Wheat Kings prospects shine in first half

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This article was published 19/12/2024 (273 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What the Brandon Wheat Kings will look like in the next few years is a partially a product of players who aren’t even in the lineup yet.

Brandon’s director of hockey operations Chris Moulton went through every drafted and list player on the team’s 50-man roster to assess how their play has been so far this season.

Any players who are not included in their draft class have already been released. All Brandon’s listed players are included at the bottom. The stats were compiled on Monday.

2024 DRAFT (2009-born)

• 1-14 — Chase Surkan, F (signed).

Regina, U18 AAA.

5-6 155 lbs, L.

25gp, 16g, 19a, 35p, 4pim.

(Has played two games with Brandon.)

MOULTON: “Chase has been good. He went back and has been playing with the Pat Canadians U18 AAA. He plays with (2010-born top prospect) Maddox Shultz a lot but he’s also played with other players, which has allowed me to see him expand his game and show his versatility. He had an injury that held him out here and there but he’s at a point and a half per game and doing his thing.”

• 2-36 — Prabh Bhathal, F (signed).

Wpg Thrashers, U18 AAA.

6-1, 187 lbs, L.

12gp, 8g, 5a, 13p, 2pim.

(Has played four games with Brandon.)

MOULTON: “He had injury with us and went back and it took a little bit to get going. Since he’s been there, he’s done what he can. He’s Prabh being Prabh. We’re going to have to teach him how to play the game the right way — there are some things that he can do at U18 that he probably can’t do in Brandon in the Western Hockey League but Prabh is going to be a great player for us just because of his innate ability to score but also his competitive nature and his size. He doesn’t play like a 15-year-old kid.”

• 3-59 — Easten Turko, D.

Brandon, U18 AAA.

5-7, 151 lbs, L.

26gp, 5g, 8a, 13p, 8pim.

MOULTON: “He does very well in Brandon U18. they play him and show him a lot of respect and responsibility. He’s answered quite well. Easten had a good start of the year, and the thing about playing in Brandon is they’re good every year so it allows him to play in a program that expects to win every night, and that’s good for him. Easten is a really good player but he can be even better if he changes a few different aspects of his game like his sense of urgency, to be more begged and consistent but as a far making good plays and good decisions and what kind of kid he is, he’s great. We’re happy with him for sure.”

• 4-81 — Urijah Moosetail, G.

Brandon, U17 AAA.

5-11, 184 lbs, L.

9gp, 1.55 gaa, .933 save%.

MOULTON: “He didn’t make the U18 team and I think he was disappointed at the start but sometimes you have to pay your dues as a young goaltender. playing with the U17 team in Brandon hasn’t hurt him. He gets to have a bit of a leadership role and have them lean on him a little bit. He’s played well, he has a high save percentage there. All it does is put him in a place where he can be successful and next year he’s going to push for a spot on our roster but usually what will happen is he plays U17 and it prepares him to be a strong U18 player next season.”

• 4-85 — Ethan Young, D.

Regina, U18 AAA.

5-10, 147 lbs, L.

23gp, 1g, 7a, 8p, 10pim.

MOULTON: “Ethan has really taken a step. He had an injury, missed a few games, but is playing with way more confidence than early in the year. It was an adjustment for him to get going. He was playing on a really good team with really good D-men so he had to adjust. In the last month or so, he’s shown a lot more confidence, more engaged, more involved, and showed a lot more physicality. He’s a great player, sometimes it’s just about him and showing confidence in his own ability … He’s a real smart, puck-moving defenceman.”

• 5-103 — Alex Letourneau, F.

Fort Saskatchewan, U18 AAA.

6-1, 179 lbs, L.

22gp, 10g, 5a, 15p, 8pim.

MOULTON: “Alex is adjusting to playing at a higher level. There is such a jump in Alberta especially from U15 to U18 AAA. Alex is a real strong big kid at u15 and then all of a sudden he went to play U18 where there are other big strong kids. Alex had to learn to move his feet and Alex had to learn to push himself. He’s always had the ability to find the scoresheet. I think he has nine goals in 20 games so he can score but the biggest thing with Alex is we have to get him moving his feet. He has great character and he has a great hockey mind. He’s smart, he makes plays, for him it’s just getting that big frame going and that will come with strength.”

• 5-107 — Carson Park, F.

Moose Jaw, 18 AAA.

5-7, 142 lbs, L.

26gp, 10g, 17a, 27p, 16pim.

MOULTON: “We’re big fans of Parky. He’s at a point-a-game pace in a tough Saskatchewan U18 league. He went from being a good player on his team to a player they need to be successful. He just plays the game the right way. He has skill, he’s tenacious, he can play in every situation, he comes to play every night. Carson is going to be a really good player for us. He’s going to be a heckuva junior, it’s just a matter of when.”

• 6-128 — Hudson Postnikoff, F.

Saskatoon Contacts, U18 AAA.

5-10, 167 lbs, L.

24gp, 4g, 2a, 6p, 12pim.

MOULTON: “When they play U15, they see a ton of ice time and are on every power play, and at U18, they have to earn their stripes, so with Hudson, he’s not seeing the power-play time and not seeing as much ice, so it’s a bit of an adjustment, but when you talk to the coach, the coach is happy with him. He has a good attitude, he shows up to play, he’s a good skater, he has a really good knack with the puck … He’s growing as a player and getting better.”

• 8-169 — Mason Chubey, F.

Wpg Bruins, U17 AAA.

5-9, 150 lbs, R.

12gp, 5g, 14a, 19p, 26pim.

MOULTON: “The problem with Mason is missed a lot of the start of the season. He was hurt before he came to camp and was unable to participate and then that carried into the season. He’s probably got 10 to 12 games in now and has almost 17 points or something like that so he transitioned back really well. He’s playing U17 because I think the injury hampered him playing U18. Just like Urijah or anybody else, when they play a level down, they play more of a leadership role and get more ice. I don’t think it’s going to hurt Mason at all. He’s an on-ice leader for them, he’s on the power play, he plays a ton of minutes. Now that he’s somewhat healthy, he’s doing really well.”

• 9-191 — Tristan Follick, D.

Pacific Coast Academy, U17 prep.

5-10, 164 lbs, L.

25gp, 6g, 5a, 11p, 22pim.

MOULTON: “He’s done really well. I would like to see him contribute more offence because I believe he has that ability but he’s an incredibly responsible kid, so I think sometimes he tries to be more well-rounded, which there is nothing wrong with. At that level, I want him to take more risks, I want him to jump and be more active but Tristan plays hard all the time and his character is off the charts. He’s doing a lot gf good things.”

2023 DRAFT (2008-born)

• 4-72 — Isaac Davies, F (signed).

Airdrie, U18 AAA.

5-10, 168 lbs, L.

20gp, 4g, 12a, 16p, 35pim.

MOULTON: “Isaac has been better lately. I think he went back and had a new coach and a whole new group of kids and I think it was an adjustment period for him. The biggest thing for him is sometimes they go back and forget what kind of player they were that got them drafted. When Isaac started to amp up his intensity and started to bring the physicality back to his game, he looked like old Isaac. We want him to create offence but we want him to do it the right way. When Isaac’s feet are moving and he’s physical, he is a special player. There are not many kids like him who are that powerful and that fast.”

• 5-94 — Ryan Boyce, F.

Okotoks, BCHL.

6-0, 165 lbs, L.

20gp, 2g, 3a, 5p, 9pim.

MOULTON: “The biggest thing with Ryan Boyce is he loves to play, he loves the ice time, he likes to be one of the guys and that’s a good thing. I think sometimes when they go to play junior at a young age, all of a sudden they’re not getting the ice time they’re used to, and that’s the hardest part for me and probably for Ryan. He’s not seeing the offensive opportunities he may have got at U18 but I think he’s managed and I think he’s handled himself quite well. He’s a good player who is doing just fine.”

• 5-95 — Knox Bendera, F.

Sherwood Park U18 AAA.

5-7, 150 lbs, L.

20gp, 3g, 14a, 17p, 20pim.

MOULTON: “Knox has been consistent since he got back. He wants to be a hockey player and be a Brandon Wheat King so I think he works tenaciously to do that. The biggest thing with Knox is he has to find the balance between being a pain to play against and tenacious but also creating offence. Once he finds that balance, I think he’ll be real good. It’s always good to have kids who are a pest to play against but they have to contribute … You can never doubt how bad Knox wants it.”

• 6-121 — Dylan McFadyen, G (signed).

Interlake U18 AAA.

6-3, 165 lbs, L.

19gp, 3.02 gaa, .914 save %.

(In his second callup with Brandon.)

MOULTON: “It looks like he’s doing OK. It’s tough with goaltenders because sometimes their success is determined by how good their team is playing. The thing with Dylan is we drafted this tall lanky kid and we knew he had to take some steps and some growth as a goalie and show his athleticism and I think he’s doing that. He’s putting the time and effort in, we just have to be patient that it’s a process for this young guy to get there. Everything we’ve asked this young guy to do, he’s done. He’s been a good prospect for us.”

• 7-138 — Jack Swaenepoel, D.

Southwest U18 AAA.

6-3, 211 lbs, L.

28gp, 5g, 17a, 22p, 18pim.

MOULTON: “Swanny has had a really good year. He was the top-scoring defenceman in U18 in Manitoba, and that’s not our expectation. We don’t expect him to be the top-scoring defenceman, we expect him to be a puck-moving shutdown hard guy who can also contribute. The fact that big frame was cooking at a point-a-game pace was great. The thing about Swanny is he just goes about his job. Sometimes he’s a little too quiet for me, but he just quietly does his job. The fact this young man is that big, that strong and at a point-a-game pace is exceptional. I’m really happy with Swanny, we just have to get him to the next level where he’s fast enough and engaged enough to play at our level, but I don’t think he’s far away.”

• 7-142 — Maddox Gandha, F.

Rink Kelowna.

6-0, 180 lbs, L.

12gp, 4g, 10a, 14p, 21pim.

MOULTON: “His team is not nearly as good as it’s been in previous years and Maddox is at his best when he’s playing with the best players. His team has had its moments but Maddox has learned to persevere and push himself through. When I’ve seen him play he’s had a mixed bag of linemates and not a lot of consistency. Maddox just puts his head down and works. I think he only has four goals and my expectation and his expectation was to score more, but it’s not for a lack of working hard and I think that will come.”

• 8-160 — Cameron Allard, D (signed).

Estevan, U18 AAA.

6-2, 190 lbs, R.

24gp, 2g, 17a, 19p, 18pim.

MOULTON: “When their expectation is to play (in Brandon) and we release them, sometimes it takes a little bit of time. He didn’t have a very good start when he went back and then Cam came back into the kid we loved last year and now he’s back to old Cam. His coaches do a great job with him. He’s big, he’s smart, he moves the puck, he does a lot of things and lately he’s been playing his best hockey. Cam is going to be a helluva Wheat King for us. He’s been great in Estevan.”

2022 DRAFT (2007-born)

• 3-56 — Emerson Clark (D) (signed).

Flin Flon, SJHL.

5-11, 169 lbs, L.

9gp, 1g, 1a, 2p, 6pim.

MOULTON: “He’s battled injuries off and on, so I would say he’s still adjusting to playing junior. He’s in and out of the lineup up there so it’s been a tough first half of the season to gauge his success. I’m hoping he gets in more often and we can get a good read on where he’s at.”

• 4-78 — Gradey Hope (D) (signed).

Blackfalds, BCHL.

6-1, 205 lbs, L.

15gp, 1g, 0a, 1p, 9pim.

MOULTON: “He’s on our suspended list (after choosing not to report to camp). Gradey has been in and out of the lineup in Blackfalds in the BC Hockey League and has been suffering from injury. Gradey needs consistency playing in the lineup every night to get his game going and I’m hoping that happens in the second half.”

• 8-158 — Ryder Green (G)

Prince George, BCHL.

6-0, 165 lbs, L.

12gp, 3.75 gaa, .881 save %.

MOULTON: “He’s the number two guy with the Spruce Kings. He’s doing OK. I think he would like to play more. I think he would like to be a Wheat King but saw the writing on the wall with Barney and Eskit.”

• 9-188 — Brendyn Van Oene (F)

Chilliwack, BCHL.

6-1, 183 lbs, L.

27gp, 5g, 6a, 11p, 22pim.

MOULTON: “Brendyn is an offensive-minded player, and it’s hard when you might not see the offensive minutes you want. In the opportunities he’s had, he’s done well. He had a three-goal game the other night, which I’m sure gave him some confidence. Once agin, it’s one of those things where you’re a 17-year-old playing in the B.C. Hockey League and you’re not getting the chances you might get at U18, but I think he’s enjoying himself and growing as a player.”

LIST PLAYERS

(2009-born)

• Axel Gleasman (F)

OHA Colorado, 15U AAA.

6-4, 220 lbs, L.

30gp, 3g, 6a, 9p, n/a pim.

MOULTON: “He’s just growing into his frame and growing his game. When you’re that big that young, it takes a lot of time for all the moving parts to get going but he’s working hard. He plays 15U and is affiliating up. He’s just growing his game and when you’re six-four-and-a -half and 220 pounds, he just keeps plugging away. We’re excited about Axel and have some time to be patient with him. We’ll have to wait and see.”

• Bronsyn Mouille (F)

NAX, U17 prep.

6-0, 162 lbs, R.

21gp, 8g, 13a, 21p, 24pim.

MOULTON: “This kid is a hockey player. He had a good camp with us, we listed him out of camp, he wanted to play U18 but went to U17 and is a point-per-game guy, he’s a big body, he plays with some jam, he’s a leader and a catalyst for his group. Bronsyn has taken a huge step. He’s in competition with all of our 2009s to play sooner than later. He was a great addition.”

• Carson Ralph (F)

St. Albert, U17

5-10, 175 lbs, L.

17gp, 7g, 7a, 14p, 24pim.

MOULTON: “He’s the type of player who will play U17 this year and U18 next year. He’s tenacious on the puck, smart, makes plays. Our scouts really liked him.”

• Will Katsilieris (D)

Calgary Flames, U17

5-11, 165 lbs, L.

12gp, 2g, 6a, 8p, 6pim.

MOULTON: “Two years ago he was playing community hockey in Calgary, then all of a sudden he went to play AA and went to play AAA last year and was hit from behind and injured. He didn’t even play AAA as a U15 because of the injury and this year he almost made the U18 team as a walk-on and he’s playing U17 for the Flames and he’s a really good player. He’s smart, he makes plays. He’s one of the kids who is on the upswing. Like a Dylan Ronald, they may not be a household name but they’re a good player. He’s got a Dec. 26 birthday, he’s growing, he’s 5-11 now. To go from community hockey to affiliating at U18 in two years is pretty impressive. We really like this kid.”

(2008-born)

• Ethan Berard (G)

Edmonton Oilers Blue, U18 AAA.

6-1, 145 lbs, L.

10gp, 2.71 gaa, .905 save %.

MOULTON: “He’s one of the best goalies, we think, in that league. When he plays, he’s a young kid and just coming in to his own, but had a great start. He plays in a tough league and is really a sound goaltender.”

(2007-born)

• Gunnar Gleasman (F)

OHA Okanagan, 18U AAA.

6-4, 202 lbs, R.

5gp, 2g, 1a, 3p, 25pim.

MOULTON: “He’s really raw. He came to camp as a big body with a physical presence. We actually did talk to him about possibly staying this year, because we thought he had the ability to maybe grow, but he wanted to go back and play in the States. Gunnar is good. He’s ready to play junior, we just have to see if he’s ready to come play for us next year or if he plays down south. He’s a big physical man, which is something we lack.”

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