Unsung Hero - Jaxx Hextall

[Doomsday 4,130]

Unsung Hero - Jaxx Hextall

 

As the Victory Hockey League honors the unsung heroes of the league this week, we take a moment to appreciate a player at a position many will overlook: the back-up goaltender. For a position mandated to be played eight times a season by the VHL, our unsung hero has tripled that, playing in 24 games at the time of print. We're talking, of course, about Jaxx Hextall of the Halifax 21st.

 

The 6'7, 192 lb Season 70 goalie prospect out of Canada joined Halifax earlier this season through free agency, and in that time has proven to become a valuable asset for the 21st. Although he has just over half of the total practice hours of Boris Boris, the previous starter, he has battled his way into the lineup far more than anticipated.

 

 

In his 24 games, he has posted a 12-9-3 record, with a .870 save percentage, 2.69 goals allowed average and two shutouts. In large part to the strong play of Hextall, the 21st will be returning to the VHLM Playoffs yet again.

 

Having two strong goaltenders is critical, and for Halifax's unsung hero, he has been just what the 21st needed. There will be no easy victory for their opponents, regardless of who is in net. They might even prefer that it be Boris, for Jaxx's recent slashing penalty has shown that the famous temperament of the Hextall clan does indeed dwell inside of him. Time will tell, however, if he will attempt to score a goal.

 

Jethro Novacek has been a writer at the MSFL Times for longer than the VHL itself has existed. He enjoys day drinking, the finer nuances of online gambling and wishing Oskar Lindblom nothing but the best in his struggle against Ewing's Sarcoma.