Jordan Thompson- Rookie Chronicles Part 2
(Part 1, Part 3, Part 4)

Charity Work

During the time that fell between the completion of the National Championship, the completion of Jordan’s collegiate educational career, and the beginning of prepping for the junior draft combine, Jordan was looking for a higher purpose to help him fill his time and give back to the state that raised him to be the man he is today. As a young boy, Jordan was always willing to volunteer his time, and try to get back to his community as much as humanly possible. He used to work at local animal shelters, work at the soup kitchen, feeding meals to people who needed a place to sit and eat, as well as giving back to different charities around the city. When Jordan was planning to become a professional athlete, he always knew that his goal was to start some form of a charitable contribution in his name, so he can continue to give back even during the season when he was playing professional hockey.

While considering his options, Jordan decided it would be best to speak with his agent about what to do first when looking to create a charity in your name. Jordan was not 100% positive as to what exactly he wanted his charity to be based around, but he knew that he wanted to be located in the Louisiana area, but also have outreach across the United States. By creating this charity, Jordan will be able to employ a handful of individuals to help him run this business, while using the profits created to give back to whatever the focus was based around within the charity. Jordan will be able to use this as a team bonding experience with his future teammates, as well as an opportunity for him to make public appearances working within the community when he travels back home during the off-season.

Jordan considered many avenues when trying to determine what charity best fit his purpose in life, all great options, but really was trying to find his niche in the charitable contribution world. Jordan mulled around the decision with his family and his agent and was trying to figure out what would be the best possible solution that would fit directly into his mission and purpose in life. Through many deep conversations, Jordan finally came to his final outcome. He decided to open a shelter for dogs, focusing specifically on pitbulls, and helping them out of poor situations into loving homes. Alongside the shelter and adoption agency, there would also be a dog grooming facility, and a small dog related bakery within the building, to create treats, all natural foods and the like for patrons of the facility to purchase for their loved pets. This section of the facility focusing on the sales was to help keep the lights on, pay for the employees, and create savings to put on the adoption events. Jordan had a soft spot for dogs, as his family always had many while he was growing up. Shortly after graduating college, Jordan ended up adopting two pitbulls of his own who he viewed as his best friends and family members. To Jordan and his family, dogs were just an extension of the family who were able to lay on couches all day long, sleep in beds every evening, and everything you would see a normal family member do within the home.

Jordan was hoping that by opening up this rescue and adoption agency, he would be able to help spread awareness for pitbulls and breed specific legislation that discriminated against pitbulls in public places in certain towns throughout the country. While not everybody agrees, Jordan and his family always believed in the concept of there’s no bad dogs, just bad owners. Being able to properly train people to handle dogs, teach them through specific commands and techniques, and show them how to properly care for the animal, all dogs could be put in a situation that would be beneficial to their growth, as well as their social development. While it took a while to determine exactly what Jordan wanted to support as a charity, when his decision finally hit him, he was ecstatic at the possibility of helping thousands of dogs throughout rural Louisiana, and the other surrounding states. 

Jordan would go on to continue running this advocacy, adoption, and grooming location throughout his career and into retirement, and it was something that he found more fulfilling than his career as a hockey player. While many people think that professional athletes chase the money, Jordan was always looking for a sense of fulfillment and everything he did, and being able to give back to the community that made him who he is. Jordan never took a dime out of this company for himself, everything was invested back into the business and the community to assist in growth efforts and advocacy across the state. By running this charity, he knew that he was helping thousands of dogs who never would’ve had a chance otherwise, and saving the lives of many who were put in poor living situations or treated unfairly by their prior families. Being able to save so many dogs, and being able to advocate for their well-being within the community, Jordan loved every day that he was able to help these animals. He truly loves dogs, and would do anything to make sure they were safe, healthy, and most importantly, happy.

While obviously this is foreshadowing, as Jordan progressed throughout his career, he continued to open these shelters and advocate agencies across a handful of states. By the time he retired from hockey, he had already opened 36 locations and would continue to open another 28 in the next five years post retirement. Obviously these comments are just foreshadowing of where Jordan’s career took him, but as we continue with the series you will learn more about Jordan as a player, a person, and a philanthropist within the community. Jordan would do anything for these dogs, and the caring nature he held towards them was always evidence of the people that he was around and worked with on a daily basis. His teammates used to love to come and volunteer at these adoption agencies to help these loving animals find the homes that they truly deserved.


Hobbies & Personal Life

Jordan was a relatively private person, he enjoyed keeping to himself as he knew that protecting his friends and family was the most important thing to him. He likes to keep his personal identity close to his chest, but there were many things about him that as people found out made them love him as a person and player even more. Throughout college, Jordan was still dating his high school sweetheart, Sarah. During high school, specifically during their junior year, Jordan and Sarah met in their sixth period chemistry class, and all naturally needed chemistry puns aside, they both knew that it was love at first sight. They continued to date throughout the remainder of high school, and although Sarah did not go to Louisiana State University, she went to another local college, Tulane University where she played collegiate volleyball. It was definitely tough for them being in a long distance relationship, although they were so close in immediate location, the travel calendars between the two sports unfortunately lined up perfectly, so when Sarah was going into her off-season, Jordan was entering his preseason. They still would do everything they could to attend each other’s games, get dinner on the weekends, and study together as much as humanly possible even though they didn’t go to the same college. Their relationship remained strong and faithful throughout all of college, and during Jordan's first year as a semi professional hockey player at the junior level, Jordan proposed to Sarah, and naturally she said yes. As I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, there will be more to come about this in the next story regarding Jordan’s life from his time playing junior hockey, into evolving, as a perennial, all star at the professional level.

During the off-season, Jordan was also a very avid golfer. He loved being able to get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and get some nice relaxation time with his friends and family while playing a sport that was meant to do just that, relax. While Jordan wasn’t always the strongest golfer, his natural athletic ability helped him to continue to grow as a golfer over the entirety of his career. He often played in pro-ams, and will always be the first to sign up for some type of charity or volunteer tournament. Aside from training, and focusing on relaxation during the off-season, there is one thing Jordan would always be doing, golfing. His passion for the sport became so large when he eventually purchased a home, he had a 450 foot par four hole built in his backyard, as well as a fully equipped golf simulator in the family rec room in their basement. Jordan will continue to play golf through the entirety of his life, and with every passing year he would get just a little bit better. By the time he reached the pro level of hockey, there was nobody willing to take him on in a match, as they almost certainly knew that they were going to lose.

Aside from golf, Jordan was a very big fan of all Louisiana sports. Football and basketball were by far his two favorite sports outside of golf, and he was always more than happy to catch a game with his teammates, or relax on the couch with his dogs watching whatever sporting event was on TV. Although Jordan was naturally a hockey player from birth, he hated watching the sport in his free time (unless scouting opponents) as he liked to relax and not get worked up over the sport he was beyond passionate about. Growing up, Jordan was always a huge football fan, playing the sport up until his freshman year of high school. Unfortunately, due to his primary dedication to hockey, Jordan was unable to balance playing two sports due to the amount of time he spent traveling to practice and focusing on honing his skills to succeed at the next level.

Aside from sports and his girlfriend (who would later become his wife) Jordan loved spending time with his family, heading back to the hometown that raised him and helping around the house, having home cooked meals, and playing board games with the family. While growing up, the Thompson family had game night every Friday night (when one of the 3 kids didn’t have a game). They would play every game under the sun, they would order pizza, and stay up late, enjoying one another’s company and bonding over the time they were able to spend together. As Jordan continued on with his life, he would come back as much as possible for game nights, and without a doubt, it would be something he were to bring into his household once he had kids of his own. 

Aside from well deserved and ever cherished family time, Jordan loved watching random TV shows on the couch with his girlfriend (more like binging these TV shows), spending time outdoors with his family and dogs, as well as playing video games to pass his free time. While everyone sees Jordan as a soon to be professional hockey player, to his friends and family, he’s just another average, down to earth guy. As he continues to progress through his career, Jordan will be known as the face of professional hockey, however this fame, while it would change many, Jordan never strays away from being true to himself. 


Junior Draft Combine

After coming off not only an overall successful collegiate career, but a MVP bid during the teams first national championship run, Jordan was ready for his next adventure, preparing for the juniors draft combine. This combine was invite only, and brought in 30 of the countries best draft eligible hockey players to compete in various sport specific drills to show athleticism, explosiveness, skill and overall general talent. Every junior team in the league would be in attendance with coaches and staff, and this was their time  to interview, scout and assess the talent levels of the country's top prospects. 

These drills are all things Jordan had been working on with his trainer from the time his collegiate season ended, until a few days before the scouting combine. His goal was to show up, impress everyone, and boost his overall draft stock, as if the #1 overall prospect isn’t a high enough bar. With Jordan already touted as the top prospect in this draft class, his preparation and dedication to such shows his work ethic in a nutshell, he could completely skip the combine and still land atop the draft class, but that’s not who he is, if he’s not giving 100%, he’s not going to try at all. Dedication is one of his best personality traits. 

Below, we have outlined each individual combine test that is completed on an annual basis, explained the importance to overall athleticism, and how it translates to the game or hockey. With this information, we also will provide how Jordan performed, his testing numbers, as well as comparison to the other 29 athletes rating alongside him. 

Wingate Assessment: Wingate testing is an all out 30 second sprint on a cycle ergometer with resistance based on your weight (9% of body weight). Through the duration of the testing, the computer that the bike is hooked up to will analyze the overall maximal power output in short anaerobic sprint sessions. This testing helps to determine explosive leg power, as well as overall fatigue under pressure when overloading the resistance on the athletes legs. Jordan received a testing score of 14.7 watts/kg which put him atop the class in Wingate testing numbers. This is a huge benefit to his game as it proves his lower body strength and abilities of fighting through fatigue. 

VO2max Assessment: VO2max testing is an analysis of an athlete's cardiovascular and respiratory capacity and their ability to supply oxygen to the muscles during maximal bouts of exercise. During this testing, athletes are once again on a cycle ergometer while hooked up to an oxygen mask that tests their oxygen output during incrementally difficult resistances. Each minute of the testing, more resistance is added to the bike to continue to see how the athlete's oxygen output reacts to more difficult aerobic exercise. Jordan tested at an efficient 66.0 ml/kg/min, which tied one other player for the highest VO2max in the class. This shows his ability on the ice to continue to play at a high level during longer shifts. By his body being able to efficiently provide oxygen to the working muscles, it’ll help Jordan to continue to play at a high level during long shifts or through longer games. 

Pull-Up Testing: Let’s be real, there’s not much to cover here in all honesty. Pull-Ups are the age old test or upper body strength and overall exercise technique. In the most basic of forms, pull-ups are a very simple exercise, but being able to pull your entire body weight with just your arms and upper back is a great overall test of upper body strength. Jordan completed 17 pull-ups, which many would think is not a whole lot, but it was the highest in the class by 3 full reps. This is a great analysis of Jordan’s true upper body strength. 

Pro Agility: The Pro Agility assessment is a test of lateral speed and agility that directly correlates to the ability to start and stop skating while on ice. Players start in the middle of the coned off area, when they begin, they sprint 5 yards to the left, pivot and sprint 10 yards across the entirety of the testing area, once again pivot, and sprint 5 more yards across the center finish line (the line that they started the testing on). This gives us a very good understanding of a players on ice multidirectional ability, full body control, and overall agility. During the testing, Jordan finished in 4.04 seconds, which once again left Jordan tied in first place at that year's scouting combine. 

Bench Press: The bench press testing is completed a little differently at the junior hockey combine than other sporting combines. Rather than maximal reps of 225lbs which is the industry norm, a player is tested for total speed that they are able to bench press 50% of their body weight for 3 complete repetitions with a slight pause in between each rep. Attached to the bar is a mechanism (generally a bar power analyzer which is the industry norm to measure overall bar velocity)  that measures the velocity of the bar during the testing, this will show the players ability to produce power. Each repetition is measured separately and the single instance with the highest velocity is what will be ranked.  Jordan completed one rep with a velocity of 8.89 watts/kg, which sat him atop the combine rankings in first place. Jordan is highly touted as one of the most explosive players the juniors (and pro for that matter) has ever seen. 

Long Jump Testing: From a completely stagnant position, athletes are asked to bound forward, landing on two feet, and their distance covered is measured from their heels, to the back of the jump line. During this process, athletes are tested on their lower body power and their ability to utilize their quick twitch muscles to explode across a specified distance. Jordan jumped 119.5 inches, which put him as the highest output on the long jump testing. This shows that Jordan has an exceptional amount of lower body strength, being able to propel him on the ice, or adding extra leg power behind every shot he takes. This is a great example of overall strength which then correlated directly to power.  

Grip Strength Testing: Grip strength most definitely seems like an oddity when measuring a players overall strength and skill on the ice, however, this shows hand grip strength as well as upper body strength. During this testing, the athlete holds a grip dynamometer, they will extend their arm to full reach, and squeeze as hard as they physically can until their grip no longer can hold. This testing is completed on both arms to compare bilateral strength to ensure the athlete does not have unilateral weaknesses. Jordan measured a combine record of 197 lbs. which is an impressive feat. This truly speaks to the total upper body strength that Jordan has in comparison to his combine mates. 

Y-Balance Assessment: The Y-Balance Assessment is an evaluation of an athlete's overall balance while standing on one leg. During the testing, each athlete stands on one leg, and with the opposite leg they will reach as far forward, directly back and backwards across their body without losing balance throughout the duration of the testing. Once their dominant leg testing is completed, the athlete will switch to their non-dominant leg to test both lower extremities for flexibility. While this does not create a numerical score, this proved that Jordan was very flexible in his lower extremities. This type of testing, while definitely odd, shows a players ability to remain balanced on the ice as well as their ability to use said functional balance to their advantage. 

Functional Movement Screening (FMS): The Functional Movement Screening, or better known around the industry as simple FMS, is an overall analysis of a players mobility and stability through 7 movement assessments which are graded on a scale or 0-3. During this assessment, 0 equates to a low level of mobility or stability, while 3 means a high level or mobility and stability. The final analysis is totaled across those seven tests to create a numerical score on a 0-21 basis, the higher, the more mobile and stable. Jordan tested exceptionally across the board as his personal trainers as well as collegiate strength coaches often work with him on his mobility and stability. Jordan completed this testing with a score of 19 out of 21, which was tied for highest in the class. The understanding of a player's mobility and stability helps coaches understand their ability to minimize risk of injury and being able to stay healthy and on the ice throughout a grueling season. 

Body Composition: As a part of the Junior combine scouting, every player's body composition is analyzed to the fullest extent. This will measure height, weight, wingspan and body mass index. These overall testing categories help scouts and coaches to understand the physical makeup of a player, which directly correlates to size and physicality within their respective position. Players standing height is measured barefoot with the backs of their feet touching a wall, and their shoulder blades also flat against the wall. All height is measured to the quarter inch to ensure accuracy across the board. Jordan stands at 6’ 3.5” tall, which for his position is above average and a great intangible to have. 

During testing, they measured Jordan’s wingspan as 6’ 11.5” which is impressive for someone standing 8 inches shorter. Wingspan is super important because this helps determine reach with the stick, as well as a direct correlation to assist in shooting speed because of a longer fulcrum point being able to generate more momentum on a shot. Body weight is a direct measure of someone's center of gravity as well as their power when on skates. Power is beneficial for big hitters as they are able to put more force behind the check. Jordan weighed in at 215lbs., which is a great weight for someone that falls within his height range. If you were to compare Jordan’s height and weight to his overall speed and agility on the ice, there is no wonder he is a highly touted athlete. He is somewhat considered to be a wrecking ball on the ice as he is larger than most, and faster than almost everyone. 

A combination of all of these measurements is the Body Mass Index, or better known as BMI testing which is most accurately tested using a BodPod. Using a BodPod machine, which measures a player's weight and volume to determine your body's overall density, and overall comparison of fat tissue to lean muscle mass. This analysis helps to determine the amount of muscular tissue a player has and how much body fat they contain within their frame. Jordan measured at roughly 9% body fat which essentially means… he’s ripped. At Jordan’s height, 9% body fat at 215 lbs means his muscle to fat ratio is heavily in favor of muscle, leading him as one of the most built players in this draft. 

On Ice Drills: Aside from the normal athletic testing that takes place during the junior combine, there is an on-ice component where coaches are able to take players through a varying set of position specific drills to prove their abilities on ice. Each position group was paired with 2-3 coaches from the junior level who excelled in the respective position. They took each group of players through position specific drills and skills analysis to determine if their collegiate or prior club play would equate to the professional level. Throughout these drills, the forwards focused on shooting, stick handling, passing, positioning and face offs, all parts of their specific position group that would push them up the draft board. A select few players (including Jordan) were also asked to attempt some defensive drills and power play work to truly assess their overall skill set in comparison to their draft classmates. 

Jordan was miles ahead of the class being named offensive MVP of the combine, and another Louisiana native, Brooklyn Physt, was named defensive MVP of the combine. Brooklyn is an extremely physical defensive player who has a high physical ceiling, another player projected to go very high on draft night. 

Having been named the offensive MVP of the Junior draft combine, Jordan was poised for success in the upcoming draft. With his physicals and athleticism measuring off the charts, and his play matching suit, teams were lining up to interview Jordan and bring him in for a visit. Many teams were even negotiating internally on the possibility of trading up in the draft to select this generational talent. No matter the team, Jordan solidified his draft positioning against the other draft mates, and the upcoming media appearances, facility visits and team interviews would prove that almost every franchise in the juniors league was interested in obtaining Jordan’s services as a dynamic right wing. 


Pre Draft Interviews/Visits

After the completion of the juniors combine, teams were lining up for miles to get Jordan to fly in and not only interview for their front office staff, but also to come view their facilities to learn what each team has to offer. When teams are looking at a high profile athlete like Jordan, they want to make sure that the draft selection is a mutual agreement between two parties rather than a single decision by one individual, forcing the second into an agreement. For these teams, it was a great opportunity to meet Jordan and learn who he is as a person, and for Jordan, this was an opportunity to send how he would fit with the front office and coaching staff, the city he would be living in, as well as the teammates he would share a locker room and the ice with day in and day out. 

With the help of his agent and family, Jordan created what he would refer to as the “Thompson Circuit” where he was able to travel around to almost all junior teams locations to meet with staff, potential teammates and see the city he may eventually call home. This trip would take a lot out of Jordan as he needed to be on many flights and travel countless miles, but understanding the importance of meeting each team individually, it was crucial for Jordan to take this time to plan for such chances. Below, we have outlined a list of the teams Jordan visited as well as what he thought about the team, city and teammates. 

DISCLAIMER- this is strictly made up information for the sake of the story. While I have spoken with some of these teams during my pre-draft scouting, nothing I say in the below sections, reflect my thoughts or feelings towards the junior team listed. I have specifically hidden any accurate information regarding any teams I have interviewed with in the SMJHL. AGAIN, this is made up for the sake of the story, I have withheld all confidential information that I have spoken with teams about up to this point.  

Below you will see a brief outline on where Jordan visited during this country wide tour, followed by a brief reaction on how his visit went and what he thought of everything he saw (team, front office, city, facilities, etc). While Jordan is excited to play wherever he is drafted, he always wants to make sure it is the best possible fit for him and his family, and these interviews will no doubt help him get a better feeling on what may come based on where he is drafted. 

Anchorage Armada: Anchorage, Alaska… man it was cold but the scenery was breathtaking. Never in Jordan’s life had he been to somewhere that was so cold (until later on in his scouting visits) but something about the views made the cold more than worth it to him. Pending any call-ups, it seems like Anchorage has their fair share of offensive players, so Jordan’s skills may not be needed at this time, but the direction of the team may change based on the total number of players needed in any specific positions. The conversation with the front office was great, and Jordan definitely liked the coaching staff. Their home rink was like no other, it was one of the largest in the junior league, and the fans packed that place like no other. Although Jordan did not visit on a gameday, it without a doubt was rocking when the first puck dropped. 

Carolina Kraken: Jordan has always been a fan of the Carolina Kraken because he loves their logo, and has been to Charlotte, North Carolina many times and loves the city with a passion. The combination of orange, black, and white is an always classic look and the Kraken logo looks outstanding on every uniform combination they have. Through conversations with the front office and coaching staff, Jordan’s skill set most definitely fits the needs of the team. Jordan would definitely be a key player in their offense and would be an asset to the team on and off the ice. Based on the locale, team needs and overall fit, would be an exceptional place for Jordan to set his roots. Jordan also loved their state of the art strength and conditioning facility. The organization recently just completed a $3.2 million dollar renovation to the performance center, adding all new state of the art equipment to help the players get stronger and train harder during the many stages of the season.

Colorado Raptors: Surprisingly with all the traveling Jordan had done through hockey or with his family while on vacation, he had never visited Denver, Colorado. When arriving at the airport, Jordan was taken aback by the scenery and the view of the snow covered mountains, and somewhat like Anchorage, Jordan was shocked at the below freezing temperatures having lived in the south for all of his life. When talking with the front office staff, there was a clear need for a right wing in this upcoming draft, and Jordan seemed like the perfect potential fit for the direction the team was headed. Jordan enjoyed the interviews with the coaching staff as well, however it seemed like the offensive scheme they ran may not be the best for Jordan’s playstyle, but he was willing to learn to adapt as needed. Time will tell how the potential fit within Colorado’s system would pan out if Jordan were drafted to play on the Raptors. Colorado was a great spot for a hockey career as the fans in the immediate locale were all diehards of not only the team, but the sport in general. Jordan was definitely eager to see how draft night may play out with the potential of spending the first few seasons of his career in Colorado. 

Detroit Falcons: Detroit, Motown, the city that brings us the most automobiles across the world, whatever you may call it… while not the most visually appealing city in the world, definitely one that’s rich with history. The Detroit Falcons are definitely an exciting team, one full of history and promise as they continue to grow within the junior ranks. Jordan enjoyed his conversation with the front office and his morals and personal beliefs align directly with that of the organization. As for the coaching staff, Jordan’s primary concern is they want to play him out of position, while it is not something that he optionally likes to do, it would be something that he would definitely consider within the right organizational fit. Jordan is open to every possible situation, but an ideal situation would be one where he can slot into the offense in his primary position, or have a full fledged conversation with his coaches to determine how he can tweak his game for another offensive need of the team. While it is not a deal breaker for Jordan to play out of position, he definitely wants to make sure it benefits the team best, as his ultimate career goal is to be known as one of the top team first players in the sport. Jordan was eager to have further conversations with the staff in Detroit as he was overly hopeful that the fit would be ideal for his long term goals. 

Great Fall Grizzlies: Great Falls, Montana is a beautiful place filled with tall trees and breathtaking waterfalls, and hockey, lots and lots of hockey. Lets also pump the breaks here on the scenery conversation, there's also lots of bears, Grizzlies to be exact, but hey, the goal is to stay far away from them, right? Jordan and his family would love to be playing in a climate where hockey runs the local ecosystem and considering the lack of other entertainment in this area, the Great Falls Grizzlies are the primary source of enjoyment in the region. Through conversations with the front office and coaching staff, Jordan learned the program is going through a bit of a rebuild, and while that doesn’t scare him, he just wants to make sure the organizational goal and direction lines up properly with where Jordan wants to go with his team and his career. Rebuilds are always tricky because if not handled properly, the team can continue to be poorly built for seasons to come, so in this situation, Jordan would love to have a sit down with the front office to find the true team direction and how, if selected, Jordan would fit into that puzzle. If Jordan were to be drafted by Great Falls, as a polarizing player in the juniors, he would hope to be able to assist and have some say in a potential rebuild as his scouting abilities and offensive threat on the ice could draw some potential players to the organization. 

Kelowna Knights: On the first stop of the Canadian portion of the circuit, Kelowna, British Columbia. Until this trip, Jordan had never been out of the country, but hey, there’s a first for everything, right? While being this far away from family is definitely not Jordan’s primary goal, it definitely was a fun trip since Jordan had never been out of the country prior. Being in Canada was definitely a shock as it was learning new ways of life, experimenting with new foods, merging new people, etc. Even though Canada is so close and connected to the United States, the lifestyle just would take a bit of getting used to, especially with potential language barriers based on which region you are in. Through conversations with the front office, Jordan was definitely happy with the current direction of the team, and through these conversations, Jordan was better understanding the fit on the team and how he would be able to contribute at a high level on day one. Although the team, front office and coaching staff were all great to talk to, and the direction of the team was one that definitely was positive, he had concerns of living out of the United States as he would not have the immediate means to travel to his family, or have them travel to his games. With the rules and regulations for flying into Canada, unfortunately there would be some roadblocks to seeing his family frequently, and we all know how much they mean to him. 

Maine Timber: In Jordan’s humble opinion, arguably one of the best logos and color schemes in the junior leagues. The combination of the earth tones, with the focus on lumberjack(esque) theme of the timber industry in Maine was definitely a well thought out logo and branding opportunity. Jordan grew up in the south, a small town just outside of New Orleans, one of the livest and most happening cities in the world and Maine, while beautiful, is the complete opposite of where Jordan calls home. While Jordan has no issues adjusting to the new way of life, and loves the serene environment that comes along with living in rural Maine, it would definitely be a change of pace from the life he is accustomed to. Jordan would definitely be an asset to this team, being able to score and create shots on the offensive side of the puck. As he understands, there’s a handful of pending call ups to the pro level that are imminent, but there would definitely be an opportunity for Jordan to slot nicely in the offense. Through conversations with the front office, there was definitely some consideration to Jordan switching to play center, and while he is not opposed to it, he would definitely love to hear more on why the switch is needed. Although Maine is the complete opposite of an environment that he is used to, Jordan would love to buy a nice chunk of land, fence it in for his dogs, and have a place for him and his family to relax in nature without the noise and hustle of the surrounding cities. 

Nevada Battleborn: Nevada is definitely an interesting place for a hockey team to call home, however, with being centralized in the heart of Las Vegas, one can assume that the fan base is overly enthusiastic and dedicated to their hometown team. When considering the location of the team, Jordan feels like Nevada (Las Vegas specifically) is much closer to where he grew up than any of the other junior team locations. With the unrelenting heat and humidity, Jordan was overly familiar with the climate, and it would definitely play to his advantage due to increased familiarity and conditioning levels in this environment. In meetings with the front office and coaching staff, Jordan felt a strong connection between all parties involved as they walked him through the plans of the organization and the puzzle piece that Jordan would play in the much larger organizational equation. Leaving the conversation with the Battleborn front office, Jordan was most definitely impressed by their vision and how he would fit into the bigger winning picture. Jordan was also impressed with the newly renovated arena that the fans were eager to get into. The team took a large chunk of money ($7.0m) and decided to increase the fan experience by adding new stadium style seating, upgraded concessions, a new jumbotron as well as new branding and logos on the boards and under the ice. While the cosmetics aren't always of the highest importance, they definitely help to fill the seats and increase the gameday environment.

Newfoundland Berserkers: Another international trip in the books, and this time, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, somewhere Jordan never imagined in his wildest dreams he would be able to visit. This town is nestled into a small peninsula in Canada with its roots being based on the northern section of the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is beautiful, and from the small size of the island, the ocean can be seen from almost anywhere in the area. Based on the locale, the people who live on this small island are overly dedicated to their hometown team. Jordan had an excellent conversation with the front office, they seemed to hit it off personality wise almost immediately, and the front office was excited to hear all about Jordan’s charity work. They have been looking to bring in players with more philanthropic visions in hope to mesh the surrounding towns with the team's mission statement. During the interview with the coaching staff, Jordan got along really well with the team’s offensive coach, they had the same vision in mind and the game plan/spacing the new offensive coach wanted to focus on would fit right into Jordan’s current wheelhouse. The only concern Jordan had about the Berserkers, was once again the distance from home. It wouldn’t be easy for his family to come and see him play, having to cross over the border into Canada frequently was not only time consuming, guys stressful for his family, it was definitely a concern of his. Aside from being located in Canada, Jordan was enamored with the town as it was beautifully serene and something you would see coming out of a painting. As well, their logo was outstanding, something that no other team had as it added not only darker elements to add some mystery to the logo, but it also had a level of fierceness that looked great on jerseys. 

Quebec City Citadelles: Jordan’s first thought during the recruiting process was… what the heck is a Citadelle? Through a good bit of personal research (didn’t want to look like a fool in front of the front office) as well as a brief history lesson when talking to potential future teammates currently within the organization, Jordan finally understood the meaning behind the logo, and that increased his enjoyment around the theme. The light blue, pink and white color scheme is frankly unmatched, leaving Quebec City with some of the top uniforms and color schemes in the junior league.  As mentioned previously when speaking about Newfoundland, the location would be difficult for Jordan and his family as living over the border in Canada would present an issue, but for the right team, anything can be worked out accordingly. Jordan had a great scouting conversation with both the front office and the coaching staff, and definitely felt like this is a place he could envision himself living during his time in the Junior League. He got along great with everybody, after meeting the team and, seeing their facilities, was very eager for what was to come on draft night. Although living over the border in Canada could present some travel issues for family members, Jordan would happily work around those issues to be a part of the Quebec City family. Quebec City also completed a renovation of their locker room to add state of the art features that were not previously seen around the juniors. Aside from the normal cosmetic upgrades including new branding, televisions, lockers, etc. the team also added new sleep pods (for recovery) as well as a game station that added a fun aspect and team bonding opportunities for all players on the roster. While the amenities were not of the highest importance, Jordan definitely said it sweetened the deal as these perks would provide opportunities for further scouting and bringing in high level talent to the organization. 

Regina Elk: Another Canadian based team, so you already know what direction Jordan is headed, travel will most definitely be an issue for Jordan and his family, however, for the right team, he will happily make it work. Regina has a very unique color scheme that he has grown to like. Dark purple, gold, orange and white are not colors you generally see together in sporting logos, but oddly, they make sense together when laid properly within a logo. Team branding, location and color schemes aside, Jordan had a great scouting conversation with the front office. They really liked where Jordan’s head was at, and thought he would be a great leader within the locker room and within the community. Unfortunately, Jordan had a few concerns regarding his position on the ice after having a conversation with the coaching staff.When Jordan was meeting with the head coach about positional scheme fit, and what role Jordan would be set to play on the team, unfortunately the coach did not have a clear answer set in stone. While the coach was nice enough, they seemed a bit sidetracked and preoccupied with something else outside of their meeting. This seemed off as the conversation with over coaches and front office members was outstanding, Jordan felt a bit off after having this conversation. While Jordan was not opposed to playing in Regina, based on the conversation with the coach, it seemed as if Jordan would more than likely not be putting an Elk jersey on come draft night. 

St. Louis Scarecrows: I’m not sure what else there is to say except… while an uncommon logo for a hockey team and definitely some struggle trying to find the correlation between St. Louis, a scarecrow and hockey… this branding still remained one of Jordan’s favorites in the junior league. The color scheme, the intimidation factor, the jerseys, all superb, top class and blown away by the effort and coordination that comes with the three of these aspects. From an all around standpoint, Jordan got along well with the front office, they loved the direction he was headed within his career, and wanted to get involved with his charity as well. When speaking with the coaching staff, they were adamant that Jordan would fit perfectly in their scheme. They wanted to centralize the offense around Jordan as the play called and the spear head or an offensive onslaught. Jordan loved what he was hearing, it seemed in the moment like a great fit, but you can never count your chickens before they hatch because you never know what may happen as draft day nears. Jordan was enamored with their athletic training facility that was newly renovated roughly 2 years ago. They had state of the art whirlpools, newly installed training centers, as well as all of the high tech gadgets to help get athletics back into tip top shape. Jordan always took his rehab seriously, and there would be no exception when transitioning from collegiate hockey to the semi professional level. 

Vancouver Whalers: I feel like I have seen a similar logo to this and potential these jerseys somewhere before… maybe it was in a dream, I’m not too sure. Aside from the generic issues previously mentioned with the team being based out of Canada, Jordan had some concerns with this organization, and while maybe he was overreacting, maybe they were truthful, only time will tell what the case may be. In conversation with the front office, they wanted Jordan to focus less on the charity that he ran, and more on his on ice performance, which was definitely complete polar opposites of the way Jordan was viewing things. While Jordan never let his charity get in the way of his professional career, he was not willing to completely put this on the back burner as he was more than able to work with his charity during the off-season when he was not around the team facility as much. In conversation with the coaching staff, they truly did not understand the talent level that Jordan brought to the team, and they immediately were pushing for him to be either second or third line on the ice. While Jordan is more than happy to play his role, in comparison, to the rest of the teams in the league, this was definitely not the vision that they all had. Jordan is a leader that will make an immediate impact on and off the ice, and will definitely be first line caliber the day he gets called up to the junior level. Jordan will never rule out playing for this team, he definitely will need to have further conversations with the front office and coaching staff to see if they can get their understandings and visions aligned properly. Aside from Jordan’s concerns with the organization's prioritization of his scheduling, the scenery in the area was beautiful, and loved the area as a whole. The city center was booming with life and people were overly pleasant and nice around every corner. During his visit, Jordan was able to visit a few local restaurants and boy was he in love with the local cuisine! Would need to monitor his food intake if he were to live in Vancouver. 

Yukon Malamutes: By far another one of Jordan’s favorite cosmetic teams, in regards to color, combinations, jerseys, and especially the logo. With Jordan’s love and passion for dogs, the logo goes a long way in his heart, it would be one that he would be proud to represent on his chest day in and day out. While the issue still persists being high up in north western Canada, Jordan would be happy to make it work as the conversations with the front office and coaching staff were exceptional. This was one of Jordan’s longest interviews, and both parties were super interested and not only joining forces, but also working together to exceed the expectations of not only the fan base but also all fans of junior league hockey. Based on these conversations with the coaching staff, both Jordan and the coaches visions aligned perfectly, they ran an offensive scheme very similar to what Jordan ran in college, which he was not only very fond of, but also very adept at running it. This would definitely be a great relationship between all parties involved, and although there are many teams Jordan would like to play for, this is one that most definitely has a special place in his heart, regardless of where the draft takes him. Their home facility was also amazing. While it was not recently renovated like many, the areas had all been upgraded recently and the halls were lined with memorabilia and history across the facility. The names that had previously walked those halls were monumental, and there was something so special about sharing the history of this facility for seasons to come. 


Review of Potential Landing Spots

Although Jordan was relatively open as to where he played hockey at the junior level, he had some preferences on where he thought his most desirable location may be based on fit and how the team would support the upward direction of his career. Jordan was eager to play hockey at the next level as this was beyond a blessing, but if he were able to be drafted to one of his preferred locations, he thought he would be further set up for success on his journey to the upper echelon of the professional game. Below you will see a brief review of Jordan’s top 3 preferred destinations with a description on why they were not only the best fit for him, but also how he thought the team would help him continue to mature into the professional he hoped to be. These are listed in no specific order, strictly alphabetical for sake of cleanliness to the media piece. 

Carolina Kraken: Jordan’s visit to the Carolina facility was just an all around excellent time. The location was outstanding, Charlotte was always one of Jordan’s favorite cities as he had visited many times prior for either family trips or collegiate hockey games. While the Charlotte area was always busy and full of exciting things to do and see, there was still a peaceful aspect of the city, where you were able to go to the outskirts and enjoy a bit of quiet while still being so close to the action. Aside from the location of the team, upon arriving at the home facility and training center, Jordan was impressed with the freshness of the facility as it had been recently renovated to add state of the art features for both the fans and players to enjoy. While these upgrades to the facility may not seem like much to the normal person, by upgrading the locker room and training facilities, there was an investment in the futures of the players, which was a bright spot to many coming through the junior league. In conversation with the coaching staff, Jordan had a clear cut role on the team and he knew exactly how he would fit into the puzzle. With his offensive prowess, Jordan would be an outstanding addition to the team and there was no doubt he felt a load of confidence in his future if he was drafted to the Carolina Kraken. 

Detroit Falcons: Upon arriving at the team facility in Detroit, Jordan was in love with the thought of playing within this tight knit community. Although Detroit is definitely a tough environment as the climate within the city limits regarding their sports teams have been bleak over the last handful of years, the Falcons were definitely the shining light to the locals. Being as it was a big city, with lots of things to do, the attendance at games wasn't always the best due to the other various local attractions, but based on the statistics over the last few seasons, attendance had been increasing rapidly and the end was nowhere in sight for the team's promise. What really drew Jordan into the thoughts of playing in Detroit was the sense of community he received and the fact that he would have a large hand in rallying the community around a centralized team to help build back what used to be. Aside from Jordan's philanthropic views, Jordan loved the direction the team was headed in his conversations with the coaching staff. He would be able to slot into his primary offensive position immediately, and had some other young talent on the first line with him as well, something he was looking forward to having. Through conversations with the players, they were all very positive about the team, management, and environment and were pushing Jordan even harder to want to play for Detroit. Although this decision was not up to Jordan, Detroit was definitely a preferred destination in the pre-draft process. 

Maine Timber: As noted in the previous team interview reviews, there was something just so peaceful about Maine that Jordan was unable to put into words. Whether it was the scenery or the vast nothingness through specific parts of the area, there was something larger than words as to how relaxing the immediate area was. Although the team facility and arena was located in the downtown area, even that was peaceful in comparison to other cities Jordan had been visiting during the pre-draft process. Walking through the city center, both sides of the streets were lined with small business, mom and pop type restaurants and stores that kept the local economy booming in its own regard. Even though there were still box stores and your normal big scale retailers, the home town feel that came with it was unmatched. During meetings with the coaching staff and front office, even though this was not a negative, the conversation was based around the potential of Jordan switching to play center. Something he had done on occasion prior, but not something he was familiar with in the long term. Jordan had the makeup of a good center prospect, and while he had not done it much prior, was not opposed to making the switch whether it was short or long term. Jordan strongly believed that Maine had the right coaches and front office members in place to make the team successful, and coming off the prior seasons championship with a victory was also a nice drop in the bucket for his rationale on why he wanted to play in Maine.