Big day for young Brandon hockey prospects

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This article was published 04/05/2017 (3241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the dust clears after the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft today, at least four Brandonites will likely have heard their name called.

Defenceman Daemon Hunt and forwards Ty Thorpe, Nolan Ritchie and Calder Anderson will all likely be chosen, according to insiders.

Hunt, a slick-skating six-foot, 190-pound defender, will likely be the first Brandon player taken. He had 22 goals and 38 assists in 36 regular-season games.

On the Brandon Wheat Kings squad in the Winnipeg AAA Hockey League Bantam Division 1 with Ritchie and Anderson, Hunt was on the top defensive pairing, and played on the power play and the penalty kill.

“My season was really good,” Hunt said. “I thought I was really consistent. I played lots of minutes but I stepped up when my teammates needed me. My teammates helped me out a lot during the season. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

The rearguard admits the draft was on his mind at the start of the year, especially when scouts flocked to the early season bantam showcase. His coaches told him to relax and play his game, advice he took to heart.

But that doesn’t make moving to the next step any less exciting.

“It’s been a huge dream growing up and going to Wheat King games all the time,” Hunt said. “I’ve always wanted to play in front of that crowd and it would be a huge honour to get drafted by any team, honestly. Hopefully the future is bright for me.”

Hunt said he thinks he is a good skater with a physical edge to his game who can also make a good first pass

Ritchie agrees, saying that Hunt is a dynamic player.

“He’s a big defenceman who is really good offensively and he’s really good defensively,” Ritchie said. “He can lay the body when he needs to, to give the team some energy when we’re down a little bit.”

Thorpe, who elected to play prep hockey last season at the Rink Academy in Winnipeg, is expected to go next.

The five-foot-11, 155-pound forward had 16 goals and 30 assists in 33 games.

“It was probably the right decision for me this year,” Thorpe said of the move. “It was great developmentally and it was a really good fit I thought. It got me prepared for the next level.”

He said he had high expectations for this year going into the draft, and fought through some adversity — mostly as he adjusted to the new schedule and new environment — but he persevered and had a good season. He describes himself as a two-way forward who battles every shift, contributes offensively and is a good teammate.

While he said the draft was on his mind, he didn’t let it get to him.

“It was definitely not a major concern,” Thorpe said. “I can’t really control that so you’re more focused on the season and the task at hand and whatever happens, happens. You’re just excited if you’re selected to be part of an organization in the WHL.”

Like the vast majority of young hockey players in Brandon, he grew up going to Wheat Kings games and would love to play in the league.

“It’s definitely an aspiration to play in the WHL,” Thorpe said. “Growing up in Brandon watching the Wheat Kings play, it’s exciting to see how close you are to the WHL. I think it would be a great experience.”

Hunt played his second year of peewee and first year of bantam with Thorpe. He respects all that the forward can do.

“He’s very skilled,” Hunt said. “He’s definitely a guy who you’d want on your team. He’s really fun to play with. He can move the puck quick and he has quick feet. He’ll go high in the bantam draft just because of his skill and ability to go out there and do the job.”

Ritchie, who is expected to go next, led the bantam AAA league in scoring, sniping 51 times and adding 38 assists in 36 games. The five-foot-five, 135-pound forward also displayed a feistiness that scouts will love, earning 50 penalty minutes.

“I didn’t expect to have that good of a season or have that high of expectations,” Ritchie admitted. “Playing the year before I was playing D and forward so it was kind of tough. I think it kind of helped me playing a bit more this year.”

You can’t question Ritchie’s bloodlines. He’s the son of Brandon Wheat Kings’ director of scouting Darren Ritchie, who was a candidate for the team’s WHL all-time Dream Team voting last season after scoring 152 goals and adding 126 assists in 232 games between 1990 and 1995.

Interestingly, in his final WHL season in 1994-95, the Wheat Kings listed Darren at five-foot-10 and 165 pounds, numbers that are well within reach for Nolan.

“It would be pretty fun to play in the league just like my dad did,” Ritchie said.

Anderson, his linemate, said Ritchie brings an awful lot to the table.

“There’s nothing bad that you can say about the kid,” Anderson said. “He’s a smart player, he works hard and brings his A-game night in and night out. He’s one of the best players that I’ve ever played with. He’s able to create plays that you never knew were possible.”

Ritchie describes himself as a two-way player who can score, but he admits the nerves are starting to creep in as the draft nears.

“It wasn’t on my mind too much but by the end of the season it started coming to me that I have a chance to get drafted,” Ritchie said.

Anderson, a left-winger, posted 26 goals and 53 assists in 36 games playing with Ritchie. Like his centre, Anderson was happy with his season.

“I thought it went really well,” Anderson said. “I came into the season just wanting to improve from last year and wanting to get better and prove myself more. I thought a couple of years ago in my minor bantam year I could have done better than what the outcome was. I thought this year I proved myself and did really well.”

The five-foot-eight, 150-pound forward, who hopes to join the Midget AAA Wheat Kings next season, thinks he is a smart player who can play wherever he is needed in the lineup.

He said he’s well aware that the bantam draft is near.

“Now that it’s coming up I’m starting to get the nerves a bit but whatever happens, happens,” Anderson said. “I may not get drafted and that’s OK. I’ll just have to work harder and prove myself next year.”

Ritchie said his linemate has the game to excel.

“I think he’s also a two-way player and a really good playmaker,” Ritchie said. “When he has a chance, he can put it in the back of the net too.”

The funny thing is that they all may be too busy today to monitor the draft results.

Team Manitoba is hosting a four-day camp from today until Sunday for its under-16 Pursuit of Excellence and all of them are among the 40 players who made the cut.

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