Baumuller, Turko return from NHL camps

The good news for the Brandon Wheat Kings is that Joby Baumuller came back from his first National Hockey League camp a more confident player.

The 19-year-old forward from Wilcox, Sask., who has seen his Western Hockey League goal total grow from five to 18 to 40 in his three full-time WHL seasons, said the chance to skate at Columbus Blue Jackets camp as a free agent invitee was an eye opener.

“It was a lot of fun to get to see what their day to day looks like out there and how they treat themselves and get ready for their games,” Baumuller said. “At the end of the day, it was an amazing experience.”

The Wheat Kings open the 2026-27 season tonight against the visiting Saskatoon Blades at Assiniboine Credit Union Place.

The five-foot-11, 190-pound, right-shooting Baumuller said the biggest things he learned involved how professional players look after themselves. He was also impressed by how the clubs took care of their athletes.

“It’s how they take care of their bodies,” Baumuller said. “Before practices they’re always stretching and rolling out, getting loose to get on the ice, even after the games as well. You get treated really well with the food and have to take advantage of that to make sure your body is fully ready.”

Baumuller landed back in Manitoba just before lunch time on Wednesday after getting up at 4 a.m., and came straight to the rink to see his teammates. He said he brought a lot of confidence and some new tools he can use to improve his game with the Wheat Kings this season.

As one of the top returning goal scorers in the WHL, he’ll certainly be counted on.

“I just want to continue to grow as a player and a person,” Baumuller said. “I want to take each day by day and come to the rink with a lot of energy and have a lot of fun and show that I can do stuff as well.”

Czech netminder Filip Ruzicka remains with the Minnesota Wild, but the Wheat Kings received another bonus when third-year forward Brady Turko of McCreary flew back on Monday and rejoined the team on Tuesday.

“It was good,” Turko said. “It was quicker than last time but just with the season being moved up, it’s tougher to keep all the junior guys around for as long as they did in years prior.

“It was a good time, the games went well, it’s definitely a good experience every time you go down to an NHL camp. It’s a lot of fun to see pros and learn from them.”

The NHL season launches on Sept. 29 after they returned to an 84-game campaign for the first time since 1993-94. In 2025, the 82-game NHL season started a week later on Oct. 7.

The Ducks drafted Turko in the seventh round, 200th overall, in 2025 after also taking former Wheat King Roger McQueen with the 10th overall pick. This was his second camp with the team.

“Any time you go to a place you’re familiar with, you’re not as nervous and you have a little more confidence,” Turko said. “I think it’s a little bit easier every time you go down.”

The six-foot-two, 190-pound, right-shooting Turko potted seven and 18 goals in his first two WHL seasons, respectively, but back with the U18 AAA Wheat Kings in the 2023-24 season, he had 41 goals and 90 points in 41 games.

That suggests he has more offence to give, and Turko is eager to illustrate he can do it.

“Every year in this league is a year to grow,” Turko said. “I’m excited for the season to get started and really try to prove that I can be a dominant player in this league.”

He’s also excited about what the entire team can do. Turko said they are setting their sights high.

“We have a special group,” Turko said. “I love our lineup, from our goaltending to our defencemen to our forwards. I really think this team here has the opportunity to really do something special this year.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com