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ontanis · 08-30-2018, 06:15 AM

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[1359 words (and about 100 words in the image page, but i did not add to the total word count). Ready for grading]

The SMJHL Draft can be both invigorating and excruciating for players waiting to be drafted into the upper echelons of professional hockey.

For SMJHL draft prospect Tauras Karazija, it’s all of the above, as the S43 SMJHL Entry Draft will get underway in a couple of weeks.

“I’m kind of anxious and excited,” said Karazija from his hotel room, where he stays during the S42 World Junior Championship. “Going to St. Louis this season, I was just looking forward to playing professional and higher-level hockey, so since it’s all come about, it’s been really exciting to see how it’s all panned out and yes the draft will be a big day, and we’ll see what happens.”

As a junior player with the HK Riga, the dynamic defenseman is regarded as one of the youngest players eligible for the S43 SMJHL Draft. But the 18-year-old – whose birthday comes on Feb. 18, – began to turn heads with his success in the European leagues and the Scarecrows as a draft-eligible player.

“I just came in looking to find my role and get the coaches to trust me in different positions and I think I did that, and proved some people wrong a little bit, and I think that’s why I was put in the positions I was, and it turned out pretty good.”

Karazija is grabbing the attention of SMJHL scouts at the S42 World Junior Championship, where he was a big part of Team World defense logging in 21 minutes per game and 4 points (1 goal and 3 assists) in 10 games.

“Well, I would say it’s just a great learning experience. I play against the best players in my age, and a lot of guys want to play in my position and they can’t. So I kind of want to enjoy every game and learn from it as much as possible.”

An impressive tournament so far playing against top junior players kicked the Lithuanian native’s stock up, as Team World made it to the S42 WJC semi-final round, where they were beaten 5-0 by the USA Junior Team.

"Win or lose, make the other team remember they played you." Karazija said, “A lot of people we’re writing us down before the tournament, so I’d say this is a pretty good statement. We made other teams remember we played them. Can’t wait for the bronze medal game”.

Former SMJHL player and now coach for the HK Riga, Jurgis Bulota recommended the young Lithuanian to the GM of the St. Louis Scarecrows Joe Kurczewski his expectations were surpassed by the six-foot-one, 205-pound defender when he pulled on a Scarecrows jersey. Former Falcons winger Bulota said of the young defenseman:

“When I saw him play at the Riga tournament” explained Bulota in a interview. “I thought this is a kid who has pro aspects to his game. You can never predict what’s going to translate from one year to the next, but there are kids who have that quality in their game, and I’ve seen it because I played with these kinds of guys. Tauras went from being a top-end midget player to a top-end SMJHL prospect in a short amount of time – and that’s something you can’t predict.”

After failing to help Scarecrows to the SMJHL play-offs, Karazija was one of few SMJHL draft eligible players invited to the S42 WJC’s earlier this month, where the world’s top potential draft picks and junior players undergo a series of high intensity and high stakes matches.

“It (the WJCs) is good to be a part of when you see those big names on SHL, like (Leshaun) King and the Kovacs brothers, and you’re in the elevator with them talking to them,” said Karazija. “So I guess the biggest thing to take away from that, there is so many different types of players, so many different types of people, and the SMJHL teams they’ve done their homework and they know you, so I am just going in to be honest, be myself, and hope it turns out pretty good.”

While Karazija originally committed to train before the SMJHL Draft, he decided to get a jump on his professional career and signed the apprentice contract with the St. Louis Scarecrows.

“That changed a little bit at the end of this year, but that was an opportunity that I couldn’t really not take, and it was good, and a lot of tough work.”

Karazija’s move to the Scarecrows was a positive step for his career and a chance to build his physique, develop his game, and battle against older players.

“He’s still a young man, so I think a lot of SMJHL scouts and executive eyes are going to like the fact that he’s not fully developed,” said HK Riga coach Jurgis Bulota. “They’re going to have a project and a couple of seasons to wait for him to develop”

According to some scouts, his lack of experience and young age may be a deterrent to taking him with the first few picks, but his raw talent and size leave a lot of scouts and GMs pondering his potential.

“While scouts likely have more confidence in Karazija’s upside due to his European and limited SMJHL success in his year of draft eligibility, the challenge for them will likely be projecting him when he has no major experience and only the small WJC game sample size to judge him on in terms of high-level competition,” said Bulota.

In a draft loaded with high-end players including fellow prospects in Willie Fisterbottom and Mikhael Choybuk, Karazija is deemed a Top-10 selection but has teams openly interested in his untapped talent and turning him into a big-league asset.

While the offensive upside and talent is undeniable, Karazija’s defense is well, a work in progress. Although there were pockets of bright spots there in the SMJHL and the WJC’s, there is a long way to go in that department. Whether he made a bad pinch or a poor pass, errors of this kind were all a bit too common.

But Karazija is keeping his expectations in check, and any probable teams under wraps.

“Expectations for me are really, whatever happens in the draft is going to happen, so I’m going to go with it, and wherever I go, I’m going to be pretty excited to be a part of their organization.”

As for the draft itself, Karazija says he’ll be attending the draft with his family.

The main question here is where will Karazija go on draft night? Here’s what you have to ask yourself. Will he correct his glaring issues? If so, how soon will it happen? Then at what point are you willing to take his offensive upside given the other issues?

“You can’t control anything at this point and what happens, happens,” Karazija said. “It’s just a testament to Scarecrows GMs and them giving me a chance to play and how good their coaching is,” Tauras added. “I wouldn’t be on any draft prospect list without them.”

But Karazija knows being ranked high doesn’t guarantee being taken high. “I’m trying not to think about it,”

“I had a very beneficial and memorable experience at St. Louis,” the 18-year-old Lithuanian said. “My teammates have become my best friends and I will always cherish the moments I had with them.”

“It is an anxious time for me as the draft approaches, but at the end of the day I hope and strive to become a pro, not to just be drafted,” said Karazija, “Many guys have been drafted high and never play in the SHL or have disappointing careers and many guys that aren’t drafted or get drafted very low have great careers.”

Some scouts have personally spoken to Karazija this season, at the end of the SMJHL regular season. He was personable and pleasant to talk to. He didn’t dodge any questions. He wasn’t touted one of the better prospects in the SMJHL draft prospect pool by the coaches. We asked him his thoughts on that and Karazija just smiled.

“That’s just more motivation for you, isn’t it, Tauras?”

He smiled and nodded his head. He knows what’s going on.

Nictox · 08-30-2018, 06:26 AM

Good read! It has been a blast having you in the locker room from the end of last season til now. Hopefully you get to stay with us! Scarecrows

RIP Dangel #AD26 | RIP TDZ

TML99 · 08-30-2018, 08:43 AM

Thanks for your time on the Crows, sorry we couldn't make the final pus h into the playoffs. you will benefit any team you land on.

King · 08-30-2018, 09:07 AM

Oooo sexy graphic man.

Cheers in the draft.

Waters · 08-30-2018, 09:09 AM

:OOO cutie

Justice · 08-30-2018, 05:40 PM

Sick article mans

Beaver · 08-30-2018, 05:44 PM

An absolute beauty.

dankoa · 08-30-2018, 05:45 PM

Great article, great dude. Good luck brother

ontanis · 08-31-2018, 06:42 AM

08-30-2018, 06:26 AMNictox Wrote: Good read! It has been a blast having you in the locker room from the end of last season til now. Hopefully you get to stay with us!

08-30-2018, 08:43 AMTML99 Wrote: Thanks for your time on the Crows, sorry we couldn't make the final pus h into the playoffs. you will benefit any team you land on.

08-30-2018, 09:07 AMKing Wrote: Oooo sexy graphic man.

Cheers in the draft.

08-30-2018, 09:09 AMWaters Wrote: :OOO cutie

08-30-2018, 05:40 PMJustice Wrote: Sick article mans

08-30-2018, 05:44 PMBeaver Wrote: An absolute beauty.

08-30-2018, 05:45 PMdankoa Wrote: Great article, great dude. Good luck brother

Thank you all for the kind words! can't wait to get drafted and join y'all.

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