One last strike of lighting: Toby Kadachi career reflection

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Toby Kadachi

Drafted 14th overall in S91

Left Winger | 6'6" | 236 lb | Age 24

 

That's what everyone saw way back in season 91 when Toby Kadachi was drafted by the Seattle Bears. A team that was in a rebuild at the time and would go on to win a Continental Cup with in season 93, you can go back even further though to season 90 in the VHLM where Kadachi won the Founder's Cup with the Mississauga Hounds. Those are the only two awards to his name, he hasn't won any personal awards in his whole career but he hopes that in his final season he can bring home at least one more Continental Cup, this time as a member of the Toronto Legion.

 

Back when Toby Kadachi entered the draft he was seen as a power forward with real goal scoring potential. He never got to the elite levels other have but in the seven of eight seasons he has played he has put up 20 or more, five at 25 or more, and three at 30 or more, peaking with 39 in season 97. Remarkably Kadachi's goals went up each of his first seven seasons, from 6 to 20, 21, 28, 36, 37 and then 39 with only his eight season breaking the trend, finishing with 25 goals. Season 97 would be his best year of production, achieving 75 points and his third in a row of finishing with over 70 points. Kadachi still has plans to play after his career in the VHL is finished and has said his goal with his final season is improve his game all around, we already got a glimpse of that last season with him scoring less goals but picking up the most assists in a season for himself with 44.

 

However what Kadachi will remembered most for is his hits and physicality. In the eight seasons he's played he's put up 2477 hits with 137 penalty minutes to go along with that. No matter the teams he's played on he's been a fan favorite for dishing out big hits and standing up for teammates. In his swan song season he will pass 2500 hits with a good chance he could finish around 2800 which would place him among the highest hitting players in VHL history. His penalty minutes may have dropped to his lowest since season 92 last year but he should still reach the 1500 mark, he only need 121 penalty minutes to get there.

 

Kadachi may not have set the league on fire but he's left an impact with any team he's played for, whether it was the Seattle Bears, New York Americans, Chicago Phoenix or his current team, the Toronto Legion. He's played his part with each franchise and has a championship to show for it. In his farewell season he'll look to hit a few more milestones and show his appreciation for his fans throughout the years. He hopes to capture lighting in a bottle for one final time.