Answered Prayer...

The morning of May 5th was filled with much anticipation and anxiety.  It was the day that we would have more answers as to what God has planned for Taylor's life.  The WHL draft was to begin at 7:30am pacific time. There had been some speculation that TV might be drafted in the first round (the first round was the only round ustreamed live) after that, the website would be updated every 15 sec and you just have to wait to see what name popped up.  We were all dressed and ready for the day by 7:30 - knowing that no matter what would happen, we wanted to be ready for the day:)  The grandparents also joined us for the morning event.

As it turned out Taylor wasn't drafted until the 2nd pick in the 6th round by the Vancouver Giants.  Let me tell you, there was MANY things that crossed our minds that morning - many of which was when we knew what team's turn it was to pick, we were either hoping to see his name or cringing hoping not to see his name (depending on who was picking:))  We were praying for an organization close by with a good reputation for great hockey - he got that!!  But, there was a bit of doubt that crossed his mind as he waited for sooo long for his name to show up (especially during the 1hr lunch break)- much later than anticipated but, it was a perfect answer to prayer for many reasons!!  To be honest, the whole "scene" didn't carry out as "I" had planned - i was envisioning us all sitting together by the computer to see his name pop up together but NO - TV was on the couch watching NHL channel just finished eating something and decided to refresh the netbook - i was working on an email and not sure what Lance was doing... So, all of a sudden he says "i think i'm gonna check to see if they started again, oh...they started...oh my gosh! Vancouver Giants - TAYLOR VICKERMAN - that's me - i just got drafted to the GIANTS!!!! woo hoo!!"  i jumped up from my computer just in time to see the HUGE grin come across his face.  It still took awhile for it to sink in and about 20 seconds later - the phone rang! It was Vancouver calling to make sure he knew he was picked by them and to let him know of the spring camp that they would be having memorial day weekend.  After that, our day was a BLUR!!  We (Lance, TV and myself) were planning on going out of town to check out a few teams in Michigan & Ohio for TV to play for next season (Midget minor yr). So, we had to quickly celebrate this event!  We quickly sent out emails and posted to FB about a last minute celebration at Kimo's.  Taylor went to school for the rest of the day and i frantically got a cake, balloons and tried to finish packing!  As soon as Tv got home, Annie Fowler called to interview him and shortly after that KEPR came by to do his FIRST ever interview (i'm sure it won't be his last;))  He did a great job!! The pic below is that moment:

VERY proud grandmas!!!  They have done so much praying and supporting of his hockey - i just love this pic!

Family and Friends celebrating...

Eating and waiting for the news...

A very special person in Taylor's life - Terry Liikala was one of TV's first coach and coached him for several years and gave him the nickname of "TV" We were so glad that he came!

TV with Michael from AFS - Taylor trains with him 2 times a week!

TV and Craig Bond - Taylor's Power Skating coach - he skates with him 2 times a week too!

We had a wonderful time enjoying this occasion.  A night we will always remember - thank you to those that helped us celebrate and also prayed for God's will to be done:)

I'll have to blog about our trip to MI & OH later...

Many people have asked and wondered if he is going to Vancouver next year and the answer to that is no - he is too young.  To play in the WHL, you have to be 16 and then after he is 16, it just depends if the team thinks he's ready or needed.  Until then, he continues to play and develop as a better hockey player and to do that he will need to move away from home:( - more about that later...

Here are some links regarding TV being drafted:

 KEPR interview

Taylor 3rd person drafted

Newspaper article about the draft

Vancouver Giants recap of draft

Taylor Vickerman and the WHL draft.

 The time is almost here!  Taylor has been playing hockey since he was 3 or 4 years old and has ALWAYS dreamed of playing in the WHL or “the dub” as he would say it.  It is truly amazing for me to reflect on his years of hockey… Growing up he has always had a deep passion for the game.  EVERYTHING in his life has been centered around hockey.  People have always asked me if I would be okay with him playing professionally because of the physicalness of the sport (ie fighting, checking etc.) at first I would kinda be a little weery about all that but I haven’t worried too much about that because he has always been the bigger kid on the team and has for the most part been unscathed.  The “realness” of him “going pro” didn’t really hit until this year in February.

Even though he has grown up playing hockey here in the Tri-Cities, it’s not a really great place to get noticed.  We started coming to that realization 2 years ago before his bantam years when he was invited to try out for a AAA team in Kent.  This was the year that we learned how important the bantam years are in preparation for the WHL draft.  Last year he played the majority of the year for Spokane Jr Chiefs.  Even though the events surrounding joining that team were very hard in all aspect, it was the BEST thing for Taylor.  We thank God daily for carrying us through this time and totally blessing Taylor with the open arms of the Spokane coach & families that welcomed him to the team.  If it wasn’t for the amazing opportunities that this team provided Taylor, I probably wouldn’t be writing this post!

He played great and has had some awesome exposure up at the KIBIHT tournament in Kamloops, BC where there was TONS of scouts, as well as, the WHL Prospect Camp in Anaheim.  Since then, there have been a few tweets, podcastings & blog postings about Taylor:

Tweets:

tweet #1 -TylerBoldt WHL camp

 tweet #2 -TylerBoldt WHL camp  

Websites:

http://www.whl.ca/article/2011-whl-us-prospect-camp-huge-success

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/04/27/1467991/kennewicks-vickerman-awaits-whl.html

http://westernelitehockeyprospects.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-usa-prospect-taylor-vickerman.html
http://westernelitehockeyprospects.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-10-usa-bantam-prospects.html

Podcast:

http://www.thescoutingnews.com/images/USHLWHL.mp3

No matter what will happen on May 5^th we are super proud him! We are praying for God’s will for Taylor’s life.  If it is to be drafted in the WHL, we will all rejoice for him!  “The dub” is truly Taylor’s first choice  - especially since growing up in a town that only has a WHL team - but we aren’t sure what God’s first choice is for him.  We will soon find out! Other options for Taylor is the NTDP and/or College route to get to the NHL.

We just got an email with details regarding the draft from Tyler Boldt  Manager, Player Development & Recruitment of the WHL: "The WHL Bantam Draft will be held on Thursday, May 5th, in Calgary, AB, beginning at 8:30am MT. While the Draft is a closed event, you will be able to view the first round live, for free, at www.whl.ca. A link will be provided the day of the Draft which will take you directly to the webcast. Following the first round, all picks will be updated live as they happen on www.whl.ca."

So, I guess you know what we’ll be doing on Thursday – yep you guessed it we will be glued to our computer waiting to see where and when Taylor’s name shows up – that’s what we are praying for anyway:)  We are all feeling a bit anxious right now just not knowing what will happen on Thursday but whenever we’ve been having these uneasy feelings it is important for us to rely on God to get us through this long anticipated day!  Phil 4:6 “ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God...”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”


Also - here is a cool song that TV has been listening to - i think the words are pretty cool.  It was originally for a Soccer tournament but i think it cool: