READY FOR GRADING

The season is over for the Vancouver Whalers after a disappointing playoff series against the Colorado Mammoths. After a regular season that saw the Whalers finish 1st in their conference and 2nd overall many had them pegged for a deep playoff run but somehow they found themselves eliminated by the team that finished dead last in the SMJHL. Vancouver's regular season saw them finish with the second best goal differential and some strong seasons from many of their players. Patrikov Bure finished 3rd in scoring, Captain VLAD McZehrl finished 9th and Jack Durden finished 14th. Goalie Tylar No Nerves finished as arguably the best goalie in the league, finishing 1st in save percentage and wins and second in goals against average. Vancouver had a few good rookies as both Patrick McEichel and Wyatt Wollker finished in the top 10 for rookies points, Alexi Orlov and the player we will be focusing on for this season review, Cody Black, both had solid all around seasons.

After being drafted 7th overall by the Whalers, expectations were high for rookie defenceman Cody Black and while he wasn't outstanding he certainly had a respectable year. Cody finished top 10 on the Whalers in: points, plus/minus, penalty minutes and shots blocked. Cody certainly expected more out of his rookie season and he will be highly motivated to improve for next season but I think it's safe to say that he will look back at this season with fondness when he is drafted to the SHL in the upcoming draft.

Cody Black was asked to write a brief report on what his statistics ended up being and also to write a few sentences about whether or not he was happy with each one, here is what he had to say.

Quote:[b]Goals: 3
I honestly expected to get about 7-10 goals this season so I was a little disappointed that I couldn't even net 5. I will most certainly be working on my shot so I can be another weapon for the Whalers next season.

Assists: 21
I am pretty happy with this number, I feel that I'm a good pass first defenceman who can send the puck all over the ice with crisp passes. Next year I will look to get this number higher so I can be relied on as a powerplay option.

Points: 24
I was hoping to hit 30ish for my first year so I'm a little upset with this number but it's something that I can build on. Once I get my shot better I can add some goals and don't have to rely on my teammates for all my points.

Plus/Minus: +9
Anytime a defenceman can finish positive I think they are happy. I started the year slowly and I was a -6 early on but once the offence started figuring it out my +/- jumped up a lot.

PIMS: 81
I need to apologize to my teammates for this high number, I put my team shorthanded too often and jeopardized our chances at winning. With only 5 of those minutes being a fighting major I can safely say that I played undisciplined hockey too much and next year I vow to be a smarter player.

Hits: 86
I pride myself on being a physical player and hitting is something that I love to do. Hopefully next season I can break 100 and really intimidate my opponents.

Shots: 40
I feel that I should be taking at least one shot a game so this number is pretty sad to me. Next year I will aim to break 60 and hopefully with an improved shot some of them will go in.

Shots Blocked: 41
As a defenceman I want to block as many shots as possible so I'm pretty happy with this number. Vancouver was able to control the puck a lot so it's a lower number than I expected but it just means that we weren't defending very often.[/b]

Cody Black was able to hold down a top 4 job for most of the season with his two most common partners being Curtis Crawford and fellow rookie Wyatt Wollker. Wollker and Black have been playing together since their days as Outlaws in the Prospect Showcase and I think they have a chemistry that cannot be taught. Next year he will look to anchor the top pairing for Vancouver while providing a healthy amount of offense from the back end. Cody Black has asked that we open the floor to any questions you may have, ask away.

Quote:Originally posted by IncorrectAtlas+Sep 27 2015, 05:46 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1' id='QUOTE-WRAP'><tr><td>QUOTE (IncorrectAtlas @ Sep 27 2015, 05:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> How does it feel to know that all of the D squad did well this season?[/b]

It feels damn good. I was sad that I didn't get drafted with you guys but I had a fun rookie season and I'm sure you guys did too. Maybe we'll meet up in the SHL.

Quote:Originally posted by SethTrollins@Sep 27 2015, 05:50 PM<br /> If Orange is the New Black, how jealous are you of MacGregor's ginger hair?

Jealous? If you're trying to be then I'm flattered and if anybody should be jealous it's you.

Quote:Originally posted by BeanSobie@Sep 27 2015, 06:13 PM<br />  How many more seasons do you see yourself playing in the SMJHL?

Which teams are you looking at possibly being drafted by?  Any early favorites or teams you would not want to play with?

  At the Texas combine you praised The Carl Mountain?  Are you sure he is a player you want to be like?

I think I will for sure play next season in Vancouver and beyond that I don't know for certain but I like the group of guys in the locker room and I'm in no hurry to leave.

I'm not too picky as I don't know a whole lot about the SHL teams but I have reached out to some of the teams that I'm interested in. As for not wanting to go to a team I can't say that there isn't a place I wouldn't want to go.

I have absolutely zero clue who or what The Carl Mountain is. I couldn't tell you what team he's on or what his username is. I just said what popped into my head when I imagined what a Carl Mountain would be, the way people are questioning that makes me think that he's not someone I want to be.

Quote:Originally posted by Swimbizzilin@Sep 27 2015, 08:38 PM<br /> You mentioned several things that you wanted to improve on for next season (shots, goals scored, PIM, hits), which is priority number one for you?

Looking forward to the SMJHL draft, which position to you think is most important for Vancouver to add?

Congrats on the successful season on an individual level. Hopefully we get drafted by the same SHL team!

I'd like to focus on my shot, having a good shot makes me a more rounded player. I will continue to work on all my attributes however.

Vancouver is going to lose their entire first line to call ups next season so we will need to add forwards. We have some young players in place that can definitely produce at high levels but we need to add some secondary scoring. I would also think that we will be targeting a goalie as No Nerves is likely moving up.

Thank you, I would like if we ended up on the same season as I was sad to see you leave the Whalers so soon. Congratulations and good luck bud

Quote:Originally posted by KezKincaid@Sep 27 2015, 08:50 PM<br />Congrats on a great season!

Do you feel that you warrant a top-6 pick, as ranked by KFAN in their scouting prospectus?

Which would you rather be on: an expansion team or the defending champs?

Fight one, slash one, elbow one: Eoin MacGregor, Scott Roberston, Wyatt Wollker

Best of luck in the draft! 

I feel that I am worthy of being a top 5 pick but I may be a wee bit biased there. I think that any team drafting me will get value for their pick and they won't regret it.

I think being on an expansion team is an interesting prospect. Getting to put your stamp on a young team and being a part of history is an exciting though.

Fight: Eoin MacGregor because we already had an agreement to battle each other.
Slash: Wyatt Wollker because I'm too scared to get close enough to elbow him.
Elbow: Scott Robertson because why not?

Thank you and good luck to you as well, although I know you don't need it.

Quote:Originally posted by WeWantTaro@Sep 28 2015, 07:01 AM<br />What was the highlight of the season for you

Would have you done anything different know that you've got a year seasons experience

What advice can you give to the new rookies coming in

The highlight of the season for me was being drafted 7th overall to the Whalers after they had already drafted my defensive partner Wyatt Wollker. I was very excited to be drafted by Vancouver and I'll never forget this season.

I don't think I would have changed much, I may have tweaked my build a little bit right from the start but I'm still pretty happy with the final result.

The best advice I can give new rookies is to be active, the more you post the more you are noticed and that will help with draft stock and attracting friends. The second best advice I can give rookies is to ask questions, no matter how stupid they may seem it is better to know than to look stupid down the line.

<!--QuoteBegin-Eggy's Multi@Sep 28 2015, 08:49 PM
Who would win in a fight between us?

Who's better, Jasper Clayton or Maria Maximova?[/quote]

If we were to fight I imagine it would a long winded affair with both of us biding our time and looking for the perfect shot only to be broken up by the refs and linesmen.

Better at what? If it's Hunger Games then we know for sure that Clayton is a scrub, if it's being a media/post whore then I guess Jasper is going to be all right.