Hadland, Kraus join happy campers

Caleb Hadland is about to enjoy a new experience, and the stocky forward couldn’t be more excited.

The 19-year-old Brandon Wheat King, a product of Sylvan Lake, Alta., heading to his first National Hockey League rookie camp with the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

“I’m very excited,” Hadland said. “It should be an unbelievable experience. I’m very grateful for it and I’m going to have some fun.”

Hadland, who is entering his fourth year with the club, had a career-high 25 goals this year. He was ranked 212th among North American skaters by Central Scouting in 2024, but unranked in 2025 and was never selected. He is heading in to learn as much as he can.

“There are obviously a ton of unbelievable players who are going to it and a bunch of older guys too,” the five-foot-10, 190-pound Hadland said. “I think it will be good for my game just to go and experience that and see how those players play, and hopefully bring that back here.”

The Wheat Kings have six players headed to professional camps, including recent National Hockey League draftees Carter Klippenstein (Minnesota Wild) and Brady Turko (Anaheim Ducks) plus free agents Hadland, Jayden Kraus (Colorado Avalanche), Luke Mistelbacher (Minnesota) and Grayson Burzynski (Boston Bruins).

The other five left Brandon by Monday.

This is also the first rookie camp for Kraus, who Brandon acquired on July 29 for former backup Ethan Eskit and a seventh-round pick in 2029.

“I’m really pumped,” the six-foot-two, 210-pound Kraus said. “I think it’s going to be an outstanding experience for me as a person and then obviously on the ice too it’s a big jump. I’m excited to take my game and my skills to Colorado and from there, I’m just going to bring everything back and use it to help the team have success.”

Klippenstein was drafted by Minnesota in the fourth round with the 123rd overall pick on June 28, while Turko was selected by Anaheim in the seventh round with the 200th overall pick.

Brandon acquired the overage duo of Mistelbacher and Burzynski on draft day from the Swift Current Broncos: Mistelbacher skated with the Winnipeg Jets a year ago, while it’s a new experience for Burzynski as well. Brandon’s number of pro camp invitees have differed wildly in recent years.

Last year, Carberry’s Carson Bjarnason headed to camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Charlie Elick joined the Columbus Blue Jackets and newcomer Marcus Nguyen got a shot with the Florida Panthers.

Four Wheat Kings went to NHL camps in 2023, Nate Danielson, Brett Hyland, Bjarnason and free agent invite Quinn Mantei, and Brandon also had three away in 2022, Jake Chiasson, Riley Ginnell and Rylen Roersma.

Back in 2021, the Western Hockey League team had 11 players head out, including Braden Schneider, Ben McCartney, Vinny Iorio, Chiasson, Ethan Kruger, Ridly Greig, Marcus Kallionkieli, Hyland, Nolan Ritchie, Mason Ward and Ginnell.

Players invariably return to Brandon talking about how much they learned, and Kraus hopes he too can benefit from the experience.

“It’s easy to say but all the guys here at the Western Hockey League level want to be NHL players one day,” Kraus said. “We all have dreams and aspirations and just to kind of see what the guys who are actually there do and how they take care of their body and how they live being a pro. We obviously want to be it one day so it’s super key we take back some key lessons.”

Around the NHL, 10 rookie events are being held.

• Buffalo, N.Y., Sept. 11-15 — New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets.

• Montreal, Sept. 13-14 — Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs.

• Wesley Chapel, Fla., Sept. 12-15 — Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators.

• Highlands Ranch, Colo., Sept 12-14 — Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth.

• Irvine, Calif., Sept. 12-14 — Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings.

• Saint Paul, Minn., Sept 12-14 — Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks.

• Edmonton and Calgary, Sept. 12, 14 — Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames.

• Everett, Wash., Sept. 13 — Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks.

• Allentown, Pa., Sept. 12-13 — Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers.

• Frisco, Texas, Sept. 12-13 — Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings.

Both Hadland and Kraus say they won’t be anyone but themselves as they try to make an impression at the next level.

“Whatever I’ve done to get to this point has got me there, so I think I’m going to take that as going to have some fun, play my game and whatever comes of it, comes of it,” Hadland said. Kraus agreed.

“I think the biggest thing for me is I just have to play my game,” he said. “My game is what’s gotten me where I am today, just being calm and making the big saves when I need to and staying under control.

“At the end of the day, I’m going there to make it as far as I can and stay as long as I can and make an impression that I deserve to be drafted and I’m a goalie that a National Hockey League team wants in their organization.”

ICINGS: The team has officially reassigned 15-year-olds Cruz Jim, Levi Ellingsen and Joffrey Chan, plus 17-year-old forward Tyler Magdalinski. With the six pro campers gone, that leaves the team with three goalies, 13 forwards and nine defencemen. They meet the Swift Current Broncos on Friday in Brandon and Saturday in Virden for their final pre-season games.

pbergson@brandonsun.com