Chiasson making smooth move into new situation

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/10/2019 (2230 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By Perry Bergson

Brandon Wheat Kings rookie forward Jake Chiasson has certainly made himself at home.

The 16-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., has adjusted to a new team in a new league in a new province quickly, but he’s had plenty of help.

“It’s good but it’s different,” Chiasson said. “Obviously being a kid from out west, it’s a different lifestyle out here, but it’s one that I love. The city has been really good to me. I can’t say enough good things about my billets. It’s almost going to be hard to leave them, it feels like home so much now. Whenever I leave the house, it’s like leaving my house at home. It’s been really good.”

The Wheat Kings were in action Wednesday night against the Spokane Chiefs in a game that ended after deadline.

Late Tuesday, Brandon erupted for 10 goals — its most since netting 11 against Saskatoon on March 2, 2016 — to top the Tri-City Americans 10-2. Chiasson was a scratch for that contest.

For Brandon’s 2018 first-round pick, a transition bigger than moving came on the ice.

“It’s obviously tough for any young kid,” Chiasson said. “When you’re playing with the guys that you are and how encouraging the team is, it’s a pretty good transition. It’s a lot faster than midget hockey but once you’re there you feel pretty up to pace and start making some plays at higher speeds.”

A big part of that change is dealing with that lack of time and space. Chiasson scored 27 goals in 32 games with the Yale Academy in under-18 prep hockey last season, and added 42 assists.

In Brandon this year, he has an assist in 11 Western Hockey League games, albeit in a very different role.

“In midget you can kind of walk into the slot and get your shot off without anyone coming at you but I think the biggest thing for me is the strength on sticks here,” Chiasson said. “You have guys who are 200-plus pounds coming down on your stick and it’s not easy to get a shot off. I guess the quickness comes into there too. The faster you can get it towards the net, the more offence you’ll get going.”

Chiasson is considered a quick study and natural leader who is eager to learn. He said there are many people he can look to for that knowledge beyond the coaching staff.

“No matter where you are in the lineup. there’s always someone to look up to and you try to take you game to their level,” Chiasson said. “And no matter where I am in the lineup, I want to bring my game that I had last year to the table. There are lots of guys to look up to and try to push myself to be as good as. It’s been a learning curve for me but it’s been a good experience.”

Chiasson actually made his Brandon debut last season when he joined the team on an Alberta road trip. The six-foot-one, 165-pound forward, who was a high scorer with his prep team, played a defensive energy role against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Jan. 19, 2019 that drew praise from the coaching staff.

Still, he’s learning every day about what it takes to be a WHL player.

“There’s a professional vibe to it,” Chiasson said. “I mean, as much as we’re 16-to-20-year-old kids, every day you come ready. There are jokes and laughs more than you can imagine, but when it’s time to dial it in, it’s go-time. I think that was a step for me too coming from midget. You always carry yourself at a high level and that will translate onto the ice.”

He had plenty of supporters on hand to watch his every move during the team’s swing through the U.S. Division. A bus was chartered to carry his parents, grandparents and friends to the games.

“I think for me, being from the West Coast, playing on the West Coast will be a pretty cool experience,” Chiasson said prior to the trip. “I’ll feel like I’m playing in front of a lot of family and friends so I’ll have a spark in my game hopefully and get things going.”

While the team sat with a record of 5-7-0-0 entering Wednesday’s game, Chiasson said he has seen improvement. Some of it has come in team speed, while it’s also shown up in their willingness to battle for each other.

The right-handed shot thinks playing the right way is ultimately the key.

“When we’ve played under the correct system and played how we’re supposed to play, you see how confident we play and how we know the things we can do when we’re playing at our best,” Chiasson said. “It’s going to be what it takes to succeed in the league this year. If we bypass the system and don’t play in it, we’ve seen some of those games and what happens.

“When we’re playing, we’re rolling over teams. It’s just a matter of playing under that system, playing strict to it but being creative.”

ICINGS: Glenboro product and former Wheat King D Zach Wytinck was named to the CHL’s team of the week Tuesday. Wytinck had a goal and four assists — with all four coming in Saturday’s shutout victory over Red Deer … Former Wheat Kings coach Cory Clouston has landed with the Kamloops Blazers, where he’ll help out his brother Shaun. Kamloops associate coach Darryl Sydor has taken a personal leave of absence, creating the vacant spot. Clouston last coached professional hockey in Germany.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @PerryBergson