BWK CAMP: Towering presence leads goaltending duo

Brandon Wheat Kings fans who began to feel like doom was awaiting around every corner in the summer had at least six feet and seven inches of good news to celebrate.

Despite posturing by the Czech club team Mountfield that they were going to keep big Filip Ruzicka, the outstanding 18-year-old netminder is returning to the Wheat Kings for a second Western Hockey League season.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray is understandably delighted to have him back.

“It’s really nice,” Murray said. “He proved himself. He’s a very capable number-one goaltender in the league last year. There was a lot of talk that created some sleepless nights whether we were going to get him back. We were real thrilled when we got the notice was going to be back. He was a presence night in and night out.”

The team’s training camp begins Thursday evening at Assiniboine Credit Union Place.

Ruzicka posted a .906 save percentage and 3.19 goals-against average as he got accustomed to the North American-style of play early last season, but improved steadily through the year.

In the playoffs, on a team that got swept by the Calgary Hitmen, he had a .936 save percentage and 2.47 gaa.

His numbers are almost exactly the same as those posted by Brandon’s first-ever European goaltender, Jiri Patera, who in 2018-19 compiled a 3.31 goals-against average and .906 save percentage as a 19-year-old.

A year later, those two numbers improved to 2.55 and .921 for the Czech netminder.

In the National Hockey League draft, Ruzicka was grabbed in the fifth round, 137th overall by the Minnesota Wild, and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team on July 14.

The big goalie won the starting job away from 19-year-old Jayden Kraus last season, and rather than having an overage backup, they sent Kraus to the Victoria Royals on July 29 for third- and sixth-round picks in 2029.

Later that day, Brandon announced they had picked up 18-year-old goalie Ryley Budd of Calgary from the Saskatoon Blades for an eighth-round pick in 2027 and a third-round pick in 2029.

“He’s a guy we talked about a lot leading up to the draft,” Murray said. “We’re very familiar with him. I know he didn’t get as many games as he probably wanted last year, kind of being in and out of Saskatoon a little bit. I think he’s champing at the bit to earn a full-time job in the Western Hockey League. Ultimately, we want to be in a situation where we have a real good 1A-B punch and with these two we think we have it.”

The six-foot, 172-pound Budd was a second-round pick, 42nd overall, by Saskatoon in 2023. He made his WHL debut last season in his 17-year-old campaign, posting a 3.08 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage in 11 appearances.

He also played nine games with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Bonnyville Pontiacs, posting a 3.81 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage on a team that missed the playoffs.

Murray added that Budd is a 2008-born player, meaning he could potentially have two more seasons in the league after this one.

The goal is that their starter doesn’t have to play 60 games, regardless of how good his numbers are, so the organization will be hoping Budd takes off in Brandon.

“It’s a little bit unrealistic,” Murray said. “With (Ruzicka’s) body and his length and weighing 230 pounds and getting up and down and with the travel, it takes its toll on his body. We want to have a good healthy competition where they can push each other.

“Ryley seems really excited to have this opportunity and seems like an outstanding young man. I think he’ll come in and be a real good presence with Filip and a real good presence in the locker room.”

The Wheat Kings have some other high-end goaltending prospects that will be battling for a spot, including 2009-born Urijah Moosetail, 2010-born Joffrey Chan and Connor Dwyer. Both Moosetail and Chan spent time with the team last season, with Moosetail serving as a practice goalie when someone was hurt and Chan getting a call-up but not playing.

Moosetail had an outstanding season with the under-18 AAA Wheat Kings last season, compiling a 1.95 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Chan, a Calgary product, spent his third season at St. George’s School, and on the U17 prep team had a 2.99 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Bismarck, N.D., product Dwyer played with the American team at the Four Nations after spending last season with the Bishop Kearney Selects 15U AAA, where in 26 league games he had a 2.14 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.

Murray’s advice to the three goalies, who seem most likely to steal a roster spot, is to come in and push for a job.

“We feel like we have some real good depth,” Murray said. “Obviously Moosetail had an extremely good year here last year. Chan came in and really impressed last year in camp and it will be fun to see where he’s at a year later.

“Those guys are playing to make the hockey team, and at very least, put themselves in a position where if Filip goes to world juniors or what have you or unfortunately someone gets hurt, they can prove they’re ready to make that step.”

— GONE (One): Jayden Kraus (trade).

— RETURNING (One): Filip Ruzicka.

— ADDED (One): Ryley Budd (from Saskatoon).

— TOP CANDIDATES: Urijah Moosetail, Joffrey Chan, Connor Dwyer.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

 

VETERANS

2008-BORN (18-year-old season)

• Filip Ruzicka, L.

42gp, 3.19 gaa, .906 save %, 26-14-1-0 record.

• Ryley Budd, L.

11gp, 3.08 gaa, .888 save %, 4-4-1-0 record.

DRAFTED/LISTED ROOKIES

2009-BORN (17-year-old season)

• Urijah Moosetail, R.

Picked: 2024, 4th Rd.

Brandon (U18 AAA)

30gp, 1.95 gaa, .927 save %, 25-3-0-0 record.

• Connor Dwyer, L.

Listed.

Bishop Kearney (15U AAA)

26gp, 2.14 gaa, .920 save %, 18-6-1-0 record.

2010-BORN (16-year-old season)

• Joffrey Chan, L.

Picked: 2025, 4th Rd..

St. George’s (U17 prep)

20gp, 2.99 gaa, .913 save %, 9-9-1-0 record.

2011-BORN (15-year-old season)

• Kasen Nuttall, L.

Picked: 2026, 9th Rd.

Calgary NS (U15 AAA)

19gp, 2.66 gaa, .931 save %, 10-9-0-0 record.

FREE AGENTS

2007-BORN (19-year-old season)

• Micky Gross, L.

Virden (MJHL)

22gp, 2.44 gaa, .909 save %, 16-3-1 record.

2008-BORN (18-year-old season)

• Ethan Berard, L.

Edmonton (U18 AAA)

24gp, 2.25 gaa, .928 save %, 16-4-0. record.