A player-by-player look at the Wheat Kings

With a new Western Hockey League season set to dawn, here’s a look at the Brandon Wheat Kings and what to expect from the players.

2005-BORN (20-year-old season)

FORWARDS (15)

• Nick Johnson, L, 6’2, 207.

52gp, 16g, 27a, 43p, 43pim, -2 +/-

SUN: The big forward could have a productive season if he stays healthy after missing time in the last two campaigns. He’s gifted with a great set of hands for a power forward and is an immovable object when he camps out in front of the net.

• Luke Mistelbacher, R, 6’0, 200.

67gp, 42g, 51a, 93p, 34pim, -2 +/-

SUN: The sniper is a like a shark on the ice, winding his way in and out of traffic and then ripping his big shot, which is pro quality. The Steinbach product will be expected to be a quiet leader after the summer trade from Swift Current.

2006-BORN (19-year-old season)

• Caleb Hadland, L, 5’10, 190.

65gp, 25g, 17a, 42p, 42pim, 19 +/-

SUN: The odds-on favourite to be named captain is a born leader who leads by example and with his words. He exploded for 25 goals last year by firing the puck with his accurate and deceptive shot, and is a coach’s dream with his unending work ethic and maturity.

• Jordan Gavin, L, 5’11, 180.

68gp, 21g, 36a, 57p, 0pim, 8 +/-

SUN: This could be a massive year for the former second overall pick in 2021 by the Tri-City Americans, who was acquired in the Charlie Elick deal. He has an incredible vision and skill. The big question is whether he’ll take a penalty for the first time since April 4, 2023.

• Carter Klippenstein, L, 6’3, 186.

58gp, 14g, 14a, 28p, 50pim, 20 +/-

SUN: The Minnesota Wild prospect is renowned for his work ethic, physicality and unwillingness to back down from anyone. He’s always teased an impending offensive explosion, and will look to build on his career-high 14 goals.

2007-BORN (18-year-old season)

• Joby Baumuller, R, 5’11, 191.

59gp, 18g, 16a, 34p, 40pim, 16 +/-

SUN: Brandon has been patient with its former first-rounder, who nearly tripled his previous career production with 18 goals last season. The stocky forward with the big shot is one of the team’s toughest characters, and could blossom with some health luck.

• Brady Turko, R, 6’1, 175.

68gp, 7g, 19a, 26p, 16pim, 11 +/-

SUN: The Anaheim Ducks product teased what he may become this season in small doses last year as he became accustomed to the rough-and-tumble WHL. Turko has offensive instincts that can’t be taught, and seems destined to build mightily on last year’s numbers.

• Ben Binder Nord, L, 6’1, 165.

36gp, 1g, 3a, 4p, 68pim, -1 +/-

SUN: Binder Nord is a list player who worked his way onto the roster and continues to earn his minutes by playing a grating, physical style that is highly effective. As the team’s lightest player last season, the fearless Calgarian also led them in fighting majors.

• Easton Odut, L, 5’8, 170.

20gp, 3g, 2a, 5p, 8pim, -4 +/-

SUN: The Dauphin product doesn’t make many friends on the ice with his hard-nosed style, but that caught up to him when his season ended last December with a shoulder injury that required surgery. He has sneaky skill and the ability to score, but his effectiveness hinges on his ability to put opponents off their games.

• Gunnar Gleasman, R, 6’4, 206.

Okanagan (18U prep)

38gp, 19g, 17a, 36p, 130pim.

SUN: The big Colorado forward has a good shot, surprising speed when he gets skating and a physical edge that will make the Wheat Kings even tougher to play against this season. He’ll be asked to excel in an energy role.

2008-BORN (17-year-old season)

• Jaxon Jacobson, L, 5’10, 182.

51gp, 15g, 29a, 44p, 40pim, -1 +/-

SUN: For a player who will be 16 almost until Christmas, a lot is being placed on his shoulders. He’ll centre the first line and see significant power-play time. If his linemates can anticipate the play the way he does — and if Jacobson can avoid the injury bug for the first time in a couple of years — he could be a massive difference maker.

• Ryan Boyce, L 5’10, 177.

Picked: 2023, 5th.

Okotoks (BCHL)

41gp, 7g, 8a, 15p, 21pim.

SUN: The smooth-skating Boyce has been on the edge of making the Wheat Kings for a couple of seasons, and with a year of BCHL experience, he’ll fill an energy role as he looks to make his way up the lineup.

• Jimmy Egan, L, 6’1, 185.

Picked: 2023 US, 2nd, signed.

Sioux Falls (16U AAA)

26gp, 15g, 30a, 45p, n/a pim.

SUN: With the loss of two top centres in the off-season, Egan arrives in the nick of time with his mix of skill and physical play. The smooth-skating forward, the first to sign with the team after being taken in the U.S. Priority draft, will likely see big minutes as a rookie.

2009-BORN (16-year-old season)

• Chase Surkan, L, 5’7, 167.

Picked: 2024, 1st, signed.

Regina (U18 AAA)

41gp, 28g, 45a, 73p, 8pim.

WHL: 3gp, 0g, 0a, 0p, 0pim.

SUN: He’ll enter the season with confidence after the former first-rounder scored a pre-season hat trick against Regina. He’s a high IQ playmaker and wicked shooter who will have to adapt to the big dogs in the WHL as he weathers his rookie season.

• Prabh Bhathal, L, 6’2, 201.

Picked: 2024, 2nd, signed.

Winnipeg Thrashers (U18 AAA)

18gp, 13g, 10a, 23p, 6pim.

WHL: 8gp, 1g, 1a, 2p, 2pim.

SUN: Bhathal is already a big man at 16, and has enjoyed incredible offensive success everywhere he’s gone. He even scored as a 15-year-old with Brandon last season. He’ll need to avoid some of the big hits coming his way this season to stay healthy.

DEFENCE (8)

2005-BORN (20-year-old season)

• Grayson Burzynski, L, 6’4, 211.

62gp, 11g, 36a, 47p, 48pim, 9 +/-

SUN: The ultra-smooth offensive defenceman could put up some wild numbers with the weapons he has on the ice with him. He’ll also need to bring leadership and stability to a team that lost its first pairing from the 2024-25 season.

2006-BORN (19-year-old season)

• Dylan Ronald, L, 5’11, 187.

64gp, 5g, 19a, 24p, 32pim, 13 +/-

SUN: After missing a full season with a knee injury, the Albertan made the club at 18. He’s not flashy, in fact his game is built around a quiet effectiveness. He has a big shot and could contribute more if he adds consistency to his game.

• Merrek Arpin, R, 6’4, 205.

36gp, 0g, 4a, 4p, 21pim, -6 +/-

SUN: The jury is out on Arpin, who played just five games with Brandon after being acquired from Tri-City in the Elick deal. It’s easy to see how he can be effective in his own end with his size and physicality, and is a good puck handler as well. A pre-season injury may set him back.

• Max Lavoie, L, 6’3, 206.

Winkler, MJHL.

58gp, 7g, 25a, 32p, 37pim.

SUN: After moving up a league three seasons in a row, Lavoie brings his big game to the WHL. He’s the very definition of a defensive defenceman, with a big frame and the on-ice disposition of a junkyard dog. He won’t be easy to play against ever.

• Adam Hlinsky, L, 5’11, 180.

Picked: 2025 import, 2nd.

HV71 (J20)

43gp, 5g, 8a, 13p, 28pim.

SUN: The Czech rookie doesn’t blow you away with any single element of his game but seems to be really good at everything. He skates well, is a stubborn and smart defender and can carry the puck up the ice if needed. He’ll be a dependable blue-liner.

2008-BORN (17-year-old season)

• Gio Pantelas, R, 6’2, 211.

61gp, 4g, 6a, 10p, 25pim, 11 +/-

SUN: All eyes will be on Pantelas in his draft year. The stocky defenceman, who is perpetually smiling off the ice, played with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’ll see big minutes in his second WHL season and could emerge as one of the top young defencemen in the league.

• Nigel Boehm, L, 6’1, 190.

61gp, 1g, 6a, 7p, 34pim, -3 +/-

SUN: He will never quarterback the power play but the defensive defenceman should play big minutes on the penalty kill this season. After a terrific rookie season with some of the expected off nights, he’ll need to take another big step.

• Cameron Allard, R, 6’3, 196.

Picked: 2023, 8th.

Estevan (U18 AAA)

44gp, 6g, 30a, 36p, 24pim.

WHL: 13gp, 0g, 2a, 2p, 2pim.

SUN: Allard played so many games with Brandon as a 16-year-old callup that he doesn’t seem like a rookie anymore. His sense of calm with the puck sets him part as a young blue-liner, and though he could use more urgency in his game at times, he arrives ready for the job.

GOALIES (2+)

2006-BORN (19-year-old season)

• Jayden Kraus, catches L, 6’2, 210.

46gp, 2.86 gaa, .908 save %, 25-8-4-5 record.

SUN: Kraus has come to Brandon exactly as advertised. The Prince Albert product is hyper-competitive and hates to even give up a goal in practice, and then is happy-go-lucky off the ice. He’ll likely play a lot of games again this winter, and has already shown he can be a difference maker.

2007-BORN (18-year-old season)

• Hudson Perry, L, 6’2, 173.

Drayton Valley (AJHL)

16gp, 3.54 gaa, .899 save %, 8-7-0-1 record.

WHL: 4gp, 6.20 gaa, .785 save %, 0-2-1-0 record.

SUN: Perry has WHL experience and then got more of a chance to play in the AJHL last season. Brandon acquired the big netminder for a conditional pick last January, and he looked good through camp and the pre-season.

2008-BORN (17-year-old season)

• Filip Ruzicka, L.

Picked: 2025 import, 3rd.

Mountfield (Czechia, U17)

38gp, 1.80 gaa, .943 save %, 23-15-0-0 record.

SUN: Literary types might see a little bit of Waiting for Godot in the Ruzicka situation as the team bides its time until the massive netminder arrives after an endless cycle of IIHF appeals and counter appeals. If he can extricate himself from his Czech junior team, he’ll potentially push for the backup spot.