Rave Chooses His Team

[tcookie 902]

Rave Signs With San Diego Marlins

Defending Champs Add Lichtenstein-born Forward to Strong S90 Squad

 

Rave addresses a small gathering of media members after signing in San Diego

 

Less than 24 hours after announcing his intention to try out in the VHLM and pursue a VHL career, Phillip Rave has picked a team for the upcoming season. Rave will be eligible for the S91 Entry Draft and in the meantime, he will play S90 with the San Diego Marlins.

"It wasn't a decision I came by lightly and there were a couple teams I was really considering," Rave explained to the few media members around for his announcement. "What it came down to was a final recommendation from my agent based on connections he had during his VHL career. I do truly appreciate every team that reached out with interest in taking a chance on me."

Rave's agent, Addison McLaren, compiled 163 goals and 397 points in a 504-game VHL career with Riga, Toronto, Davos, and Malmo after being dratfed 8th overall in the S75 Entry Draft. He also captured back-to-back Founders Cup wins as a member of Miami (S74) and Philadelphia (S75). He even shifted from left wing to defense for the final two seasons of his career, and didn't seem to miss a beat. 

McLaren didn't quite live up to lofty expectations placed upon him when Riga selected him, but he did have a pretty solid VHL career to be proud of, and his experience and insight should be invaluable to a player who is very much lacking in the experience department. "I'm lucky to have the opportunity to learn from a guy like him who's been there before - I know that I'm kind of taking a chance on a hockey career starting this late in my life, and I'll take all the advice I can get," said Rave.

McLaren was a tiny, feisty, and smart two-way forward with a lethal shot who struggled a bit with skating for his size and was somewhat easily bumped off the puck, especially early in his career. In that sense, he is nearly a polar opposite to the 6-4, 195 pound Rave, who isn't particularly familiar with the intricacies of a hockey game but is a flawless skater who doesn't like to initiate contact, but is very difficult to separate from the puck.

From his playing days, McLaren has connections with former San Diego GM Jacob Carson and the agents of several Marlins players; perhaps most notably serving for a couple of seasons as the Assistant GM of the Mississauga Hounds alongside the agent for Leif Reingaard. He believes that San Diego will be a great environment for Rave to develop in.

"What I hope," says McLaren, "is to be able to give him the guidance not only with the financial side of things but with the nuances of the game and help develop that hockey IQ and how to handle playing professional hockey. Phillip is exceptionally talented and the sky's the limit; obviously, he is in a unique situation and a lot of things have to go right for him to have a long career, but he has all the tools he needs."

"I just want to get started," said Rave. "I came here at an exciting time and it seems like it's a good team they've got here so, you know, I just want to get back on the ice and win some hockey games, that's always the goal and that's what I'm looking forward to."