Kristof Welch - Rookie Experience

[Juice 641]

 

Going into any draft, you want to show that you are the best player available and go to a team that really values you and what you can provide.

Even with stiff competition that can be in front of you, you always want to strive to prove that you are worth a top pick.

And although there were some players that could have arguably been selected instead of him, in the S76 VHL Draft Kristof Welch was selected #5 Overall to the Toronto Legion.

 

While this might be surprising to some and not to others, Kristof Welch stood stunned that he could now call himself a top five draft choice and going to a team with a bright future in Toronto. It's not often you see someone come into the VHLM after the season already has started and really start to make a name for himself right away, however it's even more uncommon to see that player become a VHL team's top draft choice.

 

Going into his S76 season with the Yukon Rush after choosing his hometown team as the destination he wanted to play in, expectations were quite low as the Rush slotted him originally as a bottom pairing defenceman. However, Welch showed that he wasn't just any other waiver pickup. Through hard work and determination, Kristof Welch put in the work to slowly get his way to top pairing minutes on the Rush and end the season helping lead his team to the playoffs even as the team went into more of a rebuilding stage. Although he had a disappointing post-season, Welch's regular season success as well as development had him going into the VHL draft ranked as a top 10 pick, however with his very new status into the league there were some thoughts that he could slip out of that range.

 

Despite this, Welch continued to develop after the Rush's playoff exit in preparation for the VHL Draft. Not only to show that he is getting better, but to show that he is ready for the VHL sooner than later and is ready to log minutes for the VHL team that decides to take the chance on him. While some teams either did not have the space or need for Welch to make their roster, the Toronto Legion GM @Peacetold Kristof Welch that in his own plan that he would envision Welch also making the roster right away. With this shared goal, Kristof crossed his fingers that Toronto would use one of their high picks in the draft to select him, and the shock to hear over the livestream of the draft that he went fifth overall sent an entire lightning bolt of shock through him.

 

After the shock wore off, the talks with his new General Manager and his new teammates began immediately. However, the one thing that ran through Welch's mind was:

"I've just been drafted to Toronto. That means I'll be in the VHL next season."

This thought came through as the General Manager immediately had Welch sign his entry-level contract and informed him that, "Well, you made it kid. We're one step closer to dynasty."

 

Knowing that he will join the ranks as other top rookies like Scotty Kaberle @fromtheinsideand Jolly Greene Giant @DoktorFunkon the blue line means that Toronto will have a young defensive core that will stick together from day one, as well as Toronto's other top draft choice in the same draft Frank Funk Jr. @Rayzor_7and John Callahan Jr. @Callahanas rookie forwards, and finally Sirkants Klamasteris @hedgehog337as a young goaltender of the future, the Toronto Legion has an amazing youthful core of the future and are the blueprints of what could be a dynasty.

 

Although there is some obvious anxiety as although Welch wants to make the VHL right away to prove that he is ready and can handle the bright lights in Toronto, there is some expectations overall that he will have to be able to hold his own with harder competition compared to the VHLM as a second pairing option for the Legion right away, however even for himself there is personal expectations that he wants to show that out of all the defenseman drafted alongside him in the S76 Draft, that he is one of, if not, the best one that was drafted.

 

But as of right now, the only thing to look forward to is the upcoming training camp where he will see all his future Toronto Legion teammates in person for the first time all together as a squad as well as looking forward to the puck drop of his first VHL game of Welch's career.

[fromtheinside 1,290]

LEIGON BROTHERS FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!