Pierson brings physicality to the ice

If Kade Pierson cracks the roster of the Brandon Wheat Kings, he’s not going to make many friends around the Western Hockey League this season.

The six-foot-one, 198-pound forward from Chestemere, Alta., plays a heavy game and isn’t afraid to mix it up. He said it’s a style that comes naturally to him.

“I have the size for it,” Pierson said. “I’ve always been that guy. I guess I just have a drive to be a physical player with some anger inside that I can let out on the ice. It’s nice.”

Pierson, 18, is one of a large group of forwards competing for a roster spot in Brandon’s bottom six. Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray said that belligerence is exactly what got the camp invite noticed.

“He’s a physical presence,” Murray said. “He’s showed some skill in a couple of the (training camp) games where he buried a couple in the net and had a few good shots he scored on. He’s a physical player who is put together pretty well.

“He had a little setback this past week with a lower-body (injury) that has been troubling him a little bit, which is typical in training camp, but he’s pushed through it. We’ll see how he does this week.”

He’s certainly settled in. Pierson is appreciative of all he’s experienced so far with the team, which swings back into action when the Moose Jaw Warriors visit Assiniboine Credit Union on Friday at 7 p.m.

“It’s been great,” Pierson said. “Everyone is so nice here. The facility is amazing, better than what I’ve ever played on. It’s a great group of guys we have here, great teammates, it’s fun to hang out with them. 

“I love it here.”

Pierson was originally drafted by the Red Deer Rebels in 2023 in the eighth round with the 178th overall selection, 12 picks after Brandon grabbed Cameron Allard.

After attending two camps in Red Deer, the Rebels dropped Pierson and he was listed by the Swift Current Broncos, where he attended another camp. He was subsequently invited to Brandon’s camp and decided to start fresh with another organization.

He’s well aware that time is beginning to run out for him to become a WHL player.

“It’s my fourth camp,” Pierson said. “I’ve wanted to play in the Dub my whole life and you kind of feel like it’s the last chance to do anything, last chance to play at the highest level. I just thought this it, I have to give it all I have and we’ll see what happens. I’ve made it this far, so hopefully I can keep going.”

The stocky left-shooting winger played last winter with the under-18 AAA Okotoks Oilers, where he had eight goals, 15 assists and 78 penalty minutes in 35 regular season games. In three playoff games, he had a goal and three assists with 16 penalty minutes.

It was his first full U18 season after he spent the two previous campaigns with the Oilers U17 team, where he chalked up 233 penalty minutes in 81 career regular season and playoff games.

The U18 Oilers finished fourth in the South Division last season and fell in three games to the Calgary Royals.

“It was good,” Pierson said. “The playoffs were a little rough for us. We were out after the first round but the season was good. It was my last season of U18 so I had a lot of fun with the boys.”

He also was called up for two games by the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Olds Grizzlys, and scored in his debut on March 14. He said it was a valuable experience.

“It was nice for the speed of the game,” Pierson said. “Going from U18 to Junior A to here, the speed is just unmatched. It keeps getting and higher. Those games had in junior last year really helped me to progress and understand what it’s like to play at a higher level with older boys. Those two junior games last year helped me a lot.”

Brandon still has three other forwards in camp who played Junior A last season, Colten Worthington of Brandon (Virden Oil Capitals), Cole Hunter of Shoal Lake (Waywayseecappo Wolverines) and Hudson Landmark of Sherwood Park, Alta. (Canmore Eagles).

“You can see it,” Murray said. “He’s one of our guys who has had some junior experience and it helps for guys to get their feet wet and play against older players. He seems like a good kid and is eager.”

The team still has more than 20 forwards, with American forward Jimmy Egan potentially arriving later this week as he recovers from an upper-body injury. There are 10 veterans in camp, including the injured Gunnar Gleasman and Prabh Bhathal, plus Russian overager Kris Muissu. With a handful of rookies in the mix that include Ahmad Fayad, Carson Park, Colin Grubb and Levi Ellingsen, spots will be hard to come by.

Now it’s a matter of getting noticed.

“Every day we try to make the kids realize that every rep you go on you’re being watched,” Murray said. “There are a lot of bodies out there so when it’s your turn to go, you have to give 110 per cent.”

That’s Pierson’s plan.

“I just have to play my game,” Pierson said. “If I bring my game this year, my game at my best is pretty unmatched. If I bring my physical play, I’ll have a good shot of staying here.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com