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***Aleris*** · 07-08-2024, 12:10 PM

It’s that time. Another SHL player has fallen to the evil system of regression and another has risen to take their place. Kiwi Söderberg-Snooks is Conner’s niece and comes from a massive family of athletes. Kiwi was adopted to Helena Söderberg and Eirlys Snooks who both were players in the Simulation Soccer League. Helena and Eirlys adopted 3 other girls from around the world and all six of them (and their mysterious cat Snugglemuffin) lived on a massive sailboat/yacht that helped facilitate the crazy traveling the family did around the world. Helena played for Tokyo and Eirlys was a journeyman player so the Söderberg-Snooks family could really be found anywhere in the world.

Kiwi grew up fishing off the boat and swimming a lot with her sisters. One day a cat just appeared on the boat, the family wasn’t sure when it snuck on, but it caught its own fish and was generally agreeable to getting pet so the girls kept it around. Kiwi and Snigglemuffin became very close. Snugglemuffin slept in Kiwi’s bunk and generally kept to her side. This one time in the arctic, Kiwi even taught Snugglemuffin how to skate (and now he’s off in Ottawa playing hockey, what a world).

Unfortunately for the soccer stars, all four girls fell in love with the sport of hockey. Eirlys’ and Helena’s brother had both played in the SHL and all four girls, Willow, Astrid, Kiwi, and Ulysses just clicked with the sport. Early in their childhood, they played 2v2 in the hallways below deck in the sailboat or at anchor would turn the whole top deck into a rink and force the moms to play against their wishes. Even Snugglemuffin would join in and chase the puck around or was a good keep away partner for practice.

As each of them became eligible the Söderberg-Snooks daughters found themselves playing in the VCHL together for the Visby Valkyries, returning to their mom’s (Helena’s) home country of Sweden often. Kiwi always looked up to her older sister Willow and was ecstatic for her when she was drafted in the SMJHL and SHL drafts. After the VCHL went under, Kiwi decided to move to her birth country of New Zealand and play in the local league there.

Kiwi was a dominant defender for Visby Valkyries in the VCHL. Scouting notes on her in that league emphasize her size and presence on the ice. She’s a towering defenseman (defensewoman?) with aggression and heart for winning puck battles in the corner. Although scouts in the VCHL did mention that her edgework and straight line speed could use improvement. Kiwi has continued to work hard in the relatively unknown New Zealand domestic league. The limited scouting network there has her as the number one defensive player in the league but the few scouts who know her outside the league feel that she isn’t challenging herself enough playing there and it may hurt her draft stock.

Kiwi has featured for the U20 New Zealand team multiple times but has expressed interest in a transfer to another nation to be able to compete in the top division of the IIHF. When asked if she had any nations in mind, she mentioned that she does have dual citizenship with Sweden due to her time in Visby and her mom, but loves many places in the world and is open to anything.

As of today, Kiwi has officially declared for the SMJHL draft. While some teams may attempt to grab a defensewoman in the 1st. In reality, Kiwi’s under the radar playtime in New Zealand and gap in serious play may hurt her stock. Of course, one team in particular would be the likely landing spot for Kiwi and that’s Las Vegas where her uncle Conner played for the Battleborn from S60-S63.The real question is if she will be cut out for the SHL or if her on-ice aggression and quick anger will keep her from going truly pro.

:kiwi:

***HabsFanFromOntario*** · 07-08-2024, 12:20 PM

KIWI MY BELOVED

***SchwarzNarr*** · 07-08-2024, 03:11 PM

This is Jeremy erasure.

***Jexter*** · 07-08-2024, 06:22 PM

Future HOFer

***micool132*** · 07-08-2024, 10:28 PM

unrelated but kiwi is one of my favorite fruit.

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