Season Ninety-Three VHL Entry Draft Review

[Smarch 3,113]

Season Ninety-Three VHL Entry Draft Review

As the VHL awaits the start of another season, we thought it would be fun to look back at those drafted in the first round of the Season Ninety-Three VHL Entry Draft. Many of the players just finished their rookie seasons in the VHL, so whiles its very early in their careers, we wanted to see how they have progressed since that draft day.

 

Antonia Bucatini (396 TPE on draft day)

The Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy winner from the past season, Bucatini has lived up to the billing of a first overall pick. In his first season with Davos Bucatini put up a very impressive thirty-one goals and sixty-two assists in seventy-two games. Bucantini’s ninety-three points is the most by a VHL rookie since Nils Godlander put up 131 points back in Season Eighty-Two. Unfortunately for Bucatini and the Dynamo, the amazing rookie season wasn’t enough to push Davos into the post-season as they finished sixth in the European Conference missing the playoffs by 29 points. The Dynamo make multiple moves over the off-season, to help put a better team around Bucatini, which should see the sophomore player and the Dynamo head back to the playoffs this season. It will be an exciting year for Bucatini to see if they can match or beat the outstanding point total from last season.

 

Gianfranco Del Rocco (381 TPE on draft day)

The second overall pick from the draft, is coming off a very good rookie season last year with Seattle. In seventy-two games with the Bears in his rookie season, Del Rocco put up an impressive twenty-eight goals and thirty-one assists. Those fifty-nine points obviously doesn’t look as impressive as the ninety-three Bucatini put up, one thing those looking at straight points must remember is, Del Rocco played on a very competitive Bears roster that finished the season with 106 points and three players putting up over 100 points. With that much top end talent on the roster it comes as no surprise that Del Rocco couldn’t put up the points Bucatini did on a much worse Dynamo roster. Now as Del Rocco awaits the start of his second VHL season, the real race begins between the first and second overall picks, to see who can help lead their teams to a Continental Cup first.

 

Lucy Leitner (269 TPE on draft day)

A first-generation player, Leitner has already turned into a great player in her first season with Riga. Leitner joined the VHL back on January 7^th, 2024, and quickly drew the attention of those around the league with her amazing work ethic. That work ethic continued through her journey in the VHLM and VHLE, which lead to Reign drafting her third overall. To date Leitner has put up 201 updates, which would equate to 25.125 updates per month. In terms of on the ice production Leitner enjoyed a very respectful rookie season that saw her put up ten goals and forty-three assists in seventy-two games played with the Reign. Riga was able to make the VHL playoffs in Leitners first season, where Leitner continue her good offensive play as she put up three goals and four assists in Riga’s twelve playoff games. Now as Leitner and the Reign prepare for the next season, more will be expected from Leitner as she is the second-best defenseman in terms of TPE on the Reign, and fans are wondering what could be next from the young American defenseman.

 

Annie Oaks (260 TPE on draft day)

Oaks was drafted fourth overall by the Vancouver Wolves and was expected to be a big part of the future in Vancouver for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the Wolves and Riga Reign came ot an agreement that saw Oaks flipped to Riga after just thirteen games with the Wolves. Fortunately for Oaks, the trade to Riga helped Oaks turn her game around after putting up just two points in those thirteen games with Vancouver, Oaks put up nineteen goals and twenty-nine assists in fifty-nine regular season games with Riga. Oaks was able to also play in her first VHL playoffs this past season, where she put up one goal and four assists in the twelve playoff games the Reign played in. Now as she enters, he second season with the Reign as the fifth best player on Riga’s roster amongst the forwards, will Oaks be able improve on the numbers she was able to put up in Season Ninety-Four.

 

UghSike (250 TPE on draft day)

UghSike spent their first season in the VHL with the Chicago Phoenix. UghSike played in all seventy-two games with the Phoenix where he put up thirteen goals and fourteen assists. UghSike was just over the TPE cut-off for joining the VHL at the beginning of his rookie season, and as such UghSike was still in the development phase of his game during his rookie season, which likely lead to his lower point total in his rookie season. The Pheonix also had a more veteran roster which would also be another reason for the lower point total for UghSikes rookie season. During the offseason UghSike was dealt to the Davos Dynamo on July 21, 2024, and then on August 1, 2024, he was again traded to London United. After the rare traded twice in the off-season for UghSike, he will look to be a bigger impact player this season over in England.

 

Forum Content (261 TPE on draft day)

Forum Content was the second rookie to be drafted in the Season Ninety-Three draft and play in the Season Ninety-Four VHL season with Davos. While Content was unable to replicate the ninety-three points put up by Bucatini, he did put up a very impressive twenty-one goals and thirty-three assists in the seventy-two games he played for Davos last season. With fifty-four points put up in his rookie season Content found himself on the leaderboard for most points for VHL rookies, as he put up the fifth most points amongst all VHL rookies that played last season. Now as Content is set to start his second VHL season, his 611 TPE puts him as the fourth best forward on the Dynamos roster, which will hopefully set him up for even more success in year two.

Jorgen Lovstrom (237 TPE on draft day)

Lovstrom is the first player on our list that did not play the season in the VHL in Season Ninety-Four. Lovestorm and the Nighthawks deemed it best for his development to spend another season in the VHLE as Malmo had eighth year goaltender Ash Sparks on the roster. Now with Sparks retired from the league it appears as though Lovestorm will finally get his opportunity to show the Nighthawks and the rest of the VHL what he can do in a VHL crease. Last season in the VHLE with the Vasteras Iron Eagles, Lovestorm saw action in fifty-four games, where he posted a 27-23-2 record along with a .925 save percentage and 3.09 goals against average. Lovestorm also saw action in the VHLE playoffs, where he played in all four playoff games for Vasteras, where he put up a 1-3 record and a .904 save percentage and 4.52 goals against average. Now with 591 TPE Lovestorm will look to lead be part of the goaltending tandem with Karl Herzlich that will lead Malmo back to the VHL playoffs.

Ondrej Vencko (225 TPE on draft day)

Another member of the Season Ninety-Three draft class that played last season in the VHLE, Vencko might be headed for another season in the VHLE in season ninety-five. Vencko was drafted twenty-sixth overall by the Vasteras Iron Eagles in the VHLE, and last season backed up fellow season ninety-three draftee Jorgen Lovestorm as a member of the Iron Eagles. Vencko saw action in twenty-one games and put up a very impressive 11-7-2 record along with a .923 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average. Now with Lovestorm likely making the jump to the VHL this season, the path should be clear for Vencho to have another developmental season in the VHLE, this time as the clear starter. Hopefully got Vencko and the Prague Phantoms, next time this season someone is writing about the new future in net, Vencko starting his rookie season.  

 

Benjamin Abenduct (252 TPE on draft day)

Sixteen-year-old Benjamin Abenduct is coming off his rookie season with the Moscow Menace in a season that saw him contribute to the Continental Cup win for the franchise. Not many players can end their rookie season on such a high note, but Abenduct was one of the lucky ones. Abenduct was also not a spectator during the finals run as he performed more than expected in Moscows twenty-one playoff games. During the regular season Abenduct put up five goals and twenty-nine assists in seventy-two games played and then up his game to the next level as he put up three goals and ten assists on the way to helping Moscow lift the cup.  Now with a re-vamped roster in Moscow, Adenduct will be relied upon even more in his second VHL season, one must wonder if he can continue his season ninety-four playoff point pace this season.

 

Nathan Ecker (230 TPE on draft day)

Another member of the season ninety-three draft class who saw a second full season in the VHLM, Nathan Ecker looks poised to make the jump to the VHL with the Seattle Bears this season. Last season Ecker spent his time in the VHLE with the Rome Gladiators, who drafted him ninth overall in the season ninety-three VHLE Entry Draft. Ecker put up over a point per game last season putting up thirty goals and forty-eight assists in the Gladiators seventy-two regular season games. Ecker also continued this pace in the post-season as he put up three goals and four assists in the six playoff games he played in with Rome. Now as he enters his first VHL season with 505 TPE, Ecker will settle into the sixth forward role for the always competing Bears, which hopefully will allow him to continue to grow his game while putting up respectful offensive numbers.

 

Chris Reynolds Jr (233 TPE on draft day)

Chris Reynolds Jr was the first draft pick by the New York Americans in the season ninety-three draft and has continued to progress over the past two seasons in the VHLE. Reynolds spent season ninety-three and a part of season ninety-four with the Oslo Storm before being traded mid-season to the Bratislava Watchmen. Last season Reynolds put up 31 goals and forty-two assists in seventy-two games split between Oslo and Bratislava. Reynolds has progressed to the point over the past two seasons that he is now ready to turn his attention to the VHL and help the Americans on their quest for another Continental Cup. Reynolds Jr. will join an Americans roster that has only for players drafted prior to season ninety on the roster, so many good days are likely ahead for Reynolds Jr and the Americans.

 

Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen (223 TPE on draft day)

A very bust draft day in the first round ended for the Davos Dynamo with the selection of Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen. Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen spent the last two seasons with the Stockholm Vikings of the VHLE. Last season, Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen has an outstanding season posting a 34-26-6 record along with a .931 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average. This season Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen will be heading to Davos to begin his run as the number one goalie for the Swiss based VHL club.

Gul Dukat (247 TPE on draft day)

Gul Dukat is the final player that we will be touching on more in-depth. Dukat has been progressing along just the way the Toronto Legion envisioned when they selected him thirteenth overall in the season ninety-three VHL Entry Draft. Dukat was the lowest drafted player in the draft to play their rookie season last year as he played in all seventy-two games the Legion played in. Dukat had a very good season for a rookie defenseman, putting up six goals and forty-six assists in those seventy-two games, which was the seventh most points by VHL rookie’s last season. Dukat has worked extremely hard since his draft season to get where they are currently, and the Legion hope the best is yet to come for Dukat in the upcoming seasons.

 

Tyler Lawson (184 TPE on draft day) & Yermolai Nabokov (225 TPE on draft day) & Ray Stanton (176 TPE on draft day)

The last three picks of the first round of the VHL Entry Draft have a combined 262 TPE since their draft day TPE amounts, with 126 of those TPE coming from Ray Stanton. Lawson and Nabokov have stopped practicing so the likelihood of them making the VHL is dwindling with each passing day. Stanton on the other hand keeps putting in work to one day eventually become a full-time VHL player but at this time will likely have another season or two of development in the VHLE. Hopefully Stanton can continue to put one foot in front of the other and one day start a season with a VHL club.

 

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Edited August 7 by Smarch

[Smarch 3,113]

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[Scurvy 1,435]

Review:  Another great and well written article about a subject that generates clicks.  The draft is one of the most exciting times in the VHL and this article appeals to the reader as well as highlights many points with numerous players. The amount of research and depth of this articles goes to your credit about how much effort you put into the VHL. The headings with team logos, original TPE, and detailed and well thought out bios of each player is outstanding.  The ONLY think missing is a picture of me and It would be 10/10.       08/10

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