Wheat Kings appoint leadership group

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This article was published 15/10/2021 (1696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Wheat Kings named Nolan Ritchie, Vincent Iorio, Chad Nychuk and Nate Danielson alternate captains on Friday as the Western Hockey League club settled on its leadership group.

Ridly Greig was named captain last week.

“There’s no surprise who the leaders are in this group,” Greig said. “Who’s been here the longest was the main thing. These guys know what the league is all about and they were in the bubble last year. It was pretty easy for the coaches to make the decision I think.”

Head coach Don MacGillivray said each of the four alternate captains brings his own strength and personality to the overall group.

“Nychuk is a veteran player who is real good in the room,” MacGillivray said. “Nolan Ritchie is a veteran player as well and has the respect of his teammates. He proved last year coming off a real serious injury that he was for real, and we expect him to have a real big year and lead the way. He’s a quiet guy but he does his job.

“Nate Danielson is a guy that I could tell early last year in the hub that he was going to take on a leadership role. When the game is on the line, he wants to be on the ice and want the puck on his stick. He wants to be out there when it’s a one-goal game against or for. I really like the intangibles that he brings. He’ll be a good leader, especially for our younger guys.

“Vinny Iorio has obviously been here for a while and has leadership skills. You can’t shut him up in the dressing room so it’s good to have him in the room. He’s obviously a really good person so to have those type of people leading your team is good for the young guys.”

Nychuk is the sole overager in the leadership group. The Rossburn product played three games with the team as a 16-year-old during the 2017-18 season and has been a fixture on the blue-line ever since, with 146 WHL games under his belt.

He last wore an A in his second season with the Yellowhead Chiefs U18 AAA program. He intends to lead by example with what’s essentially a double class of rookies: Last season’s 16-year-olds never left the hub and have a lot of new experiences ahead of them.

“It’s up to the older guys,” Nychuk said. “I know me, Rids, Vinny, Stew (Ritchie) and Danny need to establish the culture that the Wheat Kings are known to have and maintain that and leave it even better than we found it. I think it will be a lot of learning this year for the young guys and I’m really looking forward to helping them all out.”

Iorio, who turns 19 in November, has played 137 regular season games in the WHL since joining the club as a 16-year-old in the 2018-19 season. The Washington Capitals draft pick from Coquitlam, B.C., is easily the most vocal player on the club and intends to speak up when needed.

“It’s just being positive and bringing the same mindset every day,” Iorio said. “It’s working hard and having fun and chatting a lot. I’m going to be that kind of guy.”

Ritchie may not have to do much to inspire his teammates. The 19-year-old Brandonite overcame a horrific leg injury in November 2019 that cost him two-thirds of a season to become an important offensive contributor in the Regina hub last season. 

Ritchie shared the captaincy of his U13 team with Moose Jaw Warriors forward Calder Anderson, and was an alternate captain through U15 and U18.

“I wouldn’t say I talk a lot but I’m trying to talk a lot more this year,” Ritchie said. “I want to keep the energy up in the room, stuff like that, and make sure no one is getting down and it’s positive, never negative in the room. Then I’ll try to lead by example on the ice too, working hard every shift and showing the younger guys how to play.”

The youngest member of the group is Danielson, the fifth-overall pick in the 2019 WHL draft who put up 15 points in 24 games last season as a 16-year-old rookie.

Danielson served as captain of his U15 AAA, Alberta Cup and Team Alberta squads, so leadership isn’t new to him. However, his approach to it is.

“During games I’ll definitely lead by example and work hard every night,” Danielson said. “Also, I’ve been working on trying to be more vocal on the bench and on the ice and in the room.” 

Last year’s leadership group included captain Braden Schneider and alternates Marcus Sekundiak, Ben McCartney, Lynden McCallum and Greig. In the last three seasons, Stelio Mattheos and Connor Gutenberg also served as captain, and each left a mark on the guys who played with them.

“All of them brought different things to the table,” Nychuk said. “Schneider was obviously just a complete beast and everyone was watching him all the time. The way he handles himself is first class, and with Guty, he was here for five years. I have nothing but good things to say about Guty. I still talk to him and we’re pretty good friends. 

“Stelio, when I was 17, he made me feel welcome and that’s all you can ask.”

Iorio agreed.

“All three possessed different traits and they were all really good captains,” Iorio said. “I think it speaks for themselves why we’re such a good, classy organization. Being part of the leadership group now, I hope to continue that tradition.”

MacGillivray said there is a balancing act in the dressing room and on the ice. Players can talk too much and essentially have their teammates tune them out, while quieter guys learn to speak at the right times.

MacGillivray mentions the soft-spoken Sekundiak, who graduated after last season, as an important part of the dressing room in Regina.

“He was one of the quietest guys we’ve ever had in our room but he was a great leader,” MacGillivray said. “He said things at the right times and that’s kind of what I’m expecting from this group.”

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