Team USA's Unsung Hero: Nate Wright

[McLovin 395]

 

(Team USA after winning Bronze at S69 WJC)

 

The emotional roller-coaster that was the S69 WJC had many unexpected turns for Team USA. An extremely weak start to a strong Bronze Medal finish stunned the hockey world, and much of the success the team found was thanks to unsung hero Nate Wright @73MPL4R. His path to the WJC was not easy to say the least, playing in the VHLM last three seasons and being written off as a second, even third line center for Team USA. He stunned the tournament however when he got his chance at first line time with some of Team USA's best players, and the rest is history. Without further delay, let's see how Wright got to this point.

 

Humble beginnings:

 

Drafted 23rd overall in the S68 VHLM entry draft & 41st overall in the VHL, it was never expected that Nate Wright would become a franchise player and carry a team to being a three-peat champion in the VHL. He did, however, find much initial success playing in the VHLM for Yukon. Putting up 22 & 50 points in S67 & 68 respectively got him noticed by teams as a legitimate second line center for a minor league team. However, fortune would favor him in S69 as he was traded to the Mississauga Hounds and given every chance to succeed at that level. It paid off for both player and team, as of writing this Nate Wright has 89 points, including 32 goals and 57 helpers in a staggering 61 games. This kind of lethal offensive production was good enough to have him selected to Team USA for the upcoming WJC.

 

S69 World Juniors:

 

When analysts and GM's alike got hold of the rosters for the tournament, it was easy to write off Team USA as a bottom team. With their lack of offensive star power and only a defense to show for, the consistency Team USA would have going into the Round Robin was put into question, and many had written off the boys in red, white and blue as no-shows for the Medal rounds. Because of this, Nate Wright was given top line minutes as the number one center for the duration of the games, and it's safe to say he did not disappoint at all. In 8 games, he tied the team lead for points with 1 goal and 4 assists for a total of 5 points. While the offensive production is good, it wasn't all-start caliber like Team Asia was boasting.

When time came for Team USA to fight for their medal lives in the quarter-finals, Nate Wright had a quiet performance though contributing to a win to propel them up against the juggernaut Team Asia in the semis. Putting up a +1 to the loss against Asia, the true test was with the Canadians, a long standing rival of the USA. Nate Wright now had a "now or never" opportunity to help his team to Bronze, and he did just that. With an assist to Tony Bolonee's goal in the dying seconds of a 1-0 game, he helped his team to it's first medal win in three seasons. Capping off an incredible showing at the WJC, Nate Wright returns to Mississauga in hopes of carrying his team to a Founders Cup championship on what's already been a very successful season for him.

 

 

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Edited December 16, 2019 by ItsMcLovin