Artair McCloud Junior Review

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Artair McCloud Junior Review

 

Artair McCloud is the next sensation to hit the VHLM. With a sniper’s aim and a wicked wrister, he has an elite scoring edge. Wheels like a Ferrari and tight turns on his edges he’s definitely a threat on the breakaway and he will have defenders quaking on their boots when they are left one on one with McCloud. We know all about McCloud’s on ice talents and clearly so did Las Vegas GM Spartan as he was snapped up in the Middle of the 4^th round, what a steal! But who is Artair McCloud?

 

Born and raised in a small town outside of Glasgow, Scotland, Artair lived at home with his mother, father and older brother Douglas. He was always very sporty and wanting to try new things. Sport after sport came and gone; football basketball, rugby but none of them stuck quite as much, as hockey. He’d went try out for his local team, the Lanarkshire Lightning, where he learned the basics such as skating, puck handling and shooting. He was a natural. Due to his outgoing personality and sheer natural ability he was made captain of the U16 team which one back to back national championships, the second of which he was named tournament MVP scoring 15P in 10GP, with an impressive 5 PPG. This impressive outing earned him a move to his boyhood club, the Glasgow Clan.

 

It was a guessing game how McCloud would fair on the pro scene at just 16 years old. Being 6ft tall certainly helped to blend in amongst the veterans but could handle the physical intensity of pro hockey. The answer, was yes, he could. He only played limited 4^th line minutes in his first season for the Clan but he was a crowd favourite straight away. His tenacity to make plays, keep the puck and chase down puck dumped down the ice, earned the respect of his teammates, opponents and fans alike. The following season he received an increase in ice time, which was being moved up to the third line and being added to the 2^nd powerplay unit, where he, played RW and, really showed how gifted he was. He scored 32P in 52GP and scoring 20G with 5 of them coming on the powerplay. He was ranked 6^th in scoring on his team and 1^st amongst the other U20s playing in the league. This led to him being picked 43^rd in the VHLM dispersal draft by the Las Vegas Aces.

 

Artair McCloud is definitely one to watch for the future. Whilst coming into the league with league experience and skill as some, his outgoing personality and professionalism will get him a long way in his rookie year. Watch out VHLM, Artair McCloud is coming and he wants the cup.