Elsby and the fans

[Spence King 387]

HBO chose the S73 Helsinki Titans roster as a focal point on there newest docuseries the team’s production department assignment was to wander through the crowd and record clips of fans as well as on-ice action. HBO`s crew fell in love with a specific Titan player while recording footage and amassing hours of amazing work. The young Rookie defender in his first VHL season Spencer Elsby is the last player off the ice at Helsinki TItans practice arena always. He wanted to work on some skills but he is also the youngest guy on the team and he still has to collect the pucks off the ice after practice. There is no chance of missing how popular he is. A group of fans has stayed after practice and he greets them kindly, posing for pictures and signing some autographs before he stops for the interview. While he has had a busy season, he seems beyond happy to be in full hockey gear getting ready for a new season.

 

Elsby play on the ice is just as entertaining to watch if not more. His skating, puck handling and, physical abilities make him a realy fan favourite in Helsinki as well as being a home town boy. At one point, Titans rookie defenseman Spencer Elsby made a spiffy move with the puck at the blue line, shook his defender, and skated in for an open shot. However, he didn’t score, the crowd nearby made sure to let out the inevitable, “Oooooh.” Seconds later, a fan said, “He really turned on his mojo for that one.

 ”It feels pretty good, we had a good practice today and last week we had a couple of good practices. Things couldn’t feel any better; I can’t imagine a better experience not only on the ice but also in the locker room.”

 

Many Star players have stayed an extra year to mature in familiar surroundings this turned out to be the case for Spencer Elsby after being drafted 17^th in the S72 VHL draft. With Helsinki in the position at that time Elsby didn’t fit into their depth chart and was sent back for 1 more season in the VHLM. Jer Lefebvre, Shawn Glade, and Adam Syreck are good examples — others are drafted to teams that need that need to make an impact directly as was visible last season with Groovy Dude and Kosmo Kramerev.

It was a long season in S72 before making the jump to the pros, made longer with the huge playoff run the Philadelphia Reapers had going all in for the Founders cup. By the time the Titan`s rookie development camp in Helsinki Elsby was quoted by a member of VSN. "It was surreal, you go to the United States and that’s very different to start with, the biggest thing is the major difference in strength and overall speed when you’re talking VHL players compared to VHLM. It is a incredibly faster game there but... I don't know... I think its pretty similar things, I feel as if I am playing the best hockey of my life.”

 

Spencer Elsby had a standout tournament in S72 being named one of the three Captains, last season with the VHL WJHC Team Europe team where in front of scouts from all VHL teams, he never missed a beat. He drew comparisons to Niklas Lidström rather than newer mobile players defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Elsby agrees that he sees similarities, but remains humble about where he is today. "They are really both phenomenal hockey players and to be mentioned with them is a true honor” and he believes he has a lot of practice to do before he is at their level of play. He does, however, agree that you can see similarities in the style of play with the former Detroit Redwing and fellow European defender. Elsby is one of the most poised and calm defenceman to play in the VHL in decades. His offensive abilities to carry the puck on the rush through an entire team as well as be the shutdown guy for the opposing teams top player.

 

"I want to be, every day, a better and better player so I have to practice real hard. As for the World Juniors we had to play better than S71 and I was more than determined. I want to be a better player every time I am on the ice plain and simple, I’m always practicing.”