Boyce eager to take next step

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This article was published 03/06/2023 (949 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ryan Boyce wants to be a Western Hockey League player, something he shares with the team that drafted him.

The Brandon Wheat Kings grabbed the five-foot-nine, 144-pound Calgary product in the fifth round with the 94th overall pick.

“That’s been the main goal since that first year bantam when I realized that’s the path I wanted to take,” Boyce said. “I’ve been focused on it.”

That was actually the point when it all began to seem possible for the speedy winger.

Boyce began to feel like he was pulling away from the pack a little bit in his minor bantam season.

“When I made AAA my first year,” Boyce said. “That’s when I kind of realized getting drafted was a huge possibility. I’ve seen so many guys who went down that path, playing AAA first year and getting drafted.”

That feeling intensified when he got off to a hot start in his draft season. He admits the thought of getting picked was on his mind a lot.

“It’s hard to take your mind off it,” Boyce said. “It’s really what you’re playing for in your second year bantam, the draft. I tried to not focus on it too much, but it’s hard.”

When his name finally showed up on the WHL website with the Wheat Kings beside it, it confirmed a suspicion he had developed over the winter.

“I was super happy,” Boyce said. “I kind of expected Brandon. I talked to them a lot so I was happy. I knew the city was great and I was excited.”

He said his phone immediately blew up with the most texts he’s had.

Boyce started skating around age three or four, and began playing a couple years later when he began Timbits.

“I played D for a few games back in atom when the team needed me to, but I’m not too good at it,” Boyce said with a chuckle. “I just stayed at forward.”

“I like the offence and being able to score goals more than a D-man,” Boyce added. “It’s a lot more fun to me.”

There aren’t any hockey players in his family, which includes father Richard, mother Christine and brother Connor, but he said it was inevitable he would play.

“It’s growing up in Canada really,” Boyce said. “It’s the biggest sport here and a lot of my friends played it so that’s what led me into it.”

The glue that kept him in the sport was simple. He likes to keep busy.

“The speed of hockey is so fun,” Boyce said. “Other sports like baseball are pretty slow and not as fast paced. It’s a lot of moving around and a lot of fun to me.”

Boyce played with the Edge School’s under-15 prep team last season, scoring 17 goals and adding 20 assists in 30 games. He was held without a point in three games with the U17 club.

“I think my speed is my biggest strength,” Boyce said. “Then my release. It’s using my speed to get to open ice and kind of finding open areas to get passes from my teammates and creating chances in the O-zone.”

He said his stick handling and shot are the things he’s working on the most.

“I think my release is pretty good but I want to work on my power and my accuracy,” Boyce said. Brandon director of player personnel Chris Moulton said after the draft that Boyce brings a lot of positives.

“Ryan is complete,” Moulton said. “He’s super smart, a competitor, really creative with the puck yet an incredibly responsible, 200-foot game. He’s the type of player who can be on the ice whether you’re winning or losing with a minute left.”

It was his first trip to Brandon when he arrived in the city last Friday for prospects camp and he admitted he had some nerves. While he didn’t get to skate at Westman Place — everything on the ice took place at J&G Homes Arena — he was able to look around. He also met the coaching staff and the other prospects.

It all made a good first impression.

“Just how nice the facilities are here,” Boyce said. “The rink is great, the gym is great. Overall, the staff is so kind. It’s been great. I’ve been treated well.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

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