(S9 Class) Scotty Campbell - Player

Scotty Campbell
Position: Centre
Birthplace: Switzerland
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 188 lbs
Shoots: Left
Drafted: VAS (S1 1/2)

There has only been one time that Scotty Campbell has not been considered the best player in the Victory Hockey League and this was during the S1 VHL Dispersal Draft. To the surprise to the whole league, Campbell was selected second overall, just after Robert Sharpe of the Amstel Tigjers, and since that day has been considered one of the worst management moves in the VHL era.

Campbell was never given a shot in the NHL, yet being selected at the 10th position by the Carolina Hurricanes, but made the Hurricanes wish they would have signed Campbell as an eighteen year old. What Gretzky was to the NHL, Scotty Campbell was to the VHL. Campbell holds the records for; most career goals, most career assists, most career points and highest career plus minus. There is no doubt that Campbell is the most dominant offensive player to ever touch a VHL ice surface.

When Campbell was on a team, it instantly made them a playoff contender, and with four continental cups, this is all the evidence needed. When Campbell’s team made the playoffs they were an instant threat to win the championship, considering Campbell won two Howe Trophies as the league’s playoff MVP. There was no pure offensive award that Campbell did not win through his eight season tenure in the VHL, and for most of them he won them twice.

Although Campbell played on many different teams throughout his tenure in the league, he was always considered a locker room leader. It does not look as though there will ever be a player like Campbell in the league again, there will be never be a player who is as dynamic offensively like Scotty Campbell.

[ Awards:
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S1 Continental Cup (VHL Champion) with the Vasteras IK
S1 Vladimir Kostka Trophy (European Champion) with the Vasteras IK
S1 Messier Trophy (Top Leader)
S1 Francis Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike)
S1 European Conference All-Star
S2 Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) with Vasteras IK
S2 Vladimir Kostka Trophy (European Champion) with Vasteras IK
S2 Lemieux Trophy (Most Points)
S2 Joe Malone Memorial Trophy (Most Goals)
S2 European Conference All-Star
S2 Team Switzerland Member
S3 European Conference All-Star
S4 Continental Cup (VHL Champion) with the Seattle Bears
S4 Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) with the Seattle Bears
S4 Punch Imlach Memorial Trophy (North American Conference Champion) with the Seattle Bears
S4 Gretzky Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
S4 Howe Trophy (Playoff Most Valuable Player)
S4 Lemieux Trophy (Most Points)
S4 Joe Malone Memorial Trophy (Most Goals)
S4 Mikita Trophy (Most Assists)
S4 North American Conference All-Star
S4 Team Central Europe Member
S4 Bronze Medalist with Team Central Europe
S5 Continental Cup (VHL Champion) with the Seattle Bears
S5 Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) with the Seattle Bears
S5 Punch Imlach Memorial Trophy (North American Conference Champion) with the Seattle Bears
S5 Gretzky Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
S5 Howe Trophy (Playoff Most Valuable Player)
S5 Lemieux Trophy (Most Points)
S5 Joe Malone Memorial Trophy (Most Goals)
S5 North American Conference All-Star
S6 Victory Cup (Best Regular Season Record) with the Helsinki Titans
S6 Vladimir Kostka Trophy (European Champion) with the Helsinki Titans
S6 Lemieux Trophy (Most Points)
S6 Mikita Trophy (Most Assists)
S6 European Conference All-Star
S6 Team Switzerland Member
S6 Gold Medal with Team Switzerland
S7 Gretzky Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
S7 Lemieux Trophy (Most Points)
S7 Joe Malone Memorial Trophy (Most Goals)
S7 North American Conference All-Star
S8 North American Conference All-Star
S8 Francis Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike)

Season 1 Statistics

Scotty Campbell opened up his VHL career with Vasteras IK as he was drafted second overall in the S1 VHL Dispersal Draft. During this season, there were two real competing teams in the VHL, the Calgary Wranglers and Vasteras IK. With these two teams competing, there were two competing players for the top offensive player in the league, Scotty Campbell and Brett Solobodzian. Campbell lost the point title in his first season, as well as the goal title, but in the end he had the last laugh as Vasteras IK was able to win the inaugural Continental Cup, beating the Wranglers in six games. Campbell won two awards in S1, the Messier Trophy, as the league’s top leader, and the Francis Trophy, as the league’s most sportsmanlike player, while being an Eastern Conference All-Star.

Season 2 Statistics

Campbell came into his second season with a new energy, and was determined to become the league’s most feared offensive player. Through seventy-two games that season Campbell notched seventy-nine (79) goals and one-hundred sixty-one (161) points, capturing the Lemieux Trophy for the league’s most points and the Joe Malone Trophy as the league’s top point scorer. Although Campbell’s personal stats increased this season, his team’s performance did not, as they lost in the Continental Cup final, and to no other than Brett Slobodzian and his Calgary Wranglers. Campbell’s efforts once again landed himself a spot on Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Season 3 Statistics

Campbell once again came into the season with a fire he had from S2. It was clear that he was one of the elite players in the league, but he had failed to put a complete season together, winning the scoring title and winning the league finals. Throughout the duration of the season Campbell put up less numbers than the previous year, and fell to third in league scoring. Moving into the playoffs, Campbell had his worst offensive output in his first three seasons. This season, Vasteras couldn’t even make it out of the respective conference and lost the series in seven games. Campbell failed to win any awards this season, but was once again was an Eastern Conference All-Star.

Season 4 Statistics

With Vasteras declining in talent, and Seattle on the rise, Seattle management made a trade that shook the league for the text two seasons. They brought in Campbell and Matt Defosse for some young talent. After this trade Campbell had a career year, putting up one-hundred and seventy-four (174) points, with eighty-seven (87) goals. This easily won Campbell the point total and league MVP. After his elite season, Campbell entered the playoffs and threw up twenty-three (23), bringing the Seattle franchise their first Continental Cup. With this production Campbell brought home his first Howe Trophy as the league’s playoff MVP.

Season 5 Statistics

Campbell once again played with the Seattle Bears, and once again had an amazing season. He once again had the most goals of his career and also had the most points of his career. With the season that Campbell had, there was no question that he deserved the league MVP. In the peak of his career Campbell was basically untouchable and was winning league awards every season. In the playoffs, Campbell was once again dominating as he won the Howe Trophy for the second straight season, en route to his third league championship.

Season 6 Statistics

Campbell started his sixth season off very strongly playing with the Seattle Bears once again, but at the deadline he was dealt to the Helsinki Titans as the Bears were moving into a rebuilding state. With Helsinki Campbell’s season slowed immensely, but when he hit the playoff he was his old self as he potted eleven goals, and won his fourth Continental Cup with his third team. Campbell once again scored the most points and most assists. It was known that Campbell was going to be a free agent at the end of the season, and he would be joining his fourth VHL team.

Season 7 Statistics

In Campbell’s seventh season, he once again kept up his dominance as he won the league’s MVP again, the league’s most points, and the league’s most goals. It appeared as though Campbell was going help Toronto wins its first league title as the team was playing well under Campbell’s leadership. In the playoffs, Campbell wasn’t his dominant self as he only had ten points in the seven playoff games. Campbell was unable to lock up his fifth league title, as they went down in the first round to the Calgary Wranglers. Campbell announced at the end of this season, that his either year would be his last.

Season 8 Statistics

In Campbell’s final season, again with Toronto, Campbell’s stats continued to decline. This is not to say he wasn’t a dominate player, but he was no longer having the impact that everyone expected of him. In S8, Campbell did not win any awards, except for the most sportsmanlike award, as he only had eight penalty minutes. In the playoffs, Campbell couldn’t help Toronto capture their first Continental Cup as he only buried one goal throughout his twelve games that playoff season. The Legion were ejected from the playoffs in the first round, as they were defeated by the Calgary Wranglers in six games.

Career Totals

Overall, it is clear that Campbell was and always will be the most dominating player in the Victory Hockey League. Winning four Continental Cups, two Howe Trophies, three Gretzky Trophies and has the most career goals, most career assists, and most career points, Campbell’s contribution will not soon be forgotten. There has been talk lately about changing the league awards to cater more to the VHL’s history. League officials will have a tough time deciding which award to designate to Campbell as he was dominate in so many different aspects of the game.

Campbell played his last VHL game on January 2nd, 2009 against the Calgary Wranglers in the North American Conference Final. The game ended in a loss for the Toronto Legion, and they lost the series 4-2. Campbell will continue his career in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes.