Seidel learns value of hard work on farm

If work ethic is what you’re looking for, it doesn’t hurt to find a farm kid.

The Brandon Wheat Kings did just that when they drafted Lucas Seidel in the eighth round with the 176th overall pick in the annual Western Hockey League draft on May 7.

The young defenceman lives on a farm near Sundre, Alta., and isn’t allergic to doing what needs to be done.

“I feel like my work ethic is pretty good,” said Seidel, who turned 15 on May 9, two days after he was drafted. “We have all the sheep lambing here and I’m always cleaning up pens. We have a gravel pit so I’m working there quite a bit, working on machines and helping load the gravel and shovelling sand.

“When something needs to be done, you have to get up and do it. You have to gave a get-up-and-go mindset, and that helps with my work ethic quite a bit.”

The farm, which includes parents Kevin and Nadine and younger sister Alyssa, also has an assortment of horses, ducks, cattle, cats and dogs.

Sundre is located straight north of Calgary and about 100 kilometres southwest of Red Deer, where he was born.

Seidel began to skate at age five in Sundre, and actually started to play that same day.

He was positioned up front for four years until his minor U11 season, and then flipped to the back end. He was playing on a team in Olds coached by former Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose forward Jason Jaffray, and the longtime pro player thought the blue-line might be a nice fit for Seidel’s talents.

It turned out Seidel enjoyed it as well.

“I like that especially now that a D-man can really jump up into the play and be offensive,” Seidel said. “I really enjoy protecting the front of the net and I really like the penalty kill. I always have that urgency to make sure other teams don’t score. That’s my favourite part of it, making sure the other team doesn’t get chances or opportunities.”

He has tried most sports but lacrosse is the only other one he’s still active in. Last year, he was captain of the Team Alberta that won bronze at lacrosse nationals in Halifax.

When a kid lives on the farm, it’s hard to do much without the support of his parents. In addition, he is home schooled by his mom, a retired nurse who he said helps him with his health and nutrition.

“They just always make sure I get to places on time,” Seidel said. “We live an hour away from all the good hockey and lacrosse so they’re always putting in extra time to drive me places and always making sure I’ve got the right-sized equipment and always looking out and feeding me right.”

After playing his minor U15 campaign with the Bow Valley Bigfoot in Junior Prospect Hockey League 14 Under, he made the jump to the Red Deer Rebels for his major U15 AAA season.

In 31 games, he had eight goals, 24 assists and 24 penalty minutes.

“I was pretty happy,” Seidel said of his season. “I thought I developed quite a bit this year. The coaches helped a lot in practice working on things that needed improvement and always looking out for the players and making sure everyone is healthy. Our trainer helped a lot. I just thought the season was great.”

The five-foot-five, 135-pound defenceman played with the top pick of the draft, forward Madden Daneault, along with the fifth pick, Jevin Morrison, so Seidel said he got better in practice just skating against them.

“I do really well with my playmaking and my skating ability,” Seidel said of his game. “Those are probably my stronger suits. I also have very high IQ and always make the smart play, especially breaking out of the defensive zone. I’m a very offensive D-man and I really enjoy and thrive walking the blue-line and finding seams to pass through and get the puck on net.”

Brandon Wheat Kings director of hockey operations Chris Moulton saw some of the same things when he was asked about Seidel on draft day.

“He’s a puck-moving, smart, creative defenceman who can play on the power play and can be evasive and makes good decisions, and a very accurate passer,” Moulton said. Still, Seidel wants to get bigger and stronger, and is also working on his shot.

“I don’t have the size and weight behind me so I have to work on having that powerful, heavy hard shot to get through traffic,” Seidel said. “I have to work on my physicality a lot and lower body strength.”

The game is a part of his family.

His 31-year-old cousin Adam Beukeboom played goal with the Regina Pats and Prince George Cougars and has enjoyed an eight-year career in Europe, and he is a second cousin to former National Hockey League great Joe Nieuwendyk.

In addition, his father played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and later at the University of Lethbridge.

On draft day, he was in the kitchen with his folks, but after a couple of hours, his mom decided that was enough computer time for now.

As a result, he was actually outside helping his father to fix a fence when his name was called.

“It was really cool,” Seidel said. “Coming home I was a little bit disappointed and it was later in the draft and I didn’t know if I would get picked anymore. My mom was like, ‘Your name showed up,’ and a load lifted off my shoulders. I got really happy.

“I kind of flashed back to all the training. It really came together and the stars aligned and I’m really happy with it.”

He played with fellow Brandon draftee Austin Rideout during the Alberta Cup but has only skated against the other players from his province.

Seidel hasn’t attended many WHL games in person, but always kept track of scores. Since his dad played in the AJHL in Olds, he’s been to more of those games.

In years past before the NCAA allowed in major junior players, Seidel may chosen the college route but now he knows what he wants for sure.

“It was one of the main goals,” Seidel said. “My dad was captain of the Grizzlies and I always wanted to be a captain for a junior WHL team. That’s a big goal for me.”

He has never been to Brandon but has heard great things about the community and the atmosphere. His first trip east to begin his new adventure comes in late August at training camp, but until then, he’s grateful he knows where his future potentially lies.

“It’s a huge relief,” Seidel said. “Knowing that you’re selected and you’re in that top 200 players in (western) North America with the Americans in the draft, it’s a huge honour. It made my day and helps me to know where I’m headed and what I need to do for the future.

“It’s pretty exciting.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com