Wilson finds way with Wheat Kings

Brett Wilson has certainly had some pinch-me moments since he came to the Western Hockey League.

The five-foot-eight, 173-pound forward, who turned 20 on Jan. 9, joined the Brandon Wheat Kings in early February as the injury-racked club dealt with the loss of Carter Klippenstein and Easton Odut for the season.

While he grew up in Calgary, his WHL highlight actually came 300 kilometres north on Highway 2 when he had a chance to play in Rogers Place against the Edmonton Oil Kings. The major junior team shares the building with the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers.

“As an Oilers fan, playing in Rogers Place, there were a couple of times between whistles when I was looking around and thinking that I’m playing on the same ice that (Connor) McDavid plays on. Then playing against different players in this league, this is pro. There’s no better way to say it.”

The Wheat Kings were in action last night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Calgary Hitmen that ended after deadline.

Wilson had been skating with the BCHL’s Okotoks Oilers when Brandon came calling more than seven weeks ago. In 36 games in the BCHL this season, the Oilers captain had 11 goals, 21 assists and 38 penalty minutes. Then everything changed when he suddenly found himself in Brandon.

“It took a couple of games to really adjust and find my role with the team and the league, but I think how I ended the season off, I was happy with my play,” Wilson said. “I was contributing in the way I wanted to contribute. I was almost a point-per-game in Okotoks and I’m not quite there (in Brandon), but if I rely on my bread and butter in the playoffs, my work ethic, then good things should come.”

A big part of settling in was the reception he received on his arrival. He knew his fellow Calgarians Nick Johnson and Ryan Boyce, and was billeted with gregarious defenceman Gio Pantelas.

It didn’t take too long to feel at home.

“It probably took two weeks for sure,” Wilson said. “One guy who really made it easy was Gio. I live with him, so having that connection helps a lot, and then the guys I knew previously before I came to the team, Johnny and Boycer also helped with the transition, but it’s a great group of guys.

“They welcomed me in really quickly and it just felt like another team of brothers that I’ve grown into and become accustomed to. I’m fully settled in now and loving it.”

He also had to settle in on the ice against major junior players, who can be a different beast than Junior A players. That different approach starts off the ice and translates onto it.

“There is a step up in professionalism,” Wilson said. “Everyone has that same mindset where we’re here to do a job and here to win some games. Coming along with that, there is a little more skill and size and speed involved in that. Everyone has bought in and is on the same page and has the same goals personally and as a team.”

Wilson said there are a couple of guys on every team who are his buddies, former teammates or former opponents. That extends to the Hitmen.

“One of the players I used to live with in Okotoks, Ethan Moore,” Wilson said. “I know him pretty well and then a couple of other guys I played against growing up. It’s going to be a friendly rivalry, but not really friendly until we get off the ice.”

They may have been a bit peeved with him during his sole game against the Hitmen on March 11 when he scored an empty-net goal with 82 seconds left in a 6-4 Brandon victory. To make it even better for Wilson, it was at the Saddledome with his former Okotoks teammates watching.

“It wasn’t pretty, but I can see quite a few fans watching there and it was cool to get on the board,” Wilson said. “My old team was right behind the glass there and to see them jumping up, it felt good.”

In 18 games with the Wheat Kings, Wilson has three goals, five assists and four penalties minutes, but he’s one of those guys whose contributions can’t be measured on the scoresheet alone.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray said he brings a lot to the lineup.

“He’s a water bug,” Murray said. “The motor is always going and he works hard. He has a little bit of skill but relies on his compete and hard work. Those are playoff-type players and he could certainly be a factor with his speed and energy and give us a boost.”

That work ethic may be the result of the criminally underrated virtue of self-awareness. Wilson understands who he is and how he has to play.

“Obviously I’m not the biggest guy out there,” Wilson said with a chuckle. “Usually I’m one of the smallest ones out there. If I’m not working hard, then I’m not as effective as I can be. That’s one thing I’ve always had in my game, is work hard and grease it out. “Any aspect of life, I have to work hard and good things will come, and that translates into my game. I just don’t quit.”

» For a story about Game 1 in Calgary, see brandonsun.com

pbergson@brandonsun.com