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King · 07-20-2018, 04:26 PM

Halifax's Unsung Hero's: The leagues best third line and a rising goalie

The Halifax Raiders have been turning heads out of the gate, we are officially 20% done the SMJHL regular season and the Raiders are third in the league, have allowed the least goals, and have the leagues best penalty kill. What's most surprising about the Raiders hot start is that the team is looking to only be improving as the season goes on and will continue to improve well into next year. Where do we expect the biggest improvements to come from? A certain four players who have been outstanding for the Halifax Raiders in currently small role and look to be future stars who will be carrying a much heavier load for the club, later this year and the years to come, the kind of out of no where steals that take a team from being good to being great. First on the docket we have...

(Disclaimer: All projected builds are my own best guess, no saying if these guys actually build like this, but didn't have time to ask all of them, so took my best stab for the sake of the article, pretend I'm a scouting projecting players, in real life a scout doesn't know exactly how they'll develop)

Mr. Faceoffs @NH4JP
[Image: Big-Read-Patrice-Bergeron-feature.jpg]

Current Build:
CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 62
ST = Strength: 62 1/2
EN = Endurance: 56
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 60
FO = Face Offs: 71
PA = Passing: 62
SC = Scoring: 59
DF = Defense: 64
PS = Penalty Shot: 40

Projected Build:
CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 70
ST = Strength: 70
EN = Endurance: 60
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 70
FO = Face Offs: 75
PA = Passing: 70
SC = Scoring: 65
DF = Defense: 80
PS = Penalty Shot: 40

This can't be said enough, every team needs a player like Mr. Faceoffs if they expect to win anything in this league. Mr. Faceoffs is your ideal shut down centre. First and foremost in his prime Mr. Faceoffs may never lose a draw in the SMJHL. He's already as talented in the circle as anyone in the league, even three year vets, and he is only getting better. Once his strength catches up to his skill he will be absolutely dominate. Mr. Faceoffs is poised to become a very agile and smart defender. His combination of skating ability and a smart stick will make him a frustrating player to match up against. Mr. Faceoffs is currently on the teams second PK but will eventually take over as the number one option, a team with a fantastic penalty kill will only get better as Faceoffs grows into the role. On top of that he's an excellent team player, great in the
locker room and all around fun time.

Richard Metcalf Jr @Lazyeye
[Image: Mittelstadt-Casey.jpg]

Current Build:
CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 65
ST = Strength: 45
EN = Endurance: 40
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 70
FO = Face Offs: 40
PA = Passing: 80
SC = Scoring: 40
DF = Defense: 55
PS = Penalty Shot: 40

Projected Build:
CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 80
ST = Strength: 65
EN = Endurance: 60
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 70
FO = Face Offs: 40
PA = Passing: 80
SC = Scoring: 60
DF = Defense: 80
PS = Penalty Shot: 40

Richard Metcalf Jr. is a super raw up and coming prospect who is on the verge of becoming an electrifying playmaker. Metcalf is you classic late bloomer, but the raw skill is there. Richard already has incredible vision and is a tremendous play maker, if you’re open and he’s on the ice, he can get you the puck no matter what. His skating is a strength, the speedy dangler will continue to get strong and stronger on his skates and be able to make better use of his speed. As with many young players he’s also learning the defensive side of the game but the effort and work ethic is there it’s only a matter time before that rounds out. Don’t be surprised to see Richard playing a big role in the top six by the end of the year and being a dangerous threat on the power play, between him and

Vince Rieper @ViN
[Image: E5vCmAb.jpg]

Current Build:
CK = Checking: 45
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 56
ST = Strength: 55
EN = Endurance: 65
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 67
FO = Face Offs: 40
PA = Passing: 58
SC = Scoring: 70
DF = Defense: 56
PS = Penalty Shot: 40

Projected Build:
CK = Checking: 45
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 72
ST = Strength: 66
EN = Endurance: 65
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 70
FO = Face Offs: 40
PA = Passing: 65
SC = Scoring: 80
DF = Defense: 80
PS = Penalty Shot: 40

Vince is a big american sniper who is slowly growing into his role, he’s currently sitting on the teams third line but its just a matter of time before he, like Metcalfe is about to burst into the top six. Vince will be a dominant force all over the ice, with speed, size, strength and an amazing shot. Vince is a workhorse, the type of player who can be depended on in many situations. Vince projects to be the type of scoring winger who has no real flaw in his game and can play with any combination of players. Current he seems like a perfect fit to play with the Kovacs as the season goes on. Vince’s ascension up the line up will also make the Raiders a much deeper team overall, pushing current vets like Cullen and Aiden into the third line. Vince is poised to do quite well on the powerplay, being fed shots from one of the teams two star playmakers. Again, a great team guy, a glue player who will help keep the Raiders roster together for the foreseeable future.

Nathan Cosco @Taxman100
[Image: cut.jpg]

Current Build:
SK = Skating: 50
DU = Durability: 50
EN = Endurance: 55
SZ = Size: 70
AG = Agility: 50
RB = Rebound Control: 60
SC = Style Control: 80
HS = Hand Speed: 80 2/5
RT = Reaction Time: 84 4/5
PH = Puck Handling: 50
PS = Penalty Shot: 50

Projected Build:
SK = Skating: 70
DU = Durability: 50
EN = Endurance: 77
SZ = Size: 81
AG = Agility: 81
RB = Rebound Control: 80
SC = Style Control: 81
HS = Hand Speed: 81
RT = Reaction Time: 85
PH = Puck Handling: 50
PS = Penalty Shot: 60

Nathan might have what is current the hardest job in hockey, the back up goalie. Waiting patiently each game, trying to squeeze starts in here and there, always needing to be ready, you need to be a patient and focused young man to be a back up goalie. But his time will come, Geezus has been a dominate goaltender for the Raiders this season and has been a great mentor for Nathan. Nathan has stayed focus, and has been training hard unfettered by the back up role. Expect to see his role boost quite a bit next year, he is with out a question the next in line to be the Raiders starting goal tender. His team mates have his back and are excited to see him get more starts and his game continues to grow.

Long story short, I wanted to give some love to our guys who have been working away getting all the TPE they can and slowly climbing their way into more ice time. Their patience and commitment has been super motivating. Way to go boys!

1355 Words.

*thedangazone* · 07-20-2018, 04:43 PM

Truly love having each of y'all on the team. I know the points aren't coming yet but they will in time and so far you've all been so incredibly valuable to the Raiders. I promise to get y'all those points though.

I Am a Coupon · 07-20-2018, 04:47 PM

Great read, and these guys are very value players to our line up glad they're on my side of the ice!

KillTheArchitect · 07-20-2018, 05:32 PM

Truly a great captain. Giving spotlight to some of the hardest working guys on the team. Each and every one of us is a Raider. We win and lose together.

NH4JP · 07-20-2018, 06:40 PM

Cheers capt! Cheers

You got my build right.

King · 07-20-2018, 10:19 PM

07-20-2018, 06:40 PMNH4JP Wrote: Cheers capt!

You got my build right.

Nice I'm glad. Good choice Wink

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