Eagles back in the WJC

[Greg_Di 1,029]

 

 

Another season gone by and another call up for Henry Eagles to the World Junior Championships. This year he will represent Team Europe and will be hoping to acquire his first medal in the tournament. Last year, he represented Team World and unfortunately fell short of any medal earnings.

 

Henry is also looking to improve on last seasons WJC point total where he only achieved 3 points, with this being his draft year he want to make sure that he is able to showcase his full ability to the scouts and to be able to offensively help his team out. It will be interesting to see how Henry will perform with a multitude of scouts being at every game, getting their scouting reports complete for the upcomming draft.

Being also the only Polish player on the team, he feels this is his chance to showcase what polish hockey players can accomplish. Both his Grandfather and Father participated in the World Junior Championships and put the league on notice that Polish players can actually play and be very good at hockey. They also helped spread awareness about the game and now there is more interest and excitement about the game of hockey in Poland. It also doesn't hurt that a Polish team, Warsaw, also just recently won the Continental cup.

 

" I think it's an exciting time to be a polish hockey fan. A polish team just won the cup, a polish player is representing them on the world stage and Poland will also have a potential top 3 pick in the VHL draft" Henry said " It does put some pressure on me but I know I can handle it. I want to show everyone what Polish players can do. If I can help the game grow in Poland then we will be getting more potential polish prospects which will help the league overall"

 

There is currently only 2 other Polish players in Rhys Trenton and Robert Wilk in the VHL but Henry does not believe that is enough.

 

" We need more funding for young player development, we need to grow the game and maybe sometime in the future with enough Polish players we can have our own national team" Henry continues "We just have to be the ambassadors for the game and do what we have to in order to get the funding from our countries hockey board. The interest is there and nows the time to build the infrastructure"

 

It will be a busy few weeks for Henry as right after the World Junior Championship he will head to the draft where he will find out what team he will play for in the upcomming VHL season. It will also help him get clarification if he will be sent down for another season in the E to help get him ready or if his drafting team will keep him in the VHL.

 

" I would prefer to stay in the VHL as I believe I am ready but in the end if will be up to the team's management to make that decision" said Henry " I will be happy with whatever decision they make as I have always been a team player and will do what is best for the team"