Jake Wylde Biography [Final 10/10]

[STZ 5,360]

Jake Wylde Biography

 

 

Childhood

 

Jake Wylde was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 25 years ago. He grew up playing hockey in the minor league levels as a forward. His parents drove him all over the state as he played in a hockey-crazed area of the world. Wylde had some family in Canada, but knew growing up that he was lucky to be in a state that was so hockey focused. When he started High School, he made his varsity team, and his coach changed his position, and put Wylde on defense. While his size was never an issue, he wasn’t the biggest player. In High School he was never a physical player either, but he had great skating and was highly intelligent with the puck on his stick.

 

Wylde quarterbacked power plays and developed a reputation leading out of his high school career. He was approached by many NCAA teams, and was drafted on a long-shot by the OHL by the Belleville Bulls in the second round. It was somewhat assumed that he would be playing his NCAA career as soon as he graduated high school, but Wylde chose a different route - he packed his bags and joined the major junior league in Ontario.

 

Junior Career

 

Jake joined the Belleville Bulls of the OHL after high school, as he evolved into the team's number one defenseman within two seasons. Wylde joined the OHL with NHL aspirations. He knew that the chances of him joining the NHL hindered on a better resume with more recognition. The OHL has produced more NHL players than any other league, so that was the major determining factor in his decision.

 

In his draft year, Wylde accumulated 60 points in 64 games played (23G-37A) in his draft year. His draft stock was fairly high and was projected to be a top end draft pick, as he had meetings with about 20 different NHL teams, and was slated to be drafted around 11-15 position. Jake knew his chance to play in the NHL was very high, and it was only a matter of time before he heard his name called at the draft.

 

STZ Player Agency

 

It was four months before the NHL Draft, when Jake was approached by Vince Wong of the STZ Player Agency. It was the same agency that represented Ethan Osborne of the VHL. In addition to this, the agency’s founder was now the General Manager of the Helsinki Titans, the franchise which he spent the majority of his career in. Just months before he would be drafted in the NHL, Wylde agreed to sign with the STZ Player Agency. While his NHL draft stock plummeted with this signing, Wylde’s signing would prove to be career-making.

 

The Helsinki Titans would agree to use their Free Agent Prospect Signing on Wylde, which would secure the young defense prospect to the organization for as long as the current General manager was in office. This was huge news for the Wylde family, as not only would he have job security for his entire career, but he would be the franchise player in the VHL.

 

VHLM Career

 

 

In the S37 Draft, Jake Wylde was selected second overall, by the Turku Outlaws. He would then go on to meet his future Titans defense partner Vojczek Svoboda. Jake Wylde’s hype was for real, and the Titans fans who were enduring a hard rebuild, seemed to be focused on this top flight prospect. The Outlaws were followed by an unofficial fan bus out of Helsinki, who showed their support all season. Wylde would end the season with 89 points in 72 games played. He was everything as advertised and more. What really opened eyes was his evolution into a physical player. In his 72 games, Wylde tallied 273 hits, which was good for fourth in the league.

 

The Outlaws had a strong core of players. They seemed to dominate through the year, but unfortunately fell short when it mattered in the playoffs. They were knocked out of the Conference Finals to the Bern Royals in six games. Wylde played well in the playoffs with 11 points in 10 games, however it just seemed as though the team was missing that “it” factor that brings in championships.

 

VHL Career

 

 

In the S38 season, Jake Wylde made his debut. He went undrafted as per the FA Prospect Signing, but finally got to travel to Helsinki. The welcome party was in full force, as these Titans fans seemed to have been waiting a lifetime for this prospect to land in Finland. Wylde joined the team with his defense partner in Turku, Svoboda, as they would start constructing the core to their roster around those two. In Wylde’s rookie season he scored 60 points, with 278 hits and 170 shots blocked. This was the story of his career with the Helsinki Titans.

 

Wylde would play 360 games with the Titans, combining for 5 seasons. He would watch his defense partner Svoboda retire, his goaltender Kimmo Salo fade into oblivion, and a superstar grow in Don Draper.

 

When he left the Titans in the S42 off-season he would leave his mark on the franchise. Wylde finished top 20 in Titans points, and second overall in Hits with 1313. It was an emotional decision, but Wylde along with Patrick Demko were traded to the Quebec City Meute for a slew of picks including some high end picks that would add to the depth of the Helsinki rebuild for years to come.

 

Legacy

 

 

Jake Wylde is still a young player with at least three more seasons to play. He is currently on the Quebec City Meute, where he leads all defenseman in assists, points, hits, shorthanded goals, and has a team high plus/minus. While personal awards may find their way onto his trophy shelf, it is abundantly clear, Wylde wants a cup first and foremost.

 

Only time will tell with the seasons to come. It has been quite the ride for this young defenseman, but it seems that his evolution into a physical, point producing defenseman has finally been realized.

 

[Kesler 1,514]

Quebec turned him into a potential HOF player imo.

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

Overview: 5/5 - Awesome biography, bud. Odd that you waited so long into the career to write one, but I guess it's probably easier to write more as well being able to throw in the VHLM career. Turku Outlaws alumni!! Too bad we couldn't win that season with Svobo, Dexter Morgan, etc.

 

Grammar: 3/3 - Great.

 

"the current General manager" - General Manager

 

Presentation: 1/1 - Good.

 

Over 1000 Words? 1/1

 

Overall: 10/10