TheRussianRocket96 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 After watching some of the U17 Team Pacific camp this weekend in Kamloops I think anyone out there who is not already keeping an eye on Jake Virtanen should be. He purely outclasses the best BC and Alberta have to offer at his age group and showed why Calgary took him at #1 in last years WHL draft. I fully expect him to be a main contributor as a 16 year old this year for Calgary. He has unbelievable speed, an NHL calibre release in his shot and can absolutely steamroll players with hits. He is like a combination of Ovechkin/Malkin/Iginla. This kid is going to be an incredible hockey player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susraiders Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 My mom actually is good friends with his mom, so I will be keeping an eye on him very closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Frk Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 He is a great player, Im good friends with his bro and have seen him play a lot. He is going to develop into an amazing Hockey Player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossi Vaananen Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Eligible for 2014 draft? Top 5? I'll keep my eyes out for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logic Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 inb4 Trade for Columbus's 2014 pick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket96 Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 It is a long time from now but as it stands he is definitely a contender for at least a top 3 pick. Here is a link to a video of him breaking through the whole Vancouver Giants team in an end to end rush last year. Keep in mind in the video he is playing as a 15 year old underage player! Incredible. http://hitmenhockey.com/video/index/id/1325908522 fast forward to 40 seconds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket96 Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Here is a new clip from Hitmen-Cougars the other night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkeeterHansen Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Here is a new clip from Hitmen-Cougars the other night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theminister Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 After watching him at the Hitmen-Giant's game on Saturday two things occurred to me: 1) He had as much talent, and the ability to use it effectively, as any player on the ice. 2) He has absolutely no clue how to position himself defensively yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesleySNIPES Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 After watching him at the Hitmen-Giant's game on Saturday two things occurred to me: 1) He had as much talent, and the ability to use it effectively, as any player on the ice. 2) He has absolutely no clue how to position himself defensively yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket96 Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 He is 16 years old and in his first full year in the WHL, There are NHL players who I question their defensive awareness so give him a shot to develop that. As for his offence, his skill for his age is incredible. He has had unflattering numbers so far but still should put up 20 goals as a rookie, and that is with a ridiculous amount of line shuffling going on in Calgary. I watched their second game against Lethbridge this week and he was on a line with Greg Chase and Victor Rask and with some allowance to gain some chemistry I think that line may be lethal and we will see Virtanen shoot up in production and possibly put up 30 this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesleySNIPES Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 He got the winner the other night... may not be the prettiest looking goal but to me has some pretty high IQ going into making this play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baercheese Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 so glad he's finally capitalizing while he gets ice time his speed gets him around defensemen on a regular basis. Gonna be a treat to watch for sure, might take a little longer to develop in my opinion. also Rask is back! huge boost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesleySNIPES Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Jake had a great game against Kelowna before the break. Scored a goal he helped create by knocking a defender down hard in the corner to create a 2 on 1 just out of frame. Can see it and also a few big hits in the second link though. Kid is a truck for a 16 year old. http://hitmenhockey.com/video/index/id/1fe671b6dd9989d192f18bcf2376bb71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baercheese Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 He's only 16 and in his full WHL season, and he's playing on the top line with Cody and Greg Chase these days 40 goal season next year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesleySNIPES Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I agree, He had a slow start this year but I think thats an adjustment period. I think he will finish with about 20 goals this year and will shoot up dramatically next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket96 Posted December 30, 2012 Author Share Posted December 30, 2012 Team Pacific played their first game in the U17 World Challenge and the game was a beauty against Russia. 8-7 OT win in an all offence game. Jake scored a beauty goal getting by 2 russian players and sniping similar to his goal in Vancouver as a 15 year old. Looking forward to continue watching this tournament as it goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket96 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Jake has continued to have a fantastic tournament, even though I have heard he has been playing while very sick. He now has 4 goals midway through their 3rd game. a couple BEAUTIFUL goals against Finland today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baercheese Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Thanks for the vids. In the few Hitemen games I saw this year you can tell this kid has men's strength already. Hopefully he comes back to Calgary and finish the year strong. He has too much talent to be held back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesleySNIPES Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Jake has continued to have a fantastic tournament, even though I have heard he has been playing while very sick. He now has 4 goals midway through their 3rd game. a couple BEAUTIFUL goals against Finland today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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