Caswell eager to live WHL dream
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/12/2021 (1400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Clarke Caswell has waited long enough for the Western Hockey League draft.
The annual talent hunt was moved from its usual spot in May to December because most of last season was lost to the pandemic and scouts didn’t get a long enough look at prospects. It finally takes place on Thursday.
The 15-year-old forward, who plays with the under-18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings, is ranked as a first-round talent and likely won’t wait long to hear his name called.
“It’s going to be fun,” Caswell said. “It’s always been a goal of mine so I think it’s going to be exciting to have it happen. I think lots will happen after that. I think it’s going to be a great learning curve creating a new path.”
The five-foot-10, 150-pound forward, who shoots left, has certainly made a strong impression in his rookie season with the U18 program.
In 20 games, he has 23 goals and 28 assists, which puts him in third in team scoring.
Incredibly, he has three hat tricks and six multi-goal games. In fact, in 20 games this season, he’s been held without a point just once.
Brandon head coach Curtis Brolund said he’s just impressed by the person as he is the player.
“He’s good,” Brolund said. “He does a lot of things well. He’s a very determined player. His biggest attribute is that he’s such an unselfish and fantastic kid. It’s the old cliche of first on, last off (the ice), it’s true with him. He’s picking up pucks every day and it’s please and thank you at meals. He’s just such a good kid and family. His hard work and determination will take him a long way.”
He’s already taken an interesting path.
In his minor bantam year, he headed out to Kelowna to join the Pursuit of Excellence (POE) program, where he put up 14 goals and 18 assists in 30 prep games. In the 2020-21 season, at the newly renamed Rink Academy — the Winnipeg-based company acquired POE on June 25, 2020 — Caswell exploded for 12 goals and 12 assists in just five games.
He said his prep school experience taught him a lot.
“It was run very professionally so it kind of taught me about what the future of hockey is going to be like,” Caswell said. “How they run it is a first-class experience, with everybody attending to your needs at all times. It was fun there. You always had the resources to excel.”
Still, Caswell decided to come home to join the U18 Wheat Kings for his 16-year-old season. As much as he enjoyed life in Kelowna, it’s equally nice to play in Brandon.
“That was one of the reasons I came back, just to be with friends and family for another year before my hockey career takes me somewhere else,” Caswell said. “It’s sure been fun so far.”
It’s not just Caswell enjoying success this season with his tremendous. The first-place Wheat Kings are off to an incredible 22-0-2 start.
He likes how the players have embraced the team’s system, and how that’s allowed the talent to shine.
“We have skilled players in every position and us just working together has been working really good so far,” Caswell said.
He has played a lot with Braden Keeble, with Dylan Schroeder filling the other spot the most. With his skating ability, hockey IQ and nose for the net, Caswell has roared out to one of the most sensational rookie debuts with the team in recent memory.
“I’ve been pretty happy so far,” Caswell said. “I think it’s been a good start. It’s been fun playing with some good linemates and some skilled players.”
He considers himself a consistent playmaker who likes to set up his linemates and help make them better if he can.
Naturally, he also has a long list of things he’s working on, although one thing sits at the top.
“My shot,” Caswell said. “I’m always trying to improve it so that I can bury more chances and produce more. As well, just my speed. You always have to work on that, getting faster, because the game’s always going to get faster. That’s really important.”
Caswell and his family had Wheat Kings season tickets when he was growing up, and the teenager has fond memories of Brandon players like Nolan Patrick and Ivan Provorov.
Caswell wishes the draft had been in May so he could have just gotten it over with and joined his new organization, but sees the flip side of getting more chances to prove his value. He admitted it was on his mind.
“You have to keep playing our game but it is exciting,” Caswell said. “It’s going to be pretty fun when it does happen. Until then, I just have to play my game and play consistent.”
On Thursday, he is planning to treat draft day like any other, and will head to school.
The rest will sort itself out.
“I think I’m a Dub guy right now,” Caswell said. “I’ve chosen that path since I was younger because I always thought it was a great organization. I think I’m sticking with it so far.”
» pbergson@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @PerryBergson