BWK TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: Forwards expected to lead Wheat Kings

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/08/2022 (1378 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With youthful blue-line and goaltending corps this season, a lot will be expected from the Brandon Wheat Kings’ forwards.

Director of hockey operations Chris Moulton thinks his returning group, which likely includes two of the three 2002-born overagers — Nolan Ritchie, Riley Ginnell and Calder Anderson — 2003-born Zakhar Polshakov, Brett Hyland and Jake Chiasson, 2004-born Nate Danielson, Rylen Roersma, Tyson Zimmer and Ben Thornton and 2005-born Trae Johnson, will be up to the task.

“I really like our forward group,” Moulton said. “I think we have a chance to be as good as anybody up front. The key group for me is the ’04s. Where are they going to go? I think we know what to expect from Ritchie and Anderson and Ginnell and Hyland Chiasson, but for me, the Polshakovs, the Thorntons, the Roersmas, the Danielsons, the Zimmers, if those guys take the steps to where we think they should be, I think we’re going to have a real good forward group.

“The fact that we have such a strong group of young kids coming in all of a sudden, our bottom six got that much stronger too. I think we’re as good as most teams or better.”

Brandon will have some big skates to fill with the graduation of captain Ridly Greig, who had 63 points in just 39 games during an injury-riddled season. Overager Marcus Kallionkieli graduated and a pair of veterans were released, Landon Roberts and Jesiah Bennett.

A large incoming class of signed Western Hockey League rookies, 2005-born Evan Groening, Teydon Trembecky, Hayden Chaloner and Carter Klippenstein plus 2006-born Roger McQueen and Caleb Hadland, will be looking to earn spots.

Unsigned forward Drew Williamson, 16, was dynamic at prospects camp and may also be in the conversation.

Rookie camp opens on Thursday at J&G Homes Arena, with main camp starting on Saturday at Westoba Place. The annual intrasquad game is set for Monday at J&G Homes Arena.

One key to replacing Greig is Chiasson, who was injured at Edmonton Oilers camp last fall and after recovering from shoulder surgery, played in just 20 regular season games and six playoff contests, putting up six goals and 15 assists.

In July, he earned an invitation from Hockey Canada to attend the national junior team summer development camp.

“Jake had a really good camp with the Oilers and then carried that into a world junior opportunity,” Moulton said. “I think Jake is excited and the old Jake again. That’s a guy who will play a huge leadership role in our dressing room. We had Jake for a little bit of the season, and when he finally did start to click, it was good but we just ran out of time.

“To have a Jake Chiasson at 100 per cent is going to be exciting.”

The team’s other two 19-year-olds will also need to have strong campaigns. In his second WHL season, the gritty, hard-working Hyland put up 29 points and 65 penalty minutes in 61 games. The Edmonton product finished second in scoring in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U18 AAA in 2019-20 with 50 points in 31 games and was named a first-team all-star and the top forward, so more production is a strong possibility.

“I really thought that Brett Hyland took a huge step for us last year,” Moulton said. “I thought he was one of our most consistent performers. For me, it’s now ‘Can Brett Hyland take another step? Can he contribute more offensively? Can he play in more situations?’”

Polshakov, meanwhile, was late in arriving as a handful of Belarusian players were delayed by the visa process and didn’t make his debut until Oct. 24. After an early injury, he quickly became an indispensable defensive presence for Brandon and took many important draws. He led the team in the faceoff dot at 53.3 per cent.

He stayed in Brandon this summer, becoming more comfortable with his surroundings and the English language. He trained with Prince Albert Raiders forward Vladislav Shilo, who joined him in Brandon, and is noticeably thicker after plenty of time in the gym.

“With import picks, I’ve always found that they start to turn the corner in their second season,” Moulton said. “The first season is about the culture and the country and the league, and now he’s basically played a whole year and lived here all summer. I think the learning curve is now reduced a bit and now he just has to play hockey.”

The team’s three first-round picks in 2019 — Danielson, Zimmer and Roersma — plus Thornton, another first rounder who they acquired from the Spokane Chiefs last September, are entering their 18-year-old seasons and expectations continue to rise.

Danielson, who has a late birthday and is finally eligible for the National Hockey League draft this season, weathered a scary injury that saw him carted off the ice in early March, to finish with 23 goals and 34 assists in 53 games to lead the quartet.

Roersma led the team in goals early in the season but cooled considerably and ended up with 19 goals and 10 assists in 68 games. Zimmer came on later the season, finishing with nine goals and 12 assists in 66 games while showing offensive flashes that made the Russell product the sixth overall pick.

Thornton missed five weeks to a shoulder injury suffered on Oct. 30, and took time to find his game on his return, ending up with five goals and four assists in 52 games.

“We’ve been talking about them for a while but people tend to forget that they’re just turning 18,” Moulton said. “I’m a guy who’s always said I want our players to be at their best at 18 and 19. We’ve been patient with them and I spoke to these guys and said ‘Now’s the time. Now’s the time you take your steps, now’s the time you get every opportunity to be successful. The growing pains are over, the bubble is over, it’s a normal season, now it’s time to go.’

“I think the hinge of our success early depends on the Danielsons, the Roersmas, the Thorntons, the Zimmers. If those guys start to reach their potential and keep taking steps, we all of a sudden become a lot better.”

The youngest returning veteran is Johnson, who at 16 showed the ability and fearlessness last season to rankle opponents, while also displaying some high-end talent on a couple of highlight-reel goals.

“At the end of the year he was far more confident,” Moulton said. “He’s always been tenacious, but he was just more comfortable in who he is. Trae is only 17 and has a fun year under his belt. Guys like him and Barney (goalie Carson Bjarnason) and (defenceman) Quinn (Mantei), who were 16 last year, now they know what to expect and know what it’s like to spend a winter in Brandon and what it’s like to work out and practise every day.

“Trae will continue to be a tenacious player but I think the offence will start to come.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @PerryBergson

AT CAMP: FORWARDS 

(V—veteran, S—signed, D—Drafted but unsigned, L—Listed but unsigned, FA—Free agent camp invite. All stats are from the team they played with the most during the 2021-22 regular season.)

2002 (20-year-old season)

Calder Anderson, LW (v)

5-9, 173 lbs, Brandon

Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

21gp, 3g, 7a, 10p, 17pim

• Riley Ginnell, LW (v)

6-3, 180 lbs, Calgary,

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

62gp, 14g, 20a, 34p, 65pim

• Nolan Ritchie L/C (v)

5-8, 172 lbs, Brandon

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

66gp, 33g, 43a, 76p, 58pim

2003 (19-year-old season)

• Jake Chiasson, RW (v)

6-1, 180 lbs, Abbotsford, B.C.

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

20gp, 6g, 12a, 18p, 4pim

• Brett Hyland, LW (v)

6-0, 174 lbs, Edmonton

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

61gp, 13g, 16a, 29p, 65pim

• Zakhar Polshakov, L/C (v)

5-10, 180 lbs, Minsk, Belarus

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

55gp, 5g, 14a, 19p, 20pim

2004 (18-year-old season)

• Nate Danielson, R/C (v)

6-0, 179 lbs, Red Deer, Alta

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

53gp, 23g, 34a, 57p, 34pim

• Rylen Roersma, LW (v)

5-10, 161 lbs, Raymond, Alta.

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

68gp, 19g, 10a, 29p, 28pim

• Ben Thornton, LW (v)

6-1, 173 lbs, Abbotsford, B.C.

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

52gp, 5g, 4a, 9p, 12pim

• Tyson Zimmer, RW (v)

6-0, 192 lbs, Russell

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

66gp, 9g, 12a, 21p, 38pim

• Matthew Henry, LW (l)

6-0, 190 lbs, Prince Albert, Sask

Battleford North Stars (SJHL)

52gp, 4g, 12a, 16p, 216pim

2005 (17-year-old season)

• Trae Johnson, LW (v)

5-11, 169 lbs, Martensville, Sask.

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

63gp, 3g, 4a, 7p, 43pim

• Hayden Chaloner, L/C (s)

5-8, 160 lbs, Winnipeg

Winnipeg Thrashers (MMAAA)

34gp, 25g, 23a, 48p, 49pim

• Evan Groening, LW (s)

6-0, 151 lbs, Niverville

Virden Oil Caps (MJHL)

44gp, 13g, 11a, 24p, 70pim

• Teydon Trembecky, LW (s)

5-10, 155 lbs, Sherwood Park, Alta.

Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL)

24gp, 1g, 3a, 4p, 27pim

• Jeter Korte, RW (d)

5-11, 180 lbs, Saskatoon

Warman Wildcats (SMAAA)

39gp, 13g, 14a, 27p, 30pim

• Ekam Dhaliwal, LW (fa)

5-9, 161 lbs, Brandon

Brandon Wheat Kings U18 (MMAAA)

44gp, 7g, 16a, 23p, 30pim

• Jayce Thompson, RW (fa)

6-0, 167 lbs, Brandon

Southwest Cougars U18 (MMAAA)

41gp, 17g, 13a, 30p, 36pim

2006 (16-year-old season)

• Caleb Hadland, L/C (s)

5-10, 165 lbs, Sylvan Lake, Alta.

Yale U18 (CSSHL)

35gp, 17g, 25a, 42p, 26pim

• Carter Klippenstein, LW (s)

6-2, 150 lbs, Lethbridge, Alta.

Lethbridge Hurricanes U18 (AEHL)

29gp, 9g, 8a, 17p, 26pim

• Roger McQueen, R/C (s)

6-3, 170 lbs, Saskatoon

Saskatoon Blazers U18 (SMAAA)

41gp, 24g, 37a, 61p, 54pim

• Drew Williamson, L/C (d)

5-7, 150 lbs, Wimborne, Alta.

Airdrie Bisons U18 (AEHL)

38gp, 10g, 22a, 32p, 18pim

• Tanner Clezy, LW (fa)

5-10, 160 lbs, Saskatoon

Saskatoon Riverkings U18 (SMAA)

29gp, 11g, 12a, 23p, 76pim

• Max Collyer, LW (fa)

6-0, 173 lbs, Onanole

Yellowhead Chiefs U18 (MMAAA)

43gp, 4g, 8a, 12p, 10pim

• Marlen Edwards, LW (fa)

5-9, 207 lbs, Winnipeg

Winnipeg Wild U17 (WAAA)

31gp, 14g, 11a, 25p, 26pim

• Campbell Epp, RW (fa)

5-10, 169 lbs, Winnipeg

Westwood Collegiate (HSAAAA)

23gp, 14g, 12a, 26p, 4pim

• Nate Robson, LW (fa)

5-9, 160 lbs, Carberry

Southwest Cougars U18 (MMAAA)

44gp, 11g, 22a, 33p, 24pim

• Bronson Ross, RW (fa) 

6-3, 187 lbs, Winnipeg

RHA Kelowna U16 (CSSHL)

32gp, 11g, 13a, 24p, 45pim

• Kasey Russell, LW (fa)

5-7, 140 lbs, Cardston, Alta.

Lethbridge Hurricanes U16 (AEHL)

31gp, 10g, 31a, 41p, 4pim

• Ty Schell, LW (fa)

5-8, 127 lbs, Shilo

RHA Winnipeg U16 (CSSHL)

34gp, 15g, 13a, 28p, 69pim

• Wyatt Yule, RW (fa)

5-7, 137 lbs, Strathmore, Alta.

Okotoks Oilers U16 (AEHL)

10gp, 3g, 6a, 9p, 8pim

2007 (15-year-old season)

• Joby Baumuller, RW (s)

5-11, 175 lbs, Wilcox, Sask.

Notre Dame U15 (CSSHL)

20gp, 15g, 11a, 26p, 19pim

• Dominic Grieco, LW (d)

5-9, 147 lbs, Olds, Alta.

Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15 (AEHL)

22gp, 18g, 11a, 29p, 44pim

• Easton Odut, LW (d)

5-8, 153 lbs, Dauphin

Brandon Wheat Kings U15 (MBAAA)

31gp, 36g, 39a, 75p, 52pim

• Quinn Parker, L/C (d)

6-2, 160 lbs, Winnipeg

Winnipeg Wild Green U15 (MBAAA)

30gp, 22g, 17a, 39p, 74pim

• Brady Turko, RW (d)

5-6, 130 lbs, McCreary

Brandon Wheat Kings U15 (MBAAA)

32gp, 30g, 51a, 81p, 8pim

• Brendyn Van Oene, LW (d)

6-0, 160 lbs, Shawnigan Lake, B.C.

Shawnigan U15 (CSSHL)

29gp, 24g, 16a, 40p, 8pim

• Ethan Stewart, RW (l)

5-9, 140 lbs, Brandon

Brandon Wheat Kings U15 (MBAAA)

18gp, 10g, 17a, 27p, 16pim

• Ben Binder Nord, LW (fa)

5-10, 132 lbs, Calgary

Edge U15 (CSSHL)

28gp, 10g, 8a, 18p, 38pim

• Carson Legault, L/C (fa)

5-8, 153 lbs, St. Francis Xavier

Central Plains Capitals (MBAAA)

32gp, 34g, 20a, 54p, 24pim

• Alex Morrison, RW (fa)

5-7, 159 lbs, Saltcoats, Sask.

Yorkton Terriers U15 (SMAAA)

31gp, 32g, 11a, 43p, 54pim

• Tyriece Pattyn, RW (fa)

5-9, 142 lbs, Winnipeg

Winnipeg Bruins U15 (MBAAA)

28gp, 21g, 13a, 34p, 16pim

• Sawyer Samycia, RW (fa)

5-8, 140 lbs, Fernie, B.C.

East Kootenay U15 (BCAA)

23gp, 12g, 8a, 20p, 12pim

• Hunter Yee, LW (fa)

5-9, 161 lbs, Edmonton

OHA Edmonton U15 (CSSHL)

30gp, 6g, 13a, 19p, 12pim