Brick soars with U18 Wheat Kings

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This article was published 04/03/2025 (198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jaxson Brick is exactly the kind of player you can build a team around.

The second-year forward with the under-18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings has gone from a hard-working fourth-liner as a rookie to an integral part of the team’s offence as the club faces the Eastman Selects in their best-of-five quarterfinal series in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League.

Game 3 is tonight at J&G Homes Arena at 7:30 p.m.

“He’s a utility knife,” head coach Travis Mealy said. “When we need a big kill, he’s one of the first guys out of the gate, even though typically our first-year guys are our killers. When it’s a big one we need, he’ll be out there because he kills penalties the right way.

“He’s on the first line, right wing. We moved him from centre to right wing, and on the power play, he’s had an incredible season. Hopefully, it carries on.”

Mealy isn’t exaggerating.

As a rookie, Brick had three goals and an assist in 27 regular-season games as the uber-talented Wheat Kings made it all the way to the Telus Cup final.

After an exodus of high-end talent to the Western Hockey League, Brick moved up the lineup and had 27 goals, 25 assists and 26 penalty minutes in 46 games this season.

“I had higher expectations because I worked pretty hard in the summer,” Brick said of his production. “Still, I’m a little surprised.”

Maybe the least-shocked person is Mealy. The veteran hockey player and coach said everything Brick does comes from a desire to improve, and the teenager is willing to put in the time to make it happen.

“Bricker from a four pointer in a year to where he is now is incredible,” Mealy said. “You see it on and off the ice, his hard work. I’ve never met a harder-working player in practice. He’s always trying to get better. He’s a very coachable kid. You love when you see kids develop like that who have really earned it and put the work in.”

He’s also benefited from a terrific opportunity.

Brick played all season with leading scorer Jonah Lemoine, with the third spot rotating between Reid Nicol and Ethan Stanley.

“We’ve been skating together for almost our whole lives and being out in the morning (at extra skates) we just know where we are on the ice,” Lemoine said. “It makes it easy. You don’t really have to take a look, you can just throw it in that area and he should be there.”

“He’s good, man,” Lemoine added. “He’s quick, he shoots the puck really well.”

Brick’s development also came from simple necessity.

With just eight returnees from the 2023-24 team — the others are forwards Lemoine, Cole Lobreau and Cole Dupuis, defenceman Dustin Bell, Nolan Saunderson and Aiden Laing, and goalie Matt Michta — the pressure was on for the veterans to lead the way.

“I think for sure,” Brick said. “I think (Mealy) wants us to play a bigger role this year. As a collective group we’ve kind of stepped it up.”

In a way, the chance to skate behind graduates like Jaxon Jacobson, Easton Odut, Brady Turko, Colten Worthington, Ethan Stewart and Loughlan McMullin actually sped up his development. It gave him a chance to learn on the job and to develop a skill set he can still call on.

“Last year was more be a grinder and wear lines down and shut down lines,” Brick said. “That was a lot different from this year but it helped a lot.”

Of course, winning doesn’t hurt either. Brick also earned a league championship with the U15 Wheat Kings in 2022-23.

Brandon’s players, whether in the U15, U17 or U18 ranks, have learned to end up on the right side of the scoresheet. Brick said that’s important, but adds last season’s U18 experience took the team to a whole new level.

“It helps a ton,” Brick said. “Lots of the young guys don’t know what it’s like. It’s great to show them. They take everything pretty seriously, the same as we did last year.”

The Wheat Kings (40-5-1-2), who won Game 1 of their series 4-3 in double overtime on Saturday and Game 2 by a score of 6-2 on Monday, simply aren’t the high-scoring outfit they were a year before. Brick said the players understood that and have found a way to prevail despite the drain of talent.

“We are more of an underdog this year,” Brick said. “We squeaked some games through that we maybe shouldn’t have. I think the room is super good. Everything is really close knit, everyone hangs out with each other. I see these guys every day, and you want to see these guys every day. I think it’s great.”

He isn’t sure what’s next after this season. He has a year of U18 eligibility remaining, but was drafted by the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Swan Valley Stampeders with the 19th overall pick in 2024, so that option is also available.

“I have no idea yet,” Brick said. “I guess I’ll see this summer what goes on. I have no plans so far.”

He hopes he has a lot more hockey to play this spring before he has to worry about it. He said the goal remains firmly on winning, something he thinks they can continue to accomplish if they work together as a group.

“It’s been so fun,” Brick said. “Lots of ice time. I love this group. Everyone is just great to each other, like family. I think the room is way more positive than it’s ever been.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

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