Rave Ready for New Season

[tcookie 865]

It's been an eventful offseason for Phillip Rave, the kind that you only really experience once. For any would-be hockey prospect, the summer of your draft year is a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience as you interact with various teams, participate in combines and showcases, and sit through an anxiety-inducing draft that decides your pro hockey future.

 

Today that off-season is officially over as Rave will take to the ice for the Cologne Express when the VHLE season kicks off. His only goal this year is to help his team capture a third consecutive Renaissance Cup.

Cologne will kick off their season with two games against the Oslo Storm before games against Stockholm, Bratislava, and a second game against Oslo. With expectations high and three of their first five games against a rebuilding team, there will be some pressure on the Express to make sure they don't falter early.

 

"We need to come out of the gates playing the right way," agrees Rave. "You can't take anyone lightly. Bring it every single night. That's why this team is a championship team and that's how we're going to be right up there again this year."

 

Rave's game has made noticeable strides over the off-season. He says he feels more comfortable in the defensive zone and has been continuing to evolve his two biggest strengths: his shot and his ability to use his body to shield the puck from defenders. Soon, he will finally get the chance to put those chances to work in a meaningful game. "When you get to this level there's an expectation of everyone, I think, to work hard over their off-season and I'm just pumped to get on the ice and put that work to good use."