was not the expected way to get points, but it should be a welcomed one regardless. "Obviously I am here to net goals, but when you are playing with a guy like Idaho, and have Sova covering the point how do you not dish them the puck?" Lavelle said. Lavelle has said this year feels miles different than the last, and feels a turn in the tides. Lavelle is throwing more pucks on net, which has resulted in opportune rebounds, and he is throwing his body around more. It seems Lavelle is exhibiting more confidence and bringing more fire. His experience under his belt as well as determination have driven this. In order to progress as a professional, you need to be able to adapt to the high level of play in the VHL. It seems Lavelle is adapting, and using his new veteran role to his advantage on and off the ice. Will Lavelle be able to continue to put over a point per game, and get his goal totals up?

 

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