Winterhawks Weekly: Todd’s Christmas Wish List

With the holidays fast approaching, what better time than the present to put together my holiday shopping list? As a mostly unsuccessful youth hockey player and occasional embarrassment in adult recreation hockey when I can still stumble my way around, of course my dream is to actually be brilliant at the sport I love. With that in mind, here’s my shopping list:

First, I’d like Nic Petan’s vision and creativity. He sees passing angles in three dimensions, and can carve up a defense with his deft touch like a surgeon. He has 27 assists in just 26 games played, and just notched his 200th career WHL assist recently. Headed off to World Juniors with Team Canada, his on-ice vision would be the start of my dream skillset.

Second, though setting up goals with ridiculous passes sounds like a treat, I’d also like to score my fair share as well. So obviously I’d need the shot of last season’s 50-goal man, Oliver Bjorkstrand. Already to the 20-goal plateau this season in just 28 games, he’s once again on pace to be at or near that magical number by season’s end. I’d definitely be on my way towards the hockey superstardom I’ve always dreamed of if I had Mr. Bjorkstrand’s shot.

Next, I want to be tough to play against, tenacious on the forecheck, always driving the puck towards the opposition’s goal. Picking up Chase De Leo’s tenacity would suit me well for certain. Always willing to hunt the puck, lift sticks, create turnovers and knows where the net is when he does, I’d certainly be hard to play against with De Leo’s tenacity.

Defensive positional awareness is key, so I’d definitely have to import Dominic Turgeon’s defensive instincts. Responsible in the neutral and attacking zones, making sure to be a high player to support the defense in case of a turnover, Turgeon does all the right things away from the puck. I’d want to be a player my coach trusts in close games in my own defensive zone, and Dominic Turgeon has that trait for certain.

If I’m covering back defensively, occasionally I’ll have to defend one-on-one off the rush. So, I’ll have to import that ability from Blake Heinrich. Since coming back from injury in the Hawks’ game in Moose Jaw at the start of the Eastern Swing, Heinrich has been a rock defensively off the rush. Rarely beaten wide, with a stick that’s always in the right position, and the physicality to knock players off the puck when they try to head towards the inside lane, Heinrich is a terrific one-on-one defender. It’s no coincidence that since he came back from injury the Hawks have compiled a 16-6-1-0 record and surged back up the U.S. Division standings.

I think I’m well on my way towards being an elite player now, and will just have to mix in a couple last flourishes to my skillset. I’ll take Ethan Price’s wheels in a straight line, Skyler McKenzie’s fearlessness, Keegan Iverson’s strength and body checking ability, a dash of Paul Bittner’s puck protection ability, Layne Viveiros’ poise on the point of the power play, and Miles Koules’ consistency and I think I’ll be just about set.

And as for if my team needs a goaltender? Not my thing, I’ll leave that to Brendan Burke and Adin Hill thanks.

Winterhawks Weekly brings fans an inside look at the team. Your weekly contributors will be Hawks play-by-play voice Todd Vrooman, PR Director Graham Kendrick and Community & Events Coordinator Lesley Dawson. This week’s edition was written by Todd Vrooman.