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***bluesfan55*** · 08-22-2019, 06:53 PM

The Netherlands is in no way a hockey nation. No top hockey talent has ever come out of the nation. Ever. It's a football nation first and foremost. But hockey in the country looks bright. Gordie Boomhover is a promising defenseman for the New England Wolfpack, and he hails from the nation. But today, we're here to talk about who many think could be the next big thing, and if everything goes right, the number 1 pick of the S52 SHL Draft: Mitchell van der Heijden.

Young van der Heijden hails from Alkmaar, a city in the north of Holland. The city is known for its football team, AZ Alkmaar, which has won the Eredivisie twice, most recently in 2008/09. van der Heijden was only 5 when AZ won the Eredivisie, and remembers the scenes. "There was a parade throughout the city, and it was a massive deal for the town. AZ hadn't won the league since 1981, and it just seemed like that year was our year." Mitchell would eventually play youth football for AZ Alkmaar, but it was never his passion. He craved ice hockey. Now, hockey is ingrained into Dutch sporting lore. But not ice hockey. Field hockey is a major sport in the Netherlands, and van der Heijden was a prodigy. He credits field hockey with his great stickhandling skills. "Field hockey is all about stick handling, pretty much. The game taught me all I know about having the puck on my stick." And yes, he has great dangles. But he initially struggled with skating. "I didn't learn how to skate until I decided to take up ice hockey at 9. And it was a massive pain. I couldn't go 5 minutes without falling. It took me two years to actually skate well." But once he did learn to skate, he took to the ice like a fish to water. "Like I mentioned, I owe everything to field hockey. Not only did it get my stick handling where it is now, but it definitely helped with my shot, and I had to track back as well so I think my defense is solid."

Mitchell excelled as a youth player in the Tilburg Trappers system, and even made his pro debut with the Trappers in the third tier of German hockey, scoring 12 goals and 15 points in 10 games as a 13 year old in 2017. And this got him noticed. "I remember I was going to school one day when I got a call from a number in Sweden. I didn't pick it up, and then it called again. And I had a math exam too. So I had to tell my teacher that I had to take a call, and I went outside the classroom to find that it was a representative from Farjestad in Sweden. They wanted me to play for their U20 team. And I was 14 at the time, it was in March 2018. I accepted on the spot, finished school that day, and moved to Sweden the next day." van der Heijden struggled with Farjestad's U20 team that year. He finished with 5 points in the remaining 20 games. "I didn't really fit in with my teammates. I spoke no Swedish, and they made fun of me for being so young." However, he shut everyone up the next season. He played the full 2018-2019 season with the Farjestad U20 team in the SuperElit (Sweden's equivalent to the CHL). And he shone. van der Heijden scored 60 points in 45 games, with 35 goals. Farjestad struggled, only winning 15 games. But van der Heijden didn't care. "I mean, I wasn't happy that we didn't win much. But I was happy to shut everyone up." Mitchell will play the next season with Farjestad in the SHL. He's coming over to the SMJHL for S51. "I love playing in Sweden, but I want to test myself in North America. So, I will be in the S51 SMJHL Draft. I'm excited to see where I go." This kid could be a top 5 pick if he works hard enough. Keep an eye out for him.

***luke*** · 08-22-2019, 06:54 PM

Did you know bloos is recreating?

**OrbitingDeath** · 08-23-2019, 05:49 AM

Looking forward to hear more about this player, I love how you are using accurate facts, as not many would know the biggest Dutch hockey team actually plays in the German Oberliga.

ontanis · 08-23-2019, 05:56 AM

bloos is recreating?! what in the cinnamon toast fuck

nah, for reals, good luck, my man

*Katth* · 08-23-2019, 06:10 AM

TIL there is even more Dutch people on this site.

S50 Challenge Cup Finals Game 7
[Image: gNFVjT6.png]

**OrbitingDeath** · 08-23-2019, 06:36 AM

08-23-2019, 06:10 AMKatth Wrote: TIL there is even more Dutch people on this site.

Every time i meet other dutch sim league players, I'm just as surprised.

SlashACM · 08-23-2019, 07:24 AM

Blood is totally dutch and not a 15 yr old trashed on the temple

***bluesfan55*** · 08-23-2019, 07:45 AM

08-23-2019, 07:24 AMSlashACM Wrote: Blood is totally dutch and not a 15 yr old trashed on the temple

yeah I hail from the Netherlands big surprise

SlashACM · 08-23-2019, 07:48 AM

08-23-2019, 07:45 AMbluesfan55 Wrote:
08-23-2019, 07:24 AMSlashACM Wrote: Blood is totally dutch and not a 15 yr old trashed on the temple

yeah I hail from the Netherlands big surprise

Yeah I'm from the Netherlands

New Jersey
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**OrbitingDeath** · 08-23-2019, 07:54 AM

I assumed Batsbak is dutch though, not you

***bluesfan55*** · 08-23-2019, 08:01 AM

08-23-2019, 07:54 AMOrbitingDeath Wrote: I assumed Batsbak is dutch though, not you

I’m not lmao

**OrbitingDeath** · 08-23-2019, 08:16 AM

08-23-2019, 08:01 AMbluesfan55 Wrote:
08-23-2019, 07:54 AMOrbitingDeath Wrote: I assumed Batsbak is dutch though, not you

I’m not lmao

Then indeed well done on the research Smile

Grapehead · 08-23-2019, 09:22 AM

08-23-2019, 07:24 AMSlashACM Wrote: Blood is totally dutch and not a 15 yr old trashed on the temple

lol you said blood

***luke*** · 08-23-2019, 09:34 AM

08-23-2019, 08:16 AMOrbitingDeath Wrote:
08-23-2019, 08:01 AMbluesfan55 Wrote: I’m not lmao

Then indeed well done on the research

He just wants to be the next ditch Gretzky

*Katth* · 08-23-2019, 09:39 AM

It ain't much if it ain't Dutch.

S50 Challenge Cup Finals Game 7
[Image: gNFVjT6.png]

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