Bjarnason relishes incredible summer

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This article was published 11/10/2023 (906 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If it’s worth having, it’s worth waiting for. Just ask Carson Bjarnason.

The 18-year-old Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender from Carberry headed down to Nashville for the National Hockey League draft on Monday, June 26 with his family, including mother Becky and father Clarence.

That gave them a couple of days to look around Music City, but also gave Bjarnason more time to obsess over what lay ahead on June 28 when the league held Round 1 and June 29 when Rounds 2-7 were conducted.

“Knowing that there are two days set aside for it is a little scary,” said Bjarnason, who wasn’t selected in the 2020 Western Hockey League draft but was later listed by the Wheat Kings. “You’re almost wanting it to be over with and know where you’re going.

“For the most part, I had my family there and it was exciting so it wasn’t too nerve-wracking in a way that I was scared or didn’t know what I was doing. ‘I was fine and went to Philly right after. It was a good experience and obviously to have my family there was really helpful.”

The Wheat Kings were in action in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes last night in a game that ended after deadline.

Bjarnason was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, 51st overall on June 29 at Bridgestone Arena. He was the fourth goaltender picked, and it’s a moment he won’t forget, from hearing this name called, to navigating his way down the stands to reaching the podium.

“It’s crazy,” Bjarnason said. “You have a video in your head and you play it back of everyone who has helped you along the way. Obviously, you can’t name them all in an interview but you go down there in black and forget everything you’re doing and trying not to trip down the stairs in the first place, and from there, you’re trying to look cool and put your jersey and your hat. It was surreal.”

After players are selected, they head down into the arena for interview sessions with the gathered media from each market.

“At the combine, it was something I was kind of used to, and even on our early road trip last year in B.C., there was always a little bit of time when you had to pop by and do interviews,” Bjarnason said. “I was well prepared and something I was kind of used to. It was just cool to sit on the stage and be able to answer those questions.”

If it seems like there’s been a pipeline between Brandon and Philadelphia over the years, you’re right.

The Flyers also have a long history of drafting Wheat Kings, taking Nolan Patrick second overall in 2019 and Ivan Provorov seventh overall in 2015.

Further back, the Flyers grabbed Rick Kozak in 2003, Adam Magarrell in 1994, Jeff Staples in 1993, John Dzikowski in 1984, Ron Hextall in 1982, and Brian Propp and Don Gillen in 1979. Hextall also served as Philadelphia’s GM.

A newer wrinkle for NHL draftees is many fly out the next day and are almost immediately involved in development camps. It was something Bjarnason had anticipated, so he took all his goaltending gear down with him.

“The next day I was at the rink and got to tour the whole facilities and everything,” Bjarnason said. “It was pretty neat.”

He said the nice part of development camp is that it allows players to get their feet wet in professional hockey as they get to know the facilities and some of the people.

“You’re not rushing right into rookie and main camp with all those games without having any idea of where anything is,” Bjarnason said. “It was nice to get to meet everybody and put some names to faces and be able to settle in and be a little more comfortable coming into camp.”

During the summer, it’s apparent Bjarnason didn’t lose the address of the gym.

The six-foot-three netminder packed on nearly 15 pounds and now sits at 202, 26 pounds more than he was when he won the backup job with Brandon in the fall of 2021 at age 16.

It should help to have the additional strength as the shooters get better.

Bjarnason, who had played 70 major junior games at that point, said he noticed a massive difference at pro camp.

“Definitely the pace of play and the way they can see the ice,” Bjarnason said. “You’re expecting a play and all of a sudden they do the complete opposite, or sometimes it’s the other way around. You’re thinking of a play and trying to imagine they’re going to make some kind of surreal play and then they make the easiest play possible.

“It’s definitely an unpredictable game in that sense. Keeping my awareness all around is really important because I obviously have to get my reaction speed up.”

He said the surreal moments came in meeting former WHL goaltending all-star Carter Hart and Flyers players such as Nicolas Deslauriers, Owen Tippett and Scott Laughton.

“You have to get over it quick and realize it’s part of your job now and it’s going to happen throughout your career,” Bjarnason said. “You have to make sure you’re stepping on the ice and giving it your all and proving you’re there for a reason.”

On Sept. 26, he signed an entry-level contract with Philadelphia, and two days later he was reassigned to the Wheat Kings. Bjarnason, who has a 4.02 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage on a Brandon team that has struggled to defend its own net this year, has some lofty goals for himself.

“I definitely set pretty high standards for myself,” Bjarnason said. “We want to be a playoff team this year, and I don’t have a little more weight on my shoulders, but expectations, especially for myself. Sometimes they’re unrealistic but I would rather do that than set something I can hit.

“That’s my mentality. I set such high goals that at least if I miss it, it’s more than something I can hit. That’s important for me.”

He earned a spot with Team Canada last summer for the second time, making six appearances at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Switzerland, going 4-2-0-0 with a 3.51 goals-against average and a .849 save percentage.

It’s even more experience that he can build on.

It will be his second year as starter, and he said it will be nice to have the confidence he gained last season under his belt. He appeared in a career-high 47 games, and although he battled some overuse injuries later in the season, he posted a .308 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage on a team that didn’t make the playoffs.

“Practice habits are a big thing for me and that is something that has translated into my game most importantly,” Bjarnason said. “I think for me, it’s making sure I’m in the gym and keeping my practice habits high.”

While goalies aren’t always looked on for leadership, they can play a key role. Recent examples in Brandon are Jiri Patera, who offered a well-respected voice in the dressing room, and Jordan Papirny, who if he hadn’t been a goalie, would have been captain for all the leadership he provided.

That’s something Bjarnason hopes he can develop too.

“It’s something I’m definitely working on,” Bjarnason said. “Obviously those guys are pretty outspoken and well-spoken guys. I got to meet Jiri and train with him in the summer. It’s something I take in a different light. I try to lead by example and work ethic.

“If you do something, somebody else might pick it up and copy after you. You have to learn to be a voice and know when to talk and when not to.”

One of the players he’ll be looking to help is rookie netminder Ethan Eskit, who won the backup job over veteran Nick Jones. Bjarnason is only two years removed from being a rookie himself and remembers how former Brandon starter Ethan Kruger played an instrumental role in his success.

“He’s a great kid,” Bjarnason said of Eskit, who is 17. “He’s younger and I’m trying to lead by example and lead they way for him. Obviously, I’m always there for him if he has any questions, like Ethan (Kruger) was for me in my 16-year-old year.

“It’s important to have a role model you aren’t scared to talk to.”

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