Charlie Elick excited for Top Prospects Game

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This article was published 20/01/2024 (608 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Charlie Elick plays a lot of hockey games every winter, but a matchup next week will potentially have some extra significance for his future.

Elick, who turned 18 on Wednesday, will skate in the 2024 edition of the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game in the Avenir Centre in Moncton, N.B.

“I’m so excited,” Elick said of next Wednesday’s game. “I’m so excited to be against the top guys who are going there from the CHL. There are going to be some guys I played with on Team Canada. It’s going to be a fun experience to play with and against them.”

The Top Prospects Game started in 1996, which was three years too late for Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray. Nevertheless, he expects it will be a good experience for his young blue-liner.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and a feather in his cap to get named to the team,” Murray said. “It’s a great opportunity just to go out and play among your peers who you’re in a draft position with. It’s an exciting time for Charlie and all the players involved.”

The six-foot-three, 199-pound Elick is the 26th Wheat King to attend the game. To illustrate how time has passed, in that first year, forward Darren Oene was invited: He’s now the father of 16-year-old Brandon prospect Brendyn.

Of course the fact Elick is in the game means it’s National Hockey League draft year, and also he’s highly rated enough to snag one of the 40 spots. In NHL Central Scouting’s recent midterm rankings, Elick was the 28th ranked North American skater.

“I don’t really think too much about it,” Elick said. “I see it here and there, but I think it’s best just to focus on my game and getting better every day and playing for the team here.”

The one thing which is hard to avoid is the presence of scouts at games, and the occasional conversations with them after the final horn sounds. But Elick has found a way to compartmentalize that, too.

“I’ve talked with a few scouts already, but it’s kind of here and there,” Elick said. “But I focus obviously on our games and having a good system the rest of the way.”

Elick is scheduled to fly out to New Brunswick on Sunday. After the game on Wednesday evening, he flies back to his hometown of Calgary on Thursday to join Brandon for its three-game Alberta road swing.

In his rookie season last year, Elick had three goals, eight assists and 38 penalty minutes, numbers he has already improved on in his second Western Hockey League campaign. He’s matched the three goals and has 15 assists and 43 penalty minutes in 41 games with a plus-minus of +5.

“I’ve been pretty happy,” Elick said. “It’s been a big step in my 17-year-old year. I’ve grown a lot and I’ve taken steps defensively in my game obviously. It’s been a great year so far, and it helps that we have such a tight group this year.”

His defensive partner on the team’s top pairing is third-year rearguard Quinn Mantei, who has noticed a big difference in Elick’s game.

“I think he’s come a long way for sure since the start of the year,” Mantei said. “I think he has settled into his role a lot more and knows what he is and what he’s going to be and what will make him successful. That’s playing hard and moving the puck and shutting guys down. He’s focusing on not trying to do too much and I think he’s succeeding with that.”

He added, “In turn, he’s getting a lot of recognition and credit for it.”

His coach sees the same thing.

“Charlie is a guy who is a big part of our back end,” Murray said. “I think sometimes you still have to remember he’s 17 and he’s playing a pretty big role for us. For the most part, I think he’s done a really good job of providing that shutdown presence. When we were clipping along pretty good record-wise, he was right in the thick of it.

“We’re continuing to work with Charlie and let him know where he feel his best assets help the team. For me, he is a guy who can play a long, long time at the pro level just because he has the ability to move well and play physical and be that in-your-face defenceman.”

Elick’s physicality has taken a noticeable step forward. He’s stopped some rushing forwards cold this season with punishing hip checks.

“I feel like it’s my competitiveness,” Elick said of his physical play. “I like to lay the body and that comes with me playing hard. It’s a big part of my game.”

It’s also part of why the Mantei-Elick pairing has been effective. Mantei said the differences in their games make them harder to play against.

“I think it’s a good combination,” Mantei said. “He’s a bigger guy who plays hard and is really hard on opponents. I’m a bit of a smaller guy and just play the puck and move the puck and like to jump up, so I think we complement each other well. I help him out lots out there and talk to him, and he helps me out too. I think the longer we’ve played together, the more we’ve come together as a pair.”

Elick added the chance to skate with the player who has arguably been the team’s top defenceman for the past two seasons is good for him as well.

“Q has been awesome,” Elick said. “I’ve known him for a couple of years, coming up as a 15 year old and him being there. It’s great to be with him so far. It’s going well.”

The game airs on TSN on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

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Brandon Wheat Kings who have attended the Top Prospects Game since it began in 1996.

• 2024 — Charlie Elick.

• 2023 — Carson Bjarnason, Nate Danielson.

• 2020 — Ridly Greig, Braden Schneider.

• 2018 — Luka Burzan.

• 2017 — Stelio Mattheos, Nolan Patrick.

• 2016 — Kale Clague.

• 2015 — Ryan Pilon, Ivan Provorov.

• 2013 — Eric Roy.

• 2011 — Liam Liston.

• 2009 — Brayden Schenn, Scott Glennie.

• 2008 — Colby Robak.

• 2006 — Codey Burki.

• 2003 — Ryan Stone, Eric Fehr.

• 2002 — Lance Monych, Tim Konsorada.

• 2001 — Jiri Jakes, Jordin Tootoo.

• 2000 — Ryan Craig.

• 1997 — Daniel Tetrault.

• 1996 — Darren Van Oene.