Claimed:Thaddeus Humbert Biography [Final 10/10]

[Devise 4,475]

Thaddeus Humbert

 

 

A Child Of Royalty

Born into the world as Lord Thaddues Griffin Humbert on April the 3rd 1993 in Breda, a middling city of the Netherlands, comes with it expectations. Expectations of excellence and integrity. It isn't just a case of coming from a wealthy family, his father Aart is a Duke which would obviously make his mother Valencia a Dutchess. It's a case of coming from a family that is known for it's excellence and commitment to helping humanity. Even Nadir, Thaddeus elder brother achieved greatness as an astronaut. Despite the expectations to do something great, the freedom of what to do was always left up to Thaddeus throughout his overly pampered childhood. While at a young age Thaddeus displayed delicate negotiation skills and a natural charisma that would make him appear aimed for politics, he chose to constantly go in other directions. He became known as a child who would always go for the challenge. Something he wasn't as naturally gifted at, something that he would have to climb up hill at. Thus begun his foray into the world of hockey.

 

 

Not Big Enough; Not Tough Enough

At the age of seven Thaddeus began to take a serious interest in hockey. He had seen countless games on television, and even began playing pick up games on the street with his families various attendants. It was then easily decided, that Thaddeus would try out for a local ice hockey team. Given his family's heritage, name, and of course money "try out" is probably the wrong word. While most would compete with other children to determine what skills they needed working on, and if they were even good enough to make the team, Thaddues was given...the special treatment. A one on one session with the coaching staff was arranged before he was awarded a spot on the team. This despite the fact that Thaddues had never actually touched the ice in his life, and his skating ability was lacking to put it lightly. His teammates noticed this. Most felt it was unfair that Thaddeus was given a spot on the roster and decided to take it out by picking on him. Calling him names. Given his size, a short skinnier child and the nature of the toughness of the sport, it was a rough first season for Thaddeus playing his first year as a forward. 

 

 

Turning A Weakness Into A Strength

After a rocky first season Thaddeus embraced who he was and what his game was all about. He looked at all his weaknesses, and vowed to turn them into strengths. He spent hours every day during the off season, after his lessons with his private tutor working on his skill. He wasn't just going to learn to skate to an acceptable level. He was going to glide across the ice, weaving and dodging players who thought he wasn't big enough. Players who played a far more physical game than his own. This new approach to the game as well as a position switch to defense gave Thaddues the confidence and skills he would need to carry him on playing in junior hockey for years to come. He would eventually win over his peers with his work ethic and commitment. 

 

 

The Quick Ascension To Professional Hockey

After a solid, if otherwise uneventful younger sports career Thaddeus used his family's leverage to make his way onto a professional team. The Friesland Eaters who play in the Eredivisie league based out of the Netherlands. Thaddeus rose to the challenge playing with older, tougher athletes. His commitment to playing the defender position was cemented by his limited mistakes on the ice, including very limited penalty minutes. A lot of times, his arrogant attitude on the ice mixed with his ability to dodge hits would lead to a lot of confrontations that would send opposing players to the penalty box. After several Thaddeus ended up impressing scouts enough to join the Netherlands National team for the IIHF. A tournament that he performed well at in a limited capacity on a team that struggled competing with powerhouses from Canada, Russia and the United States. But it was at his first national tournament that Thaddeus knew, he had to go to a more prominent league. He had to take his game to the next level and embrace a new challenge.

 

 

Entering the Victory Hockey League

After six years with the Friesland Eaters and six years in his home country Thaddeus begins his journey to the VHL. While a very quiet individual who keeps to himself, not much else is known other than the hockey skills and on ice abilities of the young Dutch player. One has to wonder how much of his perceived "royalty" he will bring to the VHL. The majority of the challenges Thaddeus has faced have been after he was brought to the dance, generally because of his name and who he is. Will that eventually bite him in the face, or will he be ready to face the challenge again? The VHL awaits...

 

 

Positives

 

Refuses to Settle

Thaddeus often seems like a stubborn player when it comes to various skills and abilities. There are plenty of instances of him being average or worse at something until he works on it to turn it into his own strength. He refuses to settle on most of his skills, and the moment he feels he can be a liability in a certain regard he tries to hammer it down. Examples of this include him going from barely able to skate, to being one of the cleanest skaters.

 

Never Selfish

Thaddeus loves to make his teammates look better. Because then he can say they looked so good because of the great plays he makes. This leads to him setting up teammates with passes, moving other players out of position helping to lead the rush, among various other things.

 

Very Disciplined

Thaddeus of the mindset that if you have to goon your way to victory you never won at all. He often taunts the other teams tough guys and goads them into taking penalties against him. He is known for pushing the buttons of the opposing team, only to slyly dodge out of the way of big open ice hits and frustrate opposition. Conversely Thaddeus plays the game well below the line. Whether it is hooking, tripping, slashing, or high sticking, Thaddeus is almost always in control of his stick and plays very little time in the penalty box.

 

 

Negatives

 

Stubborn

Given the success he has enjoyed from his methods and approach, Thaddeus can be very stubborn when it comes to learning new skills. More often than not he finds he can teach himself the proper way, so long as it integrates with his often rigid rule set regarding his own game. While his on ice ability does make up for it, his stubbornness has led to blow outs with coaches, and even being benched on some occasions.

 

Not Physical

Most defenders in any league know there is a time and a place for big hits. While Thaddues may get credited for being a tough player, and get a few hits on the year...due to his discipline he rarely targets players for a big hit. He often looks for the smarter stick play over the physical play in an attempt to proof his own approach to the game as being correct. There have been instances where coaches have told him he needs to out muscle certain players only to watch him stick check said player and nearly turn the puck over. It is unlikely Thaddues will ever be a physical presence on the blue line.

 

Arrogant

Even when he is making his team around him better, there are times when Thaddeus can be a very annoying teammate. His pursuit to make his own game the best it can be, at all times, can often consume him. It can lead him to believe that he continually carries the team on his own shoulders and ultimately leads to him having a very high opinion of himself. There have been a few instances of issues with teammates regarding this cocky and abrasive attitude. 

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

Overview: 5/5 - Great biography. Thaddeus should be a force to see perform on the ice sooner than later.

 

Grammar: 3/3 - There's a little bit here, but for such a lengthy article, there aren't that many mistakes to make it deductible.

 

"comes with it expectations" - its

"Even Nadir, Thaddeus elder brother " - Thaddeus'

"with his families various attendants" - family's

"After several Thaddeus ended up impressing scouts" - after several what?

"Thaddeus of the mindset that "  - Thaddeus is of

"He often taunts the other teams tough guys" - team's

"in an attempt to proof his own approach" - prove

 

Presentation: 1/1 - Good.

 

Over 1000 Words? 1/1

 

Overall: 10/10

[Kendrick 4,741]

Claimed