Second-To-Last: Raleigh Ritchie, an Unsung Hero

[Renomitsu 930]

San Diego, CA - The incredibly lopsided nature of this season's VHLM makes for a couple of interesting stories - usually about the same dozen or so players, always focusing on the star players of the clear-cut favorites Saskatoon and their closest competitors, Mexico City and Mississauga. One player flying under the radar is Raleigh Ritchie, a winger out of the U.K. with pro-level skating skills and scoring ability playing for the middle-of-the-table San Diego Marlins.

 

A Season 68 draftee, Ritchie was taken in the sixth round of one of the longer drafts in VHL history - for most, this would be a death sentence, dooming players to obscurity and extended stints in the VHLM before flaming out of the league. But Ritchie has shown gradual, consistent improvement while waiting for his shot at the big leagues with his drafting team (the D.C. Dragons), with a massive 32 practice hours put in this week alone. While his numbers haven't been as showy as some of the crazier, 120+ point outputs in the league, he's managed over 70 points this season and a playoff berth for his minor league team.

 

At this point, he finds himself overshadowed by teammate and fellow winger Roadkill Steve, who's put up >100 points this season but with likely intentions to remain on the Marlins at 250 TPE exactly. Provided Ritchie's rapid improvement and pro aspirations, we're calling him Season 68's unsung hero.