BCHL stint pays dividends for Fischer

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This article was published 12/12/2021 (1423 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While most Junior A players saw their 2020-21 seasons dashed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Braden Fischer was able to take to the ice.

The 19-year-old from Winnipeg suited up in 16 contests this spring for the British Columbia Hockey League’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks, who played against the Vernon Vipers and the West Kelowna Warriors in a hub centre based in Vernon.

“I was pretty fortunate,” Fischer said. “It felt nice to actually get those games in as well, since our season’s start date (which was originally set for December) had been pushed been back.”

Although he only had a goal and an assist during the shortened campaign, Fischer learned a ton of valuable lessons from competing in a league that many consider to be the best Junior A circuit in the country.

“It (the BCHL) is pretty comparable to the USHL (United States Hockey League) and college hockey,” Fischer said.

“Everything happens fast and the games are highly competitive. You need to make things happen pretty quickly out on the ice as you have minimum time to make a play and little room for error.” 

That speed element was something that Fischer planned to use to his advantage this season after he was dealt back to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League this summer.

Having originally been acquired from the Winnipeg Blues in June 2020, Fischer’s rights were dealt to the BCHL’s Powell River Kings on June 12 before being moved to the Virden Oil Capitals a day later for Hunter Andrew.

The return to his home province has paid major dividends as Fischer has posted 41 points — 19 goals and 22 assists — in 28 games, which leads his team in scoring and is fourth among all players in the MJHL.

“There was a bit of an adjustment that I had to make to my game and I think that’s led to a lot of my success this year,” said Fischer, who started the season with an 11-game point streak.

“I’ve picked up my overall pace and I try to use that to my advantage against other teams, especially when I’m going up against their top players. I’ve also worked a lot on my shot and that’s allowed me to put the puck in the net a little bit more.”

Oil Capitals head coach and general manager Tyson Ramsey has certainly enjoyed having Fischer on his side compared to when he last saw him.

During Ramsey’s first season behind the bench in Virden, Fischer recorded 45 points in 58 games during his rookie campaign.

“I certainly didn’t like having to go up against him back in 2019,” Ramsey joked. 

“He’s been really good for us on both sides of the puck and he’s played a ton against the other teams’ best guys. He just finds a way to get things done.” 

Fischer is also a key part of the team’s leadership group, as he shares alternate captain duties with Jackson Orr and Dylan Halliday.

“Braden’s a remarkable young man and is a leader in every sense of the word,” Ramsey said. “He works extremely hard on and off the ice to improve his game in all aspects and he’s a great role model for all of our guys, especially our younger players.

“We are very fortunate to have him here in Virden.” 

The leadership role has given Fischer some flashbacks to when he was getting used to life in the MJHL two years ago after making the jump up to the Blues from the Rink Hockey Academy.

“It feels like yesterday that I was a rookie in Winnipeg and I was learning a lot from guys like Brayden Foreman and Mikael Sator about what it takes to play in this league,” Fischer said. 

“To now be someone that the young guys look up to is pretty cool. I’m not the loudest guy in the dressing room but I like to lead by example. I try and give the young guys tips and teach them the proper work habits that you need to be successful night in and night out.”

After some up-and-down stretches of play, the 14-12-2-0 Oil Capitals are enjoying a five-game win streak.

They sit third in the MJHL’s West Division heading into a home-and-home series with the Steinbach Pistons this weekend.

“We’re really starting to catch our stride and that’s great to see, especially as we head into the Christmas break,” said Fischer, who has been lined up alongside Halliday and Tyler Thoendel in recent weeks.

“The way we are playing right now is a baseline and we know that we can keep improving from there. Each of us can bring more to the table and I think we can continue to get better.”

While his main focus is to help the Oil Capitals go on a long playoff run, Fischer is also setting his sights towards his goal of playing hockey at the post-secondary level.

“That’s something I have been working on for a long time,” Fischer said. 

“I have a lot of great people on my side helping me out and hopefully I’ll get to know where I’m going to be heading for that part of my career by the end of this year.” 

 » lpunkari@brandonsun.ca

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