Claimed:Andrew Niklas Erikson

[kareykoala 62]

 

Andrew Niklas Erikson

Position: Right Wing

Number: 18

Age: 17

 

 

 

EARLY YEARS

   Andrew Niklas Erikson was born in a small farm outside of Copenhagen, Denmark in 1996 to Neill and Greta Erikson. Neill, having been an established junior player himself, taking the University of Michigan by storm during his tenure as a Wolverine, was asked to cut his career short when a nasty collision with the boards left him with a severe concussion and broken jaw during his senior year. The sensational and electrifying player’s career was halted mere months after being drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. The devastating end of his journey as a player is only the beginning of his story as the father and coach of the highly touted Andrew Niklas.

 

   Andrew Niklas grew up idolizing his father, not as the player who danced around defenders, but as the strong leader and coach of the Copenhagen Rovers, the top U-18 AAA team in Denmark. Although Neill was often at the rink or on the bus travelling from game to game, limiting the interaction between the father and son, Andrew Niklas knew he was loved by his father and knew that the more he pursued hockey, the closer they will get. That is exactly what happened. Both Neill and Andrew Erikson became very close and through their relationship, shaped the state of Danish hockey development and are chief contributors to Denmark’s entrance into the 2015 World Junior Championship Tournament, as Andrew is expected to take part as Captain of the team coached by his father.

 

Neill Erikson and son, Andrew Niklas Erikson

 

DENMARK AAA HOCKEY

   By the age of 15, Andrew Niklas was finally eligible to play under his father for the Rovers. The state of the team was in a disarray at that time as they were not placing very well in the overall table in previous years and morale was low when Andrew entered the league. Neill, seeing his 15 year old son on the ice, giving it his all, realized that the team was lacking because they lacked leadership, commodity, and drive to succeed. Neill realized that his young son, although not the best player on the ice, was playing every shift to it’s fullest, going into the dirty areas, and working harder than his opponent. Even though he lacked the skill to bury the puck, he made up for it with his ethic, this was not the case with the high skill players on the Rovers. 

   Neill, began to see a change in the team. The third line, made up of his son and two other friends of Andrew, were barely skilled enough to make the elite AAA team and were definitely the offensive liabilities on the team, but their drive to compete and understanding of each other made them into terrific players by the seasons end and shot their way up onto the first line. The unprecedented promotion of Andrew Niklas and his linemates, Mads Eller and Jef Kleinkin, did not negatively affect the team but rather, inspired the skilled players to play harder. Those three 15 years olds became the heart and should of the team. No longer were the Rovers just a team of skilled players, they were a team made of leaders. Through the leadership of Andrew Niklas, the team began to play with respect, tenacity, drive, and humility even going so far as to stitch the Danish quote: “At lede må man først blive ledet”, which translates to: “To lead one must first be led.”

 

   In the two years following, the culture of Danish hockey quickly changed and no longer was Danish hockey renown for its speed and skill, but rather, its development of leadership and ethic. The 2015 Danish World Junior team, coached by Neill Erikson, comprises itself of 6 members of the Copenhagen Rovers. It’s fitting that the Rovers heart and soul, Andrew Niklas Erikson, would be the heart and soul of Danish youth hockey as he is expected to wear the “C” on December 25th and lead with tenacity onto Canadian ice.

 

   Andrew Niklas Erikson, honouring his fathers wishes, is expected to declare for the VHLM entry draft to fulfill his dream of playing in the VHL. Although the NHL was a reality for Neill Erikson up until his injury, the VHL has stood as a benchmark of what a unified global hockey league should look like. As for Mads Eller and Jef Kleinkin, their journeys are leading to the NHL and nowhere respectively as Jef Kleinkin was found dead in an alley, with a  bottle of vodka placed in his butt. A tattoo on his body read: “Part hårdt. Poop hårdt. Die hårdt”

 

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PLAYER REVIEW

 

PROS

 

Passing: The vision on the ice Andrew Niklas Erikson possesses is elite calibre and it is seen in his ability to find the open man. Although he is not a fast skater, Erikson uses his skating strength to draw the defensemen towards him only to find the open man. Even with coverage, the finesse of his pass is top notch. 

 

Leadership: This kid is the heart and soul of his nations hockey program. His ability to work hard on every shift, sacrifice his body to make the play, be outsized against opponents yet still stand his ground, not take his frustration out on his teammates but inspire them, and still garner respect from his opponents make him one of the best leaders of his generation. Expect him to be a VHL captain early into his career, or at least, have the “A” within his first three seasons.

 

Work Ethic: Although he is quite small and young, Andrew Niklas plays against bigger opponents with ease as nothing is going to stop him from where he is going. The tenacity that this kid possesses should make him a top 6 forward in any team regardless of skill as he makes the people around him better. He doesn’t quit on the play nor does he slowly stride to the bench, rather, he hustles until the whistle has blown or the horn goes off.

 

CONS

 

Checking: Andrew Niklas is an average height but he plays with a smaller stick. His ability to keep possession of the puck and deliver a quality pass from close quarters sacrifices his ability to stick check or get his stick in position if not close to the body. This can become an issue on penalty kills and defensive situations during a setup offence.

 

 

Size: Andrew Niklas is still very young and has not fully filled out his frame. His 6’1 height still allows him the potential to become a much more formidable physical force but as of right now, he weighs sub 190 lbs. which would disadvantage him while playing against men with 35 lbs. over him.

 

Experience: The Danish Elite AAA league is no where close to being as competitive as the CHL for development. That being said, the skill set that is quickly being developed has blossomed Andrew Niklas into a player with tremendous upside if given time. He is only 17 years old, already is a captain of a World Junior National team, has a well developed hockey IQ, and a great touch of the puck resembling that of a young Marc Savard. If given time, he can develop into an elite first line winger, but do not expect him to immediately be a game changer on the ice as he needs some time to develop as well as become acquainted with North American ice.

 

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PROJECTION: Henrik Sedin. He does not need foot speed, a wicked shot, or an imposing size advantage to be dominant, instead, he uses his head, his abilities to pass, his vision on the ice, his strength to control the play, as well as his leadership that inspires the players around him. Given some time, he can become an elite player. 

 

[Will 4,660]

Overview- 3/3 

1323 words. This was pretty nice. You gave us a nice overview of Andrew's personality, upbringing, and career up to this point. It sounds like Andrew and Neill have really taken the Denmark hockey scene by storm, and perhaps they are staging somewhat of 

a cout d'eta. Based on his work ethic alone, it sounds like Andrew will be a very valuable asset to whichever VHLM team he ends up being drafted to. 

 

Grammar- 2/2 
Just a few minor things here, not enough to warrant a dock.
 

in a small farm = on a small farm

 

in a disarray = in disarray 

heart and should of the team = heart and soul of the team

 

VHLM entry draft = VHLM Dispersal Draft

Presentation- /1 

Looked really nice. Lots of formatting and you included plenty of pictures. 

Pros- 2/2 
230 words. It looks like Andrew's leadership and work ethic are what he's going to be relying on to become a star in the VHL. Which is good, because leaders are often hard to come by. 

Cons- 2/2 

238 words. Experience is the big one here. Andrew is definitely coming in at a disadvantage. Being used to playing domestically in Denmark, I worry that Andrew may underestimate the competitiveness off VHL hockey. 

Overall- 10/10

Edited May 7, 2014 by Draper

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