<div align="center">WHO IS CALLING WINNFIELD?
A look at what teams have interest in Urijah Winnfield, and what teams interest Urijah Winnfield.


Some of the Season 14 SHL draftees setting up for a group photo.

In just less than a week there will be a yearly event taking place where some teams will walk away with their franchise pieces and other teams will walk away with what they think are studs but in the end turn out to become a dud. The event that I am speaking of is the Season 14 SHL Draft. In this upcoming draft there is quite the list of all-star potential players such as Chuck Winnfield, Marian Potoczny and Carter O'Callahan. There are also the names that bring a lot of attention, but there potential isn't quite as high as the others such as Hans Schultz, Ondrej Ravchitkov and Gabriel DuJardin. But the most intriguing position to me is not the forwards and not the defenseman, but I am most intrigued with the two goalies making a late push to raise their stocks.


James Reimer making one of his many saves during this past season with the Montreal Impact.

One of the two goalies of interest is James Reimer of the Montreal Impact. Reimer has proven that he can back up what he says, and has helped the Impact reach the finals in the NWJHL. Reimer has also shown that he is dedicated to the sport of hockey and that he is ready to be a key piece in a cup run. Though there are very few negatives with Reimer, there are still a little bit of negatives. Recently Reimer has not shown as much of a push while training. Could this be a sign of him losing the dedication, or is it that he is just focused on winning the cup in the NWJHL? One other negative could be the fact of Reimer wanting to start right away with the team that signs him. This could easily be a big mistake as the veterans would likely tear the rookie into shreds. Another reason why this could be a negative is that what if a team doesn't need to use his assistance right this instance? He would be probably riding the bench, and that would be something that would ruin a players mentality. Overall I think that if a team is willing to start Reimer right now, and be able to work with him through the rough patches, he is worth a pick towards the middle of the first round.


[i]Urijah Winnfield playing in net for the Detroit Falcons during the series against the St. Louis Scarecrows.

The second goalie that is likely to be selected in the first round is Urijah Winnfield of the Detroit Falcons. Though Winnfield struggled throughout his first season with the Detroit Falcons, he still showed signs of major improvement throughout the season. The major factor that came into Winnfield's poor play was the fact of zero defense around him. Not only was this hard for Winnfield to prove how good he can be in net, but it also held his team back from going deeper into the NWJHL playoffs. There is one major positive when comparing Winnfield and Reimer (no, not skin color), and that is the fact that Winnfield is willing to go back down to the junior leagues to get SHL ready whereas Reimer does not want to. Winnfield has showed some bold points throughout his first season, but he also has showed some very weak points in his first season. But, overall I think that he too will turn out to be a good goaltender for the future just like Reimer and that he will be picked in the first round just slightly after James Reimer.


Winnfield's agent 701 answering a few questions about the upcoming S14 SHL Draft.

With all of this goalie talk it brings the question of where these two men could go. James Reimer has loudly expressed that he is interested in joining any team, but it seems as if the Hamilton Steelhawks are at the top of his list of teams that he would like to sign with. Urijah Winnfield has not been all that vocal with the teams that he has interest in, or teams that have expressed interest in him. I was able to sneak in a quick interview with the agent of Urijah Winnfield, 701, and I asked him about Winnfields draft stock and what teams have been in talks with Winnfield. This is what he had to say...

Originally posted by Me+--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Me)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thanks for letting me ask you a few questions on your agent Mr. 701, I greatly appreciate it and will try to make this as quick for you as I possibly can. First question, where do you feel your agent will go in the upcoming draft?[/b]

[i]Originally posted by 701+--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (701)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Not a problem at all! Thank you for taking the time to ask me these questions. As far as the question goes I am not one hundred percent sure yet where my client will be going. Both Urijah and I have high hopes in him getting selected by a team in the very first round, but we will both be very content with him landing with a team that will do what is best for his future.[/b]

Originally posted by Me<br />Ah, that is very interesting 701. If Urijah Winnfield were to go in the first round what team do you see picking him up? Is there any team that interests him more than others?

Originally posted by 701<br />If Winnfield were to go in the first round, my guess would be by a team that has contacted us thus far. I will not be giving out the team names of who has contacted us, because I would rather let the teams info be kept secret. As far has him having any favorite team in the SHL, he doesn't have any favorites and is willing to become a prospect goalie of any team that is willing to bring him on and give him a chance when they both feel he is SHL ready.

<!--QuoteBegin-Me@
Last question from me here then I will let you get going with your day. How long do you see Winnfield in the junior leagues for, and how do you think his rookie season will go once he hits the SHL? Thanks again for taking the time out of your day to answer these questions.[/quote]

<!--QuoteBegin-701[/i]
I could see Urijah Winnfield playing in the junior leagues for about one to two full seasons. I think that this will get him fully ready for the SHL, and that he will lead to a very successful rookie season in the SHL if he does so. Thank you for asking me these questions, they are greatly appreciated. Have a fine day![/quote]

So all in all it looks as if we have to very solid goalie prospects that are willing to do a lot of things to the teams that select them. Could we see James Reimer slipping past the Steelhawks, getting snagged before the Steelhawks have a chance to get him or could he possibly be ending up in his dream location? Will Urijah Winnfield be selected in the first like him and 701 are hoping for, or could he possibly slip into the second round for a team to pick him up? Be sure to tune in June 28th at the SHL home website to see all of this action unfold!</div>

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1263 words 4 Pictures

I'm capped on my training btw

Awesome article though and I hope the best for you heading into the draft!