Budd’s career impacted by Brandon

The city of Brandon has had an outsized impact on the hockey career of goalie Ryley Budd.

A year ago, Brandonite Ethan McCallum outduelled the Calgary product for the backup spot with the Saskatoon Blades and Budd ended up back in Junior A.

A year later, his Western Hockey League career has landed him in the Wheat City with the Brandon Wheat Kings after a summer trade.

“It’s true,” Budd said with a laugh. “There are a lot more connections here than I thought there would be. Assistant coach Ryan White, I watched his games growing up. My uncle (Michael Stone married his father’s cousin) played on the Hitmen so I was there a bunch. There were a bunch of connections when I got traded here so it’s definitely cool.”

Wheat Kings camp started last night with practices, and continues for the next three days with games, mostly at Assiniboine Credit Union Place.

After starter Filip Ruzicka won the starting job away from 19-year-old Jayden Kraus last season, the Wheat Kings sent Kraus to the Victoria Royals on July 29 for third- and sixth-round picks in 2029. That would give him a chance to play more.

Later that day, Brandon announced they had picked up the 18-year-old Budd from the Saskatoon Blades for an eighth-round pick in 2027 and a third-round pick in 2029.

Budd — who had asked for a trade — was at the gym when he found out where he was going.

“It was something I was kind of looking for a change to kind of solidify myself in this league,” Budd said. “It’s been a little bit tricky getting into it and there are a lot of goalies in Saskatoon so when I heard about coming to Brandon I was really excited for the new opportunity that might present itself here.”

The six-foot, 173-pound Budd was a second-round pick, 42nd overall, by Saskatoon in 2023. He made his WHL debut last season in his 17-year-old campaign, posting a 3.08 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage in 11 appearances.

He also played nine games with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Bonnyville Pontiacs, posting a 3.81 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage on a team that missed the playoffs.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray watched the teenager at an unofficial captain’s skate earlier in the week.

“He’s really quick, really athletic and competes extremely hard,” Murray said. “We heard he is an outstanding young man and so far all the boxes check for sure. His compete and his willingness to stay in battles around the net were quite evident. We’re happy and looking forward to seeing him in camp.”

Budd debuted in the WHL on Nov. 21, 2025 in a 3-2 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos, and faced Brandon on Jan. 14 in his first start after McCallum was traded and he was called up. The Wheat Kings’ 3-1 win was significant for Prabh Bhathal because he scored his first WHL goal after Jimmy Egan fed him a short-side pass and the Winnipegger was able to lift a shot past Budd, who still nearly made the save.

Joby Baumuller later scored into an empty net.

Budd, who is already working with Brandon goaltending coach Tyler Plante, said his style is based on his athleticism. He expects his new coach will help with refining that technique.

“My game has changed a lot over these last few years,” Budd said. “It’s going to be pretty nice here getting back into playing what feels natural. I really like that about Plante, he lets you find your own game and then helps you improve on it. I’m really excited about that to kind of progress in the way I like playing, which is fast, it’s athletic but it’s calm and composed when it needs to be.”

At one of the captain’s skates on Tuesday at J&G Homes Arena, Budd made the save of the day when he threw back an arm while he was on the ice and took an open-net tap-in away from an opponent, drawing stick taps and hoots from his new teammates.

“The guys have been really great,” Budd said. “Everyone here has been super welcoming. The coaches really make me feel like they believe in me and want me here. It helps take out the stress of the big new change because everyone has been so good to me.”

After McCallum was traded to the Penticton Vees, Budd was recalled to back up Blades star netminder Evan Gardner, a second-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024.

Although he’s changed teams, he will be still be backing up an NHL-drafted star in Ruzicka.

“There is lots to learn from them and the way they play, how they are off the ice in their approach towards the game,” Budd said. “Every goalie plays differently but there are always little bits and pieces I can take out of other guys’ games. Gardner was a great role model: He helped me relax in my game and relax pre-game. He was very good at going out and doing his thing without stressing over it.”

The personable teenager has done a lot more than stop pucks in the last few years. At 13, he established a non-profit organization called Be a Budd, which is active in Calgary and has raised tens of thousands of dollars.

“Each year it gets harder and harder to summarize it,” Budd said. “It started as a fundraiser I did for a program called SuperHEROS Hockey in Calgary. It’s also in Winnipeg and has a few locations throughout Western Canada. They help kids with autism and Down’s syndrome and things like that to play hockey.

“It’s grown this year into an initiative focused on helping youth get involved in the community.”

During the 2022-23 season, he was named Hockey Alberta’s player of the year for his efforts. They’ve since been able to expand their focus and partner with other groups.

Even with his charitable endeavours, the personable teenager still has to prove himself on the ice to bring his work to the Wheat City.

The Wheat Kings have some other high-end goaltending prospects that will be battling for a spot, including 2009-born Urijah Moosetail, 2010-born Joffrey Chan and Connor Dwyer. Budd looks forward to the competition.

“I’m just going to work hard and play my game and take it step by step,” Budd said. “I’m not looking ahead, I’m not expecting anything, I just want a chance to be able to prove I can play in this league.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com