The draft experience for Jeff Lewis

[nerji 126]

Entering the draft for both the VHL and VHLE was a bit of a stressful time for Jeff Lewis. Not hearing from many teams had him wondering if perhaps his decline in training really hurt him. Fortunately for him one of the teams that actually did reach out (expressing they didn't think he'd fall that far to them) was able to select him 10th! Being selected 10th overall in the VHL draft by the Moscow Menace was a very happy moment. Speaking with the Menace before the draft about themselves and the league was one of the rare times he got to talk to someone and in return he was very glad to have been drafted there! While he is a season or two away from playing for Moscow he at least knows where his home is and that feels good and gives him something to continue working towards.

 

Before he lands in Moscow he will spend some time in the VHLE, but the question before the draft was where? Nobody from the VHLE had reached out to him prior to the draft. Do they scout for the VHLE he wondered to himself? Does the draft work differently? As someone new to the VHL he had no real idea. Unable to attend the draft live, he was able to check in on the results as they were updated. After two rounds he wondered if maybe he wasn't in this draft? Plenty of people with less than 200 TPE had been drafted (while he was at 268 TPE) but he had not been selected so maybe his slowed down training was really affecting him or perhaps he just wasn't in this draft. He had no idea, he was new to all of this.

 

Finally, in the third round he was drafted 23rd overall by the Cologne Express. Glad to be drafted, his mind wandered to why he had fallen so far. That didn't last long as a couple of Express reached out to him, one taking a particular interest in helping with his build which made him feel welcome right off the bat. Going to spend a couple years in Cologne, it felt good to be welcomed and speak to some of those there already that were interested in helping him train to be the best he could become.

 

The only sad thing is leaving his VHLM team, Mississauga Hounds, behind. They were the first team to draft him, welcome him, and help him with advice. The team had an active locker room and was pretty lively. The product on the ice was pretty solid as well doing extremely well in the regular season and falling just short of the finals.

 

Regardless of how the drafts played out, he is extremely happy to be playing in the VHL no matter what level and is having a great time doing so and looks forward to a very long career and hopefully many goals scored! bring on the VHLE season! He thanks all those involved in the leagues who make things happen!

 

509 words

 

Edited June 13, 2023 by nerji