Gunnar Odinsson - Rookie Experience

[BOOM 8,745]

 

 

 

"With the eleventh pick in round one, the Helsinki Titans select Defenseman, Gunnar Odinsson from the San Diego Marlins."

 

And with that, I was a VHL player taking the first, tentative steps towards my journey into the Victory Hockey League. It was a moment that I will not forget and despite the mock drafts and water-cooler discussions, I feel that kind of range is where I deserved to be taken. Hell, even if I was selected in the final round, it would have been OK. 

 

I enjoyed my time with the Marlins and when I take a look at how that team developed and improved, I'm proud to be associated with the San Diego organization. After playing in all 72 games and scoring 66 points(20G 46A) I feel that it was a decent, if not spectacular beginning to my time here in the VHL/M. After all, I'm a defenseman who didn't have the training hours of others, but still finished in the top 10 for defensive scoring. I'll take it. The playoffs were marginally better where I managed 11 points in 9 games, but alas, it wasn't enough and we were eliminated by the eventual champions, The Philadelphia Reapers.

 

The Titans organization has been welcoming and I've adjusted to wearing the new colors, even if it is only training gear. The uniform fitting is later today and I'm beyond excited to see how it looks. I've grown up with stories about the Titans, passed down from family friend Odin Tordahl who spent two seasons there, as well my uncles Bizmarck Koenig and Vaydar Odinsson who both wore the Helsinki colors.

 

Going into the season, my expectations are quite modest to be honest. I simply want to play whatever role is needed for the Titans and I imagine that will be rare minutes on the third line to begin with. That's OK, as there are obviously more talented players that take priority over me and I'm happy to watch and learn from them. There's no "I" in team as they say. I do not have any particular numbers in mind as far as actual point production, anything at this level would be a bonus.

 

It's very cliche, but one of my favorite saying is "Hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard." It's that ethos that I intend to follow. While I'm not at all bitter about the position that I was drafted, I do fully intend to show the teams that passed on me that I would have been worth an earlier selection. I'm going to work as hard as possible, with guidance from VHL legends and my Titan's teammates, in order to become the best player that I could possibly become. There's no chip on the shoulder, just my own desire to be the best I can.

 

The European Conference looks tough again this season, but I'm sure that Helsinki will play well enough to worry some of the more fancied teams. If I can help is some way, shape or form, it will be amazing.

 

Thank you Helsinki, I'll be repaying the faith.

 

WC: 500+