The Vickerman Family Happenings

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: