Let’s move back to 2002: The Dutch Icehockey Association started a training program to ensure the development of future prospects. To be able to send a team to the Olympic Games again they knew they had to close the gap with the bigger hockey countries like Canada, United States, Russia and Sweden. While the association stayed realistic and they knew gold would be off limits, they considered it a big deal to be able to compete again. The last time this has happened was in Lake Placid, 1980 a place the Americans remember as the Miracle on Ice.
Now it’s 2012 and the first generation reaches the age where they will move on to more professional leagues, while the Dutch team still is only 25th on the world rankings, the future is bright for them. A few prospects out of the Dutch Development Program are in North America now for the NWJHL draft, trying to get a spot in the world’s major Junior Hockey League.
For this drafts are registered defenseman Michael Haan, power forward Puck Norris and sniper Ivo Willems, we will zoom in on the last one in this article.
Ivo Willems was born 18 years ago in the city of Nijmegen. While born there he didn’t live in the city, he lived in a nearby village which was called Wijchen, a calm and quiet town to grow up in, with a total of 35000 inhabitants.


Wijchen, a calm place in the eastern part of the Netherlands

But 18 years later, it’s time for Ivo to spread his wings. At the beginning of july Willems took off to fly to North America, to prepare himself for the NWJHL draft. His parents are concerned but also positive:
“Ofcourse we are nervous, after all he is still our little boy, but we are very proud that he is able to live his dream. This is what he worked hard for ever since he was a little boy. We will miss him, but I’m sure we can come over some times to see some of his games”
Ever since he could skate, Willems was to be found on the local icetrack. At first just too skate, but he ended up playing with the bigger boys soon enough. That was when he took on his first stick and started to play. The kids were impressed that someone that hadn’t played before could have this natural control over the puck. Ofcourse it went with ups and downs, but from the start it showed he had potential.


Ivo Willems amongst others and the team mascot

Since that day it went fast forward with Willems his national junior career, he joined the local Nijmegen team and quickly went through their divisions, always playing with people above his age. Playing with kids that are about 2 years older, Willems knew he had to rely on his speed and skills instead of his strength. He might not have the biggest frame, but his hockey sense and skills make up for that really quickly.


Junior hockey training

With Willems in their ranks, the Nijmegen Junior Devils would won every tournament and league they played, simply because he outclassed them so much. This made Ivo a very popular guy in his team, the youngster surprised many opponents with his quick and agile movement and devastating shot.


Championship team of Nijmegen Junior Devils

Besides playing games for his local team, he also played for the Dutch Development Program. There he worked with the other prime prospects of the Netherlands under guidance of coach Alex Andjelic, who is also a skill coach of the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.

“He was the smallest guy from the group, even in the development program he played with the higher ages, but he never shut his mouth. He keeps on joking and rambling, at times you didn’t know if he was a comedian or a hockey player. But once he hits the ice, everything changes and he stuns you with full discipline. But he’s golden in the locker room , but he could also drive his teammates insane with his small pranks. A world-class kid, I always had a feeling he would become too good for the Netherlands”

Coach Alex Andjelic, Nijmegen Devils and Dutch Development program

Some of his old teammates of the Dutch Development Program wanted to share some stories aswell:

”He was always the first one on the ice, and the last one off,  you had to drive him towards the exit with a zamboni, otherwise he just didn’t want to come off – Nardo Nagtzaam

”The kid might have been undersized, but he had the most creative ways of passing by players, I remember where he actually went past a defender by shooting the puck to the side while he dived underneath the players legs, got up and continued. It was on a training though, during the games the coach told him that he couldn’t try it. I’m sure he would have pulled it off though, he was just that good. – Steve Mason

One of the best off ice moments we had with Ivo, was when he hid himself in the equipment bag of Nardo. When he opened the bag he got the biggest scare in his life. I still can remember the face he pulled off. One of the classic Willems pranks, it never got old. – Mitch Bruijsten

In action for the Dutch Development team

Next to hockey, Willems is an adventurous type who participates in other sports to increase his skillset, there’s inline hockey in the summers but he also participates in Red Bull Crashed Ice during the winters, this to increase his speed and his skating ability. Mentor for Crashed Ice is Scott Croxall, who recently placed 3rd in the World Championship. He was playing for the Nijmegen Devils last season so as a hometown kid, Willems contacted Scott if he was able to train with him. Willems did some intensive training sessions with one of the world’s best in this discipline. But decided to not to participate in the World Tournament, he did not want to risk getting hurt with the upcoming draft for the NWJHL.


Red Bull Crashed Ice training

And today, at the release date of this magazine, it’s finally time for Ivo and the others to make a name for theirselves. Tonight at 0:00 AM dutch time the Hitmen will be choosing their first overall pick. It will be exciting for Ivo and the other prospects to see if, and when there name will be called on the speakers. Needless to say, tonight will be a game changer for the world of Dutch hockey. We hope this is only a start and that in the future there will be multiple dutch prospects making the leap to the majors.

Make us proud Ivo!

In the next issue you will read about how the Dutch players did at the draft


Words: 1155, pictures 8

Update Thread - Player Page
Update Scale

Former players:
Ivo Willems (S9 SMJHL) (S10-28 SHL)  
Xander Green  (S33-35 SMJHL) (S36-47 SHL)
Vorian Atreides (S49-51 SMJHL) (S52-61 SHL)

Article should have been in Dutch due to it being a magazine, but decided to keep it readable for everyone here

Update Thread - Player Page
Update Scale

Former players:
Ivo Willems (S9 SMJHL) (S10-28 SHL)  
Xander Green  (S33-35 SMJHL) (S36-47 SHL)
Vorian Atreides (S49-51 SMJHL) (S52-61 SHL)

Thank god, Google translators usually suck. Good read my man. Good luck as well.

Thank you OrbitingDeath! <3

good luck

Good work man! Keep it up

Thanks all, I just liked the idea of doing a magazine (although it was my gf's idea )

Update Thread - Player Page
Update Scale

Former players:
Ivo Willems (S9 SMJHL) (S10-28 SHL)  
Xander Green  (S33-35 SMJHL) (S36-47 SHL)
Vorian Atreides (S49-51 SMJHL) (S52-61 SHL)

Good read, thanks for the mention. Ha

Glad you didnt say I was the one in the pink helmet....

Originally posted by Puck Norris@Jul 10 2012, 03:48 AM
Good read, thanks for the mention.&nbsp; Ha

Glad you didnt say I was the one in the pink helmet....

Unfortunatly for you, you just mentioned yourself haha

Update Thread - Player Page
Update Scale

Former players:
Ivo Willems (S9 SMJHL) (S10-28 SHL)  
Xander Green  (S33-35 SMJHL) (S36-47 SHL)
Vorian Atreides (S49-51 SMJHL) (S52-61 SHL)